Perhaps it truly fulfilled the auspicious omen of 'timely snow promising a bumper harvest'; the journey northward was surprisingly smooth.
By the time Lu Li and her companion arrived at the Imperial Capital, it was already late spring.
Qingluan handed the entry permit to the guarding soldier and followed Lu Li through the towering city gates. The moment they stepped onto the long street, they were so struck by the capital's magnificence that they could barely look away. Qingluan exclaimed in a low voice, "As expected of the realm beneath the Son of Heaven!"
Passing through the archway of the inner city gate, the scene suddenly burst into noise and activity. Taverns and teahouses stood in picturesque disorder, row upon row. There were silk shops with tall, fluttering streamers, a dazzling sight to behold. Women wearing onion-green vests were hawking jasmine flowers, sending wafts of fragrant breeze their way. The city was a stream of carriages and horses, bustling and crowded. The green cloth streamers hanging from the taverns were edged with tassels that shimmered like fragmented gold under the sun.
The sky was clear, the breeze was gentle, the market was boisterous, and people gathered in throngs. It was truly a haven of wealth and tenderness.
While Qingluan was still admiring the scenery, Lu Li had already withdrawn her gaze and said indifferently, "Let us find an inn to settle in first."
In the capital where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, the cost of lodging naturally rose with the tide. The two chose a relatively quiet small inn to stay in first. Qingluan went to order the staff to prepare some food, while Lu Li went downstairs.
The inn was located in the west of the city, some distance from the most bustling Vermilion Bird Street, so the room rates were not too outrageous. Most of those staying here were traveling merchants doing business in the capital.
Lu Li walked to the counter. The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man wearing a blue cloth straight robe, was clacking away at his abacus when he suddenly heard a voice before him ask, "Shopkeeper, are there any porcelain shops nearby?"
The shopkeeper raised his head to see a young woman standing before him.
Women in the capital were mostly tall and brisk, but the one before him appeared exceptionally petite. She had an oval face, dark and deep pupils, and skin so white it was nearly transparent. She was extremely slender, looking as if a breath of wind would blow her over. She wore a simple white silk dress, giving off a cold and aloof air. Her black hair was loosely tied in a bun, adorned only with a white jade hairpin at her temple. Standing there, she resembled a cold plum blossom in the snow, beautiful and otherworldly.
Such a beauty seemed like a jade figure raised in an ancient temple deep in the mountains, untainted by a speck of dust.
The shopkeeper smiled apologetically, "You are not a local, are you, miss? Your accent sounds like you are from the Jiangnan region?"
Lu Li neither confirmed nor denied, offering only a faint smile. "I heard the capital's Shen family is famous for their porcelain. Shopkeeper, do you know where one should go to buy Shen family porcelain?"
As soon as these words were spoken, before the shopkeeper could reply, a guest dining in the hall behind them shouted, "The Shen family? What is so good about Shen family porcelain? They just got lucky, that's all!"
Lu Li turned back to see a man who looked like a traveling merchant. She paused and asked, "Sir, what do you mean by that?"
Hearing the address 'Sir', the merchant stopped holding back and spoke bluntly, "Originally, the Shen family sold porcelain in the capital without any unique skills or special reputation. It was just average. But about a year ago, for some unknown luck, the steward from Grand Tutor Wei's mansion happened to choose the Shen family when purchasing cups and dishes for the Old Madam's birthday banquet. Grand Tutor Wei's banquet was a grand affair, and the Shen family basked in its reflected glory. Since then, many official households in the capital have gone to the Shen family to order porcelain, and their fame spread."
The merchant took a gulp of his coarse tea and continued indignantly, "This Shen family has nearly monopolized the porcelain business in the capital lately, not even leaving a mouthful of soup for others. Nowadays, anyone doing porcelain business in the capital only knows the Shen family; who else has a share?"
It seemed this merchant was one of the victims squeezed out by the Shen family. Seeing Lu Li deep in thought, he advised, "Miss, you shouldn't go to the Shen family to buy porcelain either. Nowadays, the Shen family only supplies officials; they look down on small businesses like this. Why go and ask for snub?"
Lu Li's tone was gentle, but the smile in her eyes faded. She said softly, "Hearing you say that, I am actually even more curious. I want to see what kind of exquisite porcelain could impress the Grand Tutor's mansion, which is used to seeing rare treasures."
"If you really must go to the Shen family, it is not difficult," the shopkeeper said amicably, smiling as he pointed the way for Lu Li. "The Shen family is in the south of the city. Follow this street straight ahead, and you will see the city's Yingyue Bridge. Cross the bridge; at the end of it is the Juxian Tower. There is an alleyway underneath it. Go through the alley, and you will see the Shen family mansion."
Lu Li thanked the shopkeeper and the merchant, then returned upstairs. As soon as she entered the room, Qingluan had already set out the food and urged, "Miss, please eat first."
Lu Li sat at the table and picked up her bowl and chopsticks with Qingluan. Qingluan asked tentatively, "Miss, I heard you asking about the Shen family residence downstairs..."
Lu Li said, "Let's eat. After the meal, I am going to the Shen residence."
According to the merchant, the Shen family had found their luck a year ago. A year ago was precisely the time Lu Wan had passed away.
It was difficult not to let one's mind wander.
...
Vermilion Bird Street was a hundred times livelier than the west of the city.
On Yingyue Bridge, pedestrians wove back and forth like fabric on a loom. The river breeze blowing through the city carried the scent of rouge and powder. Many horn lanterns were tied beneath the bridge railing. It was said that on clear nights, the lights were like fireflies, and the silver-white new moon would fall into the water beneath the bridge, turning the whole river into shattered silver.
Passing through the alley beneath Juxian Tower, a tall gatehouse stood at the end. The plaque above the gate bore the words 'Shen Residence'—it was the newly purchased estate of the Shen family.
It was just noon. A young servant in green clothes was dozing while leaning against the gate. Although the Shen family was wealthy, the masters treated their servants harshly and strictly. The gatehouse was understaffed; having stood watch at night, the servant had to serve during the day as well, so it was inevitable he was somewhat slack.
Just as he was drifting off, he suddenly heard a voice before him, "Young brother, is your young master Shen Congwen, Master Shen?"
The gatekeeper startled awake with a jolt. Two young women stood before him, one of them wearing a veil.
He said, "Yes, you are..."
"My young lady is a cousin from the late madam's maiden family. She has come specially to pay a visit to your esteemed Old Madam Shen."
...
In the rear garden of the Shen residence, peonies were in full bloom.
Old Madam Shen did not like plainness; being in business, she always preferred liveliness and festivity. After buying this residence, she had the few clumps of emerald bamboo from the original garden dug up. Later, she had the lotus pond filled in to build a flower garden. Flowers bloomed there in all seasons, a riot of color.
At this moment, in the main hall, Old Madam Shen was sitting on a Luohan daybed, watching a maid embroider a pattern. On the table were some pine nut candies and roasted chestnuts. She would occasionally pick up a piece to eat, complaining that today's candy was not sweet enough.
The gatekeeper walked in and whispered, "Old Madam, there is someone outside asking to see you. They say they are the late madam's cousin..."
Old Madam Shen's expression changed, and her voice involuntarily became shrill, "Whose cousin?"
The gatekeeper shrank his neck, "The late madam's..."
Old Madam Shen's brows furrowed tightly, "The Lu family has no one left, do they? When did we ever hear of a cousin from the maiden family?"
The matron beside her said, "It must be some distant, poor relative who knows nothing of the Lu family's affairs, coming to sponge off us."
Old Madam Shen thought for a moment, then instructed the gatekeeper, "No need to bother. Just send them away."
The gatekeeper took the order and left. Not long after, he returned.
Old Madam Shen asked impatiently, "They haven't left yet?"
"No..." The gatekeeper looked embarrassed. "The visitor says she had a deep bond with the late madam. Hearing that the Lu family had fallen into ruin, she came specifically to retrieve the late madam's dowry..."
"Dowry?" Old Madam Shen's face instantly turned dark and uns "ightly. "What penniless nobody is this, talking about dowry? Dowry? What dowry could that Lu woman possibly have had!"\n\nThe gatekeeper swallowed and said carefully, "The visitor says that if she cannot see you, she will move a stool to the gate, sit there, and ask the neighbors one by one. Old Madam, with so many people coming and going, if word spreads, I'm afraid it will damage the Shen family's reputation..."\n\nOld Madam Shen's face turned livid. After a long while, she forced several words out through clenched teeth: "Let her in!""