Before leaving, Jing Xin changed into a red outfit and had already arrived at this lively small town by carriage.
She had intentionally asked Qi Shen to send hidden guards to protect her. She had guessed that the moment she left his side, Qin Wuheng would seize the opportunity to kill her. However, there were insiders within the imperial guards who were Qin Wuheng’s confidants, and she did not know who they were. Ordinary guards could not ensure her safety. Only the hidden guards by Qi Shen’s side could protect her. No matter how anxious Qin Wuheng was, he would not dare act in front of them.
The streets were bustling with people. Jing Xin sent Shou Quan to inquire about the location of the Su Family Grain Shop, and he quickly returned to lead the way. Soon they arrived at a spacious two story shop.
The Su Family Grain Shop was the largest supplier of ingredients in Yuping. In the novel, Shen Qingyue seemed to have come here in advance to purchase ingredients for making pastries when Qi Shen came for the hunting trip.
Shen Qingyue would not arrive too early, because many ingredients needed to be extremely fresh to make high quality pastries. Qi Shen was extremely picky when it came to food, and Shen Qingyue paid great attention to this detail.
However, Jing Xin was not certain whether Shen Qingyue would come at this time, or whether she would come personally.
She first chose a teahouse across the street and sat waiting quietly, instructing Shou Quan to check whether there was any young woman dressed in red inside the shop.
Shou Quan returned and reported that he had not seen anyone, so Jing Xin ordered some food and continued to wait.
It seemed as though fate was especially favoring her. Before she even finished her tea, she saw a graceful figure enter the Su Family Grain Shop, dressed in a red dress.
Jing Xin put on her veil and went downstairs, accompanied only by Chang Huan.
The shopkeeper was very perceptive. Seeing that she was clearly of noble bearing even with a veil, he quickly led a waiter to warmly receive her. Chang Huan said, “We will look around ourselves,” and dismissed them.
Jing Xin’s attention fell on a red dressed woman standing by the shelves selecting rice flour. The woman’s features were also very beautiful, a refined and dignified kind of beauty. Yet there was a deep maturity in her phoenix eyes that did not match her age, giving her an unusually composed presence.
This was indeed Shen Qingyue. Her temperament matched the novel perfectly, and her red clothing was also consistent.
Jing Xin walked to the nearby shelf and picked up some lotus root starch, sighing softly. “If I fail to make it taste good, and he becomes angry, I will suffer again.”
“Madam, please do not be sad.” The servant and master acted in coordination.
Jing Xin said sadly, “But I do not know how to make lotus root starch into good pastries.”
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Shen Qingyue still selecting ingredients. Although the red dressed girl did not turn toward her voice, Jing Xin knew Shen Qingyue had sharp senses and trained hearing.
Jing Xin pretended to notice her only now. “Sister, are you also choosing lotus root starch?”
Only then did Shen Qingyue look over. However, separated by the veil, she could not clearly see Jing Xin’s face and simply nodded.
Jing Xin stepped forward with the lotus root starch. “Sister, do you know how to make this taste better?”
She said sorrowfully, “The method the shopkeeper taught me is not to my husband’s liking. If he does not get good food, he will beat and scold me. I do not know how to make it delicious.”
Shen Qingyue studied her more carefully. Seeing that she was also dressed in red, she felt a sense of familiarity. Hearing that she was being abused by her husband, she became even more indignant.
“Your husband beats you?”
Jing Xin wiped her tears with her sleeve. “Yes! I am only a concubine, he does not treat me as a person.”
“That kind of man is truly hateful. You must be stronger. Do not endure everything in silence.”
Chang Huan said, “My mistress cannot be strong even if she wants to. Everything in the household depends on the master. Whatever he orders, whether killing servants or punishing people, our mistress cannot resist. She can only become the one who carries out his cruelty.”
Jing Xin said tearfully, “Please do not say anymore.”
Chang Huan continued indignantly, “Our mistress has carried so many accusations over the years. Outsiders call her a villain, but who knows it was all ordered by the master. Our mistress has suffered so much.”
Shen Qingyue’s hand moved toward the beautifully crafted dagger at her waist. “Why keep such a man alive? Which household are you from? I will help you teach him a lesson.”
Jing Xin shook her head. “No, please do not. He is very powerful. I am afraid you might get hurt instead. What concubine in this world can earn respect anyway? We are nothing more than lowly lives.”
She lowered her voice. “My family died in a pool of blood in the past. He gave me a new home. This red clothing I wear is to commemorate my family who died in blood. No matter how hard life becomes, I only wish to live on.”
Jing Xin tilted her head. “Sister, you are also wearing red. What a coincidence.”
Shen Qingyue’s lips trembled. After a long pause, she softly said, “What a coincidence.”
Ah, the fish had finally taken the bait.
In the novel, Shen Qingyue always wore red. She chose red because the former emperor had massacred her entire family. She had been protected beneath her nursemaid, watching helplessly as all her loved ones died in blood, swearing she would never forget and would take revenge. She always wore red, and even in the ending when she fell under Qin Wuheng’s sword, she still wore red.
After Shen Qingyue softened, Jing Xin began asking her about various lotus root starch recipes.
Shen Qingyue had indeed studied pastry making carefully and shared several methods.
Jing Xin lifted her veil and smiled innocently. “Thank you, sister. By the way, I do not even know if I should call you sister correctly. I was born in the fifth month of the year of Gengyin.”
“I am also Gengyin, born in the first month.” Shen Qingyue looked at her in a daze. “You are truly beautiful.”
Jing Xin smiled brightly. “Sister is the beautiful one. I just arrived in Yuping not long ago, and this is the first time I have seen someone as beautiful and skilled as you.”
Shen Qingyue became shy, then said indignantly, “You are already so beautiful yet still suffer abuse from that dog of a husband. It is infuriating.”
Jing Xin sighed softly. “My life is bitter. Let us not talk about that. Sister, that dagger at your waist is exquisite. Was it given to you by someone you admire?”
This dagger was a gift from Qin Wuheng when Shen Qingyue came of age at fifteen. With the original plot in mind, Jing Xin naturally used it as leverage.
Shen Qingyue blushed slightly. “Yes, it was a birthday gift from someone I like.”
“Then are you buying these ingredients to cook for him?”
Shen Qingyue hesitated, but years of caution made her nod.
Jing Xin’s eyes were clear and worried. “He is so fortunate. But it must be heavy carrying so many things. Does he not accompany you? If I had a sister like you, I would always stay by your side and help carry things. Doing everything together would be wonderful.”
She said softly, “I really envy him.”
This struck Shen Qingyue’s pain point.
Although these items were not for Qin Wuheng personally, they were still part of their shared plans. Over the years, she had trained in riding and archery countless times, often injured, yet Qin Wuheng was never there to support her. He had never once expressed concern. She had also carried heavy ingredients for pastries alone countless times.
Jing Xin said gently, “Sister, where do you live? I can have my maid send them for you.”
Shen Qingyue quickly declined.
The two of them spoke as though they had met too late in life, happily selecting ingredients while discussing recipes.
When it was time to part, Jing Xin said reluctantly, “I have always been forced to do things I do not like, and I have no family or friends. I am truly happy to have met you today. Sister, will we meet again?”
Shen Qingyue hesitated. “I have my own difficulties and cannot reveal where I live. But I often come to this shop. I will likely come every day for this period.”
“That is wonderful. Then we will meet again next time.”
Shen Qingyue also left reluctantly.
After returning to the magistrate’s residence, the convoy prepared to depart for Ping Mountain. Jing Xin had Shou Quan deliver the pastries she bought in the street to Qi Shen, while she drank iced rice wine in her carriage.
She was in a good mood. Since she could not directly approach Qin Wuheng, she could first approach Shen Qingyue.
A woman so devoted to love that she sacrificed everything for it, only to end up so tragically, was someone Jing Xin both wanted to slap and sympathized with.
If she could make Shen Qingyue persuade Qin Wuheng to stop, that would be ideal. After all, Qin Wuheng currently loved Shen Qingyue deeply.
Unfortunately, Jing Xin forgot that this body could not handle alcohol.
The original owner had a very low tolerance and could only drink half a cup of fruit wine. After half a jar of rice wine, Jing Xin was already drunk in the carriage.
When they arrived at Ping Mountain, Cang Ji hurried over to help her out, only to realize she had already passed out.
Qi Shen was not angry upon hearing this. Instead, he frowned slightly at Cang Ji and said, “Carry her to my residence. Do I need to instruct you for everything?”
Cang Ji quickly called several eunuchs to help.
Seeing they were struggling, Qi Shen stepped forward with a frown, pulled Jing Xin into his arms, and carried her himself.
Chang Huan had already placed a veil over her face, so although her features were not visible, the surrounding nobles and officials all instinctively lowered their gazes.
Qin Wuheng led the way ahead as Qi Shen carried Jing Xin back to his room.