Section 1

Jin Shu smiled and declined, "I have already covered your share, it's not much money anyway, let's forget about it."

A letter of greeting, "Chen Andai, great joy, I have come to collect the white cotton paper allocated for the Zhongcui Palace."

The sound of popping filled the brazier, and after sitting for a while, Ying Shui, standing at the door of the Quiet Room in the Chuxiu Palace, lifted a corner of the soft curtain and inquired, "Hey, how many people are on duty today?"

The night watch bell on West First Long Street rang once, and Gui Xi quickly stood up, shook his robe, and said: "I am leaving. Today, Liu the Eunuch is not feeling well, so I will deliver the key to him. Later, I will return the key to the Respectful Affairs Room and that will be all." After sending off Gui Xi, it was time for the night shift. A few people in the room washed their faces and tidied their hair, exchanged a few words with Jin Shu, and went to the Shuxiu Palace to replace the palace maids who had been on duty during the day.

Jin Shu rubbed his hands together, sat down next to Li Zhi, and said, "The vest and socks are all ready. I will deliver them to her when she returns to duty tomorrow morning."

Madam Zhang is one of the few remaining wet nurses from the previous dynasty. Ever since the iron hooves of the Chengde Emperor kicked down the threshold of the Daye Dynasty, she has been as mute as if she had lost her voice, only speaking when absolutely necessary. Having endured until the age of sixty, she is now old and is bidding farewell to each palace one by one. After all, she is of advanced age, and the palace attendants in each place pay their respects to her according to the old customs. It is estimated that today it is her turn to visit the Yeting Palace, and everyone has long been prepared. However, most of the people in this courtyard are scheduled for the night shift, and only Jinshu remains, who has entrusted the matter to her.

The palace maid Litchi in the Chuxiu Palace shifted slightly, making room and beckoned, saying: "Come and warm up. Has the trim on Aunt Sang's vest been finished?"

The water boiled, and the steam caused the pot lid to rattle. Jin Shu came to his senses, lifted the lid of the ceramic piece with a damp cloth, quickly placed the noodles down, and respectfully set a large bowl in front of Mama Zhang.

Mother Zhang hunched her body, humbly repeating, "How could I dare to take such credit, you have worked hard." Jin Shu stared blankly at the wisp of steam rising from the edge of the pot lid. Although so much time had passed and she had tried hard to forget the past, the moment Mother Zhang mentioned it, a wave of sorrow instantly flooded her entire memory.

Lychee fiddled with the pink tassels of her long braid, responding in a nonchalant manner, "What else is there? It's just porridge." She then recalled a matter, opened the lock on the trunk, and took out a handful of money to give to Jinshu, saying with a sense of guilt, "I had mentioned earlier about pooling together to prepare a farewell meal for Mother Zhang. I have been busy these past few days and only remembered it today."

A trace of melancholy flashed between Jin Shu's brows, "There is no one left at home, I have heard that there is still a younger brother, but he is now lost outside, and I do not know whether he is alive or dead"

On December 22 of the ninth year of Chengde, the sky was dim and overcast, with low-hanging clouds. The northwesterly wind blew in increasingly strong gusts, causing the tiles on the eaves of the courtyard to emit a mournful sound. The snow fell more heavily, accumulating a thick layer on the glazed tiles, with only the corners of the single-eaved hip roof occasionally revealing mottled bright yellow.

Five, '' Litchi turned her head away and ignored her, while Cuicui raised her head and replied, '' I, along with Chun Tao and the twins Shuangxi and Cuiqiao from Aunt Li's side, are the ones serving the Hui mistress, and it is Aunt Sang who attends to her.

The palace maids could not withstand the cold and returned to their rooms. The Yeting and the sleeping quarters are different; the underground does not provide charcoal, and once winter arrives, it is so cold that one's teeth chatter. Jinshu stared blankly at the bright, glaring snow covering the ground. After standing for a while, she remembered that the stove, pots, and utensils had not been cleaned, so she hurriedly went inside through the cotton curtain. After scrubbing in the cold water, her ten fingers felt like frozen radishes. When she dipped them into the hot water for washing her face, they felt swollen and numb, itching all the way to the bone.

Upon entering the room, Jinshu extinguished the wind lamp and placed it in the holder at the door. Mother Zhang closed the door behind her, adjusted her appearance, first offered a double blessing, then took a step back, smoothed her skirt, and knelt on both knees. She deeply bowed her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, as she pressed her forehead to the ground, stifling a sob, "This servant pays respects to the esteemed Lord of the Grand Ritual."

Now that I think about it, I truly am a coward. Why didn't I perish alongside the Great Ye Dynasty? Perhaps it was because I was too young during the Dongchang Incident; a seven-year-old child understands nothing of national righteousness, only wishing to survive. As for the path a deposed princess should take afterward, I once harbored ambitious dreams of restoring my country, lying on the kang and pointing at the tent ceiling while envisioning the landscape. However, when the strict rules of the court fell upon me, aside from my hands and feet being covered in frostbite, painful and itchy during winter, I could no longer accommodate anything else in my heart. I once harbored ambitious dreams of restoring my country, lying on the kang and pointing at the tent ceiling while envisioning the landscape. However, when the strict rules of the court fell upon me, aside from my hands and feet being covered in frostbite, painful and itchy during winter, I could no longer accommodate anything else in my heart. How can I fill a water tank taller than myself? How can I evade the difficulties posed by the Yetingling? My fighting spirit was gradually worn away, and the dream of restoration became unattainable. The heavy labor left me gasping for breath, with only my younger brother Yongzhou on my mind.

Jin Shu helped her up, feeling that at such an old age, it was inappropriate to kneel before herself, and thought it was a sinful act. He pulled her to sit on the kang, brewed a cup of tea, and handed it to her while saying: "Mother, please do not say that anymore. I remember that I am the daughter of the Murong family, engraved in my bones and blood, and I dare not forget for a moment. However, now the world has changed, and I am a princess of a fallen nation. To be able to survive is already a great fortune. Mother, please do not perform such a grand gesture again next time. I am still young and fear that I cannot bear it; it may shorten my life."

Lychee stubbornly stuffed it into her hand, "When we encounter our master happily or on good days, there are additional rewards. What can you rely on? Hurry and take it."

Mother Zhang is a person who adheres to rigid principles. She stubbornly stated, "No matter who is the emperor now, in the hearts of the servants, a thousand years is still a thousand years, it is the scion of nobility, it is the offspring of dragons and phoenixes, it is the imperial lord of our great Yejia people, these servants will never forget."

Jin Shu furrowed her brows and sighed, "Mother, please wake up! Nowadays, even Daye is no more, how can we compare with the Taichang Princess of the Library?"

Jin Shu smiled, poured a cup of tea for her, and said, "Calm down, it's not a big deal, getting angry is not worth it"

The letter nodded in agreement, "I am doing well here. A few of those who served me back then are working at the Yongshou Palace. If Mother goes, could you please check on them for me? There is no need to say anything; I cannot attend to them here, and I do not want to bring any trouble upon them."

Jin Shu gently brushed the snow off her shoes under the eaves and replied softly, "I just finished sending it out."

Her father was a naturally timid man, a fine poet, refined and cultured, who despised violence. However, as a monarch, he had to devote half of his energy to military generals. He wished to balance both aspects, but ultimately failed at both, and this contradictory character doomed his life to tragedy. Thus, when the Yuwen clan, which had been submissive for over two hundred years, turned against him with weapons in hand, the grand Emperor of Daye found himself helpless, forced to watch as the twenty-year-old Yuwen Lanzhou stormed into the capital, placing a foot upon the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The Emperor of Daye, filled with grief and anger, found himself powerless to change the situation, ultimately ending his life with a rope in the Changchun Palace.

This is the first time I have heard her speak of personal matters. Earlier, I had anticipated that her background must be tragic, as there are countless suffering souls in this palace, yet she seems different from the others. I cannot quite articulate how she is different; perhaps it is due to a greater sense of calm and a lesser degree of utilitarianism. Clearly more beautiful than those concubines, she willingly remains hidden in this inner courtyard, performing menial tasks. Besides her humility and obedience, she possesses a strong sense of pride, standing straight under that floral trellis, exuding an air of superiority as if looking down upon the world. Every pair of eyes honed by palace life is sharp, yet they cannot see through her. She does not seem like someone sent from the outside; rather, she appears to have naturally grown within the Forbidden City. I dare not speculate; too much guessing may lead to trouble. Everyone has their secrets; why delve into them?

Chun Tao quickly propped herself up and pulled her, "Stop crying quickly, it's almost time for the night watch. If you cry like this and someone sees you, not only you, but your whole family will be in trouble."

The vassal king who held the lifeblood of Daye accelerated the pace of slaughter, and the palace maids and eunuchs serving the six palaces were almost completely exterminated. Among the twelve princes of the Murong clan, eleven were killed, with only the youngest, the Sixteenth Prince Yongzhou, escaping disaster because his maternal uncle was celebrating a birthday outside the palace.

Madam Zhang said, and Jin Shu opened the door, escorting her to the corridor at the west end of the courtyard. Watching her sway away with the wind lantern, she then turned back to the inner courtyard. During the day, the palace maids who had finished their duties were washing up and came out with wooden basins to pour water. Upon seeing her, they called out, "Has Madam Zhang's farewell meal been prepared?"

After finishing the meal and paying the bill, the crisp sound of the second watch echoed. Mother Zhang left the embroidered insoles for the young ladies and prepared to leave. Before departing, she grasped Jinshu's hand and said sorrowfully: "This parting between the servant and the esteemed one is like mountains and rivers apart; it is likely that we will not meet again in this lifetime. Esteemed one, please take care of yourself. No matter how strict the rules in the palace are, they cannot surpass the human heart. What appears good on the surface is merely superficial, and one cannot be sure of the schemes behind one's back. As long as you can protect yourself, that is all that matters."

The lychee nodded slightly, "Our aunt is indeed exceptionally difficult to please, with an endless amount of needlework to do all by herself. This life... is truly unbearable. Just endure it for now; I have heard that she is to be transferred to Yikun Palace, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already sent someone to convey the message. Once she leaves, you will have it much easier."

As he was speaking, Jin Shu entered through the door curtain, placed the bamboo basket on the table, patted the snowflakes off his body, and his fingers had gone numb from the cold

Fortunately, this Empress Dowager is quite magnanimous, as she did not transfer her resentment towards the He De Emperor's daughter onto her. Over the years, she has ignored her completely, treating her as if she were dead. Perhaps she believes that leaving her to live out her days in the Yeting in solitude is a better punishment. In any case, although she has lost her former glory and favor over the past nine years, she has lived quite freely. Apart from a few elderly palace maids left from the Meiji era, almost no one knows her identity. Now, she is merely a servant, living in a humble manner, even lower than the eunuchs and palace maids.

Guixi could no longer hold back and cautiously said: "Miss Jinshu, your family has not come to visit in previous years; how is it this year?"

The eunuch Gui Xi, responsible for the arrangement of dishes, poked the charcoal pile with a fire tong and laughed, "Indeed, a robe is worth more than flesh. When we return to the Chuxiu Palace tonight, if the young master sees you in a state of disarray, once we return to the lower quarters, you won't escape a beating with a mat."

Lying on her side, Chun Tao slowly scratched her scalp, "I wonder what snacks we will have tonight. The duty officer always leaves us hungry, so I am counting on that meal at the hour of Zi.

Men are always fond of beautiful women, even eunuchs who are not fully intact behave the same way. When they see someone attractive, they tend to be polite and wish to get close to you. Sometimes, they may even offer you some gifts like fruits and pastries, but this does not indicate genuine goodwill. Jin Shu is aware of this and feels quite repulsed, yet there is no alternative but to endure it. These eunuchs are not to be offended; if you dare to show displeasure, they will scheme against you in countless ways.

Jin Shu responded, her face still adorned with a faint smile. The Yeting is a place where the palace maids of various courts reside, divided into two types of individuals: those who serve the emperor and his consorts, and those who are female slaves performing menial tasks. The palace maids are selected from the emperor's personal servants, and they can be released by the age of twenty-one at the latest. In contrast, female slaves cannot leave the Yeting until death; they are the lowest class of people, and anyone can assign tasks to them. They must endure and comply with orders given in an irritable tone, and they have no choice but to obey, as they are perpetually unable to stop their work.

Jin Shu smiled and said, "Enough of these empty formalities, it is cold, and if we delay, the food will get cold. Mother, please eat while it is still warm, I will serve you." She placed a few slices of lamb liver on the small plate in front of her mother's right hand. With each dish served, Zhang Mama would curl her five fingers and lightly tap the table, expressing her gratitude with a bow. Throughout the meal, the sound of her tapping was incessant.

She originally thought that she would go with her parents and brothers, but unexpectedly, she was left alone. Perhaps they intended to use her to lure out Yongzhou, or maybe it was out of respect for her deceased aunt, to leave a lineage for the Murong family. Her aunt, He De Di Ji, was the biological mother of Yu Wen Lan Zhou and had raised him for five years. Unfortunately, she passed away in the thirteenth year of the Mingzhi era, so the current Empress Dowager is Yu Wen Lan Zhou's biological mother, but during the reign of King Yue Jin, she was merely a secondary wife.

Mother Zhang knelt at the head of the kang to express her gratitude, murmuring: "It is a blessing of several lifetimes for me to have the Emperor personally arrange a farewell feast for me; even if I were to descend, I would still feel honored"

With a roll of her eyes, Ying Shui pulled back the curtain and retreated. Litchi let out a huff, saying, "What a temperament! After just a few days of looking at the southern window, it seems there is no one left in her eyes."

Everyone knows Jin Shu; she is a person of extremely gentle disposition, handling matters with steadiness, and her every action is measured. Logically speaking, such a person would not be out of place even in the presence of the Emperor. However, since she entered the palace with this group of palace maids, she has remained in the Yeting, and to this day, she is still here, having no idea how many years have passed. She does not serve a proper master and has never even left the area of the West Six Department. She is deeply contemplative and has never mentioned her family. If anyone asks, she simply lowers her head to find work to do, leaving you in silence. Logically speaking, such a person would not be out of place even in the presence of the Emperor. However, since she entered the palace with this group of palace maids, she has remained in the Yeting, and to this day, she is still here, having no idea how many years have passed. She does not serve a proper master and has never even left the area of the West Six Department. She is deeply contemplative and has never mentioned her family. If anyone asks, she simply lowers her head to find work to do, leaving you in silence. Everyone felt embarrassed and later stopped asking, secretly guessing that she might be a relative of an official who had fallen from grace and was sent to the palace to serve in the Yeting.

Jin Shu stepped forward to assist her; she bent slightly without evading, and together they walked along the palace wall towards the Yeting courtyard, tilting the umbrella over her head while exposing herself to the wind and snow.

Jin Shu set the oil lamp on the kang table, stretched her neck, spread out a piece of fabric, measured the dimensions with a ruler, and then cut out the pieces one by one with scissors, neatly arranging them. Compared to the alterations made by her aunts, she preferred this new sewing work, as the stitches looked beautiful and the sewing was also quite satisfying

Jin Shu knows that discussing length and breadth with older people is futile, so she merely smiles, lights the stove, and prepares one pot for cooking while another pot is used to boil soup for hot pot. Occasionally, she stirs the charcoal and turns to Mama Zhang, saying: "You should sit on the kang to warm up first; once I have everything ready, I will bring it to the kang table."

The personal maid of Concubine Ding of Zhongcui Palace said to her: "Tomorrow, please cut some handkerchiefs for us. I have already spoken to Aunt Xiao, you just need to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to collect the white cotton paper."

She had no way to gather information; whether it was the lowly servants or the palace maids, they were rooted in whichever palace they belonged to. Thus, she could only wait in the depths of the palace, hoping that one day she would receive news of Yongzhou. On one occasion, she overheard a eunuch who was shaving heads and the steward of the Yeting mention the princes of the previous dynasty. Although it was only a few words, she learned the joyful news that the Emperor Chengde had sent the Yulin Army to search for Yongzhou, but they returned empty-handed. She was so happy that she couldn't sleep well for two nights. As long as he did not fall into the hands of Yu Wenlan, Yongzhou still had a chance to survive. As long as he was alive, there would be a day when the siblings could meet. Yongzhou was three months younger than her, the son of the esteemed and solemn Concubine Duan, good-looking and intelligent. He always managed to find out where she was and would always think of ways to take her out...

In a hurry, she got out of bed, put on her shoes, and rushed outside. The north wind, mixed with fine hail, struck her face painfully. She tightened her collar and jogged quickly, the ground was covered with a layer of ice, making her feet slip. She had to support herself against the brick wall along the path to reach the lantern, and softly called out, "Mother Zhang." The elderly palace maid raised her eyes to look at her, her gaze obscure; she opened her mouth but ultimately swallowed her words.

The next day, at the end of the morning, I rose. The winter nights are long, and at this time, the sky is still dark. The courtyard has already become lively. The palace maids on duty have prepared everything, and upon hearing the chief eunuch outside the palace gate clap his hands, they lined up to go to the various palaces to replace those on night duty. Jinshu lit a lamp and headed towards the Internal Affairs Office, the thin soles of her shoes crunching on the snow. After much effort, she entered the gate of the Grand Storage Department, where the supervising eunuch sat behind a large desk. Upon hearing someone enter, he didn't even lift his eyelids and simply asked, "What brings you here?"

Sitting cross-legged on the kang, she threaded the needle and brushed her scalp twice, just as she was about to start sewing. Through the paper-covered window, she saw a lantern slowly approaching along the wall. Initially thinking it was a palace maid on duty, she pushed the window open, only to find that there was just one person. The dim light illuminated the gray hair and aged face, one hand holding a palace lantern, the other supporting an umbrella, with a small bundle hanging from her shoulder. As she walked and paused, she arrived at the corridor of the Yeting Bureau.

The brocade letter was held tightly in hand, and Gui Xi said that today relatives were visiting for a family reunion. Cui Cui sighed softly, turned away to wipe her tears, and said, "This year my mother cannot come, she passed away last winter."

There is still a long time before the lanterns are lit. Several palace maids lifted the kang table onto the kang, and moved two benches, airing the new shoe soles. Everyone sat around waiting for the keys to the palace gate. The room was cold despite the brazier being lit, so someone reached out to warm their hands. Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the charcoal exploded, and sparks flew out, scattering everywhere, crackling as they hit the body. "Burning the clothes is serious; this is the robe I just received, and it has burned a hole in it," one of them exclaimed to the matron.

Eunuch Chen looked up and smiled, "Oh, it is Miss Jinshu! It is cold outside, come quickly to warm yourself by the fire; look, your complexion has changed. Please wait a moment, I will fetch it for you right away."

Mother Zhang's lips slightly drooped as she said sorrowfully: "What a fortunate person the Thousand Years is. Back when I served at the Hall of Cloud Dispersion, the late emperor favored the Thousand Years so much that he even allowed him to sit on his lap during court sessions. Who among the civil and military officials did not kneel and bow in reverence? Now, how could this old servant not feel unworthy when I bow my head?"