Chapter 157: Silver Bell, There Is No Meat to Eat in the Mountains

Having thus dismissed the people, Shen Fuyu returned to her own quarters.

"Your Ladyship, it is truly wonderful that you are unharmed!" Green Tea and White Lotus hurried forward together.

"If the two of you cannot cry, do not force yourselves," Shen Fuyu said with a cold face. "What a waste of such big eyes, not storing a single drop of tears."

Upon entering the room, an imperial physician had been waiting there for a while. There was nothing seriously wrong with Shen Fuyu to begin with; after checking her fake belly and asking a few casual questions, the examination was over.

Only then did Yinling step forward: "Your Ladyship, are you truly not feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

"This maid will fetch you something to eat. You have truly suffered terribly this past night, Your Ladyship," Yinling said, pursing her lips. "Tell me what Your Ladyship wishes to eat, and this maid will fetch it."

"I want to eat meat." Shen Fuyu rubbed her stomach. She really had eaten far too many peaches. "I want braised pork belly, and a bowl of white rice."

Allow her to have some meat dishes to calm her nerves.

"Are you certain you wish to eat such heavy foods early in the morning?" All trace of worry seemed to vanish instantly from Yinling's expression.

"I am certain." Shen Fuyu nodded fiercely. She wanted meat! Only chunks of meat coated in thick, luscious savory sauce mixed with rice could heal her peach-wounded soul!

At Shen Fuyu's strong insistence and the imperial physician's reluctant permission, a plate of braised pork belly and a bowl of white rice were brought in.

Mixing the meat into her rice, Shen Fuyu ate in large mouthfuls, feeling as though she were about to burst into tears. It was too fragrant! It was too delicious!

"Your Ladyship..." Yinling's nose tingled with emotion, and she whispered, "How did you manage to survive this entire day and night? There could not possibly be any food in the mountains..."

"Yinling," Shen Fuyu suddenly set down her chopsticks and said earnestly, "This past day and night was indeed very difficult to endure."

"Your Ladyship..."

"There is no meat in the mountains."

"..."

Why was this so different from what she had heard?

"Your Ladyship... This maid heard that there were assassins from the pugilistic world in the mountains, and they were even targeting you..." When Yinling heard the news early that morning, she had been scared half to death.

"Mhm." Shen Fuyu nodded. "I captured those few survivors myself. The imperial guards are nothing but a bunch of good-for-nothing rice buckets; completely useless."

***

"Is that so..."

"Indeed. If His Majesty had not run out of strength and had them shot in the legs, I would have been back before lunch that day." Shen Fuyu was full of disdain; if it hadn't been for the sake of accumulating anger points, she wouldn't have lowered herself to endure such grievances, would she?

These words were heard clearly by Changfu, who had come bearing rewards.

He decided to squat outside the door for a little longer and pretend he had heard nothing.

Good grief, one could offend anyone, but certainly not this master, right? He did not want to serve in front of the Emperor while completely bald.

"Why is Grand Eunuch Chang here? Did His Majesty send you?"

Changfu snapped back to his senses and hastily bowed: "This slave pays his respects to Noble Lady Cong."

"His Majesty sent this slave to deliver some items to Lady Xianfei."

With that, Changfu followed Cui Yingsu inside, only to see Shen Fuyu eating with grease shining all around her mouth. There was certainly no appearance of someone who had just escaped a disaster!

"Su'su is here." Shen Fuyu's eyes curved into crescents as she motioned for Cui Yingsu to sit down. "Quickly sit, do not be so formal with your older sister."

Cui Yingsu lifted her skirt and sat down, looking profoundly relieved: "It is so good that you are all right, Elder Sister! You really scared me to death!"

"I am naturally fine; it is just that His Majesty was rather severely injured. I wonder if his bones and muscles were harmed..." Shen Fuyu's facial expression changed at lightning speed. One second she was full of disdain, and the next she was filled with heartache.

Changfu smilingly presented the items: "An imperial traveling palace is not as fully equipped as the palace proper. This is something His Majesty specifically instructed this slave to bestow upon Your Ladyship."

It was a small trinket-like item contained within a box. Shen Fuyu picked it up casually, opened the lid with a hand stained slightly with sauce, and inside lay a knot of concentric hearts.

"His Majesty is truly wonderful to you, Elder Sister." Cui Yingsu reached out and gently touched the concentric knot. "This knot of concentric hearts surely means that His Majesty and you share a single heart as husband and wife!"

Shen Fuyu twirled the concentric knot in her fingers for a moment before smiling and saying, "Put it away."

"Why doesn't Elder Sister wear it? How pretty it would look hanging from your belt!" Cui Yingsu looked at the knot, seeming to find it rather a pity to pack it away.

Shen Fuyu smiled. "His Majesty's kind intentions naturally must be carefully preserved. After all, it also serves as a witness to His Majesty and me going through hardships together, does it not?"

"That is true... As the saying goes, true feelings are revealed through adversity. His Majesty and Elder Sister will surely remain peaceful and harmonious forever."

Cui Yingsu looked at Shen Fuyu and suddenly made a suggestion: "Since His Majesty sent Elder Sister a concentric knot, why does Elder Sister not gift His Majesty a sachet in return? If it is embroidered by Elder Sister's own hands, His Majesty will certainly cherish it!"

***

"Embroider a sachet with my own hands..." Shen Fuyu touched her chin. The original owner had indeed known how to embroider, but it was not something she herself was particularly skilled at. However, since she and Qin Zhiyi had already put on such an elaborate theatrical performance, it was indeed time to put up a front and exchange some tokens of affection. "Su'su's idea is indeed good. Once we return to the palace, I shall go and select some threads."

"I am glad I could be of help to Elder Sister." Cui Yingsu instantly beamed, leaning closer as she asked, "Elder Sister, what do you plan to do next..."

The autumn hunt was still ongoing. The assassins and rebels had been rounded up in one sweep, and the remaining people, having been scolded fiercely by Shen Fuyu, were now behaving with utmost obedience. Seizing this momentum, Qin Zhiyi struck while the iron was hot to purge and reorganize the ranks. As for the traitors and assassins, Qin Zhiyi was in no rush to have them escorted back to the capital under heavy guard.

"Your Majesty."

A firewood room had been cleared out specifically to imprison these individuals, and Shen Linyu was personally standing guard here.

Qin Zhiyi sat in his sedan chair and raised a hand in gesture: "Rise."

"Have these people been well-behaved?" Qin Zhiyi asked.

Shen Linyu nodded: "They did attempt to seek death on several occasions, but this subordinate stopped them with my men. For now, their arms have been dislocated and their mouths stuffed, so there are no problems temporarily."

"Mhm." Qin Zhiyi nodded, transferred from the sedan chair to a wheelchair, and was carried into the firewood room by attendants, with Shen Linyu following closely behind.

The assassins were all tightly bound, and of the imperial guards, Qin Zhiyi had spared only a few captains who knew more of the inside story; the rest had been executed on the spot upon their return. Rolling heads had frightened many of the noble women into shrinking inside their own tents, too terrified to venture outside.

Qin Zhiyi's sudden appearance here stirred some reaction among these assassins and rebels who had been bent on seeking death.

However, Qin Zhiyi had not come to interrogate them. Even without asking, he understood who had orchestrated this behind the scenes, and even if he asked, he temporarily had no way of dealing with the mastermind.

After merely observing the condition of these individuals, Qin Zhiyi departed. Before leaving, he remarked, "Is Brother-in-Law still getting accustomed to your duties in the Ministry of Punishments?"

Shen Linyu hastily saluted: "This subordinate is filled with trepidation. Being still young, I fear I may fail Your Majesty's expectations."

"Brother-in-Law need not be so modest. You are Lady Xianfei's elder brother, which naturally makes you my brother-in-law. The Ministry of Punishments is unlike other departments; making a name for oneself is no easy task." Qin Zhiyi exchanged a few casual remarks with him. "I naturally hold high hopes for you."

"This subordinate will definitely give it my utmost effort." Shen Linyu clasped his fists. "Your Majesty, should these people be escorted back to the Ministry of Punishments for interrogation in advance?"