CFB Chapter 96

Translator – Xiao He Lian

This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.

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Chapter 96

 

Yanfu Lane, Li Mansion.

The quiet moon hung in the sky, and lights were lit in all the courtyards. The wind blew through the eaves, and the lanterns filled with orange light swayed gently, flickering at times. It made people feel uneasy when they looked at it.

Qingli ran in in a panic and said, “Madam, the master has returned home and is currently discussing matters with someone in the study.”

Since Shen Wenqi was appointed as the chief river defense envoy and went to eastern Henan, Li Di has not returned home for many days because of the water conservancy project in Wannian County. Tonight, when he is free, he will definitely come to Shen Shu to question her.

Qingli paced back and forth, holding her heart that was about to jump out of her throat and said, “Madam, do we need to find some people to guard the door?”

“No need.” Shen Shu took a sip of tea, “This is Li’s residence. All the people in the yard are his people. We will just act according to the circumstances.”

Qingli nodded, “Got it.”

After a while, Shen Shu took out a small bag of crushed medicine powder from the drawer and slowly sprinkled it into the kettle.

She sat in front of her dressing table and applied a thin layer of powder under her eyes and on her lips, which made her look a little haggard.

Li Di strode into Shen Shu’s yard.

“Do I need you to report me before I enter my wife’s yard? Get out of the way!” The footsteps were heavy, and every step hit Qingli’s heart.

She was afraid that Li Di would fight with Shen Shu.

The door creaked.

Shen Shu sat on the couch, staring at him.

The moon-white robe on Li Di was noble and luxurious, and the jade pendant on his waist was also a rare treasure. His entire body was no longer the same as it had been before.

His collar was slightly open and his neck was slightly red, and it was obvious that he had been drinking.

Li Di walked up to Shen Shu, pinched her chin and raised it, “Are you satisfied now?”

“You’ve drunk too much.” Shen Shu stood up, walked to the table nearby, and kept some distance from him.

“My father-in-law is out of prison, and most of the court is on his side. Are you very proud?” Li Di grabbed her wrist and lifted it up. “Answer me!”

Shen Shu frowned and said, “You are hurting me.”

“I was wondering why you always go to the Dali Temple.” He chuckled, “You knew it a long time ago, didn’t you? Your father-in-law compiled two amazing books in the Dali Temple prison, you must have known about it! Are you waiting to see me make a fool of myself? Huh?”

As he spoke, he increased the strength in his hands.

Shen Shu smelled the alcohol on him, took a deep breath, and suppressed the disgust in her heart.

There’s no point in falling out with him right now.

“I am the lady of the Li family. How can I benefit from making a fool out of you?” Shen Shu turned around to look at him, and tears as big as beans fell from the corners of her eyes.

Seeing her tears, due to his habit of four years, Li Di couldn’t help but be stunned.

He thought that, based on Shen Shu’s temper, she would definitely tell him coldly, just like when they had just fallen out, that he lost, he was wrong, he deserved it, and it was all his own fault.

But, why didn’t she?

Shen Shu saw the emotion in his eyes and while he lost strength in his hands, she broke free from his shackles.

She raised her hand to wipe away her tears and asked him with a trembling voice, “You are my husband, but what else can you do besides bullying me?”

Her eyes were filled with tears, filled with grievances that he had never seen before.

Li Di stood there in a daze.

Husband, how long has it been since he last heard this word?

His heart sank, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and said, “Shen Shu, don’t play tricks on me. Don’t forget what my father-in-law and Lu Si did. If you dare to plot against me, none of us will have an easy life. You…”

Before Li Di finished speaking, Shen Shu raised her hand and threw the mirror in front of the dressing table to the ground, “Do you think I will forget this?”

Shen Shu took a step forward, grabbed Li Di’s collar, and said word by word: “Do you know that Shen Zhen is not married yet! Do you know that Shen Hong is not grown up yet!”

“Since you have the evidence that can kill the Shen family, how can I plot against you?”

Li Di’s breathing became turbulent.

“Li Di, even if the Xu family wants to plot against you, I won’t.” Shen Shu looked into his eyes and said softly, “My life is already like this. I accepted my fate. Do you understand?”

Li Di half-closed his eyes, looked at her for a long time, raised his hand and poured himself a cup of tea.

And drank it all in one gulp.

Shen Shu continued, “You once told me that there is more than one path for the Shen family. Today I will return my words to you. The East Palace has a path for you to take. Do you want to take it?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Di felt a dull pain in his chest. His face turned pale and he seemed to be having trouble breathing… and his body swayed.

“Li Di, what happened to you?” Shen Shu asked nervously.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Li Di glanced at the teacup and said intermittently: ““Is it, isn’t it you …… give me ……”

Everything in front of him became more and more blurry.

Shen Shu didn’t listen to what he said, but turned and shouted towards the door: “Someone come! Someone come quickly! Call a doctor!”

Qingli ran in, saw the situation and said with her hands on her mouth: “Madam! What’s going on?”

“Go find a doctor! Don’t just stand there!”

“Yes, yes, I’ll go right away!” Qingli ran away immediately.

Shen Shu stepped out of the door and said to the maids in the courtyard, “”Don’t let any noise or commotion in the courtyard spread outside tonight. Stay here. If anyone makes the old lady sick, I will get rid of all of you.”

“Yes.” Several maids bowed.

After settling Li Di, Shen Shu immediately walked towards the study and met Li Di’s personal guard, Dong Ming.

Shen Shu frowned and said in a cold voice: “suddenly suffered a heart attack, his life is now in danger, I ask you, where did he go to drink?”

The guard said in a deep voice: “Madam, please forgive me, I cannot talk about the master’s affairs.”

“You can’t tell me?” Shen Shu chuckled and said, “If anything happens to him tonight, I’ll make you pay with your life!”

After a long while, Dong Ming finally said stumblingly, “West, the Baixi Building in West Market.”

“Baixi Building? You must leave immediately and go to Baixi Building to check what he drank and ate tonight! Who did he come into contact with? Don’t leave anyone behind, go!”

“Madam, what you mean is…”

“I have been married to him for five years and have never seen him suffer from a heart attack. I am afraid he has been poisoned.”

“This is impossible!” Dong Ming said.

“Dong Ming, I know you are loyal to your master, but what if he can’t wake up tonight? Who will you protect?”

The guard looked back in the direction of the study, hesitated for a long time, and then bowed to accept the order.

The huge yard was empty and she didn’t have much time left.

Shen Shu avoided others and quietly pushed open the door of the study. Holding a lamp in her hand, she carefully examined the table from left to right.

Finally, she saw the account book again…

Half an hour later, Shen Shu blew out the light and put the copied paper into her sleeve.

When she returned to Shi’an Garden, Doctor Sun was taking Li Di’s pulse.

Li Di also slowly opened his eyes.

Shen Shu walked over quickly and asked with concern: “Doctor, what’s wrong with him?”

Doctor Sun shook his head and said, “I just gave him red sage[mfn](Salvia miltiorrhiza, also known as red sage. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a Chinese herbal medicine that promotes blood circulation and dissipates blood stasis)[/mfn] and he woke up. Based on my experience, this seems to be a sudden heart attack caused by drinking.”

“Sudden heart attack?” Shen Shu said, “But he never had it before… Doctor, may I ask, will this disease recur in the future?”

Doctor Sun stroked his beard and said, “He is still in his prime, and as long as he take good care of himself, there won’t be any big problems. He just needs to be careful about drinking in the future.”

Li Di nodded.

After Doctor Sun left, Li Di looked at Shen Shu for a long time and asked, “Where did you go just now?”

“Study room, I went to see Dong Ming.”

Li Di frowned and said in a hoarse voice: “What were you doing there?”

Shen Shu said directly: “You fainted for no reason, so I naturally have to ask him what you did today.”

“Where is Dong Ming now?”

“At first I thought someone had drugged you, so I asked him to go to Baixi Building.”

Li Di was silent for a long while, and no one knew what he was thinking about. The flickering candlelight in the room was like the wavering human heart.

“Why save me?” he suddenly asked.

Shen Shu said softly, “I’m afraid something will happen to you, and then the Xu family will frame me and accuse me of murdering my husband.”

Li Di laughed at himself, “It’s something the Xu family would do.”

“Shu Shu.”

“I know you want to divorce me, but even if we divorce, can you marry again? Even though the customs of the Jin dynasty are much more open than those of the previous dynasties, women who remarry are often of a lower status. You have always been proud, so why not give up this idea and live a good life with me.”

Shen Shu sneered.

Li Di grabbed her wrist again and said, “Give me a child, and I will find a way to send Concubine Yao away. I will not mention those things again in the future.”

Shen Shu said softly: “You should rest first.”

Li Di knew that what happened between them could not be clarified overnight, and coupled with his poor health, he soon closed his eyes.

In the darkness, Shen Shu looked at his eyes, her fingertips turning faintly white.

Live well?

Li Di.

If it weren’t for you, my father wouldn’t be in jail.

If it weren’t for you, Shen Zhen wouldn’t have fallen to the point of being someone’s mistress.

It’s okay if you hurt me, but you shouldn’t have destroyed the Shen family.

If the person sitting in the position of crown prince today was the Sixth Prince, would you still have the slightest bit of reluctance?

I am afraid that no one in my Shen family will ever live in peace again.

How can the relationship between you and me be resolved by just saying live happily together?

 

　　…

The night passed peacefully and the sun rose as usual the next day.

Shen Shu put on her earrings and stood up, saying softly to Qingli, “Ask someone to prepare the carriage.”

Li Di asked from behind: “Where are you going?”

“Going to the East Market to buy some tea, calligraphy and paintings.” Shen Shu turned around and explained, “It’s almost the fifteenth day of the eighth month[mfn](The day of the mid autumn festival)[/mfn], and every family will have guests coming and going, so these things need to be bought in advance.”

Li Di nodded and said “hmm”.

Shen Shu went out and got on the carriage, and whispered to Qingli, “Is the tea cleaned up?” According to Li Di’s thoughts, as soon as she leaves today, he will thoroughly investigate the Li Mansion.

“Don’t worry, young lady. I handled it yesterday and there won’t be any flaws.”

“Good.”

The carriage stopped in front of a pastry shop in the East Market, and Qingli helped Shen Shu get off the carriage.

Shen Shu walked through several shops, and soon her hands were full of large and small packages. In the evening, she shook off the tail behind her and went to a bookstore.

After entering the room, he said to the shopkeeper, “Do you still have Master Jingrong’s book?”

The shopkeeper paused and said, “Madam, please go upstairs.”

She lifted her skirt and went upstairs, walking to the left, then stopped, raised her hand and knocked on the door.

“Enter.”

Even through a door, Shen Shu could guess what the speaker looked like. Those dark eyes must have been filled with a half-warm, half-teasing smile.

Shen Shu closed the door with her backhand and said softly, “I’m sorry for the delay on the way, Lord Zhou.”

Zhou Shu’an put down the book in his hand and looked up at her.

“No problem.”

There was a faint smile on the man’s lips.

Shen Shu walked up to him, placed a box of pastries and whispered softly, “I bought this for you.”

 

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