I Married A Peasant – Chapter 216
After Li Que left, Li Wu was listless for several days.
The first mealtime without Li Que, Li Kun had still been gleefully clapping and cheering. But by the third day after Li Que’s departure, Li Kun — who normally ate from a basin — left behind leftovers for the first time.
“When is Third Brother coming back?” Li Kun threw down his wooden chopsticks, his face sullen. “How could he… how could he go off to enjoy himself alone like that?”
“Que’er had matters to attend to. He’ll be back after a while,” Shen Zhuxi said soothingly.
“After a while… how long is ‘a while’?”
“…I’m finished eating. You all go ahead.”
Before Shen Zhuxi could even open her mouth, Li Wu set down his chopsticks and rose from the table.
His bowl of rice was empty, but he had barely touched the dishes. Throughout the meal he had seemed distracted, going through the motions of lifting food to his mouth mechanically.
“What’s gotten into Big Brother…” Li Kun muttered, watching his retreating figure.
“…Big Brother is unhappy because he sees you not eating properly.” Shen Zhuxi picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and placed it in his bowl. “Come, eat up — and when you’re done, come with me to visit Little Rui.”
Li Kun’s expression immediately brightened. “Alright!”
Once Li Kun had rallied his full strength and swept the table clean of every last dish, Shen Zhuxi took him out and brought him to the entrance of Sui’s Chicken Shop, where she let him off the carriage.
“Piggy come down too…” Li Kun dawdled by the side of the carriage.
Shen Zhuxi gave careful, meticulous instructions: “Go call on Little Rui and walk with her to Chen’s Tavern. Along the way, tell her about the interesting things you’ve been up to lately — don’t mention how many times you passed wind in a day, that sort of thing. Talk about the fish you caught yesterday, the squirrel you caught — understood?”
“Walk slowly on the way, don’t let Little Rui fall behind, and absolutely do not hit or bump into her — no matter how lightly.” Shen Zhuxi said earnestly. “In your pouch, I’ve already put in some silver. If you see something good to eat, don’t only buy for yourself — remember to buy a portion for Little Rui too. Have you remembered everything I’ve said?”
Li Kun nodded in a daze. “Remembered, remembered… nag, nag… nagging Piggy…”
After finishing her instructions, Shen Zhuxi watched his nine-foot frame hunch down and stoop through the entrance of Sui’s Chicken Shop before she felt at ease, and told the driver to move on.
The carriage stopped in front of Chen’s Tavern. Shen Zhuxi stepped down, and with Ti Niang carrying bundles large and small, she entered the shop.
Jiu Niang was wiping down the counter and looked up in surprise at the sight of Shen Zhuxi and Ti Niang behind her.
“What is all that you’ve brought?”
“Things for you and Little Rui — some silk and brocade fabric, along with some hair ornaments.” Shen Zhuxi smiled. “They were all gifts given to me. I’m merely passing flowers on to the Buddha.”
Jiu Niang understood immediately.
She wiped her hands and walked briskly to the table, her eyes bright as she rifled through the bolts of fabric and jewelry Shen Zhuxi had brought.
“To give away such fine fabric and ornaments — truly worthy of someone whose husband has become a great official!” Jiu Niang teased. “I no longer dare address you as the Madam of Xiangzhou — I must call you the Military Commissioner’s Madam! Military Commissioner’s Madam, this humble one pays her respects—”
Shen Zhuxi pulled Jiu Niang up from her curtsy and feigned anger. “If you keep being so cheeky, I’ll give it all to Little Rui!”
“Whatever would Innkeeper Sui need with these things — better that this humble one help the Madam lighten her load!” Jiu Niang said coyly, bumping against Shen Zhuxi with her shoulder. The soft, billowing sensation made Shen Zhuxi instinctively glance down at her own rather modest chest.
Comparing oneself to others only leads to grief.
“This piece is mine! This humble one must get Sui Rui to give it to me — I’ve been looking for exactly this kind of gauze to make a summer outer robe!” Jiu Niang held up a length of fine ice-silk and declared.
“Spring hasn’t even come yet, and you’re already thinking about summer?” Shen Zhuxi couldn’t help but laugh.
Jiu Niang said proudly, “For this humble one, except for the times when one would freeze to death without a padded coat, it’s summer all year round.”
Shen Zhuxi kept her company as she went through all the gifts piece by piece. Jiu Niang wanted this one, then wanted that one, and from time to time complained that Sui Rui still hadn’t arrived, leaving her unable to start picking her share.
After quite a while, she finally remembered that Shen Zhuxi had been standing with her all this time, and quickly invited her to sit down.
“This is a snow-spring wine I’ve newly brewed. Give it a taste.”
Jiu Niang brought out a small wine jar from the back courtyard and carefully poured a cup for Shen Zhuxi.
Shen Zhuxi lifted the cup and took a small sip. A cool, crisp sensation spread through her mouth, and she said in surprise, “How does this wine have the taste of ice and snow?”
“Of course it does — otherwise why would it be called that?” Jiu Niang said. “After one swallow, the body gradually warms, and the aftertaste in the mouth also changes. Well? Can you feel it?”
Shen Zhuxi savored the taste of the wine in her mouth carefully, then nodded with a delighted expression.
“That is the snow-spring wine.” Jiu Niang said smugly. “The jar you’re drinking isn’t quite aged enough yet. I’ve already buried a full five vats for you — when you have a daughter one day and she marries, I’ll supply the wine for the wedding banquet! But don’t tell your husband — this humble one is afraid he’ll sneak over in the dead of night to steal a drink. That man is capable of anything!”
“He doesn’t have the heart for that right now.” Shen Zhuxi said.
“What’s happened?” Jiu Niang asked, puzzled. “Come to think of it, this humble one heard the vegetable seller’s old farmer say this morning that the Military Commissioner hasn’t been to the official office for several days.”
“Who hasn’t been to the official office?” Sui Rui barged into the tavern, holding a half-eaten candied hawthorn skewer, with Li Kun — whose skewer was now just a bare stick — trailing behind her.
“Diao’er, come here.” Shen Zhuxi beckoned Li Kun over, pinched his purse which was already half-deflated, and said, “You spent all the money on just two candied hawthorn skewers?”
“We also had pig-stomach congee, meat-oil flatbread, snowflake cake…” Li Kun counted on his fingers.
“Did they not feed him lunch?” Sui Rui said irritably. “Eating all the way here — bad enough he ate himself silly, but he kept forcing me to eat too! Shoved food at me even when I said no! I’m so stuffed right now I won’t need breakfast tomorrow morning!”
Shen Zhuxi, as the one responsible for this, immediately changed the subject out of guilty conscience.
She patted Li Kun’s purse and said, “Go play on your own.”
Li Kun glanced at Sui Rui. “Little Rui play together…”
“Little Rui needs to discuss something with your sister-in-law. Can you go spend what’s left in your purse on food?” Shen Zhuxi said patiently.
Li Kun looked at Sui Rui, then at Shen Zhuxi, then finally rocked his head back and forth as he ambled out of the tavern.
Jiu Niang sighed. “…For Li Wu to have married you, it must be the fortune he accumulated across three lifetimes.”
Shen Zhuxi shook her head. “I’m the one who feels that way.”
“One of you has a husband, the other has a sweetheart — billing and cooing in front of me, a woman still without a match. Have you no shame?” Sui Rui wailed. “And you still haven’t answered my question — who was it that hasn’t been going to the official office?”
Shen Zhuxi sighed and briefly told her two women friends about Li Que’s departure.
“Li Wu has been dispirited for several days now. I’ve tried many methods but none of them have lifted his spirits.” Shen Zhuxi asked, “Do either of you have any good ideas?”
At the mention of Li Wu, Sui Rui turned dismissive. “Why bother fussing over him — I’ll wager he’ll be back to his old vigorous self in a few days!”
Jiu Niang said, “Have you tried the one method that never fails?”
“Which method?”
Jiu Niang lowered her voice and said with an air of mystery, “The method that works in bed.”
Shen Zhuxi’s face instantly flushed red.
“I… I’ve tried…” she said haltingly. “But it only works for a little while, not for long…”
“Then try more times!”
“I… I can’t try anymore!” Shen Zhuxi said anxiously. “I’m still aching right now! If I try again — I’ll end up with calluses!”
Jiu Niang stared at her with an expression of astonishment. “…Li Wu is that formidable?”
“Why would I lie to you! I really can’t try anymore!” Shen Zhuxi shook her head repeatedly, and with a lingering look of alarm, hid her hands behind her back.
“I heard he’s been diligently studying and can now compose poetry?” Sui Rui said with a sarcastic tone. “Don’t all men love that sort of composing poems and matching verses business?”
Shen Zhuxi caught the strong note of sourness in her words and turned to ask Jiu Niang, “What’s gotten into her?”
“Never mind her. Scholar Wen has taken a wife — the youngest daughter of a minor ninth-rank official’s household.” Jiu Niang said. “She’s in a sour mood right now.”
“You’re the sour one! What does that have to do with Scholar Wen!” Sui Rui said. “Careful I don’t tell that monk about your gossiping ways!”
“Why has a monk come into this?” Shen Zhuxi was thoroughly confused.
“Don’t you know yet? Her new sweetheart is a monk who has left monastic life! His hair is only this much!” Sui Rui pinched her fingertips together to show how little.
“Nonsense!” Jiu Niang gave Sui Rui a light smack. “He shaved it while carrying out orders from his superiors. If you keep talking such rubbish, don’t blame this humble one for sending you off to become a nun!”
Sui Rui rolled her eyes with a look of utter disdain.
“How did we get so far off topic?” Shen Zhuxi said. “I came here for you two to help me think of ideas!”
“Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting — which can you do?” Jiu Niang propped her chin on her hand. “Men all love that romantic arts sort of thing.”
“I can do all of them.”
Jiu Niang’s chin slipped off her hand.
Shen Zhuxi said with a troubled expression, “But Li Wu doesn’t enjoy any of them…”
She had played the zither for him — Li Wu fell asleep.
She had taught him chess — Li Wu fell asleep.
She had kept him company while writing calligraphy — Li Wu fell asleep.
She had painted for him — Li Wu fell asleep.
Li Wu spent all day sleeping, yet by night he had boundless energy and kept her busy. At this rate, her hands really would develop calluses!
“What about song and dance?” Jiu Niang said.
“I can’t sing. As for dance…” Shen Zhuxi’s voice grew smaller and smaller. She thought of the palace maid her mother consort had beaten to death for sewing dancing slippers for her.
Dance and music were things only women of lowly background would learn. Daughters of respectable families would never learn such a skill — one that meant using one’s appearance to serve others.
The palace maid’s cries and her mother consort’s furious scolding rang in her ears once again.
But this time, she resolutely drove those voices away.
Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, needlework — skills and birth were alike in having no hierarchy of worth.
She would not be deceived again.
“But… would it work?” Shen Zhuxi hesitated. “Li Wu doesn’t seem to have any particular fondness for dance and music either…”
“Can what someone else dances compare to what you dance?” Sui Rui said dismissively. “Even if you just passed wind, Li Wu would think it smelled sweet — if he doesn’t, tell me, and I’ll go sort him out.”
Jiu Niang leaned in close and murmured in her ear, “If you feel uncertain, let me teach you a trick — go find a few sheer garments to use as dance costumes, and don’t wear an inner robe underneath… I guarantee Li Wu will be mad with adoration.”
“No no no no…” Shen Zhuxi shook her head repeatedly. “I’ll end up with calluses…”
“This humble one wishes she could grow calluses!” Jiu Niang stomped her foot in exasperation. “It’s truly feast or famine in this world…”
“What are you two talking about?” Sui Rui asked, baffled. “What calluses?”
“Getting dance costumes made now is too late anyway — at the soonest it would take three to five days, and possibly half a month.” Shen Zhuxi sighed. “Might as well buy a few braised pig’s trotters to try instead…”
“Don’t do that!” Jiu Niang said. “If you’re lacking dance costumes, this humble one will lend you some!”
“You can dance?” Sui Rui said with a look of doubt.
Jiu Niang said proudly, “This humble one may not know how to dance, but my needlework is quite good. A ready-made dance costume I don’t have, but altering one wouldn’t take very long at all.”
“And the dancing slippers?” Sui Rui pressed.
“Those won’t take much time either.” Jiu Niang said with complete confidence.
“Then isn’t that settled?” Sui Rui looked at Shen Zhuxi, pleased.
Shen Zhuxi hesitated a moment. “But I haven’t danced in many years — I’ve forgotten most of what I learned before, and I’m afraid…”
“Afraid of what!” Sui Rui clapped her on the shoulder boldly. “I said it — even if you just passed wind, Li Wu would think it smelled sweet. If you go to all this trouble to prepare, and he still doesn’t appreciate it — you tell me, and I’ll go deal with him!”
With the constant encouragement of her two women friends, Shen Zhuxi finally made up her mind.
“There are a few more things I need. May I ask you both for help?”
Sui Rui and Jiu Niang heard her request and agreed at once.
Now that Shen Zhuxi had decided to dance, she could not do without music. But neither Sui Rui nor Jiu Niang knew anything about string instruments, so Shen Zhuxi thought it over, said her farewells to the two friends, and rode in her carriage to Li Qingman’s Verdant Bamboo Courtyard.
After successfully asking Li Qingman to provide musical accompaniment for her, the preparatory work for the dance performance was nearly complete.
What remained — and what mattered most — was the dance she would choose.
She only knew one dance.
It was a dance she had secretly sneaked away to watch being rehearsed at the Inner Music Bureau when she was eleven. She had come back and, using the most rudimentary means, taught herself by imitation — all without anyone knowing.
Her mother consort had forced her to practice needlework, and even the lightest prick of a needle tip would make her cry out in pain. Yet she fell again and again in the dim moonlight, her knees striking the cold floor and turning black and blue, and she had bitten her teeth together and made not a single sound.
She had loved dance and music — until the palace maid who embroidered dancing slippers for her was beaten to death outside the door.
She had resolved never to touch dance again for the rest of her life.
After Jiu Niang sent over the dancing slippers she had altered by hand, Shen Zhuxi sat in her room for a long while, holding the exquisite and beautiful shoes.
The plain red embroidered shoes had been transformed into brilliant red dancing slippers gleaming with pearls and gems. She ran her fingers over the jade and jewels adorning them, and said softly, “The life of the Princess of Yue… has already ended.”
The one living now was no one else.
Only Shen Zhuxi.
After Li Que left, Li Wu was listless for several days.
The first mealtime without Li Que, Li Kun had still been gleefully clapping and cheering. But by the third day after Li Que’s departure, Li Kun — who normally ate from a basin — left behind leftovers for the first time.
“When is Third Brother coming back?” Li Kun threw down his wooden chopsticks, his face sullen. “How could he… how could he go off to enjoy himself alone like that?”
“Que’er had matters to attend to. He’ll be back after a while,” Shen Zhuxi said soothingly.
“After a while… how long is ‘a while’?”
“…I’m finished eating. You all go ahead.”
Before Shen Zhuxi could even open her mouth, Li Wu set down his chopsticks and rose from the table.
His bowl of rice was empty, but he had barely touched the dishes. Throughout the meal he had seemed distracted, going through the motions of lifting food to his mouth mechanically.
“What’s gotten into Big Brother…” Li Kun muttered, watching his retreating figure.
“…Big Brother is unhappy because he sees you not eating properly.” Shen Zhuxi picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and placed it in his bowl. “Come, eat up — and when you’re done, come with me to visit Little Rui.”
Li Kun’s expression immediately brightened. “Alright!”
Once Li Kun had rallied his full strength and swept the table clean of every last dish, Shen Zhuxi took him out and brought him to the entrance of Sui’s Chicken Shop, where she let him off the carriage.
“Piggy come down too…” Li Kun dawdled by the side of the carriage.
Shen Zhuxi gave careful, meticulous instructions: “Go call on Little Rui and walk with her to Chen’s Tavern. Along the way, tell her about the interesting things you’ve been up to lately — don’t mention how many times you passed wind in a day, that sort of thing. Talk about the fish you caught yesterday, the squirrel you caught — understood?”
“Walk slowly on the way, don’t let Little Rui fall behind, and absolutely do not hit or bump into her — no matter how lightly.” Shen Zhuxi said earnestly. “In your pouch, I’ve already put in some silver. If you see something good to eat, don’t only buy for yourself — remember to buy a portion for Little Rui too. Have you remembered everything I’ve said?”
Li Kun nodded in a daze. “Remembered, remembered… nag, nag… nagging Piggy…”
After finishing her instructions, Shen Zhuxi watched his nine-foot frame hunch down and stoop through the entrance of Sui’s Chicken Shop before she felt at ease, and told the driver to move on.
The carriage stopped in front of Chen’s Tavern. Shen Zhuxi stepped down, and with Ti Niang carrying bundles large and small, she entered the shop.
Jiu Niang was wiping down the counter and looked up in surprise at the sight of Shen Zhuxi and Ti Niang behind her.
“What is all that you’ve brought?”
“Things for you and Little Rui — some silk and brocade fabric, along with some hair ornaments.” Shen Zhuxi smiled. “They were all gifts given to me. I’m merely passing flowers on to the Buddha.”
Jiu Niang understood immediately.
She wiped her hands and walked briskly to the table, her eyes bright as she rifled through the bolts of fabric and jewelry Shen Zhuxi had brought.
“To give away such fine fabric and ornaments — truly worthy of someone whose husband has become a great official!” Jiu Niang teased. “I no longer dare address you as the Madam of Xiangzhou — I must call you the Military Commissioner’s Madam! Military Commissioner’s Madam, this humble one pays her respects—”
Shen Zhuxi pulled Jiu Niang up from her curtsy and feigned anger. “If you keep being so cheeky, I’ll give it all to Little Rui!”
“Whatever would Innkeeper Sui need with these things — better that this humble one help the Madam lighten her load!” Jiu Niang said coyly, bumping against Shen Zhuxi with her shoulder. The soft, billowing sensation made Shen Zhuxi instinctively glance down at her own rather modest chest.
Comparing oneself to others only leads to grief.
“This piece is mine! This humble one must get Sui Rui to give it to me — I’ve been looking for exactly this kind of gauze to make a summer outer robe!” Jiu Niang held up a length of fine ice-silk and declared.
“Spring hasn’t even come yet, and you’re already thinking about summer?” Shen Zhuxi couldn’t help but laugh.
Jiu Niang said proudly, “For this humble one, except for the times when one would freeze to death without a padded coat, it’s summer all year round.”
Shen Zhuxi kept her company as she went through all the gifts piece by piece. Jiu Niang wanted this one, then wanted that one, and from time to time complained that Sui Rui still hadn’t arrived, leaving her unable to start picking her share.
After quite a while, she finally remembered that Shen Zhuxi had been standing with her all this time, and quickly invited her to sit down.
“This is a snow-spring wine I’ve newly brewed. Give it a taste.”
Jiu Niang brought out a small wine jar from the back courtyard and carefully poured a cup for Shen Zhuxi.
Shen Zhuxi lifted the cup and took a small sip. A cool, crisp sensation spread through her mouth, and she said in surprise, “How does this wine have the taste of ice and snow?”
“Of course it does — otherwise why would it be called that?” Jiu Niang said. “After one swallow, the body gradually warms, and the aftertaste in the mouth also changes. Well? Can you feel it?”
Shen Zhuxi savored the taste of the wine in her mouth carefully, then nodded with a delighted expression.
“That is the snow-spring wine.” Jiu Niang said smugly. “The jar you’re drinking isn’t quite aged enough yet. I’ve already buried a full five vats for you — when you have a daughter one day and she marries, I’ll supply the wine for the wedding banquet! But don’t tell your husband — this humble one is afraid he’ll sneak over in the dead of night to steal a drink. That man is capable of anything!”
“He doesn’t have the heart for that right now.” Shen Zhuxi said.
“What’s happened?” Jiu Niang asked, puzzled. “Come to think of it, this humble one heard the vegetable seller’s old farmer say this morning that the Military Commissioner hasn’t been to the official office for several days.”
“Who hasn’t been to the official office?” Sui Rui barged into the tavern, holding a half-eaten candied hawthorn skewer, with Li Kun — whose skewer was now just a bare stick — trailing behind her.
“Diao’er, come here.” Shen Zhuxi beckoned Li Kun over, pinched his purse which was already half-deflated, and said, “You spent all the money on just two candied hawthorn skewers?”
“We also had pig-stomach congee, meat-oil flatbread, snowflake cake…” Li Kun counted on his fingers.
“Did they not feed him lunch?” Sui Rui said irritably. “Eating all the way here — bad enough he ate himself silly, but he kept forcing me to eat too! Shoved food at me even when I said no! I’m so stuffed right now I won’t need breakfast tomorrow morning!”
Shen Zhuxi, as the one responsible for this, immediately changed the subject out of guilty conscience.
She patted Li Kun’s purse and said, “Go play on your own.”
Li Kun glanced at Sui Rui. “Little Rui play together…”
“Little Rui needs to discuss something with your sister-in-law. Can you go spend what’s left in your purse on food?” Shen Zhuxi said patiently.
Li Kun looked at Sui Rui, then at Shen Zhuxi, then finally rocked his head back and forth as he ambled out of the tavern.
Jiu Niang sighed. “…For Li Wu to have married you, it must be the fortune he accumulated across three lifetimes.”
Shen Zhuxi shook her head. “I’m the one who feels that way.”
“One of you has a husband, the other has a sweetheart — billing and cooing in front of me, a woman still without a match. Have you no shame?” Sui Rui wailed. “And you still haven’t answered my question — who was it that hasn’t been going to the official office?”
Shen Zhuxi sighed and briefly told her two women friends about Li Que’s departure.
“Li Wu has been dispirited for several days now. I’ve tried many methods but none of them have lifted his spirits.” Shen Zhuxi asked, “Do either of you have any good ideas?”
At the mention of Li Wu, Sui Rui turned dismissive. “Why bother fussing over him — I’ll wager he’ll be back to his old vigorous self in a few days!”
Jiu Niang said, “Have you tried the one method that never fails?”
“Which method?”
Jiu Niang lowered her voice and said with an air of mystery, “The method that works in bed.”
Shen Zhuxi’s face instantly flushed red.
“I… I’ve tried…” she said haltingly. “But it only works for a little while, not for long…”
“Then try more times!”
“I… I can’t try anymore!” Shen Zhuxi said anxiously. “I’m still aching right now! If I try again — I’ll end up with calluses!”
Jiu Niang stared at her with an expression of astonishment. “…Li Wu is that formidable?”
“Why would I lie to you! I really can’t try anymore!” Shen Zhuxi shook her head repeatedly, and with a lingering look of alarm, hid her hands behind her back.
“I heard he’s been diligently studying and can now compose poetry?” Sui Rui said with a sarcastic tone. “Don’t all men love that sort of composing poems and matching verses business?”
Shen Zhuxi caught the strong note of sourness in her words and turned to ask Jiu Niang, “What’s gotten into her?”
“Never mind her. Scholar Wen has taken a wife — the youngest daughter of a minor ninth-rank official’s household.” Jiu Niang said. “She’s in a sour mood right now.”
“You’re the sour one! What does that have to do with Scholar Wen!” Sui Rui said. “Careful I don’t tell that monk about your gossiping ways!”
“Why has a monk come into this?” Shen Zhuxi was thoroughly confused.
“Don’t you know yet? Her new sweetheart is a monk who has left monastic life! His hair is only this much!” Sui Rui pinched her fingertips together to show how little.
“Nonsense!” Jiu Niang gave Sui Rui a light smack. “He shaved it while carrying out orders from his superiors. If you keep talking such rubbish, don’t blame this humble one for sending you off to become a nun!”
Sui Rui rolled her eyes with a look of utter disdain.
“How did we get so far off topic?” Shen Zhuxi said. “I came here for you two to help me think of ideas!”
“Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting — which can you do?” Jiu Niang propped her chin on her hand. “Men all love that romantic arts sort of thing.”
“I can do all of them.”
Jiu Niang’s chin slipped off her hand.
Shen Zhuxi said with a troubled expression, “But Li Wu doesn’t enjoy any of them…”
She had played the zither for him — Li Wu fell asleep.
She had taught him chess — Li Wu fell asleep.
She had kept him company while writing calligraphy — Li Wu fell asleep.
She had painted for him — Li Wu fell asleep.
Li Wu spent all day sleeping, yet by night he had boundless energy and kept her busy. At this rate, her hands really would develop calluses!
“What about song and dance?” Jiu Niang said.
“I can’t sing. As for dance…” Shen Zhuxi’s voice grew smaller and smaller. She thought of the palace maid her mother consort had beaten to death for sewing dancing slippers for her.
Dance and music were things only women of lowly background would learn. Daughters of respectable families would never learn such a skill — one that meant using one’s appearance to serve others.
The palace maid’s cries and her mother consort’s furious scolding rang in her ears once again.
But this time, she resolutely drove those voices away.
Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, needlework — skills and birth were alike in having no hierarchy of worth.
She would not be deceived again.
“But… would it work?” Shen Zhuxi hesitated. “Li Wu doesn’t seem to have any particular fondness for dance and music either…”
“Can what someone else dances compare to what you dance?” Sui Rui said dismissively. “Even if you just passed wind, Li Wu would think it smelled sweet — if he doesn’t, tell me, and I’ll go sort him out.”
Jiu Niang leaned in close and murmured in her ear, “If you feel uncertain, let me teach you a trick — go find a few sheer garments to use as dance costumes, and don’t wear an inner robe underneath… I guarantee Li Wu will be mad with adoration.”
“No no no no…” Shen Zhuxi shook her head repeatedly. “I’ll end up with calluses…”
“This humble one wishes she could grow calluses!” Jiu Niang stomped her foot in exasperation. “It’s truly feast or famine in this world…”
“What are you two talking about?” Sui Rui asked, baffled. “What calluses?”
“Getting dance costumes made now is too late anyway — at the soonest it would take three to five days, and possibly half a month.” Shen Zhuxi sighed. “Might as well buy a few braised pig’s trotters to try instead…”
“Don’t do that!” Jiu Niang said. “If you’re lacking dance costumes, this humble one will lend you some!”
“You can dance?” Sui Rui said with a look of doubt.
Jiu Niang said proudly, “This humble one may not know how to dance, but my needlework is quite good. A ready-made dance costume I don’t have, but altering one wouldn’t take very long at all.”
“And the dancing slippers?” Sui Rui pressed.
“Those won’t take much time either.” Jiu Niang said with complete confidence.
“Then isn’t that settled?” Sui Rui looked at Shen Zhuxi, pleased.
Shen Zhuxi hesitated a moment. “But I haven’t danced in many years — I’ve forgotten most of what I learned before, and I’m afraid…”
“Afraid of what!” Sui Rui clapped her on the shoulder boldly. “I said it — even if you just passed wind, Li Wu would think it smelled sweet. If you go to all this trouble to prepare, and he still doesn’t appreciate it — you tell me, and I’ll go deal with him!”
With the constant encouragement of her two women friends, Shen Zhuxi finally made up her mind.
“There are a few more things I need. May I ask you both for help?”
Sui Rui and Jiu Niang heard her request and agreed at once.
Now that Shen Zhuxi had decided to dance, she could not do without music. But neither Sui Rui nor Jiu Niang knew anything about string instruments, so Shen Zhuxi thought it over, said her farewells to the two friends, and rode in her carriage to Li Qingman’s Verdant Bamboo Courtyard.
After successfully asking Li Qingman to provide musical accompaniment for her, the preparatory work for the dance performance was nearly complete.
What remained — and what mattered most — was the dance she would choose.
She only knew one dance.
It was a dance she had secretly sneaked away to watch being rehearsed at the Inner Music Bureau when she was eleven. She had come back and, using the most rudimentary means, taught herself by imitation — all without anyone knowing.
Her mother consort had forced her to practice needlework, and even the lightest prick of a needle tip would make her cry out in pain. Yet she fell again and again in the dim moonlight, her knees striking the cold floor and turning black and blue, and she had bitten her teeth together and made not a single sound.
She had loved dance and music — until the palace maid who embroidered dancing slippers for her was beaten to death outside the door.
She had resolved never to touch dance again for the rest of her life.
After Jiu Niang sent over the dancing slippers she had altered by hand, Shen Zhuxi sat in her room for a long while, holding the exquisite and beautiful shoes.
The plain red embroidered shoes had been transformed into brilliant red dancing slippers gleaming with pearls and gems. She ran her fingers over the jade and jewels adorning them, and said softly, “The life of the Princess of Yue… has already ended.”
The one living now was no one else.
Only Shen Zhuxi.