Chapter 440 Princess Rui is just Lord Shen

Pei Yuan owns a hot spring estate outside the city, and has built a residence around the hot spring.

The house was not large, and a few mute servants were left there to take care of it.

Pei Yuan spurred his horse into the manor, tossed the reins to Jinbao, and turned to enter the main house.

The room was clean and tidy, and there was something wrapped in red cloth on the small table next to the bed.

Pei Yuan gently pulled off the red cloth, revealing a memorial tablet inside.

The inscription reads: "Memorial Tablet of My Beloved Wife, Shen Chu".

Pei Yuan gently wiped his face with his sleeve, his slender fingers tracing the name of Shen Chu inch by inch.

Peach Blossom's eyes were filled with an overwhelming longing and sorrow.

"Achu, it's been three years, where are you?"

“They all say you’re dead, but I don’t believe it. I always feel like you’re waiting for me somewhere in this world.”

"Spring is here, the weather is getting warmer, how about I take you for a spring outing in a while?"

"I ate your favorite Sichuan food for lunch today. It was so spicy, but I finished it all."

“A woman came to take the exam today. She has the same eyes as you, so I decided to keep her.”

"And..."

Hearing the low sobs coming from inside the house, Jinbao, who was waiting outside, couldn't help but reach out and wipe away his tears.

Everyone thought that the prince had married Chen Jiaying as his princess, and that he was deeply in love with her, cherishing and loving her like a precious treasure, and not even allowing outsiders to see her.

That's not actually the case at all.

Hidden in the manor, not to be seen by outsiders, is simply because the Princess Consort of Rui is not Chen Jiaying at all, but a memorial tablet.

His Highness married the memorial tablet of Lord Shen.

Jinbao's eyes reddened again as he recalled the resistance His Highness had made three years ago.

Your Highness has had a very difficult time these past three years.

The poison in his body has not been completely neutralized. Doctor Han has been traveling all over the country to collect herbs, but so far he has not been able to concoct a prescription that can completely detoxify him.

Since Lord Shen passed away, His Highness has either stayed at the Flying Eagle Guard's residence or come here to hold the memorial tablet and talk to himself, unable to sleep all night.

If it weren't for the unwavering belief that sustained His Highness, he would have collapsed long ago.

Meow~

Jinbao sniffed and saw Yuanbao hopping out from under the eaves.

This fat cat is very clever; it can smell His Highness's presence every time he comes.

"You little rascal, you knew His Highness was coming again, didn't you?"

Jinbao picked up Yuanbao, stroked its smooth, shiny fur, and whispered, "Let's go inside."

He loosened his grip, and Yuanbao immediately rushed inside.

With Yuanbao around, His Highness's mood will probably be a little better.

Jinbao sighed softly.

------

The next day, news that Shen Chu had been kicked out of the duty room by His Highness Prince Rui spread throughout the Flying Eagle Guard.

As soon as she entered the Flying Eagle Guard, many scrutinizing gazes immediately fell upon her.

Shen Chu frowned slightly as Li Ru'er walked over and gave her a sarcastic remark with a face full of disdain.

"I heard that this morning someone took it upon themselves to try and replace His Highness's purse, but His Highness kicked them out."

Ha, do you even look at yourself? Do you really think His Highness would be interested in you?

"A horse doesn't know its own face is long, and a person doesn't know their own appearance is ugly."

Shen Chu smiled faintly.

I don't know if Your Highness has taken a liking to me, but I know that Your Highness definitely hasn't taken a liking to you.

"At least I was someone His Highness personally asked to stay. What about you? Did His Highness even glance at you yesterday?"

"You!" Li Ruer's face turned ashen with anger, but then, remembering something, a hint of disdain appeared on her face.

“I’ve already inquired about it. You’re from the south, so you’re probably not familiar with the situation in the capital.”

To tell you the truth, His Highness Prince Rui has already married a princess and is devoted to her. In the past three years, there hasn't been a single concubine in the Prince's residence.

I heard that Princess Rui is in poor health, so His Highness specially built a hot spring resort for her to stay there year-round to recuperate.

I advise you not to entertain any improper thoughts. Someone of your status isn't even worthy of carrying the princess's shoes.

Chen Chu's heart trembled slightly.

Is Pei Yuan really that good to Chen Jiaying?

If that's the case, why did he keep his purse?

Could their relationship not even last three years?

She took a breath, her gaze towards Li Ruer turning somewhat cold.

“I came to the Flying Eagle Guard to do my job properly, not to take the opportunity to climb the social ladder, so it’s normal that I don’t know about the prince’s family affairs.”

On the contrary, you know so much about the private affairs of the prince and princess. I think it's obvious that you have improper thoughts about the prince, right?

"Tsk tsk, what a pity. The prince is deeply devoted to the princess; he probably wouldn't even look at you."

"You...you're talking nonsense!" Li Ruer was so angry that she trembled all over.

Shen Chu gave her a cold glance. "Whether you're willing to talk or not, we'll just have to wait and see."

After saying that, he turned and left, making Li Ruer stomp her feet in anger.

Shen Chu found Chang Sheng under a tree in the training ground.

Changsheng was practicing swordsmanship shirtless, and the morning sunlight shone on him, giving the scars on his back a pale gold hue.

The crisscrossing wounds were immediately recognizable to Shen Chu as signs of knife wounds.

She suddenly felt a pang of pain in her heart and almost burst into tears.

"Brother Changsheng".

Chang Sheng was startled and quickly stopped his sword, hurriedly grabbing his clothes and putting them on.

"Miss Chu... what brings you here?"

Chen Chu waited until he had straightened his clothes before stepping forward and shaking the food box in her hand.

"You promised yesterday that you would make Liangzhou snacks for Brother Changsheng, have you forgotten?"

She opened the food box and took out the still-steaming meat patties inside.

"This is a mutton pie I made this morning. Brother Changsheng, please have a taste."

With a beaming smile, she handed the small cake to Changsheng.

"Hu mutton pies taste best when eaten hot; they will have a gamey smell when they cool down."

Changsheng hesitated for a moment before reaching out and picking up a pancake to eat.

"How about it?"

Shen Chu asked impatiently, "Is this the taste you remember?"

When they were little, all four siblings loved eating their mother's mutton pancakes. The youngest brother, Chen Mo, in particular, could eat four pancakes at such a young age.

Every time, his mother would stop him from eating because she was afraid he would overeat.

Chen Chu felt that if Changsheng really was Xiao Ge, he would definitely be able to recognize the taste of the mutton pie.

Changsheng swallowed the meat pie, his eyes momentarily blank, before slowly uttering two words.

"tasty."

"That's it? Don't you feel anything else? Don't you think this meat patty tastes special? Doesn't it remind you of the ones you ate when you were a kid?"

Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"Actually, I have no impression of Liangzhou anymore. I don't remember anything from my childhood."

Chen Chu persisted, "Don't you remember anything at all?"

Chang Sheng nodded. "My adoptive father found me outside Liangzhou City. When he found me, I was covered in blood and barely had a breath left."

My godfather saved my life, but my head was also broken by a rock at that time, so I don't remember anything from before.

My adoptive father was the deputy general of the Marquis of Anding. Later, when he heard that the heir apparent needed protection, he sent me to the Marquis's residence.

Changsheng smoothly recounted his background.

For some reason, he felt a strange sense of familiarity with the girl named Chu Chu in front of him.

Moreover, he felt an immense sense of familiarity with the name Chu Chu.

While he was in a daze, he heard Shen Chu ask, "Brother Changsheng, don't you think my name sounds familiar and friendly?"

Chang Sheng nodded. "Yes, it does sound somewhat familiar."

Shen Chu was a little excited, "From now on, just call me Chu Chu, don't call me Miss Chu, okay?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold, deep voice rang out from behind him.

"Your name is Chu Chu?"