Su Fengyi wanted to flee immediately after snatching the prisoner, but someone was not pleased.
The first to object was naturally Eunuch Gao, who had been ordered by the Factory Overseer to oversee the execution. Having lost the prisoner, he could not fulfill his duty.
If the Factory Overseer demanded his death today, how could he wait until tomorrow?
If Shen Quan left alive today, Eunuch Gao’s own life would be in jeopardy.
Shen Quan must die!
With a bruised and swollen face, Eunuch Gao led the guards supervising the execution to block the exit, shouting fiercely:
“How dare you! This is a death row prisoner—who dares to rescue him?”
Having just been beaten, he still hadn’t learned his lesson.
Let it be repeated: when the people of the Eldest Princess’s Residence act, they are domineering, arrogant, and unreasonable. They listen to no one but the Grand Princess.
Without Su Fengyi even needing to lift a finger, Xie Xuan gave a single glance, and the residence guards swarmed forward, giving these audacious eunuchs and guards who dared block the way another thorough beating.
As Su Fengyi rode back to the residence, she heard only the continuous wails and pleas for mercy from the eunuchs behind her. Not a single shout or curse could be heard anymore.
…
Su Fengyi had never intended to conceal today’s prisoner rescue. With hundreds of people coming and going, it would have been impossible to hide even if she tried.
Thus, the event was grand and conspicuous, causing quite a stir.
In the capital, sensible households naturally shut their doors and windows. The bolder ones, at most, peeked through cracks in doors, windows, or corners to watch the spectacle. No one dared to intervene.
Su Fengyi led the way on horseback, with Xie Xuan following closely behind. He reported:
“Your Highness, someone is following us.”
“Who?”
“Judging by the footsteps, it’s Young General Shen.”
Su Fengyi glanced around. Every household’s doors were tightly shut, and whether looking up at the sky or down at the ground, in every corner, on rooftops or street corners, she couldn’t spot Shen He anywhere.
If even she couldn’t see him, it would be even more impossible for an ordinary person to distinguish the footsteps of one pursuer amidst the noise of hundreds of people, horses, and carriages.
But Xie Xuan was no ordinary person.
Xie Xuan, courtesy name Shaocheng, was twenty-five years old.
He was originally the youngest battalion commander in the Imperial Guard and a distant relative of the Late Empress’s maternal clan.
In terms of seniority, he could be considered Su Fengyi’s distant cousin. The Late Emperor had specifically transferred him to protect her before his passing.
Xie Xuan had served the Grand Princess for six years. His loyalty was unquestionable, and his professional skills were exceptional.
As an Imperial Guard, his work involved espionage—concealment, disguise, the use of poisons and medicines, tracking and counter-tracking, investigation, and interrogation. Xie Xuan was a master in all these areas.
For Su Fengyi, Shen He following them was truly excellent news!
She wasn’t afraid of him coming; she was afraid he wouldn’t. If he had run off with that wild man, the male lead, she would have been truly troubled.
Thus, Su Fengyi smiled and said, “Ignore him. Return to the residence quickly.”
Upon returning to the princess’s residence, Wutong approached with an expression of having failed in her task, reporting:
“The Factory Overseer’s concubine fell ill yesterday. The Nine Thousand Year’s Residence summoned all the skilled physicians from Vermilion Bird Street and hasn’t released them yet today.
Fortunately, Divine Physician Liao went to offer incense yesterday and returned late, so he wasn’t encountered by the Factory Overseer’s household. Thus, we were able to invite Divine Physician Liao, along with the remaining physicians, barely managing to gather five or six.
Worried that this wouldn’t be enough and might delay Your Highness’s affairs, I took the liberty of inviting several imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau who were not on duty today, adding another seven or eight.
Since I didn’t know which esteemed guest needed treatment, and if it were a female guest, it might be inconvenient, I went to Willow Apricot Lane and invited several skilled female physicians specializing in pediatrics and gynecology…”
Su Fengyi had Wutong hire eight or ten physicians, but Wutong took no shortcuts. She dispatched over a dozen servants to scour the capital for doctors, ultimately bringing back thirty-two physicians for Su Fengyi to screen.
Among these thirty-two, each had their own specialty—some treated headaches, others examined legs, some cleared internal heat, and others managed secret bedroom remedies. The variety was extensive, covering every need. Even if General Shen were to give birth, they could handle it.
Because the Grand Princess often acted on whims, Wutong had instinctively mastered the strategy of casting a wide net. For instance, this time, since she didn’t know what kind of physician the Grand Princess wanted, she simply brought back every type for the Grand Princess to choose from, figuring one was bound to be right.
Wutong was truly an excellent employee—thoughtful, meticulous, and never causing her employer trouble. No wonder she had become the Grand Princess’s personal maid.
Su Fengyi nodded in satisfaction:
“Arrange for General Shen to stay in the west wing of my bedchamber. Ask which physician specializes in orthopedic injuries and treat his external wounds first.
Have the other physicians examine him as well, and address any ailments they find. Whatever medicinal ingredients are needed, take them directly from the storeroom. If the storeroom doesn’t have them, go out and buy them—spare no expense, but ensure he is fully healed.
Also, assign some clean, steady-handed maids to attend to him exclusively. Keep a close watch and make sure there is no neglect or perfunctoriness.”
Though she had rescued him, the matter was far from over. An act as significant as breaking someone out of prison required a plausible pretext.
Su Fengyi decided to leverage the Grand Princess’s notorious reputation. By housing him in her own bedchamber, she would have an explanation ready if the Emperor investigated.
The Grand Princess had stormed the execution ground for General Shen, scoured the city for physicians on his behalf, and now General Shen was residing in her bedchamber.
Once these physicians spread this royal scandal, everyone in the capital would know that the Grand Princess and General Shen shared an extraordinary relationship.
After receiving her orders, Wutong went to make the arrangements. Soon after, she relayed the physicians’ opinions:
“General Shen is severely injured with many wounds, but fortunately, his constitution is strong. His life is not in danger. With some time to recuperate, he will recover. Your Highness need not worry.”
If his life was not in danger, what about the rest?
Su Fengyi was still concerned about Shen Quan’s leg and pressed further:
“What about his leg? How is it? Will it affect his ability to walk? Will it affect his ability to lead troops?”
Wutong had stayed by the physicians’ side during the diagnosis, asking detailed questions, so she knew the answers immediately:
“Divine Physician Liao says the injury is to the flesh and skin, not the bone. With some time and careful recuperation, it will heal fully.”
A heavy weight lifted from Su Fengyi’s heart, and she felt relieved.
She planned to enter the palace to seek an edict from the Emperor to properly conclude today’s events, but she worried that in her absence, the Eastern Depot might come to seize him again, and the others in the Grand Princess’s residence would be unable to handle the situation.
Just as Su Fengyi was hesitating, Xie Xuan came to report:
“Your Highness, Eunuch Gao has surrounded the princess’s residence with his men.”
“Perfect timing!”
Su Fengyi was truly fond of Eunuch Gao. She had been wondering where to find a chicken to slaughter as a warning to the monkeys, and here was Eunuch Gao rushing to his death.
How splendid!
Since he dared to come, she would ensure he never returned!
…
Eunuch Gao was the newly adopted godson of the Factory Overseer, the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old, and was currently at the peak of his favor. On ordinary days, which imperial relative or minister did not treat him with courtesy and trepidation?
Who would have thought he would suffer such humiliation today? Not only had he failed in his mission, but he had also been beaten!
And beaten not just once, but twice!
Eunuch Gao was not one to let things go easily. He summoned over a thousand men from the Eastern Depot, surrounding the princess’s residence, determined to find Shen Quan, ransack the estate, and vent his fury.
What of the Grand Princess? A mere imperial relative with an empty title and no real power—how dare she challenge the Eastern Depot?
Hadn’t plenty of imperial relatives been tortured to death in the Eastern Depot’s prison?
How dare you strike this eunuch! Hmph, today I will make sure you meet your end!
Eunuch Gao sharpened his metaphorical knives, ordering the commanding officer to lead his men into the princess’s residence to search for the fugitive.
Xie Xuan would never allow such insolence. Following the Grand Princess’s orders, he led the estate guards to stand before the main gate, his embroidered spring blade already drawn from its sheath.