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

When Shen Mingshu woke up again in Liu Yi's clinic, she heard an argument outside the door.

Wei Yuan: "Why is Ming Shu bleeding so badly! Wei Ziye! What on earth did you do to her?!"

Liu Yi: "Second Young Master Wei, Fifth Miss's injury is a relapse of an old one, it has nothing to do with A'ye."

Wei Yuan: "Then why did she jump into the river at the academy!"

"..." Liu Yi looked at Wei Zishi silently.

Wei Ziye only asked, "Where did she get those old injuries in the past three years?"

Wei Yuan sneered, "Wei Ziye, I truly overestimated you. Even now, you don't even dare to acknowledge the injuries Ming Shu suffered for you!"

Wei Ziye frowned: "That night, there was no one on the riverbank. If she jumped into the river, how did she get back up?"

Seeing the genuine confusion in Wei Ziye's eyes, Wei Yuan hesitated for a moment.

"When I met Ming Shu, she was in the village with both hands wrapped in gauze. If it weren't for the kindness of her neighbors who helped her and often took the embroidered cloths she made to sell in the city after she recovered, she wouldn't even have the money to buy medicine for all her illnesses."

"She has an injury on her hand?" Liu Yi asked, puzzled. "But... there aren't any marks on her hand."

"I don't know either."

Wei Yuan sighed deeply: "At first, she was very wary of me and wouldn't let me get close. Later, when her injuries had almost healed, I found out that someone had been secretly interfering with her injuries and the neighbor's situation."

"She didn't know who it was, I thought..." Wei Yuan glanced at Wei Ziye, then denied it with a self-deprecating laugh: "I was overthinking it."

If Wei Ziye truly couldn't bear to part with Shen Mingshu, now that she's in the capital, why would he treat her like this?

Liu glanced at Wei Ziye's somber expression and defended him, saying, "You can't say that. In these three years, Aye has been willing but unable..."

Wei Ziye gave Liu Yi a cold glance, and Liu Yi immediately shut his mouth.

Wei Ziye remained coldly indifferent: "So, you're not even sure what caused her injury, or whether it even exists?"

"Oh--"

Even a refined man like Wei Yuan was amused by Wei Ziye's cold-heartedness.

"Does a wound necessarily need to have a visible scar to be proven to exist?"

"Ming Shu's internal organs were damaged and have not yet recovered. Besides being hit by the reefs beneath the underground river, what other reasons could there be?"

Wei Ziye looked at Liu Yi, and Liu Yi agreed.

"Scars are easy to remove, but only the buffering effect of river water could damage the internal organs to this extent without endangering life. However..."

Liu frowned and pondered: "Three years have passed. If it wasn't serious, it shouldn't still be incurable. If it was serious, it shouldn't be so energetic."

"Fifth Miss's benefactor is probably no ordinary person."

The person for whom even the Heavenly Pavilion couldn't find a single clue is either the person above, or... someone from outside the Celestial Empire.

But whoever it is, it inevitably confirms one thing—Wei Ziye misunderstood Shen Mingshu.

Wei Ziye's expression was not pleasant.

Three years ago, at the height of the Wei family's prosperity, someone managed to rescue a person silently right under his nose, without leaving a trace.

This is enough to prove that beneath the calm surface of the capital, undercurrents are already surging.

"Big brother, in the Wei family, you are the only big brother I recognize."

Wei Yuan had no intention of exploring why Wei Ziye had made a mistake; he simply spoke sincerely.

"What happened between you two is in the past. I beg you, please stop interfering with Ming Shu and me, okay? No matter how it ends, let's finish it on our own."

Wei Ziye lowered his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously stroking his brocade robe. After a long silence, he chuckled cryptically.

"You know nothing."

Shen Mingshu's heart stopped for a moment.

This bastard has absolutely no remorse! He'd rather die than let her be destroyed!

"Brother, Ming Shu and I are truly in love. Why are you so narrow-minded and keep trying to sow discord between us!"

Wei Yuan was somewhat annoyed. "In this world, it is not easy for women. Ming Shu has been showing her face in public for three years, disregarding her reputation to support my studies. If I betray her, I will not have peace for the rest of my life."

"But if you marry her, even if you pass the imperial examination with top honors, you'll only ever be a lowly ninth-rank official!"

Wei Ziye's eyes flashed with a cold, disappointed glint: "Wei Yuan! Don't forget you're also a member of the Wei family! Besides your personal feelings, you also have the responsibility to restore the honor of the Wei family!"

"How did I get to where I am today? Was it because of the Wei family's favor, or because of Ming Shu's affection?"

Wei Yuan, his voice tinged with uncontrollable resentment, cried out, "I don't expect you to understand how I've lived these past years, but why is the responsibility of the Wei family being unjustly imposed on me!"

Liu Yi frowned: "Second Young Master Wei, please be careful with your words. There are some things that A'e did not want. Your entry into the capital was obtained by A'e disobeying the Lady of the Marquis."

"Yes, everyone is innocent, so who will bear the responsibility for the past?"

Wei Yuan gave a self-deprecating smile, suppressing these meaningless emotions, and rubbed his forehead in exhaustion.

"Brother, fame and fortune are fleeting, and true sincerity is hard to find. I have already made my choice, so why force it and disappoint Mother again?"

"..."

Wei Yuan's tone was so sincere that even Shen Mingshu, looking at the pill in her hand that was meant to restore her virginity, began to doubt whether she should take it or not.

But thinking about it, being able to steal the things back from Wei Ziye's arms quietly is something that can give you a sense of accomplishment.

Therefore, she swallowed it down the moment Wei Yuan pushed the door open and came in.

"Ming Shu!"

Wei Yuan quickly stepped forward, "How are you? Is there anything else that's bothering you? Does your stomach still hurt?"

Shen Mingshu shook her head with a pale face and a gentle smile.

Wei Yuan touched her face tenderly: "How could it not hurt? You lost so much blood just now. If Doctor Liu hadn't stopped the bleeding in time, you would have..."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you alone—"

"A-Yuan," Shen Mingshu called softly, pulling him down to kiss the corner of his mouth. "Thank you for not giving up on me."

Wei Yuan paused, his gentle expression turning helpless. "You heard everything he said to the Master?"

Shen Mingshu nodded: "I only dared to faint because I heard your shouts."

Both of them may have moments when they are targeted and schemed against, but as long as they turn around, they will see each other waiting in the place where they need to protect each other.

This unspoken understanding is the best confession.

Wei Yuan swallowed hard, then reached out and pulled Shen Mingshu into his arms, as if embracing the whole world, gently yet tightly.

"Ming Shu, when I was pursuing you, I admit that I had some selfish motives to take revenge on the Wei family, but your rejection and perseverance gradually awakened me."

"My beloved Ming Shu showed me that when everyone thought that so many setbacks would wear down her pride and ambition, her eyes remained firm—you are still spirited and fearless in the face of wind and snow."

"What I received was a priceless jewel; even a brief period of dust cannot erase its dazzling brilliance."

"That's why I cherish it."

"Ming Shu".

With red eyes, Wei Yuan kissed Shen Mingshu, carefully and with utmost care.

"Thank you for forgiving me."

Shen Mingshu felt as if her heart had been pricked by fine silver needles; the emotions that welled up were difficult for her to grasp.

Shen Mingshu nestled into Wei Yuan's arms and gently reminded him.

"There are still people here."

"..."