Because he hadn’t slept well the previous night, Zhao Surui’s complexion was even more unpleasant than usual. Even though Tu Nan had prepared the pork bone with greasy flatbread he wanted, he still wasn’t happy.
Could three pork bones, four greasy flatbreads, and two bowls of meat soup really cheer him up?
How could the mighty Zhaode Emperor be so easily pleased?
With a hand warmer tucked in his embrace, Zhao Surui paced slowly around the courtyard to aid his digestion, completely unaware that his hunched figure—wrapped in a cloak, dragging his feet, and hanging his head—resembled a plump goose.
Wandering aimlessly, Zhao Surui reached the entrance of the side courtyard and saw a woman in a Zhu-zi brown round-collared jacket being helped out by someone.
Tilting his head and observing for a moment, Zhao Surui recalled that this woman must be the abandoned maid of the Xie Family whom Tu Nan had rescued. Previously, she had looked like a half-dead dog, but now, dressed in slightly loose clothing, she appeared somewhat delicate.
As Qing Ying stepped into the light, she insisted on waving away Xia He, who was supporting her. Looking up, she saw the young mistress standing outside the round gate, tilting her head to watch her.
“Young mistress!” Qing Ying stumbled forward two steps and barely managed to kneel on the ground. “This humble servant, Qing Ying, thanks you for saving my life! Such great kindness is beyond repayment. As a lowly person, if there is anything you need, just give the order. From now on, my life belongs to you!”
Zhao Surui had heard such words many times before and paid them no mind. Rubbing the hand warmer in his hands, he glanced at Xia He, who had also knelt on the ground.
Oh? Weren’t you arrogant and domineering before? Now you’re acting obedient?
“In your current state, your life isn’t even worth the cost of medicine. Focus on recovering first before saying such things.”
Zhao Surui waved his hand, signaling both of them to stand up.
Noticing that Qing Ying’s face was still pale and devoid of any color under the light, Zhao Surui asked, “You’re injured. Why are you out here?”
Qing Ying was breathing heavily, so Xia He quickly answered for her: “Young mistress, the physician said that Qing Ying’s miscarriage was incomplete and there are still remnants inside her. She needs to walk more to help the remaining placenta pass with the blood flow.”
Xia He, having given birth herself, regarded “Shen Shiqing” as a fellow woman and spoke without reservation. Little did she know that the mighty Zhaode Emperor, who had no knowledge in such matters, felt a sudden unease upon hearing this.
Back in the military camp, he had seen wounded soldiers. Even when he took an arrow to the shoulder, he dared to lead his troops dozens of miles to pursue the enemy’s remnants. Though he had been in pain then, it was a pain that could eventually subside.
His pain had driven the northern enemy tribes back three thousand miles.
Thinking of this, he could even joke with his wounded soldiers while injured himself. A mere flesh wound was nothing; even those missing limbs, as long as they dared to charge forward with him, could receive a promise from him, the emperor, of a wealthy life without worries for half their lifetime.
Unaware of what the “young mistress” was thinking, Xia He, eager to secure more care for Qing Ying, hurriedly added, “Young mistress, Qing Ying was kicked and lost a five-month-old child. She’s already half-dead, and… and she was further abused. The physician said if she doesn’t recover properly now and leaves hidden dangers in her body, not only will her future be ruined, but… but she might not live much longer.”
Zhao Surui frowned.
Women are so troublesome.
They endure pain, and it’s just pain.
Never mind that he was now trapped in Shen Sanfei’s body—even if he, as the Zhaode Emperor, encountered such a woman, he would only have her dragged away to avoid cluttering his sight.
Zhao Su Rui touched the cold spot in her lower abdomen. Though bleeding, a woman’s monthly cycle felt like a recurring illness…
The emperor, already in a foul mood, clicked her tongue, unusually lacking the desire to vent her frustration.
“Since you’re unwell, be more careful.”
Her tone was neither gentle nor imposing.
The Zhaode Emperor, plump as a fat goose, turned to leave but swung back around:
“You should eat more meat.”
After tossing out this random remark, she swayed her way back to the main courtyard. Before she could sit down, Tu Nan hurried in.
“Miss, Qing Ying’s husband has gathered some tenants to demand her return. Pei Feng has already blocked them at the estate gate. We await your instructions on how to handle this.”
“Demand?” Zhao Su Rui’s eyes lit up, suddenly feeling no more backache or leg pain, itching to grab her hand warmer and charge into battle. “How many are they? What weapons do they carry? Who leaked the information?”
Seeing her mistress’s face clearly screaming “I want a fight,” Tu Nan blinked and said, “Just five or six tenants, men and women, crying and shouting outside the estate. As for the leak, they likely saw us bringing her back.”
With no invading enemies or traitors, just a bunch of troublemakers making a scene, Zhao Su Rui immediately lost interest. She plopped down on the wen chair, resuming her sprawled-leg lordly posture:
“Let them cry. Tell Pei Feng to ignore them and not listen to their nonsense, just continue drilling the troops.”
Tu Nan acknowledged and turned to leave, but Zhao Su Rui called her back:
“For lunch, I want roasted lamb leg. Roast half a lamb and send the tender parts to the side courtyard. From now on, whatever meat I eat, send a portion there too.”
The maid with a sword hanging at her waist showed a faint smile on her typically expressionless face:
“I thank you on Qing Ying’s behalf.”
What’s so great about a bit of food?
Surrounded by unusual fatigue and weakness, the Zhaode Emperor waved her hand impatiently:
“If she’s recuperating on my turf, she can’t keep looking like a dead dog.”
After sitting awhile in the wen chair, Zhao Su Rui grew bored enough to consider holding her nose and browsing Shen San Fei’s book collection when A Chi rushed in:
“Miss, we should just chase those people away. I inquired—they’re idlers from nearby villages who’ve done plenty of thieving. They’re cut from the same cloth as those tied up near the outer courtyard’s latrine. Their language is foul too. If we let them carry on, I fear it’ll damage your reputation. The tenants can’t focus on drilling anymore, they’re all gathered watching the commotion.”
“If my reputation can be ruined by a few ruffians, then it’s as fragile as paper.” Zhao Su Rui yawned lazily: “Fine, since they’re this brazen, I’ll go see for myself.”
A Chi wanted to stop her mistress, but who could ever restrain Zhao Su Rui?
Even a menstruating Zhaode Emperor clutching a hand warmer was still the Zhaode Emperor. Striding briskly toward the second gate, she suddenly halted.
“Did the man come alone or bring family?”
A Chi, trailing several steps behind, hurried to catch up: “He brought his old mother and brothers.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
A Chi was bewildered, watching as her mistress gently stroked the hand warmer before suddenly smiling and instructing her, “Go and summon Tu Nan.”
Outside the Zhuangzi estate, several men were causing a scene—rolling on the ground and shouting. One moment they claimed their women had died inside the estate, with no trace of them alive or dead; the next, they accused the master of the house of forcibly abducting commoners’ wives. At first, their courage was limited, and they only dared to whine about their grievances. But as they noticed the burly men surrounding them made no move to act, their boldness grew. The thought that the estate was now under a woman’s authority further emboldened them, and vile words like “What ‘young mistress’? She’s nothing but a little whore driven out of her own home!” spilled from their lips.
How could Pei Feng tolerate this? She was about to order her men to take action when the main gate swung open abruptly. A woman draped in a pale green rabbit-fur cloak strode out and delivered a sharp kick to the face of the ringleader.
“Pei Feng, did you take note of every insult these scoundrels hurled at you and me? Ten lashes for each word—whip them!”
“Yes!” After enduring this for so long, even a clay figurine would seethe with rage. With a wave of her hand, Pei Feng directed several large men to pin the troublemakers to the ground. She herself picked up a horsewhip and declared, “Strip their trousers and flog them.”
Zhao Su Rui felt a surge of satisfaction after delivering that kick. Watching Pei Feng fiercely lash these ruffians, she couldn’t help but admire her.
Ah, Shen San Fei, oh Shen San Fei, these maids of yours are truly exceptional.
Far better than you!
Just then, an old woman in coarse clothing rushed forward, attempting to cling to Zhao Su Rui’s feet, only to be kicked away.
“Madam, oh madam, you mustn’t beat them!”
Zhao Su Rui recognized her instantly as the mother of one of the men. She sneered coldly and retorted, “You dare insult me at my own doorstep, and I’m not allowed to retaliate? I’ll do more than just beat them! A Chi, you’re in charge of the estate’s ledgers. Immediately reclaim the land rented by any of these people.”
This was truly a move to drive them to despair.
The old woman, ignoring her son who was being beaten, scrambled forward and pleaded, “Madam, we were wrong! We admit our mistake! We won’t dare ask for anyone again!”
But Zhao Su Rui had no intention of letting them off. Days of pent-up frustration from dealing with menstrual discomfort erupted at once: “You beasts who treat human life like grass dare to shout at my door? You thought you could take advantage of me because I’m a woman and easily bullied? If I let you go, it would only prove your words true! Pei Feng, tie these men together with the one Tu Nan brought back the day before yesterday—the one who stormed into our estate pretending to be my husband. Display them at the front of the estate and whip them once a day. Let everyone see what happens to those who dare commit crimes in front of me!”
Standing at the estate’s entrance, Zhao Su Rui glared fiercely at the servants and tenants who had gathered to watch the spectacle.
“I know what you’re thinking, but let me be clear: You eat my meat and drink my soup, and you receive my guidance—that makes you my people. As my people, good deeds will be rewarded, and mistakes will be punished. You can’t enjoy the benefits I provide while also delighting in my misfortunes. The world doesn’t work that way! Pei Feng, those who didn’t train properly today will forfeit their meat rations for today and tomorrow. Those who joined in the commotion will receive ten lashes. The extra meat will be distributed to those who trained diligently. Double the meat rations for the diligent ones for the next two days.”
“Yes!”
The servants and tenants who had been half-hearted in their training were instantly dumbfounded. Though they wanted to argue, they saw the smug expressions on the faces of the men who had trained under Pei Feng and couldn’t help but feel both envy and resentment.
Someone repeatedly begged for mercy: “Lady Shen! We won’t dare do it again! From now on we’ll all listen to you!”
Zhao Su Rui paid them no mind. After venting his anger, he felt refreshed and clear-headed, turning back to return to the Zhuangzi, leaving behind a triumphant, swaggering figure like a victorious fat goose.
Returning to the main courtyard, he saw Qing Ying kneeling on the ground, kowtowing to him.
“Thank you, young mistress! Thank you, young mistress!”
The two girls held in Tu Nan’s arms also looked at their young mistress with smiling eyes: “The young mistress truly has divine foresight. That scoundrel’s family was empty, with only two children left unattended.”
Zhao Su Rui proudly lifted his chin: “Enough, no need for thanks. Check the documents and arrange an early divorce from that scoundrel.”
Qing Ying’s forehead was bruised from kowtowing, and she was crying too hard to speak. Xia He, thinking of her own two children, also burst into tears.
Zhao Su Rui couldn’t bear to watch this. He lifted his head to leave when he suddenly heard Xia He speak up:
“Young mistress, back when your mother was on her deathbed, she wrote you letters and sent you gifts, but they were all intercepted by the Lady. Not only that, over the years, about seven out of every ten letters from your uncles and maternal relatives were withheld, and the remaining ones had all been read by the Lady! When I was still working in the Lady’s courtyard years ago, I knew your maternal uncle Official Qin had sent you a chest of items and five hundred taels in silver notes, all of which were embezzled by the Lady.”
“I know about that too.” Qing Ying wiped away her tears and barely raised her head. “I also know that previously when your uncle sent people to visit you, both the Lady and the Lord claimed you weren’t here. And when the Lord said he borrowed your books to read, he actually gave them all as gifts to powerful officials in the capital. Princess Leqing enjoys stone rubbings, and your copy of the Three Perfections Stele rubbing was long ago sent to the Princess’s residence.”
“Oh? So according to you, Ning’an Lord Manor owes me quite a few possessions.”
Zhao Su Rui had long considered everything belonging to Shen San Fei as his own.
What was his remained his, and since Shen San Fei’s body was his possession, naturally everything else was his too!
As the sun set in the west, weary birds returned to their nests and children headed home.
The twilight shone upon the twenty-some wooden stakes in front of the Zhuangzi, where only sobs and miserable wails could be heard, creating a scene of peaceful tranquility.
Several people arrived nearby in a mule cart and were shocked by the sight:
“Steward, why does our Count’s manor’s Zhuangzi look like a bandit stronghold?”
The steward was also somewhat baffled. Those people had been beaten beyond recognition, their faces swollen like pig heads and dog brains. Not daring to look too closely, he said:
“Where would bandit strongholds appear outside Yanjing City? These must be more of those lowly commoners resisting taxes, being disciplined by our people.”
Noticing one who had been beaten particularly beyond recognition, he pointed and said: “This one must be the ringleader of the tax resisters.”
After saying this, he spat at the man’s feet.
Not far away, several young maidservants returned carrying grass baskets. He went to meet them and instructed:
“Go and announce us. We’re from the manor in the city, here to escort the Second Young Mistress back to the residence.”
Before night had fully fallen, four more wooden stakes had been added outside the Zhuangzi.