Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Early the next morning, as dawn broke, Princess Fuyang’s nourishing soup arrived like clockwork once again.

Last night, Shen Anning had been somewhat surprised that Lu Suian hadn't refused the soup sent by Princess Fuyang.

It wasn't that she cared deeply, but in Shen Anning’s memory, aside from Lu Anran in her past life, Lu Suian never seemed particularly interested in matters of romance. Based on her previous understanding of him, he was someone who disliked any form of trouble or complication.

Perhaps he was always so dedicated to his official duties that he paid little attention to matters outside of work, not bothering to overthink them, and simply treated such gestures as ordinary gifts to be accepted? Otherwise, it might be that he was simply too emotionally dull and slow in such matters?

If that were the case, it would indeed be tough luck for those who pined after him.

Or maybe it was just that Lu Suian happened to have caught a chill, and this bowl of pear soup came at just the right time?

Shen Anning couldn’t help but wonder if it was her imagination, but both last night and today, the pear soup seemed to arrive at such a… remarkably well-timed moment?

Especially after the sweet potato porridge incident.

When you put the two side by side, it almost made her, as his wife, seem quite inadequate.

Although neither of them had mentioned the incident at all, both knew perfectly well what had happened and had an unspoken agreement to avoid bringing up this minor detail.

It had been several days since Lu Suian moved to the study to recuperate from his illness, and the two had not seen each other during that time.

Today, however, they found themselves sharing a meal at the same table, a rare occurrence since both had fallen ill.

Lu Suian offered no extra explanation about the origin of the pear soup, and Shen Anning pretended not to know, refraining from asking.

However, it was said that the chef at the princess’s residence was a former imperial chef from the palace, renowned for his exceptional soups. The pear soup was sweet but not cloying, soft but not mushy. Instead of feeling displeased, Shen Anning ended up polishing off a small bowl herself.

Watching Shen eat so attentively, taking small sips, Lu Suian slowly put down his soup spoon, his lips pursed into a stern, straight line.

What a wonderfully virtuous, heartless, and appreciative wife she was.

…

The autumn was vast, and a gentle breeze blew slowly. At the foot of Jiuyou Mountain, at the end of the sprawling grasslands, stood majestic, rolling mountains.

The largest royal hunting ground of Great Yu was raising flags for the hunt today. From afar, the grasslands were filled with the clattering of armored horses, as thousands of steeds charged forward together, kicking up clouds of dust with a momentum that seemed capable of conquering mountains and rivers—a sight rarely seen by women confined to the inner chambers.

It was absolutely breathtaking.

In her previous life, Shen Anning had been trapped in a small village for fifteen years, almost completely cut off from the world. After marrying into the Lu family, she lived a reclusive life, eventually ending her life confined to a large, imposing mansion. How could she have ever witnessed such a magnificent and powerful scene?

Only after seeing such magnificent landscapes and the vastness of the world did she realize how expansive and wonderful the world truly was, and how small and insignificant she was in comparison. She also came to understand that she had been nothing but a frog at the bottom of a well, trapped in a tiny corner of the world, and died discontented.

Moreover, she realized that after seeing the greater world, even one’s state of mind could become broader and more peaceful. In that moment, all the so-called passions and grudges, love and strife around her, seemed to pale in comparison.

Perhaps in the future, she should shift her focus from the trivial and noisy matters around her to the wider world beyond.

The Emperor of Wei personally rode his imperial steed across the grasslands, showing his imperial pleasure, and how could the civil and military officials not follow suit? Today, everyone had changed out of their solemn and cumbersome official robes, changing into riding attire suitable for hunting. Great Yu had forged its empire from horseback and was never a nation grown weak. Today, they intended to display their martial prowess before the Turk envoys, and so each person appeared vigorous and dashing.

In the crowd, a few figures instantly captured everyone’s attention as soon as they appeared.

One of them was naturally the currently at the peak of his power Crown Prince Lian, General Lian. Crown Prince Lian Cheng had achieved great military success at a young age, becoming the youngest and most capable Cavalry General in the court of Great Yu. He was impressive in appearance and dignified, and imposing, the foremost horseman, and today, his majestic presence on his warhorse was unmatched.

Another was a young, noble, yet somewhat unfamiliar face. The man sat tall on his horse, his sword-like eyebrows sweeping towards his temples, his posture upright and dashing. He was noble and handsome, with a dragon's posture and phoenix's appearance, exuding a rare air of aristocracy. From a distance, he resembled an eagle soaring in the sky, scorning heaven and earth with a commanding presence.

Dressed in black riding attire, his slender as jade figure carried an air of lethality. When riding alongside Crown Prince Lian, his presence was in no way diminished; instead, he possessed an elegant nobility distinct from the typical military demeanor, blending both martial and literary qualities in a strikingly talented manner.

This man was none other than Lu Suian.

Because the Lu family had been suppressed during the Huo regime, they had faded into obscurity for over a decade, rarely appearing in public. Moreover, Lu Suian was known for his indifferent temperament and low-key and detached nature, disliking the spotlight. Aside from a few palace banquets, he seldom showed himself in public. Even though his grand wedding, bestowed by the emperor, had once taken the capital by storm, people often knew his name without recognizing his face.

Today, as soon as he appeared, he stood out in the crowd like a crane among chickens, instantly sparking excited discussions among many giddy young noblewomen.

“Who is that person… the one next to Crown Prince Lian? I had no idea there was someone of such grace in the capital. Could he be from a noble family outside the city?”

“That one? Isn’t he the Crown Prince Lu from the Zhongyong Houfu, who caused a sensation in the capital last year? The one who solved the serial murder and dismemberment case a few days ago…”

“Ah, so this is Crown Prince Lu? My, what a truly noble and jade-like figure. He doesn’t lose out at all next to Crown Prince Lian; in fact, he surpasses him in looks and demeanor. What a pity he married a country girl…”

A few of them huddled together, whispering among themselves.

Zhang Wan couldn’t help but say to Shen Anning, “It seems your situation is even more dire, Ning Er?”

Not only was there a sworn sister in the household, but now, as soon as he showed his face, he was attracting bees and butterflies.

The Zhang and Lu families were not close, and Zhang Wan had only seen Lu Suian from a distance at a palace banquet before. She hadn’t paid him much attention then, but today, seeing him up close, she was struck by his elegance. There were few people in the capital with such presence, and comparing the two, she suddenly felt her own pressures were much lighter than Shen Anning’s.

For a moment, she glanced back and forth between her husband and Crown Prince Lu, sincerely sighing, “Ning Er, lucky you. After seeing him today, Crown Prince Lu can truly be called the most exceptional man in the capital.”

Shen Anning was also slightly dazed by the figure in the distance. In truth, it was no wonder she had been so humble and sorrowful in her past life. How many women in this world could resist such a man?

In her previous life, she had indeed been utterly captivated by him.

But having experienced it, she knew that no matter how handsome or dignified he was, it could never make up for a heart as cold and indifferent as his.

Thinking this, she couldn’t help but laugh and say, “How does he compare to Crown Prince Lian?”

Hearing this, Zhang Wan’s face flushed slightly. Only Ning Er would dare ask such a bold question.

Yet she couldn’t help but glance at the two men again, feeling that her husband was more imposing, while Crown Prince Lu surpassed him in grace and appearance.

She modestly said, “He surpasses… my husband.”

Shen Anning blinked and said, “If you like him, sister, why don’t we swap?”

She looked at Zhang Wan with an expression that seemed to say, “You come to the Houfu, and I’ll go to the Guogongfu.”

Zhang Wan was so shocked by her earth-shattering words that her eyes widened, and she hurriedly covered Shen Anning’s mouth, her face turning red and swollen. “Ning Er, stop talking nonsense.”

Although she knew Shen Anning was only joking, if others overheard, it would be disastrous.

Shen Anning was amused by Zhang Wan’s flustered reaction but quickly knew when to stop.

They made their way to their seats, unaware that someone not far behind them was fuming with rage. That person was Lu Baozhen.

She was stunned by Shen Anning’s audacious and rebellious words. After a moment of stunned silence, she stamped her feet in anger. What did she mean by “swap”? Was her eldest brother some kind of goods to be traded or manipulated at will? Although Lu Baozhen feared her eldest brother the most, she also respected him deeply. She wouldn’t even dare disrespect him in private, so how could Shen Anning, a country woman, have the right?

Lu Baozhen wanted to confront Shen Anning, but in the blink of an eye, she saw the Pei family surrounding her and felt too timid to approach.

In the end, Lu Baozhen could only grit her teeth and mutter, “Hmph, I’ll definitely tell big brother about this.”

She would expose this hypocrite’s true face to her eldest brother.

Meanwhile, Shen Anning, accompanied by Zhang Wan, went to visit the Pei household. After her illness, Pei Qingying had stayed with her in the mansion for two days. Although formal courtesies had not yet been exchanged, Shen Anning had gradually begun to interact more with the Pei family.

Today was the first day of the hunt. Before the official hunt began, there was a preliminary competition. Though called a warm-up, with the Turk envoys present, everyone understood it was actually a contest between the two nations.

All the women were watching from the viewing area below the arena. When Shen Anning returned to her seat, she noticed that Dowager Consort Dong was also present that day, seated prominently next to Empress Zhang. As she approached, she overheard Empress Zhang asking, "It’s been some time since we last met. Today, you're looking much healthier, Dowager Consort?"

Dowager Consort Dong beamed like the Maitreya Buddha and replied cheerfully, "I’ve lost some weight. I’ve lost seven or eight pounds in the past half month, and my body feels much more agile."

Empress Zhang was both surprised and amused, saying, "Oh? Physician Deng had been working diligently for over half a year without any noticeable results. Who has such persuasive power to convince you to endure such hardship?"

Dowager Consort Dong’s health had long been a matter of royal concern. After so long without improvement, her newfound vitality was indeed astonishing.

Dowager Consort Dong smiled and said, "I simply met an extraordinary person."

As she spoke, she glanced around the seating area and, spotting Shen Anning in the distance, waved to her warmly, saying, "My dear, come here and let me take a look at you. You’ve suffered quite a bit recently."

Turning to Empress Zhang, she added, "It’s all thanks to this young woman who gave me a prescription. Following it has brought about these results."

She then recounted her chance encounter with Shen Anning at the August Tower and showered Shen Anning with affectionate concern, treating her with the affection one shows a favorite relative.

Dowager Consort Dong’s words immediately drew the attention of all the women present to Shen Anning.

Empress Zhang remarked with surprise, "I had no idea Lady Lu had such talents!"

Shen Anning quickly replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have no such ability. It was merely by chance that I obtained this prescription. It must have been fate that made it effective for Dowager Consort."

Upon hearing the word "fate," Empress Zhang seemed momentarily taken aback but quickly concealed her reaction. She praised Shen Anning and, upon learning about the troubles Shen Anning had recently faced, offered her sincere comfort.

On such an occasion, merely catching the attention of nobility was already a great honor. Yet Shen Anning had not only been summoned by the Empress and Dowager Consort but was also on familiar terms with both the Pei and Lian families. Unbeknownst to many, she had already become quite adept at navigating social situations in these elite circles.

The young ladies who had earlier whispered about her now looked somewhat embarrassed.

In the Lu family seating area, Xiao Fang Shi, who had once outshone her, now watched as her country-bred sister-in-law had surpassed her overnight. Though they lived under the same roof, it now seemed as if they belonged to two different social strata. Xiao Fang Shi couldn’t help feeling envious.

Xiao Shi watched from afar, her face wearing a kindly expression, though the warmth did not quite reach her eyes.

As for Fang Shi, who was usually fond of stirring up trouble, today her mind was not on internal rivalries. Instead, she was eagerly watching the highest seats in the distance, her eyes shining with anticipation.