“A dog?” Zhou Jinyan asked Cang Xu. “What does she want a dog for?”
“Cang Ming said it’s for finding things.”
“Finding things.” Zhou Jinyan was drinking the medicinal soup made from the ginseng roots Shen Yiren had given him. “Go to the palace and bring Fei Yun.”
Back then, he had valued Fei Yun for its fierce temperament and keen sense of smell. During the two months of training, the focus had been on guarding people and finding people or objects.
When he left the capital, he had specifically instructed Nanny Ying not to forget to train it in these skills.
“Fei Yun? The Empress probably won’t allow it.” Cang Xu expressed some concern.
Zhou Jinyan: “The Empress isn’t really afraid Fei Yun will harm me. She just doesn’t want me to have too much contact with Imperial Consort Mother. Go ahead.”
“Tell Shen Yiren she can only borrow it for two days. The imperial edict conferring the princely title is also a matter of the next few days.”
When Consort Xian learned that her son wanted to lend Fei Yun to Shen Yiren, she smiled and said, “Yan’er truly likes his Wangfei.”
When Yan’er left the capital, he had even reminded her that Fei Yun must not leave her side and was not to be lent out. Now, he was breaking this rule for Shen Yiren.
Cang Xu’s attention was caught by two words: “Wangfei?”
“Didn’t Yan’er tell you? The Empress asked him to choose a Wangfei. He said he admires General Shen’s legitimate daughter, Shen Yiren, and will only marry her as his Wangfei.” Consort Xian then asked, “Is Yan’er lending Fei Yun because his future Wangfei is being bullied?”
Cang Xu belatedly realized that the princely title edict the Prince mentioned was the “Wang” in “Wangfei.”
“It’s for finding something.” Cang Xu clarified, then took Fei Yun and left the palace, delivering it directly to the General’s residence.
When he saw Miss Shen, he almost addressed her as Wangfei.
After conveying the Prince’s exact words, Cang Xu left. Shen Yiren, meanwhile, stroked Fei Yun’s head in amazement. “You’re so beautiful! Ah!”
The previously harmless-looking Fei Yun suddenly bit Shen Yiren’s arm. As soon as a little blood flowed out, Fei Yun licked it clean.
“Hiss, hah! So fragrant it’s to die for, ah!”
Shen Yiren slapped it on the head, knocking the dog to the ground.
Cang Ming, who had just arrived with a sword to use as a dog-beating stick: “…”
Where was there any sign that the Wangfei might be in the slightest trouble? Where was there any sign that she needed his protection… Fei Yun was such a presence in the palace that even the Emperor worried upon seeing it.
“Wa— Miss Shen, is your hand alright?”
“It didn’t bite through.” Shen Yiren’s palm passed over the bitten arm, and the wound vanished without a trace. There wasn’t a drop of blood either—Fei Yun had licked it all clean.
Fei Yun, lying sprawled on the ground, glared fiercely at her. “How dare you slap me! I’m the top dog in the palace! My main master is Prince Duan, my second master is Consort Xian!”
Xiao Ba pointed at Fei Yun in surprise. “It, it…”
“It has gained Sentience,” Shen Yiren said softly.
She had only been down the mountain for two days and had already been bitten by a dog. It was a bit disheartening.
This dog was just like the mushrooms in Buxian Mountain—beautiful things could be truly poisonous.
“How dare you bite me!” Shen Yiren angrily slapped its head again. “Since you got the advantage, just be quiet. What’s with the fierceness? Otherwise, I’ll make sure not a trace of you remains.”
Fei Yun stared at her and finally realized that the young girl before her was a Ginseng Spirit of profound cultivation. She herself had only just gained Sentience; her skull was still throbbing with pain. She couldn’t win.
She drooped her ears and turned her head away.
Shen Yiren glared at her. “Stop pretending. Get up and find something for me. That’s your master’s order!”
Fei Yun ignored her.
Shen Yiren raised her hand. Whoosh! Fei Yun instantly stood up, lifting her chin proudly. “What use are you? You still have to rely on me!”
“Who told you to be a dog!”
“Woof!” You little demon!
Shen Yiren also lifted her chin with a huff, walking ahead without a leash, urging it to hurry up.
Cang Ming watched Fei Yun obediently follow, thinking to himself that Wangfei was much better at training dogs than the Prince.
“Cang Ming, follow along too.”
“What about Young Master Shen?”
“Almost done, can’t really bury him to death.” Otherwise, it would be karma, and the heavens would surely strike her dead!
…
Steward Luo took advantage of the empty Moonlight Residence, leading the servants with hoes and shovels to carefully dig up the young master.
What a sin!
The second young lady’s heart is too black, to do something so cruel to her own younger brother!
As soon as the cloth gag was removed from Shen Zhi’ang’s mouth, he was about to start cursing loudly. Steward Luo quickly covered his mouth: “Young Master! You mustn’t shout! If the second young lady hears, it’s over!”
He was afraid of being thrown out of the General’s Manor again. If he left, where else could he find such a good job? The eldest young lady certainly wouldn’t take him along.
Shen Zhi’ang felt utterly aggrieved. This was his home, yet now it felt like they were thieves.
As soon as the servants pulled him out of the dirt, his legs went weak, and he had to be carried back to his mother’s courtyard.
“You foolish child, why must you provoke that plague god!” Lady Shen poked her son’s forehead, both angry and heartbroken.
“Mother, why are you poking me? You should go poke Shen Yiren!” Shen Zhi’ang grabbed his mother’s hand and began to complain: “She stole Eldest Sister’s Moonlight Residence, and she dug a pit to bury me! There were bugs in the dirt, they bit me to death!”
“Mother, you must punish her by not letting her eat. I’m also going to tell Grandmother, and have Grandmother punish her by kneeling in the ancestral hall! And don’t give her any water either, hmph!”
“Your grandmother won’t punish her.” Lady Shen held back her son who wanted to go complain.
The Elderly Lady had heard about the Heavenly Fire burning things and felt in her heart that it was the heavens standing up for Shen Yiren.
Especially since Shen Yiren had a close attendant of Prince Duan protecting her, the Elderly Lady had already decided to give Moonlight Residence to Shen Yiren and told them to avoid provoking her lately, lest the Heavenly Fire burn them.
The Elderly Lady certainly doted on her only grandson, but she was also inwardly fearful, so she could only shift the blame onto the servants attending Shen Zhi’ang.
They were all caned and driven out of the manor.
Shen Zhi’ang exclaimed loudly: “What! They were servants Eldest Sister personally chose for me!”
“Alright, alright, keep your voice down. Your eldest sister is returning tomorrow morning. Just ask her to pick two more attentive ones for you.”
“That’s right, Eldest Sister is returning!” Shen Zhi’ang’s resentment immediately turned to joy upon hearing that Shen Qingrui was coming back. He planned to wash up properly so he could go see Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law.
Brother-in-law should thank him. If it weren’t for his suggestion that Eldest Sister marry over, how would Brother-in-law have married the one he liked?
As for Shen Yiren! If Grandmother couldn’t stand up for him, he still had his brother-in-law, who was a Prince, and his sister, the Prince’s wife!
The day of the homecoming visit.
Shen Qingrui looked at the empty courtyard and asked the steward: “Why haven’t the homecoming gifts been prepared yet?”
The steward said: “There are no homecoming gifts.”
Shen Qingrui questioned: “Why are there no homecoming gifts?”
The steward looked at her and said unhurriedly: “That’s something you’ll have to ask yourself, Shizi Fei. This old servant has matters to attend to and will take his leave now.”
The steward went to report to the Duchess.
The Duchess sneered: “The General’s Manor accepted the betrothal gifts. Not only is she a fake legitimate daughter, but she also brought no dowry. If it weren’t for Liangxuan liking her, and Shen Yiren being truly unfit for any respectable occasion, she wouldn’t even be able to touch the threshold of the Duke’s Manor. And she still wants homecoming gifts? There are none.”
“If the Crown Princess Consort tells the Crown Prince, what should we do if he asks?”
“If Liangxuan asks, just prepare a couple of items casually. If he doesn’t ask, act as if you don’t know.” However, the Duchess was certain her son wouldn’t come asking. Her son had always been relatively obedient and filial—it was only this matter of marriage that he had defied her once.
As expected, Cen Liangxuan didn’t inquire. Instead, he used his own belongings to make up for it and had someone purchase some additional gifts.
Shen Qingrui’s displeasure was already written all over her face.
Cen Liangxuan wrapped his arm around her shoulder and asked, “Haven’t you always been indifferent to such material things?”