Chapter 22: Washing the Blanket Part 2

Buyan and Buyu stood to the side and asked a question: “Where’s your blanket?”

Went out hugging a blanket, the people came back, the blanket was gone. Wastrels.

Only then did Shen Sheng remember. She looked at the Immortal, similarly wrapped in a blanket. “You… I’ve been angered to death by you!”

Anu wrapped herself in the blanket, her expression unchanged, not a trace of guilt. “Not my family’s blanket anyway.”

“It was still yours to sleep with!” Shen Sheng was about to explode with fury.

Maid servants brought hot water. “Miss, State Preceptor, you two should soak in hot water to drive out the cold.”

Still in her rage, Shen Sheng retorted: “Even if everyone under heaven froze to death, she wouldn’t freeze.”

The adults were angry. The two little ones decisively hid in a corner. Jiang Buyan blamed: “It’s all your fault. You just had to mention the blanket.”

Jiang Buyu was unconvinced. “I just spoke the truth.”

Jiang Buyan glared back mercilessly. “That truth of yours hurt too much. They’re quarreling.”

Jiang Buyu pouted and fell silent.

Shen Sheng wouldn’t compare herself to the Immortal. Once the hot water arrived, she went to bathe first. Unexpectedly, upon entering the bath chamber, there were two tubs set up.

The thoughtful maids had placed a screen between the two tubs, blocking the view.

She walked back to the room to call Anu.

Anu glanced at her. “Not washing.”

“Let you wash yourself, not wash the blanket. Don’t worry, there are two tubs.” Shen Sheng said generously.

The maids were amused but held back their laughter, mindful of the State Preceptor’s presence.

Shen Sheng urged a few more times before Anu slowly got up.

Entering the bath, she indeed saw two tubs and a screen that obscured the view from either side.

Shen Sheng had already slipped into her tub. Water spilled over the edge, splashing onto the floor.

Anu looked towards that screen, lost in thought.

The bathwater was very hot, causing one to sweat profusely, a means to dispel the chill.

Shen Sheng soaked very comfortably. She turned around and looked toward the screen. “Anu, what was the deal with that demon?”

“If you want to know, go investigate yourself. I can only tell you her origin. The South River water dried up, Immortals fell, and the Demon Race withered. Any demon capable of living in this world now must be a Great Demon. The human world has its own laws; demons don’t break them lightly. There are also Demon Hunters in this world who maintain peace for the Human Race. That Fox Demon has cultivated to Great Perfection. Ordinary Demon Hunters can’t do anything to her. The fact that she came looking for you means someone tasked her to.”

“Think carefully for yourself: who have you offended, who has the ability to command a Great Demon?” Anu tilted her head back to look at the roof beam. Water droplets followed the curve of her slender neck down into the water’s surface.

Shen Sheng lay prone on the edge of the tub, her back exposed. She looked at the screen. “Are you referring to Zhou Yi?”

She hadn’t been back in the capital for more than a few days. She rarely went out. She hadn’t even contacted old friends. Who could she have offended?

Zhou Yi, who had left in utter fury that day—it was hard to say he wouldn’t think of ways to harm people.

She thought seriously. Zhou Yi was the Chancellor’s son, had the ability and power. The noble sons followed his lead.

She was curious. “Did Zhou Yi make some agreement with the Great Demon?”

“I don’t know. The Great Demon doesn’t dare enter the Imperial Capital. The Imperial Aura within the capital is at its peak. Recently, His Majesty’s health has been poor; that’s why she dared enter the city.” Anu closed her eyes, her tone nonchalant.

By the time they emerged from the water, it was already the hour of Hai (9-11 PM). The two little ones were sprawled askew on Shen Sheng’s bed. A floor mat was also laid out on the ground.

The maidservants smiled apologetically. “They said they wanted to sleep here tonight. Fifth Miss, you sleep on the floor.”

Shen Sheng rolled her eyes. “Heartless things. I fell in the water, and you make me sleep on the floor?”

“There are warming stoves in the bedding… it was also the little misses’ instructions,” the maidservant replied.

Shen Sheng couldn’t be bothered to argue with two children. She turned and left the room, pulling Anu to the Guest Courtyard. She also ordered some late-night snacks to be prepared.

The maidservant, however, said: “Madam gave the order. No meals after the proper hours.”

“Since when did we have this rule?” Shen Sheng’s barely suppressed temper flared again. Mother was clearly doing this on purpose.

She took a deep breath. “Let’s go. Eat out.”

Anu raised an eyebrow, looking at the full moon tonight. Madam Shen was indeed an interesting person.

The two found a Tavern that hadn’t yet closed for the night. Shen Sheng generously ordered a table full of dishes and wine, pulling Anu to sit and drink with her.

After a mouthful of hot food, Shen Sheng asked again about the affairs of the South River. But this time, Anu said absolutely nothing.

Whatever needed to be said was already in the books.

After finishing their meal, the two sauntered slowly back home.

The two settled down in the Guest Courtyard. Anu slept on the bed; Shen Sheng slept on the floor mat.

As Shen Sheng lay down, a thought struck her. No matter where she went, she seemed to always end up sleeping on the floor…

When she woke up the next day, the person on the bed was gone.

Shen Sheng got up and asked the maidservants. The State Preceptor had left at daybreak.

After finishing breakfast, Shen Sheng went out. She went to Zhou Manor and waited outside for any sign of Zhou Yi.

Princess Anle hadn’t been dead long. Zhou Yi, as a widower, still had to observe mourning. During the New Year, he couldn’t go out visiting. If he broke the rules, the censors would drown him in spit.

After staking out for an hour, she saw Zhou Yi sneakily slipping out the back door.

Shen Sheng rode after him immediately. Partway, he seemed to notice he was being followed and turned right back home.

Shen Sheng paid some beggars money to keep an eye on the Zhou family’s young master. If there was any news, they were to notify her immediately.

With money, you can make ghosts turn millstones. Anything is easy when you have money.

After paying off the beggars, Shen Sheng headed home, buying two packets of pastries and two packets of milk candy on the way—one for each child.

Today was the second day of the year. Disciples of General Shen all chose this day to pay their New Year’s respects to their Master’s wife. After Shen Sheng returned home, she was dragged off by these martial brothers to spar.

At the same time, Anu went out of the city to track down yesterday’s Fox Demon.

The Fox Demon had taken human form, not daring to stay in the city, so she could only reside in a mountain cave.

Following the trail of her aura, she found her. The other party was right in the middle of an intimate entanglement with a man.

Anu concealed her aura to observe. No bed curtains. Grass was the bed, the sky the blanket.

The wanton, decadent sounds made one’s ears burn red.

Anu took one look, glanced at the sky, and walked back the way she came.

During the New Year, naturally, there was no need to enter the palace. She slowly walked back to the State Preceptor Manor. The Three Gates people were guarding the place.

She gave an order: “There’s a Great Demon outside the city. Don’t leave the city.”

Moon Among Clouds, hearing this, asked suspiciously: “You haven’t caught it yet?”

“Too lazy to catch. Find a few Demon Hunters to go play with it.” Anu didn’t care.

The Fox Demon had come seeking the Phoenix Cauldron. It was forged from the last wisp of Soul of all the Gods of the South River. Compared to ordinary treasures, it was an immensely precious object.

But the Phoenix Cauldron was right under the Emperor’s nose. The Fox Demon had no way to get close. It was then that Zhou Yi appeared, trading his body for the Fox Demon to be lured into killing Shen Sheng.

The Fox Demon approached Shen Manor and, to her surprise, discovered Shen Sheng’s identity as a Demigod, which immediately changed her mind.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Shen Sheng was far harder to catch than the Phoenix Cauldron.

Anu then looked at Moon Among Clouds. “Tell the Twelve Gates people to guard the Young General Shen. If she dies, none of you need to stay alive.”

Moon Among Clouds’ mouth twitched. The State Preceptor had taken a liking to the Shen family’s Young General?

“Understood.”

Anu’s foot, which had stepped into the State Preceptor Manor, retracted again. She had just remembered.

Those two little creatures were having so much fun they’d forgotten home. They were also of Half-Divine constitution.

What if the Fox Demon tried to catch all three at once? That would be very bad.

Watching the State Preceptor’s departing figure, Moon Among Clouds immediately found Qiu Fengqing and Qiu Yueming from the Second Gate. “The State Preceptor’s heart has been moved. Have the Twelve Gates people use all their strength to protect the Shen family’s Young General.”

Qiu Fengqing and Qiu Yueming exchanged a glance, their look seeming to say: ‘You’re only realizing this now? That was last year’s news.’

The people from the Twelve Gates quickly mobilized and guarded Shen Manor. They moved very fast, even arriving earlier than the State Preceptor. They watched with their own eyes as the State Preceptor entered Shen Manor as if it were her own home, and the Shen Manor’s gatekeepers greeted her with the warmth they would show their own master.

How very strange! During the New Year, she had her own home but didn’t go back. Why come to someone else’s place?

Paying a New Year visit?

The State Preceptor came empty-handed.

Looking for trouble?

The enthusiasm of the gatekeepers didn’t seem like that either.

The Twelve Gates people felt a cloud of gloom settling over their heads.

Anu entered Shen Manor and was drawn by the lively atmosphere. The Shen family’s rear courtyard had an open space where everyone was sparring.

Watching Shen Sheng, who was fighting bare-handed against an opponent, a shadow fell over Anu’s eyes.

Shen Sheng’s martial arts were superb, honed over three years on the battlefield. Whether in speed or reaction, she was astonishing.

The gloomy look on the State Preceptor’s face made the maidservants realize something was wrong. Even the generals, engrossed in watching the match, became aware of it.

The State Preceptor’s face clearly read: Unhappy.

And Shen Sheng, locked in combat with her opponent, was like a young calf that would never submit, charging forward bravely and knocking down an opponent with a single punch.