Ah Ye and a few maids stayed in the main bedroom to tidy up, while the others went to check the other rooms. As the main quarters became increasingly livable, reports from the others started trickling in—
“The rooms are a bit rundown but at least there’s no draft.”
“Most of the bedrooms have underfloor heating. The workmanship isn’t great, but it’ll do.”
“There’s over a hundred jin of charcoal and two large stacks of firewood in the woodshed—should last Your Highness about a month.”
Feng Lezhen sat on the bed, wrapped in a quilt, warming herself by the fire. Only when the underfloor heating finally kicked in did she lazily open her mouth. “Split the bedrooms up, and divide the firewood and charcoal too. No need to leave everything for me alone.”
Ah Ye frowned immediately. “But if everyone uses it, this won’t even last three days. Better to save it all for…”
“Miss Ah Ye, just do as you’re told,” Shen Suifeng interrupted gently as he rubbed Feng Lezhen’s hands to warm them.
Ah Ye bit her lip but eventually lowered her head and left.
“Why do I feel like… she listens to you more than me now?” Feng Lezhen raised a suspicious brow.
Shen Suifeng chuckled. “She’s just too worried about Your Highness. Sometimes she needs someone beside her to remind her to think clearly.”
Feng Lezhen sighed. Lifting a corner of her quilt, she patted the spot beside her. Shen Suifeng raised his brows slightly, watching her.
“Not enough charcoal. Would Mr. Shen be willing to rough it with me for the night?” Her tone was lazy, half teasing.
Shen Suifeng looked troubled. “I come from a respectable family. Without proper betrothal rites, it’s… rather improper for me to stay overnight.”
“Then forget it. Goodbye.” Feng Lezhen immediately moved to pull the quilt back over herself.
But Shen Suifeng grinned and slipped right under. The corners of her lips curled upward though her expression feigned disgust. “You’re freezing. Don’t lean on me.”
“Your Highness, be reasonable. The bed’s this small—if we don’t lean against each other, one of us will fall off,” Shen Suifeng protested.
Feng Lezhen pulled the quilt tighter around him. “This bed’s exactly the same as the one I had as a child—small, indeed. Once the snow clears tomorrow, I’ll have Ah Ye go buy a bigger one.”
“Your Highness still hasn’t told me who that old acquaintance is.” Sharing a quilt, the two were close enough that when Shen Suifeng lowered his head, the tip of his nose brushed against her forehead.
Feng Lezhen tilted her head to meet his gaze, then smiled lightly after a moment. “You’ll find out in a few days.”
Shen Suifeng immediately realized she was deliberately keeping him in suspense, half exasperated, half amused.
The heavy snow fell for three straight days. Not a single official came to visit during that time. The grand gates of the Eldest Princess’s manor were deserted, looking even poorer than the home of an average wealthy household.
But inside the manor, it was lively. A group of people who’d grown up in the capital city got up before dawn every day to shovel snow. After two days, they finally cleared the courtyard enough to reveal its original appearance—
Which turned out to be even more run-down than before. Frankly, it looked better when covered by snow.
Ah Ye stared at the now fully exposed, dilapidated courtyard, furious after two days of hard work. She flung the broom aside and stormed off to find Feng Lezhen. “Your Highness! His Majesty is utterly heartless. How could he give you a wreck like this? Isn’t he afraid of divine retribution for treating his elder sister this way?!”
“Lower your voice. This isn’t the capital. If outsiders overhear and make trouble, even I won’t be able to protect you.” Feng Lezhen didn’t even lift her head as she focused on cutting window decorations.
Ah Ye frowned. “Let’s move. I’ll go check the streets and buy another residence.”
“This manor was personally bestowed by His Majesty. If we abandon it to buy another, wouldn’t that just give others an excuse to accuse us?” Feng Lezhen replied with a light laugh.
Ah Ye gritted her teeth. “Let them accuse. Better than living in this dump.”
“We’re not in the capital anymore. Best not to stir up trouble,” Feng Lezhen continued to persuade her.
“But…” Ah Ye still looked unwilling.
“Ah Ye,” Feng Lezhen finally set down her scissors and looked up, “if you really dislike it here that much, I can arrange for someone to send you back to the capital.”
Ah Ye froze. “Y-Your Highness… what do you mean?”
“Wanwan is all alone back in the capital trying to gather support. I do worry about her. If you return, you could help her,” Feng Lezhen said gently.
Ah Ye stared at her in stunned silence. After a long while, she finally came to her senses. “I’m not leaving! Even if I die, I won’t leave Your Highness!”
With that, she turned and ran out.
Feng Lezhen didn’t chase after her. The smile on her lips slowly faded.
Due to the lack of charcoal, the underfloor heating in the bedroom wasn’t very warm. Cold wind slipped in through the poorly sealed door, stealing what little warmth remained.
When Shen Suifeng came in, covered in snow, Feng Lezhen was still sitting at her dressing table, lost in thought, a sharp pair of scissors in her hand.
Not wanting to startle her, Shen Suifeng quietly approached and gently took the scissors away. Feng Lezhen snapped back to reality. Seeing it was him, she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why are you so cold?”
“Went out for a bit. What happened to Ah Ye? I saw her squatting in the hallway crying when I came in.”
“I scolded her,” Feng Lezhen replied simply, unwilling to elaborate.
Shen Suifeng, ever perceptive, quickly figured out what had happened. “She’s young… and holds you too dearly in her heart. It’s normal that she sometimes loses her temper.”
“But this isn’t the capital,” Feng Lezhen frowned. “I can’t indulge her the way I used to.”
“Take it slow. There’s no rush.” Shen Suifeng turned to leave. Feng Lezhen’s eyes shifted slightly but she didn’t stop him.
A quarter of an hour later, Ah Ye came in with reddened eyes. Feng Lezhen paid her no attention, focusing only on combing her hair in front of the mirror.
“Your Highness…” Ah Ye dawdled over to her side and gently tugged at her sleeve.
Feng Lezhen’s expression didn’t change. “Going back to the capital?”
“…No.” Ah Ye gave the same reply as before.
“Staying means hardship.” Feng Lezhen met her gaze through the mirror. “I don’t have that much time to constantly soothe you.”
Ah Ye gave a soft sob. “This servant isn’t afraid of hardship. I—I’ll be cautious with my words and actions from now on, and never act rashly again.”
Feng Lezhen’s expression softened. “I know. Whether it’s anger or impulsiveness, it’s all because you care for me. But I already told you, coming to Yingguan was a decision I made after careful thought. Whatever hardships or difficulties lie ahead, I am willing to face them. I blame no one.”
“…Yes.” Ah Ye took in her words, though she was still wiping her tears.
Feng Lezhen finally softened, turning to take her hand. “If you want to achieve great things, the first thing you must learn is endurance. You’re the one who will stay by my side to the end. If you keep wearing your emotions on your face and let others see through your thoughts and weaknesses so easily, how can that be good?”
“I’ll change,” Ah Ye said through tears.
“Alright, stop crying. Go wash your face. In a bit, I’ll have Jinan roast some sweet potatoes for you,” Feng Lezhen coaxed.
Ah Ye let out a whimper and burst into even louder sobs.
Feng Lezhen: “…”
They stayed in the residence for three days. All the charcoal was used up, and finally, the skies cleared.
At dawn on the fourth day, Shen Suifeng and Chen Jinan left with a group of men, only returning at midday with several carts of supplies. Ah Ye immediately rushed forward to inspect them. When she saw crates of charcoal and a large amount of food, she finally showed her first smile since arriving at Yingguan.
“When you went out, I thought the local merchants wouldn’t sell to you. I didn’t expect you to bring back this much!” she exclaimed excitedly.
Chen Jinan glanced at Shen Suifeng. “The local merchants did refuse to sell. It was Mr. Shen who took us to where the trade caravans gather, and we bought everything from a caravan under the Shen family’s merchant group.”
“Mr. Shen is amazing!” Ah Ye exclaimed.
Shen Suifeng looked helpless. “It’s Her Highness who’s amazing.”
“Sounds like someone’s praising me,” a cheerful voice rang out from the corridor, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
Today, she wore a bright red dress. Amid the vast sea of white, she blazed like a flame, instantly lifting everyone’s spirits.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Everyone saluted. Shen Suifeng curled his lips into a smile, supported her hand, and guided her onto flat ground.
“What were you praising me for?” Feng Lezhen asked in good spirits.
Shen Suifeng said, “They were praising Your Highness for your wisdom and foresight, unmatched in strategy. No wonder you insisted on going to Nanhe first—it turns out you had already foreseen that, after arriving at Yingguan, we’d be deliberately made to suffer regarding food and supplies. If you coordinated with my brother in advance and secured the help of a merchant caravan, you wouldn’t be hindered.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Feng Lezhen looked up at the sky.
Shen Suifeng gave a faint smile. “Your Highness hasn’t even convinced my brother to surrender yet, so why was he willing to help?”
“Want to know?” Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow.
Shen Suifeng nodded earnestly. “Very much.”
“Beg me,” Feng Lezhen said with folded arms.
Shen Suifeng actually cupped his hands and bowed. “Please.”
“Not sincere enough,” Feng Lezhen said with a smile.
Ah Ye’s eye twitched as she listened. To preserve Her Highness’s image in front of the subordinates, she immediately signaled everyone to leave with her eyes, and even dragged Chen Jinan away without looking back.
In the small courtyard, only Feng Lezhen and Shen Suifeng remained. Shen Suifeng didn’t hide anything—he wrapped her in his cloak.
His cloak was made of fox fur, thick and warm. The moment Feng Lezhen was pulled in, she was enveloped in his heat.
“How bold, to show such blatant disrespect to the Eldest Princess,” Feng Lezhen said slowly.
Hearing that, Shen Suifeng only tightened his hold. “Your Highness still hasn’t told me why my older brother was willing to help.”
Feng Lezhen withdrew one hand and tapped his forehead. “You call yourself clever, yet don’t know that between clever people, many things are left unsaid.”
Shen Suifeng chuckled, even more confused.
“He was willing to see you off in the first place—that already meant he was wavering. Whether or not he ultimately surrenders, by a merchant’s nature, he’ll always leave room to maneuver. Having the caravan help us is him giving me that room to maneuver,” Feng Lezhen explained gently.
Everyone knew she and Qi Zhen didn’t get along. Coming to Yingguan would certainly be difficult, and the first trouble would be in food and supplies—especially in the long winters, when these things were easiest to exploit.
He used the pretense of helping his younger brother to have the caravan solve that problem. First, it gave the Shen family leeway—regardless of future developments, she couldn’t make things too difficult for them. Second, it made her value Shen Suifeng even more. Even if he wasn’t in Yingguan, his safety would be assured.
“Your older brother really breaks his heart for you,” Feng Lezhen sighed.
A warm feeling rose in Shen Suifeng’s heart. He smiled and asked, “Jealous?”
“Not quite. If Feng Ji treated me with such deep sibling affection, how could I have the nerve to fight him for the throne?” Feng Lezhen paused, then added, “But if he really did love me that much and willingly gave up the throne, then yes, I’d be jealous.”
Shen Suifeng: “…”
At midday, after a simple lunch, the two of them went to check on Ah Ye and the others as they sorted the newly purchased food. Since they had only brought a few dozen people total, both guards and servants, almost everyone was involved, storing the ingredients into large jars under the guidance of experienced matrons.
While things were bustling with activity, the gatekeeper suddenly came running in, panting as he reported, “Y-Your Highness, Fan Gonggong is here.”
Shen Suifeng was momentarily stunned when he heard the name.
Feng Lezhen, however, remained composed. “I thought he wasn’t planning to come.”
“With Your Highness here, how could this old servant not come?” Fan Gonggong entered with a cheerful smile. Though his temples were graying, he looked far better now than the muddled state he had been in while in the dark prison.
Shen Suifeng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Your Highness didn’t kill him?”
“Fan Gonggong never provoked me. Why would I kill him for no reason?” Feng Lezhen cast him a sideways glance, clearly mocking him for having misunderstood her back then.
“Your Highness knew that if this old servant stayed in the capital, I’d only be inviting disaster. So Your Highness allowed me to fake my death and escape first to Yingguan,” Fan Gonggong explained, then bowed to Shen Suifeng. “Mr. Shen, I owe you my life and will never forget your kindness. Please accept this old servant’s gratitude.”
Shen Suifeng smiled lightly. “You’re too polite.”
“Your Highness, with all the heavy snow recently, I hadn’t left home at all. I only heard today that Your Highness had arrived. I beg your forgiveness for my late visit,” Fan Gonggong added.
“No need for so many apologies. Since you’re here, I’ll hand over all matters of the residence to you—finally, I can enjoy a little peace and quiet.” Ah Ye didn’t understand household affairs, and Chen Jinan lacked social tact. Over the past few days, Feng Lezhen had been handling everything herself, and now she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Fan Gonggong accepted the task readily. Seeing everyone gathered in the courtyard, he immediately assigned a few to guard the premises and chose two capable people to oversee repairs around the residence. He laid out each matter clearly and efficiently, as if the entire Eldest Princess’s Residence had finally found its backbone.
Watching the newly spirited Fan Gonggong, Shen Suifeng lowered his voice and asked the person beside him, “Is he the old acquaintance Your Highness mentioned?”
A smile flickered in Feng Lezhen’s eyes, but she didn’t answer.
Once all the matters had been settled, Fan Gonggong followed Feng Lezhen into the house. Seeing they had something to discuss, Shen Suifeng didn’t follow.
Since they had just bought charcoal, the floor heating in the room was fully lit. As soon as Feng Lezhen sat down, drowsiness crept in. Fan Gonggong, smiling, poured her a cup of tea and waited until she was more alert before speaking slowly, “These past days while waiting for Your Highness at Yingguan, I had nothing to do, so I looked into some news.”
“What did you find out?” Feng Lezhen became slightly interested.
“Does Your Highness still remember Qi Jingren, the daughter of Zhenbian Marquis?”
“Of course I do—Qi Jingqing’s twin sister. The first time I met her, we clashed. She always liked picking on me. Later, when Qi Jingqing fell into the water, she disliked me even more.” Recalling her childhood, Feng Lezhen’s lips curved in a faint smile.
Fan Gonggong also smiled. “This old servant still remembers the first fight Your Highness ever had—it was with that young Lady Qi.”
“Why bring her up all of a sudden?” Feng Lezhen asked, puzzled.
“She’s quite the fierce one. Over the past two years, she’s repelled four raids from the Moli, and her prestige among the Qi family army and the common folk is sky-high. She’s one of the few people in Yingguan whose words carry weight.”
Feng Lezhen blinked. “Sounds like my situation just got even worse.”
“Indeed,” Fan Gonggong nodded solemnly.
Feng Lezhen: “…”
“But Your Highness need not worry too much. After all, Yingguan isn’t impenetrable,” Fan Gonggong offered some reassurance. “For example, the relationship between the yamen and the marquis’s household isn’t as harmonious as outsiders imagine.”
“That’s normal. There’s only so much in taxes each year—the yamen wants to support the people, while the marquis’s house needs funds to resist foreign enemies. The more you use, the less I get. Just look at the pothole-ridden roads in town and you can tell the yamen isn’t getting the better deal,” Feng Lezhen said calmly.
Fan Gonggong nodded. “So if Your Highness wishes to build alliances, the yamen would be a good place to start.”
Feng Lezhen paused, then said rather inexplicably, “If they’re not gaining anything, why would I try to win them over? Just to huddle for warmth?”
Fan Gonggong was taken aback, and after a long pause, squeezed out, “W-well… isn’t there strength in numbers…”
Feng Lezhen let out a laugh. “Strength in numbers? Do you believe that? Even though they’re constantly suppressed by the marquis’s house, if I take the initiative to approach them, they’ll just get smug.”
“N-not necessarily…” Fan Gonggong was no fool, and after being nudged in this direction, started to hesitate, though he still didn’t want to accept the truth. After all, if even the yamen couldn’t be swayed, then the current predicament might truly have no easy solution.
Feng Lezhen could see his concern and offered gentle reassurance: “No need to rush. We’ll proceed step by step.”
Fan Gonggong sighed. “That’s all we can do.”
With the help of the Shen family’s caravan, it took only five days to repair and refurbish the Princess’s residence. The main gates were repainted, a new plaque hung—at last, it looked somewhat proper.
Then, they shut the doors and began their quiet little life.
At first, Ah Ye wasn’t used to such peaceful days with no visitors, but after being dragged by Shen Suifeng to catch birds a few times in the courtyard, she gradually found it less dull. The others, having served Feng Lezhen for years, rarely had such leisure time, and for a while, everyone’s spirits lifted—some even looked noticeably rounder.
Chen Jinan was the only one unchanged. Though he never left the residence, he diligently read and practiced swordsmanship each day, growing more silent than before.
It was as if the officials and generals of Yingguan had all agreed to forget Feng Lezhen’s arrival—not a single calling card was sent to her residence. The Eldest Princess’s mansion became a secluded island, with the only outside interaction being occasional meetings with the Shen family caravan.
But as the end of the year approached, the Shen caravan couldn’t stay in Yingguan forever—they’d have to leave. When that happened, they’d still need to buy supplies. If the merchants of Yingguan refused to sell, how would they handle food, clothing, and shelter?
For once, Shen Suifeng felt a rare twinge of worry—and specially asked Feng Lezhen about it.
Feng Lezhen remained composed. “We’ll just buy from the commoners.”
“…I’m afraid they might refuse to do business with us,” Shen Suifeng cautiously pointed out.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “They’ll do it.”
Just because the officials could hold their ground didn’t mean the bolder commoners would, too. And once someone couldn’t hold back, that would be the perfect breakthrough point for her to reestablish ties with all of Yingguan.
Shen Suifeng didn’t understand why she was so confident—until one afternoon, two guards escorted a young man into the residence.
“Let go of me! Let go…” The young man struggled desperately, only quieting down when a sword was pressed to his neck.
Feng Lezhen appeared gracefully. Everyone bowed their heads in salute. The young man straightened defiantly and looked her in the eye—only to be briefly stunned by her appearance. Before he could get a better look, Ah Ye stepped forward and slapped him across the face. “You think you can just look at Her Highness?”
The man, whose face had been slapped sideways: “……”
“What’s going on here?” Feng Lezhen asked gently.
The guard stiffly reported, “Your Highness, this man was throwing rotten eggs at our plaque.”
Feng Lezhen frowned. “Is that true?”
“It’s… true…” The man raised his head and met her gaze. The side of his face was swollen red, and he flushed slightly—only to stiffen up again when he caught Ah Ye’s glare. Feigning defiance, he turned away. “I did it! Kill me or slice me up, do whatever you want!”
“Why would you do such a thing?” Feng Lezhen sighed, like she was speaking to a misguided child.
The man shouted, “I can’t stand the sight of you, is that not allowed? You made our Young Shizi bedridden, and yet you still get to live in luxury—just because you’re the Eldest Princess?!”
Feng Lezhen said nothing.
He glanced at her quickly, then lowered his head again. “T-throwing rotten eggs was just the beginning. I—I’ll definitely do more next time! Even if you kill me today, there will be thousands of Yingguan people to avenge the Young Shizi!”
“…About what happened back then…” Feng Lezhen sighed faintly. “Forget it. In the end, it’s true I wronged Qi Jingqing. Go home.”
The man blinked, stunned. “You’re letting me go?”
“Your Highness! That’s not acceptable!” Ah Ye protested angrily.
Feng Lezhen’s tone remained gentle. “He was trying to avenge Qi Jingqing. At the core, he’s just a righteous youth who hates evil. Let him go.”
The man hadn’t expected her to not only release him, but even praise him… Her Highness, praising him? He swallowed hard, dumbfounded and speechless.
“No way! If Your Highness lets him go today, tomorrow there will be countless people throwing rotten eggs at our door! If you really want to let him go, you’ll have to step over my dead body!” Ah Ye exclaimed, kneeling with her back straight.
Feng Lezhen frowned slightly. “Then what do you suggest?”
“At the very least, report him to the authorities!” Ah Ye said angrily.
When the man heard this, he grinned. His uncle was a yamen officer. If they sent him to the government office, the worst he’d get was two light hits with a paddle. His uncle wouldn’t even strike—he’d just go through the motions.
Thinking this, he wasn’t afraid anymore. “Fine! Report me then. I’ll take responsibility!”
“Your Highness, we must report this!” Ah Ye pressed on.
Feng Lezhen looked troubled but reluctantly agreed.
Ah Ye gave a signal to the guards, who immediately took the man away.
As soon as he was gone, the worried look on Feng Lezhen’s face shifted to lazy ease. “Everything arranged?”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. Not a single detail missed,” Ah Ye replied. Her earlier ferocity was gone—she now squatted beside Feng Lezhen like a sycophant, massaging her legs. “Your Highness, how did you know someone would come stirring up trouble soon?”
“Yingguan’s folk are bold and rough, unlike the capital where status and rank matter more. Otherwise, those people wouldn’t have dared to not even sell us vegetables. Now we’re the thorn in everyone’s side, and when they realize that their usual tricks don’t work—and we’re still living comfortably—they’ll naturally grow resentful. And among all those resentful people, there’s bound to be someone impulsive,” Feng Lezhen said with a smirk.
Ah Ye laughed. “Looks like even though Qi Zhen is a b*stard to us, he treats the people well. They’ve never experienced what it’s like to be crushed by higher authority.”
“They’ll get to taste it soon enough,” Feng Lezhen said cheerfully.
When the man was taken to the yamen, it just so happened that his uncle was on duty. Upon seeing his nephew being escorted by the Eldest Princess’s guards, his heart immediately jumped into his throat. But once he heard it was just for throwing a couple of rotten eggs, he let out a long sigh of relief. “This brat! Truly reckless! Sirs, please don’t be upset—I’ll punish him according to the law!”
The young man coughed, barely holding back his laughter.
“What are you, some big shot? Where’s your governor? Shouldn’t he come out and handle this case?” the guard asked with a frown.
His uncle laughed like an old rascal. “Just two rotten eggs—it’s not worth bothering the Lord Governor. I can handle it myself.”
The guard chuckled. “Sure, you can handle it? Be my guest.”
The uncle beamed. “Absolutely—”
“The plaque he hit? That was handwritten by the late emperor,” the guard added slowly.
The uncle’s smile froze. Cold sweat broke out on his back as the realization hit.
The young man saw his face change and felt a twinge of unease. “So what if it was written by the late emperor?”
“Oh, nothing much—except that two years ago, His Majesty issued a personal decree: anyone who insults the late emperor is to be executed along with three generations of their family,” the young guard said kindly, his expression gentle. “By the way, you two look alike. Must be close relatives? Not sure if that counts as three generations. You might be implicated.”
The young man’s eyes widened instantly. All traces of earlier confidence vanished.
Insulting the late emperor was no small matter—this wasn’t something a mere clerk could decide. The Governor, who had been hiding in the back, finally had to step out. But the guards gave him no chance to speak and simply turned and left.
The Governor, who had assumed Feng Lezhen would try to curry favor upon her arrival in Yingguan, was left humiliated and unable to even plead on the young man’s behalf.
This case had both eyewitnesses and physical evidence, and the perpetrator had confessed himself—it was as solid as iron. Within just two days, the young man’s entire extended family, including his uncle, were thrown into jail, causing an uproar across all of Yingguan.
Shen Suifeng was sipping tea with Feng Lezhen by the stove when he heard that the three generations of the troublemaker’s family had been arrested. Seeing her still so calm, he couldn’t help but ask curiously, “That plaque… was it really written by the late emperor?”
“It was,” Feng Lezhen answered.
Shen Suifeng gave a dry laugh. “Your Highness even brought something handwritten by the late emperor to Yingguan?”
“I have no one here—shouldn’t I at least bring something from my father to boost morale?” she said as if it were only natural.
Shen Suifeng narrowed his eyes. “Besides the plaque, what else around here was bestowed by the late emperor?”
“The nails on the main gate, the framed painting on the wall, the bricks on the floor—they’re all related to the late emperor,” Feng Lezhen said, reaching toward the roasted sweet potato on the stove, only for Shen Suifeng to catch her hand in time. She had to sit back obediently. “But that guy was unlucky—he just had to go for the plaque.”
If he’d defaced something else, there might’ve been room for negotiation. But to dirty a calligraphy piece by the late emperor—there was nothing left to say.
“So Your Highness had already decided to make an example of the first person who came looking for trouble,” Shen Suifeng said.
“Of course. If you don’t give enough of a warning the first time, there’ll be an endless stream of fools coming. That’s why I say he was unlucky—not the second, not the last, but he had to be the first bird to stick its head out.” Feng Lezhen looked longingly at the sweet potato, clearly impatient.
Shen Suifeng flipped the sweet potato over and cruelly said, “Still needs another half an hour.”
“Forget it, I’m not eating anymore!” Feng Lezhen said in mock anger.
Shen Suifeng chuckled and pulled some sunflower seeds from his pouch, offering them to her. “So when does Your Highness plan to release him?”
“Release him? For what? I need to kill the chicken to scare the monkey. If I don’t kill, what’s the point?” Feng Lezhen gave him a sideways glance.
Shen Suifeng didn’t fall for it. “If Your Highness were truly so ruthless, you wouldn’t have lived and eaten with the commoners back in Xijiang.”
“I am ruthless,” she said, then paused briefly before smiling. “It’s just unnecessary. If I really killed them, I’d lose the hearts of the people. I’ve died once already—I understand now that all power and prestige are illusions. Only the people’s hearts are the strongest weapon.”
“Here we go again—Your Highness claiming to have died once,” Shen Suifeng chuckled. “Which time exactly, if I may ask?”
Feng Lezhen smiled without answering.
The case of the man insulting the emperor’s plaque continued to stir public sentiment, even drawing the attention of Zhenbian Marquis’s estate. Qi Zhen sent someone to the yamen to inquire, but the evidence was overwhelming—there wasn’t a single flaw in Feng Lezhen’s handling of the matter, so they could only pretend not to know. As for the governor, he had no desire to plead with Feng Lezhen over a commoner. And so, the matter was settled.
The execution date was set for the third day of the twelfth lunar month. That day, snow fell thickly, piling high atop the execution platform. Yet crowds of commoners came, layer upon layer, surrounding the platform so tightly there was no room to move.
By the time the man was brought to the platform, the confidence he’d shown when throwing rotten eggs was long gone. His family looked gaunt and despairing. Among those condemned to die were small children just five or six years old, and elderly folks past seventy. Those who had once considered teaching the princess a lesson now felt a chill of fear—
If they had been the ones to act out back then, it would be their own families standing on that execution platform now.
Young people often acted on blind courage, thinking death was just a matter of bowing their head. But in the moment of impulsive action, they rarely realized how their so-called bravery would drag their loved ones down with them.
Dozens knelt on the execution stage. Even the executioner looked hesitant—but the time had come, and he had no choice but to draw his long blade. The spectators began to avert their eyes, unable to watch, when suddenly the sound of hooves pierced the wintry air.
“Spare them!”
Ah Ye galloped in on a fine horse. Seeing the executioner draw his blade, she stood up in the stirrups, launched herself over the heads of the crowd, and landed squarely on the platform.
“Spare them!” Ah Ye shouted, raising a token high. “By the verbal command of Eldest Princess Hengkang—kneel and receive the order!”
Because the case was serious, the governor had personally overseen the execution. Seeing someone from the eldest princess’s side appear, and not understanding the reason, he could only kneel in response.
As he knelt, the crowd followed suit. In earlier times, some might have dared remain standing—but with dozens already awaiting execution, who dared stand out now?
“By command of the Eldest Princess: the offender was young and impulsive but not wicked at heart. Her Highness never intended to punish him, but feared public backlash, so the case was handed to the yamen. Only today did she learn that the plaque was a relic of the late emperor, leading to the arrest of three generations of his family. Her Highness is deeply ashamed. While the late emperor lived, he taught her to cherish the people, and she has never dared forget it. Therefore, she issues a pardon and asks the governor to release the family without delay.”
The wind and snow howled, but Ah Ye’s voice cut through it all. The crowd exchanged glances, not daring to speak. Only the young man on the platform choked up and suddenly burst into tears.
The governor now realized he’d been played. With this execution, Feng Lezhen would come out looking like a ruler who was both firm and merciful—earning public admiration instead of resentment, and winning the people’s support.
He was unwilling to be used so easily and asked, “It was Her Highness who claimed the plaque was the late emperor’s writing, and now it’s Her Highness who wants them released. What exactly is she thinking?”
“Mind your words, Governor. Her Highness never said it was the late emperor’s writing—it was an overzealous guard who said that. Now that Her Highness has learned the truth, she’s sent me to rescue them,” Ah Ye replied coldly, voice louder than before.
The governor met her icy stare and felt a chill in his chest, but still refused to give in easily. “But the fact remains that the relic was defiled—how can Her Highness pardon them at will? Does she outrank the emperor now?”
“So what you’re saying is—you’re refusing to release them?” Ah Ye asked, confused.
The commoners didn’t care about what was “Your Highness” or “His Majesty,” but upon hearing her words, they felt it made some sense… Wasn’t it just that Her Highness wanted to release the prisoners, but the Governor refused?
The young man, who had just been overjoyed at the prospect of surviving, began to panic again at these words: “M-My lord, please spare me!”
The governor was sweating profusely, and when he spoke again, all authority had drained from his voice: “O-Of course I want to let them go, but… there is the imperial edict…”
“If the Lord Governor is dissatisfied, he’s more than welcome to write a memorial and report the matter to the capital. Her Highness is willing to accept whatever punishment comes,” Ah Ye interrupted coolly.
…You put it like that—who would still dare to file a complaint to the emperor?! The governor roared in his heart, but he also had to admit he’d lost this round. If he kept pushing, it would only reflect poorly on him.
“I wouldn’t dare. Her Highness cherishes the people, and that is their blessing. How could I possibly object?” The governor knelt and accepted the order, thus settling the matter.
Ah Ye was satisfied. She turned toward the young man on the execution stage and said, “Young man, Her Highness spared you—that is due to her kindness. She may bear it without complaint, but I have to say this: next time you want to act on impulse, think of your family first. Don’t let a rush of blood to the head lead you into foolishness.”
“Yes… thank you, Your Highness, for sparing my life,” the young man choked out. After being locked up for several days, even her scolding sounded warm to him.
With her message delivered, Ah Ye mounted her horse and departed. The crowd below the execution stage slowly got to their feet, and once she had ridden far enough, murmurs burst forth—
“What’s going on? I feel like Her Highness is actually a good person.”
“She didn’t even hold it against him after he threw rotten eggs at her father’s relic—what else could that be but kindness?”
“Looks like I misjudged her before… she’s actually pretty good.”
Feng Lezhen knew nothing of this discussion. But the next morning, she deliberately sent Ah Ye to the market to buy vegetables. Ah Ye was only gone for half an hour and came back carrying a large haul of delicious food.
“These were the ones I bought myself, and these others—some folks slipped them to me in secret. I didn’t want to take them, and nearly got smacked for it,” Ah Ye muttered, clearly shaken by the fierce temper of Yingguan’s locals.
Feng Lezhen picked up a piece of sugar cake and turned to Shen Suifeng to boast: “See? Didn’t I say the commoners are simple-hearted?”
There wasn’t so much deep hatred—just a bit of scheming, and the ice was broken.
“…Your Highness is truly impressive,” Shen Suifeng played along. “But easing relations with the people may not be enough. If the Marquis’s household continues to ignore you, over time your position in Yingguan could become awkward.”
“Well, that’s what you’re for. I just need to wait for them to come to me,” Feng Lezhen said proudly, wrapping her arm around his.
And why shouldn’t she be proud? He was not only a golden goose, but a one-of-a-kind physician. As long as he stayed by her side, the Marquis’s household would eventually come knocking.
Shen Suifeng gave a wry smile, but still reminded her dutifully, “The last time I went to the Marquis’s estate was back in February. That time, since I planned to visit multiple places, I left the young lord quite a bit of medicine.”
Feng Lezhen paused, feeling a foreboding sense of doom. “…How much?”
“Enough to last him three years,” Shen Suifeng said after some thought. “Ah, it’s already been about ten months—so he still has two years and four months’ worth.”
Feng Lezhen: “…”
Shen Suifeng looked at her innocently.
“…No way,” Feng Lezhen muttered, stepping back. “My luck can’t be that bad.”
Shen Suifeng looked at her with deep sympathy—but it didn’t take long for reality to prove that her luck really was that bad—
Qi Jingqing suddenly fell ill.
He developed a high fever that didn’t subside for a full day and night, and his condition looked grave.
Feng Lezhen had been dozing off when she heard the news. At once, her energy returned. “Someone come—bring me my formal robes. I mustn’t delay my visit to the Marquis’s estate!”
Shen Suifeng: “…”
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