A Figure on Jade Steps in the Wind and Snow 87

Chapter 87: Entering the Palace

Before Jiang Yu could answer, Shen Zhishu had already dragged Hongli away, threatening her that if she spoke nonsense again, she would not get her monthly salary next month.

Hongli replied, “Yes,” with a pained expression, announced the start of the game with a pained expression, hid in the woodshed with a pained expression, and was found with a pained expression.

However, this face did not stay pained for more than two quarters of an hour—by the time the game ended, Shen Zhishu and Jiang Yu had only found eleven people.

The other five, it was unclear whether they were too well hidden, or if someone had secretly let them go, were not found within the specified time.

Hongli got two hairpins and two silver ingots, and she was so happy she went to heaven. After returning to her room, she began to discuss with the other attendants how to trick Jiang Yu back to the General’s Manor.

“I don’t think the General and Her Highness are unintentional, it’s just that the General is unwilling to get married,” Hongli said with an old-fashioned air. “In my opinion, why don’t we start with Her Highness the Eldest Princess? If we can get Her Highness, are we still afraid of not being able to get the General?”

“How do we do that?” another attendant asked.

“You wait,” Hongli said. “Next time I go out with the General, I’ll first get on good terms with the attendants around Her Highness Huai’an, get some inside information, and then make a plan.”

Another attendant said hurriedly, “I’ll go too.”

“Such an interesting thing, you must take me with you.”

…

So the next day when Shen Zhishu went out, more than a dozen attendants volunteered to accompany her on the street.

Shen Zhishu: ?

Shen Zhishu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you twelve going to form an opera troupe? It’s not an opera, you don’t need so many people. If someone recognizes me, the impeachment letter will be sent to the Holy Majesty the next day, saying that I am ostentatious, impolite, and arrogant because of my favor.”

But one of the attendants said, “I haven’t been out for a long time,” another said, “I’m bored at home,” another said, “I miss the square cakes sold on the street outside,” and another said, “I didn’t pay for something I bought on the street last time, so I’ll make up for it this time.” The twelve excuses were all different.

Shen Zhishu: …

Shen Zhishu let out a long sigh, took the twelve little tails out on the street, and went to the east of the city to buy two pots of wine.

After that, she did not go to the Eldest Princess’s Manor, but went straight home, leaving Hongli and the others to look at each other.

Hongli opened her mouth and asked boldly, “Is the General going back now?”

“Why not?” Shen Zhishu glanced at her. “It’s cold outside, and there’s no one on the street. It’s boring to stroll around. You can have someone send this red jar of wine to Xie Jin’s manor later. She helped me a lot last year, so I should thank her. She will probably like this wine.”

“Then what about Her Highness Huai’an?”

“I’m not finished yet. This blue jar of wine is for Her Highness Huai’an. You can arrange it.”

Hongli paused and asked, “Is the General not going to deliver it in person?”

“No,” Shen Zhishu said casually. “I have to go to the palace with Mother Shen tomorrow to see the Holy Majesty, so I won’t go to find her today for the time being, so as not to be forced to drink by her again.”

And then she heard a chorus of “Ah—” from behind her.

Their voices were long, and their regret was overflowing.

Shen Zhishu suddenly realized and turned to smile, “I finally understand what you’re up to—going out for a stroll is a pretense, and you really want to see Her Highness Huai’an. Why do you want to see her so much? How about I send you to her manor?”

Hongli shook her head like a rattle drum and said with wide eyes, expressing her loyalty, “We are born as people of the General’s Manor, and we will die as ghosts of the General’s Manor!”

“Alright, alright, it’s the first day of the new year, and you’re talking about life and death. You’re not being taboo,” Shen Zhishu said. “Tell me, why do you want to see Her Highness Huai’an?”

Hongli said with a hehe smile and stammered, “Her Highness Huai’an is so graceful and beautiful, who wouldn’t want to see her?”

“…” Shen Zhishu said. “I will definitely convey your admiration. If Your Highness knows, she will probably be happy too.”

Hongli said, “Then what about the General?”

“Hmm?”

“Does the General not have any admiration?”

The swaying north wind brushed past her trousers, and Shen Zhishu’s steps paused.

…Does she?

She does.

After remembering her previous life, Shen Zhishu naturally thought of some things clearly—

She had often thought that a certain person was cute before, and she always unconsciously wanted to be good to a certain person. Sometimes, her heart would pound because of a certain person’s actions, and she was not repulsed by some of a certain person’s out-of-line behavior… if this was not admiration, then what was?

In her previous life, it took her decades to vaguely realize her amorous feelings, but in this life, she had feelings in less than a month.

This feeling cannot be flattened by time.

But… she was a general, a warrior who was to lead an expedition. It was not impossible that she would die on the battlefield one day, leaving only a wandering soul.

In her previous life, when she saw the sharp blade pierce through Jiang Yu’s heart, she felt as if she had also been stabbed, and the pain spread to all her limbs, and she could neither live nor die.

Then… if she and Jiang Yu really had mutual feelings in this life, could a certain person bear it if she were to face her sudden death?

So since Jiang Yu did not know about her previous life, the best way to deal with it now was to remain calm and pretend that she also did not know.

Shen Zhishu glanced at Hongli casually and said with a half-smile, “Why are you so gossipy? Are you not assigned enough work?”

Hongli said hurriedly, “Of course not. I’m just concerned about the General.”

Behind her, other attendants were whispering to each other, “The General didn’t even refute!”

“I knew the General had feelings!”

“We must see the attendants in the Eldest Princess’s Manor and discuss it with them!”

“I agree!”

“…”

Shen Zhishu: …

Wait, aren’t you all plotting a little too loudly…

**

The Spring Festival seemed to be no different from usual, except that there were a few more firecrackers outside, the people on the street were dressed a little more red, and the lantern festival at night was a little more lively.

Shen Zhishu had originally thought so too, until she followed Shen Hantan into the palace.

It was a common thing for officials to enter the palace to thank the Emperor during the Spring Festival. During the seven-day Spring Festival holiday, the ministers of the six ministries would often bring their families to see the Holy Majesty.

Shen Zhishu had originally wanted to be lazy and not go, but was scolded by Shen Hantan for “being improper.” She had no choice but to reluctantly put on her heavy court robes, wake up at the fifth watch with sleepy eyes to wash up, and stand outside the hall at dawn, holding her breath and waiting.

She did not look up after she entered the hall and kept staring at the tips of her feet, so she did not notice that besides the Emperor, there was another person standing at the head.

That person’s gaze swept over the room lazily and finally landed on Shen Zhishu, her eyes deepening.

The Emperor said a long string of words with the central idea of “you worked hard last year, continue this year,” and the officials of the six ministries also replied in unison.

Shen Zhishu was in the crowd, shouting slogans along with Mother He and Mother Shen. After going back and forth with the Emperor for about a quarter of an hour, the hall returned to its tranquility.

Suddenly, a loud “Minister Shen” came from the head.

Shen Zhishu did not answer, knowing that the Emperor was probably calling her mother.

Sure enough, Shen Hantan stepped out of the line and replied respectfully.

The Emperor smiled, “The Ministry of Rites did a good job last year. The ceremonies were strict, and there was not a single mistake in all the court audiences and sacrifices. I am very pleased. I hereby bestow five thousand taels of silver to show your diligence. In addition, Minister Shen has governed the rites well and is cautious and prudent. I hereby bestow fifty bolts of various silks and satins and add a year’s salary.”

Shen Hantan hurriedly had Mistress He and Shen Zhishu kneel down to thank the Emperor.

The Emperor took a few steps down from the high platform, personally helped Shen Hantan up, and said in a gentle voice, “My dear minister, there is no need for formalities.”

Shen Hantan said tremblingly, “I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

The Emperor stopped speaking and let out a low laugh, “My dear minister is still too formal, and your daughter is just like you, so disciplined that she hasn’t even raised her head in the two quarters of an hour she’s been in the hall.”

As she spoke, she turned to Shen Zhishu and said again, “It’s not a court audience today, General Shen, there’s no need to be so reserved. Raise your head and let me see you.”

Shen Zhishu lowered her gaze, thinking to herself, I still can’t avoid it.

She did not want to see the Emperor—the other party had diligently raised Jiang Yu, but had also intentionally or unintentionally hurt Jiang Yu.

So she always didn’t know how to face Jiang Chu. If she had no emotional fluctuation, it would be heartless; but if she had other thoughts, it would be disloyal.

Shen Zhishu was quiet for a few breaths before she raised her head and met the face that was very similar to Jiang Yu’s.

The last time she had seen the Emperor was at the Eldest Princess’s Manor. The Emperor and the Eldest Princess had spoken their minds, and from then on, they had gone their separate ways.

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, and she said, “I haven’t seen you in half a month, but General Shen has become more and more radiant.”

Shen Zhishu only said, “Thanks to Your Majesty’s blessing.”

Her eyes were on the Emperor, and her peripheral vision happened to be on the high platform.

The figure standing on the high platform took a small step to the side and suddenly came into her line of sight.

Shen Zhishu did not pay much attention at first, thinking that it was some eunuch who was personally serving the Emperor. But when the Emperor turned to walk up to the head, she inadvertently glanced over, and this glance was a stun.

She looked again in disbelief and hurriedly moved to Shen Hantan’s side, asking in a low voice, “Who is that person beside the Emperor?”

“The State Preceptor,” Shen Hantan said. “Don’t you recognize this face?”

Shen Zhishu was a little dazed for a moment.

I do, she thought. How could I not.

One of the twelve immortals of her previous life, who did not like to deal with others and was only on nodding terms with the other eleven immortals. It was said that she only had a small immortal by her side, whom she kept on a mountain peak and never brought out to see others.

The State Preceptor’s face was exactly the same as the person in her memory.

…Was it a reincarnation? But the State Preceptor was said to have lived for more than three hundred years.

On the surface, she had lived for more than three hundred years, but in reality, it would only be longer.

So…

Perhaps this old friend had not died at all back then?