Lilac knots and hibiscus cords, binding no bright pearls, but a treasured blade.

Cui Fu delivered the letter quickly and returned just as quickly-or rather, he had never entered the Feng Residence, merely handed it to the gatekeeper.

At the entrance to Bridge Market in the Capital, voices seethed and clamored.

Cui Fu walked ahead, leading Wei Nisheng and Wei An through several streets and alleys until they arrived.

There were no grand mansions here, no vermilion gates enclosing deep courtyards, only densely packed stalls, teahouses, taverns, and crowds moving in groups.

A stone tablet stood at the street entrance, engraved with the words "Bridge Market." Its paint was mottled, clearly worn by years.

Several idlers with delivery boxes on their backs squatted beneath the tablet, waiting for taverns to call them to deliver meals, their narrowed eyes surveying the passersby.

As they headed farther in, the clamor grew louder.

Signs outside the teahouses bore notices such as "Hiring laborers" and "Seeking trade brokers." The people coming and going were all somewhat respectably dressed.

Wei Nisheng swept his gaze over the scene and understood.

This was Great Zhou's "casual labor market."

Odd-job laborers, idlers, craftsmen, and hired workers all waited here for work.

And those coming and going through the teahouse doors were all somewhat respectably dressed.

They were "trade brokers" from various industries, middlemen specializing in placing male servants, stewards, cooks, and craftsmen.

There were also brokerage houses, with male and female brokers standing outside, responsible for placing female servants, maidservants, kitchen maids, boy singers, and dancing girls.

The entire market had clearly defined roles and orderly operations.

Unlike the curious Wei Nisheng, Cui Fu looked as though he had come home the moment he entered.

He greeted people all along the way, his face blooming with smiles.

"Third Zhang! Any work today? How did that last batch of jobs go?"

"Brother Li! Is your crew of craftsmen still short of hands? I'll introduce a few men to you later!"

"Madam Li! Has your daughter married yet? Let me find her a match!"

As Cui Fu joked and chatted, he never forgot to shield Wei Nisheng, blocking the jostling crowd with his body so no one could touch him.

Whenever they reached a crowded spot, he spread his arms like an old hen protecting her chicks.

Following behind, Wei An watched Cui Fu and could not help muttering, "This fellow really does know everyone."

Wei Nisheng smiled faintly and said nothing.

Before long, Cui Fu led them around bend after bend, through several narrow alleys, and up to the entrance of a brokerage house.

Its storefront was painted snowy white, two large red lanterns hung beneath the eaves, and its threshold had been polished to a shine.

It looked grander than the others at a glance. A sign reading "Official Brokerage" hung outside, marking it as a legally authorized intermediary certified by the authorities.

Before Cui Fu could speak, a woman in her forties came out to welcome them.

As soon as she emerged, her gaze fell on Wei Nisheng. She paused briefly, then her smile deepened.

"Oh! What an impressive bearing you have, Young Master! Have you come to hire someone?"

She could tell at a glance that this young man was no ordinary person.

Though simply dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, his bearing and the composure in his features were nothing a child from an ordinary family could possess.

She had worked in this trade for twenty years. One look was enough for her to judge a person's standing and worth with near-perfect accuracy.

She hurriedly bowed, then stepped forward and asked, "Are you looking for a female attendant or a maidservant, Young Master? Or perhaps a boy singer or a dancing girl? Just say the word. This old woman has everything you could want!"

At the words "boy singer or dancing girl," Wei An's expression darkened. He stepped forward and snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

The female broker jumped, then hurriedly smiled apologetically and waved both hands. "This old woman spoke out of turn! Please don't take offense, Young Master, please don't!"

Only then did Cui Fu step forward and greet her familiarly. "Old Madam Wang, it's me."

Seeing Cui Fu, the broker relaxed and chided him, "You rascal, Cui Fu! Bringing an honored guest without telling me beforehand-you gave me such a fright!"

Cui Fu chuckled, leaned closer, and murmured a few words.

After listening, the broker frowned slightly. She glanced at Wei Nisheng, then back at Cui Fu, looking troubled.

"A personal female attendant who can read, is good-looking, and can sign a Death Contract..."

"Cui Fu, aren't you making things difficult for me? Someone like that isn't easy to find."

Cui Fu sneered and folded his arms. "Old Madam Wang, stop playing dumb with me.

"You think I don't know you? Aren't those convicted officials' female relatives all in your hands?"

The broker's expression shifted slightly. She looked around and lowered her voice. "Keep your voice down! Is that something you can say so carelessly?"

Cui Fu patted her shoulder, looking unconcerned. "Don't worry. You'll get your money. Lead the way."

The broker hesitated, but finally nodded. "Come with me."

She then led Wei Nisheng and the other two around the front hall, through a small door, and into the rear courtyard.

It was much quieter here than out front. Several side rooms stood in a neat row, their doors and windows tightly closed.

A few pomegranate trees grew in the courtyard, their red blossoms lending a little life to its stillness.

The broker pushed open the door to one of the side rooms and stepped aside. "Please, Young Master."

Wei Nisheng stepped inside.

The room was rather dim, its windows set high, with only a few strands of sunlight leaking through the gaps.

But it had been cleaned thoroughly. The blue-brick floor was spotless, and the walls were whitewashed.

A dozen or so girls sat or stood inside. They wore simple clothes, all ordinary coarse-cloth dresses, but their looks were uniformly excellent.

Their ages varied from twelve or thirteen upward, and they were clearly a cut above the ordinary female attendants outside.

Cui Fu leaned closer and explained quietly, "Young Master, they're all female relatives of convicted officials.

"They were supposed to be sent to the Jiaofang Bureau. Some escaped, while others were transferred to official brokerages like Old Madam Wang's to be kept privately."

"But they can all read and know proper etiquette. They're much better than those untrained ones outside. It's just that their household registration restricts them to signing Death Contracts. Have a look. Is there anyone you like?"

Hearing Cui Fu's explanation, Wei Nisheng nodded and began examining them carefully.

He looked them over slowly, one by one, his steps unhurried, as though choosing an object.

When he reached a pretty girl, she lifted her head and gave him an ingratiating smile.

He glanced at her and continued onward.

He came to another girl, who kept her head lowered and her shoulders hunched, trembling all over. He passed her by.

Suddenly, Wei Nisheng stopped.

A young girl stood in the corner.

She wore a plain indigo outfit of coarse cloth, with a neatly overlapping collar fastened by knotted buttons. Her cuffs were snug and tidy, exposing a stretch of slender wrist.

Below were wide-legged trousers of the same color, and a pair of blue cloth shoes on her feet.

Her eyes were almond-shaped, but rather narrow and long, their outer corners tilting slightly upward with a hint of sharpness.

Her long black hair had been neatly gathered into a half-up style, with wispy bangs at her forehead that made her face look smaller and more delicate.

Her figure was slender and straight. She lacked the soft frailty of ordinary girls; instead, she exuded a crisp, capable air.

She simply stood there, neither hiding nor shrinking away. Instead, she held her head up and stared at Wei Nisheng.

But what drew Wei Nisheng's attention most were the three wooden hairpins in her hair.

Rather than being inserted vertically in the usual fashion, they lay horizontally, like three crossed short blades arranged across her bun.

The pins were smooth, clearly made from fine wood, but they bore no decoration whatsoever and were utterly plain.

At the sight of her attire, something stirred in Wei Nisheng's heart, and he blurted out,

"Lilac knots and hibiscus cords, binding no bright pearls, but a treasured blade."