In the original book, to depict the Grand Princess’s extreme extravagance, it was written that she worried her consort might not be accustomed to the flavors of the capital and that the capital’s chefs might not make authentic Jiangnan cuisine. Thus, she recruited imperial chefs extensively from Jiangnan.
The Eldest Princess’s Residence forcibly conscripted 108 renowned chefs from Jiangnan and brought them to the capital, stirring widespread public resentment. It was only after the consort’s persuasion that they were released and sent back.
The chef surnamed Gui currently in the Eldest Princess’s Residence was the most skilled among those 108 renowned chefs, selected through a rigorous process. He was specifically reserved to serve whenever the consort visited the Eldest Princess’s Residence.
However, the consort rarely visited, leaving Chef Gui with little opportunity to showcase his skills. He spent his days idling in the Eldest Princess’s Residence, almost growing mold from boredom. Unexpectedly, by chance, he could now be put to use for Shen He.
Since Shen He enjoyed the food, Su Fengyi decided not to order dish by dish and instructed:
“Wutong, have the kitchen prepare a full Jiangnan Eighteen Banquet, along with a pot of rose dew.”
The Jiangnan Eighteen Banquet consisted of eighteen famous Jiangnan pastries named after flowers from the four seasons. The preparation was complex, and the presentation was extravagant, typically reserved for grand feasts and not something ordinary chefs would undertake.
Shen He’s eyes lit up even more, his anticipation practically overflowing, his face beaming with excitement—so good, so good, so amazing!
He truly couldn’t hide his emotions at all, like a little child. Su Fengyi found it amusing:
“Are there no chefs in Xuanfu who can make Jiangnan pastries? You’re craving them this much?”
With food in front of him, Shen He immediately calmed down. His tone was no longer sharp or sarcastic, and his previous disagreements with Su Fengyi were automatically set aside. He said cheerfully:
“There are, there are! In Xuanfu, there’s an Old Yu who makes pastries like no other, on par with the skills of the chef in your residence.
However, Old Yu specializes in banquets for weddings and funerals. To taste his pastries, you have to wait for such an occasion. Next time there’s an opportunity, I’ll take you to sample them.”
In a remote place like Xuanfu, the only weddings or funerals bold enough to invite the Grand Princess would be those of the general’s funeral or wedding.
Shen He might not have thought this deeply when he casually mentioned it, and Su Fengyi simply listened casually, replying with a smile:
“Sure, sure, definitely, definitely.”
Taking someone’s generosity and eating their food makes one feel obliged. Shen He felt that since he had eaten Su Fengyi’s food, he should do some work.
Thus, he squeezed himself next to Shen Quan:
“Brother, move over, make some room for me.”
Ignoring Shen Quan’s stern, disapproving gaze, Shen He pushed him aside and carefully examined the spot Su Fengyi had pointed to on the map, commenting:
“Let me see, let me see. Grand Princess, where do you want to raid? Goddess Lake? Wow, that’s far. What’s there?
The Northern Barbarians are so vast. Why not raid somewhere else? Why specifically go there?”
Su Fengyi tapped the western shore of Goddess Lake and smiled:
“Although the Northern Barbarians are vast, this place is extraordinary. It is both the location of the Northern Barbarians’ sacred altar and the Royal Court of the Little Prince of the Northern Barbarians. Moreover…”
Before she could finish, Shen He was already greatly astonished:
“My heavens, how do you even know this? Where did you get this information? When did you receive it?
Grand Princess, you truly dare to think big! You’re planning to strike at the Little Prince of the Northern Barbarians’ lair! Ambitious, innovative, and bold. Usually, it’s the Northern Barbarians who raid us, but you’re turning the tables and planning to raid them.
However, I must say, it sounds great in theory, but it’s a bit idealistic. We’d be mobilizing troops and exerting great effort for this journey, and it might end up being a completely losing venture.”
Do you know what the hardest part about fighting the Northern Barbarians is? It’s finding where their main forces are located across the vast grasslands, deserts, and mountain ranges.
The Royal Court of the Northern Barbarians is a tent, not a city—it moves. Today it might be at Shennü Lake, tomorrow it could be at Yanzhi Mountain. Do you think they’d just wait there for us?
Besides, I’ve been to the Royal Court of the Northern Barbarians. It’s poor, and the food is a mess—what’s there to plunder…”
Before Su Fengyi could finish a single sentence, Shen He rattled off dozens of words without pause, like a machine gun, making Su Fengyi’s head buzz with irritation.
Before Su Fengyi could say anything, Shen Quan roared first:
“Shen Kezheng, this is the third time! If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll break your legs!”
Shen Quan’s legs were inconvenient, so since he couldn’t use his feet, he used his hands. He grabbed a brush from the study desk and aimed to strike Shen He’s face with the brush handle.
As for Shen He, he hadn’t said enough yet and had no intention of stopping. He dodged to the other side of the desk, grabbed another brush to block Shen Quan’s attack, and shook his head triumphantly, saying:
“I won’t stop! What’s there that can’t be said?
I wonder whose leg is broken—not worrying about treating their own leg properly but instead worrying about mine.
If you have the guts to worry about it, do you have the guts to stand up?
If you have the ability, stand up and hit me!”
…
The two Shen brothers bickered and fought like children, leaving Su Fengyi utterly astonished.
This Shen He was a bit too lively—so lively that he was noisy—and bore no resemblance to the Shen He she had read about in the original book.
In the original book, Shen He, burdened with the blood feud of his brother, was a taciturn, obsessive, gloomy, and bloodthirsty killing god.
In just these few minutes, she had heard Shen He speak more words than all his lines in the entire original book.
Suffering makes people grow; not growing makes people happy.
So, the Shen He Su Fengyi saw now was a lively, talkative young Shen He who hadn’t yet had the chance to become obsessive or turn into a killing god.
Seeing such a cheerful and vibrant young man alive before her eyes, a strange sense of joy welled up in her heart.
This joy came from knowing that someone’s fate had changed because of her.
Su Fengyi truly hoped this young man could remain this happy and straightforward forever, never wanting him to become “gloomy” or “obsessive” again.
Su Fengyi couldn’t help but smile:
“It’s fine. The Royal Court of the Northern Barbarians—there’s nowhere we can’t go.
When I say the Royal Court of the Northern Barbarians is on the western shore of Shennü Lake, I have my own reliable sources of information. You two generals can rest assured.
Moreover, on the western shore of Shennü Lake, not only is there the Royal Court of the Northern Barbarians, but also the Northern Barbarians’ sacred altar. Beneath the altar, there’s a tunnel leading directly to the underground palace of Shennü Lake.
The underground palace was built by skilled craftsmen captured from our Central Plains when the previous dynasty fell.
Inside the underground palace, there are countless treasures—far more than just millions—plundered by the Northern Barbarian royal family when the previous dynasty’s royal family fled.”
Shen He dodged Shen Quan’s attack, leaped onto a roof beam, made a face at Shen Quan, and laughed loudly at Su Fengyi:
“Really? Grand Princess, you’re too amazing! How do you know such top-secret information? What Secret Treasure? Have you read too many storybooks? Do you actually believe such deceptive nonsense?
I think it’s more likely that the Little Prince of the Northern Barbarians deliberately spread this rumor to trick the four great kings of the Northern Barbarians, especially the Left Wise King, luring him to the underground palace of Shennü Lake to search for some Secret Treasure, only to trap him like a turtle in a jar…”
Shen He’s suspicion was reasonable, even more credible from a logical standpoint than what Su Fengyi had said.
The idea of a Secret Treasure might be unbelievable elsewhere.
But Su Fengyi had transmigrated into a male-oriented novel. In such stories, leveling up, fighting monsters, and looting equipment were the norm. Having treasures in a male-oriented novel was perfectly normal—it would be strange if there weren’t any.
In the original book, the male lead’s process of obtaining the Northern Barbarians’ Secret Treasure spanned several chapters. When Su Fengyi read it, she paid close attention and memorized the details. She didn’t just know about it—she could even draw a map of the underground palace.
Since Shen He didn’t believe her, Su Fengyi dropped a bombshell:
“Not only do I know what the Secret Treasure contains, but I also know that you and the Little Prince of the Northern Barbarians are old acquaintances. You often interact and have even shared drinks and meals together.”