The woman kept gasping in astonishment. Shen Suifeng struggled to keep his expression neutral until she finally left. Then he turned to Feng Lezhen with a not-quite-smile. “Stepmother, care to explain?”
“When you’re out and about, your identity is what you say it is,” Feng Lezhen said matter-of-factly.
“So the identity you gave yourself… is my stepmother?” Shen Suifeng raised an eyebrow.
“I couldn’t very well say I’m the Eldest Princess of Hengkang, could I?” she countered.
Shen Suifeng laughed in disbelief. “So you can’t say you’re the Eldest Princess, but it’s fine to say you’re my stepmother? That whole story about my father falling for you at first sight and bringing me into your household… My father was already dead when you were still a child. If he knew you were dragging his name into nonsense like this, he might just come back from the grave.”
“Well, as long as you don’t say anything, who’s going to know your father’s dead?” Feng Lezhen said as if it were obvious. “You’re a grown man. Don’t be so petty.”
“So it’s my fault now.” Shen Suifeng shot her a sideways glance.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “Did you find out anything in the village?”
“Whatever I learned, I’m sure Her Highness already heard from that lady,” Shen Suifeng folded his arms. “We went the wrong way. It was supposed to take five days to reach Zhen’an. Now it’ll take seven or eight—assuming your injury doesn’t slow us down.”
“It won’t,” Feng Lezhen replied immediately.
“It will,” Shen Suifeng said.
Feng Lezhen scowled. “I said it won’t, so it won’t.”
Shen Suifeng leaned in slightly, suddenly closing the distance between them. Feng Lezhen met his intense gaze, unmoving.
“It will,” he said again.
“…”
Without another word, Shen Suifeng made to pick her up. Feng Lezhen saw what he intended and suddenly grabbed his outstretched hand. He paused, eyes falling on her slender fingers.
“I’m your stepmother now. Mind your manners,” Feng Lezhen said with a kindly smile.
Shen Suifeng: “……”
Given the “stepmother-stepson” relationship, it wasn’t appropriate to be too close, so he could only support her as they walked toward the village. By the time they reached the old man’s doorstep, Feng Lezhen already had sweat beading on the tip of her nose.
“You can barely walk a few steps and still think you can travel day and night?” Shen Suifeng bluntly exposed her.
Feng Lezhen acted as though she hadn’t heard him.
“Old man, we’re here.” Shen Suifeng suddenly raised his voice, his eyes glancing at her with a hint of a smile.
Feng Lezhen ignored his gaze, simply nodding politely when the old man he mentioned appeared.
The old man was startled when he saw her. After a beat, he exclaimed, “You two siblings are both so good-looking!”
Siblings? Feng Lezhen leisurely turned to look at Shen Suifeng.
Unfazed, Shen Suifeng said, “Sorry, sir, I lied earlier. She’s not my sister.”
“I’m his stepmother,” Feng Lezhen followed up calmly.
“My father fell in love with her at first sight, so he brought me into her household as a live-in son-in-law,” Shen Suifeng added.
“Maybe he was too ashamed to admit that his stepmother is a year younger than him, so he didn’t tell the truth,” Feng Lezhen continued.
Shen Suifeng sighed, “I’m at that age where saving face matters.”
“I’m sure you can understand, can’t you, sir?” Feng Lezhen added, even more gently.
The old man looked confused, taking a while before stammering out, “You two… just call me Old Li. The food’s ready—come in and eat.”
He said it like he was fleeing, hurrying inside with his cane like there were dogs chasing him.
“How did you convince him to take in two strangers with unknown backgrounds?” Feng Lezhen asked.
“I have my ways.”
As Shen Suifeng spoke, he extended his hand to her.
Feng Lezhen curled her lips slightly and placed her hand in his, using his support to step over the worn wooden threshold.
Just as Old Li had said, the short table in the courtyard was already set with food. But the spread… Shen Suifeng instinctively glanced at Feng Lezhen, only to see her calmly walk over, sit down, and nod her thanks to Old Li.
“It’s just plain fare—hope you two don’t mind.” Perhaps because Feng Lezhen carried an unmistakable air of nobility, Old Li looked visibly uneasy in her presence.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “Why would we? That you’d offer even a simple meal is kindness we’re grateful for.”
With that, she picked up a pair of chopsticks blackened from repeated use.
Shen Suifeng had thought she was only being polite. After all, even he—who was used to roughing it—found the food hard to stomach. But to his surprise, she actually reached toward the plate of wild vegetables. He instinctively stopped her and, when Old Li wasn’t looking, quickly tested the food with a silver needle.
“Mister Shen is truly cautious,” Feng Lezhen praised.
Shen Suifeng lowered his voice, speaking so only they could hear. “No choice. Miss Ah Ye said if anything happens to you, she’ll slaughter her way into the Shen household and wipe out our entire ancestral record.”
Feng Lezhen smiled. “She’s definitely someone who keeps her word.”
“Exactly,” Shen Suifeng said, half-smiling. “Which is why I must serve Your Highness to the best of my ability.”
Feng Lezhen chuckled soundlessly and began eating the wild vegetables with wild vegetable soup.
Seeing her eat so seriously, Old Li even asked, “Is it enough?”
“It’s enough,” Feng Lezhen looked at him. “But I’d really like some rice or noodles. Do you have any? I’d like to buy some.”
Shen Suifeng paused and turned toward Old Li.
Old Li smiled. “All we have is this.”
“Just this?” Feng Lezhen’s eyes slowly swept across the courtyard walls and paved ground. “Your house has a couple of tiled rooms—better than many others in the village. Surely you can spare a bowl of noodles?”
Old Li mumbled, “The house was built years ago. Now… we really don’t have much left.”
“What about the other families?” Feng Lezhen pressed.
Shen Suifeng couldn’t take it anymore and sighed. “If you really can’t stomach this, then don’t eat. I’ll go see if there’s anything edible nearby.”
Feng Lezhen glanced at him but didn’t respond. Old Li looked awkward, coughed a few times, and excused himself into the house.
Once he was gone, the smile faded a little from Shen Suifeng’s face. “Not everyone’s born into luxury. If you don’t want to eat it, that’s fine. But there’s no need to make others uncomfortable.”
Feng Lezhen gave him a sideways glance. “You talk too much.”
With that, she resumed eating. Shen Suifeng tugged at the corner of his lips but said nothing more.
After the meal, Old Li took the initiative to clear the dishes. Shen Suifeng tried to help but was waved off. Feng Lezhen sat calmly in the courtyard, watching them jostle for space in the cramped kitchen, showing no intent of getting involved.
When Shen Suifeng finally emerged, he saw her leaning against the doorpost with her eyes closed, sunbathing. Quiet and relaxed, she seemed to shed her earlier cold aloofness.
“You’re blocking my sun,” she said suddenly.
…Of course, the peaceful act was just an illusion. Shen Suifeng stepped aside to avoid interfering with the noble Eldest Princess’s sunbath. “The old man’s agreed to let us stay for two days.”
Feng Lezhen opened her eyes.
“The wound on your leg isn’t major, but it’s not minor either. If you don’t rest and keep pushing ahead, I fear your bones might start grinding together before we even reach Zhen’an—”
“Fine.”
Shen Suifeng blinked. “What?”
“Two days of rest,” she said.
Shen Suifeng looked slightly surprised. “You’re agreeing?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Feng Lezhen asked in return.
“Aren’t you in a hurry to reunite with Miss Ah Ye and the others?”
“It’s not that rushed, we can’t afford a day or two,” Feng Lezhen replied.
Shen Suifeng smiled. “You’re not worried about them?”
“Would worrying help?” Feng Lezhen lifted her eyes. “If nothing happened, there’s no need to worry. If something did…”
What if something did happen? Shen Suifeng looked at her.
“There won’t be,” Feng Lezhen said flatly.
Shen Suifeng curved his lips into a smile. “Then isn’t Your Highness worried that if we delay here for two days, pursuers might catch up?”
“Feng Ji chose to make his move on a deserted road precisely because he didn’t want it to be known. Now that we’re among people, given his personality, he won’t pursue.” Feng Lezhen understood her younger brother well enough—he wouldn’t even let a flimsy false accusation slide, let alone risk handing his enemies such a clear handle. From the moment they arrived in this village, they were essentially safe.
Shen Suifeng nodded. “So that means we’re in the clear now… Then Your Highness can continue basking in the sun. This old man will go tidy up the side room. Once it’s ready, you can take a nap. If there’s anything that needs doing, just leave it to this old man.”
“Where are you going?” This time, it was Feng Lezhen’s turn to ask.
Shen Suifeng looked into her eyes and chuckled lightly. “Afraid I’ll abandon you?”
“It’s ready,” Old Li called out from the side room.
Feng Lezhen stood up and thanked him, then headed over to the side room, completely ignoring Shen Suifeng’s last remark.
“Truly hard to get along with,” Shen Suifeng sighed.
Feng Lezhen acted as if she hadn’t heard, and slowly made her way into the side room.
The room wasn’t small. The bed and furniture were old, but at least clean. She slowly approached the bed, hissing in pain as she lifted her leg onto it. By the time she laid down, a sheen of sweat had already formed.
She quietly stared up at the pitch-black beams above, her mind seemingly blank, and yet somehow filled with countless thoughts. Gradually, her eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
To leave the city smoothly, she had gotten up before dawn, traveled for nearly two hours, then was suddenly attacked and had to flee for her life. It wasn’t until now that she could finally rest. Though the light made her sleep less than sound, she still managed to doze off on and off.
By the time she woke up, the sky outside had already dimmed to a dusky yellow, and the room had cooled somewhat.
From the courtyard came the occasional sound of a large broom sweeping the ground. She laid there a while longer before finally getting up and heading outside.
“You’re awake?” Old Li greeted her with a kindly nod.
Feng Lezhen glanced around, but didn’t see Shen Suifeng anywhere.
“Looking for your… stepson?” Old Li struggled a bit to say the word “stepson” while looking at her youthful face.
Feng Lezhen nodded gently. “Where is he?”
“At the entrance of the village. If you want to find him, just follow the path east,” Old Li said, pointing the way.
Feng Lezhen nodded, then glanced at the broom in his hand. “You’re walking without a cane—are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Doctor Shen gave me acupuncture, so my leg doesn’t hurt much anymore,” Old Li answered.
Feng Lezhen nodded. “Then let me borrow your cane.”
Old Li: “…”
“Thank you, Elder,” Feng Lezhen added.
—
Fifteen minutes later, Feng Lezhen slowly made her way to the village entrance using the cane.
Before she even found Shen Suifeng, she saw a long line of people ahead. Among them was the friendly auntie who had chatted with her earlier.
The woman spotted her and immediately called out happily, “Girl, over here!”
Feng Lezhen smiled wordlessly and walked over slowly.
“Oh dear, what am I saying—you’re already married, aren’t you? I shouldn’t be calling you ‘girl,’ should I?” the auntie laughed.
Feng Lezhen thought for a moment. “You can just call me AhTao.”
“Tao? As in peach?” the auntie asked.
Feng Lezhen: “As in the ‘Tao’ from the line, ‘Qie Tao Tao, le jin tian zhen’ (Carefree and joyful, full of innocence).”
“Which Tao?” The auntie blinked innocently.
Feng Lezhen was momentarily speechless. “The Tao that’s used as a surname.”
“Ohhh, that one!” The auntie finally understood.
Feng Lezhen changed the subject. “What are you all lining up for?”
“You don’t know?” The auntie looked mysterious, and a little surprised. “You really don’t know?”
Feng Lezhen stared at her for a moment, then smiled. “It’s Shen Suifeng, right? He’s holding a clinic?”
“Exactly! Doctor Shen! I thought as his stepmother, there’s no way you wouldn’t know what he’s up to.” The auntie patted her on the shoulder with enthusiasm.
Feng Lezhen nearly buckled from the slap, forcing out a stiff smile as she subtly moved two steps away.
The auntie continued to gush, “Doctor Shen is truly remarkable. With just a few needles, he cleared up the cough Old Li had for decades, and he even helped reconnect Little Li’s grandson’s broken bone. And now that word’s spread he’s doing free consultations at the village entrance, all of us have come hoping he’ll treat our ailments too.”
As she spoke, a burst of grateful sobbing broke out at the front of the line. Everyone craned their necks to look, and saw a woman tearfully hugging her child as she left. The child in her arms was wailing loudly, his face flushed red.
“Wasn’t her child mute? He can cry now?”
“Doctor Shen really is a miracle worker. If he can cure a mute child, maybe he can fix my leg that’s been bad for years.”
The crowd buzzed with chatter and slowly shuffled forward. Feng Lezhen, leaning on her cane, simply joined the line too.
The auntie, seeing her stand beside her, resumed chatting. “It’s still pretty warm out—aren’t you hot in those clothes?”
Feng Lezhen paused and glanced down at the obviously oversized coat she was wearing. “Not hot.”
“How could you not be hot? Just take off your outer robe. Here in the countryside, we don’t stand on ceremony. No need to be all proper and buttoned up.” As she spoke, she really did reach out, trying to help her undress.
Feng Lezhen raised her hand to stop her. “Really, I’m not hot.”
“But…” The aunt still wanted to say more, but when she looked up and met those cold, indifferent eyes, she faltered. “W-Well, if you’re not hot, just leave it on.”
Feng Lezhen smiled faintly and silently tightened the belt of the robe a little more.
Wearing Chen Jinan’s clothes on her body did look a bit mismatched, but her own dress was stained with blood and needed to be covered. The aunt had also noticed the ill-fitting clothes but didn’t dare mention it for some reason. Feng Lezhen noticed her discomfort and casually changed the subject. Sure enough, the aunt’s attention was drawn away and she became just as chatty as before.
The line for the medical consultation continued to move along in an orderly fashion. Feng Lezhen followed slowly at the end, but because of the people in front, she never caught sight of Shen Suifeng.
“Doctor, I don’t have money for medicine,” a man said anxiously after Shen had taken his pulse.
“It’s just ordinary heat. Drink more warm water, and you’ll be fine. No need for medicine.” Shen Suifeng didn’t even look up as he gave his diagnosis. After the man left, he added, “Everyone wait a moment, I need a short break.”
Before he even finished speaking, someone sat down in front of him and extended their hand.
A delicate, soft hand with beautifully painted nails.
Shen Suifeng, still drinking his water, didn’t even lift his head. “Who’s making trouble?”
“I waited in line like everyone else,” Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow slightly.
Shen Suifeng smiled. “You’re not like them. Even if you line up, you have to pay.”
“Dr. Shen really is a man of principle,” she said mockingly, then added, “Just put it on my tab.”
Seeing she was serious, a faint smile rose in Shen Suifeng’s eyes. He tapped her wrist perfunctorily with his fingertips. “Your leg is injured. Don’t move around too much. There’s a stool over there. If you’re bored, sit and wait. Don’t hold up the others.”
“Dr. Shen really is a divine physician—just two taps and you can tell I’ve hurt my leg,” Feng Lezhen said, then got up and sat next to him.
After resting, Mr. Shen gestured for the villagers to continue lining up. When someone sat down, he glanced at her crutch. “I didn’t need to tap—it’s obvious.”
Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow slightly but pretended not to hear.
Shen Suifeng continued seeing patients. When he encountered difficult or argumentative ones, his temper was even fiercer than theirs. But with timid and anxious ones, he would speak gently and comfort them. His expressions changed constantly, and he seemed entirely different from the person Feng Lezhen usually knew.
This was the Shen Suifeng of the countryside. Compared to the sharp-tongued and hard-to-please Mr. Shen who treated nobles in the capital, he seemed softer, less severe. It was Feng Lezhen’s first time seeing this side of him, so she took a few more glances.
After sending off another villager, Shen Suifeng couldn’t help but turn his head. “Am I nice to look at?”
“Very nice,” Feng Lezhen replied calmly.
“How nice?”
“So nice I’m stunned.”
It was a familiar phrase. But whereas she had asked him that question before, now she was using it to answer him. Shen Suifeng paused as he looked at her elegant and noble features, just about to speak—when he noticed the shocked expressions of the people opposite.
…Given that they were supposed to be stepmother and stepson, this conversation did sound a bit strange.
Shen Suifeng composed himself and resumed his consultations, while Feng Lezhen behaved herself and quietly waited at his side.
Once the last villager had left, Shen Suifeng stood up and stretched, then turned to the absentminded Feng Lezhen. “Does Your Highness want me to support you back, or are you walking on your own?”
Feng Lezhen snapped out of her thoughts and looked into his eyes. “You’ve been treating patients all afternoon. Do you know what ailment appeared most frequently?”
“Pain in the wrists, knees, and lower back,” Shen Suifeng answered.
She nodded. “All common pains among farmers. What about the second most common?”
“Deficiency syndromes—due to poor diet or malabsorption. Most of the villagers here suffer from the former,” he replied.
Feng Lezhen fell silent for a moment. “How can there be malnourished people in a time of peace and prosperity?”
Shen Suifeng chuckled. “Even in peaceful times, people suffering from poor nutrition are everywhere. Your Highness stays in the capital all year, lives in the finest houses, eats the best food, and sees nothing but nobility. It’s normal not to know these things.”
She looked up at him, about to reply, when she noticed several furtive figures in the distance. Shen Suifeng had also seen them. Both fell silent and calmly turned to watch.
Seeing that they’d been noticed, the group hesitated, nudged each other nervously, then stepped forward. “We came to thank Dr. Shen. Thank you for treating us.”
Feng Lezhen saw they were a few young girls, blushing and shy, and immediately understood. She looked at Shen Suifeng with a smile.
He clearly was used to scenes like this and answered calmly, “You’re welcome. It’s simply my duty.”
“You didn’t even charge, how can you say it’s your duty?” one of the girls blurted out, then blushed and lowered her voice, “W-We just…”
“We just didn’t know how to thank you, so we thought of giving you a little something,” another added.
Shen Suifeng’s face remained unchanged. “This is a charitable clinic—I’m afraid I can’t accept gifts…”
“You want to give something?” Feng Lezhen suddenly interrupted.
The girls, knowing her identity, shyly nodded.
“Then do you have any flour? Rough rice would work too. You can give us that,” said Feng Lezhen.
Seeing she was bringing this up again, Shen Suifeng frowned.
“We… we don’t have that…” the girl’s voice softened.
Before Feng Lezhen could speak again, Shen Suifeng asked first, “What is it you want to give me?”
“This.” The girl, discouraged by Feng Lezhen’s questioning, carefully brought out a decorative knot (a luozi, a type of traditional ornament).
Shen Suifeng gently accepted it. “It’s very pretty. Thank you.”
The girls blushed even harder, then quickly found an excuse to leave—and once they were a distance away, burst into excited cheers.
Shen Suifeng was silent for a moment. He looked down and met Feng Lezhen’s gaze. “They’re that thirsty for me?”
“One household lacking rice or flour is one thing, but for this many to have nothing? That’s truly strange,” Feng Lezhen replied calmly.
“I’ll say it again,” Shen Suifeng pressed his fingers to his brow wearily, “even in times of peace and prosperity, there are always those who live in hardship. Not being able to offer rice or flour isn’t unusual. Please be patient, Your Highness. These people can’t even feed themselves—where would they get extra for you?”
Feng Lezhen tugged the corner of her lips and didn’t answer.
It was already dark when they returned to Old Li’s house, and the wild vegetable soup was ready.
Though she’d already promised Shen Suifeng, Feng Lezhen couldn’t help asking when she saw the soup, “There’s a small hill nearby, isn’t there? Did you gather the wild vegetables from there?”
“Yes, we all go there. The village even cleared some land on the hillside to plant sweet potatoes. In half a month, they should be ready to harvest,” Old Li explained, catching on to her dislike for wild greens. He offered cheerfully, “If you stay a few more days, I’ll make sweet potato cakes for you.”
Feng Lezhen replied, “No need. Wild vegetables are fine.”
…Why the sudden change of heart? Old Li looked confusedly at Shen Suifeng.
Shen Suifeng cleared his throat. “It’s getting late. You should rest, Elder. We’ll do the same.”
Old Li hesitated. “Mr. Shen, you’ll share a room with me, then.”
There was only one side room in the house, and the two were a stepson and stepmother close in age—clearly not appropriate to share a room.
“Thank you, Elder.” Shen Suifeng didn’t refuse.
Feng Lezhen lowered her gaze, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and began eating. Shen Suifeng watched her calmly swallow the sour wild greens, his eyes flickering slightly.
After dinner, Feng Lezhen returned to her room and lay down.
The countryside had bright sunshine during the day, warming the house throughout—but once night fell, the temperature dropped sharply, and the wind nearly froze the windowpanes. Feng Lezhen had drunk too much water during the day. Now, lying silently in bed and listening to the wind howl like ghosts outside, she couldn’t fall asleep at all.
There was no lamp inside, but the moonlight outside was bright enough that when Shen Suifeng’s silhouette appeared behind the paper window, she noticed immediately.
“What are you doing out there?” she asked.
Shen Suifeng leaned against the doorpost with arms crossed, looking up at the moon. “Keeping watch over Your Highness.”
“No need. Go back,” Feng Lezhen said.
But Shen Suifeng didn’t move.
He’d been born into a merchant family, raised under the rigid hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—and yet he had little respect for such rules. Even so, he couldn’t deny that some people’s lives simply weighed more than others. If something were to happen to her, a whole household could be dragged down.
So he had to keep watch. At the very least, she couldn’t be allowed to meet trouble on his watch.
The wind grew fiercer. Unlike cities with tall walls and secure gates, the countryside was wide open. The gusts scraped past him, stealing away the last of his body heat. It only took a short while for Shen Suifeng’s hands and feet to go completely numb.
And he still had the whole night to endure.
He quietly pulled his coat tighter and was just about to find a small stool when the door creaked open behind him.
He turned—and saw Feng Lezhen standing there in nothing but her undergarments.
She still wore the same blood-stained inner trousers, and without Chen Jinan’s overcoat to cover her, she looked slender and fragile in her plain white garments.
Though there wasn’t a trace of embarrassment on her face, and her back remained perfectly straight, Shen Suifeng couldn’t help but feel she looked a bit pitiful.
“I need the latrine,” she said.
Shen Suifeng paused, then held out his hand. “Put your coat on. I’ll take you.”
Feng Lezhen went back, put on the coat, and returned. Seeing his hand still outstretched, she rested hers lightly on his wrist—only to feel an icy chill at her fingertips. She looked up at him briefly but said nothing, following him outside.
The village latrines were communal, one at each cardinal direction. The southern one was closest. Shen Suifeng supported her as they walked slowly, and even from a distance, the stench became overwhelming.
He hesitated. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
Feng Lezhen looked up in confusion.
“Just pick a spot. I’ll clean it up afterward,” Shen Suifeng said bluntly.
The corner of Feng Lezhen’s mouth twitched. “Not necessary.”
She released his wrist, gathered her robes, and walked toward the latrine.
Shen Suifeng followed anxiously. “Your Highness, do you know how to use a village latrine? If it’s too difficult, don’t force yourself. I know it goes against what you were taught growing up, but actually—”
“Shen Suifeng.” Feng Lezhen stopped.
He stopped as well.
“I’ve sat in imperial court on the late emperor’s knee since I was six, began touring counties on his behalf at eleven, and by twelve I had already set foot in over thirty counties and villages. What I’ve seen and heard may not be less than you,” she said calmly.
Her face was serene, her eyes full of moonlight. Even the foul latrine behind her suddenly seemed touched by sanctity.
Shen Suifeng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He joked weakly, “I was only worried Your Highness wouldn’t be used to the country latrine. I meant well. If you don’t mind, you could’ve just said so—no need to prove anything.”
Feng Lezhen stood quietly, gazing at him.
Understanding her silence, Shen Suifeng took a step back. “Please, Your Highness.”
Only then did Feng Lezhen continue on her way to the latrine.
Shen Suifeng sighed and turned to look at the moon again. He stood there until he heard footsteps behind him once more—and then he turned back and reached out his hand.
“Your Highness, you haven’t washed your hands yet,” said Feng Lezhen, frowning.
Shen Suifeng curved his lips. “We’ll wash them together once we get back.”
Only then did Feng Lezhen extend her hand. After walking with him for a bit, she suddenly laughed. “How wretched.”
Shen Suifeng chuckled silently, for some reason feeling in unusually good spirits.
When they returned to their lodgings and washed up, the last bit of warmth in their bodies was gone. Just as Feng Lezhen was about to go inside, she saw Shen Suifeng once again station himself at the doorpost. She paused, then spoke. “Go sleep.”
Shen Suifeng turned at her voice.
“There’s no need to stand guard now—we’re safe,” said Feng Lezhen, a faint smile flickering in her eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. And Ah Ye won’t come after your Shen clan in Nanhe to wipe out your family line.”
Shen Suifeng raised the corners of his lips. “Your Highness changes your tune with every breath. I don’t know which version to believe.”
“Go,” Feng Lezhen waved him off. “Don’t just stand there. You’re an eyesore.”
With that, she reached for the door to shut it. But Shen Suifeng reacted quickly, catching the door before it closed.
The sudden motion closed the distance between them in an instant—so close they could hear each other’s breathing and feel the faint warmth radiating from beneath thin clothes. Feng Lezhen looked up, and her nose accidentally brushed against the underside of his jaw.
Shen Suifeng froze for a moment, then silently stepped back.
The silence between them seemed to grow warmer, thick with something unreadable. Feng Lezhen’s expression remained calm as she asked directly, “Something else?”
Shen Suifeng smiled, adopting his usual nonchalant tone. “Hand me all the bloodstained clothes, Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen didn’t ask why. She simply shut the door.
Shen Suifeng assumed she had refused. Rubbing the nose that nearly got hit, he turned to resume his post—when the door opened again.
He looked over in confusion and saw Feng Lezhen, wrapped in Chen Jinan’s outer robe, handing over the bloodstained underpants and skirt.
Shen Suifeng paused, took them, and blurted, “Thanks.”
“For what, idiot?” Feng Lezhen couldn’t help sneering.
“…”
The door closed again—this time, for good. Left standing outside, Shen Suifeng remained silent for a while, then resignedly fetched water and began washing clothes for the dignified Eldest Princess.
The water freshly drawn from the well was still lukewarm, but by the time he had scrubbed out every trace of blood, it had turned ice-cold. His hands were red with cold as he wrung the garments dry and hung them in the courtyard. As he walked back, he glanced between Old Li’s sleeping room and Feng Lezhen’s side room, hesitated a moment, and ultimately returned to his spot at the doorpost to keep watch.
He disdained the rigid rules that divided people into high and low ranks and never aspired to be one of the elite. Yet there were people who, despite being born privileged, were also the sort who didn’t even know how to wash their own dirty clothes.
She might have been born braver than most, but that wasn’t reason enough for him to leave her unattended.
Inside the room, Feng Lezhen stared at the silhouette cast by moonlight on the paper window and finally drifted off to sleep only when the night was deep.
In rural homes, windows were covered with paper coated in glue. Their best feature was letting in light. But for someone like Feng Lezhen, who liked sleeping in complete darkness and occasionally liked to sleep in, this was no advantage.
At dawn, the sunlight poured into the room, making it bright as day. Though she was still quite sleepy, she was forced awake.
Since she was already up, there was no point lying down. She sat up, rubbing her sore arms from the hard bedding, and was just about to lift the blanket when she noticed a neatly folded set of clothes and undergarments by her pillow.
They’d been washed and dried in the night wind, now cold and crisp.
Feng Lezhen stared for a while, then picked them up.
The little courtyard that had been so bitterly cold last night was now warm and sunlit again, as though the wind had only howled through her dreams.
Old Li was slowly sweeping the yard. When he heard movement from the side room, he turned and saw Feng Lezhen stepping out with her long black hair draped loosely over her shoulders.
“Hungry? Food’s in the kitchen. I’ll bring it to you,” Old Li said with a smile.
“Where’s that useless stepson of mine?” Feng Lezhen asked.
“Mr. Shen left before sunrise. Said that if you asked, I should tell you to rest easy,” Old Li replied as he brought out a small basin of steamed sweet potatoes.
Feng Lezhen paused when she saw them. “Didn’t you say they wouldn’t be ready for another half month?”
“Mr. Shen is a great benefactor to us. Of course we can’t let his stepmother go hungry. This is a gift from the whole village,” Old Li said cheerfully.
The sweet potatoes were small—dozens of them barely filled the basin—clearly grown in poor soil.
Feng Lezhen stared at them for a moment and asked, “I recall you said yesterday these were grown in the hills?”
“Yes, we cleared land up there to plant them,” Old Li replied.
“Why not grow them in your own fields?”
“Our village doesn’t have any fields of our own. We’ve always raised poultry, cattle, and sheep, and traded them for grain. Life was decent until last year, when disease struck all our animals and we had to burn them all,” said Old Li with a laugh. “Miss, you look like someone from a noble family—perhaps you’ve never heard the saying: ‘Even a fortune in livestock counts for nothing if it’s covered in fur.’ That’s us in a nutshell.”
Feng Lezhen’s expression softened. “Since everything was burned, why not raise new ones?”
“Ah, young lady, you may not know—though we burned the livestock, it’s hard to guarantee the disease is gone. By experience, we need to wait three full years before raising new animals. So these few years, we’ve had to rely on savings and foraged food to get by. Life’s a bit tougher now, but if we can make it through this year, things will get better. When you come again, I’ll slaughter a chicken and butcher a sheep for you—no more wild vegetables,” Old Li explained.
Feng Lezhen picked up a small piece of sweet potato from the basin. “After the incident last year, you’ve been living off wild vegetables ever since?”
“Besides the money we lost, each family still had some savings left. Those have lasted until now, but they’re almost gone,” Old Li chuckled. “Once the sweet potatoes are harvested, we won’t have to worry about food for the winter. If we can just hang on for another half a year, we’ll be able to start raising poultry and livestock again.”
Feng Lezhen nodded. “I see.”
Remembering that he still had a bit of treasured white sugar at home, Old Li went inside to fetch it, leaving Feng Lezhen alone in the courtyard. She stared at the sweet potato for a while and was just about to put it down when a familiar robe and pair of boots appeared in her line of sight.
She paused, then placed the sweet potato back in the basin. Looking up, she met Shen Suifeng’s gaze as he returned from outside, carrying a chill with him. “Where did you go?”
“Your Highness, extend your hand.” Shen Suifeng stood with his hands behind his back, clearly holding something meant for her.
Feng Lezhen initially didn’t want to play along with his childish little games, but when she saw his shoulder dampened by dew, she still reached out her hand.
A heavy cloth bag dropped into her palm, pushing her hand down with its weight, and she quickly used her other hand to support it.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Open it and see,” Shen Suifeng replied.
Feng Lezhen placed the bag on her lap, untied the cord, and opened it— It was a bag of flour.
She lifted her eyes to look at him.
“Are you happy now?” Shen Suifeng asked.
Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow. “Not only happy—I’m quite moved. I feel like I should do something to repay you.”
“And what is it you want to do?” Shen Suifeng leaned in and looked into her eyes as he asked.
Feng Lezhen thought for a moment, then curled her lips into a smile. “How about offering myself to you?”
Shen Suifeng let out a laugh but hadn’t yet spoken when the sound of a jar falling to the ground suddenly rang out nearby.
Both of them turned their heads at the same time and saw Old Li standing in shock at the bedroom doorway, a jar rolling in circles on the ground by his feet, the little bit of white sugar inside tumbling along but luckily not spilling.
“Y-you two…” Old Li was still frozen in place.
Shen Suifeng quietly straightened up. “It’s not what you think…”
“This is… this is sinful!” Old Li sighed heavily.
Feng Lezhen: “…”
