Ruan Shujin looked around, noticing the guard who had chased after someone and returned empty-handed.
“Thanks for your effort, brother. I’m fine.”
Li Yinglan tugged on Ruan Shujin’s arm.
“Ah, Jin sister, who was that girl just now? She dashed off like a rabbit.”
Ruan Shujin thought for a moment.
“Someone who shouldn’t have been here.”
With Xie Zheng gone, Ruan Shujin didn’t know whom to turn to. Back at home, she was still deep in thought.
Ruan Dong saw his eldest daughter and approached.
“What’s wrong?”
“I saw Cui Yingxue. She was supposed to leave with the main troop sent away, yet she dared to escape.”
Ruan Dong’s expression darkened.
Li Yinglan didn’t know what had happened but could read the expressions, so she quietly packed her things, not interfering.
Ruan Shujin suddenly stood at attention, staring at the stunned Ruan Dong.
“No, I can’t let her off so easily. I’m going to report her.”
Ruan Dong wanted to follow but wasn’t as quick as Li Yinglan. Watching the two of them go, he felt some relief.
Although the countryside deployment was mainly handled by the “Zhiqing Office,” Ruan Shujin, being a special case, decided she had to inquire there herself—there was no one with more authority she could ask.
As she stepped out of the main gate, she felt a tickling sensation on her back, but turning around revealed nothing.
Li Yinglan had experience hunting in the mountains with men and was more perceptive than ordinary people. The two of them exchanged glances, understanding each other.
They darted around, hiding, and when Ruan Shujin saw the familiar person, her brows furrowed.
Cui Yingxue’s name was well-known in Hushi, but Ruan Shujin hadn’t expected her to act so brazenly.
Of course, Ruan Shujin was puzzled. In her previous life, the half-moon jade pendant had been universally discarded. After Cui Yingxue handed it to Zheng Shuya, she never even asked about it. When her so-called family wanted her to take the pendant to marry Xie Zheng, she had avoided it.
In the end, the pendant remained with Zheng Shuya. Its final whereabouts were unknown to her.
But now, Cui Yingxue’s behavior was baffling. She had clearly discarded it, yet now she was asking Ruan Shujin about it.
Li Yinglan gently touched Ruan Shujin.
“Ah, Jin sister, that person is gone. Aren’t we leaving?”
“Yes.”
Having grown up in Hushi’s city, Ruan Shujin knew the streets well. She led Li Yinglan through the alleys to the Zhiqing Office.
Once inside, Ruan Shujin hesitated, unsure what to do.
Minister Li appeared just at that moment.
Ruan Shujin was a little dumbfounded. A textile bureau minister showing up at the Zhiqing Office was unexpected.
Minister Li, already in his forties or fifties, had sharp eyes. With just one look, he could tell what Ruan Shujin was thinking.
“I’m here handling some matters. I have a group of Zhiqing wanting to volunteer for the countryside, so I’m asking on their behalf.”
Ruan Shujin thought for a moment and then spoke carefully.
“Minister Li… I saw Cui Yingxue.”
At the mention of the name, Minister Li’s previously relaxed posture tensed. Looking at Ruan Shujin’s sincere expression, it was hard to doubt her.
Out of his friendship with the Xie family, Minister Li was willing to wade into this mess.
“Don’t worry. I’ll send people to handle it. But remember—you mustn’t speak recklessly.”
Ruan Shujin nodded vigorously.
Minister Li stepped outside but returned shortly.
“Are you at the Lanyun Compound now?”
“Yes.”
“All right, I’ll prepare a wedding gift for you as soon as possible,” Minister Li said, glancing at Ruan Shujin in puzzlement. “I really don’t understand your thinking—why leave a perfectly good place for somewhere so dangerous?”
Before Ruan Shujin could respond, Minister Li seemed to vanish as if stepping on wind and fire wheels.
Trusting his efficiency, her steps became lighter.
The next day, Minister Li personally came to Lanyun Compound with his wife.
As soon as Ruan Shujin greeted them, his wife pulled her to sit down.
“Hello, I’m Liu Wenxiu. You’re so beautiful. Standing next to Second Boy, you’re a perfect match.”
Ruan Shujin took a moment to connect “Second Boy” with Xie Zheng.
She then looked at Minister Li and relaxed, turning her attention to the person across from her.
“Aunt Liu, I’m Ruan Shujin. He’s been too busy to introduce me properly.”
Liu Wenxiu glanced at her husband, then smiled warmly at Ruan Shujin.
“That’s fine. We all know Second Boy is very busy. We didn’t expect he’d be so fortunate to marry such a good girl.”
“Madam, he’s very good too.”
Liu Wenxiu’s smile faded slightly, but she couldn’t pull her hand away from Ruan Shujin.
Minister Li looked at Ruan Shujin.
“Don’t be afraid. Cui Yingxue has been caught. But since she deserted, the punishment won’t be light.”
“She deserves it. If she had gone quietly for reform, she could have returned home. Now this… it’s hard to say.”
Looking at Ruan Shujin, Minister Li was surprised. This young lady seemed very different from the girl he had met before.
He gestured to his wife.
“Don’t be formal. We’ve known Xie Zheng for many years. She knew he married and kept urging me to meet you. I heard you military families won’t stay long in Hushi, so today is as good a day as any. I also came to update you on Cui Yingxue.”
Ruan Shujin acknowledged him, calming Liu Wenxiu, then looked at Minister Li.
“Uncle Li, forgive my bluntness… do you know what will happen to Zheng Yousai?”
Li Xianglin smiled candidly.
“Could it be… you can’t bear to part with your father?”
Ruan Shujin felt a hint of mockery in his tone, so she shook her head firmly.
“No. I just want to know his fate. I trusted him too many times before and was hurt repeatedly.”
“Your father and the Cui family were the main culprits. He’ll likely remain imprisoned for reform. If he behaves well, he might be transferred, but that’s uncertain. By then, your father-daughter connection could be severed.”
“That would be perfect.”
Ruan Shujin blurted it out before thinking.
This left Li Xianglin momentarily stunned.
A moment ago, she looked troubled, but now she was smiling.
Ruan Shujin steadied herself.
“Uncle Li, I know I’m being rebellious, but no one else has lived my life. No one can understand the hatred I feel toward him.”
Li Xianglin had lived in Hushi for many years and had heard the Ruan family scandals. Looking at Ruan Shujin, he felt a pang of sympathy.
If his daughter had any sense, she wouldn’t have caused such grief to her parents.
Li Xianglin shook his head.
He decided not to dwell on it. He still had to survive quietly in the corner, caring for his frail wife and protecting his children and grandchildren.
Some things, no matter how hard, one must push through.