Chapter 22: The Little Eunuch's Wine Vessel

Qiuyue stepped down first, placed the footstool, and then helped Shen Quanyi descend, looking up at the main gate of the residence.

She had originally intended to bring Xingye along as well, but due to the severity of the girl’s injuries, the physician had advised against the long journey, warning that the jolting would be unbearable. Thus, she had been left at the manor to recuperate.

As she contemplated this, a side door beside the vermilion gate—adorned with large brass studs—swung wide open. Several elderly women hurried out toward them.

Seeing Shen Quanyi standing before the carriage, her face obscured by a veil hat, they could not discern her features. However, her clothing was clearly opulent; even the embroidered slippers of Shu silk she wore were adorned with translucent, emerald-green jade beads. Her status was evidently not ordinary.

The group hurriedly curtsied, speaking with great deference, "Greetings to you, noble lady."

Behind the veil, a faint smile graced Shen Quanyi’s lips. She replied, "Please, rise. There is no need to address me as a noble lady; just 'Miss' will suffice. I shall be staying here for some time, and I look forward to your care."

As she spoke, Qiuyue stepped forward and distributed several pouches. The elderly women did not decline, accepting them gracefully. As their hands disappeared into their sleeves, they weighed the contents slightly; the pouches were not light, and the smiles on their faces grew all the more radiant.

The leading woman stepped forward, introducing herself as the head steward, surnamed Zhang. She directed the others to unload the items from the cart, while the rest of the group escorted Shen Quanyi’s party inside.

Mindful of her wounds, Shen Quanyi’s pace was slow, and those around her adjusted their steps to match hers.

"Although I cannot see your honorable face, my lady, one can tell from your noble aura that you are no commoner. I have worked here for many years; if you have any instructions, please do not hesitate to command me."

The speaker was a thin woman with arched brows over a pair of triangular eyes. As she finished speaking, her gaze darted about, eventually settling on the exquisite mutton-fat jade pendant hanging from Shen Quanyi’s waist. It was a gift from Li Qian; since she was no longer staying in the Eastern Palace, she felt little need for extreme caution, and wearing it out was of no consequence.

Shen Quanyi feigned ignorance of the woman’s prying, offering a polite, "In that case, I am most grateful."

Qiuyue felt a surge of contempt, though she showed nothing on her face.

Unexpectedly, this polite remark only fueled the woman’s greed. Her eyes grew fervent, and she pushed ahead of Shen Quanyi, eager to please. "My lady, I see you have only this young girl to serve you. What could such a young thing possibly accomplish? Better to let me serve you personally..."

Before she could finish, a figure suddenly appeared in their path. The woman was too caught up in her own words to notice, and unable to check her momentum, she collided head-on with the newcomer.

Shen Quanyi saw the person clearly. With a subtle shift of footing, the figure sidestepped, causing the woman to stumble and fall to the ground.

Her face struck the floor, followed by a sharp sting. As she rose and looked up, blood was already streaming from her nose. The woman froze, then reached up to touch the warmth, only to find her hand covered in blood.

As she scrambled for a handkerchief to staunch the flow, she looked up in fury, ready to confront the culprit.

"The servant lacked decorum before the mistress. Drag her away and administer ten strokes."

The culprit showed no remorse, instead immediately punishing the woman. The elderly woman dared not complain, trembling from head to toe.

Shen Quanyi frowned as she studied the "person" standing tall before her. He had a slender, upright frame, a complexion as fair as porcelain, fine arched brows, a high-bridged nose, and crimson lips. His deep eyes shimmered with a faint light, fixing on her for a brief moment before he lowered his head.

The woman struggled, begging for mercy.

"Cover her mouth. Do not disturb the Master," he commanded, his voice cold and resolute.

Despite his delicate appearance, there was a chilling intensity about him. With just those few words, Shen Quanyi sensed a faint, murderous aura. Such presence made her increasingly wary, and she could not help but take a step back.

Seeming not to notice her movement, the "person" stepped forward, bowing deeply. His tone was calm. "I, Hushang, pay my respects. It was my negligence that allowed you to be startled, my lady. I ask for your judgment."

Shen Quanyi frowned, momentarily at a loss for words, finally uttering, "It is of no consequence."

Hushang remained bowed. "Your kindness is great, but as a servant, I cannot accept such grace without feeling uneasy. I shall take five strokes myself later."

"Now, allow me to lead the way for you, my lady."

With that, he turned slowly, his sleeves catching a light breeze. Hushang took several long strides forward, maintaining a respectful distance, leading the way just far enough ahead for Shen Quanyi to see his back.

Shen Quanyi followed, frowning inwardly at the strange man, but she said nothing, merely quickening her pace.

The manor had no shortage of servants. Despite the heavy snowfall a few days prior, the courtyard was spotless, clearly well-tended. After passing through a long corridor and crossing the north side, they arrived at their destination.

The quarters arranged for her were excellent: a spacious and refined courtyard. The rooms were fully furnished, and the underfloor heating had been lit in advance, making the interior cozy and warm.

Hushang was most courteous. He watched Shen Quanyi enter and waited at a distance under the corridor. Only after Shen Quanyi had walked through the rooms to inspect them did he speak softly, "The Master will return later. If you have any orders, please do not hesitate to instruct me."

From a distance, she had not heard him clearly. Shen Quanyi walked over to where Hushang stood with his hands folded, asking, "The woman named Zhang claimed to be in charge of the rear courtyard. In what capacity do you act that you may punish servants at will?"

Hushang paused slightly before replying, "I lacked decorum, causing a disturbance in your presence and frightening you. That is a fault, and I shall accept my punishment."

"I suffered greatly in my youth, and after drifting to this manor, I was taken in by Mother Zhang out of pity. She treated me as a son, and I assist her in overseeing the affairs of the rear courtyard."

This answer implied a depth of history that made further inquiry inappropriate. Shen Quanyi had no penchant for prying into the tragic pasts of others, so she changed the subject. "Have someone bring hot water."

Hushang acknowledged the order with a bow and withdrew.

As his figure faded from view, Shen Quanyi turned away and removed her veil hat. Her vision finally cleared, and she leaned back onto the soft couch with Qiuyue’s assistance.

Qiuyue recalled the earlier incident. "My lady, you didn’t see it," she said with a chuckle. "That old woman—her eyes were glued to the gold-inlaid beeswax teardrop pendant on your ears. Every time you moved, the pendant swayed, and her eyes followed it back and forth."

As she spoke, she mimicked the motion, rolling her eyes from side to side.

Qiuyue rarely showed such an expression, which made Shen Quanyi laugh. She reached out and tapped the girl on the forehead, reminding her, "Do not get carried away. Just because others call us 'noble lady' or 'mistress' while we are out, we must not forget our own status."

Qiuyue nodded repeatedly, then suddenly recalled something. "My lady, that young eunuch is truly formidable. You should have seen how the old woman was terrified before he even spoke."

*Young eunuch?*

Shen Quanyi was caught off guard and frowned, asking, "What young eunuch?"

"That Hushang, of course."

Qiuyue, still puzzled, poured hot water into a basin, dampened a towel, and pushed up Shen Quanyi’s sleeves to clean her hands.

She did not know the shock Shen Quanyi felt. Hushang’s casual attire today had led her to mistake him for a young woman; only now did it become clear.