As soon as she entered, the maidservants who had been attending to her looked surprised, watching her with puzzled expressions.
Sun Momo ordered sternly, “Leave at once. A’Wu will no longer be staying here, and your services will no longer be needed. The residence will arrange new assignments for you.”
The maids, startled, dared not say anything and respectfully bowed before retreating.
Under Sun Momo’s watchful eye, A’Wu began to pack her belongings.
While she packed, Sun Momo’s gaze never left her.
When A’Wu reached for a gold phoenix hairpin, Sun Momo suddenly stepped forward and snatched it from her hand.
It was made of solid gold, its finely crafted phoenix head gleaming with intricate filigree work, adorned with a thumb-sized red agate gemstone—an extremely rare piece.
Sun Momo frowned.
“Do you know what this is?”
A’Wu looked puzzled and shook her head.
“I don’t know. The Crown Prince gave it to me.”
Sun Momo was both exasperated and amused. “
This belonged to the late Consort Xian! Do you think you can just casually wear such an item?”
A’Wu hesitated.
“I… didn’t know.”
She glanced at the intricate filigree design and said, “I don’t want it, then. Sun Momo, you can keep it.”
Sun Momo: “…”
She shot A’Wu a fierce glare, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
What kind of person was this?
Receiving something valuable, then acting as if she were being generous by giving it away?
Did she even realize what this was?
Consort Xian was the Crown Prince’s birth mother.
She had passed away due to poor health when the Crown Prince was just seven years old.
Some of her belongings had naturally been left to him.
Sun Momo had seen this very phoenix hairpin before—it was a gift from the Emperor himself.
She had once glimpsed it from afar at a New Year’s banquet, when Consort Xian had worn it.
And now, it had been casually handed to a mere low-born girl?
Ah Wu, noticing Sun Momo’s increasingly hostile expression, grew even more confused.
“I already said I don’t want it. What more do you want? I gave it to you, isn’t that enough?”
Seeing Sun Momo’s wide-eyed disbelief, A’Wu felt a bit aggrieved and explained, “It was the Crown Prince who insisted on giving it to me. I told him it was too heavy and that I didn’t like wearing such things, but he told me to keep it for him!”
Sun Momo nearly fainted from sheer frustration.
This girl was truly…!
If she were the Crown Princess, she would have beaten her to death on the spot!
Sensing that Sun Momo’s anger was only growing, A’Wu hurriedly shoved the phoenix hairpin into her hands.
“Sun Momo, here! You keep it.”
Sun Momo’s hands trembled as she stared at the hairpin.
A’Wu then grabbed a handful of gold hairpins from her belongings.
“Sun Momo, take these too. I’m giving them all to you!”
Sun Momo sucked in a sharp breath.
Clutching the heavy gold hairpins, she quickly glanced around to make sure no one had noticed before stealthily tucking them into her sleeve.
Then, straightening her posture, she cleared her throat and announced, “This phoenix hairpin is no ordinary item—it was bestowed by the Emperor and belonged to Consort Xian.
It must be returned to the Crown Prince. Since he is not in the residence, the Crown Princess will keep it safe for now. I will personally deliver it to her.”
A’Wu blinked.
“Sun Momo, you do as you see fit.”
She truly didn’t care who ended up with the hairpin.
Even though she lacked a deep understanding of palace etiquette, she knew well enough that she shouldn’t be touching such an item.
Not only was it adorned with a phoenix—a symbol exclusive to royalty—but the materials alone, the goldwork and the rare white jade inlays, made it something far beyond what commoners could possess.
The laws of Da Hui strictly forbade ordinary citizens from wearing such things.
She had never wanted to stay in the Crown Prince’s residence as a concubine.
Since she was leaving, why burden herself with unnecessary troubles?
Besides, if she tried to pawn such an item, she would likely be reported to the authorities on the spot.
As for silver… A’Wu had no concerns at all.
When it came to money, she was always exceptionally meticulous.
She had put all her effort into accumulating wealth.
During her months with the Crown Prince, she had seized every opportunity to request gold and silver from him.
She had no interest in elaborate jewelry with delicate craftsmanship—filigree, engraved patterns, and ornate designs were all a waste of artisanship and carried little actual value.
She preferred solid chunks of gold.
The Crown Prince seemed to understand her preference and had given her large, hefty gold armlets—thick and substantial, the kind of gold that truly mattered.
With this in mind, she had deliberately put the phoenix hairpin in plain sight, ensuring they would take it from her.
At the same time, she subtly gifted a few other items as a gesture of goodwill.
After pocketing the extra gold hairpins, Sun Momo cleared her throat and instructed the servants, “This is an important item with royal significance. Handle it carefully. Bring a lacquered tray.”
The maids quickly fetched a tray, and Sun Momo solemnly placed the phoenix hairpin on it, giving instructions for its safekeeping before delivering it to the Crown Princess.
While they were preoccupied, A’Wu took her chance.
She stuffed all her carefully accumulated gold armlets into her cotton-padded jacket and pants, hiding them piece by piece until her clothes were bulging with the weight of solid gold.
Only when she felt the satisfying heaviness did she finally feel at ease.
When Sun Momo returned, she had already packed her padded clothing neatly into her bundle, carrying only a small personal bag.
Sun Momo gave the small bundle a scrutinizing look.
Feeling guilty, A’Wu said cautiously, “Sun Momo… do you want to check the silver inside? The Crown Prince gave it to me…”
Sun Momo took the bundle, glanced through it, and saw some gold inside—but not too much.
She sighed and said, “The Crown Princess has already permitted this. With her status, she would not bother arguing over such things. Keep it. But everything must be recorded so I can report back to her.”
A’Wu nodded carefully.
“Sun Momo, I’ll leave it to you to record everything.”
***
A’Wu had almost finished packing her belongings.
It was time to leave.
As she prepared to depart, she stubbornly insisted on carrying her own luggage, refusing to let anyone else touch it.
She had hidden things in her padded jacket and pants—if someone else carried them, they might notice the weight and suspect something.
Fortunately, Sun Momo was not the type to show kindness, so she made no offer to help.
Without any maids or servants by her side, A’Wu had to carry everything herself.
She was already physically weak, and after kneeling for so long in front of the Crown Princess, her knees were aching badly.
Now, with the added burden of carrying her luggage, she struggled even more.
But she had no other choice.
She told herself to endure—it would all be worth it once she made it through.
There was gold hidden in her belongings.
No matter how exhausted she was, she had to carry it out herself.
Fortunately, before she had even left Huancui Courtyard, she saw a small sedan chair waiting for her.
Nearby, seven or eight young servants stood in neat rows, dressed in clean blue robes and hats, looking orderly and efficient.
A’Wu struggled to place her luggage onto the sedan chair before attempting to climb in herself.
But just as she was about to step inside, a voice rang out from the side.
“Has her luggage been inspected?”
A’Wu turned to look and saw that it was Lady Su.
Even Sun Momo had to be cautious in front of Lady Su.
She quickly smiled and said, “It has been checked. I had the contents listed, and I was just about to bring the record for you to review.”
As she spoke, she hurriedly handed over the list.
Lady Su, however, did not take it.
Her gaze remained fixed on Ah Wu’s luggage.
A’Wu felt a bit embarrassed, her jade-like face flushing red.
She lowered her voice and explained, “These are just padded clothes… thick ones.”
Lady Su frowned.
Ah Wu, feeling awkward, fidgeted with her hands and whispered, “Lady Su, once I leave the Crown Prince’s residence, I won’t be able to get winter clothes like these anymore. So I thought I should at least bring two with me… to keep warm…”
Lady Su continued to stare at her luggage in silence.
Seeing no other way out, A’Wu reluctantly offered, “Lady Su, how about this… I’ll give you one. You can take the padded jacket, and I’ll keep the padded pants for myself.”
With that, she pulled at the hem of her padded jacket, trying to remove it.
As she tugged, the thick fabric emerged from the bundle.
Eagerly, A’Wu held it out and tried to push it into Lady Su’s hands.
“Lady Su, you should wear this. It’s very warm—really good cotton!”
Lady Su looked at her with contempt, as if suddenly realizing something.
Cotton was not widely grown in Da Hui.
Most commoners used reed fluff for winter clothing, and only the wealthy could afford fine cotton garments.
Once A’Wu left the Crown Prince’s residence and entered the Daoist convent, she would never have access to such clothing again.
This Ah Wu—born with such an exquisite, rare beauty—yet completely ignorant, unable to fit into refined society!
And yet, the Crown Prince had once cherished her so much…
Lady Su’s eyes were full of disdain.
She gave a cold, indifferent command: “Set off.”