Chapter 65

Madam Xu flicked her handkerchief and strode in, waiting off to the side.

Shen Qing could no longer hold back. He helped Xiao Wanling up, nodded to the city magistrate and Eunuch Zhu, and walked out with her.

Old Lady Liu refused to back down. “You’re lying! What benefits did Madam Xiao give you?”

The city magistrate shouted, “How dare you! Are you accusing Eunuch Zhu of corruption?”

That man was the emperor’s close attendant, who had followed him from the Prince of Jin’s manor to the imperial palace.

Eunuch Zhu coldly looked at Old Lady Liu. “The woman you mentioned is in the palace. Do you want me to take you into the palace to confront her in person?”

Old Lady Liu nodded. “She’s a fake!”

Eunuch Zhu didn’t bother replying, simply turning to the city magistrate. “His Majesty is waiting for my report.”

He left.

Only when Old Lady Liu heard the words “His Majesty” did she realize how badly she’d overstepped. She tried to turn and flee, only to be stopped.

Madam Xu stepped forward and spread her arms. “My lord, I want to report Old Lady Liu for stealing my engagement and my money and ruining my life and forcing me into degradation!”

Old Lady Liu opened her mouth to argue but saw the thick wooden plank and collapsed to the floor in fright.

Madam Xu threw down her engagement token and witness-signed documents on the floor.

The judge slammed his wooden flail. “So this is why you were so sure of yourself. It was your own wickedness!”

Old Lady Liu was sentenced to return five taels of silver to Madam Xu and care for her until the end of her days.

Thus, Madam Xu righteously moved into the Xue family, becoming Old Lady Liu’s neighbor. No one gossiped anymore; instead, they sympathized with Madam Xu—clearly the victim of Old Lady Liu’s schemes.

Madam Xu took up matchmaking, happily roaming the city introducing suitors. Life had never been better.

Xue Zhengyang disappeared without a trace. His three sons had all moved out. Even Xue Cui was gone.

Whenever Old Lady Liu went to her sons for support, Xue Defu and the others only felt ashamed. She’d stolen her sister’s money and fiancé; it was just disgraceful.

She tried to see her eldest grandson, but Cheng Qiao’er blocked the door. “We won’t let you influence him. He’s gone to study at the academy.”

“Cui’er! Where did you go?!”

Old Lady Liu suddenly remembered Xue Cui. She tracked down Hou Youcai, only to learn he’d remarried and had kicked Xue Cui out of the house so her room could be used as a study for his son.

Hou Youcai slammed the door in her face. “No idea! She’s been gone for days.”

Panicked, Old Lady Liu went to the authorities to report her missing.

The city magistrate rolled his eyes and turned away. “Missing? I just saw Xue Cui delivering goods down the street!”

Indeed, Xue Cui had taken up delivering takeout for the teahouse. Nobody knew why the once-resentful Xue Cui now willingly handled the most tiring job and even did it with a smile.

Xiao Wanling posted a hiring notice outside the tea house. A crowd quickly gathered. “What are the requirements? What’s the pay?”

Xiao Wanling: “We’re hiring delivery help—men or women. A hundred cents per day. Long-term positions available.”

Two self-proclaimed scholars pushed to the front. “We can manage accounts. You sell tea and snacks and host banquets—surely you need us.”

Aunt Wu rolled her eyes and whispered to Xiao Wanling, “Weren’t these the ones who rejected all the female applicants last time? Probably up to no good.”

Xiao Wanling understood and politely declined. “Our ladies are trained in accounting. We won’t be hiring anyone new.”

Besides, she and Shen Qing could handle the books. Everyone dealing with money roughly knew the daily income anyway.

The two scholars, rejected publicly, were humiliated. “Madam Xiao, is there anyone in Qishan Village better at bookkeeping than us?”

Xiao Wanling calmly asked, “Why were you dismissed from your previous posts?”

The crowd murmured, “Yes, why were you let go?”

The two men had no clue. Several shops had paid them out and told them not to come back.

Gu Yaofang and Han Hui arrived and stood on either side of Xiao Wanling. Han Hui said bluntly, “Don’t wonder—you were replaced by me.”

They’d long disliked the way those two belittled women just because they could read. Now pregnant, Han Hui and Gu Yaofang wanted light work like accounting, and in doing so, took over the jobs the men lost. It was all karma.

One of the men huffed and shouted at the general store, “When your accounts are a mess, don’t come crawling back to me!”

But the shop owner, newly arrived from the capital, didn’t care. “No worries.”

There were plenty of literate women and scholars eager for work. Gu Yaofang and Han Hui, with their husbands in the army and accounting skills gained from Madam Xiao, were perfect people—recommended by the Grand Tutor himself.

Seeing this, other shops followed suit, hiring women accountants who cost less than those two smug scholars.

Now out of options and skills, the two men left with tails between their legs.

The noble families who’d moved south saw how well Xiao Wanling managed the teahouse and hired female teachers not only to teach etiquette but also math. Girls from Qishan City were welcome to attend as well.

Everyone said Xiao Wanling was a remarkable woman—she could farm, run a teahouse, and be an educator. They wanted their daughters to be like her.

Xiao Wanling was now focused on cultivating corn. She’d selected a plot in the hills behind Qishan Village. But just as the young seedlings sprouted two leaves, an unexpected storm drowned them all.

The farm supervisor was heartbroken and worried about wasting seeds—how could he explain this?

But Xiao Wanling had anticipated this. She pulled back a tarp in the courtyard to reveal hundreds of corn seedlings and new sprouts. Shen Qing’s secret crops had also sprouted. There was no more cause for concern.

The supervisor was overjoyed and swore he’d guard the field with his life this time.

They wrapped the seedlings with tung oil cloth, ready to cover them during bad weather.

Every day when everyone opened their eyes, they would go to take a look at the cornfields. The city governor sent people to guard them day and night, and anyone caught stealing would be treated as a spy.

In their own courtyard, Xiao Wanling had planted corn, chilies, and tomatoes. Shen Qing had another hidden garden even she didn’t know about.

When the corn finally grew taller than a person, Xiao Wanling could finally relax a bit. She asked Shen Qing to take her to the cliff where she had buried that woman.

She still didn’t understand how the grave she built with her own hands had vanished.

Shen Qing had his suspicions too. If the Emperor had lied to protect her, that meant someone still held a secret over them.

They rode two mountains deep, then hiked down to the cliff’s base.

Seeing the familiar river, Xiao Wanling remembered how the blue-clad woman had bled into crimson, dying in her arms. The stones were still there, but the grave of stacked rocks was gone.

Shen Qing followed her gaze and said, “This spot is close to the riverbed. Maybe heavy rain washed it away.”

“Maybe,” she agreed.

In truth, she hoped the woman had survived. It would’ve been a shame to perish after finally escaping.

Shen Qing lifted her onto the horse. “Did our daughter kick you?”

Xiao Wanling smiled softly. “She did.”

Shen Qing led her along the mountain path toward the palace, lit up like stars. As they rode, a palace envoy galloped by, recognizing them at once. “Imperial edict from His Majesty! The envoys from Tianzhu and Loulan have arrived. The agricultural minister is requested to prepare a banquet menu showcasing Yongji’s prosperity!”

Xiao Wanling: “This humble woman accepts it.”

As the envoy left, Shen Qing muttered, “So much for peace… She’s due in a few months. I was hoping to travel the mountains with her after.”

But Xiao Wanling was calm. With just corn, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and seasoning, she could prepare a feast to amaze any foreigner.

Who can compare with China in terms of food heritage?

Hot pot meatballs with tofu, fried bean curd, bean curd, bell rolls, fermented bean curd, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, shrimp and corn, corn stewed with pork ribs, hot and sour potato shreds, candied sweet potatoes, etc.

There are so many that hundreds of dishes can be written down. From hotpot and tofu to stir-fries and pastries, the possibilities were endless. Soybeans alone could fill a whole table.

Three days later, the envoy returned for the menu. The scroll unfurled so long it rolled out into the courtyard. The envoy took some effort to close the menu, breathed a sigh of relief, and went back to report to His Majesty.

Shen Qing insisted on accompanying her to the palace.

Cheng Qiao’er, Jiang Ting, and Madam Shi were thrilled. “Are we really going to cook for the envoys?”

“Yes,” Xiao Wanling nodded.

There was no way she could prepare that many dishes alone. They had to rehearse and train to work smoothly.

Aunt Wu and Sister-in-law Lu watched enviously from the back door.

Xiao Wanling held up a sweet potato and a yam. “Peel them, wash them clean, and cut them into cubes and strips.”

The women chopped rapidly, prepared chicken and duck, and learned to salt duck eggs and make tea eggs. She rattled off recipes like poetry.

Shen Qing listened closely, perfectly in sync with her.

Two hours later, a feast was laid out. Just looking at it made mouths water.

After they ate, they rested a bit, and the table was reset with tea and dried fruits.

“Make fruit milk teas,” Xiao Wanling instructed. “Same method, just add fresh fruit or jam. Be creative.”

Shen Qing expertly peeled and diced, simmered jam, and brewed the tea and milk. He was so practiced, the women could only gape and feel reassured.

Fully prepared, they rode the royal carriage into the palace. The Imperial Kitchen cleared out to let them work.

The imperial chefs finished and sent their dishes up first. Only then did Xiao Wanling begin her cooking.

When making snowy bean paste cakes, Shen Qing separated egg yolks and whites, whisking the whites with one hand and holding the bowl with the other until stiff peaks formed. He even flipped the bowl upside down to show it wouldn’t fall.

The imperial chefs peeked in and were stunned. That kind of strength and speed? No one would believe he hadn’t been a cook for over ten years.

Every dish was tasted and approved by Xiao Wanling. If she nodded, it went out. If she shook her head, it stayed.

The eunuch ran back and forth announcing rewards:

“The snowy bean paste is excellent—His Majesty rewards two bolts of Sichuan brocade and two hundred head of livestock!”

“Sweet and sour ribs—Tianzhu envoy gifts five pearls!”

“Corn rib soup—Loulan envoy sends a cart of grapes!”

Hearing all that, Xiao Wanling turned slowly to Shen Qing. “Let’s make a few more dishes.”

The sweet potatoes and regular potatoes hadn’t even been served yet.

The banquet lasted all day. That night, Shen Qing and Xiao Wanling stayed in the General’s Estate. Cheng Qiao’er looked around wide-eyed. “It’s the biggest house I’ve ever seen!”

The women giddily discussed what they’d take home as souvenirs.

In the middle of the night, Shen Qing’s sudden shout jolted everyone awake. “Wanling’s in labor!”

Cheng Qiao’er dashed out, tying her sash mid-run. “I’ll fetch the midwife!”

Jiang Ting and Madam Shi panicked. Shen Qing knelt by the bed, wiping Wanling’s sweat.

Xiao Wanling gritted her teeth through the growing pain but stayed calm. “Boil water! Someone get Madam Zhang and the physician!”

One fetched water, and the other ran for Madam Zhang.

Shen Qing called for the courtyard maid and had her bring a doctor—just in case.

The physician, midwife, and Madam Zhang arrived. Shen Qing stood guard outside, trembling at Xiao Wanling’s screams and curses.

“Shen Qing, you bastard! You said no more kids!”

Clutching the doorframe, Shen Qing shouted, “No more! I swear—never again!”

He was scared out of his wits.

Then they heard an infant’s cry, and Xiao Wanling stopped yelling.

Madam Zhang brought him a bowl of sweet egg soup.

Shen Qing’s hands were still shaking as he entered the room. Xiao Wanling was asleep, her face damp with sweat, hair sticking to her forehead. He took her hand, overwhelmed with emotion.

The midwife gently handed him the swaddled child. “Congratulations, General Shen—it’s a boy!”

When Xiao Wanling woke, Li Die’er and Madam Zhang were inside. The table was covered with tiger-head shoes and hats, patchwork clothes, and quilts. The door creaked open—Shen Qing entered with the baby’s cradle and set it beside the bed.

Li Die’er handed over the baby. “Look—he looks just like General Shen!”

Shen Qing grinned, placing the child in the cradle.

They’d already prepared clothes and shoes up to age five, some of which were made by Li Ping’er.

After sitting through two months of confinement, Shen Qing took his wife and son to travel the land.

By the time people realized they’d gone missing and rushed to report it, they found only a letter.

Shen Qing had taken his family far from the Yongji Empire, into the ancient city of Loulan.

In a quiet inn, their little dumpling of a baby slept peacefully on the bed.

Shen Qing’s robe had fallen open, revealing the abs Xiao Wanling loved to admire.

She scolded, “No! There are people around! The baby might see!”

Knowing she was shy again, Shen Qing chuckled, closed the curtain, draped his robe on the bedpost, and slowly walked toward her.

Translator’s Note:- Anddd its the END !!!!

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