After Becoming the Cannon Fodder Live-in Spouse A (GL) - Chapter 16: The Sixteenth Day

Chapter 16: The Sixteenth Day

Rag literature.

As the name suggests, in these storybooks, Shen Jinglan is marked by various unknown passersby, watchmen, vendors, coachmen, or servants with either a fleeting dew mark or a marriage mark. In the end, she is toyed with until she becomes like a tattered rag.

If Ye Fuguang had casually picked up this book at the flower market, she might have enjoyed it mindlessly. But picturing that face from the inner chamber of Plum Garden, especially recalling the freshly healed scar at the corner of Shen Jinglan’s eye and the old marks glimpsed this morning when the servants wiped her body—

She knows more than the writers of these storybooks.

Like other Dikun, Shen Jinglan does not have flawless, delicate skin. Hidden beneath luxurious silks, her skin bears many old scars from battles fought on the battlefield.

Yet, standing on the land she protected, the people still remember the sixteen cities lost because of her. So, with the Emperor’s silent approval, they attack her with words, trying to pull her down from her princely throne, turning her into the lowliest Dikun that everyone in the Great Dynasty can trample and curse.

Perhaps Ye Fuguang stared at the open book too long, lost in thought. Ruyi, curious, leaned over and boldly glanced at it. Her eyes widened in shock, and she quickly covered her mouth.

Her pupils shook, and after a long pause, she whispered, “P-Princess…”

For some reason, her eyes and cheeks flushed red with urgency. “Tch, these are clearly nonsense!”

Though Ruyi tried to keep her voice low, the bookstore was nearly empty. The shopkeeper, sharp-eared, turned and corrected her, “Hey, storybooks are just made-up tales. If this guest doesn’t like it, don’t buy it. But don’t blame me for not warning you two—this is the bestselling book in Yong’an City. If you don’t want it, others with better taste will—”

Ruyi spun around and glared at him. “Who are you calling tasteless?”

Ye Fuguang tugged her arm lightly, and Jixiang, frowning seriously, called her name once. Ruyi swallowed her temper and stepped back.

The atmosphere grew tense, so Scholar Ye put the book back.

…

Once they left the bookstore and boarded the carriage, Ruyi angrily cursed, “They’re really bold!”

“The Prince is a noble of the Great Dynasty. How dare these commoners slander her like this? These sour scholars and ink-slingers are crazy for coins. If the Imperial Clan Court hears of this, they’ll wipe out their entire clans!”

Jixiang glanced at Ye Fuguang, her expression calm, and reminded, “The Imperial Clan Court may already know. Enough. We’re out to accompany the Princess to offer incense, so don’t stir up trouble.”

Ye Fuguang leaned against the small window, chin in hand, watching them both.

From her time with them, she could tell Ruyi was lively and couldn’t hide her emotions, while Jixiang was careful and steady, speaking little but always to the point.

But they were both from Prince Qi’s mansion, and under Yu Qing’s disciplined management, they stayed loyal to Prince Qi despite her tarnished reputation. Their hearts were surely with her.

Jixiang stopped Ruyi in front of Ye Fuguang because her recent behavior in the mansion was too outrageous. Jixiang, unaware of her stance toward the Prince, feared Ruyi might upset her.

As for Shen Jinglan’s defeat, the original story didn’t dwell on it much. Prince Qi died early in the plot, and later mentions of her were mostly through the male lead’s nostalgic lens.

Only in the latest update before Ye Fuguang transmigrated, when the male lead, Shen Jingming, confronted Guishuang, the heir of Da Zhi, over Su Wanqiu, did Guishuang mock him:

“Shen Jingming, do you ever miss your invincible little sister?”

“You must miss her dearly. If she were alive, you wouldn’t be so humiliated by me on the front lines. Perhaps you don’t know, but during our Da Zhi sacrifices, we pray for you too. Without you, how could we have so easily removed Shen Jinglan, our greatest threat?”

What followed was Shen Jingming and Su Wanqiu teaming up against Guishuang.

However, a fan who loved digging into plot details wrote a long review in the comments, analyzing the repeatedly mentioned Yancheng defeat from multiple angles. The conclusion was clear:

Shen Jinglan’s loss at the Battle of Yancheng had hidden truths.

There might even have been a traitor in the court.

Few readers took the review seriously, too eager for the main couple to escape danger, fall in love, and unlock new intimate scenes. Only Ye Fuguang, bored to death, read the entire analysis.

She thought the review made sense.

–

Inside the carriage.

Ye Fuguang was quiet for too long, leaving Ruyi puzzled. After Jixiang’s reminder to restrain herself, Ruyi couldn’t hold back and asked, “What does the Princess think?”

“Hmm?”

Ye Fuguang spoke up. “They’ve gone too far.”

Ruyi’s eyes lit up. “Does the Princess also think those storybooks are vile and full of slander?”

She nodded and glanced out the window, noticing more bookstores ahead with similar books openly displayed. She said to Ruyi, “Later, get off and buy one of each for me.”

Ruyi nodded eagerly like a pecking chick, grumbling halfway before pausing. “…Huh?”

Even Jixiang looked at her in surprise.

Ye Fuguang laughed. “I need to see how they’re slandering her to know how to respond. Fight magic with—oh, I mean, know your enemy to win every battle, right?”

Ruyi’s face screamed, “I’m not educated, Princess, don’t trick me.”

Jixiang lowered her gaze, not guessing her thoughts, and honestly advised, “The Princess should hide these books well. If Yu Qing finds out, your days in the mansion won’t be easy.”

Ye Fuguang nodded with feeling. “I know.”

She didn’t want to provoke Yu Qing either.

…

Sadly, the three returned quietly to Plum Garden only to run into Yu Qing and her group at the entrance.

Yu Qing, expressionless, said, “I heard the Side Consort visited Xiangguo Temple and donated a hefty sum?”

Ye Fuguang immediately turned to the two maids.

Before they could protest their innocence, Yu Qing snorted coldly. “It’s hardly a secret. Yong’an City is buzzing about a lavish spendthrift who bought this year’s ‘Everything Goes Well Incense’ at Xiangguo Temple—”

Spendthrift Ye Fuguang: “?”

She quickly argued, “It wasn’t for me! It was to pray for the Prince!”

Yu Qing eyed her suspiciously.

Then she noticed the stack of blue-covered books in Jixiang and Ruyi’s hands and questioned, “Oh? Are these the scriptures Xiangguo Temple gave the Side Consort for copying prayers?”

Ye Fuguang, not quite confident but bold, replied, “…Yes!”

To her surprise, Yu Qing paused, glanced into the courtyard, and seemed to think of something. She said, “Perhaps the Side Consort doesn’t know of the past rift between the mansion and Xiangguo Temple. But never mind. Since the Side Consort has such intentions, the mansion’s servants shouldn’t fall behind. We’ll distribute these scriptures later for everyone to copy and pray for the Prince.”

She seemed genuinely moved by Ye Fuguang’s gesture.

But Ye Fuguang felt she was truly doomed.

–

Her expression stiffened. As Yu Qing approached, she hurriedly stepped in front of the books, but it was too late. Sharp-eyed Yu Qing spotted a cover:

“‘The Prince Bears Thirteen Babies’? What kind of scripture is this?”

Ye Fuguang forced calm. “Uh…”

Still scrambling for an excuse, a servant boy rushed in from outside, nearly slipping on the wet stone path. Ignoring it, he hurried to them and said:

“Yu… Princess, Manager Yu! Bad news!”

③

“What’s the rush?” Yu Qing asked.

Pointing toward the mansion gate, the servant boy said urgently, “A message just came from the palace. The physician Xue Congde, who was checking the Prince’s pulse, was attacked by bandits on his way back to Yong’an. He fell from the carriage and died.”

Yu Qing’s face darkened drastically. “What?”

Ye Fuguang was shocked too. “That’s so effective?”

She had just offered incense!

Her words reached Yu Qing, who glanced at her. Ye Fuguang quickly corrected herself. “I mean, that’s too tragic.”

But it was too late—

Yu Qing, sharp as ever, had pieced together from her reaction that her so-called prayers for the Prince weren’t for anything good. Those nauseating book covers were likely the shameless works circulating widely now.

Yu Qing’s expression shifted from pale to blue to black. Finally, amidst everyone’s gasps, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.

Ye Fuguang: “!”

She was done for. She’d caused big trouble.