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

"Why did you say that Shen Fu was your grandfather's savior that day?"

After thinking for a long time, Shen Mingshu took the initiative to bring it up first.

Four years ago, the battlefield was the first time the two of them went to war. They were led by Wei Ziye's grandfather, Wei Congyu, but he himself suffered a setback due to the erosion of time and was defeated in his first battle.

When asked how he had survived, Wei Congyu remained silent, and Wei Ziye shut up.

Despite the precarious state of their relationship, he remained respectful to his grandfather without offering any explanation.

Now that his blood was no longer needed, he looked at her, still unwilling to say anything more.

Shen Mingshu pursed her lips, turned her head, and called out to the Shadow Guard.

"How is Yan Zhi doing?"

The shadow guard shook his head: "The eldest young master has been beaten ten times and is currently kneeling in the ancestral hall."

"What!" Shen Mingshu gasped and turned to look at Wei Zixie; "I have to go."

Wei Zishi asked back: "What is your identity?"

"Wei Ziye!" Shen Mingshu clutched Wei Ziye's clothes tightly: "My situation should have been attributed to the Lu family. Even if I only have a vague understanding, His Majesty, out of respect for the Lu family, would have allowed me to find the answer."

"As long as I have value, Father Lu will not make things difficult for me."

"So, it's all your fault that you've said this; you must let me down!"

Lu Yanzhi could have come to her to ask for the Shadow Guards back to avoid punishment under family law, but he foolishly resisted, just as stupid as when he jumped into the river even though he couldn't swim!

But this time, Shen Mingshu couldn't pretend not to see it.

The fact that Lu's father was suddenly pressuring her like this must be because Wei Yuan had revealed her identity, and she had always been a scourge that the nobles of the capital avoided like the plague.

The beatings Lu Yanzhi endured must have been a testament to his unwavering support for her!

Shen Mingshu gripped Wei Ziye tightly, her heart pounding with anxiety: "Wei Ziye, I'm only going to let Father Lu know about my situation. At the very least, you have to let me return the Shadow Guard!"

Wei Ziye was held captive by her, his dark eyes fixed on her without blinking.

"Shen Mingshu, if you leave, will you ever come back out?"

Lu Yanzhi was so sincere, and after only a few days together, Shen Mingshu found herself smiling at him with such trust and closeness.

The reason Wei Yuan was so eager to ask Lu's father for help wasn't because he feared she would fall for him again.

What I fear is that she will soon willingly marry into the Lu family.

Before Shen Mingshu could even think about what Wei Ziye meant, she saw him tear off her white jade pendant and throw it to the shadow guard.

"Go back home yourself."

Shadow Guard: "..."

Are they really that worthless...?

……

Entering the Wei residence again felt like stepping into another world.

This time, she was carrying out the Emperor's orders, so she wouldn't be dealt with so hastily as by Old Madam Wei. However, she didn't know how far Old Madam Wei would suspect her.

Most importantly, Zhang Yu remained completely silent. Had he given up, or was he about to strike again, just like he had done years ago?

Shen Mingshu lay in bed, her mind a jumble of thoughts. She felt utterly exhausted from the day and soon fell into a deep sleep.

In my dream.

The little girl was once again dazzled by the white jade pendant at her father's waist.

She opened her mouth and kept reaching for the swaying jade pendant: "I want it, I want it, A-Shu wants it—"

"Does A-Shu want this?"

Shen Nian lowered his eyes and pulled off the jade pendant with a look of doting affection.

"My clever little darling."

Her gaze was drawn upwards, and she was held in Shen Nian's arms, where she saw Shen Nian, whose image was gradually fading from her memory.

At only twenty-five years old, Shen Nian has straight and gentle features, and her eyes are sharp and heroic, yet they also hold a unique tenderness. Her deep eyes seem to only hold Shen Mingshu.

They wished they could present her with all the world's treasures.

"Here you go! If A-Shu wants it, then so be it! In the future, when A-Shu looks for a husband, she must find a man who is willing to give her the power to protect herself and help her grow gradually, understand?"

"Power, power—" A small hand clutched the white jade pendant, admiring its patterns with delight. "Father, give me power!"

"What belongs to Father belongs to A-Shu." Shen Nian kissed Shen Mingshu's rosy cheek. "When Father returns victorious this time, he'll bring A-Shu a bone whistle to play with."

"Whistle—" Shen Mingshu pouted and blew, "Sound, blow it—"

"Hahaha—that whistle did go off."

Shen Nian took out a handkerchief to wipe the drool from Shen Mingshu's mouth and said gently, "When the time comes, as soon as A-Shu blows the whistle, Father will appear by A-Shu's side to celebrate her birthday with her, okay?"

"Great!" Shen Mingshu beamed with happiness, "Birthday! Father is amazing, the most amazing of all—!"

The scene shifts to the birthday celebration. The white jade pendant falls to the ground, and all the furniture and treasures are taken away.

That formidable father, because of a single sentence of greed for merit and recklessness, died on the battlefield, leaving no trace of his body or anything else behind.

"Father—I don't want the jade pendant, I don't want the bone whistle—"

Shen Mingshu cried as she chased after Shen Nian's departing figure, shouting wildly.

I finally woke up from my dream, each tear filled with regret.

Shen Mingshu stared at the bed curtains, biting her lip tightly to keep herself from crying out loud.

If she hadn't asked for the white jade pendant, if her father hadn't foolishly given it to her.

Once he's on the battlefield, will there still be any room for maneuver...?

Shen Mingshu raised her hand, slowly took the bone whistle from her waist, placed it near her lips, and, through her thumb, pursed her lips and slowly exhaled, just like when she was a child...

But he never dared to actually blow out the air—because his father had lied.

……

"Fifth Miss, are you awake?"

Shen Mingshu remained awake until dawn. Only when there was a knock on the door did she wipe away her tears, put away the bone whistle, and get up: "Come in."

"Fifth Miss, breakfast is here."

Shen Mingshu paused slightly when she saw the maid bringing the food: "Chunxi?"

Chunxi was Shen Mingshu's personal maid after she entered the Wei family. When Shen Mingshu and Wei Ziye's relationship reached its lowest point, she sincerely offered some advice.

But later, it was she who personally brought her the abortion soup, trying to trick her into drinking it.

Although Shen Mingshu saw through his scheme, it became the final straw that broke Shen Mingshu's back.

Because she was the only girl among Wei Ziye's trusted confidantes.

But it's clear that she also betrayed Wei Ziye.

Chunxi dared not look Shen Mingshu in the eye, lowered her head, and quickly served the meal, her face full of unease.

"Fifth Miss, your meal has been served. Please call me if you need anything."

"Chunxi." Shen Mingshu's voice was flat, but looking at the food that Chunxi had touched, she had no appetite.

"Let's find someone else to replace Wei Ziye."

Shen Mingshu didn't want to starve to death, so she spoke in a rather gentle and kind manner.

Chunxi, looking embarrassed, clutched the hem of her clothes and explained, "Fifth Miss, the young master still only has me by his side..."

Yes, if Chunxi's mother hadn't been Wei Ziye's wet nurse, Wei Ziye would have been surrounded by only men.

That's precisely why Shen Mingshu couldn't accept it.

She looked up at Chunxi, whose once endearing, round face had become thin, and whose innocent and simple demeanor had instantly transformed into one of worldly wisdom and maturity.

Shen Mingshu stared at her for a long time.

In the end, he said nothing, picked up his chopsticks, symbolically ate a few bites, and then put them down.

"No need to send lunch. You can leave now that you've packed up."

Chunxi glanced at the almost untouched food and said with some concern, "Fifth Miss, if the food is not to your liking, I can ask the kitchen staff to change it."

"No."

The curtain fell, separating the main hall from the inner room, and also concealing Shen Mingshu's aloof figure.

……

Midday.

Wei Ziye entered: "Why don't you want Chunxi?"