Chapter 19: Talisman Paper

The Ministry of Justice quickly closed the case. It was the Captain of the Princess Manor guards who had, under Princess Anle’s decree, mobilized troops and, taking advantage of Princess Anle leaving the city, lay in wait to surround and kill her.

Princess Anle’s harsh treatment of her subordinates was hardly a secret. The Captain of the guards had long endured humiliation from the Grand Princess and harbored thoughts of revenge. It was this that drove him to murderous intent.

Meanwhile, Shen Sheng was at home, taking care of the children. One person watching two, following them around all day. As soon as Zhuzhu woke up, she’d run to Shen Sheng’s courtyard. If Zhu Fan didn’t physically drag her back, she would probably sleep there at night.

Of the Shen family’s four children, Zhou Ying had given birth to the eldest, a son. The other three households each had a daughter. Zhuzhu was the youngest. Shen Changhong was the eldest of the household.

Shen Changhong was past the age of mere play. Every day, martial arts instructors guided his training, and literary tutors directed his studies. The three idle children ran off to the Drill Ground to find their eldest brother to play.

Shen Changhong would demonstrate a saber move, and the three would clap and cheer, a perfectly synchronized cheerleading squad.

This so angered the martial arts instructor that he threw down his hands and refused to teach further. Shen Changhong, grateful for his three younger sisters’ enthusiastic support, secretly led them out of the manor to buy snacks.

By the time Shen Sheng found them, the four were sitting in a Tavern, eating and drinking merrily. Depressed, Shen Sheng went to settle the bill with the shopkeeper.

After leading the one older and three younger children back home, she still had to cover for them in front of Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou Ying, lying and claiming she had taken them out to play herself.

Zhou Ying gave her face by pretending to believe it, then led her son back to her own courtyard.

Shen Sheng once again resignedly delivered Zhuzhu back to the Fourth Sister-in-law’s room, then took the two little terrors back with her.

“When is your mother coming to pick you up? It’s almost the New Year.” Shen Sheng walked back, holding a child’s hand in each of hers.

“I’ve never even seen her. Have you?” Jiang Buyan lifted her head to ask Shen Sheng.

That one question stumped Shen Sheng. She hadn’t seen Anu either. She’d sent people to the State Preceptor Manor, all saying she hadn’t returned.

Back in her room, two sets of bright red new clothes lay on the table.

The new clothes Madam Shen had made for the children had all been delivered. Whatever the grandchildren of the Shen family were entitled to, Buyan and Buyu received the same without any partiality.

Seeing the new clothes, Buyan and Buyu cast aside their displeasure, hugged their new clothes, and eagerly wanted to try them on.

The matrons led them away to try on the new clothes. Shen Sheng sat alone in her room, still thinking about Anu.

New Year’s was almost here, and she’d run off without a trace. What was she doing?

Looking at the gray-white clouds in the sky, worry rippled through Shen Sheng’s pitch-black eyes.

The children who received new clothes were overjoyed. Only then did Shen Sheng realize that since they entered Shen Manor, she hadn’t bought them any new things.

Taking care of other people’s children was truly exhausting.

The next morning, Shen Sheng rummaged through her money box, calculated her savings, and found it was still insufficient.

With no other choice, she shamelessly went to ask her mother for money.

After Madam Shen inquired about the reason, she had someone fetch silver for her, advising her not to shortchange the children.

Shen Sheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Do you truly believe they’re my children?”

Madam Shen nodded.

“Is there something you’re hiding from me?” Shen Sheng finally sensed something was amiss. Her mother treated the outsiders Buyan and Buyu with exceptional care, even surpassing the attention given to Shen Changhong and Zhuzhu.

Madam Shen hugged her hand warmer and looked up at the roof, beginning to spin a tall tale: “Even if they aren’t yours, they share a blood relation with you.”

“That’s not right. You’re still hiding something from me.” Shen Sheng pressed closer to her mother, noticing her mother’s eyes were flickering, clearly evasive.

In the past, her mother valued propriety the most. How could she be so caring towards strange children of unknown origin? From the very beginning, Shen Sheng should have felt something was off.

Madam Shen explained: “I had a dream. I dreamed you and the State Preceptor were together, drank the South River water, and gave birth to children. I resolved to treat them well. Is that wrong?”

Shen Sheng: “…”

“Are you trying to hoodwink a ghost? Do I look that easily fooled?”

“Fine, I’ll tell you the truth. The State Preceptor’s current status is high. If we do some small favors, and we need her help in the future, she naturally won’t refuse. What do you think?” Madam Shen continued to spout nonsense with her eyes shut tight.

This time, Shen Sheng believed her. After all, people gravitate toward power and influence.

“I understand. I’ll take them out to play.”

Late in the twelfth lunar month, the streets were crowded with people preparing New Year’s goods. Commoners bundled in thick coats shuttled through the streets and alleys.

Shen Sheng led the two little ones, weaving through various snack stalls. They bought seven or eight types of candy alone—no new clothes, no Beaded Hairpins, just sweets.

For this outing, the silk ribbons in both children’s hair had been changed to red.

Shen Sheng couldn’t help asking why they’d both switched to the same color.

Jiang Buyu stuffed candy cake into her mouth, about to speak, but Jiang Buyan spoke first: “Red means we’re in a good mood and don’t need coaxing. Gray means we’re in a bad mood, and you should coax us.”

Shen Sheng suddenly understood. So that’s how it was. No wonder Jiang Buyu’s ribbon had been gray when they first met.

She’d been angry about not attending the banquet, so it was gray.

Later, after entering the Shen family, she was happy, so it changed to red.

The three strolled and shopped, returning with full hands.

Passing by the Zhou family, she reined in her horse. The Zhou family was in mourning; white lanterns hung at their gate.

In contrast to the red lanterns everywhere else, the white ones seemed somewhat bleak.

The path they had chosen for themselves, no matter how bitter, they would have to walk it themselves.

After returning home, Madam Shen sent word: the State Preceptor had returned to the capital.

Upon receiving the news, Shen Sheng handed the children over to the Fourth Sister-in-law and rushed to the palace to find Anu.

She arrived at the Cinnabar Peak Palace once again. This time, the Emperor was inside, so she could only wait outside.

Warmth swirled around the hall, much warmer than elsewhere. She waited a long time before Anu emerged, dressed in a white robe. Different from usual, the silk ribbon in her hair was gray.

Remembering what Buyan and Buyu had said, she swallowed all the words she was about to say. The other party was in a bad mood—where was the time to listen to her ramble on?

“Where did you go? Buyan and Buyu missed you.”

“Just killed some people for His Majesty.”

Anu stared at her with pitch-black eyes, not bothering to hide her emotions.

Shen Sheng froze, unsure what to say. After hesitating a moment, she smiled brightly again and said, “I wanted to ask about the Cauldron.”

“The Cauldron cannot send you back a thousand years right now.”

Shen Sheng was taken aback. “Were you lying to me last time?”

“The Cauldron hasn’t been repaired. We’ll talk about it after the New Year.”

Shen Sheng was shocked. “Why did you lie to me last time?”

“Amusing.”

Anu lifted her foot to leave. Shen Sheng followed as usual. “Tell me your story. Or let me see your Divine Power.”

Anu suddenly stopped, handed her a piece of yellow paper. It was a Talisman.

“What is this?”

“A Wish Talisman. Face it, chant the incantation, and you will see what you most desire to see.” Anu briefly taught the incantation.

Shen Sheng accepted the talisman and immediately recited the incantation, her eyes fixed unblinking on the talisman.

After chanting the incantation, the talisman ignited and burned along with it.

The flames subsided, and red light materialized before her. Brocade bed curtains hung low, followed by the graceful, curvaceous form of a woman’s body.

The snow-white body involuntarily caused one’s eyes to redden.

Shen Sheng was so startled she hurriedly covered her eyes, stunned. “What is this?”

“The secrets of your heart…” Anu curved her lips. She was in a good mood; the silk ribbon in her hair slowly turned red.

Shen Sheng’s face flushed with shame. She argued: “Clearly, your talisman has a problem!”

Anu sneered, then took out another piece of Talisman Paper, lightly chanted the incantation, and the paper turned to flame.

After the flame disappeared, the light transformed into a pane of still water. Instantly, a landscape painting appeared: fish swimming beneath the water’s surface, the river water a vibrant green and clear.

White clouds, jade-green water. Sunlight filtered down into the river. A fish leaped out of the water—a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.

Water splashed, sending up ripples layer upon layer.

Shen Sheng stared, lost in the sight. The water was too clear, like a mirror, reflecting her own likeness.

This was South River water.

As the talisman paper burned away completely, the scene vanished.

Anu placed her hands behind her back and looked at her: “Whose problem do you think it is?”

Same talisman paper, same incantation, yet the resulting scenes were as different as heaven and earth.

Shen Sheng cleared her throat lightly. “Can you give me a few more? Please?”

“You want to go back and give them to your sisters-in-law?” Anu saw through her little scheme instantly. Generously, she handed over five talisman papers. “Don’t just give them away randomly. They’ll scare people. Especially those with wicked hearts.”

Shen Sheng pondered her words. If that were the case, then Anu wasn’t necessarily as evil as the outside rumors claimed.

In her heart, her greatest wish was to restore the South River water.

Shen Sheng accepted the talismans. To express her thanks, she invited Anu to a meal at a Tavern.

“Another day. I should go home.” Anu refused her request.

Shen Sheng gripped the talismans. Her heart felt heavy. “Anu, I can’t just take your things for nothing. Let me have a new set of clothes made for you.”

The State Preceptor had already walked far away.

Shen Sheng took the talismans home, heading first to the Main Room to find her mother. Her mother and father had been a loving, harmonious couple; naturally, she missed her father. Shen Sheng figured she’d want this.

Seeing Madam Shen, Shen Sheng took out the talisman paper. Madam Shen furrowed her brows, gave her an icy glare, and swallowed the vulgar words rising in her throat.

Damn it all. She’d been tricked, and she didn’t even know it.

What “Wish Talisman”…

This was damn well a Talisman of the Past. What appeared was the scene your heart clung to, unable to forget.

“Wish” my foot.

Madam Shen, gentle and dignified, smiled softly, pressed down on the talisman paper, and asked: “Did you try it?”

To her surprise, Shen Sheng’s cheeks flushed. She rubbed her reddening ears, her gaze flitting about evasively. “I tried it.”

Madam Shen’s interest was instantly piqued. She curved her lips. “Try it again. Let me have a look.”

Shen Sheng clutched the talisman and bolted.

The juicy gossip was about to grow legs and run. Madam Shen immediately grabbed her. “Show your mother how it’s done. I don’t know how to use it.”

The big piece of gossip immediately halted, looking suspiciously at Madam Shen. Catching the motherly look in the other’s eyes, she quietly recited the incantation.

The talisman paper turned to flame. Shen Sheng’s beautiful eyes looked at the scene the flames conjured.