Days in the deep palace were refined yet cold. Shaoshang felt as if even her eyeball movements had slowed down. Her words and actions had somehow gained several degrees of elegance. Even when staring blankly at the bronze water clock, she could rest her fragrant cheek on her hand and twist her slender waist. In her melancholy gaze, she resembled a perfectly rendered ink painting of a court lady.
However, no matter how slowly she spoke, how confused her gaze, or how absorbed her blank staring, none of it could stop the wicked schemes in her head from surging and rushing, an endless source appearing at the slightest provocation.
Because the Empress had been in poor health these past years, and recently state affairs had been going smoothly, the Emperor wanted to lavishly celebrate the Empress’s birthday this time. The Empress declined several times, but the Emperor refused to listen. So this day, the Empress planned to dress formally and go to the Chancellor’s Platform to remonstrate.
Seeing this was wrong, Shaoshang blocked the inner hall entrance to ask the Empress how she planned to remonstrate.
The Empress said: “As the saying goes, what those above favor, those below will follow. Since His Majesty vigorously advocates frugality, he shouldn’t waste all previous efforts for personal preference and individual desires. Occupying the supreme position, even moving a single small thought might employ thousands upon thousands of common people. When the time comes, the countless tributes sent into the palace—who knows how much will come from the people’s fat and blood…”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Shaoshang quickly interrupted this long discourse, joking: “Your Majesty, this subject feels that those court ministers and lords aren’t easy either. Either they spent their youth in poor scholarship to gain His Majesty’s favor, or they fought through mountains of corpses and seas of blood for a position or two. Let’s not steal their livelihood.”
The Empress’s gaze swept over, the corners of her mouth slightly curved: “What I said wasn’t good?”
Shaoshang wore the face of a sycophantic minister: “Your Majesty, you are first His Majesty’s wife, only secondarily a subject. Those great principles can be set aside for now—though remonstrating against a grand birthday celebration is right. Your Majesty, this subject has a suggestion. When you see His Majesty, say: ‘Since ancient times, husband and wife are one body. There’s no principle of the husband eating chaff and swallowing vegetables while the wife enjoys delicacies. When His Majesty properly celebrates his own birthday, it won’t be too late to lavishly arrange this subject’s Thousand Autumn celebration.’ Your Majesty should also say that if His Majesty himself is so austere, even if you celebrated your birthday as grandly as the Queen Mother of the West at West Kunlun, your heart would still ache unbearably. Just say His Majesty should sympathize with Your Majesty and not let Your Majesty’s heart ache. Then Your Majesty might as well say more words about how you feel for His Majesty’s frugal self-denial. Your tone should be gentler, more pitiful. Don’t look directly at His Majesty—don’t be like a remonstrating minister speaking bluntly…”
“What nonsense are you speaking at such a young age!” The Empress’s jade face flushed red.
Shaoshang sighed: “Your Majesty, if I had your appearance, would I have fallen to this state? Even without saying anything, Master Ling would listen to everything I said. How would I end up locked in the palace unable to leave even one step? You’re sitting on a treasure mountain without knowing it!”
The Empress had been reserved and cautious since childhood, and the Emperor was not a sweet-tongued person either. But which woman doesn’t love hearing praise of her beauty? Even though she was dignified and self-controlled, at this moment she couldn’t help but smile with pleasure, her golden hairpins trembling slightly.
“…Who told you to refuse to say even one soft word!” She smiled with feigned reproach. “What would be wrong with yielding a little?”
Shaoshang didn’t want to discuss matters between herself and Ling Buyi, so she sighed: “Your Majesty, I’m shallow in talent and wisdom—best not to mention it. Now I’m counting on you. If you can bewitch His Majesty early and have His Majesty speak to let me go home, then who would fear that certain Ling person? That would be truly excellent! Your Majesty, I’m completely relying on you!”
“I won’t help you with this favor! Zicheng also grew up in my palace—I’d sooner help him!” The Empress’s beautiful eyes turned, rippling with mischief, seeming to return to carefree childhood.
Shaoshang called after the Empress’s back as she left the inner chamber, still calling softly: “You must be gentle, must feel heartache, and you can even faint a little—but best to fall into His Majesty’s arms…”
The Empress stumbled, turned back to glare forcefully at Shaoshang, but couldn’t suppress the smile on her face.
Granny Zhai held back laughter until her belly hurt, thinking that though Young Lady Cheng disliked staying in the palace, for the Empress, having such a varied and mischievous, joyful young lady as company was absolutely wonderful.
The Empress performed as such with the Emperor. Though Shaoshang didn’t know whether she employed the ‘fainting’ ultimate move, it indeed both dispelled the Emperor’s intention to make grand arrangements and greatly pleased him. He stayed in Changqiu Palace for several consecutive days. In the end, the Empress had to push the Emperor to go to Consort Yue. Shaoshang was greatly puzzled. The Empress said: “Consort Yue and His Majesty have childhood sweethearts’ affection. If she wants to make His Majesty happy, it’s a hundred or thousand times easier than for me, yet she never relies on favor. Shaoshang, we’ve been together so many years—this is very good.”
Shaoshang seemed to understand yet not understand.
Days rushed by like this. Finally came the Empress’s birthday. Palace maids and eunuchs everywhere swept and decorated with colored silks. The Emperor widely opened the palace storehouse to bestow rewards. The various princes and princesses all began routinely preparing birthday gifts. Even Luo Jitong returned to the palace to help celebrate. Fifth Princess, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time, was especially striking—she actually led over a dozen official daughters who usually played around her into the palace, saying they would perform a dance for the Empress.
“Daughter’s body, hair, skin, fiefs, and authority are all bestowed by my parents. No matter where I found precious gifts, ultimately aren’t they all borrowed from Father Emperor and Mother Empress’s influence?” Fifth Princess’s pockmarks had faded considerably—from a sky full of stars to sesame buns from a stingy shopkeeper. Having smoothed out her fierce, arrogant expression, when she smiled she was actually quite sweet.
“This dance was specially arranged by a renowned dance master I invited from the streets to celebrate Mother Empress’s birthday. I’ve also practiced it for a long time in my residence. On the day of the performance, even if there are shortcomings, please Mother Empress pretend not to see them and applaud enthusiastically.”
The Empress was full of smiles, repeatedly praising her. Though her youngest daughter was selfish and arrogant, often disappointing her, at this moment she was like all loving mothers in the world, only hoping her child would become sensible when grown.
“Good, good, good. Mother accepts your filial devotion. That you understand the principle that sentiment is worth ten thousand gold makes me happier than anything… But I heard you enclosed over ten thousand acres of fields in Hongnong Commandery to make yourself an estate? Is this true?”
Shaoshang had originally been getting drowsy listening to this mother-daughter harmony, but hearing this she suddenly became alert, thinking being a princess was truly good. If only she’d been reborn as a princess—let’s see which person surnamed Zero or One would dare lock her in the palace to learn propriety!
Fifth Princess’s expression stiffened, then she acted coquettishly: “Oh Mother Empress, that’s all wasteland, dry and hard rocky beaches that no one would want even if thrown away. I enclosed it to have people dig channels and compost the land, then accommodate refugees to open and cultivate it. It can both produce grain and pacify the people’s livelihood. Father Emperor should actually commend me!”
The Empress was helpless, sighing noncommittally.
Fifth Princess glanced sideways at the Crown Princess sitting nearby and smiled: “Mother Empress, don’t always talk about me. A while ago the Crown Princess also enclosed quite a lot of land—mm, at least seven or eight thousand acres. Why don’t you mention her?”
Shaoshang’s envious gaze immediately shot toward the Crown Princess, thinking she truly couldn’t judge by appearances. Usually she looked refined and quiet—if someone said one word to her, her eyes would stay red for two days. Yet her hands reached so far—truly couldn’t tell!
The Crown Princess looked full of grievance: “Mother Empress doesn’t know—the Crown Prince usually needs money for handling affairs and employing people, spending greatly. If he doesn’t have some liquid gold and silver on hand, many matters won’t go so smoothly…”
“Nonsense!” Fifth Princess said angrily. “How many fiefs and mines has Father Emperor bestowed on Crown Prince Brother? Mountains of gold and silver wouldn’t be excessive. How could spending not be enough? It’s clearly because Crown Prince listened to his advisors’ remonstrations and won’t let you touch the Eastern Palace’s finances, so you got your own ideas…”
“Enough!” The Empress slapped the table, her face darkening. “The Crown Princess is the Crown Consort. The Crown Prince has many places that need money, and she also has many places that need money. As a younger sister, how can you speak to your elder sister-in-law like this?”
Fifth Princess bit her lip, her face full of indignation. Seeing this, the Crown Princess quickly prostrated herself in thanks for the Empress’s understanding, then said: “Though I have some modest fields, I also recorded the people and acres in the fish-scale registers at the local government office—not a bit less. Fifth Sister is different. Though her fief is abundant, she enclosed such vast fields yet only recorded twenty people with the government…”
Shaoshang drew in a sharp breath. According to current agricultural levels, how could twenty people cultivate over ten thousand acres of land?! This Fifth Princess was clearly concealing people and evading taxes! Then Shaoshang quickly looked at the Crown Princess again, thinking this little sister-in-law was somewhat tactless. The Empress had clearly shown partiality toward her—she should have gone along with it and let it pass with a smile.
Moreover, even if Fifth Princess was at fault, the Crown Princess should have told the Empress privately, not spoken of it in front of herself, Granny Zhai, and even all these palace maids. The two were aunt and sister-in-law, differing considerably in age. The Crown Princess hadn’t even ascended to the phoenix throne yet but was already so harsh and unforgiving toward her little sister-in-law. Could the Emperor and Empress expect her to care for the other siblings in the future?
What an idiot!
The Empress had no more smiles, saying neither warmly nor coldly: “Oh, is that so? I’ll have someone investigate later. Alright, that’s enough for today. I’m tired. You may all withdraw.”
The Crown Princess wanted to say more, but Granny Zhai had already had palace maids open the door to see them out. Fifth Princess glared venomously at the Crown Princess and strode away angrily.
Shaoshang pitied the Empress in her heart but remembered her own status—they were a daughter-in-law and a daughter to her. What was she but a nobody?
The Empress sat quietly supporting the armrest for a long while, then said: “Shaoshang, do you think Fifth Princess’s fields are truly wasteland?”
Shaoshang had wanted to smile placatingly, but seeing the Empress’s lonely expression, she pondered briefly and said in a low voice: “This subject is ignorant, but I also know Hongnong has been prosperous since ancient times, densely populated, and was one of the first commanderies submitted to the Emperor. Logically speaking, that area should be like Qingzhou before the New Year—after sending people to eliminate bandits, they should have quickly opened wasteland for cultivation. How could there still be such vast masterless wasteland?”
The Empress said quietly: “Indeed. But the Crown Princess didn’t point this out, only daring to make an issue of the people count. It seems the origins of her fields aren’t much cleaner either. Shaoshang, what do you think…”
Shaoshang felt uneasy in her heart, feeling she was stepping into forbidden topic territory. She could only feign pride: “In my family, from estates to shops, all money is managed by Mother. My Third Uncle—he hands over every five-zhu coin to Third Aunt. Even Master Ling is willing to give me however much… “
She noticed the Empress’s interested gaze and couldn’t help feeling awkward. She laughed it off and turned to say: “Besides, I can also make money myself. This subject believes the Crown Princess should first examine herself—why is the Crown Prince unwilling to entrust finances to her?”
Princesses ate their parents’ rice—if they did wrong, a scolding or beating sufficed. The Crown Princess ate her husband’s rice—either she should be desireless like herself, planning to innovate and make money in the future, or she should honestly please the Crown Prince as the superior strategy.
The Empress sighed lightly. These words truly reached her heart, but she couldn’t speak ill of the Crown Princess in front of Shaoshang. She could only say: “…I’ve long heard Madam Xiao is talented and learned, diligent and frugal. These past months, I’ve observed that your expenditures and conduct all rather have your mother’s style. This is very good.”
Shaoshang heard the bitter meaning in these words. Actually the Empress was also very frugal, yet the children she raised were all difficult to describe. She was somewhat curious what style the princes and princesses on Consort Yue’s side were.
Soon the Empress gave her this opportunity, sending her to deliver an embroidered silk letter to Consort Yue.
Because currently this dynasty had no Empress Dowager, Consort Yue lived directly in the spacious and quiet Yongle Palace.
Having reached the rival’s territory, Shaoshang smiled both adorably and cutely, lively like a Q-version bun sister, round and soft. Originally the senior palace maid on duty had rather scrutinizing eyes toward this ‘Shiyilang’s fiancée,’ but was made to soften at the corners of her mouth by Shaoshang’s smile.
Another senior palace maid said worriedly: “Her Majesty is currently… why not have Young Lady Cheng wait a bit?”
The palace maid ahead said: “Don’t make decisions for Her Majesty—just wait for the reply from inside.”
At this time, a young palace maid rushed out from inside, panting: “Her Majesty calls Young Lady Cheng to enter.”—Hearing this, the palace maid ahead looked triumphantly at the other palace maid and snorted lightly.
Shaoshang kept her head lowered with effort, resolutely not getting involved.
Leaving the two accompanying young Changqiu Palace maids at the hall entrance, Shaoshang followed the guiding palace maid inside. Passing through two corridors and turning into the inner hall, from afar she heard Consort Yue’s voice from the inner chamber—
“…Mind’s not clear, actually daring to covet Shiyilang! Thinking about it would be fine, but daring to make difficulties for his new wife! What, coming into the palace today you’re so stubborn and obstinate—could you actually feel wronged? I ask what do you have—appearance or talent? Why would he take a fancy to you? What can you give him—wealth, power, or the sovereign father’s favor? Zicheng lacks none of these three, and in every one he has more than you!”
Shaoshang immediately knew who Consort Yue was speaking to. She awkwardly halted at the doorway, not daring to enter. Unfortunately the palace maid had already announced her inside. She could only follow with her head lowered. Upon entering the inner chamber, she discovered besides Third Princess with her head nearly to the ground, Second Princess was also there, and both of them looked even more awkward than herself.
The only person not awkward in the inner chamber, Consort Yue, beckoned to Shaoshang, indicating she should sit, then continued lecturing her daughter: “…If you’re truly so idle, also learn from your Second Sister to write a little tune or dance, then have that group of scholars blow some hot air, also giving your Father Emperor face, showing we’re also a family steeped in poetry and books, not just wielding swords and spears. That would count as fulfilling your filial devotion. What do you say… Why are you here?”
The last sentence was directed at Shaoshang. She had originally been listening with interest. Hearing this, she started, quickly stated her purpose, then presented the embroidered silk scroll with both hands. Consort Yue unrolled the scroll and laughed: “Perform a dance? Must be another scheme献ted by her advisors. Well, this birthday gift is both distinctive and economical—those advisors weren’t raised in vain.”
She crisply rolled up the scroll and said to Shaoshang: “Have you met all those young ladies performing the dance?”
Shaoshang said: “I saw them hurriedly once.”
“How do they look?” Consort Yue’s face showed no fear. “Could Little Fifth be presenting beauties to her Father Emperor?”
“Mother Consort!” Second Princess nearly screamed.
“No, no, no! Absolutely not! Your Majesty, please discern clearly!” Shaoshang waved her hands repeatedly, sweat breaking out on her forehead.
“Even if presenting beauties, would Fifth Sister choose the Empress Your Majesty’s birthday?” With such a mother, even with her artistic temperament, Second Princess couldn’t help but pop a few veins. Shaoshang felt considerable sympathy.
“Exactly, exactly! Besides, I’ve seen all those young ladies—every one like winnowing baskets woven from broken vines. Even if there are one or two who are presentable, it’s only the difference between a gap-toothed winnowing basket and a smooth-edged one!” Though she also disliked Fifth Princess, she was after all the Empress’s daughter and should at least be helped.
However, these words at least earned Consort Yue’s smile: “Winnowing baskets? Hehe, you’re quite amusing. Fine, go back and tell the Empress I agree. Let them stay in the garden east of here. I’ll ‘look after’ them well.”
Only then did Shaoshang realize the Empress was entrusting to Consort Yue those girls Fifth Princess had brought into the palace.
“…But I heard Little Fifth lacks money, actually enclosing land outside. Is this true?” Consort Yue’s conversation turned, directly frightening Shaoshang speechless, her face like earth.
Seeing her expression, Consort Yue smiled: “Looking at your appearance, it seems the Empress also knows. Alas, raising advisors costs money, raising wandering knights costs even more, raising handsome wandering knights is even more ruinous… Alright, Little Second, stop coughing, I won’t continue. Cheng Shi, you go back first. Ask the Empress whether she wants Fifth Princess sent here too for me to… mm, reason with her…” When saying these four words, Second Princess wore a bitter smile, Third Princess looked like she deeply empathized, no longer having her former arrogant air.
Shaoshang smiled: “This, this won’t be necessary. This subject observes Fifth Princess seems much more sensible this time.” Having a consort discipline the Empress’s daughter—the Changqiu Palace people wouldn’t go out anymore.
Consort Yue raised her eyebrows noncommittally: “Fine, then quickly have that group of young ladies come over. Don’t let them wander around the palace lest they cause trouble.”
Shaoshang was stunned: “Not, not to that extent…” Not so fast, surely.
Consort Yue couldn’t be bothered with her, waving her hand to have her return, continuing with her two daughters: “Right, where was I just now? Oh right, filial devotion. I’m laying down these words for you first—don’t cause me trouble at the Empress’s birthday this time, or else our mother-daughter relationship is finished. Poor common families’ daughters not only have to labor from a young age, but in bad years are even sold by their parents. You were born with good fate—wearing gold and silver, having food and drink, served from head to toe, and won’t be sold. I have no other expectations for you—stay peaceful. Understand?! These days stay honestly in my palace. One little mistake and you’ll roll off to your own fief—don’t come back!”
As Shaoshang walked out, she heard Third Princess seem to respond with a low acknowledgment. She sighed inwardly—the Empress was just too soft-hearted. If only she had half of Consort Yue’s fierceness.
Walking along the palace corridor, she saw several senior palace maids who had come out from Consort Yue’s inner chamber already bustling energetically to arrange the living environment in the neighboring garden. She couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at Consort Yue’s excessive victim consciousness. She didn’t know how intense the rivalry between her and Madam Huo must have been back then. Alas, that group of young ladies had only entered the palace yesterday, having barely spent one night making do in the outer court, not even settling their resting place—how could they rush like reincarnating to do bad things…
She thought this in her heart, but after merely a quarter hour, soaking in the cool lake water, she realized her experience was indeed shallow—on the way back to Changqiu Palace, passing through the imperial gardens, she was deliberately pushed into the pond by several touring young ladies pretending it was an accident.
Those seven or eight young ladies seemed to be out strolling. They stood on the shore, laughing at Shaoshang in the pond until their branches trembled, even holding back the two young palace maids following her, not allowing them to rescue her.
“Oh my, outside I often heard people praise this Young Lady Cheng for being talented and virtuous, saying she’s unmatched in heaven and earth. How come today she’s become a water duck…”
“I think she’s nothing special. Must be good at flattering and currying favor. Hey, why don’t you say some nice words? If we’re happy, we’ll pull you up…”
“Let’s pull her up. If something happens, we can’t bear the responsibility.”
“Stop the nonsense—wasn’t it your foot that tripped her just now?”
…
Shaoshang lightly trod water, looking at the group of little bitches swaying their waists and shaking their heads on shore, her heart utterly calm.
Swimming was nothing special when explained. Actually, the human chest cavity is largely empty. After falling in water, even doing nothing, as long as one tries to maintain a face-up position, the torso will naturally float. Then try to raise the chin, exposing the mouth and nose above water for unimpeded breathing. Those who drown in calm water mostly do so from panic. Moreover, she was from the south, had known how to swim since childhood, and after coming here often kicked her legs and moved her arms in the bathtub to adapt her body’s感觉.
After a while, the girls on shore saw Shaoshang composed and calm in the water and actually planned to throw small stones at her for amusement. How would Shaoshang wait to be pelted? Moreover, it was late autumn turning to early winter—the pond water was cold. She immediately loosened her waist sash and the waterlogged curved hem robe, and like a nimble little fish swaying her body, swam to the shore on the other side in no time at all.
Though she didn’t mind walking back to Changqiu Palace wearing only her middle garment, the shivering cold wind blowing on her soaking wet body still made her sneeze. The two young palace maids rushed over—one removed her outer garment to drape over her, the other pulled out a handkerchief to dry her off.
Shaoshang coldly glanced at those seven or eight little bitches, turned without a word and walked away.
Given her active brain cells and rich ‘victimization’ experience, in just the short time from swimming in the pond to shore, she’d already thought up five or six revenge ideas, each one both mean and spicy, guaranteed to draw no blood yet make them never forget.
On the opposite shore, the seven or eight girls gradually grew somewhat panicked, chattering away.
“She won’t go complain to the Empress, will she?”
“What are we afraid of? No one saw it here. We’ll just insist we don’t admit it! The Princess will support us!”
“Right, right! Besides, she wasn’t even hurt a bit—how serious can it be?! Worst case we get a beating!”
…
Returning to Changqiu Palace, Granny Zhai was greatly shocked seeing Shaoshang in this state. She quickly had someone boil ginger soup and heat braziers, also preparing a large basin of hot water for her to bathe. The ice-cold skin slowly regained its color in the steaming bath tub. Shaoshang let out a long breath.
Granny Zhai helped the girl dry off while saying angrily: “After grooming, let’s quickly go tell Her Majesty!”
Who knew Shaoshang said: “Eh, no rush.”
“Little lady, don’t be afraid. Her Majesty likes you and will certainly uphold justice for you.”
“Alas, precisely because Her Majesty treats me well, we should at least wait until tomorrow’s birthday banquet passes.”
“If we don’t go now, later those little slave girls will certainly deny it!” Actually not bathing and going directly to complain would be most effective, but Granny Zhai worried the girl would catch cold.
“I want them to deny it.” Shaoshang smiled sweetly, seeming not angry at all, even somewhat nostalgic. Wasn’t it just being bullied? Who hasn’t experienced that? She had lots of experience.
Granny Zhai slowed her movements drying the girl’s hair, sighing: “If you’d tell Shiyilang, he’d avenge any grievance for you, no matter how great.”
Shaoshang looked at herself in the mirror, silent for a while, then said softly: “Granny, do you think the Empress Your Majesty likes me now because I’m going to marry Master Ling in the future, or because of me myself?”
Granny Zhai said: “Not to deceive you—at first it was because of Shiyilang. But over these months, Her Majesty has truly come to like you. With you keeping her company, she’s much happier than before.”
Shaoshang touched her own damp, soft hair and nodded: “My aunt used to always say I was naive, loved to get stuck on details. Because if I had enemies, I would definitely hide it and handle it myself. If I had difficulties, I also hoped to rack my brains to overcome them myself. Even if in the future I mounted the execution platform, best it be because I committed a monstrous crime myself, not because of someone else’s implication…”
“How can you speak such nonsense!” Granny Zhai quickly interrupted.
“That Her Majesty can like me is truly wonderful.” Shaoshang picked up the finely carved, gold-inlaid wooden comb to slowly comb her hair. “You and Her Majesty needn’t worry about me and Master Ling, because I’m actually not angry with him at all. I know he has good intentions. Besides, he’s saved and helped me countless times—how could I be so ungrateful? It’s not that I can’t yield or can’t make him happy, but can one coax someone for a lifetime? Married couples can’t be like that.”
Granny Zhai somewhat understood: “Speaking of it, your father and mother, and your uncle and aunt, are famously loving couples. Alas, if Shiyilang and you could also be like that, His Majesty and Her Majesty would be so happy.”
Shaoshang smacked her lips, helplessly saying: “Alright, this hope is good, but such things can be encountered but not sought. That said, precisely because Master Ling treats me well, I must also treat him with sincerity. I must let him know my annoying temperament… mm, who knows, he might still have time to regret.” Whether they could be like the two couples of the previous generation was another matter—at minimum there should be mutual respect.
Granny Zhai laughed aloud: “Fine, you go ahead and dream.”
The two smiled at each other in the mirror. Just then, a young palace maid rushed in frantically: “Young Lady Cheng, Young Lady Cheng, Her Majesty calls for you! Quickly…”
Granny Zhai frowned: “Why are you panicking! Can’t you speak properly? How were you taught normally? What’s happened?”
The young palace maid stammered: “…Fifth Princess brought a young lady, one of those献ting dances for Her Majesty. She says, she she says…”
“What does she say!” Granny Zhai said impatiently.
“She says last night Master Ling sneaked into the outer court and violated her, and now she wants to seek justice from Her Majesty! Heavens…”
Shaoshang stood up abruptly.
“What?!” Granny Zhai was greatly shocked and dismayed. “How is this possible!” When she turned back, she immediately became furious: “You you you—hearing your未婚 son-in-law had such a thing happen, why are you so happy?!”
Shaoshang touched her own face, unconsciously smiling: “Do I, do I look very happy?”
“Look in the mirror yourself!” Granny Zhai wanted both to scold and to laugh, nearly dying of anger.
“Where’s the time to look in mirrors now!” Shaoshang hurriedly went to find outer garments to wear, while saying in a tone unable to hide her joy: “Quickly, quickly, help me fix my hair and dress. I’m going to see… cough cough, to clear Master Ling’s good name…!”
Granny Zhai: Live long enough and you truly can see everything.