Chapter 406: Rescue
Shen Fenghe's voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for people around to hear clearly what she had just asked.
Everyone couldn't help but look over here. They were also a little curious. Why did the child run into the store? Could it be that an adult really taught him to do so?
The child then pointed to a spot in front of the rice shop and sobbed, "There...there is...some grain on the ground. I want to...I want to pick some up and make porridge for my mother..."
After hearing this, everyone looked towards the place the child pointed.
Someone even leaned over to take a look and said, "Really, there are some, but they're only a few dozen grains of rice. It's amazing that this kid has such sharp eyes that he actually saw it!"
"Really?! Alas! This child is so pitiful... These few dozen grains of rice wouldn't even be enough to feed a bird. He's only a few years old, and he's already thinking of picking them up to make porridge..."
"Isn't it because of hunger? The shopkeeper is the same. People just wanted some food at his door, and he refused to give it to them, which is fine, but he was really mean just now!"
The shopkeeper also looked over and saw that there were indeed dozens of rice grains scattered on the ground at the door. He couldn't help but look a little embarrassed.
Could it be that... he really had wronged the child?
However, despite feeling somewhat guilty, the shopkeeper still spoke harshly to the crowd, whose public opinion had shifted, "Even if that kid really was picking up rice, so what? The rice is right in front of our store, so isn't it still ours? Taking it without permission is stealing! What have I done wrong?"
Chen Fenghe turned around, looked over calmly, and said, "Shopkeeper, may I ask if these rice grains are inside or outside the threshold of your shop?"
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment before saying, "It's... outside the door, so what! Since it's at the doorstep of my shop, whether it's inside or outside the door, it's all my food!"
Chen Fenghe smiled and said, "Shopkeeper, if that's the case, then even if customers who come to your store to buy food pay, once they leave, their food still belongs to your store. If you're unhappy, you can drag the customer to see the authorities and claim that the customer stole your food, right?"
What Chen Fenghe said was a bit of a conceptual shift, but it did not affect the surrounding onlookers who were led astray by her "logic".
"That's right, this shopkeeper is so unreasonable. We really need to be more careful in the future..."
"I think I'll just go to Chen's Grain Store in Nancheng to buy grain from now on. Even though it's a little farther away, it's more reassuring..."
When the shopkeeper heard this, he couldn't help but get anxious: "Everyone, I've been doing business on this street for so many years. Don't you dare trust me? Don't think too much about what this young lady said!"
Chen Fenghe interjected, "Shopkeeper, I have no intention of damaging your reputation. It's just that business has always emphasized the importance of paying for goods in full. It's also common to count the money in person and not acknowledge it later. While the dividing line between these two periods can't be generalized, a simple and crude way of saying it is based on the inside and outside of the store's threshold. Isn't that right?"
The shopkeeper was now worried about the impact on his future business, so he quickly said, "Young lady, you are right. My family has always been honest and fair in dealing with customers. Once the customer pays and leaves this place, the food will naturally become theirs..."
Chen Fenghe smiled and said, "If that's the case, then the rice grains the child was trying to pick up just now might have been just a few scattered by a customer on the ground at the door, and they weren't food from the shopkeeper's store. If that wasn't the case, the shopkeeper's indiscriminate kicking of the child was naturally an unjustified act of violence. Don't you agree, shopkeeper?"
The shopkeeper's face turned pale and blue. After a moment of silence, he said with some dissatisfaction, "It's true that I wrongly accused his family of this. They are so afraid of seeing the authorities, they must not be good people! I... I am also upholding justice..."
When the whole family heard that they still had to see the official, they couldn't help but show expressions of despair on their faces.
Chen Fenghe said, "If he really had to go before the officials, the shopkeeper just raised his hand and pushed the old man to the ground, causing a bowl to fall. Add to that the fact that the shopkeeper kicked the child, I'm afraid the shopkeeper won't come back without receiving any punishment, right? Have you thought it through?"
The shopkeeper couldn't help but waver after hearing this, but he didn't want to lose face in front of everyone, so he said stubbornly, "Even so...even so, I want it too..."
"Oh, right..." Chen Fenghe smiled and said, "There's something I forgot. I vaguely remember the pattern on the broken bowl. It was a batch of porcelain specially made by the Ru kiln when the late emperor was still alive. It has royal patterns on it and was given to the people of Dayu who helped the late emperor when he expanded his territory. Since this bowl was a gift from the late emperor, its value is naturally priceless. If the officials are brought to justice, the shopkeeper will have to pay compensation. Moreover, paying money is a small matter. If you dare to break something given by the emperor, you will probably be imprisoned. Shopkeeper, have you really thought it through?"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper looked at the broken pieces of the bowl that Chen Fenghe had picked up in shock, his clothes instantly soaked with cold sweat. "You...you said this was a gift from the emperor? Are...are you kidding me? How could a beggar possibly do that?"
Chen Fenghe said calmly: "You don't have to believe it, the shopkeeper will know the truth when he sees the official."
Even if the shopkeeper didn't believe it, he wouldn't dare take the risk!
In particular, someone recognized Chen Fenghe and said, "Wait! Isn't this young lady the Crown Princess? I saw her in the city during the plague!"
Chen Fenghe originally wore a veil on her face to make it easier to travel.
After hearing what that person said, everyone else recognized her and said, "It really is the Crown Princess! I didn't recognize her! How could we not believe what the Crown Princess said?"
The woman disguised as a man listened to what the people around her said, looked at Shen Fenghe in astonishment, glanced at Xiao Yunshuo beside her, and then turned her gaze back to Shen Fenghe's face, with a hint of sarcasm and cold anger in her eyes.
Chen Fenghe felt an inexplicable chill on his back, so he glanced at the woman and caught the hostility in her eyes, which made him feel a little strange.
She shouldn't have offended this girl, so where did this hostility come from?
However, if the enemy doesn't move, I won't move either. If the enemy doesn't make a move, she won't pay any attention either.
Since everyone recognized Chen Fenghe, they naturally believed what he just said. Some onlookers advised:
"Shopkeeper, since the Crown Princess said so, and this imperial gift originally belonged to the palace, it must be correct. You'd better be merciful. If you really report this to the authorities, I'm afraid you'll end up suffering the consequences!"
The shopkeeper no longer dared to go before the official, so he quickly backed down and said, "Forget it, forget it. Let's not talk about seeing the official anymore. Just leave now!"
The family heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. The old man even bowed to the shopkeeper and turned to Chen Fenghe to kneel down and thank him, but was stopped by Chen Fenghe: "Old man, you can't do that."
She turned back to the shopkeeper and said, "Wait a minute. The shopkeeper said forget it, but you pushed someone, hit their bowl, and almost hurt their child. Isn't it a bit too easy to just forget it? Regardless of other things, this broken bowl is worth a lot of money. You should at least compensate for it, right?"
After hearing this, the shopkeeper couldn't help but panic again.
Putting aside whether this bowl was truly a gift from the emperor, the Crown Princess was clearly on the side of this family, so how could he dare to offend her? But if he really had to pay for it, how could he afford it?
"This... I didn't mean to do that. This bowl... How can I afford to pay for it? Crown Princess, I know I'm wrong, isn't that enough? I kneel down and apologize to them. I beg you to be magnanimous and forgive me this time!"
As the shopkeeper spoke, he knelt down and kowtowed hurriedly.
Chen Fenghe asked in a low voice, "Old man, this is your bowl. How much compensation do you want? Just tell me. If it's reasonable, I'm sure the shopkeeper won't refuse. However, if he can't pay, he'll have to go to the government to settle it."
Her next sentence was naturally intended to prevent this family from asking for an exorbitant price, which would really bankrupt the shopkeeper.
Although this bowl was indeed a gift from the emperor, according to the original owner's memory, it was said that many people received it as a reward, so it is not really a rare item.
However, if the crime of destroying the imperial gift is really brought to the attention of the government, neither side will likely gain any benefit.
Fortunately, the old man was quite honest. He sighed and said, "Thank you, young lady, for speaking up for my family. Although this bowl is indeed a gift from the emperor, as you said, it was broken because I was old and frail and didn't hold it firmly. The blame cannot be entirely placed on the shopkeeper. If the shopkeeper is truly willing to compensate us, my family is starving. Whether it's rice, millet, or flour, even a pound or two, just to save our lives, I will be satisfied..."
When the shopkeeper heard this, he almost couldn't believe his ears and asked stutteringly, "One or two pounds? Are you...are you serious?"
Chen Fenghe felt relieved when she saw that the old man did not ask for an exorbitant price.
She was willing to speak up for justice because the old man clearly had something gifted by the emperor in his hand, so he must have had a good family background. However, even though he had fallen to such a state, he never mentioned the fact that his ancestors had received something gifted by the emperor. This showed that he was a good person.
The old man said, "If one or two pounds is not enough, then that's fine..."
The shopkeeper didn't give him time to continue. He immediately went back to the shop and said, "Okay! I'll measure the rice for you right away."
After a while, the shopkeeper returned with a bag of rice in his hand. He said, "Old man, this bag of rice must be ten kilograms. It is my apology for my previous behavior! Please accept it!"
The old man was shocked when he heard that there were ten kilograms of rice. "Boss, these ten kilograms of rice, you really..."
"Of course it's true! I was too harsh before, but the old man let it go. I'm really ashamed. These are firstly compensation, and secondly, apology."
The people around couldn't help but laugh and said, "Old man, it's rare for the shopkeeper to be so generous, just accept it."
"If we consider the value of the imperial bowl, these ten kilograms of rice are not enough to compensate for it. Old man, you are still suffering a loss. Please accept it!"
After hearing this, the old man said in a trembling voice: "Then... then thank you very much for saving my life, shopkeeper!"
After he finished speaking, his daughter-in-law and grandson, who were supporting him, took the heavy bag of rice in a daze.
This is because the surprise comes too quickly and their emotions cannot keep up with the change, so they appear dull.
But I was happy after all.
"Mom! It's rice! We can have porridge now! We have porridge!"
The child said happily.
The woman turned around and looked at her disabled husband. Although she was smiling, tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.
They originally fled the famine with the villagers, but their number became fewer and fewer along the way. Some were captured by the government, died of starvation or disease, or got lost.
Now, they are the only family left, and they don’t know when they will starve to death.
Now that I have these ten kilograms of rice, if I save some, maybe I can survive this cold winter!
The old man turned around again, knelt down and bowed to Chen Fenghe, saying, "Thank you very much, young lady. If you hadn't stepped forward, I'm afraid our family would not have survived."
Seeing this, the woman and the child also knelt down to express their gratitude.
Chen Fenghe quickly helped them up and said with a smile, "It's nothing. This is what you deserve. No need to thank me."
When the crowd realized that they understood the situation, they gradually dispersed.
Xiao Yunshuo then asked, "Where are you going next, old man?"
Hearing this, the old man smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "We've fled all the way here, where else can we go? We just hope to find an abandoned house to shelter us from the wind and rain, and with this rice, we can at least get through this cold winter."
By then, the Yellow River breach would have been an issue, and they would then go to the government to register and see if they could settle down here.
Even if they can't, they can be sent back to their hometown, where spring comes and flowers bloom, and at least they can survive.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunshuo said, "If that's the case, there happen to be quite a few abandoned houses in our village. If you don't mind, you can come with us back to the village to take a look."
The old man was stunned at first, then asked in a trembling voice, "Is it really possible? Young Master, we...we...honestly speaking, the authorities may not tolerate us. We are afraid of being deported back to our hometown, so we are afraid to see the officials. If we implicate you, how can we face the consequences?"
Xiao Yunshuo smiled and said, "It's okay. Even if officials really come to investigate, I can just say that you are my distant cousins."
The old man and his family couldn't help but burst into tears after hearing this. He raised his hand to wipe away his tears and then said, "Thank you, young master! Thank you, young lady!"
After the matter was settled, Yuan Xu came forward to arrange things. He first took them to the noodle stall next door to eat a bowl of mutton noodles, and then hired an extra ox cart to take them back to the village.
Xiao Yunshuo and Shen Fenghe were tired from shopping, so they went back home.
The woman disguised as a man watched their carriage leave, her brow furrowed. She then ordered, "Move the horses over here. Let's chase them."
The two people following her were surprised when they heard this. They whispered, "Sir, why are you going with us? It's a bitterly cold winter, and the conditions in the village will be even more difficult. We should find an inn in the city to stay in. After a month or so, once we've avoided this trip to the capital, we can return. Otherwise, the general will probably be worried."
The woman shook her head and said, "No. If I say follow me, then follow me. Stop talking nonsense!"
Everyone called the woman just now the Crown Princess, which shows that she must be Chen Fenghe.
Her father told her that the Crown Princess was exiled after being falsely accused of treason by the Crown Prince. Although she was later exonerated, she and the Empress never returned to the palace. I also heard recently that she remarried.
Now it seems that the sickly young man who was accompanying her just now might be her remarried husband?
This woman is too fickle!
She had clearly married the Crown Prince and became his princess consort, but less than a year had passed since his death, and she hurriedly remarried. She was not worthy of being a princess consort at all!
She must... embarrass her and teach her a lesson, to vent the Crown Prince's anger!
Seeing that she insisted, the two followers had no choice but to lead the horses and follow the carriage from a distance, heading towards Shili Village.
Yuan Xu whispered to the carriage, "Your Highness, Your Majesty, those three people we just met in the teahouse are chasing us."
Chen Fenghe was stunned for a moment, remembering the hatred in the woman's eyes before.
What kind of hatred or grudge is this? And he's even chasing me?
"Should we send people to force them back?"
Chen Fenghe thought for a moment and said with a smile, "That's not necessary. If they really want to find us, even if they don't chase us today, they still have other ways to find out."
Xiao Yunshuo smiled and said, "Since Madam has said so, there is no need to worry about them."
Yuan Xu agreed.
Chen Fenghe thought for a moment and smiled, "It's still early, I'm not particularly anxious to go back."
Since the girl is willing to follow, let them follow as much as they want.
Xiao Yunshuo was stunned for a moment, then he understood what Chen Fenghe meant. He smiled dotingly and asked, "Where else do you want to go?"
Chen Fenghe looked out the carriage window and said with a smile, "It's snowing heavily, so hunting would be a good idea. There must be a lot of wild roe deer and pheasants in the mountains, and even wild boars and other things. Why don't we go hunting?"
Xiao Yunshuo: "..."
When other ladies go out for fun, they drink tea and enjoy the snow, but this Crown Princess always likes to do things that men usually do.
But…it was precisely because of this that he was so obsessed with her.
When he was with her, she would always give him endless shocks and surprises.
Xiao Yunshuo smiled and said, "Yuan Xu, go find the bow and arrows, and have the carriage take us to the foot of the mountain."
Yuan Xu agreed and went.
Chen Fenghe couldn't help but look at Xiao Yunshuo in surprise.
She hadn't noticed the bow and arrow before, but she didn't expect him to be so thoughtful. An ordinary man probably wouldn't indulge his wife like this, which shows that he is a confidant.
Chen Fenghe suddenly closed her eyes, sweeping away all these sad thoughts.
She is just an ordinary person who enjoys the moment and doesn't care about the future. It is enough for her to enjoy the joy of today.
Yuan Xu quickly brought two bows and two bags of arrows.
In just a few minutes, the carriage turned a corner and arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Xiao Yunshuo and Shen Fenghe went down the mountain and each took a bow and a quiver and carried them on their backs.
Xiao Yunshuo said, "Leave two horses here, you guard the foot of the mountain, and the others drive the carriage back first."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Xu was stunned for a moment before he said anxiously, "Your Highness, are you and the Queen going up the mountain alone? How can that be possible? I'll accompany you..."
Xiao Yunshuo said calmly, "That's not necessary. You can just wait at the foot of the mountain. I'm used to this mountain, so it won't be a problem."
"But...what if those three people who followed us had bad intentions..."
The woman disguised as a man and her followers who had followed Chen Fenghe before also followed. Although their whereabouts were secretive, they naturally could not escape Yuan Xu's eyes.
"It's fine. If they really had bad intentions, they probably wouldn't have asked to change seats in Youzhou City. They're just speaking for that family who fled famine."
If you are carrying out a secret mission, you will naturally try to keep a low profile. There is no reason to make yourself the focus of everyone and have your every move monitored.
Yuan Xu had no choice but to agree to stay at the foot of the mountain.
Xiao Yunshuo and Shen Fenghe then trekked into the mountains carrying their bows and arrows.
The mountains here are steep. If horses go up the mountain, they will easily be tripped and their legs may be broken. Only experienced and careful drivers can drive the mule cart into the mountains.
Therefore, none of them rode horses. Of course, the woman disguised as a man and her attendants had to abandon their horses and walk instead.
The woman was not used to this kind of mountain road. After walking for a while, she fell twice and her hands were bleeding from the thorns of the locust tree.
"Is this woman sick? It's so cold, why doesn't she just go home and go hunting in the mountains? Ah!"
Before she could finish her words, she slipped and was about to fall flat on her face again.
An attendant quickly grabbed her and urged her again, "Princess, let's go down the mountain and return to Youzhou City. It's cold and deserted up here. If we encounter a wild animal and it injures you, how are we going to explain to the general when we get back?"
"Yes, Princess. Actually, since the Crown Princess has remarried a commoner, I think in a few years, no one will remember her anymore. Why does Princess have to compete with her..."
The woman turned around suddenly, glared at the attendant angrily, and shouted, "Slap him!"
The attendant quickly fell silent, then knelt down and slapped himself in the face: "Princess, please forgive me, I was wrong..."
The woman was still sulking on the side. In frustration, she took out a dagger and chopped at the locust tree beside her.
She just felt unhappy.
Since she had taken the prince's place and married him, she should remain faithful to him. Even if he died, she would remain faithful to him for the rest of her life! If she had married the prince, she would definitely have been able to do it!
However, that woman was so frivolous that she remarried after only one year, when the Crown Prince's body was still warm!
She would never let her be so happy and comfortable!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
