Chi Wan returned to her small courtyard with the food container. Inside was a portion for Yue Luo. She herself sat at the dining table, wolfing down the botuo noodle soup she had worked so hard to bring back.
It was impossible to say she wasn’t aggrieved or upset, but sometimes fate played tricks on people. Hard work didn’t always yield good results; she had known this since she was a child.
Chi Wan wasn’t dissatisfied with Yu Jiuzhou. If she put herself in Yu Jiuzhou’s shoes, facing the original owner of this body, nothing the princess did would be excessive.
A person like her predecessor deserved to die a miserable death. She wasn’t her predecessor, but Yu Jiuzhou didn’t know that.
Understanding was one thing, feeling wronged was another. After devouring the noodle soup, she ate a roasted lamb flatbread before returning to her room to change.
She had woken up so early that morning that her outer robe had been covered in frost. After sunrise, the frost melted into water, leaving her robe damp and her hair half-wet.
Yue Luo was still asleep. Chi Wan opened the wardrobe, picked out a set of clothes, and changed. In her past life, she had worn Daoist robes and Hanfu for events, so dressing in these clothes wasn’t difficult for her.
A set of cyan robes made her appear gentle and refined. Over it, she wore a fur-lined outer coat, looking both bright and exquisite. She resembled a scholar who had just passed the imperial examinations—not yet officially appointed, but gathering with friends who had also succeeded, spiritedly discussing poetry over wine. A dashing and bright young lady like her would likely make other women unable to look away if she were to walk outside.
While getting her clothes, she noticed a stuffed animal made of beast fur in the wardrobe. It didn’t quite look like a rabbit, nor a bear; it was hard to tell what it was. It wasn’t damaged, just a bit old.
It was clear that the toy’s owner had once cherished it, but had probably outgrown it and left it aside.
Chi Wan liked to sleep while hugging a stuffed toy. She had once fantasized that if she ever fell in love, she might kick the toy aside to hug her wife instead. Unfortunately, she had been single her whole life, never having been in a relationship, let alone slept while holding someone.
She patted the stuffed animal a few times and tossed it onto her bed, planning to sleep with it that night.
But why did this stuffed animal look so haughty, just like Yu Jiuzhou? It seemed to be smirking, aloof and dismissive of others.
Chi Wan pinched the toy’s face, only to come away with a handful of fur.
“…” Just how long has this been sitting here? It’s already shedding.
Chi Wan left it in the room, straightened her clothes with a quick gesture, and prepared to return to Yongning Courtyard.
Before leaving, she wrote a few lines in her bound booklet.
Twenty-seventh year of the Shengyuan Era.
Twelfth month, twenty-fifth day: Served the Grand Princess (What a strange day).
Twelfth month, twenty-sixth day: Served the Grand Princess (A fierce woman).
Twelfth month, twenty-seventh day: Served the Grand Princess, (Failure).
…
Thinking of her diary, Chi Wan was filled with helplessness. The mission continued, and the Fuma still had to work hard.
As a Fuma, she had no power and no money. It was truly a dull position. But alas, her life was what mattered most.
Just as Chi Wan arrived at Yongning Courtyard, she was pulled away by Xia Qu. “What is it, General Xia?”
Xia Qu looked her up and down. Seeing that she was no longer damp and had changed into clean clothes, she quickened her pace. “To the front courtyard. There is an imperial edict from His Majesty.”
An imperial edict? She had never received one before. Her predecessor had only received one when she became the Fuma.
Chi Wan was thus dragged to the front courtyard. The eunuch delivering the decree saw her and called out in an effeminate voice, “Fuma, what took you so long? This servant has been waiting for quite some time.”
Perhaps because he knew this was the Grand Princess’s Residence, the eunuch, though displeased, said no more. As an imperial envoy delivering a decree, he maintained a rather lofty posture.
The eunuch then unfurled the imperial edict. “Fuma Chi Wan, receive the decree.”
Chi Wan knelt. “Your subject, Chi Wan, receives the decree.”
In previous dynasties, one had to bathe and burn incense before receiving an edict. In the current dynasty, it was sufficient to be cleanly dressed and not disheveled.
“By the grace of Heaven, Fuma-Commandant Chi Wan has served with dedication and diligence. She is upright and intelligent. She is hereby specially promoted to the rank of Grand Master for Discussion, fifth-rank senior, and appointed as the County Magistrate of Qingyuan County in Shengjing. It is hoped that she will not forget her original intentions and will remain loyal to the sovereign and devoted to the country…”
Chi Wan didn’t pay close attention to the rest. All she knew was that she had suddenly been promoted and was to become a county magistrate.
Grand Master for Discussion was a literary honorary official title. Even if her actual post changed, this honorary rank would remain, and her salary would be based on it. Honorary titles for civil officials weren’t handed out as casually as those for military officers; one had to be a scholar, at least a Provincial Graduate or a Palace Graduate.
Moreover, she now had a substantive post. Qingyuan County was right next to Shengjing, only a one or two-hour journey away. A county magistrate in the capital region was a sixth-rank senior official, not a high position in the capital itself, but if posted outside, it was considered a capital official’s post. It was an opportunity others begged for, and it had just been given to her?
Chi Wan was stunned. Xia Qu rolled her eyes at her speechlessly. It was just a minor seventh-rank official post, was it really worth such a reaction? She quickly stepped forward and handed the eunuch a large silver ingot. “Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Director.”
After seeing the eunuch off, Xia Qu snorted softly. “So provincial.”
Chi Wan didn’t argue with her. She had gone from rags to riches in an instant.
“Fuma, you should first consider how you’re going to take up your post.”
The new year was fast approaching. Normally, there was no rush to report for duty, and she wasn’t very familiar with Qingyuan County.
Right now, Chi Wan had no people and no money. It was indeed a problem. “When would be a good time to assume office?”
“The edict has been issued. It’s best to take up your post within three days. If His Majesty thinks you’re not taking it seriously and makes a note of it, you’ll be finished.”
Chi Wan was speechless. Why did this Xia Qu always try to scare her?
Servants from the Princess’s Residence stood nearby, holding a black official’s hat, red official robes, and a jade belt, all looking very impressive.
The jade belt was for important ceremonies; a leather belt was sufficient for daily use, perhaps with a jade or gold buckle at most. Not just anyone could use them, either; it depended on one’s rank. As the Fuma, even though she was just a minor county magistrate, some of her official accoutrements were of the standard used by the imperial clan.
There was also a diexie belt, which was a sort of multi-functional belt that could hold many items. In its current form, it was mostly used by military officials to carry swords and the like, or by those who traveled extensively, for convenience.
Chi Wan preferred these practical belts. A jade belt, for instance, was inconvenient, requiring one to walk with great care.
However, they were symbols of status. If she wanted to carry things, there were many fashionable bags in this era, with styles ranging from luxurious to multi-functional, made of cloth or fur, and all purely handmade.
Her predecessor had a few in her wardrobe. Chi Wan had glanced at them; they were all for decoration and not very practical. She wanted to buy a practical one, but she had little money.
It seemed one needed to earn money for everything. There would be many expenses in the future.
Chi Wan took the official attire herself and started walking toward her small courtyard. She had only taken a few steps when she heard someone calling for her.
“Where is the Fuma? Where is the Fuma? Find the Fuma, quickly! Her Highness has fainted!”
Yu Jiuzhou had fainted? Chi Wan immediately shoved the official robes into Xia Qu’s arms and ran back toward Yongning Courtyard at full speed.
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