Chapter 22: Washing the Blanket Part 3

After the cheers subsided, Shen Sheng stopped. The wind was very cold, biting against her face, but it didn’t hurt. Her bruised, purple hand didn’t hurt either. But the look in the State Preceptor’s eyes was terrifying.

She chuckled awkwardly. The others quickly found excuses to leave, declaring they would spar again another day.

In an instant, only the two of them remained on the Drill Ground.

Anu walked leisurely towards the weapons rack and began picking through them. Shen Sheng trotted over. “What weapon are you skilled with?”

Anu paid no attention. She picked up the smallest dagger, pushed up her sleeve, and drew a cut across her wrist.

Shen Sheng was about to laugh at her for self-harm, but suddenly, she was jolted by a sharp pain in her own wrist. She looked at Anu in disbelief. “What dirty trick are you playing now?”

“I like it when you hurt.” Anu curved her lips into a smile, a sinister smile.

Shen Sheng clutched her wrist, her brow furrowed in pain. But the wound on Anu’s wrist began to coagulate, then scab over, and quickly fully healed.

After it healed, she realized the pain in her own wrist had also stopped.

Shen Sheng, both ashamed and furious, snapped: “Last night I asked you to use a little magic to wash a blanket, and you wouldn’t agree even if it killed you. Today you go crazy just to torment me.”

Before Shen Sheng could finish, Anu lightly drew another cut on her already healed wrist. Shen Sheng yelped in pain, nearly jumping up.

Shen Sheng immediately surrendered. “I was wrong, I was wrong.”

Only then did Anu cast aside the dagger and sigh in relief. “So much better when you’re obedient.”

Deflated, Shen Sheng left.

This time, Anu followed behind Shen Sheng.

The banquet prepared in the front courtyard went uneaten. Madam Shen sighed. Might as well call the people from each household to eat together.

The Shen family was simple, without rules saying they must eat together. Generally, everyone ate separately.

Everyone sat at two tables. The adults at one table, the six children at another. At the adults’ table, because of the State Preceptor’s presence, no one dared speak casually.

At the children’s table, thanks to Buyan and Buyu’s endless chattering, it was exceptionally lively.

The meal was eaten under a stifling atmosphere. As soon as they put down their bowls and chopsticks, each household left. Buyan and Buyu wanted to go watch the fireworks. Zhuzhu, hearing this, retracted her little foot, which had already stepped out.

Her head tilted up, along with the other two, as they all stared expectantly at Shen Sheng.

Zhuzhu urgently called: “Aunt, Aunt, Aunt…”

Jiang Buyu, without thinking, followed suit: “Aunt, Aunt, Aunt…”

Jiang Buyan looked at her sister in disdain. So embarrassing! Won’t call ‘Mother’, but calls ‘Aunt’.

Shen Sheng felt extremely uncomfortable under their three gazes. Just then, Zhu Fan returned. Ignoring Zhuzhu’s pleas, she directly picked her up and carried her away.

Zhuzhu immediately burst into loud wails, crying on her mother’s shoulder as she called for Shen Sheng.

Zhu Fan ran off very quickly. A deep smile played on Anu’s face. Afraid of her, was she?

She asked Shen Sheng: “If I were to marry you, would your family find it hard to sleep day and night?”

To her surprise, Shen Sheng answered directly: “We can just move out and live separately. It won’t be a bother.”

Anu lowered her head, her expression unreadable.

Shen Sheng patted Buyan and Buyu’s heads. “Wait for me. I’ll go bring Zhuzhu over, and we’ll all go play together.”

Shen Sheng rushed off to catch up with Zhu Fan. Anu lifted her head, the ice and snow within her eyes melting away.

Buyan and Buyu each took one of her hands, pulling her towards the outside. “Let’s all go watch the fireworks together! You said that once she accepts us, we can go out and play! Don’t go back on your word.”

The three boarded the carriage. Shen Sheng, holding Zhuzhu, ran over swiftly, directly jumping onto the carriage. Zhuzhu giggled non-stop.

New Year’s nights were always lively, especially the lantern festival. From the first day of the year to the fifteenth, it drew huge crowds.

The matron held Zhuzhu. Buyan and Buyu walked ahead, chattering non-stop.

Tonight’s lantern fair wasn’t overly crowded. Most people chose to stay home with their families.

The entire street was brightly lit, illuminating the night sky.

Shen Sheng looked after the little ones the whole way, focused only on paying for things.

Arriving at a Tavern, Buyan and Buyu wanted to go inside, so the whole group went in to rest.

The three small and two big figures found a private room to sit down. Shen Sheng stood by the window, gazing down at the street scene below. The entire length of the street was illuminated by lantern light.

A mortal world of endless, sleepless splendor. Intoxicating dreams difficult to wake from.

After a brief rest, the group took a carriage back home.

Back home, Shen Sheng personally delivered Zhuzhu to Zhu Fan’s place.

Seeing she was about to leave, Zhu Fan stopped her. “Little Five, between you and the State Preceptor… is it…”

Her mother-in-law’s attitude was very clear. She treated those two children of unknown origin as flesh and blood of the Shen family. Towards the State Preceptor, too, seemed to hold an inexplicable feeling.

Shen Sheng frankly admitted it. “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I won’t make things difficult for you. I plan to buy a residence myself, and then I’ll take Buyan and Buyu there.”

In this era, there were precedents for two women marrying. Many households didn’t reject it. Yet, happening right before one’s eyes, it was still a matter hard to put into words. Zhu Fan smiled bitterly. “The State Preceptor’s past, do you understand it? Outsiders have glorified the State Preceptor as an Immortal, but what she is truly like inside, you and I know in our hearts. With so many women in the world, why must it be… be…”

She still couldn’t bear to say the last words. Wouldn’t it be better to find an innocent young lady from a good family?

Shen Sheng smiled slightly. “Her past, I am already investigating. I believe the outside rumors are false. Even if they were true, Sister-in-law, she has never harmed me. She has even helped me. That alone is enough.”

“Furthermore, you are also aware of the State Preceptor’s current power and influence. The reason Zhou Yi doesn’t dare touch me is also because of the State Preceptor. Right now, she is her greatest backer.”

Hearing this, Zhu Fan’s heart ached deeply. The Great General who had fought for her country, forced to rely on a treacherous, wicked minister just to survive.

It was truly shameful.

Zhu Fan couldn’t dissuade her and felt deeply melancholic for a moment. Shen Sheng smiled and comforted her. “Look at me now. I’m perfectly fine. Chancellor Zhou wouldn’t dare cause trouble for our Shen family. Isn’t that wonderful?”

That night, the moon was full and the stars were sparse.

Shen Sheng, after consoling others, returned to her own quarters feeling very low-spirited.

What kind of person Anu was, she had already figured out. The world misunderstood her greatly.

How could this misunderstanding be cleared up?

The winter night was bitterly cold. The chill seeped into one’s skin. The fragrance of plum blossoms drifted in waves.

Shen Sheng suddenly stopped. A figure stood beneath the plum forest, clad in a red robe, waiting for her.

“Ah Sheng.”

Shen Sheng’s steps, which had been moving closer, halted. Then she turned and fled.

Unfortunately, the other party was faster. A single stride blocked her path. Still the same red robe, only the appearance had changed.

“Where exactly did I slip up?” The Fox Demon raised an eyebrow towards Shen Sheng, the corners of her lips curling upward. Her hand reached straight for Shen Sheng’s neck.

Shen Sheng immediately felt disgusted. What even was a Fox Demon? And a thousand-year-old one at that.

“Don’t touch me,” Shen Sheng pulled the dagger from her waist and, without a shred of hesitation, lunged to attack the Fox Demon.

How could a mortal’s blade compare to that of a Demon? Before she could even get close, Shen Sheng was seized by the throat by the opponent.

The Fox Demon leisurely sized up Shen Sheng, then gave a look of suspicion. “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before. For a moment, I just can’t remember where.”

Shen Sheng’s feet left the ground. Her small face flushed deep red. She reached out, trying to grab back at the Fox Demon.

The Fox Demon paid no attention. With a forceful shake, Shen Sheng was slammed to the ground. In that instant, she scrambled back up, taking a defensive stance.

“Never mind, I’ll just eat you quickly. No need to think so hard.” The Fox Demon uttered coyly, a greedy expression emerging on her face.

Her fox tail had just shot towards Shen Sheng when a force inexplicably attacked. Massive waves rolled. The Fox Demon urgently withdrew. “Dammit! Are these two glued together?”

Anu floated down gracefully, landing in front of Shen Sheng, and sneered coldly. Her finger pointed accusingly at the Fox Demon. “I told you, don’t set your sights on her. Otherwise, I’ll chop off your tails, mince them, and feed them to the dogs.”

The Fox Demon refused to yield. Her nine tails rose up, momentum ferocious. “I said, she’s mine!”

“Yours? Which eye of yours sees her as yours?” Anu said with displeasure.

The Fox Demon roared: “Both eyes!”

Anu waved her sleeve. Waves of water surged sky-high. Calmly, she uttered: “Gouge them out.”

She laughed coldly, expression icy, dignified and holy.

The Fox Demon fled once again. Anu went in pursuit, tossing a few talisman papers to Shen Sheng. “Protect yourself.”

Shen Sheng caught the talismans and shouted towards the sky. “How do I use them?!”

“Ask Buyan and Buyu.”

The dark shadow disappeared. Shen Sheng, holding the talismans, felt completely lost.

Buyan sat at the head of the bed; Buyu sat at the foot. The two were playing rock-paper-scissors. Whoever won would sleep at the head of the bed. Best two out of three.

The first round, Jiang Buyan won, so she temporarily occupied the head of the bed.

The second round, Jiang Buyu won.

The two switched positions. Jiang Buyu sat loftily at the head of the bed.

Just as they were about to start the third round, Shen Sheng pushed the door open and rushed in, a sorry sight. “There’s a demon coming.”

Jiang Buyan glanced sideways at her. “The Demon can’t kill you anyway. What are you afraid of?”

“Why can’t it kill me?” Shen Sheng found this unbelievable. For a demon to kill a person—it was as easy as lifting a hand.

Jiang Buyan didn’t answer. Jiang Buyu spoke up: “Because my mother is here. You can’t die. Wait, what’s that you’re holding in your hand?”

The enthusiastic Jiang Buyu scrambled up from the head of the bed and took the talisman papers from Shen Sheng’s hand. “Oh… it’s a Heavenly Thunder Talisman. Used for harming people. Do you know the incantation?”