He stopped himself. That would sound too much like jealousy toward his own son.
So instead, he changed his tone. “Since giving birth, you’ve stayed in the residence and never gone out for leisure. The child’s already eight months old—it’s time you relaxed a bit and took some fresh air.”
At that, Shen Yujiao understood perfectly well.
He simply wanted her to accompany him.
She suddenly recalled what Bai Ping had said the last time he’d gone away: ‘Once bitten by a snake, you’ll fear the well rope for ten years.’
That flood last year had clearly left him with lingering fears.
But as for the child…
After some hesitation, she walked over to him and took his hand. “I understand your worry, Langjun. But no one can guard against danger forever. You’re now in the emperor’s favor—there’ll often be times you must travel or attend to duties outside the capital. Are you going to ask His Majesty for permission every time, just to bring me along? Even if His Majesty allows it, it wouldn’t look good. Those who know us will say we’re deeply devoted—never apart. But those who don’t will say I’m foolish and hold you back from your duties for the sake of affection.”
In this world, no matter what happens— if there are women involved, people blame the women; if there aren’t, they still blame the women.
To receive fewer scoldings, one can only try to be tolerant, magnanimous, and understanding—
to stay obedient, proper, virtuous. After all, the more you do, the more mistakes you make; if you do nothing, it’s still a fault—but at least a smaller one.
“I haven’t ridden in a long time,” Shen Yujiao said, “my archery’s gone rusty too. If I tag along just to make up the numbers and can’t even hit a rabbit, I’ll only make myself a joke.”
Saying this, she seemed to think of something and curved her eyes at him. “Next year, then. Next year, when Di Ge’er is old enough to be looked after by my mother— you, me, my brother, and sister-in-law, the four of us can go riding at Lyouyuan for a spring outing. How about that?”
Pei Xia’s brow moved slightly. When she mentioned “riding at Lyouyuan,” the light in her eyes was clear and bright— real joy and anticipation, not feigned.
Indeed, outings with the imperial procession were bound by strict ceremony and endless rules; how could they compare to a casual trip with family?
“So this time, you really aren’t going?” he asked.
“I’m not.” Shen Yujiao softened her tone, gently tracing his palm with her finger. “You go with peace of mind—try to hunt more deer and roe. If you can bring back a few fine hides, they’ll make good little jackets for Di Ge’er.”
Pei Xia couldn’t help laughing.
Even if he did bring back fine pelts, he’d first have one made into a scarf for her— that little one would have to wait.
—
In ancient times, emperors hunted each season to display their martial strength before Heaven: spring excursions, summer sowing, autumn chases, and winter hunts.
Before long, it was time for the winter hunt. This year, the Prince of Nanzhao and Princess Shouan were also joining the party.
Emperor Zhaoning had arranged this deliberately, hoping to give the betrothed couple time together, so that Shouan might willingly marry into Nanzhao.
Ordinarily, Eldest Princess Jinhua would never miss such an event, but shortly before departure she caught a chill, and so remained in Chang’an.
On the eve of departure, Shen Yujiao had already prepared Pei Xia’s bow, riding gear, and the daily necessities for ten days—scented sachets, small comforts, and the like.
That night, between husband and wife, there was inevitable closeness. Perhaps because they were soon to part for ten days, or perhaps because their affection had grown too deep to restrain— without realizing it, the night slipped by until it was already half gone.
The next morning, when Shen Yujiao woke and looked in the mirror, the traces left across her skin made her cheeks flush red with embarrassment.
She carefully chose a high-collared gown to cover her neck, then took Di Ge’er in her arms to see Pei Xia off at the gate.
“Di Ge’er, your father’s going hunting,” she said softly, looking down at her child, her gentle brows filled with warmth. “Tell your father to bring back some good furs to make you new clothes.”
The eight-month-old could already babble a few sounds. Perhaps understanding her words, he stared up at Pei Xia with wide, grape-like eyes, his little mouth working, “Wuwu~ ya!”
Even Pei Xia’s usually cool, pale face softened with a father’s warmth. He pinched the child’s cheek lightly. “Father will hunt you some fine furs, but you must be good at home, don’t trouble your mother, understand?”
Di Ge’er blinked, mouth open, “Ah—ah~~ yaya!”
A drop of clear drool slid down his chin.
Pei Xia laughed. “I’ll take that as a promise.”
Seeing him laugh, the little one grinned too, “Yaya!”
Watching the exchange between father and son, Shen Yujiao’s heart softened. She held the child forward. “Hold him once more before you go.”
Pei Xia didn’t refuse. He took the baby and kissed him lightly.
When he handed the child back, his dark eyes lingered steadily on her face.
Shen Yujiao froze.
That look—she knew it too well.
Her body instinctively took a step back, but his long arm looped around her waist.
He didn’t kiss her— but he drew both her and the child into his embrace.
“Yuniang,” his deep, mellow voice murmured against her ear, “wait for me to come home.”
Her heart stirred, and she answered softly, “All right—I’ll wait for you.”
Only when his tall, graceful figure disappeared from sight did Shen Yujiao slowly lower her gaze.
The little one in her arms was still smiling, drooling contentedly, while she felt a faint ache of parting rise inside her.
But the feeling passed soon enough. Holding her son, she comforted herself— it was only ten days.
Ten days pass quickly enough.
—
Unknowingly, three days went by.
During those three days, Shen Yujiao stayed at home— balancing accounts, playing with the baby, reading, embroidering. Aside from mealtimes and the lonely nights when the bed felt too empty, her days were quiet and peaceful.
On the fourth day of Pei Xia’s absence, the weather turned splendid— bright sun, blue skies, soft breeze, perfect warmth.
Such a fine day felt wasted staying indoors.
She was just wondering whether to take Di Ge’er to visit her maternal grandmother, or perhaps her aunt at Marquis Yongwei’s estate, when Fifth Lady Pei Yi—married into the Wang family—came to call, bringing news:
Third Lady Pei Tong had passed away.
“It was five days ago,” Pei Yi said. “My mother mentioned it in her letter. I thought, since Sixth Brother is away on the Lishan hunt, you, Sister-in-law, might not have heard yet.”
Shen Yujiao was stunned.
Indeed, she hadn’t known.
Ever since moving to Chang’an, all correspondence from their old residence in Luoyang or the ancestral home in Wenxi went directly to Pei Xia.
He knew she didn’t wish to be entangled with that side of the family, so he only mentioned one or two harmless matters now and then— anything he thought might trouble her, as long as she didn’t ask, he kept from her entirely.
It was a quiet understanding between husband and wife.
But Pei Yi didn’t know that. She only knew that Shen Yujiao was the principal wife of the Pei family’s main branch— the matriarch of the clan household. A concubine-born sister’s death was naturally something she ought to be informed of.
Before Pei Yi was married, Third Master Pei and his wife had privately told her that the reason Pei Tong was sent away to the country estate was because she’d harbored malicious intentions and tried to harm her elder sister-in-law.
Pei Yi thought that now Pei Tong had come to a bad end, it must surely be a piece of gratifying news for Shen Yujiao.
Yet the gentle, composed young woman before her showed not the slightest trace of satisfaction or delight. She only lowered her lashes, dazed for a moment, then quietly nodded. “I understand.”
…Was that all?
Pei Yi was slightly surprised. If she hadn’t known for certain that her parents never deceived her, she might have doubted whether Pei Tong had ever truly been her sister-in-law’s enemy.
If Shen Yujiao could hear Pei Yi’s thoughts, she would likely have replied, Yes—an enemy indeed.
But even the satisfaction of revenge brought little joy.
For an instant, there had been relief— but once that passed, the wounds already inflicted could never be undone. The meaning of revenge lay only in restoring a sense of justice to the heart.
Besides, she had long known what Pei Tong’s end would be. Now that she finally heard of it, her heart stirred little— only a faint sense that the dust had finally settled.
Ah. So it’s come to this day at last.
“As for her funeral,” Shen Yujiao said, lifting her teacup to take a small sip, “the household will see to it. There’s no need for us to concern ourselves.”
Then, with a gentle, earnest look, she added, “But you—these days, don’t be too sorrowful, and don’t be too gladdened either.”
Pei Yi was taken aback, then lowered her eyes. “I understand, Sister-in-law.”
Perhaps it was because life in Chang’an felt too lonely, but she had grown somewhat attached to this kind, warm-hearted sister-in-law. With no one else around, she finally confided in her:
“To tell the truth… when I first learned this marriage was set for me, I didn’t want it.”
Back when Wang Huanwen had visited Wenxi, Pei Yi had seen him and Pei Tong together— Pei Tong’s bright and lively manner, her boldness and charm, were far more appealing than her own quiet, reserved temperament.
“But my parents both said this was a rare and fortunate match— that if I let it pass, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.”
A trace of confusion crossed Pei Yi’s eyes. “They wouldn’t harm me, after all.”
Marriage had always been a matter of parental command and matchmakers’ words. Even if she had misgivings, she still had to obey, to smile and accept the engagement meant for Pei Tong, and marry into the Wang family here in Chang’an.
As Shen Yujiao looked at Pei Yi’s youthful, tender face, she seemed, for a moment, to glimpse her own past self.
Or perhaps—not only herself, but countless young women like them, raised in deep boudoirs, wed blindly and silently to strangers.
Whether affection was mutual didn’t matter; what mattered was the balance of family status.
Given time, feelings would grow— whether they turned into love between man and woman, or simply the habit of companionship, was immaterial.
“You’re married now—what use thinking so much on it?”
Shen Yujiao pushed the jade plate of pea cakes toward her with a light smile. “The weather’s so lovely today. I was just thinking of going out for a stroll. If you’re free, why don’t you come with me to the East Market?”
Hearing this, Pei Yi naturally had no objection. After nibbling a piece of the cake, she followed Shen Yujiao out.
The East Market was the gathering place of the wealthy, selling mostly native goods from Great Liang. The West Market, on the other hand, was crowded with foreign traders— its wares novel and inexpensive, favored by common folk.
Pei Xia had already bought a residence near Yongning Ward, and all the furnishings were prepared. They only awaited Shen Yujiao’s parents and brother’s family to return— once the servants cleaned up, the household could move in.
Shen Yujiao thought that when they came back, it would already be winter, so things like coats, shoes, bedding—all the daily necessities— would be more thoughtful if she chose them herself rather than leaving it to servants.
Besides, thanks to the recent restructuring of several of her shops, she had earned considerable profit. She divided the surplus into three parts— one for household use, one as a dowry fund for Di Ge’er, and the last as her own private purse.
Today’s shopping came from that private stash. Spending the silver she had earned herself— that feeling was deeply, immensely satisfying.
Pei Yi hadn’t planned to buy anything at first, but after seeing Shen Yujiao’s picks, she couldn’t resist choosing a few things of her own.
Without realizing it, two hours passed. When they reached a clothing shop, Shen Yujiao felt a little tired, so she rested in a private room upstairs.
Pei Yi, however, was hooked—she stayed below, full of energy, still browsing.
Xiaying, her maid, massaged Shen Yujiao’s back and laughed: “Before we came out, Fifth Lady said she wouldn’t buy anything, and now she’s shopping even more eagerly than you, my lady. Truly, when it comes to buying things, a woman’s words are never to be trusted.”
It was rare for Shen Yujiao to go out, and without the baby too— it felt almost like returning to her carefree girlhood. She was in a good mood and joked back: “I wonder how much allowance the Wang household gives her each month. At this rate, she’s probably spent half a year’s worth already.”
“That’s no problem,” Xiaying giggled. “Her husband works in the Ministry of Appointments—everyone knows that’s the fattest post in court!”
“You and that mouth,” Shen Yujiao chided lightly. “You mustn’t say such things in public, understand?”
“Understood, my lady. But it’s only you and your servant here—no outsiders.” Xiaying stuck out her tongue playfully. Inwardly, she thought: It’s true anyway—the Ministry of Appointments is where all the best bribes flow. No wonder everyone’s scrambling to get in.
The two chatted idly for a while.
Then—two light knocks sounded at the door. A seamstress from the shop peeked in. “My lady, your sister has chosen three sets of skirts and blouses but can’t decide which to take. Would you come down and take a look for her?”
Shen Yujiao laughed softly and turned to Xiaying. “I’m too lazy to move. You’ve always picked most of my clothes anyway— go help her choose a few.”
Xiaying smiled brightly. “Your servant won’t fail the task.”
After she left, the seamstress stepped inside, glancing toward the teapot on the table. “Shall I pour you a fresh cup of tea, my lady?”
Shen Yujiao smiled politely. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll sit for a while longer before heading down.”
The embroiderer answered softly, stepping forward to tidy the teacups and dessert trays.
Seeing this, Shen Yujiao muttered inwardly — she hadn’t even left yet, and the maid was already clearing the tea set. Wasn’t that basically chasing her away?
Still, it was a trivial matter. She didn’t want to fuss, so she moved slightly to the side to make room for the woman.
Suddenly, the embroiderer said, “Madam, is this earring on the floor yours?”
“Ah?” Shen Yujiao lowered her head to look.
The dark red carpet embroidered with floral medallions was spotless — there was no earring to be seen.
“There isn’t any— ah!”
A sharp strike hit the back of her neck.
Before completely losing consciousness, Shen Yujiao caught a glimpse of the embroiderer’s expressionless face.
——
When she came to again, it was to a jarring, violent shaking.
Fighting through the pain, Shen Yujiao opened her eyes and found herself inside a dimly lit carriage. Her hands and feet were tightly bound with coarse hemp rope. Five other young women, all delicate and fair, were tied up beside her, their mouths stuffed with cloth.
Some were still unconscious; others had already woken and were weeping in terror.
The girl sitting next to her was especially young — perhaps thirteen or fourteen — her fresh, tender face streaked with tears and her wide eyes glistening.
Their gazes met, and as if she had seen an ally, the young girl’s crystal tears fell soundlessly.
Thankfully, Shen Yujiao had lived through flight and chaos the year before — floods, plague, corpses piled high — she had survived them all. Though this situation was terrible, it wasn’t enough to send her into blind panic.
But who would dare to strike and abduct her in broad daylight, from a bustling shop in the East Market?
No ordinary kidnapper would take such a risk; the danger far outweighed the gain.
There was only one explanation — someone had deliberately targeted her.
And the only person she could think of who hated her enough to do such a thing… was Princess Shouan.
But hadn’t Shouan already been preparing for marriage? And she had gone along to Lishan for the winter hunt, hadn’t she?
Questions tumbled chaotically through Shen Yujiao’s mind. After a moment’s thought, she pushed them aside to focus on her immediate situation.
The carriage’s doors and windows were sealed tight; she couldn’t see where they were.
The young women around her must have been abducted as well.
Taking in the scene, she drew a deep breath and leaned toward the wide-eyed girl beside her, lowering her head.
The little girl flinched, then, realizing what Shen Yujiao was doing as her lips moved, quickly worked her fingers to grasp the cloth in Shen Yujiao’s mouth and tugged it free.
Freed of the gag, Shen Yujiao returned the favor and pulled the cloth from the girl’s mouth as well.
The two other girls in the carriage who were awake saw this and their eyes lit up, muffled pleas spilling from their mouths.
Whatever the situation outside, Shen Yujiao knew she couldn’t escape alone.
There was strength in numbers.
And they were all women — sharing the same fate in the same carriage. She couldn’t possibly stand by and ignore them.
Bending forward, she removed the gags from the other two girls as well.
“Big sister, thank you…” the wide-eyed girl sobbed.
“Don’t speak yet. Listen.”
Shen Yujiao’s expression was calm, her dark eyes steady. “From the looks of us, we’re all rather fair and pretty. Judging from that, we’re most likely being sold to a brothel. Don’t cry. Don’t alert them. Just keep listening.”
“At the moment, we don’t know how many men are outside. If it’s no more than three, the six of us might stand a chance to fight. If it’s more than three, force won’t work — we’ll have to wait for the right moment to flee.”
As she spoke, she turned around to show them her bound hands. “I’ll need one of you to help bite through these ropes. The window’s sealed with iron, but the edge is curled — I might be able to pry it open and see outside.”
The three young women, frightened and helpless after waking in such a nightmare, had been paralyzed with fear.
Now, seeing this calm and composed elder sister among them, they immediately clung to her as their pillar of strength and hurried to do as she instructed.
They bent forward together, using their teeth to loosen the knots.
When Shen Yujiao’s wrists were finally freed, the three girls exclaimed with relief, “Big sister, it’s done!”
Hearing them all call her big sister in unison, Shen Yujiao felt a pang of tenderness. She nodded and whispered, “Wait a bit — I’ll check outside first, then untie you.”
“Okay,” they replied.
She reached toward her hairpin, only to realize that all her jewelry and valuables had been stripped away — even the silk outer robe she’d worn was gone, replaced with a coarse hemp garment.
Those wretched kidnappers.
Cursing inwardly, she wrapped her fingers in the cloth from her gag and began prying at the edge of the rusted iron sheet over the window.
Whether it was the strength she’d built during her time on the run, or the surge of desperation that comes in crisis, the metal bent under her effort, and she managed to create a small hole.
Through it, she could see a desolate stretch of wilderness. A blood-red sunset lingered faintly on the horizon.
Shen Yujiao frowned, then turned to the three girls behind her. “When I was struck unconscious, it was about the hour of Shen (around 3–5 p.m.). Judging by that sunset, it must be close to the hour of Xu (around 7–9 p.m.) now. What about you? Do you remember what time it was when you lost consciousness?”
“I was walking to deliver embroidery thread to my mother yesterday evening, around the hour of You (5–7 p.m.), when someone covered my mouth.”
“My family sells tofu,” another said through tears. “My father was ill, so I went in his place to make deliveries. An old woman told me she’d lost her purse and asked me to help her look. When I followed her into an alley… someone struck me from behind. That was… around noon!”
“I was at home,” said one of the girls. “My uncle said he’d found me a marriage match and dragged me out to meet the family. Then I just…”
The big-eyed girl broke down crying again, her voice trembling. “They took me after lunch—it must’ve been around the hour of Wei (1–3 p.m.).”
Unlike the others who had been kidnapped by strangers, she had been sold by her own kin.
Though Shen Yujiao didn’t know what kind of miserable life the girl had endured, she reached up to wipe her tears and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. As long as we can get out of here, I’ll find a way to stand up for you.”
After a short pause, she added, “And I’ll make sure you have a place to stay.”
Seeing her so calm and composed in the face of danger, the young girl could tell she must be someone of background, and she quickly murmured her thanks.
Shen Yujiao said, “From the looks of it, I was the last one among us to lose consciousness. If they loaded me into the carriage right after knocking me out, and the carriage’s average speed is about eighty li per hour, then after two hours, we should be roughly a hundred and sixty li out.”
“There are ten gates out of Chang’an. Apart from the Chongxuan Gate, which is reserved for the royal family, the other nine are open. Chunming Gate is the one closest to the East Market. One hundred and sixty li east of Chang’an is Lingtong, west is Xianyang, north is Jingyang, south is the Qinling mountains—and beyond that, Huguang…”
She murmured to herself, then turned to glance out through the hole she had pried open earlier. The last trace of sunset had faded; the world outside was now a dim gray.
Rubbing the sore spot on the back of her neck, Shen Yujiao recalled the direction of the sunset and said quietly, “If I’m not mistaken, we should be headed toward Lingtong.”
“Lingtong…” The three young girls looked blank—they’d clearly never traveled far from home.
Shen Yujiao didn’t bother explaining further. “Traveling at night is inconvenient. Before long, they’ll probably stop somewhere to rest.”
For a human trafficking operation like this, they wouldn’t dare stay at an inn. Ninety-nine percent chance, they’d camp out in the wilderness for the night.
After a moment’s thought, Shen Yujiao quickly loosened the ropes around the three girls’ wrists—enough to give them freedom of movement, but still appearing tied. “We don’t know how many of them there are, so we’ll have to pretend to still be bound. It’s best if you cry a little, to make them drop their guard. When the carriage stops later, follow my lead.”
The three nodded vigorously, then glanced at the two who were still unconscious. “What about them?”
Shen Yujiao frowned, thinking. Then she pinched one girl sharply at the philtrum—she woke with a gasp.
The other didn’t respond, so Shen Yujiao hardened her heart and slapped her twice across the face. That did the trick.
The two newly awakened girls were dazed and bewildered. Fearing they’d panic and scream, Shen Yujiao didn’t remove their gags immediately. Instead, she quickly explained the situation, ensuring they understood, and only then loosened their ropes as well, tying them back into adjustable knots.
The carriage jolted onward for a while longer before finally stopping.
“Let’s rest here. We’ll reach the place tomorrow anyway.”
“Fine. You start a fire—I’ll go check on the women.”
Two coarse male voices came from outside.
Shen Yujiao’s heart tightened. She quickly stuffed the cloths back into the girls’ mouths, wound the ropes around her own wrists again, and leaned against the side of the carriage, feigning unconsciousness.
A clanking sound followed—the lock being undone.
The next instant, the door swung open, and the flare of torchlight spilled in.
