Before leaving, Master Xu Zhen gave Wei Linxia a one-foot square box containing a bright red wax figure. Upon exiting with the box, Wei Linxia found Xi Linxuan and Princess Yan in the central hall, drinking tea. Tai Qing, who had been leaning sideways, abruptly asked, “What good thing have you tricked from your master again?” Master Xu Zhen replied, “Tai Qing, do not be rude. This is an immortal sought by Madam Wei for Linxia to take back.” Tai Qing then relaxed, letting out a snort.
With her pleasant acquisition in hand, Wei Linxia felt somewhat restless.
Helplessly, Princess Yan was talkative today, so Wei Linxia could only accompany her, forcing a smile while thinking that if Tai Qing were here, she would surely shout to make her shut up. Unfortunately, she could not learn that; she had to be proper, or her parents would be frightened. Just then, her maidservant rushed in to say that Little Crane had been vomiting all day. Wei Linxia stood up with a “huh,” ran a few steps, then realized her impropriety, turned back to curtsy, and walked slowly away without a word. Xi Linxuan, who remained silent, shook his head, thinking that this girl, always reminding herself to be proper, was not cute at all.
Hearing about the little white crane, Princess Yan rushed to join the excitement, almost disappearing from the doorway. The next morning at breakfast, Wei Linxia looked somewhat downcast but maintained an upright posture. Princess Yan arrived late, yawning delicately, and asked how the crane was doing. Wei Linxia said, “It was a bit better in the morning.”
“I couldn’t stay awake until midnight, but you didn’t sleep all night?” Princess Yan asked. Wei Linxia slightly curved her mouth in response. How could she sleep? Having grown up in the temple with the beautiful cranes, it would be heartbreaking if anything were to happen to them.
Because she had seen Master Xu Zhen raising cranes since childhood, Wei Linxia also knew a bit about medical treatment.
She had servants buy medicine and personally cared for the crane, and after four or five days, it slowly recovered. Li Weiheng probably heard from Princess Yan and came to see, accompanied by Xi Zhaoting. Wei Linxia sat quietly, watching them discuss her crane. Li Weiheng expressed a desire to raise one and pestered Wei Linxia for it. Wei Linxia shook her head: “This was given by Master Xu Zhen. I cannot transfer it. Moreover, they are all sick cranes. If you like, I’ll have someone buy healthy ones for you.”
Xi Zhaoting, dissatisfied, told Li Weiheng: “It’s just a few cranes. If you like them, I’ll have the eunuchs find the best ones for you tomorrow.”
Li Weiheng pouted, disappointed. Wei Linxia remained silent, feeling annoyed. She understood Li Weiheng’s fleeting interests; the crane would likely not survive long if given to her. Xi Zhaoting knew this too, but always indulged her.
Wei Linxia would not give it to her. If Xi Zhaoting could, he would get it for her. Hmph.
After the New Year, time seemed to pass quickly, and soon it was almost the Shang Festival. This day, originally meant to dispel evil spirits by the water, somehow changed in nature.
On this day, unmarried men and women of Yan could freely converse by the water, and if mutually interested, they could have a tryst without interference. However, as officials deemed this immoral, an imperial edict banned the practice. Far from the capital, King Huo, near the Northern Rong, struggled to enforce the change. After several attempts, he eventually allowed it. Thus, on this day, women long confined to their chambers desperately tried to escape their servants to find a soulmate by the water.
Wei Linxia disliked this festival, but Tai Qing insisted on seeing the shameless men and women. Wei Linxia, a young Taoist nun, felt it inappropriate. Tai Qing disdainfully called her rigid and threatened to kill Wei Linxia’s crane if she didn’t accompany her—because Tai Qing often followed through on her bizarre threats. Wei Linxia reluctantly agreed, requesting that Tai Qing make herself ugly.
Even with Wei Linxia’s request, Tai Qing’s appearance at the mountain’s base surprised her, and she laughed freely, as no outsiders were present. Tai Qing had stuck black rice grains on her face, drawn thick eyebrows with charcoal, and dotted a large black spot by her mouth—initially ugly, but upon closer inspection, even worse.
Tai Qing wiped her face and smeared it on Wei Linxia, transforming her appearance.
Outside Huo City, only the Ji River passed through the city, where a crowd of men and women gathered. Tai Qing walked quickly, habitually shadowing couples, and soon lost Wei Linxia. Realizing finding her would be difficult, Wei Linxia decided to return to their carriage to wait for Tai Qing. As she squeezed through the crowd and caught her breath, a sharp cry rang out. Ignoring it, she took a few steps when her hair was suddenly grabbed by a beautiful woman with delicate features, who shouted, “Wretched girl, where did you run off to? Where’s the water the young master wanted?”
Wei Linxia, confused by the accusation of being a maidservant, was approached by another girl in a similar dress who whispered to the beautiful woman. “So, you can let go now!” Wei Linxia said. Instead of releasing her hair, the woman tightened her grip and demanded, “Tell me, do you have some ulterior motive?”
Dressing like my maidservant – are you trying to sneak into the mansion and climb social ladders? “You ugly monster, look at your own face.”
“Niangniang, calm down, be gentler,” a voice from behind interrupted before the woman could finish. She immediately released her grip, her fierce expression transformed into that of a docile lamb. Wei Linxia thought she must be seeing things.
A young man with bronze skin, curved eyes, high nose bridge, and thin lips appeared before her. He looked around nineteen or twenty, resembling the eldest son of the King. Wei Linxia quickly stepped back for a clearer view.
“Are you done looking? Can you tell me your name and why you’re wearing a maid’s clothes from my residence?” His seductive voice was innate. He studied the round-faced girl, who surprisingly showed no signs of blushing—oh, her face was too dark for that.
“If you want to be a maid in my residence, I can agree. Just tell me your name,” the man continued.
“I don’t want to be a maid in your house, so I don’t need to tell you my name,” Wei Linxia replied, turning to ask Yu Mo if the maid who borrowed the clothes was from this residence.
As she turned, a hand landed on her shoulder.
Before she could react, a figure flew through the air towards the man behind her, cursing, “Bastard, I’ll chop off your dog paw.” The hand on her shoulder disappeared. Wei Linxia thought she’d later tell Tai Qing that “dog paws” don’t grow on humans.
The beautiful woman instantly transformed back into a yaksha and approached Wei Linxia. Using the thirty-six stratagems, Wei Linxia decided retreat was the best option and ran hard, with the pursuer close behind. Out of breath, she fell forward, hitting the ground hard and hurting her knees on a dry tree branch, realizing she was definitely not a beauty; no heroic gentleman would come to her rescue.
“Wei Linxia?” The familiar voice she didn’t want to hear right now made her lower her head and pretend not to hear. She tried to turn away, spotting some maids running towards her. She turned south, but her arm was grabbed: “How dare you ignore me?”
Wei Linxia didn’t look up, deliberately speaking softly: “You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
“Oh, is this glass Qilin that you stole from the Wei family?” A small glass Qilin swayed before her eyes. She touched her neck and found it missing – a gift from the Old Empress, who had instructed her never to part with it, leading to some dissatisfaction due to its western origin.
