“Ah-Fang—”
“Brother—”
“Ah-Lan—”
“Father—”
Outside the Anfu Gate of the palace, a chorus of voices rose and fell as people recognized their relatives, accompanied by weeping sounds.
Throughout spring, the capital and Henan regions had seen only sporadic rain that barely moistened the ground. In the moat, the stone mythical beasts that usually kept the waters in check had their heads exposed, and drought was imminent.
Being benevolent, the current emperor exempted spring taxes and ordered officials to review prison cases for possible pardons. The palace also reduced its food consumption and released a batch of older palace maids.
The edict to release palace maids had been posted for some time, and who wouldn’t come to receive their relatives if they cared about family ties? What if their daughter or sister was among those being released?
While others were busy recognizing relatives, Shen Shaoguang was absorbed in taking in the street scenes. So this was Chang’an. The streets were wide and even, with tall elms and poplars lining the sides. People carrying loads on shoulder poles or riding donkeys passed by, either hurriedly or leisurely. Even the birds chirping in the trees seemed to carry the flavor of worldly life. How wonderful…
Shen Shaoguang readjusted the bundle on her shoulder and stepped forward.
“Those from far away, wait in the carriages over there. We’ll send you home later,” two constables stopped her.
Judging by their uniforms, they weren’t palace guards; the aftermath of palace maid dismissals had probably been delegated to the Capital Prefecture.
Shen Shaoguang curtsied and switched from her usual refined speech to the Chang’an dialect, saying with a smile, “My home isn’t far, I can return by myself.”
Amidst the surrounding sounds of crying, the constables were momentarily dazzled by her brilliant smile. Hearing the familiar Chang’an accent, they exchanged glances and were about to let her pass—after all, the orders only stated that those with relatives should be released to family members, while the few from distant places should be temporarily housed in guest lodges to return home later with examination candidates and such. There were no rules against people walking home by themselves.
“What’s happening here?” A green-robed official accompanied by a crimson-robed high official happened to come by for inspection.
The constables bowed and explained, “This woman says her home is nearby. Since no relatives came to receive her, she wishes to return by herself.”
Shen Shaoguang gave the officials an ingratiating smile, her bright apricot eyes curving with docility.
The green-robed official’s gaze was kind as he looked questioningly at his young superior—shall we let her go?
The crimson-robed high official, perhaps not yet old enough to be kindly, showed no expression on his handsome face. “Please show your documentation.”
Shen Shaoguang had felt uneasy upon seeing them and now inwardly sighed at her bad luck. She had no choice but to take out her official papers from her bundle and hand them to the nearby constable, who passed them to the crimson-robed official.
The crimson-robed official raised his eyes to look at Shen Shaoguang, his gaze somewhat sharp. The very first line of the document states “Native of Luoyang.”
Shen Shaoguang maintained an innocent expression—after all, she hadn’t claimed to be from Chang’an, and as for near or far—that was subjective.
The crimson-robed official’s lips tightened slightly as he continued reading the document.
The later sections contained her age and background.
Shen Shaoguang knew her background was now fully exposed, but she wasn’t particularly afraid. The worst that could happen would be being sent to some uncle’s family in Luoyang to live as a dependent cousin. They couldn’t possibly send her back to the palace, could they?
Those uncles’ families would be quite unfortunate too, forced to take in a former palace maid—a criminal official’s daughter with no living father or brothers, bringing no benefits but plenty of trouble!
“Young lady, you are in the spring of your youth. Why were you released from the palace?” the crimson-robed official closed the document and asked slowly.
His question wasn’t surprising—looking around, all the other palace maids were older than Shen Shaoguang, some even with frost-touched temples. Shen Shaoguang stood out conspicuously among them.
Shen Shaoguang squinted with a fake smile: “I was released due to poor health.”
This time, not just the officials but even the two constables could see the problem. This young woman was tall and well-proportioned, with a rosy complexion. Poor health… hmm… right, poor health!
But as Shen Shaoguang had thought, even knowing something was fishy, could they send her back to the palace? Did they know what royal secrets might be involved? Even if it wasn’t royal secrets, just dealing with the palace eunuchs would be troublesome.
The crimson-robed official gave Shen Shaoguang a long, deep look, handed the document back to the constable, and walked away with his hands behind his back. The green-robed official hurried to follow.
The two constables were bewildered—what did this mean?
Shen Shaoguang smiled at the two constables: “Good sirs, I’ll take my leave now.”
The constables came to their senses, exchanged glances, returned the official papers to Shen Shaoguang, and let her go.
Shen Shaoguang was also somewhat surprised, having expected to end up as a helpless dependent in Luoyang! Perhaps that crimson-robed official thought there must be some major intrigue behind her release and had mentally composed an eighty-episode palace drama? People who love to overthink are just adorable!
The green-robed official shared Shen Shaoguang’s assessment. He also felt that although this new Assistant Prefect was a bit cold and rather young, he understood propriety and knew his boundaries.
Based on his experience of outlasting some ten Prefects and Assistant Prefects, the most important thing about serving in the Capital Prefecture was caution. What kind of place was Chang’an? Throw a tile and you’d hit three people wearing purple and crimson. That flatbread seller on the street might have a sister—er, or brother—who was a favored concubine in some prince’s mansion. How could one not be cautious?
Shen Shaoguang walked south along the main road—housing was cheaper in the southern part of the city. She needed to find a place to stay first.
Regarding future livelihood, Shen Shaoguang had already made plans—she would enter the food service industry.
In her previous life, she had been a food magazine editor, specializing in writing about food and drink. In this life, she had worked in the palace kitchen for a while. Although her practical cooking skills were limited, her theoretical knowledge was solid. Shen Shaoguang felt she should be able to make a living this way.
Speaking of making a living reminded her of money, which in turn reminded her of how much it had hurt to spend eighty percent of her savings on this release from the palace. That eunuch in charge of replacing palace maids had been too ruthless!
Not far along, passing through Chongxian Ward, Shen Shaoguang stopped. Her original self’s family had owned a residence here. She remembered there had been a bamboo grove in the front courtyard—this memory was so clear because once a small green snake had emerged from the bamboo grove, frightening her original self to tears. Shen Shaoguang’s mind flashed to the image of her original self’s father composing poetry while drinking wine under the bamboo in the moonlight.
Now who knows who was composing poetry under those bamboos? Shen Shaoguang felt somewhat melancholic.
Chongxian Ward was well-located in the south-central part of the city, separated by just one ward from Guangde Ward—where the Capital Prefecture was located. Next to Guangde was the famous Western Market of Chang’an. In modern terms, Chongxian Ward would be considered within the Third Ring Road.
Following her memories, she found the old Shen family residence. A grand gate with a black top in a high-walled compound, clean steps, and servants occasionally passing through the side gate. From the outside, one could see multiple-eaved buildings and bamboo shadows within. Were these bamboos the same ones from before?
She had originally planned to just take a look and continue south, but after surveying the current state of the food service industry in the ward and seeing Guangming Temple, Shen Shaoguang changed her mind.
This temple was diagonally opposite the back gate of the old Shen residence. In her memories, this hadn’t been a temple—presumably, someone had donated the old residence to be converted into a nunnery, which was quite common among Chang’an’s wealthy.
The reception nun had eight-character eyebrows, triangular eyes, and thin lips, looking rather difficult to get along with.
This put Shen Shaoguang more at ease. If the reception staff had all been young and beautiful girls, she wouldn’t have dared to ask about lodging. After all, whether such Taoist temples and Buddhist nunneries were really in the business of gods and buddhas or the flesh trade was hard to say. Think of Yu Xuanji, think of Mantou Temple in “Dream of the Red Chamber”…
The reception nun’s eyes swept over Shen Shaoguang’s semi-worn osmanthus-colored outfit, her hair bun with just two silver hairpins, and sized up her small bundle, reminding Shen Shaoguang of her experience shopping at luxury stores in her previous life.