Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times - Chapter 132

After eating for a while, Shen Xingyue quickly added the rice noodles to the pot. Su Muyu and the others were very curious about this new dish she had created. Once it was cooked, they eagerly picked up their chopsticks and began tasting it.

The rice noodles were smooth and tender, and when combined with the spicy, fragrant broth, everyone’s eyes lit up with delight.

Little Guban turned to Shen Xingyue and asked, “Cousin, this is delicious!”

“If you like it, eat more. There’s still plenty over there. But don’t fill up too much—we still have an entire roast lamb cooking,” Shen Xingyue said with a smile.

After speaking, she put down her bowl and chopsticks and instructed the servants to bring over the lamb. She personally brushed on a fresh layer of honey. Not long after, the scent of roasting lamb wafted through the air.

Su Muyu stopped eating after a while. She cradled the little one in her arms, playing with her while waiting for the lamb to be ready.

The rich aroma of grilled meat traveled far. The lamb, being fresh and tender, cooked quickly. Before long, the entire lamb was perfectly roasted. Shen Xingyue had it placed on a stand and began slicing it piece by piece with a dagger to share with everyone.

Perhaps the smell was just too enticing. Out of nowhere, three little black puppies came bounding over, wagging their tiny tails excitedly. The pups, seemingly aware of their own cuteness, kept wagging their tails at anyone holding bones.

After slicing meat for a while, Shen Xingyue gnawed the meat off a rib bone and then tossed the bone to the puppies on the ground.

Little Erduo had never seen dogs before and was very excited. Leaning against Su Muyu’s chest, she pointed her tiny finger at the black puppies and exclaimed, “Yaya!”

Su Muyu gently pinched the chubby little hand and laughed, “Those are puppies. Little Erduo, you’ve never seen one before, have you? Aren’t they cute?”

“Yaya~” The little one’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the puppies. When one of the puppies wagged its tail at her, she beamed with joy.

One of the puppies seemed particularly interested in the baby. Its big eyes blinked as it stayed near Su Muyu, wagging its tail. Seeing this, Shen Xingyue tossed the pup another rib bone that still had a little meat on it. The puppy wagged its tail even faster.

Shen Xingyue chuckled and shook her head at the dogs. “You little charcoal balls really know how to sniff out food and drink.”

The puppies, of course, didn’t understand what she was saying. They were just happily chewing their fragrant bones.

After lunch, the two little ones were tired and were taken back to their rooms for a nap by their nannies. Shen Xingyue and the others decided to leave the estate and take a walk in the nearby mountains. Of course, Shen Yining had already arranged for guards to be stationed at the foot of the mountain in case anything happened.

It had been a long time since they last took a walk in the wild. Little Guban especially had few chances to venture into the countryside except when hunting. With the spring sun not too harsh and the temperature just right, a stroll through the hills lifted everyone’s spirits.

The mountain Shen Xingyue chose wasn’t very tall. In less than half an hour, they reached the summit. Shen Xingyue took in several deep breaths of the fresh mountain air. Say what you will, but this is one great thing about ancient times—no pollution at all.

Feeling tired, Shen Xingyue looked for a clean spot to sit and rest. That was when she noticed several dark, black rocks scattered not far ahead. She froze for a moment, then quickly walked over and picked up two of them, examining them closely.

Seeing her intrigued, Han Shu smiled and asked, “What’s the matter? Is something wrong with those rocks? There are quite a few similar ones on the mountain near our outpost in the suburbs of the capital.”

Shen Xingyue stared at the rocks, swallowed slightly, and knocked the two pieces together. Bits of debris broke off, but the insides were still jet black.

She rose and scanned the surrounding area. This type of material rarely appears in only small amounts. Sure enough, after searching for a bit, she spotted a steep rock face ahead with several larger chunks of the same black stone—some nearly as tall as a person.

“Cousin, what’s going on? What are those rocks?” Shen Yining asked, puzzled. She had come to trust her cousin completely—Shen Xingyue always seemed to come up with curious but useful things. Seeing her this absorbed, Shen Yining was sure she had found something extraordinary again.

Looking at the two black stones in her hands, Shen Xingyue didn’t even mind the dirt on her hands and laughed. “We’ve struck gold!”

“Seriously? These?” Shen Taotao glanced at her elder sister, clearly skeptical.

“Yes, exactly these. Come on, let’s find an open area—I’ll show you.”

She hurried to a nearby clearing, tossed the two black rocks on the ground, and gathered some dry twigs.

“Who brought fire starters?”

“I’ve got some,” Han Shu replied. A seasoned warrior, she always carried flint, a dagger, and similar essentials.

Shen Xingyue didn’t stand on ceremony. She took the fire starter, lit the dry twigs, and placed the two black stones into the flames.

At first, no one understood why she was burning rocks with twigs. But soon, as the twigs turned to ash, the two black stones began to glow brightly, radiating an orange hue. They didn’t burn away quickly like the twigs; instead, they looked quite similar to charcoal and continued to emit heat for a long time.

“Is this charcoal?” Little Guban asked curiously.

“No, it’s a type of mineral. It forms over many years through natural erosion,” Shen Xingyue explained with a smile. “It functions similarly to charcoal, but unlike wood that needs to be burned to make charcoal, this can be mined directly—just like iron ore or copper ore. If we can use this ‘coal,’ then it’ll make surviving the winter much easier for the common people.”

“Coal?” Little Guban was clearly surprised.

Shen Xingyue used a twig to write the word “coal” on the ground and laughed. “I just made up the name. We can’t go around calling it ‘black rock,’ can we? Your Highness, this place needs to be secured. Just like iron and copper mines, this must be placed under the Emperor’s control to avoid trouble.”

“Don’t worry, Cousin. I’ll report this to Mother Empress as soon as I return,” Little Guban replied immediately.

Shen Xingyue thought for a moment, then added, “By the way, if this stuff is burned indoors, make sure the space is well-ventilated. Otherwise, people might get poisoned.”

“Got it. I’ll remember,” Little Guban nodded. Maybe it was because Shen Xingyue had saved her life, or perhaps it was the Empress’s later explanation of how her cousin had prayed to the heavens for her safety, but Shen Yining had always believed her cousin was someone truly extraordinary. With all her strange inventions and uncanny knowledge of odd foods, Shen Yining had long come to see them as signs of divine guidance. So when Shen Xingyue spoke, she never doubted her.

“Your Highness,” Shen Xingyue added, “perhaps you should have your attendants take some samples back to show your mother.”

“Good idea. Everyone, collect more—we’ll take them back to the palace,” Shen Yining instructed her personal guards.

On the way down the mountain, Little Guban couldn’t stop smiling. Deforestation was always a risk, and although the court had already begun promoting Shen Xingyue’s tree-planting methods, the cold of winter was hard to resist. If this “coal” really existed in large quantities, it could drastically improve the lives of the people during the nine cold months of the year.

Zhou Zixuan chuckled softly and asked, “Your Highness seems quite pleased?”

“Of course! If this proves useful, it will help the people a great deal. All thanks to my cousin,” Little Guban replied with a grin.

Once they returned to the estate, the first thing Shen Xingyue did was wash her hands, scrubbing off the black coal dust.

Little Erduo had just woken from her nap and was nestled in Su Muyu’s arms, frowning in disgust as she watched Shen Xingyue turn a basin of clear water completely black. Seeing the baby wrinkle her tiny nose at her, Shen Xingyue laughed. “Oh? You little rascal—are you judging me now?”

Little Erduo blew a bubble in protest, earning a warm laugh from Su Muyu, who carried her away.

That evening, due to palace regulations requiring their return before the palace gates were locked, Shen Yining and Zhou Zixuan had to leave before sunset. Given her noble status, Shen Xingyue urged them to head back in good time.

Instead of returning directly to the Eastern Palace, Shen Yining went straight to the Liangyi Hall, bringing with her a bag of coal samples and several guards.

Emperor Shen Kaiyuan was surprised to see his daughter arrive at this hour. “Ning’er? Weren’t you out with your cousin? Why didn’t you return to the Eastern Palace?”

“Mother Empress, my cousin has discovered something incredible!” Shen Yining exclaimed.

“What is it?” Shen Kaiyuan asked eagerly—anything discovered by Shen Xingyue always caught his attention.

“She calls it ‘coal,’” Shen Yining explained quickly. “It’s similar to charcoal—it burns for a long time once ignited. But unlike charcoal, which needs to be made, this can be mined directly from nature, just like iron or copper ore. And from the looks of it, there’s quite a lot of it.”

“Did you bring some back? Let me see it,” Shen Kaiyuan said, rising immediately from his jade desk.

Shen Yining quickly turned to Wen Jing. “Official Wen, have someone bring a copper basin and some kindling right away.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Wen Jing replied and promptly gave the order.

Soon, a few palace attendants arrived with the requested items. Shen Yining instructed them to light the kindling first, then placed the coal inside. Within moments, the coal ignited on its own and, as time passed, burned even more intensely. Emperor Shen Kaiyuan watched the scene in stunned silence.

“Ning’er, how did your cousin even think of this? Also, have you already sent people to secure the place where it was found?” Shen Kaiyuan asked hurriedly.

“It’s already been secured,” Shen Yining replied quickly. “We found it today on a mountain near Cousin Xingyue’s estate outside the capital. We were just wandering around the summit when she stumbled upon it. She did a test burn just like this, and once she realized its value, she ordered guards to watch over the area.”

“Good. If this is real, then Yue’er has truly done another great deed. In Beichuan, many people freeze to death every winter. Charcoal is expensive. But if this so-called ‘coal’ can be mined in large quantities, it would truly be a blessing for the people,” Shen Kaiyuan said with a warm smile.

“I thought the same, which is why I came here right away to tell you.”

“Excellent. Summon Yue’er to the palace tomorrow—we must discuss how to begin mining,” he said cheerfully.

Back at the estate, only their family and Han Shu’s remained. Shen Xingyue set a large iron pot over the flames and started boiling fresh pork bones. She added vegetables, and around the rim of the pot, dough was stuck and shaped into fluffy flower rolls. It resembled the iron-pot stew she often ate in her previous life.

Shen Xingyue was thoroughly enjoying herself, completely unaware that her aunt already had her in mind again.

Han Shu, having frequently dined at the prince’s residence, was now used to Shen Xingyue’s peculiar but always tasty dishes. She knew that following Shen Xingyue’s meals never led her wrong.

Sure enough, the stew began to release a delicious aroma as the firewood burned beneath the iron pot. Even from a distance, the scent was mouthwatering. Little Erduo, who had just woken up from a nap, was instantly enticed—drooling at the smell.

Little Jinli had just eaten some noodle soup, but now she felt hungry again, staring longingly at the pot. “Smells good… Eat!”

Han Shu chuckled and looked at the baby. “The meat is in big chunks. Your little teeth can’t handle it yet. But there’s tofu inside—I’ll get some for you and Erduo.”

Su Muzhi, feeling a little left out, stared intensely at Shen Xingyue. Shen Xingyue noticed her and smiled. “Zhizhi can have some too. Once you two grow to be as big as her, you’ll be able to gnaw on meat just like that.”

After lunch, the three little black puppies who had mysteriously vanished earlier came bounding back, tails wagging and acting adorably as they circled around the group.

Su Muyu chuckled at the dogs. “You three just had a feast at noon and ran off. Now you’ve caught another scent, haven’t you?”

The puppies wagged their tails like propellers, running loops around Su Muyu excitedly.

By then, the bone stew was nearly done. Shen Xingyue lifted the pot lid, and a wave of fragrant steam billowed out. She first distributed the flower rolls to everyone, then used two small bowls to scoop out tofu for the two little ones.

Su Muyu crushed the tofu into smaller pieces, gently blew on it to cool it down, and only then began feeding Little Erduo.

The baby had been waiting eagerly, her tiny mouth wide open. After the first bite, her little legs kicked in joy.

Shen Xingyue took a bite of one of the flower rolls—it was infused with the aroma of the broth and had a wonderfully soft texture.

She then picked up a chunk of pork bone. Meanwhile, the black puppies were wagging their tails frantically again. With a laugh, Shen Xingyue handed over the bone to them.

After dinner, everyone gathered around the campfire, chatting idly. Shen Xingyue looked up and saw the sky filled with stars. The little one pointed toward the heavens curiously. “Yaya?”

“Those are stars,” Shen Xingyue said, planting a kiss on the baby’s cheek. “They’re very, very far away. Has my Little Erduo never seen them before?”

The baby nuzzled up to her and nodded, then yawned adorably.

Shen Xingyue gently pinched the baby’s tiny hand. “Tired from playing all day, hmm? Shall we go sleep now?”

Whether she understood or not, the little one nodded obediently.

Shen Xingyue and Su Muyu carried the baby back to their room in the estate. Han Shu and Shen Taotao did the same.

By the time Shen Xingyue laid the baby down, her little eyes could barely stay open.

Shen Xingyue looked at the baby in her arms, whose little eyes could no longer stay open. She gently kissed the child’s forehead and softly coaxed, “Our little one should sleep early. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out to play again.”

The baby rubbed her face affectionately against Shen Xingyue and closed her eyes.

Su Muyu wet a handkerchief and carefully wiped the baby’s little face and hands before gently placing her onto the bed.

Seizing the moment, Shen Xingyue wrapped her arms around Su Muyu and kissed her lightly on the ear. “With Little Erduo sleeping in the middle, I can’t even hold you.”

“You’ve been holding me plenty,” Su Muyu replied with a playful glare and a smile.

“I still miss you.”

Under Shen Xingyue’s teasing, Su Muyu reluctantly went to wash up, and only then returned to the bed to accompany the little one.

Shen Xingyue, exhausted after a full day outside, quickly fell asleep beside the baby.

The next morning, while everyone was still having breakfast, a eunuch from the palace arrived bearing an imperial decree. Shen Xingyue hurried out to receive the decree and ordered Yiliu to reward the attendant with silver.

Shen Xingyue then leaned down and kissed the baby on the cheek, sighing, “Looks like I’ve been summoned to give advice again. Baby, you stay and play with your mother and the others, alright? I’ll be back this afternoon or by tomorrow.”

The little one nodded her tiny head, though it was clear she didn’t understand a word.

Shen Xingyue had the royal guards prepare a carriage to take her to the palace. Upon arriving at the palace gates, she continued on foot as per custom. By the time she reached the Hall of Diligent Governance, her forehead was damp with sweat.

She quickly saluted Shen Kaiyuan and Shen Yining. By now, several of the Empress’s most trusted officials had already gathered in the hall.

Seeing the sweat on her face, Emperor Shen Kaiyuan immediately turned to Wen Jing and said, “Quickly, bring tea for the Princess.”

“Thank you, Aunt,” Shen Xingyue said gratefully as she accepted the cup handed to her by a palace attendant. She blew on it and took a few sips, finally easing her thirst.

Shen Kaiyuan smiled and said, “I know you were enjoying leisure at your estate, but I summoned you because of the coal matter. I sent people again today to inspect the mountain. Even just on the surface, there’s a large quantity of exposed coal. If we mine further, there should be much more. Yue’er, do you have any thoughts on how to extract it?”

Shen Xingyue thought for a moment and replied, “Aunt, coal emits a specific odor and, in enclosed spaces, can lead to poisoning. If we mine it the same way we do iron ore—by digging deep shafts—we must avoid using open flames below. There’s a risk of explosion.”

“It’s that serious?” Shen Kaiyuan asked, frowning slightly.

Shen Xingyue nodded solemnly. “We already have experience mining iron, gold, and silver, including draining water from tunnels. But coal requires even more caution. We need to consider safer lighting methods. Also, wooden supports must be used to reinforce the tunnels to prevent cave-ins that could injure the workers.”

Shen Kaiyuan nodded in agreement and turned to his attendants. “Good. Record the Princess’s suggestions. Have the Ministry of Works figure out how to proceed.”

Then, glancing back at Shen Xingyue, he asked, “Isn’t there any alternative for lighting?”

“It’s best not to use open flame,” Shen Xingyue answered after some thought. Ancient technology was far from modern-day sophistication—she couldn’t possibly invent something like a flashlight, after all.

Shen Kaiyuan nodded. “Then we’ll begin with surface mining at the coal site. As for lighting… all of you, think of safer solutions.”

Excavating coal was no small matter, and such a decision couldn’t be made hastily. Shen Kaiyuan knew that Shen Xingyue was probably thinking about Little Erduo, so he said gently, “I know you want to go back and be with the baby. I won’t keep you. Go on now.”

“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty,” Shen Xingyue replied. After expressing her gratitude, she quickly left the palace and headed back to the estate.

They stayed at the estate for three more days before finally returning to the prince’s residence by carriage. Even on the way home, Shen Xingyue was still thinking about the issue of mine lighting. From what she had learned in her previous life, ancient mining methods involved the risky use of kerosene lamps underground, while people at the entrance had to manually fan air down to ventilate the mine.

The court had discussed the matter for a long time. In the end, they decided to dig only shallow mines. Since the coal was still easy to obtain even from surface-level mining, it provided decent yields. However, coal mining proved to be a physically demanding task.

Over two months passed, and now it was already May, the final month of spring in Beichuan. After weeks of testing and extraction, coal mines had been opened in several towns surrounding Beichuan. In some areas, the coal was now being sold by the government at regulated prices.

That day, Shen Xingyue returned from outside and noticed a coal-selling point in the capital. Because coal was more affordable than charcoal and could still provide warmth, many people were lining up to buy it.

Of course, the court did not mine coal recklessly. With prior experience in managing gold, silver, and iron mining, the government had created clear plans. Some newly discovered coal mines were simply guarded and not yet exploited until further notice.

Back at the residence, Shen Xingyue spent some time playing with the baby. Little Erduo was now eight months old and could crawl all over the bed. Every afternoon before her nap, she loved to play with Su Muyu and Shen Yining. She would crawl from one end of the bed to the other and back again, laughing as she tried to reach Su Muyu.

Although she would get tired and short of breath, she was full of joy. After playing, she always fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.

At the same time, the court reclaimed the estates of the previously confined Third Prince and Fifth Princess. The real challenge was what to do with the people inside. To prevent future revenge, Shen Kaiyuan ordered that everyone from both households be exiled to the south to work as laborers. This included not just the princes and princesses, but also their wives, concubines, and servants.

Soon, soldiers surrounded both estates and began removing people one by one. Su Muqiu had been confined in the Fifth Princess’s residence for what felt like ages. When she heard movement outside, she rushed to open the door.

“What’s happening? Has His Majesty pardoned us? Where are you taking everyone?” she asked in a panic.

A maid who saw Su Muqiu standing in the way spat on her and snapped, “Hah! If it weren’t for you and Shen Yijia, would we be getting sent to Qingguang River? Everyone knows that place is always flooding. This is just a death sentence!”

“Exactly. Do you still think you’re some noble lady? You’re not even as good as us now. Pathetic.”

The maids, full of resentment after being locked up for so long, vented all their anger on Su Muqiu. Her face and clothes were covered in spit. At first, she trembled with humiliation, then suddenly burst into wild laughter and began cursing.

“Su Muyu, you wretched woman! You ruined me! I was the one who should have married Shen Xingyue. I should be living gloriously in the prince’s residence as her consort. You stole everything from me—my title, my future, my life. I’ll kill you! I swear I’ll kill you!”

Chaos broke out in the Fifth Princess’s mansion. Even maids who refused to leave were dragged out by soldiers. Su Muqiu tried to hide in her room, but her door was kicked open. Two armored soldiers stepped forward to seize her.

Su Muqiu screamed like a madwoman, “Don’t touch me! I was the Fifth Princess’s favorite! If any of you dare lay a hand on me, you’ll pay for it!”

One of the soldiers sneered and said, “The Fifth Princess lost her head long ago. And you’re still acting tough? Drag her out.”

The two of them grabbed her and began pulling her from the room. Su Muqiu’s voice changed from angry to desperate as tears welled up in her eyes.

“Please! I’m Shen Xingyue’s true wife! The one in the prince’s residence is a fake! Take me to her. She’ll reward you—please!”

The soldiers looked at each other and laughed.

“You’re insane,” one of them said. “Everyone in the capital knows how much the Grand Princess loves her wife and daughter. Her consort is Su Muyu. Just one letter different from yours, yet the two of you are worlds apart. You think you deserve to be compared to her?”

“Exactly. So delusional. Take a good look at yourself. Do you really think the Grand Princess would fall for you?”

As they dragged her through the hallway, they kept mocking her. Su Muqiu went from screaming to silent tears. Her hands and feet were cold. She started begging them again.

“Please, good sirs, I’m the legitimate daughter of the Su family. I beg you, send word to my parents. They’ll reward you, I swear. Please… please.”

One of the soldiers scoffed. “You’d better stop dreaming. The Emperor himself ordered that no one from your family or the Third Prince’s household is to be spared. You’re all going to be punished, every last one of you. I’d save your strength if I were you—you might not even survive the journey to Qingguang River.”

Support