"Miss Sun, would you like us to offer you a seat?"
Sun Xiuyun knew she couldn't afford to offend Shen Danru, so she gritted her teeth and shook her head.
"But I see you don't seem to have any appetite. What should we do?"
At this point, someone chimed in, "Throw her out."
With one person taking the lead, many others quickly echoed, demanding that Sun Xiuyun leave.
Sun Xiuyun was furious: "Don't go too far."
The shopkeeper dared not offend either side and kept wiping his sweat.
“Miss Sun, instead of causing trouble here, I advise you to go home and take a look at your surroundings.”
Sun Xiuyun looked at Shen Danru suspiciously and asked, "What do you mean?"
Just then, the prefect's servants rushed over and whispered a few words to Sun Xiuyun.
Sun Xiuyun appeared very anxious and then hurriedly left.
Seeing that her young mistress had already left, Cai Die quickly got up from the ground and followed closely behind.
Two steaming bowls of mutton soup were served, and Shen Danru and Qingtan put the matter from their minds and began to enjoy the meal.
Being able to enjoy a bowl of mutton soup on a cold winter's day is very satisfying.
Shen Danru tore the cake into small pieces, soaked them in the mutton soup to fully absorb the broth, and then devoured them.
Seeing that Shen Danru ate like this, Qingtan followed her example and soaked the cake in the bowl.
"Miss, it's really delicious to eat it like this."
"Is it delicious? I think it's delicious too."
This way of eating reminded her of the mutton stew with bread that we eat nowadays, but unfortunately she hasn't had it in a long time.
Qingtan took a big gulp of soup, then couldn't help but ask, "Miss, what did you mean by asking that Miss Sun to go back to the manor to check?"
Shen Danru said in a low voice, "Prefect Sun is a spy from the enemy country. He was identified by the enemy soldiers captured by my grandfather. My grandfather has already sent people to search Prefect Sun's residence and found his correspondence with the enemy country."
"Prefect Sun has now been detained. Once this is reported to the Emperor, it is estimated that Prefect Sun will soon lose his head."
Qingtan scoffed: "Colluding with enemy countries is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. Sun Xiuyun is already in dire straits, yet she's still showing off her power. She'll get what's coming to her later."
After the two finished eating, Shen Danru saw Qingtan carrying a food box and asked, "Aren't you full? Why are you packing it up to take home?"
"I want to take it back for my second brother to eat."
Shen Danru glanced at her and laughed, "Oh, so it's for Second Brother. You've already got your eye on it so quickly."
Qingtan smiled slightly, no longer afraid of Shen Danru's ridicule.
"Of course, my second brother is such a good person. He was injured while capturing an enemy general."
Shen Danru said, "However, I'm afraid Second Brother will have to disappoint our Sister Qingtan. Mutton is a 'heating' food, and Second Brother is injured and should not eat it."
Qingtan: "Alright then, we'll come over and eat together after Second Brother recovers from his injury."
Twenty days later, an imperial edict finally arrived in Shengjing. The emperor was overjoyed and ordered Shen Shi to bring Gongzulie back to Shengjing for trial. He also led a group of soldiers back to Shengjing to receive their rewards.
These days, Qingtan has been taking care of Shen Yutang, and his injuries have almost healed.
When the people learned that General Shen Shi was about to return to Shengjing, they came to see him off.
Some villagers were in tears, their hearts filled with reluctance to part with the old general.
The little boy who had delivered the eggs earlier clung tightly to Shen Danru's clothes and asked, "Sister, will you come back?"
Shen Danru squatted down and looked at her little brother at eye level, saying, "Your sister may not come back, but when you grow up, you can go to Shengjing to visit your sister."
The little boy asked excitedly, "Can I really go? What's Shengjing like?"
Shen Danru smiled and replied, "Shengjing is very prosperous, unlike the desolate border. You should study hard, pass the imperial examinations when you grow up, and then you will have the opportunity to come to Shengjing."
The little boy nodded.
"Sister, my name is Chen Xiang. What's your name, sister? Where should I look for you?"
“My name is Shen Danru. You can find me at the Shen State Duke’s Mansion in Shengjing.”
Chen Xiang silently repeated the name several times, trying hard to memorize it.
Shen Danru gently ruffled the boy's hair again.
Six- or seven-year-old boys are so cute.
Just before boarding the carriage, she heard the boy chasing after it, calling out, "Sister, wait for me to come see you..."
After more than twenty days of marching, the army finally arrived in Shengjing.
On the day they arrived in Shengjing, it was already past 9 AM. The people of the city were all at the city gate to welcome the Zhenbei Army back to the capital.
When the army entered the city, drums and music resounded, and the sound of horses neighing was deafening.
Countless people crowded both sides of the street to welcome the return of the Zhenbei Army.
The generals rode tall horses, looking radiant as they led the procession.
Their eyes shone brightly, and they waved to the people with smiles on their faces.
Shen Danru groggily opened her eyes in the carriage and asked, "Qingtan, have we arrived in Shengjing?"
She stretched; she was really tired from the journey.
"Miss, we have arrived in Shengjing."
Hearing the noise outside, Shen Danru couldn't help but lift the curtain and look out.
She was deeply moved by the people's enthusiasm and realized that they had all come to welcome her grandfather.
Shen Yingxue, wearing a veiled hat, also mingled in the crowd.
Several girls nearby kept flattering and fawning over her.
Although Shen Yingxue wore a veiled hat, she was as proud as a peacock spreading its tail feathers.
Her great-uncle has finally returned, and she will settle accounts with those who bullied her.
She gently touched her cheek, secretly resentful.
Although the pustules on her face have healed, they have left scars.
Shen Danru ruined her face, and she vowed to pay with her life.
"Look at that carriage over there, isn't that Shen Danru?"
A young lady's exclamation drew everyone's attention, and they all looked in the direction of the carriage.
Shen Yingxue turned her head and saw the face she hated so much.
She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth as she said, "Shen Danru? How could she be in the Zhenbei Army?"
Song Yuqing was also standing in the crowd.
She was also out with her girlfriends to see what was going on.
At first, when Song Yuqing saw Shen Yutang riding a tall horse, she happily introduced him to others: "Look, that's my second brother..."
However, before she could finish speaking, she saw Shen Danru sitting in the carriage.
Her face immediately contorted.
The person standing next to her was Shang Yunlan, the woman who had made things difficult for Shen Danru at the flower-viewing banquet at the Duke of Xingguo's mansion.
Her father was a censor of the fifth rank.
"Shiyue, what's wrong?"
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