SBCEJM -Chapter 337 Sudden Downpour in the Hunting Grounds—The Treehouse Turns Out to Be a Shura Field!

Raindrops fell without warning, instantly merging into a dense curtain.

The forest exploded into chaos as officials shouted and attendants scrambled through hurried footsteps.

“Quick! Rain cloaks! Bamboo hats!”

Liu San and Liu Si moved swiftly, pulling oilcloth rain capes from the baggage on horseback and draping them over Feng Zeyan and Feng Zekai.

Feng Zeyan sat firmly on her horse. Rainwater slid down the brim of her bamboo hat and dripped away.

She watched with great interest as the usually refined officials now covered their heads in panic, their official robes soaked through, looking like chickens washed out of a coop.

【System, hurry. Scan for the best shelter point.】

【Ding! Map generated! Eight hundred meters ahead, southeast direction, there is a thousand-year-old ancient tree. A wooden treehouse on it can accommodate twenty people!】

“Follow me!”

Feng Zeyan tugged the reins and charged into the rain first.

Feng Zekai, Liu San, and Liu Si followed closely behind.

Some quick-witted officials immediately urged their attendants to keep up.

Liu Si, however, returned again, holding several brand-new rain cloaks and oil-paper umbrellas, calling out briskly as if selling goods:

“Taking shelter! High-quality tung-oil umbrellas, fifty wen each! Thick rain cloaks, one hundred wen each! Cash on delivery!”

An old minister, drenched and barely able to open his eyes, fumbled out a handful of broken silver and shoved it over.

“Give me a rain cloak!”

Liu Si beamed and quickly took the money, handing over the goods with practiced ease.

They crossed the muddy forest path until a massive ancient tree—so large it would take seven or eight people to encircle it—appeared before them.

Its canopy spread like a giant umbrella, and the ground beneath was surprisingly dry.

Looking up, they saw a finely built wooden house nestled among thick branches, half-hidden from view.

Dried animal hides and herbs hung under the eaves.

Thin wisps of smoke rose from the roof and blended into the rain mist.

“There’s someone up there!” an official exclaimed in delight.

Soon after, the wooden door opened and a sturdy rope ladder was lowered.

A strong, dark-skinned man peeked out from the doorway with an honest smile.

“Honorable officials, the rain is heavy—please come up and take shelter!”

He then lowered a large woven bamboo basket and called down: “Elder officials, please sit inside the basket. I’ll pull you up!”

Lin Zhengyan and several older officials exchanged glances and no longer hesitated, taking turns sitting into the basket.

Feng Zeyan and Feng Zekai grabbed the rope ladder and climbed nimbly upward, reaching the entrance in a few swift movements.

The interior of the treehouse was more spacious than expected, the floor covered with clean animal hides.

A fire burned in the corner, with meat roasting over it, sizzling with oil.

A woman dressed in plain cloth and a hairpin was adding firewood. When she saw them enter, she curtsied shyly and quickly poured steaming ginger tea.

“Please drink some hot tea, officials. It will drive away the cold.”

Her voice was gentle and pleasant, her beauty refined and pure.

Outside, the rain poured heavily; inside, it was warm like spring.

The officials accepted the tea and thanked her repeatedly.

Feng Zekai found a corner to sit and took out a notebook and charcoal pen to record:

“During the autumn hunt, we encountered rain and were fortunate to receive help from a mountain hunter. His dwelling, built atop an ancient tree, is exquisitely crafted. The people are simple and hospitable—truly a hidden gem of the wilderness.”

In a corner, a tall figure sat with his back to everyone by the fire, completely soaked. It was none other than General Cheng Ying—the man who had earlier had his wild chicken stolen.

Feng Zeyan took the roasted meat handed to her by the woman, thanked her, and took a large bite without hesitation.

【Ding! Detected a massive top-tier gossip bomb! Host, sit tight. High energy ahead!】

【Hurry, hurry! My gossip soul is burning!】

The system took a deep breath and spoke like it was announcing an epic revelation.

【Host, look at this kind and gentle “sister-in-law” making the roast meat.】

Feng Zeyan’s gaze fell on the gentle woman.

【Her name is Qin Huan. She looks very virtuous, right?】

【Mm, and then?】

【Three years ago, she was originally the bride who was supposed to marry General Cheng Ying—but she was a substituted concubine-born daughter!】

The moment those words fell—

The sound of chewing meat, drinking ginger tea, all came to an abrupt halt.

More than a dozen pairs of eyes lit up with uncontrollable excitement, locking sharply onto Cheng Ying, the pale-faced hunter couple, and the trio in a frenzy.

Cheng Ying froze mid-bite with a piece of dried meat in his hand.

He suddenly looked up, his gaze landing for the first time seriously on the faces of the hunter couple.

The couple’s faces turned as white as paper.

The hunter’s wooden skewer of meat “clack” fell into the fire, sending sparks flying.

His wife Qin Huan trembled violently and instinctively turned away.

【Wait—substituted bride?】

【System: Three years ago, Cheng Ying returned victorious from battle, and the Emperor bestowed him a marriage with the legitimate daughter of the Ministry of Works official’s family.】

【But that legitimate daughter cried and refused, saying he was too rough and coarse, so the household replaced her with the concubine-born daughter Qin Huan.】

This question echoed the thoughts of everyone present.

Cheng Ying’s brows furrowed tightly into a knot.

A substitute bride?

He stared at the woman named Qin Huan. Her face… indeed bore seven or eight similarities to his wife at home.

On their wedding night, he had been thoroughly drunk. What happened in the bridal chamber, he had long since forgotten completely.

Over the past three years, his wife had managed the household well and was widely praised for her virtue.

He had never been dissatisfied with the marriage.

But what was going on today?

【System, stop dragging this out. Who is this hunter?】

The system dropped another bombshell.

【This seemingly honest and simple man is named Zhao Wu.】

【He was once one of General Cheng Ying’s most trusted deputy commanders!】

“Boom!”

It felt as if an invisible thunderbolt had struck the entire treehouse.

Cheng Ying’s eyes widened instantly, the dried meat in his hand falling to the ground.

Zhao Wu?!

He stared at the dark-skinned man in disbelief.

The officials’ gazes were filled with sympathy, pity—and a hint of uncontrollable excitement.

The general’s wife was stolen by his deputy commander, and he remained unaware for three whole years!

This gossip was enormous!

Feng Zekai’s charcoal pen snapped with a “crack.” He quickly wrote in his notes:

“General married, wife abducted by deputy commander, unaware for three years. Encountered by chance in the hunting grounds today—karma comes full circle.”

The air in the treehouse froze. Even the sound of the torrential rain outside seemed sealed off.

Cheng Ying’s fierce eyes locked onto Zhao Wu, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

Zhao Wu trembled under his gaze, cold sweat pouring down his back.

Behind him, Qin Huan was even more frightened out of her wits, clutching her husband’s sleeve tightly.

【I’m actually curious—how did Zhao Wu manage to abduct her back then?】

【Cheng Ying is a general, after all. On his wedding night, how could someone steal the bride right under his nose?】

All the officials perked up their ears. Even Lin Zhengyan stroked his beard, appearing indifferent on the surface, but his peripheral vision never once left the trio.