After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Jiang Dusheng stopped in his tracks, looking at Song Suya's anxious and protective expression, a slight smile curving his lips:

"I just wanted to read her face, why are you so nervous?"

Her gaze slowly swept over Song Suya's face, and then over the complex and unspeakable expressions of Jiang Zhiyuan and the others behind her, her tone growing increasingly cold:

"So now you should understand why I've always been unwilling to see you, right?"

She paused, each word as clear as an ice bead falling to the ground, "Because in your eyes and hearts, you have never truly regarded me as family."

"When needed, they're a ladder to climb; when disliked, they're a stain to be avoided. Now that they see I seem useful, they want to come and bask in my glory. I... don't need this kind of kinship, and I find it disgusting."

Song Suya and Jiang Mao's faces instantly drained of color, their lips trembling, yet they couldn't utter a single word.

Jiang Zhiyuan stood at the back of the crowd, looking at his younger sister who was connected to him by blood.

The scene of her wearing a phoenix coronet and wedding robes yesterday, being carried out of the mansion by Xu Nanxun, overlaps with her current figure, which seems to be separated from the Jiang family by an invisible chasm.

A feeling of indescribable bitterness and helplessness welled up in Jiang Zhiyuan's heart.

He knew that some cracks, from the very first choice, were irreparable.

Jiang Dusheng stopped looking at Song Suya and turned his gaze back to Jiang Wanqing's face, observing her quietly for a moment.

Tsk, even though my skills have improved, I still can't see through the other person's face.

Jiang Dusheng shook his head, sighed deeply, then turned to Xie Jinchen and said, "Let's go."

Her casual head shake startled Jiang Wanqing, who was already feeling uneasy.

Her elder sister has now been appointed as the Imperial Advisor by the new emperor. She had previously predicted that Chu Yanzhao and she would not have a good end, and now that prediction has come true.

Her shaking her head... could it be that she sensed some great calamity was about to befall her?

Panic gripped Jiang Wanqing instantly. Forgetting all about her pride, she rushed forward two steps, her voice trembling:

"Sister, wait! You...you've figured out something bad is going to happen to me?"

Jiang Dusheng continued walking, as if he hadn't heard.

Xie Jinchen had already lifted the carriage curtain for her. She took his hand and nimbly boarded the carriage, disappearing into the carriage without even giving him a glance.

When the Jiang family saw that she was about to leave, they instinctively tried to surround her again.

Xie Jinchen stood in front of the car, his expression suddenly darkening. The aura of authority emanating from him was undisguised, and his voice was icy:

"The Imperial Advisor and I are acting on His Majesty's orders to investigate an important case outside the city. Are you blocking our way and obstructing our business by trying to spy on court secrets, or are you simply hindering official duties?"

His gaze swept over the Jiang family members. "Could this behavior be interpreted as... your Jiang family having some dissatisfaction with the new emperor's decree?"

With such a serious accusation leveled against them, the Jiang family members were terrified, their faces turning deathly pale. They dared not take another step forward.

Xie Jinchen stopped looking at them and turned to get into the carriage.

The carriage curtain fell, separating the inside from the outside.

Seeing this, Wang Dazhuang immediately perked up, nudged the guard next to him with his paper arm, and urged in a low voice:

"Hurry up and get out of here! This is so unlucky, we don't want to get involved!"

The guard remained expressionless, but subtly flicked his riding whip.

"drive!"

The carriage quickly drove away from the Duke's mansion, leaving the Jiang family far behind.

The carriage was spacious and comfortable, with thick carpets that shielded it from most of the bumps and noises from the outside world.

Xie Jinchen moved to Jiang Dusheng's side, warmed her slightly cold hands in his own palms, and asked softly:

"Still can't make out her face?"

This "she" naturally refers to Jiang Wanqing.

Jiang Dusheng yawned lazily, then leaned his head on his shoulder and replied:

"Hmm, it's all blurry. Perhaps... she had some kind of stroke of luck."

She wasn't very interested in this. As long as it didn't affect her, she didn't care if she couldn't see Jiang Wanqing's fate.

Xie Jinchen pulled her closer. "If you can't see clearly, then don't look. Don't bother with people who are unimportant. If you're tired, go back to sleep."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dusheng recalled the root cause of his exhaustion and couldn't help but let out a cold snort, tinged with a warning: "Xie Jinchen, you'll sleep alone tonight."

Xie Jinchen pretended not to hear, and adjusted his position to make her more comfortable, hooking a strand of her hair with his fingers and playing with it.

Jiang Dusheng was too lazy to argue with him anymore. Tiredness washed over him again. He closed his eyes, his breathing gradually became even and long, and he actually fell asleep in his arms.

Xie Jinchen looked down at her peaceful sleeping face, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.

He gently pulled over a folded thin blanket and carefully covered her up to make sure she wouldn't catch a cold.

With the blessing of the Swift Travel Talisman, the journey that originally took several days was greatly shortened.

Upon arriving in Qingzhou, Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng dismissed their guards and traveled lightly into the vast mountains.

The room was brightly lit.

Xie Dai had been waiting there for a long time.

Seeing the two of them arrive hand in hand, a hint of relief flashed in Xie Dai's eyes.

He pointed to the simple tea set that had already been prepared on the stone table, his tone calm, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible expectation:

"I went on your wedding day. I watched from afar, and it was beautiful. It's a pity... I didn't get to drink the tea you two offered."

His gaze fell on Xie Jinchen's tense face, then turned to Jiang Dusheng, "I wonder if we can make up for this cup today, in this secluded mountain chamber?"

Jiang Dusheng turned his head to look at Xie Jinchen.

Xie Jinchen's thin lips were tightly pressed together, his jawline was taut, and he did not make the slightest movement.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Jiang Dusheng sighed softly to himself.

She understood Xie Jinchen's resentment and anger, but she could also see Xie Dai's deep-seated true feelings.

Jiang Dusheng reached out and grabbed Xie Jinchen's wrist, leading him forward.

She bowed gracefully first, and Xie Jinchen, though stiff, silently followed suit.

Jiang Dusheng picked up the perfectly warm cup of tea from the stone table, offered it with both hands, and spoke in a clear and solemn voice:

"Daughter-in-law Jiang Dusheng, please have some tea, Father."

Xie Dai looked at his daughter-in-law, who exuded a natural and carefree demeanor, and then at his son, who was kneeling beside him but whose entire body was filled with resistance. His emotions surged, and finally turned into a barely audible sigh.

He reached out and took the cup of tea, brought it to his lips, and slowly drank it all.

Setting down his teacup, Xie Dai took out a palm-sized sandalwood box from his pocket. The box was smooth, clearly having been handled countless times.

He handed the box to Jiang Dusheng, his voice a little hoarse: "This is Chen'er's mother's. Before she passed away, she gave it to me, instructing me to keep it safe and to pass it on to Chen'er's wife in the future. Now, I'm giving it to you."

Jiang Dusheng was slightly taken aback, then accepted the wooden box with both hands and said solemnly, "Thank you, Father. Your daughter-in-law will treasure it carefully."

The way he called out "Father" was so natural and affectionate that it brought tears to Xie Dai's eyes. He quickly turned his face away, waved his hand, and gestured for the two of them to get up.

Seeing this, Jiang Dusheng felt a lump in his throat and gently tugged at Xie Jinchen, who was still kneeling in silence.

Xie Jinchen felt her strength, his body trembled slightly, and finally, following her guidance, he slowly stood up.

Once the two had stopped, Xie Dai quickly composed himself, his expression returning to mostly calm, his gaze serene.

"Chen'er, I know you blame me. You blame me for being cold and distant to you all these years, for putting you in danger. You blame me even more for faking my death and setting up a scheme that put you in the eye of the storm, facing countless dangers."

He paused, his voice lower, "Ever since that fire at the ancestral hall, I knew that the father-son bond between us could never be the same again."