Shen Mu Qing smelled the fragrance of Yuzhihua and slowly opened her eyes.

  The small sheeps horn palace lamp on the black lacquered wooden frame of the goose-yellow gauze canopy emitted a dim yellow light, reflecting the bright red silk canopy like a sunset glow.

  Shen Mu Qing greedily savored the soft warmth between the sheets, turned over, and closed her eyes again.

  Someone was softly calling her: "Girl, its time to get up!"

  Shen Muqing simply ignored him and covered his head with a quilt.

  The person calling her didnt force it either, quietly standing by the bed and waiting.

  Shen Mu Qing lay down for a while, but eventually felt uneasy and threw off the covers to sit up. She pouted and said: "Luo Mei, how do you always arrive on time like a clock?"

  The silken mosquito net had been hung up with silver hooks, and in front of the bed stood a young girl wearing a blue-green satin jacket. She was seventeen or eighteen years old, with a pale face, slender arched eyebrows, although not particularly beautiful, her expression was very gentle, making people feel comfortable when they looked at her. She was exactly Shen Muqings personal maid, Luo Mei.

  Hearing Shen Muqings complaints, she puckered her lips and smiled, turning around to lift the large red brocade curtain.

  Bright light immediately poured in like mercury, illuminating a spacious black lacquer eight-step bed.

  Two little maidservants with shaven heads came in, carrying a white silk jacket with a high collar and a white satin skirt with a silver-red base and white jade orchid flowers embroidered on the narrow sleeves.

  "Miss, let me help you get dressed," said Luo Mei with a smile.

  "No need, no need." Shen Muqing hastily shook his head, "I can handle it myself."

  Luomei had served her for seven years and was familiar with her daily habits. Upon hearing this, she smiled and, accompanied by two young maidservants, curtsied and withdrew.

  The grand red bed curtains were lowered again, and the eight-step bed was once more restored to its dimly lit state.

  Shen Mu Qing sighed and got up, rustling as she changed her clothes.

  In the purple sandalwood carved flower stand with a height of over one meter, a mercury glass mirror reflected a small girl like a painting.

  The quiet and clear Shen Mu looked at the little girl in front of the mirror, hesitated for a moment, then stretched out her finger and gently tapped on her.

  The little man in the mirror also stretched out his finger and pointed at Shen Muqing.

  Serene and calm, lost in thought with a faint smile.

  Who would believe it if I told them?

  Seven years ago, she was just a city woman who lamented the cruelty of her career while constantly climbing up driven by thick benefits. A car accident turned her into the five-year-old daughter of Shen Bian, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Chancellor of the Jingyuan Temple, with three braids, wearing a brocade jacket and a skirt with a drawstring, raised in the inner courtyard of a deep mansion.

  Thinking of this, Shen Muqing couldnt help but let out a sigh.

  She thought she would always remember the drivers face, which was hazy with intoxication. But in just seven years, not only did she forget the perpetrators face, but even her parents appearances gradually became blurred in the long river of time, leaving behind only a warm feeling.

  "Humans are probably the most adaptable creatures in the world!" Shen Muqing muttered to herself, gazing at the person in the mirror with a sweet smile, then loudly called out to Luo Mei.

  The red silk curtain was lifted immediately, and the blue-green grass-patterned top hung with a red tassel octagonal glass palace lamp illuminated her world.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and entered the purification room set up behind the bed.

  A second-class maid named Yingfen in her house was rolling up her sleeves to test the water temperature for her. Seeing Shen Muqing come in, Yingfen smiled and shouted "Young Lady", saying: "The water temperature is just right!"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and nodded at her.

  Ying hurriedly backed away with two young maidservants who had been pouring water, leaving the space to Shen Muqing.

  The clean room is arranged according to Shen Muqings meaning.

  Several room dividers were used to divide the house into several parts. Some places had toilets, some had washbasins, and some had bathtubs.

  Shen Mu Qing used a toothbrush made of pig bristles to brush her teeth with tooth powder, then washed her face with soap scented with osmanthus fragrance. She sat down in front of the black lacquered dressing table with intricate carvings, opened a small peach-shaped enamel box from among the numerous containers on the dresser, and applied a pea-sized amount of apricot-colored cream to her face.

  A faint scent of jasmine wafted through the room immediately.

  This is the "Ji Xiang Gao" made from the purple leaves of the Lingnan tribute, specially supplied to the concubines. The little eunuchs secretly stole it out and sold it in the water powder shop for two taels of silver per box. If it flowed into the market, it would sell for five taels of silver, but it could only be used for a month at most. Now, the price of rice in the Great Zhou Dynasty is only nine cents per stone... Speaking of which, her life is a bit luxurious.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and saw Luo Mei calling Ming Xia into the room through the mirror.

  Ming Xia was a maidservant who specialized in taking care of Shen Muqings hair. She was short and plump, spoke somewhat awkwardly, but her hands were very skilled, and she was good at styling hair, which earned her a place in Shen Muqings house as a third-class maidservant with a monthly allowance.

  She walked in with two little maids who hadnt yet reached puberty, smiled and greeted Shen Muqing before taking the white silk handkerchief from one of the little maids hands to wrap around Shen Muqings shoulders. Then she opened the cosmetic box on the dressing table, picked a yellow sandalwood carved flower comb, and started combing Shen Muqings hair.

  Before braiding her hair, Mingxia had to use a boxwood comb to comb Shen Muqings hair one thousand times, and then massage his scalp for a quarter of an hour - this was what her current mother, Li Shi, had repeatedly instructed her to do, saying that it could make her hair black and shiny.

  Shen Mu Qing couldnt help but stare blankly at the snow-white melon seed face in the mirror.

  She is the daughter of Shen Zhen, courtesy name Shi Ming, a native of Taicang, Jiangsu Province. Her mother, Li, was from Xiangshan, Zhejiang Province. The two families were related through their fathers, who were fellow students and colleagues in Guangxi Province. After her fathers early death, Shen Zhen relied on his wifes family to support his studies. The couple had a good relationship, but Shen Zhens official career was not smooth, with three promotions and demotions. Li followed him everywhere, and their four sons and three daughters did not survive. It wasnt until the 15th year of the Qingan reign that Shen Zhen was appointed to the Shandong Provincial Administration Office that they had another daughter. Born on the ninth day of the ninth month, she was weak and sickly, so her parents named her "Ji Jie" (寄姐) after Guanyin Bodhisattva. At the age of five, Ji Jie fell on the snowy ground, hitting the back of her head, and slept for seven days and nights before waking up... As for her academic name "Mu Qing", it was given to her by Shen Zhen when she was eight years old, with the help of Liu Yi, a scholar from the Hanlin Academy. The name comes from the poem "Ji Fu Zu Song" in the Book of Songs: "Mu Ru Qing Feng".

  "Miss, miss!" Mingxia held the mirror behind Shen Muqing, moving it left and right to reflect the hairstyle at the back of her head into the mirror: "Does it look okay?"

  Ive already combed my hair!

  Shen Mu Qing regained his composure and took a closer look.

  Combed neatly and tidily, braided tightly and firmly.

  She nodded and smiled: "Not bad!"

  Another senior maid, Zhuji, in Shen Muqings house brought a gold-inlaid and carved box for Shen Muqing to choose her accessories.

  Exquisitely crafted jade flowers filled a small box, either inlaid with rare gold steel stones or precious rubies, emeralds, cats eye stones, and kingfisher feathers. As for honey wax crystals, pearls, agate, coral, and amber, there were countless varieties. These jade stones sparkled with dazzling brilliance under the lamp light, making ones eyes widen in wonder.

  There were a dozen or so boxes like this one, quietly arranged with some hairpins, earrings, rings, and jade pendants. They were all given to her by Li Shi, one piece at a time. In fact, she was still young and could only wear three braids, these things were rarely used, it was just Li Shis love for her daughter that made her do so.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and waved his hand, saying: "Its not like were going out as guests, at home, theres no need to be so troublesome."

  In fact, the most important thing is that these ornaments are very valuable. If she wears them out, her maids will have to pay attention at all times, lest they fall somewhere and get lost, making everyone very nervous.

  Although she had known Shen Muqings answer long ago, after hearing this sentence, Zhu Ji still smiled and her beautiful face showed a few points of childishness, not like her usual self - too dignified and calm, not at all like a 16-year-old girl.

  "Miss, the east wind blew all night yesterday, and this morning the north wind started. I took out that large red four-clawed auspicious cloud-patterned silk cloak of yours, how does it look?"

  Shen Muqing had to go to his mother, Li Shi, every morning and evening to pay respects, while in the prosperous capital of Shengjing, the shadow of a cold winter was already faintly visible. If the weather didnt change, it would start snowing around mid-October.

  "Alright!" Shen Muqing smiled and nodded, "Youre in charge of my clothes and accessories, so its up to you."

  Zhu Qi smiled and said: "If you really listen to me, miss can wear two small peony flowers on her head..."

  "Stop, stop, stop! You think Id wear a flower? How trite..."

  Modern people, who would wear a head full of fresh flowers - this is an aesthetic concept.

  "Miss..." Zhu Ji sighed, "Nowadays, even the nobles in the inner court wear flowers, and the perfume workshop specially uses warm sheds to cultivate yulan, haitang, and peony for making flower crowns to be sent into the palace..."

  "If you like it, wear it yourself, but dont ruin me!"

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  Although the rules of the Shen family were strict, Shen Muqing was gentle and easy-going when dealing with people. Since there was no older mother to manage the house, the maids would occasionally chat with Shen Muqing and tell her a few harmless jokes.

  Zhu Qi could only shake her head and went to get a cloak to put on Shen Muqing.

  Luo Mei then laughed and called out to Shen Muqings other maid, Jinxiu, who was inside the house - normally it was these two maids who attended to Shen Muqing.

  Sisters, see you again! Dont forget to vote when reading books. (*^__^*) Hehe......

  Normal update of one chapter tonight!