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With things at this point, Shen Lantang forced herself to remain calm.

"I've heard that Daoist talismans are made by grinding eggshells and rice straw together, then drying them. Neither eggshells nor straw are entirely clean. I've studied medicine, and I've heard that eating unclean things can upset the stomach. Sister-in-law has only recently given birth. I feared even the slightest upset might harm her, so I couldn't help worrying."

"I see."

Master Xuanxin looked as though he had just realized something and smiled. "That does make sense."

"In that case, I won't insist."

The young Daoist took the talisman water away. Shen Lantang thought he might offer it to someone else, but he sensibly carried off both water and bowl, and she relaxed.

At least the custom of not offering someone else something already given to another person had its merits.

Shen Lantang had covered her tracks, and no one pursued the matter. As the head of Mystic Temple, Master Xuanxin could not stay long. After chatting with everyone a little more, he left.

It was nearly noon. Everyone stayed for a simple meal before heading down the mountain.

It had been early morning when they climbed up, and they had watched the dawn rise in the east along the way. Now the sun beat down on their return journey. Everyone was hot, stifled, and drenched in sweat, with no desire to chat or joke.

Xie Ying shared a carriage with Shen Lantang. She had received a book of scriptures said to contain annotations by several accomplished Daoist masters of the past and could hardly put it down. Once her excitement faded, she glanced at Shen Lantang, who sat primly to one side, and hesitated before speaking.

"Sister-in-law, did you really stop Sister-in-law Yan from drinking the talisman water today because it wasn't clean?"

What was she suspecting?

Shen Lantang said, "Of course. What else would it be? You have no idea—my heart was pounding when I said it. I nearly blushed with embarrassment."

Xie Ying was innocent enough not to think further. "Mine was too! Just watching made me nervous. If I'd been in your place, I'd have broken out in a sweat."

"It wasn't that bad. We're all family, after all..."

Shen Lantang brushed it off with a few words, then closed her eyes and pretended to be sleepy. Sure enough, Xie Ying stopped bothering her.

Though the matter at Mystic Temple was over, it still weighed on Shen Lantang's mind, leaving her restless. She blamed it on the day's oppressive heat.

Once home, she paid her respects to Xie Madam and returned to her own courtyard. Mystic Temple was a sacred Daoist place where making noise would have been inappropriate, so only the family and a few of First Madam's personal maids had gone. Shen Lantang had not even brought Lan Xin or Baozhu. Back in her courtyard, she called out loudly.

"Lan Xin! Baozhu!"

"Miss, you're back."

Shen Lantang fanned herself with her hand. "Quick, quick! Prepare hot water for my bath."

"Yes, Miss."

Hot water was already available. The servants set to work with practiced efficiency, and before long, Shen Lantang sank into the bath. The warm water washed the sticky sweat from her skin, and she sighed in comfort.

That was one good thing about ancient times. As a "mistress," she had people to take care of everything. From walking through the door to getting into the bath, all she had done was give orders and sit on a stool to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Someone even brought her fruit and tea. All that was left was to put it in her mouth. After so many years in this era, the mind she had cultivated under the red flag in her previous life was nearly corroded by decadent feudalism.

After her bath, Shen Lantang felt much better. Her mind was clear again, but her body was drowsy. Since it was still early, she decided to take a short nap.

"Lan Xin, I'm going home tomorrow. Help me prepare some gifts."

"Yes, Miss."

After Lan Xin left, Shen Lantang undressed and got into bed. It was a small bamboo bed, wiped down with clean water every morning and evening. That kept it cool and wonderfully comfortable to sleep on. Shen Lantang adored it.

Ordinarily, she fell asleep soon after lying down. Today, though, something seemed to scratch at her chest like a kitten's claws. Her thoughts would not settle, and she could not sleep.

After tossing and turning for more than fifteen minutes, she called for Baozhu.

"Baozhu, sing me a song like you did when I was little."

"Of course, Miss."

Baozhu climbed onto the bed and let Shen Lantang nestle against her leg. She fanned her gently and hummed a song.

"A girl of Ba rode an ox, singing a bamboo-branch song, when lotus threads and water chestnut leaves lined the river."

"..."

Under the powerful spell of Baozhu's lullaby, Shen Lantang finally drifted off to sleep.

She slept until after sunset. When she woke, she ate dinner, read for a while, then went back to bed.

Early the next morning, she set out for her parents' home.

It had been more than half a month since her last visit, long enough for her to become her mother's "precious darling" again. Sure enough, the moment she stepped through the door, her mother fussed over her with such a doting smile that she looked ready to tuck her back into swaddling clothes.

"Why do you bring things every time you come? Aren't you afraid your husband's family will object?"

Here it comes. The question every married woman's mother has to ask.

Looking both innocent and stubborn, Shen Lantang said, "I bought them with my own money. Do I have to be careful with that too?"

"You child, why won't you listen? Even if it's your own money, spend it discreetly. Don't go about splashing it around or people will think you don't know how to manage a household."

I can earn money. Why do I need to pinch pennies? Besides, Duke Dingguo's household hasn't fallen on hard times. They don't care about such a small sum.

But Shen Lantang kept that to herself. There was no reasoning with her mother. It was not that her mother did not understand; she would simply always see Shen Lantang as a child and worry she might suffer for it.

As the servants carried the gifts inside, mother and daughter went into the house. Shen Mother said,

"Your timing is perfect. There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

Before Shen Mother could answer, her face bloomed with a smile as full as a cluster of peonies. She could not have suppressed it if she tried.

The last time she had worn that expression was when heaven had smiled upon her precious daughter and the Xie Residence had taken an interest in her. Back then, though, joy had given way to tears. She showed no sign of crying now.

Shen Lantang grew even more curious. "What is it, exactly?"

Rankings

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Time-Travel and Rebirth Romance

Devoted Love

Jiang Ciyu

Mind Reading

Laid-Back Life