Shen Jingxuan’s face turned deathly pale.
If only he had been more careful back then—if he had properly verified who the sword tassel belonged to, or simply spoken a few more words with Ji Changge—would things not have ended up like this?
A bitter smile tugged at Xie Yu’s lips.
He had already refused one marriage alliance with the Princess of Northern Yuan. If the Emperor issued another decree this time, there would be no justification for refusing again. Otherwise, he would be charged with defying an imperial edict.
In over twenty years, his emotions had never fluctuated so violently in a single day. Just when he thought suffering had finally given way to happiness, everything dissolved into nothing more than a bubble.
Was this Heaven’s will?
Why was Heaven so cruel? Among all the lovers in the world, could it not spare even a little mercy to fulfill their wishes?
No… perhaps things were not exactly as Shen Zhiyi had said.
Hadn’t she just mentioned that, according to the original course of events, Ah Xuan and he were supposed to sever ties completely? Yet that never happened. Maybe the imperial decree had not been issued either!
Shen Jingxuan already believed Shen Zhiyi’s inner voice without question, but Xie Yu still clung to a sliver of hope.
Shen Zhiyi wasn’t a god. How could she possibly know everything?
He refused to believe it!
He had to return to the Prince’s Estate immediately and see whether there was still room to turn things around.
With a grim expression, Xie Yu picked up the longsword that had fallen to the floor. He cupped his fists briefly toward Shen Jingxuan and Shen Zhiyi before striding away swiftly.
An hour later.
Xie Yu returned to the Loyal and Brave Marquis Manor, his face ashen.
At that moment, Shen Ruoyue was feeding fish in the garden. Spotting Xie Yu from afar, she hurriedly tossed the fish food to Xiao Zhi and gracefully stepped forward, conveniently crossing paths with him.
“Heir Shizi Min, what a coincidence. We meet again.”
Shen Ruoyue smiled sweetly. A faint blush tinted her fair cheeks, and her affectionate eyes seemed full of unspoken feelings, like flower buds waiting to bloom—delicate and lovable.
The moment he saw her approaching, Xie Yu had already schooled his expression perfectly, leaving no trace of emotion visible.
Though inwardly he was anxious beyond measure—and utterly disgusted with Shen Ruoyue.
He merely nodded at her, unwilling to say more, and moved to continue walking, only for Shen Ruoyue to block his path.
“Heir Shizi Min, are you here to see Second Brother?”
Ever since Shen Jingxuan and Ji Changge’s marriage had been arranged, Shen Ruoyue had eagerly awaited Xie Yu’s return.
Now that Ji Changge, that nuisance, was gone, Xie Yu surely would no longer ignore her. With her charm, if she worked a little harder, sooner or later he too would fall beneath her skirts.
The smile on Shen Ruoyue’s face became even sweeter and softer.
Xie Yu frowned slightly.
In truth, the person he sought today was not Shen Jingxuan.
Shen Zhiyi seemed uncannily insightful and knew countless secrets others did not. Perhaps she possessed some other method to save the two pairs of unfortunate lovers.
“Yes. I have urgent business with Ah Xuan.”
At that point, Shen Ruoyue naturally understood what he meant. But she had no intention of missing such a rare chance to spend time with Xie Yu. In the past, she had often stayed by Shen Jingxuan’s side precisely to increase her presence before Xie Yu.
“What a coincidence—I also have business with Second Brother.”
Naturally, Shen Ruoyue followed behind him.
Xie Yu’s brows furrowed even deeper.
He and Ah Xuan could hear Shen Zhiyi’s inner thoughts, but they had no idea whether others could hear them as well. What if Shen Ruoyue could too, and ruined their plans again?
His tone immediately turned cold.
“I’m afraid that would be inconvenient.”
“Miss Shen, Ah Xuan and I have important matters to discuss. It would not be appropriate for outsiders to be present. If you also have business with him, please seek him out later.”
Shen Ruoyue’s face reddened slightly.
Though inwardly displeased, she still maintained a gentle, understanding demeanor and smiled softly.
“It was my oversight. Rest assured, Shizi, I certainly won’t disturb you.”
Secretly, however, she resolved to find an opportunity later to visit Shen Jingxuan and see if she could uncover any important information.
She took a small step back and turned around, pretending to resume feeding the fish.
“Miss, please wait—”
Delighted, Shen Ruoyue turned around, but in the next second, the gentle expression on her face froze solid.
The person Xie Yu had called out to was actually Shen Zhiyi?!
The girl in the bright yellow dress did not turn back upon hearing him. Instead, Xie Yu strode forward rapidly, quickly catching up to Shen Zhiyi as the two of them moved farther away.
Without anyone watching, Shen Ruoyue no longer bothered concealing the venom in her eyes, nearly grinding her silver teeth to pieces.
Shen Zhiyi had only returned to the manor less than ten days ago. When exactly had she seduced Heir Shizi Min?
No wonder she had spoken with such confidence, even willing to cancel her engagement with the legitimate son of the Minister of Personnel’s household. So she had set her sights on someone even better!
Shen Ruoyue felt overwhelmingly indignant.
Xie Yu refused to let her accompany him, yet he stopped Shen Zhiyi instead. Just what was so important that she was forbidden from knowing while Shen Zhiyi was allowed?
Suppressing her expression, Shen Ruoyue quietly tiptoed after them.
Meanwhile, Shen Zhiyi herself was rather surprised at being stopped by Xie Yu.
“You must be the eldest young miss who recently returned to the manor,” Xie Yu said. Knowing he usually appeared rather cold, he deliberately added a slight smile.
Only by building a good relationship with Shen Zhiyi would there be even the faintest chance for their happiness.
“This morning’s circumstances were unusual, so we did not properly make each other’s acquaintance. I truly apologize.”
Shen Zhiyi blinked.
Aside from gossiping together earlier that morning, she and Xie Yu had virtually no interaction. Judging by his personality, he usually ignored most people entirely. Why was he being so friendly toward her?
As expected, she—the universally despised female lead’s foil in the original novel—was merely benefiting from her silly sweet second brother’s favor.
She nodded slightly.
“You’re here to see Second Brother, right? He happens to be in my courtyard.”
Speaking of Shen Jingxuan, Shen Zhiyi herself found it rather surprising.
Her cheap second brother hadn’t come looking for trouble after all.
Not only had he failed to be incited by the fake heiress into causing problems for her, he had actually treated her very well. He even brought out his treasured little toys for entertainment to cheer her up, wholeheartedly showing concern for the biological younger sister he had been separated from for years.
Shen Zhiyi was honestly somewhat flattered.
Though she didn’t know why Second Brother treated her so well, she could sense his simple goodwill. After all, this silly sweetheart lacked the brains for complicated schemes.
Thus, in less than an hour, Shen Zhiyi had completely accepted Shen Jingxuan, and the siblings’ relationship advanced by leaps and bounds.
Trailing secretly behind them, Shen Ruoyue widened her eyes in disbelief when she realized they were heading toward Shen Zhiyi’s private chambers.
Had Shen Zhiyi secretly learned some sort of witchcraft outside? It was one thing for Mother to favor her, but why was even Heir Shizi Min—who always paid strict attention to propriety between men and women—acting this way?
As expected of some uncultured woman raised in the countryside. How could she allow Heir Shizi Min into her quarters?
After hearing her tearful complaints yesterday, Second Brother had even promised to stand up for her when he found the chance. There was no way he could be calmly staying in Shen Zhiyi’s courtyard.
With no male family members present, inviting an unrelated man into her private chambers—how was that any different from the conduct of prostitutes in brothels soliciting customers?
If word got out, would the Marquis Manor’s reputation survive?
Shen Ruoyue’s eyes reddened with jealousy. Quietly, she instructed her two personal maids to summon her father and mother.
She refused to believe that once they caught the pair meeting privately, a shameless woman like Shen Zhiyi could still remain in the Marquis Manor!