People in the hall either whispered among themselves or curiously stole glances at the Shen family’s expressions. After a period of awkward silence, Shen Han slowly walked to the center of the hall, bowed deeply to all the guests, and said, “I am ashamed. I, Shen, failed to properly investigate when choosing a son-in-law, leading to today’s events. I have troubled all you distinguished guests to come here specially, only to witness such a spectacle. The wedding ends here. I am too ashamed to continue imposing upon everyone. I will visit each of you another day to apologize in person.”

Having said this, he turned and hurried away to the rear courtyard. Seeing that Shen Han had clearly abandoned defending him, Fu Junyi was overcome with despair. Unable to bear the mocking stares of the onlookers, he hung his head dejectedly and walked toward the door, trying to push through the crowd to exit. However, the person blocking his path was Zhenzhen. Staring at the ground and not seeing clearly, he said “excuse me” in a low voice and reached out to push Zhenzhen aside. Zhenzhen sneered coldly, “Trying to slink away already?” She immediately struck him in the chest with her elbow. Caught off guard, Fu Junyi was knocked backward several steps.

This retreat caused him to bump into Feng Xian, who was standing to that side. Feng Xian’s eyes flashed with anger, and without waiting for Fu Junyi to turn around to see her, she raised her foot and kicked, sending the completely unprepared Fu Junyi tumbling to the floor of the hall.

Before Fu Junyi could recover from these two successive attacks, he lay on the ground dizzy and still gasping when he saw a red satin skirt floating toward him like a cloud.

Ying Ge leaned down toward him and said softly, “You have harmed me to this extent, yet you won’t even say a word of acknowledgment or apology, and you just want to escape?”

Fu Junyi looked up at her, wanting to call her name gently and then coax her sweetly. But as soon as the word “Ying” left his mouth, a brilliant slap came flying toward his face, landing with a particularly crisp sound. After a moment of silence, everyone in the hall applauded and laughingly shouted approval to Ying Ge for the slap.

Fu Junyi didn’t know what to do for a moment, only covering the struck half of his face and staring blankly at Ying Ge. Ying Ge raised her hand to strike his other cheek, but heard a woman behind her gently advise, “Don’t hit his face anymore… be careful not to hurt your hand.”

Ying Ge looked back and saw it was Feng Jing speaking. She had originally been in the back kitchen with the other female officials preparing the banquet, but later hearing the commotion in the hall, and with Madam Shen sending someone to announce the suspension of the wedding feast, Feng Jing came to the hall with several other female officials to investigate, witnessing Fu Junyi’s exposure.

Feng Jing quietly looked back at a female official behind her who was still holding a rolling pin, having been making noodles earlier. Understanding the hint, that girl called to Ying Ge and tossed her the rolling pin.

Ying Ge caught it and raised the wooden implement to strike Fu Junyi heavily on the back, knocking the Third-Place Graduate, who was trying to get up, flat again. Fu Junyi let out a wail, and seeing Ying Ge raise the stick again, he didn’t have time to stand up and rolled to one side while covering his head. Ying Ge struck toward where he had dodged, remembering past events and his recent unrepentant attempt to falsely accuse her. Overcome with grief and anger, her eyes reddening, she raised the wooden stick high and repeatedly struck the heartless man before everyone’s eyes.

Seeing Fu Junyi crying out pitifully in his wretched state, the onlookers’ cheers rose one after another. Only Pei Shangshi frowned and shook her head, “Nonsense!”

Hearing what seemed like disapproval in her tone, Feng Jing felt somewhat uneasy, wondering if she and the other female officials had acted improperly, and whether this punishment of the Third-Place Graduate would implicate the Royal Kitchen and result in the Emperor’s punishment. But then she heard Pei Shangshi sigh leisurely, “What a pity, what a pity. This rolling pin was made from wood I carefully selected. After you’ve randomly used it to dust someone’s clothes, how can it be used again?”

Although the wedding feast was canceled, Pei Shangshi still methodically arranged for the female officials to pack up the ingredients and kitchen utensils, clean the Shen residence’s kitchen thoroughly, and then went to bid farewell to the Shen couple according to protocol.

Madam Shen, having suddenly witnessed Fu Junyi’s affair, was so angry that her chest hurt. She had retired early to her room to rest, so before returning to the palace, Pei Shangshi only met with Shen Han to say goodbye.

Shen Han still didn’t believe that Pei Shangshi had merely happened to bring Yun Ying Ge’s property deed. When their eyes met, he couldn’t help but speak directly, “What dissatisfaction does the Royal Kitchen Director have with this old man? You could have spoken up and scolded me directly when we met before. Today was originally my daughter’s joyous day, with the hall full of guests, yet the Royal Kitchen Director brought the female officials here prepared. After such a scene, how can this old man face the sovereign and colleagues in the future?”

Pei Shangshi said indifferently, “Your Honor truly treasures your official career. Instead of being glad that your daughter avoided disaster and didn’t fall into a tiger’s mouth, you worry about your own face in officialdom.”

Shen Han said angrily, “How could this old man not care about my own daughter? Regarding Fu Junyi’s affairs, if you had known beforehand, you could have told me first, and this old man would have had his own plans. But by exposing his deeds publicly at the wedding, this matter will surely spread throughout the capital and make Rouran the laughingstock of people’s idle talk.”

“It was your daughter who chose to make it public,” Pei Shangshi calmly stated this fact. “She learned the truth beforehand but didn’t tell Your Honor. Instead, she carefully arranged for Yun Ying Ge to disguise herself as the bride. First, she wanted to frighten Fu Junyi into revealing his flaws and have all the guests witness it. Second, she knew perfectly well that if she had told Your Honor first, Your Honor might have suppressed the matter for the sake of having a Third-Place Graduate as son-in-law, treating it as if it never happened and still marrying her to that wolf-hearted man.”

Shen Han repeatedly shook his head, saying, “This is merely the Royal Kitchen Director’s speculation.” But he didn’t refute it in detail.

“Before Ying Ge revealed Fu Junyi’s attempt to harm her, Your Honor was even trying to persuade your daughter to complete the wedding, probably thinking that a man being fickle and heartless was nothing serious—just youthful romance, nothing harmful. A smooth official career and bright prospects are what matter most.” Pei Shangshi sighed, “Our dynasty honors scholars. Once the examination results are announced, common people compete for young men in green robes, and Your Honor hasn’t been able to avoid this custom either. But these sage books—even if people can memorize them, they don’t necessarily read them into their hearts. How many demons and monsters use a green robe to disguise themselves as talented ministers and rise to high positions with ease. If people like Fu Junyi are allowed to cover up their crimes and live freely, at best they’ll ruin the lives of virtuous daughters of good families, at worst they’ll use their Third-Place Graduate status to steal from the country and harm the people. People often say ‘marry a virtuous wife,’ but when selecting good ministers for the country through examinations, besides testing candidates’ knowledge, are there good methods to also assess their character?”

Shen Han remained silent, finally giving an embarrassed smile, “The Royal Kitchen Director is indeed a palace noble who has served beside two generations of sovereigns for many years. Your insight far exceeds that of ordinary people, no wonder you now hold high position and are especially valued by His Majesty.”

“Your Honor gives undeserved praise. This old woman is ultimately just a servant who cooks. Although I’ve been tempered in the palace for many years, whether in insight, status, or the sovereign’s special regard, I can hardly compare to Your Honor. Now that I think about it, there’s only one thing comparable between Your Honor and myself…” Pei Shangshi raised her eyes to meet Shen Han’s gaze, and a trace of self-mocking cold smile flashed across her lips, “Judgment of men.”

After returning to the Royal Kitchen, the female officials still surrounded Ying Ge asking questions, and told those female officials and young eunuchs who hadn’t gone to the Shen residence about Fu Junyi’s affairs. They chattered and laughed continuously. Only Feng Xian didn’t join the discussion, going about her kitchen work thoughtfully. Sometimes even when Zhenzhen spoke to her, she had to call her name twice before she heard.

Zhenzhen shared a room with her. When Zhenzhen returned that night, she saw Feng Xian with her back to her, reading something by the bean-sized lamplight in the room. Zhenzhen silently walked behind her and discovered Feng Xian was reading a letter. Feeling playful like a child, she suddenly snatched the letter from Feng Xian’s hands, laughing, “Who sent sister a letter?”

Feng Xian was greatly embarrassed, jumped up and reached to snatch it back. Zhenzhen didn’t seriously compete and let her grab the letter back. Seeing Feng Xian’s red face as she carefully folded the letter, Zhenzhen moved closer and asked, “Looking at this, the letter wouldn’t be from sister’s family. Could it be from some young eunuch with improper thoughts…”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Feng Xian immediately denied. Seeing Zhenzhen persistently continuing to ask, she hesitated repeatedly before telling her in a low voice, “The person who wrote the letter is Zhao Huaiyu, Young Master Zhao.”

Zhenzhen was startled, only then remembering that she had seen Zhao Huaiyu from afar among the wedding guests today. As the Second-Place Graduate of the same year, he was also among the invited guests, but at the time she was focused on watching Ying Ge and Fu Junyi’s actions and hadn’t paid much attention to him.

“Did you talk with him today?” Zhenzhen asked Feng Xian.

Feng Xian shook her head slightly, “With so many people watching, how could we… It was just when the guests were dispersing and I was returning to the kitchen. He hurried past and seemed to accidentally bump into my arm, then pretended to bow and apologize to me while secretly passing me the letter.”

Zhenzhen’s curiosity was greatly aroused, and she repeatedly asked Feng Xian what he had written. Feng Xian answered lightly, “Nothing much. He just said he was about to leave the capital to take up a post in Xinzhou.”

“Most new graduates are sent to various prefectures and counties to serve as officials for a few years. With his talent, His Majesty will probably summon him back to the capital for a position before long.” Zhenzhen pondered, then smiled, “He’s telling you to take care and wait for his return.”

Feng Xian didn’t speak, thinking of what she hadn’t mentioned—Zhao Huaiyu’s last words to her before parting, spoken in a low voice: “Though Peng Mountain is far, I will trace back against the current to follow it.”

“Young Master Zhao is a very good person,” Zhenzhen smiled as she analyzed, “Noble birth, exceptional learning, unlimited prospects, and he can cook. He’s worth entrusting your life to, sister.”

“Yes, he is a very good person,” Feng Xian agreed accordingly. Having said this, she suddenly picked up the letter and held it to the lamp, letting the flame lick the page. When it had burned completely, she released her fingers and let the last bit of white paper surrounded by flames float down to the ground, turning into a black butterfly.

Zhenzhen watched in amazement and asked in confusion, “He went to great trouble to get this letter to sister’s hands. Won’t sister keep it as a memento?”

Feng Xian resolutely shook her head, saying, “Now you and I have different identities. Having become palace people, we cannot have dealings with men from the outside world. If this letter were seen by others in the future, it would inevitably become a source of trouble, providing evidence of private correspondence.”

Fu Junyi’s affair indeed spread throughout the capital, and soon censoring officials came forward to impeach him, listing his various misdeeds and crimes. The Emperor immediately issued an edict stripping Fu Junyi of his academic honors and sending him back to Mingzhou. Meanwhile, Yun Ying Ge’s father also filed a lawsuit in Mingzhou, formally accusing Fu Junyi of attempting to murder his daughter. The eunuch who went to Mingzhou Prefecture to report Fu Junyi’s affairs didn’t forget to remind the prefect that this was a case that had alarmed His Majesty. The Mingzhou prefect understood perfectly and expressed that he would certainly enforce the law impartially. Clearly, Fu Junyi would face imprisonment.

The Emperor showed no displeasure at the female officials’ behavior that day and even had Pei Shangshi comfort Ying Ge. Even so, the Palace Administrator still conveyed the Empress Dowager’s slight dissatisfaction to Pei Shangshi: although Fu Junyi was guilty, he did have academic honors at the time and was in a minister’s residence. The female officials beating Fu Junyi could be considered a violation of palace regulations. Those female officials came from among the common people and carried some untamed wildness, so their actions weren’t surprising. But Pei Shangshi not only failed to restrain them but allowed them to beat someone, which was truly inappropriate.

Pei Shangshi bowed to receive the instruction and requested punishment from the Palace Administrator, but the Administrator smiled and said, “The Royal Kitchen Director is a palace person of two reigns and naturally understands all the principles she should. The Empress Dowager has no intention of pursuing responsibility either, just making a slight reminder, hoping the Royal Kitchen Director will think thrice before acting in the future.”

The Emperor usually didn’t inquire about affairs in the Empress Dowager’s Cifu Palace, and the Empress Dowager likewise rarely interfered in palace matters, always treating those around the Emperor with courtesy. That she actually asked the Palace Administrator to convey a message this time showed the Empress Dowager was truly displeased, but out of consideration for His Majesty’s face, she couldn’t come forward to punish them herself.

Pei Shangshi responded submissively to the Palace Administrator and returned to her usual appearance of lowered eyes and compliance, speaking little and keeping her sharp edges hidden.