Your Highness, your wife has had her virginity mark applied and married someone else.

Wei Yuan went from coming back every day to coming back twice a week.

Shen Mingshu was already very satisfied.

She packed his undergarments, constantly reminding him, "The temperature has been fluctuating a lot between morning and evening lately. If you don't have time to shower after martial arts class, wipe yourself down so you don't catch a cold."

"Remember to have your page remind you to eat. Don't always eat cold dishes; an upset stomach will only waste your reading time, which is not worth it."

"Never mind, I'll still write down the recipe for warm porridge for you, just in case."

"Ming Shu." Wei Yuan hugged Shen Ming Shu from behind, his cool cheek brushing intimately against her ear, his clear voice carrying a hint of reluctance and dependence.

"I'll be back this weekend, don't take so much."

Shen Mingshu slowly folded his clothes, her expression calm and composed, revealing no hint of anger: "It's useful. Your sleeves always get ink stains when you write."

"If you're going to see guests, you'll need to change your clothes."

The arms around her tightened almost imperceptibly. Wei Yuan dared not look into her eyes, and could only bury his face deeper into the crook of her neck.

"Ming Shu is always so thoughtful. I always feel at ease when I'm by your side. I really want to take you with me."

If you really want to, there's always a way.

If you don't want it, why bother expressing your love?

Shen Mingshu felt a desolate chill in her heart. She closed her eyes, suppressing the bitterness and stinging in her eyes.

"It is precisely because we are reluctant to give up that we should go all out."

Shen Mingshu's voice was extremely soft, yet clear and compassionate: "A-Yuan, you should have a bright future and achieve great success, I—"

The "I'm waiting for you" that was stuck in my throat finally became a sincere thought in my last remaining belief: "I believe in you."

"..."

After a long silence, Wei Yuan spoke again, his voice low and hoarse, with a deliberate gentleness.

"Ming Shu, once everything settles down, I will make it up to you many times over."

After the dust settles, it should be time for Wei Yuan to pass the imperial examination with flying colors, have his wedding night, and rise to prominence.

The so-called compensation was no longer what Shen Mingshu had hoped for.

Shen Mingshu opened her mouth, but then found herself speechless.

"Okay, be careful on the road."

Inside the carriage, Wei Yuan reached out and grasped Shen Mingshu's hand: "Wait for me to return home."

"it is good."

Shen Mingshu watched Wei Yuan leave, then turned and got into another carriage.

"Go to the yamen (government office)."

The driver hesitated for a moment, then Shen Mingshu threw money at him: "I'm just going to ask how the investigation is going with the gang that caused trouble a few days ago. I'll be back before dinner."

Shen Mingshu gave too much, and the carriage quickly headed towards the city.

……

"Have you heard? The Wei family is hosting a peach blossom banquet tomorrow, and the young miracle doctor from the Shen family has been invited."

"The Shen residence? You must be mistaken. This banquet is to set up a match between the second young master and young lady of the Wei family who have returned. I saw the two of them enjoying the flowers at the Heyuan Garden a few days ago."

"Oh! So, does that mean the Wei and Lu families are about to have a happy event?"

"That's right, let me tell you..."

"..."

Shen Mingshu rubbed the tael of gold between her fingertips, feeling its coolness, and fell into deep thought.

Shen Yangjue, how dare you even come to the capital?

The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the yamen (government office).

Just as the constables were about to step forward to drive the man away, Shen Mingshu threw him the Wei family's token and an ounce of gold.

"I was harassed by thugs blocking my door in the western part of the city. My family filed a lawsuit, but there has been no progress. I have come here to ask the Imperial Inspector for an explanation and hope that you will be lenient with me."

He went to his superior to demand an explanation and then asked him to make an exception.

The constable sneered and was about to smash the gold on the ground, but his legs went weak when he saw the Wei family's token.

"Miss, this way please."

"..."

"My lord! Someone from the Wei residence is looking for you."

The Imperial Censor paused, his pen poised.

People from the Wei family? Go find him personally?

The ink stained the white paper, and thinking he had been summoned by the King of Hell, he immediately stood up in a panic.

He had just finished making a bowing gesture when he saw it was a young woman and paused, asking, "And this young lady is...?"

Shen Mingshu bowed respectfully and smiled gently: "Shen Mingshu."

Shen, Ming, Shu??!

The imperial censor on patrol staggered back a step, his fingers trembling. "You...you're not dead?"

Shen Mingshu smiled and said, "Not yet."

As she spoke, she directly pulled out a hundred-tael gold coin. "Does Your Excellency know about the case reported by Wei Yuan, the second young master of the Wei family?"

The minor officials in the capital are the most financially strapped group. They have to flatter their superiors, they don't have the people's hard-earned money, prices are high, their salaries are low, and they also face the danger of being implicated in other people's misfortunes. Apart from their respectable official robes, they have no other benefits.

It's rare to see someone as straightforward as Shen Mingshu.

Moreover, it was the case of the second young master of the Wei family.

The imperial censor looked bewildered for a moment, and not daring to take the silver first, he immediately went to look through the case files.

Somewhat hesitantly, he said, "Miss Shen, this case has been withdrawn after the troublemakers were executed."

Shen Mingshu frowned: "Who removed it?"

The Imperial Censor swallowed hard: "Prince Wei... Prince Wei."

Shen Mingshu: "..."

Shen Mingshu pulled out another hundred taels of gold and slammed it onto his desk in frustration: "I only have one question."

"Have you found out about the Shen family's residence?"

Two large pieces of gold were placed in front of him, and he could take them for free with just a nod.

The imperial censor admitted that he had embezzled this time.

Shen Yangjue—!

Once outside the yamen, Shen Mingshu clenched her fingers tightly and commanded, "Go to the cloth shop!"

"yes!"

……

The day of the peach blossom banquet.

Before Shen Yangjue left, all the members of the Shen family saw her off attentively and followed her out.

His father, Shen Qingliang, laughed heartily: "A-Jue, you've truly brought honor to the Shen family! After today's visit, our Shen family will surely regain the prosperity it enjoyed three years ago!"

"Shallow-sighted!"

Old Madam Shen scolded him sternly, then turned around and lovingly took Shen Yangjue's hand.

"A-Jue, remember to visit Lady Hou more often. You and Prince Wei have a past relationship. It's important to clear up all the misunderstandings and rekindle your romance."

Shen Bo, from the second branch of the Shen family, was somewhat worried: "I'm afraid that the Crown Prince Wei will hold a grudge against A-Jue because of Fifth Sister's matter."

"Why bring up that unlucky thing on such a joyous occasion!"

Shen Qingliang roared, "The third branch of the family is empty! That wretched girl is nowhere to be found. Even if she's barely clinging to life, she has no right to the Shen family!"

Shen Yangjue glanced at Shen Bo with her delicate eyebrows raised, showing no humility towards her elder. Her sickly eyes held only disdain and indifference towards him.

"Second Uncle, the Shen family has never had a Fifth Miss?"

Shen Bo's face paled at her gaze, and he hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, what A-Jue said is right. Second Uncle is getting senile."

"Heh—" Shen Yangjue slowly withdrew his gaze. "Don't worry, this banquet was specially arranged for me by the Marquis's wife on behalf of the heir. Three years have passed, and those trivial matters should have been forgotten long ago."

"Today is the day my Shen family turns the tables!"

"..."

The most prestigious social event for women of noble birth in Beijing was a banquet hosted by Zhang Yu.

From princesses and high-ranking officials to the wives of officials below the fifth rank and wealthy merchants, everyone who was invited attended.

Although Shen Yangjue of the Shen family was not particularly prominent, it did not prevent her from being the star of the banquet.

The brocade-covered road was adorned with jeweled ornaments, and people slowly made their way through it. Thousands of ordinary people bowed their heads and held their breath, leaving only the nobles with their tinkling ornaments, their steps treading on the fallen peach blossoms.

Shen Yangjue looked down at the kneeling ants, idly choosing her 'prey'.

Suddenly, the faint sounds coming from the attic became particularly noticeable.

"Do you think that young miracle doctor from the Shen family is inside?"

"What little miracle doctor? He's a vicious and ruthless man! Don't you remember what the Jingzhao Prefecture found in the Shen family's backyard three years ago?"

"Oh dear! I can't forget it! When those disemboweled corpses were carried out, I took one look and couldn't eat meat for three years."

"That's right! I heard they were all homeless beggars, what a tragedy! And there were quite a few little beggars too! The whole family was dissected by that Shen woman herself, what was she saying she was doing it for?"

"Living body alchemy!"

Everyone in the teahouse gasped in surprise.

"vomit--!"