As soon as Ah Ye said that, she tensed up. “It’s not really from him, is it? Didn’t Your Highness sell him out to His Majesty? Would His Majesty even let him return to Tayuan so easily?”
“How could it be from him?” Feng Lezhen finished opening the letter and glanced at its contents, handing one sheet to Shen Suifeng. “Is this a prescription?”
Shen Suifeng took it. “Yes.”
“What’s it for?” Feng Lezhen asked with interest.
“For palpitations,” Shen Suifeng replied. “It’s a bit stronger than standard prescriptions, so the patient’s condition is likely not great. But with proper care, it shouldn’t be too serious.”
Feng Lezhen frowned slightly. “It was just a cold before—how did it become heart palpitations?”
“Most likely a complication,” Shen Suifeng explained.
Feng Lezhen sighed and pulled the prescription back from him to hand to Ah Ye. “Buy everything on this list, and prepare a thousand taels in silver. Give it all to the one who delivered the letter.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ah Ye quickly took the list and called for Chen Jinan to help.
Shen Suifeng watched the two leave, then walked with Feng Lezhen into the room. “Who’s the patient?”
“An old acquaintance,” Feng Lezhen replied.
Shen Suifeng smiled. “Your Highness really has a lot of old acquaintances.”
“Jealous?” Feng Lezhen raised her brow.
Shen Suifeng sighed. “A little.”
“This particular old acquaintance is a woman,” Feng Lezhen clarified.
With all sincerity, Shen Suifeng said, “Has Your Highness moved on to charming both men and women now?”
Feng Lezhen: “…”
“Alright, I’ll stop teasing.”
Shen Suifeng gave a low laugh and stuffed a hand warmer into her hands. Feng Lezhen’s expression softened, and she quietly slipped her arm through his. The snow had piled thickly in the courtyard overnight. As they walked, the snow crunched underfoot with crisp ka-cha sounds.
“It’s almost New Year,” Shen Suifeng remarked.
“Mhm,” Feng Lezhen responded. “When are you heading back to Nanhe?”
“I’m not,” Shen Suifeng replied. “I’ll spend the New Year here at Yingguan with Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen stopped in her tracks and tilted her head to look at him.
Shen Suifeng mirrored her, tilting his head too. At that moment, these two people—who together were over forty years old—looked just like two dogs playing in the snow. After a long moment of eye contact, they both nearly laughed.
“So even the Lantern Festival, you won’t leave?” Feng Lezhen probed.
“Not even Mid-Autumn Festival,” Shen Suifeng replied.
Feng Lezhen smiled. Just as she was about to say something, Shen Suifeng suddenly added, “But I have one request.”
“Go ahead,” Feng Lezhen crossed her arms, curious what he’d ask for.
Instead of answering, Shen Suifeng glanced around. Once he confirmed no one was nearby, he leaned in and murmured beside her neck, “The bed in Your Highness’s room is too small—let’s change it.”
His warm breath brushed against her earlobe, instantly turning cold. Feng Lezhen knew full well he only brought it up to remove furniture a man had previously prepared for her. Still, she played along. “Then should we change the tables, chairs, and benches too?”
Shen Suifeng froze, then looked up at her. “Really?”
“To win a beauty’s smile—what’s this little thing?” Feng Lezhen tugged his collar and gave him a kiss on the lips.
Shen Suifeng gave a helpless laugh. “Your Highness really has potential to be a muddled ruler.”
“But to replace the whole set… silver is an issue.” Feng Lezhen put on a troubled expression.
Shen Suifeng raised a brow. “Seems Your Highness isn’t that much of a muddled ruler.” At least when it came to money, the beauty wouldn’t get the better of her.
Feng Lezhen clung to his arm with enthusiasm. “Well, I just arrived at Yingguan and didn’t bring much savings. Once the court sends my salary, I’ll pay you back.”
“The eldest princess’s annual stipend probably doesn’t even cover the cost of your gown,” Shen Suifeng retorted.
Feng Lezhen paused and glanced down at her skirt embroidered with peonies and cloud patterns. “Is this gown really that expensive?”
“With the business sense passed down through generations of the Shen family—I’d say yes,” Shen Suifeng answered seriously.
Feng Lezhen thought for a moment. “Then buy me two more sets.”
Shen Suifeng: “…”
“You’ve earned so much silver from practicing medicine—what’s wrong with spending some on me?” Ever since she learned how much savings he had, Feng Lezhen had made it her mission to enjoy blessings alongside him.
Shen Suifeng couldn’t help but laugh and, naturally, agreed to everything.
In order to replace Feng Lezhen’s bed as soon as possible, he went out right after lunch. Unfortunately, top-quality bed frames and furniture all had to start with selecting timber. As for the ready-made ones, he found them unacceptable. For now, the ones sent by Qi Jingqing would have to remain in the main bedchamber.
Feng Lezhen didn’t care what he was fussing about. After her trip to the Marquis’s manor, she went back to staying behind closed doors. But this time, things were different—invitation cards from the officials of the administrative office began arriving one after another.
“Weren’t they all high and mighty before? Why are they so anxious now? Must be because they saw the Marquis invited Your Highness to his residence, so now they’re getting nervous,” Ah Ye muttered as she handed a stack of visiting cards to a maid. “Take them to the kitchen to use for firewood!”
The maid glanced carefully at Feng Lezhen. Seeing she didn’t react, she responded and left with the cards.
Ah Ye pouted and ran over to the bed. “Your Highness.”
“Burned them all and still not satisfied?” Feng Lezhen raised her brows.
Ah Ye said, “Just thinking of all the grievances we’ve suffered in Yingguan City makes this servant fume. You don’t know, Your Highness, when I went to the execution platform to save someone, that Governor of Yingguan even dared to talk back to me!”
“Then leave him hanging a few more days, let him know our Ah Ye isn’t one to be trifled with,” Feng Lezhen said, pinching her cheek.
Ah Ye paused. “Just leave him hanging?”
Feng Lezhen laughed. “Some people—just leaving them hanging is enough to make them miserable.”
The Governor of Yingguan truly was miserable. After having his invitation card refused three times, two massive ulcers broke out on the corners of his mouth. He was so anxious and inflamed he couldn’t eat or sleep.
Yingguan, as a crucial border post, was already a place where military power trumped eunuch power, and the administrative office was perpetually suppressed by the Marquis’s residence. When he first heard that the Eldest Princess—who didn’t get along with the Marquis—was coming, he had planned to sit back and watch the two tigers fight, then step in to seize the advantage once they’d worn each other out. Who knew that impulsive, brainless Qi Zhen didn’t make things difficult for the Eldest Princess at all this time?
Fine—so he didn’t make trouble. But if he could at least keep ignoring her, that would’ve been workable too. That way, he could offer her a bit of goodwill when she was desperate, and draw her to his camp. Then, combined with the power of the administrative office, they could somewhat compete with the Marquis’s residence—not be completely powerless.
He had calculated everything—except the part where Qi Zhen personally went to invite the Eldest Princess to his estate.
D*mn it. If the Marquis and the Eldest Princess truly reconciled, then what standing would he, the so-called Governor, still have in Yingguan?
At this point, he was truly panicking.
Seeing the servant who’d delivered the invitation return, he rushed forward. “Well? Did Her Highness agree to see me?”
“Her… Her Highness isn’t feeling well…” the servant replied awkwardly.
The Governor’s head throbbed like it would burst. After a long silence, he squeezed out, “Send more! Keep sending! Also, see if there’s anything valuable in the manor—send it all to the Eldest Princess’s residence!”
“Y-yes…”
The servant took the order, went to the storage room, and after a long time, finally selected a pair of jade lion statues to send over.
As soon as Feng Lezhen saw them, she laughed. “So Yingguan really has nothing good to offer—they’re using things like this as a door gift.”
“That’s already the best he has,” Ah Ye added.
Feng Lezhen nodded, then suddenly sensed something off. “How do you know?”
Ah Ye froze. Realizing she had misspoken, she quickly tried to slip away, but Feng Lezhen narrowed her eyes. “Stop.”
“…I was bored, so I took a little stroll through the Governor’s house,” Ah Ye muttered vaguely, then hurried to change the topic. “Seems like what Fan Gonggong said was right—Hu Wensheng may hold a border post, but he really has no power. Otherwise, his storeroom wouldn’t be that bare. He’s already this broke, and he still tried to manipulate Your Highness earlier.”
“That’s greed for you. He wants someone to help him go against Qi Zhen but doesn’t want to end up beneath them. So he was just waiting for me to compromise,” Feng Lezhen shot her a look. “You—three days of confinement to reflect. If you dare sneak into someone’s house again, next time it’ll be the paddle.”
Ah Ye gave a sheepish laugh and quickly buttered her up. “But he never expected Your Highness to be so amazing. Even Qi Zhen couldn’t beat you. This time, he tried to steal a chicken and ended up losing the rice. Now he has to scramble to patch things up.”
“A pair of jade lions isn’t much of a patch-up. Just wait—more things will come,” Feng Lezhen dismissed it. “Where’s Suifeng? Out watching the carpenters again?”
Ever since she’d given him permission to change the furniture, he had been running out all day. Every time he came back, he was covered in wood shavings, determined to have everything made before the New Year.
Ah Ye replied, “He didn’t go today—hasn’t left the house.”
Feng Lezhen paused. “Hasn’t left? But he disappeared early this morning.”
“Oh, he’s in the back courtyard teaching Chen Jinan to read,” Ah Ye explained.
Feng Lezhen: “…”
“Your Highness, I think Mister Shen is getting more and more like a perfect house-husband,” Ah Ye said seriously.
Feng Lezhen tugged the corner of her mouth. “He’s just bored.”
And he truly was. The noble Eldest Princess was too busy. Even living in the same residence, he often didn’t see her. With the city snowed in, he couldn’t even go out to pass the time. He’d gone to oversee the carpenters so often they were threatening to quit. Eventually, the only thing left to do was hang out with Chen Jinan.
“This here is longdan poison. It’s both a poison and a medicine. Used well, it can strengthen the body and cure all illnesses. Used poorly—it’ll send you to your grave,” Shen Suifeng explained, pointing to the black wart-like drawing in the medical book.
Chen Jinan asked, “When would it count as a last resort?”
Shen Suifeng thought carefully. “When the poison has seeped deep, and medicine is no longer effective… In short, when one’s life is hanging by a thread, and there’s truly no other option, then try this.”
“And how would you know it worked?” Chen Jinan asked again.
Shen Suifeng replied, “Some people respond well, others don’t. Whether it works or not depends entirely on luck.”
“Where can one find this thing?” Chen Jinan asked a third time.
Shen Suifeng said, “This item is extremely rare in the world. There’s no need to deliberately search for it—if fate brings it your way…”
“You’ve never seen it either,” Chen Jinan said this time, not as a question.
Shen Suifeng replied, “I’ve seen it mentioned many times in medical texts.”
“So you really haven’t seen it,” Chen Jinan concluded.
Shen Suifeng: “…Why are you so talkative lately?”
“One last question,” Chen Jinan sat at the table, looking up at him, still holding his brush. “Why are you telling me all this? I’m not training to be a doctor.”
“It’s always good to learn more—might come in handy one day.” Shen Suifeng, for once, spoke gently.
Chen Jinan vaguely felt something wasn’t right, but what Shen Suifeng said did make sense. Caught between doubt and agreement, he chose to stay silent. Seeing him finally quiet down, Shen Suifeng hurriedly turned to the next page of the book to teach him the name of another herb.
Feng Lezhen dropped by. Seeing the two of them so focused, she left without a sound.
Inside the Eldest Princess’s residence, all was peaceful. Meanwhile, the Governor, after successfully sending the jade lion, had continued to send over a steady stream of gifts. Only after nearly emptying out half his fortune did Feng Lezhen finally agree, somewhat reluctantly, to let him come to the residence and pay his respects.
Hu Wensheng was practically moved to tears. He arrived early in the morning. Feng Lezhen asked him a few brief questions, then lifted her gaze to look at Ah Ye. Although Ah Ye was not pleased, she still brought over a box.
“These are sea pearls I brought from the capital,” Feng Lezhen said, holding her teacup and skimming the foam from the surface, “Just right for a pair of earrings. Take them back and give them to the Governor’s wife on my behalf.”
Hu Wensheng quickly took them. “My wife and I thank Your Highness.”
“Go back now. The weather is freezing. No need to come calling again before the New Year,” Feng Lezhen put down her cup and gave him a meaningful glance. “The Governor is a clever man. I’m sure he understands that relationships between people aren’t built on empty formalities. What matters is sincerity. I’ll be stationed in Yingguan for quite some time—there’ll be plenty of chances to see whether your loyalty is real.”
“Your Highness is absolutely right.” Hu Wensheng was sweating.
Feng Lezhen said no more. After he left, she rubbed her brow, clearly exhausted.
“Your Highness, those two pearls were a gift from the late emperor. How could you bear to give them away?” Ah Ye was not the type to be sentimental over things, but those pearls were truly valuable, and giving them to that kind of person made her feel it was a waste.
Feng Lezhen replied, “He doesn’t have it easy either. It wouldn’t be right to make him pay half his fortune just to learn a lesson. Besides…” She chuckled lightly. “The late emperor gave them to me. If I now use them to win over his officials, I imagine he’d be glad to know, even in the afterlife.”
“Your Highness, are you sure he can be won over?” Ah Ye asked softly.
Feng Lezhen didn’t seem to mind. “He’s just a regular official. He can’t afford to offend either Qi Zhen or me. He has to choose a side. And Qi Zhen’s been suppressing him for years—if he were willing to submit to Qi Zhen, he wouldn’t be arguing with the Qi family army over the budget every single year.”
“So he only has one path—to cooperate with Your Highness. Before, he kept ignoring you because he wanted the upper hand. Now that he realizes he can’t control you, he’s settling for second place,” Ah Ye analyzed.
Feng Lezhen was speechless. “What do you mean, ‘second place’? Where did you even pick up that phrase?”
“Auntie Zhou who sells radishes at the market taught it to me!” Ah Ye said cheerfully.
Feng Lezhen chuckled too, then turned her head to gaze at the heavy snowfall outside the window.
Seeing that she didn’t speak, Ah Ye quietly moved closer and looked outside with her. The two of them watched the snow fall in silence. Only when the freshly swept courtyard was once again blanketed in white did Ah Ye softly say, “There’s no snow like this in the capital.”
“Feeling homesick?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Ah Ye tilted her head. “Of course not. Wherever Your Highness is, that’s my home. It’s just… I miss Steward Qin a little. I wonder how she’s doing in the capital all alone. Does she miss us too?”
Feng Lezhen smiled silently and continued watching the snow outside.
Thousands of miles away in the capital, the season’s first snowfall had also begun. It wasn’t heavy. Even after snowing all night, the ground was only covered with a thin white layer.
In the side wing storage room of the Eldest Princess’s residence in the capital, Qin Wan was sorting through the New Year’s gifts sent by various families. Holding a list, she marked things down as she walked. By the time she left the storeroom, nearly a tenth of the list had been marked.
“Go to the Yu residence and give this list to Lord Yu,” she said coldly, handing the list to a servant. “Tell him that everyone whose name is marked didn’t send New Year’s gifts this year. Her Highness only just left for her fief, and already they dare to be so neglectful—do they think she’s not coming back?”
The servant quickly took the list and left. Qin Wan looked up at the gloomy sky and let out a long, quiet sigh.
After the Laba Festival, there were only a bit more than twenty days left until New Year’s Eve. Even in far-off Yingguan, where the weather was harsh and the snow never stopped, people had begun venturing out now and then to prepare for the New Year. The more eager ones were already putting up window decorations. The red paper cutouts looked festive and beautiful, especially striking against the white snow.
For the people of Great Qian, no matter how the year went, or how hard their lives were, the approach of New Year’s always brought joy and excitement….
Except for Feng Lezhen.
For someone in her position, the New Year was no longer just a holiday. It was the best time to gather allies and win the people’s support. Every year, she had to rack her brains to come up with something that would uphold the Eldest Princess’s reputation. In Yingguan, the power dynamics were simple, and there wasn’t much worth winning over—but as for public sentiment, that was something she could work on… But what exactly should she do?
When Shen Suifeng entered the room, he saw his Highness lying on the bed in thin clothing, looking so serious she could have been preparing to attend court at any moment.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
Feng Lezhen came back to herself. “The New Year is coming. According to the usual customs of the Eldest Princess’s residence, it’s the time to show kindness to the people and earn a good reputation. I’m just thinking about what should be done.”
“In the past, when you were in the capital, what would Your Highness usually do?” Shen Suifeng asked.
Feng Lezhen thought for a moment. “Distributing porridge, handing out money, or inviting opera troupes to perform and enjoy with the people. The people in the capital are well-off; it’s mostly for the festivity. But in Yingguan, the climate makes those things unsuitable. I’ll have to come up with another idea.”
As she spoke, she suddenly locked eyes with Shen Suifeng. “You used to come to Yingguan often. Do you know what the people here need most in winter?”
“Warm clothes, charcoal, food,” Shen Suifeng answered.
Feng Lezhen said, “I’ve thought of that too. But if I give too much, and something happens next year that forces me to cut back, it’ll only cause resentment. If I give too little, I’ll seem stingy, might as well not give anything at all. It’s hard to judge how much is appropriate.”
Shen Suifeng poured her a cup of tea. “I don’t really understand matters of social exchange, but the Shen family does some charity every year. You know how densely populated the southern river region is—if we gave a generous gift to everyone, it would cost the Shen family an entire year’s income.”
“How does your older brother handle that?” Feng Lezhen asked curiously.
Shen Suifeng replied, “Since it’s impossible for everyone to benefit, we only give to those who need it the most.”
Feng Lezhen paused—suddenly her mind cleared.
“Such a simple matter, and I was caught in a dead end,” Feng Lezhen sat up abruptly, kissed him on the lips, then jumped off the bed. “Ah Ye, help me change! Jinan, ready the carriage—I’m going to the administrative office!”
Shen Suifeng looked helpless, thinking, Great, looks like I’ll be dining alone again tonight.
Feng Lezhen stayed at the administrative office until late into the night. Early the next morning, the Eldest Princess’s residence began purchasing charcoal and quilts. Since Feng Lezhen had specifically instructed that this must not interfere with the common people’s own shopping, the Shen family’s merchant caravan had to brave the snow to fetch a new batch from a neighboring town.
When Qi Zhen heard the news, his brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly. “What is she up to now? Don’t tell me she got scared by the cold in Yingguan and started buying all this stuff?”
“This Eldest Princess… truly unpredictable,” Song Lian also frowned.
Only Qi Jingqing, sitting to the side, had a faint smile tugging at his lips—so faint that he accidentally choked on his tea.
“Cough, cough…”
Qi Zhen and his wife jumped in alarm and hurried over to fuss over him, completely forgetting about the Eldest Princess and her unpredictable behavior. Qi Jingqing was both amused and exasperated by their overreaction. Once he’d calmed them down and sent them away, he called over his young page.
“This time of year, isn’t it about when the Qi family army starts clearing snow from the streets?” he asked.
The page was startled. “Young Master, you must be mistaken. Snow-clearing always begins after the Little New Year.”
Snowfall in Yingguan was heavy and travel difficult, so the marquis’s residence usually sent soldiers out to clear the roads after the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month to help people visit relatives during the New Year.
“This year, start early. Bring out my personal funds and give the soldiers something extra,” Qi Jingqing said slowly.
The page didn’t understand why but respectfully agreed.
Qi Jingqing looked out the window at the falling snow, a faint smile in his clear, untainted eyes.
While the Eldest Princess’s residence was still purchasing supplies, neither Qi Zhen nor Hu Wensheng could figure out what they were planning. But two days later, they suddenly understood—
She had the supplies divided into many portions and distributed them, according to the official household records, to all elderly people over seventy and orphaned children under ten.
These vulnerable people rarely left their homes in winter, so staff from the administrative office and the Eldest Princess’s residence delivered the items door to door. Normally, this would have been a daunting task, but thanks to the Marquis’s estate clearing the snow ahead of time, it became much easier. In just five days, everything was delivered to those who met the criteria.
The people of Yingguan had never seen anything like it. They were immensely grateful to her and the local government. Though Hu Wensheng had only provided manpower, he gained a great reputation from it and was suddenly full of admiration for Feng Lezhen.
“These are all good deeds that benefit the people, Governor. Don’t forget to include it in your year-end report,” Feng Lezhen said calmly. Great Qian had a rule that all officials submitted year-end reports to the emperor, regardless of their location. Most only started writing them near the end of the twelfth lunar month, then gradually submitted them to the capital.
Hu Wensheng quickly replied, “Rest assured, Your Highness. I will certainly commend your thoughtful care for the people.”
“It’s the Governor who worked hard, not me,” Feng Lezhen had expected him to get carried away and specifically reminded him, “I hope your report doesn’t mention me at all. If you must include me, write only that Zhenbian Marquis has continually slighted me—nothing else.”
Hu Wensheng was momentarily stunned, then quickly promised.
Satisfied, Feng Lezhen gracefully took her leave. Hu Wensheng personally escorted her to the carriage. Only after it turned the corner and disappeared did he slap himself hard across the face.
Idiot! You knew the Emperor is wary of the Eldest Princess, and yet you still wanted to sing her praises? If she hadn’t reminded you in time, not only would she have drawn even more suspicion, but you would’ve been dragged down with her!
“But what exactly does the Emperor fear about her? No matter how clever she is, she’s still just a woman…” Hu Wensheng muttered under his breath as he turned and returned to the administrative office.
Word of the Eldest Princess distributing winter supplies to the elderly and children continued to spread in Yingguan. Ever since she’d saved someone at the execution ground, public opinion had begun to shift. Now, more people believed her to be kind and compassionate, and were no longer willing to judge her for what happened in the past.
When the news reached Zhenbian Marquis’s residence, Qi Zhen let out a cold laugh. “Hypocritical nonsense. Let her keep playing her games.”
Qi Jingqing, on the other hand, was in good spirits—he even ate a little more than usual at lunch.
Unfortunately, that good mood only lasted until the evening, when it was completely destroyed by a single piece of news—
“No one knows why, but Her Highness the Eldest Princess suddenly had all the items in her sleeping quarters replaced. Everything the Young Master sent has been moved into storage.”
Qi Jingqing lowered his gaze, quietly looking at the chessboard on the table. Seeing his reaction, the page suddenly regretted delivering the message and hurried to make up for it: “Perhaps the gifts were too fine, and Her Highness couldn’t bear to use them, so she put them away for safekeeping…”
“Qi An,” Qi Jingqing interrupted calmly.
The page immediately responded, “Your servant is here.”
“Tell my father—this year’s weather is worse than previous years. Let’s move the New Year’s Eve banquet forward to the Little New Year instead. That way the officials and generals won’t have to travel in the snow on the thirtieth night.” He placed a chess piece down as he spoke.
Sweeping the snow for ten days starting from the Little New Year and hosting a grand banquet on New Year’s Eve had been long-standing traditions in the marquis’s household. Why was everything different this year? The page didn’t understand, but still answered and went to report to Qi Zhen.
