The eunuch driving the ox-drawn carriage brought Zhenzhen to the foot of a mountain, ascended along the mountain path, and finally helped her out of the carriage, leaning her against the gate of a small courtyard near the mountaintop before departing alone. Zhenzhen remained unconscious. At dawn, someone opened the door and discovered her. After reporting inside, a man came out to check, then instructed a maid to help Zhenzhen into the room and let her lie down to rest.
Approaching noon, Zhenzhen gradually awoke. No one else was in the room, and the doors and windows were closed, dark as ebony. The floor was paved with bluestone bricks, and the interior furnishings were elegantly simple. The furniture, in its natural wood color, was of simple design but exquisite craftsmanship. An incense burner on the table was burning sandalwood, and faint chanting of Buddhist scriptures could be heard from outside.
On a crane-knee table beside the bed were porridge and water. Zhenzhen drank the water, rested a moment, then finished the porridge, feeling slightly better than the previous night. She reached out to touch her face and forehead—the fever seemed to have subsided considerably.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the room. Judging by the shadows on the window, two people seemed to be approaching.
"Why did you only come today, junior sister?" a man asked gently, his voice sounding quite familiar to Zhenzhen.
A woman sighed softly: "Senior brother, last month I visited the Sutra-Reading Monastery too frequently, and my family grew suspicious. This month, they forbade me from coming. Later, because my father wanted to hold a Buddhist service for a deceased friend and requested monks from the Sutra-Reading Monastery to chant scriptures for the soul’s salvation, I asked to come and pay respects. Only then did my father agree."
This woman’s voice also seemed familiar to Zhenzhen, but she couldn’t recall who it was for the moment. Hearing them address each other as "senior brother" and "junior sister," like practitioners of the Dao, only deepened her confusion.
The man continued, "This can’t go on forever. Why don’t I inform my parents and ask a matchmaker to visit your father, formally proposing marriage to you?"
The woman fell silent for a moment, likely pleased at heart but burdened with worries. She whispered, "I’m just afraid my father is stubborn and unwilling to form a marriage alliance with the imperial relatives’ quarter..."
The man also seemed hesitant, pausing briefly before saying, "Given your father’s high status and authority, he would indeed consider such matters. Besides, my reputation isn’t good..."
"I know exactly what kind of person you are and don’t mind at all," the woman comforted him gently, yet couldn’t help sighing again. "But public opinion can melt metal, and I’ve suffered greatly from it too. I don’t know what my father will think this time..."
Listening to them, Zhenzhen grew anxious for their sake. She rose and walked to the door, speaking to them through it: "Since you have feelings for each other, you should strive to be together. If you want to propose marriage, then go ahead and do it. How can you know whether the father-in-law will agree without even asking? Propose first and see. If he refuses, then think of another way. That’s better than sighing here and retreating before even trying."
The two fell silent instantly, not daring to respond.
Zhenzhen opened the door from inside. The man and woman standing in the courtyard both turned to look at her. Zhenzhen’s eyes widened in recognition—it was Yin Qi and Shen Han’s daughter, Shen Rouran.
Shortly after, the three sat together and talked. Zhenzhen learned that after Yin Qi caused a scene at the Eastern Palace banquet years ago, he had been confined to his residence for a long time. The following year, Lady of Chen had this courtyard built near the Sutra-Reading Monastery in Tianzhu and moved Yin Qi here to live. He often visited the Sutra-Reading Monastery or Lingyin Temple nearby to listen to eminent monks expound the Dharma, spending his days copying scriptures and calming his mind through calligraphy practice.
Yin Qi gradually grew accustomed to this tranquil life and found contentment in it. As for Shen Rouran, although her act of helping Yun Yinge expose Fu Junyi’s crimes at the wedding was a chivalrous deed, it also attracted some gossip. After breaking off her engagement, fewer suitors came to propose marriage to her. Unable to find a match that met her standards, she remained unmarried to this day.Later, when Shen Rouran came to the Tianzhu Scripture-Viewing Monastery to borrow sutras, a gust of wind blew in a page of handwritten scripture. She saw that the characters were written in small regular script, their forms exquisitely balanced, blending strength with grace, and radiating a serene and welcoming aura, with an ethereal and lofty artistic conception. Admiring them, she could not help but wonder what kind of refined and unworldly person could write such characters with such calm composure. Upon inquiry, she learned that they were written by Yin Qi, so she sought out the small courtyard nearby. Yin Qi happened to be practicing calligraphy in the courtyard and, seeing her peering in, graciously invited her inside to observe. Shen Rouran soon discovered that Yin Qi was also skilled in regular and cursive scripts, producing two cursive works in moments—free-flowing, elegant, and charming.
Shen Rouran also enjoyed calligraphy and offered comments that went straight to the point, earning Yin Qi’s admiration and respect. At first, they only found each other familiar, but after conversing, they recalled that during the Dragon Boat Festival banquet years ago, they had briefly met on a boat in the Rear Garden of the palace, where they had listened together to Wu Zhenzhen telling stories. Yin Qi joked that this reunion on the same boat must have been fate cultivated in a past life, and Shen Rouran playfully called him “Brother Daoist.” Yin Qi agreed and, in jest, addressed her as “Junior Sister.”
From then on, Shen Rouran often found excuses to visit the Tianzhu Scripture-Viewing Monastery to discuss calligraphy with Yin Qi. They often practiced side by side, critiquing each other’s work and regarding one another as kindred spirits. Naturally, affection grew between them, and they hoped to spend their lives together. However, according to court customs, officials in the imperial court typically married only among their colleagues. Moreover, Yin Qi’s illness was widely known, and Shen Rouran worried her father would not accept him. Thus, she could only continue her relationship with Yin Qi in secret.
At this point, the chanting of Buddhist hymns from the Tianzhu Scripture-Viewing Monastery paused. Shen Rouran suddenly realized the time and stood up, saying, “I slipped out quietly and must return. My parents are still at the scripture-viewing monastery, and I fear they will look for me.”
Yin Qi and Zhenzhen rose to see her off. Yin Qi casually asked, “For whom is the sutra chanting and prayers being performed today? Both your parents are here.”
Shen Rouran glanced at Zhenzhen, hesitated for a moment, but finally replied, “For Pei Shangshi.”
Zhenzhen felt as if struck by lightning, frowning in disbelief as she looked at Shen Rouran.
After the Crown Prince’s grand funeral, censorial officials quickly demanded a thorough investigation into the Crown Prince’s diet, pointing the blame at Pei Shangshi. They accused her of previously promoting Wu Zhenzhen and, on that day, failing in her duty by not stopping Wu Zhenzhen from serving the Crown Prince Songjiang Perch Sashimi. They insisted she be handed over to the Censorate for severe punishment according to the law.
The Empress, taking pity on Pei Shangshi’s years of hard work, advised the Emperor to let the Palace Discipline Office investigate the matter first, rather than immediately handing her over to the Censorate. Due to the gravity of the situation, on the day Wei, the Director of Palace Discipline, interrogated Pei Shangshi, not only were the Emperor, Empress, imperial consorts, and senior female officials of the Six Bureaus present, but even the Empress Dowager came from Cifu Palace to observe.
Wei, the Director of Palace Discipline, meticulously questioned Pei Shangshi about every detail of that day. When she heard that Zhenzhen had prepared the perch sashimi and offered it to Pei Shangshi to taste first, Wei pressed Pei Shangshi on whether she had sampled it. Pei Shangshi hesitated briefly but finally answered truthfully, “No.”
Wei continued to ask why she had not tasted it. Pei Shangshi remained silent for a long time, prompting Wei to say, “The ingredients presented to the Crown Prince were taken from the imperial kitchen and should have been inspected and tasted by the Director of Palace Food before being sent to the Eastern Palace. Yet Pei Shangshi omitted this step. Could it be that, after long holding a high position, she has grown so arrogant as to disdain fulfilling this most basic duty?”
Pei Shangshi bowed her head and said, “I dare not,” but still did not explain the reason.Wei Gongzheng presented a letter and said, "Yesterday, someone anonymously informed me that Pei Shangshi likely has a diminished sense of taste but still wishes to retain her position as Director of Palace Food. That is why she vigorously trained Wu Zhenzhen, allowing her to oversee the imperial meals and taste them first. Pei Shangshi did not taste the Songjiang Perch Sashimi because of her taste issues—she cannot discern its quality, so she refrained. Is this true?"
Pei Shangshi knelt with tears in her eyes, remaining silent.
Wei Gongzheng ordered someone to bring three prepared cups of water and said to Pei Shangshi, "These three cups contain salty, sweet, and tasteless water. Please taste each one publicly and then tell me which is which."
"No need," Pei Shangshi replied, raising her tear-streaked face, her lips trembling. "Yes, I lost my sense of taste long ago. Whether salty or sweet, everything tastes the same to me."
Wei Gongzheng pressed further, "When did you lose it?"
Pei Shangshi answered, "It began to decline five or six years ago, growing weaker over time. About three years ago, I could hardly distinguish any flavors."
"This is outrageous!" the Empress Dowager interjected angrily. "A person responsible for tasting imperial meals has lost her sense of taste yet continues to occupy the position of Director of Palace Food, refusing to step aside. She has been negligent for years—this is a crime of deceiving the sovereign!"
Pei Shangshi kowtowed and said, "I am willing to bear all responsibility and atone with my death."
The Emperor then asked her, "Why did you conceal this for so long? Is the position of Director of Palace Food worth such attachment? I have promised you many times that if you wished to retire from the palace, I would grant you generous wealth and a mansion for a peaceful old age."
"What I want is not wealth or a mansion," Pei Shangshi sobbed uncontrollably. "The reason I did not resign is that I have no home to return to. My only home is the Bureau of Palace Provisions!"
She wept bitterly, bending deeply at the waist, touching her head to the ground, trembling all over. Her cries were filled with sorrow and despair.
"Hand her over to the Censorate," the Empress Dowager said coldly to the Emperor.
"Enough," the Emperor sighed. "After all, she has served my meals since I was young... Besides, I was not entirely unaware. I sensed her inability to discern flavors years ago, so..."
"So Your Majesty preferred the meals prepared by Consort Liu," the Empress Dowager sneered. "Your Majesty is merciful and does not wish to punish Pei Shangshi severely, but she concealed her loss of taste and neglected her duties, harming the Eastern Palace. She cannot be lightly pardoned. Expel her from the palace and send her to become a Daoist nun."
The Emperor remained silent, deep in thought. Seeing this, the Empress softly suggested, "Expulsion from the palace is appropriate, but Pei Shangshi is elderly, and forcing her to become a Daoist nun seems unnecessary. Instead, grant her a humble dwelling where she can live simply and reflect on her mistakes."
The Emperor found this acceptable, and the matter was settled accordingly. The next day, Pei Shangshi, now alone, dressed in plain clothes and carrying a small bundle, slowly walked through the gray shadows of the palace gate, passing through Lizheng Gate and merging into the bustling imperial street outside. She did not look back at the imperial city that had consumed decades of her life.
The Empress ordered Shi Huaien to purchase a residence for Pei Shangshi. To avoid criticism from the censors, the residence was small and hidden in a narrow alley.When Shen Han heard about Pei Shangshi's situation, he sighed deeply and, after much deliberation, confided in his wife about his past with the former Director of Palace Food. Mrs. Shen, being broad-minded and principled, said to him, "Back then, due to misunderstandings and twists of fate, your marriage was missed. Now she is old and alone, living a bleak twilight years. I imagine you must feel uneasy about it. Why don't we bring her to our home? I will treat her as a sister, and in the future, our children can see her off in her final days."
Shen Han was deeply grateful and repeatedly thanked his wife. He then told Shen Rouran about the matter, asking his daughter to visit Pei Shangshi's residence and invite her to the Shen household.
Shen Rouran called on Pei Shangshi and conveyed her parents' intentions. Pei Shangshi, however, smiled sadly and said to Shen Rouran, "If I enter Master Shen's home now, what would I be? A concubine? Or a servant?"
Shen Rouran replied, "My mother hopes to address you as a sister. You and my father can interact as friends. Our entire family will treat you with the utmost respect as an honored guest."
Pei Shangshi politely declined, but Shen Rouran persisted, extending the invitation repeatedly. Finally, Pei Shangshi relented, saying she needed to pack her things and asking Shen Rouran to come fetch her the next day.
Shen Rouran said happily, "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, I will ask my father to come with me to welcome you."
After Shen Rouran left, Pei Shangshi bathed and changed her clothes. In the evening, she poured herself a cup of wine, took out a small medicine bottle, and poured the white powder inside into the cup. She gently swirled the wine cup and murmured, "Mingchu, back then I stopped you from tasting this, but in my heart, I couldn't help but wonder what it really tasted like... Now, I finally have the courage to try it..."
Seeing the powder had mostly dissolved, Pei Shangshi stood up, opened the bundle she had brought from the palace, and took out a hairpiece adorned with pearls and jade. It was a bride's hair crown, intricately crafted with filigree and inlaid with gems, exquisitely beautiful. However, after years of storage, its brilliance had faded, no longer as dazzling as it once was.
Pei Shangshi solemnly put on the hair crown, slowly drank the cup of wine, and then sat upright by the bed with its drawn curtains, like a bride quietly awaiting her groom in the bridal chamber.
The small street where her residence was located was chaotic, with nearby taverns and teahouses. At that moment, a songstress from one of them was singing to the tune of a flute. The lyrics sounded familiar:
"Gazing sorrowfully at life's fleeting scenes,
Lonely echoes of the precious zither remain.
The traveler from Chu, full of sentiment, laments parting,
Climbing distant green mountains and crossing waters.
Watching the withered grass stretch to the horizon,
Hearing sparse pounding of washing stones in the deep night.
Yellow leaves fall without wind,
Autumn clouds linger, casting long shadows without rain.
If heaven had feelings, heaven too would grow old,
Unbearable, the swaying hidden sorrow.
Melancholy, old joys are but a dream,
Awakening to find nowhere to seek them."
As the song ended, Pei Shangshi, still sitting upright, gazed ahead, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
At the same time, a trickle of crimson blood spilled from her mouth, dripping down from the corner of her upturned lips.
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