Chapter 1.1

The winter in the seventeenth year of the Cheng Qian Period arrived a little earlier than past years.

It had just been a few days after the Double Ninth Festival* when the few counties towards the north had already welcomed their first heavy snow for this year’s winter.

*T/n: It’s also called ‘Chung Yeung Festival’.

The previous day had still been cool with fine weather. As soon as it became afternoon today, the horizon was suddenly shrouded by a patch of billowing curtains which carried a tinge of orange in the ash color. After it briefly betokened, the numerous and dense snowflakes were then too impatient to in waiting any longer to engulf the whole world.

It took the effort of just one night before Yan Bei and the northern regions had all changed their attire. What entered the eyes were all a patch of silver clothing and plain white bundle.

In the wing room which was burning with earthworm*, Ren Yaoqi(Rèn Yáoqī) was lying on the hot heatable brick bed** with her eyes closed. The quilt pressing down on her body was a little heavy.

*T/n: It’s part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was first depicted in the Divine Farmer(Shennong)’s Materia Medica Classic.

**T/n: A bed which can have fire burning so that people can gain warmth when lying on it.

Her forehead and neck were already drenched in a layer of fine and dense beads of sweat. Her cheeks had also become crimson from the heat of the heatable brick bed. Her breath was flooded with the smell of menthol*.

*T/n: Called ‘Bo He Nao’, it is part of TCM and is made from peppermint oil. Its effects include clearing heat and detoxification.

Separated by the thick cotton curtain in the inner chamber, she heard the soft sound of chatter from two servant girls.

“This Flower Copy* looks really nice. It doesn’t look like its copied by you. Where did it come from?”

*T/n: A copy used to embroider designs of flower

“This is what I asked for from Elder Sister* Jin Ju(Jīn Jú) who serves at Concubine Fang’s side. I heard that it’s the recently popular Flower Copy in the southern capital. Even Yun Yang City doesn’t have it.”

*T/n: Doesn’t mean a biological sister. It can refer to a female who is in a more senior position.

“Elder Sister Jin Ju? You could actually get something from her?”

“Heh heh, I said that I’m using it to help Fifth Miss embroider her shoes. She dares to not give?”

“You this crafty girl. Be careful when Fifth Miss knows about it and lets Concubine Fang drag you out to be matched with a page!”

“Good, you this terrible wench……see whether I’ll tear this rotten mouth of yours.”

Separated by the curtain were the frolicking sounds of two servant girls chasing each other around a table. The tea set on the table was knocked until there was a sound of a crash. The sound suddenly quietened but it was only a moment before they messed around noisily again. At last, they had some scruples about the person in the inner chamber and the sound of them moving became much smaller.

At this moment, a stern and loud berating sound suddenly cut in. “What are you all doing!” It was the voice of a woman who was slightly older in age.

The outside suddenly quietened down again.

“Wet Nurse* Zhu(Zhū), we atone for our mistakes, this servant……” The two servant girls anxiously justified themselves.

*T/n: May be called either ‘momo’ or ‘mama’. It can refer to an elderly woman or used more specifically for wet nurses.

However, Wet Nurse Zhu interrupted them impatiently. “Has Miss woken up?”

She did not intentionally lower her voice and it even carried a little restlessness. Although she asked that, her footsteps came over to the inner chamber without stopping.

“She has just drunk her medicine and taken a rest. I suppose she must be sleeping deeply right now.” A servant girl anxiously replied. She had also hastily followed along as if she wanted to help that wet nurse lift the curtain in the inner chamber.

“You all go out and guard. Don’t let anyone come in.” Wet Nurse Zhu stopped the servant girl’s action.

“Yes.” The two servant girls paused for a moment before they nimbly retreated outside.

Ren Yaoqi laid there without moving with her eyes closed as if she had fallen asleep.

The cotton curtain separating the inner chamber and the outer room was lifted up. The stifling hot air in the inner chamber was stirred and the wind which was slightly cooler than that in the inner chamber flowed in.

“Miss? Miss, wake up quickly, Miss……”

That person anxiously rushed over to the side of the heatable brick red. After shouting a few times and seeing that Ren Yaoqi had no movements, she reached out her hand and lightly pushed her arm which was separated by the quilt.

Ren Yaoqi finally opened her eyes but had a little hazy look with sleepy eyes.

“Wet Nurse Zhu?” Her voice was a little hoarse. Lying on the high heat heatable brick bed for a long time required ingesting tea every now and then.

“Aye, it’s this servant. Does Miss want to drink water?” That round face of Wet Nurse Zhu immediately squeezed into a smile but her eyes contained an anxious gaze.

Ren Yaoqi nodded her head.

Wet Nurse Zhu immediately walked to the side of the long low tea table at the northern walls which was placed with a full set of colorful teapot and teacups and poured a cup of water back.

She set aside the cup on the heatable brick bed, then supported Ren Yaoqi to sit up. One of her hand supported her back while the other hand brought the teacup to the side of her lips to feed her.

It was just that she was a little hurried when pouring. Ren Yaoqi slanted her head and the water in the teacup dripped onto the cotton quilt covering her. The tender green satin immediately formed a wet patch.

“Cough cough……”

Wet Nurse Zhu hastily placed the teacup down and patted her back lightly. “Miss, are you alright?”

Ren Yaoqi was completely awake. She pushed away Wet Nurse Zhu’s hand and cast a sidelong glance at her. “The water is cold……”

Wet Nurse Zhu hastily smiled obsequiously. “Oh, it must be those two servant girls on duty who resorted to tricks and goofed off and forgot to change to a hot tea. This old servant will lecture them later.”

As she said, Wet Nurse brought a lined jacket over and draped it over Ren Yaoqi’s shoulders while saying, “Miss, Concubine received news just now that Third Madam and Third Miss are on the way back to the residence. Although the heavy snow came suddenly and quite a few roads outside the city were sealed off in one night, there are the mounted troops from Prince Yan Bei’s residence clearing the path so the horse carriage can enter the city at the latest before this evening.”

Ren Yaoqi’s body paused for a moment. “Mother and Third Elder Sister have come back?”

She cast her eyes downwards and made people unable to see the emotions in her eyes clearly. However, the fingers clutching her lapel were involuntarily trembling a little.

Wet Nurse Zhu’s tone finally could not conceal her anxiety. “That’s right. I heard that it was even Prince Yan Bei Residence’s Old Princess Consort’s carriage which that escorted them back. They set off from the village on top yesterday afternoon and the residence only received the news early this morning. Miss, what should we do now?”