Tao Chuyi’s identity remained a secret. Nangong Yunshang didn’t enlist anyone else’s help. Instead, she personally selected some clothes and accessories from her own collection to dress her up.
No one else in this lifetime would have the good fortune to be personally groomed and adorned by her. Chuyi had claimed that privilege all for herself.
She changed Chuyi into an emerald silk gown, pinned up her hair with a jade butterfly hairpin, and applied a light touch of powder and rouge.
Last time, dressed in purple, Chuyi had resembled a cold beauty. Now, in green, she looked like an elf from the forest.
Nangong Yunshang donned a pink silk gown of her own and draped a cloak over Chuyi until they reached the carriage.
The coachman cracked his whip and drove toward the market, with two guards riding alongside on horseback. To safeguard Chuyi’s identity, Nangong Yunshang had deliberately sent Yinghong and the others away on errands and assigned Zhao Linglong a different task. She had truly gone to great pains.
After dismounting from the carriage, the guards trailed at a distance. Chuyi pulled Nangong Yunshang forward excitedly, like a playful child finally set free.
The temple fair in town was said to be the most lively affair, rivaling the New Year celebrations. Crowds of common folk gathered to watch dragon dances, lion dances, and stilt-walkers, blocking the streets completely.
Chuyi took the lead in shielding Nangong Yunshang as they finally squeezed their way out of the throng.
Nangong Yunshang drew in a breath of fresh air and turned to her. “Not watching the performances anymore?”
Chuyi shook her head. “Too many people—it’s too crowded. Sister, you’re uncomfortable.”
Nangong Yunshang smiled and pinched her little cheek. “You, always so lovable. Come on, let’s go see what’s ahead.”
Weaving through the bustling crowd, the two arrived at a row of vendor stalls. It was still crowded here, but at least they could walk freely.
“Sister, look—this seems fun.”
Nangong Yunshang followed her gaze. It was a stall selling embroidered pouches.
“Do you like it? Sister will buy it for you.”
“Oh my, you two young ladies have a good eye. Our pouches feature the finest Suzhou embroidery.”
The stallkeeper auntie praised her merchandise to the skies, boasting that nothing like it could be found on heaven or earth.
Chuyi was dazzled by the selection. She set down the one embroidered with a rabbit, picked up the mandarin duck design, and finally chose two pouches embroidered with phoenixes.
The auntie clapped her hands. “Now that’s a lady who knows her picks. These two phoenixes make a perfect pair—ideal for sisters or close lady friends. One for each, symbolizing bonds that last forever.”
“Good. We’ll take these two.”
Nangong Yunshang patted herself down, only to realize she hadn’t brought any money. She glanced back, but the two guards had vanished into the crowd.
She whispered, “Chuyi, I didn’t bring any silver.”
It was rather awkward.
To her surprise, Chuyi reached to her waist and fished out a few copper coins. Then, from her sleeve, she produced a whole string of cash.
Nangong Yunshang stared in astonishment. Even after Chuyi paid and pocketed the pouches, she was still processing it.
Chuyi tugged her forward. “Sister, this pouch is for you.”
Coming back to her senses, Nangong Yunshang asked, “Where did you get the money?”
Chuyi leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “Before we changed clothes, I spotted Zishan. I took it from her. She has no idea.”
Nangong Yunshang: “…”
She had targeted one person specifically to fleece.
Feeling immensely proud of herself, Chuyi led Nangong Yunshang down the entire street. On their way back, they encountered a group of loaferish young lords.
Those fellows appeared utterly inexperienced with the world, their eyes glued to the pair, wide as saucers.
“When did Suzhou get such stunning young beauties? And two of them, right in a row.”
The leader, a fan in hand, clapped approvingly. “Heaven truly rewards the earnest. Are you two sisters visiting from out of town?”
One of his companions, however, noticed their intimate behavior and patted his shoulder. “What if they’re a pair?”
The leader shot back irritably, “Doesn’t matter what they are. Bring them back first.”
As the disgusting creeps drew near, Chuyi stepped in front of Nangong Yunshang and landed a punch squarely on the leader’s eye, bruising it black.
The man clutched his face and bellowed, “You dare hit me?”
Chuyi tilted her head and delivered a matching blow to his other eye for symmetry.
Spouting fierce threats, he turned to whine pitifully at his companions.
The other young lords rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward, offering a hasty bow.
“You already hit him, miss. You can’t hit us too.”
With that, the group bolted away amid a flurry of chatter. The black-eyed leader raged in impotent fury, half-blind and stumbling after his brothers on hands and knees before scrambling to his feet in humiliated retreat.
Chuyi spun around, hands on her hips. “Sister, aren’t I awesome?”
Nangong Yunshang stroked her head. “Chuyi is awesome.”
At last, the two accompanying guards caught up.
“Forgive us, Princess.”
Nangong Yunshang regarded them with clear displeasure. “You are quite late.”
With that, she pulled Chuyi away, leaving the guards to hurry after them with heads hung low.
That evening’s outing left Chuyi utterly content. Over the next two days, she stayed obediently within the residence, merely dashing about the rear garden now and then.
After Nangong Yunshang’s confession, Chuyi’s jealousy toward Zhao Linglong had clearly diminished. When the two gathered to play chess, she no longer minded, instead dragging Zishan off to chase butterflies.
Even after changing back into male attire, Chuyi remained as mischievous as ever. The rear garden brimmed with colorful butterflies. Any other sheltered young lady would have pursued them delicately with a silk handkerchief at most, but Chuyi wanted to catch every one. Deeming her hands too slow, she fetched a net instead, determined to scoop them all up at once.
After whiffing on her fifth attempt, Zishan spoke up from the side. “Prince Consort, this isn’t how you catch them.”
Chuyi huffed, shooting a meaningful glance at Zishan’s own empty net—as if to imply that if she was so expert, why hadn’t she caught any?
Zishan fell silent, wary of further scorn.
Chuyi concentrated fiercely this time, putting her all into it, and struck true on the first try.
“I caught it! I got one! Sister, look—I caught a butterfly!”
In her excitement to share the triumph, heedless of anything else, she dashed toward Nangong Yunshang net-first. She tripped over something in her haste, crashing to the ground with a thud as the butterfly fluttered free.
“Chuyi!”
Abandoning the chessboard entirely, Nangong Yunshang rushed over. The attendants swarmed in after her, creating utter chaos.
With everyone lending a hand, they helped her to her feet. Nangong Yunshang looked her up and down. “Are you all right? Did you bump anything?”
Chuyi twirled once, still full of bounce. “Nope.”
Relieved, Nangong Yunshang tapped her forehead lightly. Rather than scold her, however, she turned her ire on the others.
“How do you people keep watch?”
They bowed deeply. “Your Highness, please quell your anger!”
“Your Highness, since the Prince Consort is unharmed, there’s no need to blame them too severely.”
General Zhao spoke up in their defense.
To her surprise, Nangong Yunshang shot her a glance. “General Zhao’s no better. A grown woman like you, insisting on dragging me into chess.”
Zhao Linglong: “…”
This was an undeserved calamity. Best to keep quiet.
Chuyi tugged at her sleeve and shook it. “Sister, don’t be angry. Chuyi was wrong.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Nangong Yunshang waved a hand, at last dismissing the attendants.
Chuyi then looped her arm through Nangong Yunshang’s and wheedled on. “Sister, we’re going boating on the lake this afternoon, right? I hear everyone who visits has to go boating. Let’s do it too.”
Distracted by her endless chatter, Nangong Yunshang’s irritation ebbed away. Before long, it was forgotten entirely.
Chuyi waved at Zishan, who took the hint and swiftly led the others out of the princess’s sight.
In the heat of summer, any body of water became a magnet for pleasure-seekers. It offered not only relief from the swelter but also a touch of poetic elegance. Literati, young scions, and ladies all flocked to drift upon the lakes.
The shores of Yangcheng Lake basked in gentle winds and warm sunshine. The scene on the water was splendid, with boats plying back and forth. After a short wait, they hired a pleasure boat.
The boatman rowed from the prow while Chuyi and Nangong Yunshang sat close together. Summer vistas unfolded all around them, a soft breeze stirring the soul to ease.
Chuyi spotted fish teeming in the lake. “The fish here must taste amazing.”
The old boatman chuckled. “Young master has it right. The fish are delicious, to be sure, but come September and October, the Iron Armored Generals from these waters are the real treat.”
Chuyi practically drooled. “Sister, we have to eat Iron Armored Generals in the fall too.”
“Good. We’ll steam up a huge pot—you can eat till you’re stuffed.”
Summer had yet to end, and already Nangong Yunshang was pondering how to fatten Chuyi up for autumn.
Among the day’s lake-goers, young men predominated; ladies were a rare sight.
“Boatman, don’t the girls of Suzhou venture out often?”
Nangong Yunshang couldn’t help asking.
The old man let out a long sigh. “It’s not that, exactly. But in the past month, far fewer girls have been seen outdoors—and it’s all because of that wretched Myriad Flowers Cluster.”
Chuyi blinked in confusion. “What’s a Myriad Flowers Cluster? Some kind of flower?”
“No, it’s the moniker of a flower-plucking bandit.”
The revelation startled everyone aboard. Only Chuyi remained oblivious to what a “flower-plucking thief” entailed.
According to the boatman, this Myriad Flowers Cluster was a rapacious thief’s nickname in the jianghu. He came and went like a shadow, with peerless lightness skills that no one could match. Originally a denizen of the greenwoods, he had appeared in Suzhou for no clear reason and begun wreaking havoc.
“What unmarried girl dares step out now? If he takes a fancy to her, she’s doomed.”
Muttering to himself, the boatman added, “That’s why I figured you folks were visitors from elsewhere—you wouldn’t know the local troubles.”
Nangong Yunshang hadn’t anticipated stumbling upon such vile news during their pleasure outing.
“How many has this Myriad Flowers Cluster victimized?”
The boatman sighed. “From what I know, there’ve been four or five cases, all daughters from good families. That damned scoundrel—whenever he takes a fancy to one, he leaves a flower at her door the night before. No matter how they try to guard against it, he’ll leave another one the next day, a sign that he’s had his way with her. The bastard’s awfully brazen. No one’s managed to catch him yet.”
Nangong Yunshang frowned and asked, “Boatman, do you know what kind of flower it is?”
“Well… I’m not entirely sure. I heard it’s some purplish-red flower that nobody recognizes.”
Nangong Yunshang glanced at the others, but no one had any idea.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Linglong spoke up suddenly. “I’ve never seen it myself, but I’ve heard of a flower that can make people pass out—Datura. The brighter the color, the stronger the poison.”
Tao Chuyi suddenly threw her arms around Nangong Yunshang. “I’ll protect Sister!”
“In this servant’s humble opinion, we should set off right away and put some distance between us and this mess,” Yinghong said.
Nangong Yunshang nodded at Yinghong’s suggestion. They really ought to get going as soon as possible.
