The rumors were already spreading everywhere, yet the Old Madam still said such things in front of so many servants. Once word spread outside, even if it wasn’t true, people would start believing it was.
Couldn’t she have discussed it privately? Couldn’t she have waited ten days or half a month until the storm of gossip died down?
If she truly cared for Elder Sister, she would naturally pay attention to these little details.
Leaning against a large pillow, Shen Yu looked at the divorce papers Shen Wan handed her, her eyes growing moist.
She had never expected that she would truly obtain a divorce.
Tubai hurriedly brought over brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. As Shen Yu’s personal maidservant, she knew that during the two years Shen Yu had been married, she had never truly been happy.
Especially in the last six months, after the heir’s cousin came of age, she had begun visiting the Yongqing Marquis Manor every few days. Whenever she came, she constantly caused trouble for the Heir’s wife or rather, for her young lady.
The cousin was technically a guest, and with the Marchioness of Yongqing protecting her, no one knew how many grievances Shen Yu had silently endured.
Tubai had wanted to complain to the Duke and Madam of the Duke Dingguo Manor, but Shen Yu forbade her from doing so. Last time, the cousin had deliberately ruined the brocade robe Shen Yu made for the Heir of Marquis Yongqing Manor, and it just so happened that Second Miss had discovered it. Tubai had assumed Shen Wan would inform the Duke and Madam, yet she said nothing.
At the time, Tubai had been disappointed. She never expected that Shen Wan had been planning something much bigger, directly bringing Eldest Miss out of Yongqing Marquis Manor altogether.
But that freedom had been bought with Shen Yu’s life.
If not for the Heir of the Prince Jingbei, both she and Shen Yu would have fallen off the cliff and been smashed to pieces.
Tubai was grateful that in the end she had ignored Shen Yu’s orders and still secretly informed Shen Wan. At the same time, she regretted not reporting it sooner. If she acted earlier, perhaps the runaway horse incident would never have happened.
Even Shen Yu’s hand trembled as she signed the divorce agreement.
Madam Yun held Shen Yu’s hand, both heartbroken and relieved. “You’ve suffered these past two years. Now that you can finally come home, Mother is truly happy.”
Shen Yu said softly, “I’ve been married before after all. It’s inconvenient to continue living with Wan’er. Mother should arrange another courtyard for me instead. I want somewhere quieter.”
Madam Yun had already considered this.
The chances of Shen Yu marrying again in this lifetime were slim. Although rumors outside claimed that the Heir of the Marquis Zhaoping Manor was destined to marry a divorced woman, Madam Yun still held some resentment over the fact that the Marchioness of Zhaoping had personally come to break off the engagement years ago. She knew the woman still cared about Shen Yu’s ruined reputation and did not dare place too much hope in the matter.
Still, even if Shen Yu never remarried, it wasn’t such a terrible thing. Many women whose husbands died on the battlefield lived out their lives alone as well. At the very least, Shen Yu would remain by their side, never worrying about food or clothing.
Shen Wan said, “There’s no need to move. Once Cousin marries, I’ll move back to Qingyi Courtyard.”
Madam Yun laughed. “You’re several months older than Caiwei. If anyone’s getting married first, it should be you.”
Shen Wan sat close beside Madam Yun, leaning her head against her arm. “What’s so good about marriage? Wouldn’t it be nice if Elder Sister and I stayed with you and Father for the rest of our lives?”
“Nonsense,” Madam Yun scolded affectionately.
Holding Shen Yu’s hand, Madam Yun sighed. “If not for the Heir of Prince Jingbei this time, Mother fears she might never have seen you again. We truly ought to thank him properly.”
As she spoke, Madam Yun looked toward Shen Wan. “Tomorrow, come with Mother to the Prince Jingbei Manor.”
“I’m not going.”
Without even thinking, Shen Wan immediately refused.
Her refusal came so quickly that Madam Yun looked puzzled. “Why?”
For no reason at all, Shen Wan suddenly felt guilty.
“I… I want to stay with Elder Sister…”
Madam Yun chuckled. “We’re only going to express our thanks. We won’t stay long. There are so many people in Mingyue Courtyard already. Are you worried your elder sister won’t be taken care of?”
Shen Yu added, “I’m fine. You should go.”
But Shen Wan simply didn’t want to.
Or rather, she didn’t dare to.
In fact, ever since Xie Jingyu had helped save her elder sister, Shen Wan had deliberately suppressed thoughts about him. Before, she had merely feared seeing him in person. Now, even hearing his name made her heart tremble.
Shen Wan shook her head repeatedly. “I’m not going. I’m staying in the manor these next few days to keep Elder Sister company.”
Seeing how unwilling she truly was, Madam Yun let the matter drop.
During the day, Shen Wan stayed by Shen Yu’s side, constantly entertaining and cheering her up. Shen Yu’s mood visibly improved. The two sisters ate together and were nearly inseparable.
Shen Wan had slept beside Shen Yu the previous night. Shen Yu had awakened several times from nightmares, and tonight Shen Wan insisted on accompanying her again. But Shen Yu firmly refused.
With no other choice, Shen Wan returned to her own room.
Lying in bed and staring at the hollow ivory incense sphere hanging nearby, Shen Wan found her thoughts slipping out of control. She forced herself to sleep.
But while she could control herself when awake, she could not control herself in dreams.
One moment she dreamed of Xie Jingyu choking her.
The next, she dreamed of him forcibly kissing her, even forcing himself on her.
Then she dreamed again of him ignoring the Emperor’s summons to drag her off the galloping horse and help save her elder sister…
She jolted awake from the dream and could no longer fall asleep.
She no longer knew how she was supposed to face Xie Jingyu.
In her previous life, she had sworn revenge against him. She had vowed to scatter his ashes to the wind.
Yet she could not deny that if not for him, her elder sister would already have met the same tragic fate as in the previous life. It was he who had saved Shen Yu’s life.
Saving her elder sister’s life was enough to erase the hatred of him scattering her ashes.
In fact, if he liked, then should she unfortunately die before him in the future, she would willingly let him scatter her ashes once again.
Shen Wan tossed and turned, unable to understand why Xie Jingyu had treated her that way in the previous life. Or perhaps she had merely been one of many unlucky victims. Maybe when drunk, he mistook others for someone else and simply went mad causing trouble.
Thinking of how, in the previous life, Xie Jingyu had been unable to propose marriage because he was observing mourning rites, only for the woman he loved to abandon him and marry another, Shen Wan thought that if he had not been in mourning, then with his status as the Heir of Prince Jingbei, there was probably no noble young lady in all the capital whom he could not marry.
If lovers eventually became husband and wife, then perhaps he would never suffer heartbreak, never undergo such a drastic change in temperament, and never go around tormenting people, especially her.
Helping him was helping herself.
After thinking it through, Shen Wan felt considerably lighter.
But by then, dawn was nearly breaking, and she finally drifted into deep sleep.
Shen Wan changed her mind and decided to accompany Madam Yun to the Prince Jingbei Manor. Unfortunately, she failed to wake up in the morning, and the maids did not call for her either. By the time she got up, washed, and hurried to the front courtyard, Madam Yun had already left.
It would have been awkward to chase after her now, and besides, Xie Jingyu might not even be at the manor. The trip could end up pointless anyway, so Shen Wan decided to forget about it.
In any case, his matter was not so urgent. Sooner or later, she would see him again.
Turning back toward the inner courtyard, Shen Wan happened to run into Shen Li coming from the study. She immediately said, “Big Brother, next time the Heir of Prince Jingbei comes to our manor, let me know.”