Chapter Nineteen: Sharing a Room

“These rabbits weren’t easy for you to catch. Don’t waste them.”

“Exactly.” Liu Fuying reached into her sleeve and pulled out a handful of wild herbs for seasoning. “Hard-earned spoils shouldn’t be wasted.”

Instead of taking the rabbits, she stuffed the herbs into Pei Zhouwu’s hand.

“Don’t see me off—I’ll be fine. If they find you missing, it’ll be bad.”

Then she turned and walked toward the deep pool.

Even now, she kept up the act, limping as she walked.

Halfway there, she turned her head and looked back at him. “I’ll come visit again on the first of next month. Take care… okay?”

With that, she turned away once more.

She slowly stepped into the water and dived in. Soon, the lake’s surface returned to calm.

Though the water looked as peaceful as ever, Pei Zhouwu’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

Perhaps he too felt regret.

Over the past two days, something between them had begun to shift. Just as he was starting to make sense of it, the connection was abruptly severed. How could he not feel a sense of loss?

—

At Changming Temple.

Jin Li sat behind Liu Fuying, combing her hair in the courtyard. Ever since she’d returned earlier that morning, Liu Fuying had worn a dark expression. Jin Li didn’t dare ask why she had come back so soon after having already visited once.

Once her hair had dried, Liu Fuying went back inside to rest.

Jin Li eventually couldn’t hold back and followed her in. “Madam, did you roast the rabbits? How did they taste?”

After all, those rabbits had been bought live from a hunter ahead of time—Liu Fuying didn’t know the first thing about setting traps.

“Eat what rabbits…”

At the mere thought of those guards who stirred up trouble, Liu Fuying felt too disgusted to even continue.

“Forget it. I’ll go down the mountain tomorrow and come back another time.”

After resting a while, she spent the entire afternoon in the room where her mother’s spirit tablet was kept. There, she prayed—not to the temple gods, but to her mother—for a smooth pregnancy.

This was the first time she had ever made such a wish.

She didn’t believe in the gods of the temple. They had never blessed her. Never blessed her mother either.

—

The next day.

Before sunset, Liu Fuying returned to the capital.

During the three days she was away, the household remained calm. The only one deeply affected was the old matriarch, who missed her terribly and spoke of her every day.

When she heard that Liu Fuying had returned, the old lady skipped dinner and rushed to her courtyard.

At the sight of her, she nearly broke into tears from joy.

Though it had only been three days, to the old matriarch it felt like three years.

“Ah-Yin, you’re finally back. These past few days, I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep—I just kept praying you’d return. I was so afraid you’d never come back.”

The words never come back made Liu Fuying’s heart clench unexpectedly.

Had Pei Zhouwu… also worried she might never return?

“Ah-Yin, are you listening to me?”

Liu Fuying turned around, clasped the old lady’s hands, and smiled to comfort her. “I heard you, Mother. Don’t worry—I’ll stay by your side for the rest of my life.”

“Good, good. I just want you to always stay with me.”

Liu Fuying smiled along. When she heard the old lady hadn’t eaten more than half a bowl of rice, she had the servants bring another meal and sat to eat with her.

After dinner, they sat beneath the grapevine trellis for a long while.

As she escorted the old lady back, she found herself being led instead toward Shen Xiunian’s courtyard.

“Mother, the general is likely busy with military affairs. Let’s not disturb him.”

Liu Fuying didn’t even want to approach that courtyard. In the two years they’d been married, she had only been there a couple of times. He had spent most of the time away at war, so the place was always empty anyway.

“What military matters can he be busy with this late? Just follow me.”

The old matriarch pulled her inside.

At that moment, Shen Xiunian was standing by the clothing rack, preparing to undress for the night.

Hearing movement, he reluctantly put his robe back on.

When he saw Liu Fuying, his brows tightened ever so slightly—clearly, he didn’t want her here either.

But with the old matriarch present, he couldn’t act out.

“Mother, why have you come to see me so late? Is something the matter?”

“Can’t I come unless there’s something? Look at you, acting like some high-ranking official now that you’re a general. What, do I need to send in a formal request to see my own son?”

“Mother, you’re overthinking things. I didn’t mean it like that.”

As they spoke, Shen Xiunian gave Liu Fuying another glance.

He probably thought the old matriarch was here to scold him because Liu Fuying had said something.

She shot him a glare but then turned to smile at Liu Fuying. “Don’t worry, Ah-Yin. As long as I’m here, no one will dare mistreat you.”

Liu Fuying’s mind was quick—she had already sensed something off. Her lips curved into a subtle line.

“Your health has mostly recovered now. It’s time to do your duty.” The old lady was clearly speaking to Shen Xiunian.

From the look of displeasure in his eyes, he must have guessed what she was planning.

But he still feigned ignorance and tried to decline, “What are you implying, Mother? It’s late. Allow me to escort you back to your rooms—we can talk later.”

The old matriarch waved away his hand and spoke with more force.

“You may not be in a hurry, but do you even know what people outside are saying about Ah-Yin? They’re laughing at her, saying she can’t bear children, that she’s so desperate she’s gone to the mountains to pray to the gods! And you, as her husband, show no concern at all.”

“Mother…”

“Tonight is perfect. Ah-Yin just returned from three days of spiritual cleansing. It’s a good time. The two of you should get some rest—and make some effort. I’ve been wanting a grandchild for a long time.”

With that, she pushed Liu Fuying toward Shen Xiunian and smiled warmly at her while shooting another glare at her son.

As she left, she firmly instructed them not to come out and not to let anyone approach the room, lest they be disturbed.

Once the sounds outside faded, Shen Xiunian’s mocking voice rang out beside her.

“Heh.” His sneer was full of contempt. Perhaps out of anger, he actually said a few more words than usual. “Did the man in that temple still fail to get you pregnant?”

Others might not know, but Shen Xiunian was well aware of why she had gone out of the city.

He assumed the man she was meeting was hidden in Changming Temple—that the temple was their rendezvous spot.

“Polluting the eyes of the gods—you’d better be careful not to bring misfortune upon yourself.”

He snorted again and swept out of the room with a flick of his sleeve.

Liu Fuying lifted her brow high, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She answered back coolly, “My lord husband is so riled up. Could it be… you’re jealous?”

She never called him “husband.”

Tonight, she used the word just to spite him.

Sure enough, his fury exploded.

“How dare you! You don’t deserve to call me that. If you keep spouting nonsense, get out of the Shen family!”