Chapter 19: Sharing a Room

“This rabbit was hard-earned from your hunt, don’t let it go to waste.”

“Indeed.” Liu Fuying reached into her bosom, pulling out a handful of wild herbs for seasoning. “It was hard to come by, so we shouldn’t waste it.”

She didn’t take the rabbit, instead stuffing the herbs into Pei Zhouwu’s hands.

“Don’t give it to me. I’ll manage. It wouldn’t be good if they discovered you were missing later.”

Then, she turned and walked toward the deep pool.

As she moved, she remembered to keep up the act, limping as she went.

Halfway there, she turned back to look at Pei Zhouwu and said, “Then I’ll come see you again on the first day of next month. You… take care.”

With that, she turned away once more.

Struggling into the water, she submerged, and the lake surface quickly returned to calm.

The pool was as tranquil as before, but Pei Zhouwu’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Perhaps he, too, felt regret.

During these two days together, something between him and her seemed to have changed. Just as he was about to carefully discern what that change was, their connection was abruptly severed. How could he not feel regret and sorrow?

Inside Changmingguan.

Jin Li combed the hair of Liu Fuying, who sat with her back turned in the courtyard. Liu Fuying had been wearing a sullen, unhappy expression since she returned earlier, so Jin Li didn’t dare ask why she had already come back once in the morning and returned so quickly again.

After her hair dried, Liu Fuying went back to her room to rest.

Unable to hold back any longer, Jin Li followed her in and asked, “Madam, did you roast and eat the wild rabbit? How did it taste?”

That rabbit had been bought alive from a hunter’s family and kept in advance.

How could Liu Fuying possibly set traps and hunt?

“What wild rabbit…”

Remembering the guards who had come to cause trouble, Liu Fuying felt too annoyed to even recall the incident, let alone talk about it.

“Forget it. We’ll go down the mountain tomorrow and come back another time.”

After resting for a while, Liu Fuying spent the afternoon in the room where her mother’s memorial tablet was placed. She prayed before the spirit tablet, asking her mother to bless her with a smooth conception. Such a wish she had never prayed for to the temple deities.

She didn’t believe in these deities—they had never blessed her, nor had they ever blessed her mother.

The next day.

Before sunset, Liu Fuying returned to Shangjing City.

During the three days she was away, the household had been peaceful with no incidents, except that Old Madam Shen missed her terribly, talking about her every day.

Upon hearing she had returned, Old Madam Shen rushed to her courtyard in such a hurry that she didn’t even finish her dinner.

When she saw Liu Fuying, she was so excited she nearly cried.

Though only three days had passed, to the old madam, it felt as if three years had gone by.

“A Yin, you’ve finally returned. These past few days you were gone, I couldn’t eat or sleep well, just hoping you’d come back soon. I was truly afraid you’d leave and never return.”

Hearing the words “leave and never return,” Liu Fuying’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Could Pei Zhouwu have also worried that she might leave and never come back?

“A Yin, did you hear what I said?”

Liu Fuying turned back, took the old madam’s hand, and comforted her with a smile. “I heard you, Mother. Don’t worry, for the rest of my life, I will always stay by your side.”

“Wonderful, wonderful. I want A Yin to stay with me forever.”

Liu Fuying smiled along. Hearing that the old madam had eaten less than half a bowl of rice, she had more food brought and ate a fair amount with her.

After the meal, the two sat under the grapevine trellis for a long time.

When seeing the old madam off, she pulled Liu Fuying along a detour to Shen Xiunian’s courtyard.

“Mother, the General likely has military affairs to attend to. Perhaps we should not disturb him.”

Liu Fuying was even reluctant to approach Shen Xiunian’s courtyard. In the two years since their marriage, she had visited less than twice in total. Moreover, he had been away on campaigns before, so the courtyard had been mostly empty, and there was no need for her to come.

“What official business could he possibly have at such a late hour? Just follow me inside.”

Old Madam Shen led her in forcefully. At that moment, Shen Xiunian was standing before the clothes rack in the inner room, preparing to remove his outer robe and rest.

Hearing the noise, he had no choice but to put his robe back on.

Upon seeing Liu Fuying, Shen Xiunian’s brow tightened almost imperceptibly, revealing his reluctance to have her enter this courtyard.

With Old Madam Shen present, he could not easily express his displeasure.

“Mother, what brings you to see your son so late at night?”

“Can I not come to see you without a reason? You have truly become imposing now that you are a great General, putting on airs even after returning home. What, must I send word in advance and wait for your approval before I am permitted to visit?”

“You exaggerate, Mother. That is not what I meant.”

As he spoke, Shen Xiunian glanced at Liu Fuying once more.

He likely thought that Old Madam Shen’s angry visit was due to something Liu Fuying had said to her.

Old Madam Shen rolled her eyes at him but turned back to Liu Fuying with a smile. “Do not worry, as long as I am here, I will not let you suffer any grievances.”

Liu Fuying, quick-witted, had already sensed something amiss and pursed her lips in disapproval.

“Your health has recovered well enough; it is time to attend to matters.” Old Madam Shen’s words were directed at Shen Xiunian.

From Shen Xiunian’s displeased expression, he had likely guessed Old Madam Shen’s intentions.

Yet, he pretended not to understand, attempting to refuse. “What do you mean, Mother? The night is deep. Allow me to escort you back to rest. Whatever needs to be said can wait; there is no hurry.”

Old Madam Shen brushed aside the hand Shen Xiunian offered, her tone growing stern.

“You may not be in a hurry, but do you know what people outside are saying about A Yin? The streets and alleys are mocking her for being unable to bear a child, driving her to burn incense and pray to the gods. As her husband, how can you be so inconsiderate of your wife’s difficulties?”

“Mother…”

“Today is perfect. A Yin has just returned from the mountain, purified by three days of incense offerings—an auspicious time. Retire early tonight. Be diligent and attentive. I have long wished to hold a grandchild in my arms.”

With that, she pulled Liu Fuying toward Shen Xiunian.

She patted Liu Fuying’s hand with a smile and shot a glare at Shen Xiunian.

As she left, she insisted they stay and not see her off, thoughtfully closing the door behind her. She even announced loudly that no one was to approach the room, lest they disturb the two inside.

Once the sounds outside faded, Shen Xiunian’s mocking voice rose beside her.

“Hah.” His laugh carried disdain, perhaps because anger prompted him to speak more to her than usual. “Did the wild man at the Taoist Temple still fail to get you with child?”

Others might not know, but Shen Xiunian was well aware of her true purpose for leaving the city.

He believed, however, that the man she intended to meet in secret was hidden within Changmingguan, and that the temple served as their rendezvous point.

“Defiling the eyes of the divine—beware lest you lose more than you gain.”

He snorted again, flicking his sleeve as he retreated.

Liu Fuying raised her eyebrows sharply, a cold light spilling from her eyes as she replied, “Is my husband so agitated because he is jealous?”

She never called Shen Xiunian her husband.

Today, the term “husband” was used with the sole purpose of irritating him.

Sure enough, his anger flared even more intensely. With a fierce expression, he scolded, “Shut your mouth. The title ‘husband’ is not something you are allowed to utter. If you keep spouting nonsense, get out of the Shen Family.”