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

Shen Mingshu turned around to look.

Lu Yanzhi, dressed in a plain long robe, was as gentle and refined as jade. His eyebrows and eyes were as clear and bright as the moon in the mountains. He looked at her like this, and the delicate tenderness in his eyes seemed to drown a person in it.

"Ah Shu, I didn't mean to distance myself, I was just afraid of putting you in a difficult position."

Lu Yanzhi always exuded a gentle aura, spoke in a refined tone, and took every emotion of Shen Mingshu seriously.

Shen Mingshu never expected that he would show up specifically because of something she said, and she never expected that he would follow her all the way and escort her.

This tender and precious treatment was so rare that when it happened to her, Shen Mingshu was at a loss for words.

"I'm sorry, I understand. I just said it casually, I didn't mean anything by it."

Facing him, Shen Mingshu's tone softened involuntarily.

Lu Yanzhi smiled, "That's good then. May I have my shadow guards escort you today?"

Shen Mingshu hesitated for a moment before glancing at the people from Tiange. Lu Yanzhi's aura instantly sharpened: "Whether it's death or surrender, I advise you to go back and ask your master again."

With Lu Yanzhi present, if the people of Tiange were to obstruct them any further, it would be tantamount to attacking an official of the imperial court.

The situation that Wei Ziye had just stabilized would not be squandered so easily. The people from Tiange hesitated for only a moment before stepping off the wall bricks and leaving.

Lu Yan stepped forward, reached out, and personally helped Shen Mingshu into the car.

His large, slender hands, with distinct knuckles, were fair and long, just like him—pure and gentle.

Shen Mingshu felt a warmth rise in her ears under his earnest gaze. "Th-thank you."

How long has it been since Shen Mingshu felt this kind of timid and hesitant emotion?

Inside the car, the two were far apart, yet their breaths mingled, as if they were right next to each other.

Finally, Lu Yanzhi spoke first.

"Ah Shu, I'm so sorry about what happened to Youyou."

Shen Mingshu's gaze paused, then darkened slightly: "A-Yuan and I are destined to be apart. Since that's the case, it's better to let go and go with everyone's wishes."

"You have been kind to me by giving me shelter, and I am already very grateful. Please forgive my previous words as if I was ignorant."

If she had known she would also hold an official position, she wouldn't have said, "Your Lu family can't repay such kindness."

She has to admit that power breeds people.

Taking a step back truly opens up a vast and boundless world.

"Ah Shu, that's not what I meant."

Lu Yanzhi hopes that Lu Youyou's marriage will be happy, but he doesn't want it to be built on the foundation of Shen Mingshu's suffering.

They didn't want Shen Mingshu to treat it as an exchange.

He paused for a moment, then took out the Shadow Guard Jade Pendant again: "The Shadow Guards are special. This jade pendant has been restricted and can only be used 10 times for the time being. You can take it first, so that you won't be so passive in the future."

Knowing their situation, he knew there was no point in saying more, so he could only make amends through his actions.

Shen Mingshu felt a burning sensation in her heart as she looked at the jade pendant that had been slipped into her palm.

"In short, I'm not worthy..."

"But in my eyes, I only feel that I haven't given enough."

Lu Yanzhi's eyes were sincere, as if he were looking deep into the ruins in Shen Mingshu's eyes: "Ashu, you deserve the best in the world. What I didn't have time to give you three years ago, please allow me to give you this time."

Her lifeless heart trembled slightly, and Shen Mingshu's gaze seemed to be scalded by Lu Yanzhi's sincerity.

She quickly turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

"Oh, right, do you remember what happened at Lin Yun Valley last time?"

Lu Yanzhi looked at Shen Mingshu's slightly flushed profile and smiled slightly: "A-Shu, are you trying to talk about the divine doctor's practice of Gu poison?"

Shen Mingshu paused, looking at him in astonishment: "You're investigating too?"

"It wasn't me." Lu Yanzhi's eyes darkened. "It was the Emperor."

"Ever since you publicized the Shen family's affairs three years ago, the Emperor has been investigating, but after reaching Linyun Valley, there has been no further progress."

Shen Mingshu's heart skipped a beat.

No wonder the Emperor treated her so strangely when she entered the palace last time; he must have heard of her name before.

That makes sense, since the matter of refining medicine from living people concerns the Empress Dowager, and even if the Emperor wanted to turn a blind eye, he couldn't completely ignore it.

only……

Shen Mingshu asked, puzzled, "What other follow-up information does Your Majesty want to find out?"

Lu Yanzhi lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze settling on Shen Mingshu's abdomen.

Instantly, Shen Mingshu's back was soaked with cold sweat.

"You...you all knew about my situation all along?"

Lu Yanzhi shook his head: "This clue only developed further after you and Wei Ziye entered the palace, which is why Father took a step back."

"Therefore, A-Shu, the official positions you have obtained all come from your value."

"Not charity."

"only……"

Lu Yanzhi's brows furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "If you had told me earlier, I definitely would not have let you enter the palace."

"The hearts of people within the palace walls are far more complex than those outside. I—"

The deeper Shen Mingshu goes, the less capable Lu Yanzhi becomes.

The Wei family is troublesome enough; if the royal family is also involved, the whole situation will change.

But Shen Mingshu was already prepared.

"In short, I know what you're worried about, but I have no other choice."

Even if Shen Mingshu doesn't enter the palace, she will still circulate in the martial arts world.

Rather than being used by the Shen family and the miracle doctor in the end, she might as well muddy the waters a little more.

Only in this way can she gain more.

Looking at the resolute expression on Shen Mingshu's face, Lu Yanzhi slowly raised his hand and gently stroked her slightly pale face.

"Ah Shu, if all this turmoil passes, would you be willing to give me a chance?"

"Bang, bang, bang—"

Her heart pounded like a drum in her ears. Shen Mingshu raised her hand to her heart, under Lu Yanzhi's sincere gaze.

No answer was given.

"Lu Yanzhi, no matter what the future holds, I hope we can both have a peaceful end."

……

Outside the gate of the Zhang residence.

On the deserted street, only one person stood.

Shen Mingshu's gaze fell on the sword at Wei Ziye's waist, her eyes darkened, and she pulled Lu Yanzhi back from getting out of the carriage.

"I must resolve this matter personally."

Zhang Yu's goal is to establish the Zhang family's prosperity. At this moment, Shen Mingshu already has value, whether she relies on the Wei family or the Lu family.

She didn't believe that Zhang Yuzhen would be so willing to give up on her.

If they really don't show up, she might as well leave the Zhang family.

Looking at the determination in Shen Mingshu's eyes, Lu Yanzhi was worried, but he did not overstep his bounds.

"Ah Shu, be careful. If anything happens, call the Shadow Guard."

"Um."

The two who had made those harsh words have now turned against each other with swords drawn, weathered by the winds and frosts.

Undeterred by Wei Ziye's chilling aura, Shen Mingshu approached him step by step.

"Clang—!" The sharp sound of a sword shattered the silence!

Lu Yanzhi's hand tightened, and the entire carriage trembled slightly as his muscles tensed instantly.

Wei Ziye glanced at him coldly, his icy gaze following the tip of the sword, pointing directly at Shen Mingshu's tense neck.