“Yao’er, don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, Mother won’t be a problem.”
Holding Su Qingyao’s hand, Shen Yu spoke with absolute confidence.
At that moment, a servant hurried over.
The servant glanced at the couple’s tightly clasped hands before speaking cautiously.
“Your Young Master, the Old Madam requests that you return immediately.”
Shen Yu’s expression changed slightly.
This was the General’s Manor. Since a servant from the Marquis Manor had come looking for him, it was likely that his mother had already learned of what had happened today.
“Yao’er, come. I’ll take you to see Mother right now.”
Shen Yu’s eyes were filled with determination.
In his previous life, his negligence had already placed the woman he loved in danger once.
This time, no matter who tried to stop him, no one would shake his resolve to marry Su Qingyao.
Not long after Shen Yu left with Su Qingyao, Chu Ningwan stepped out from behind a nearby rock formation.
Thinking about what she had just witnessed—and Shen Yu’s display of deep devotion—she found it almost laughable.
In her previous life, after Shen Yu regained his memories and learned the truth about Su Qingyao, he had indeed caused a commotion for a time.
Yet soon afterward, everything returned to normal, as though nothing had ever happened.
She herself had been deceived by that carefully maintained façade.
Shen Yu’s father, the Marquis, spent most of his years campaigning on military expeditions, leaving the vast Marquis Manor entirely in Madam Shen’s hands.
Given Madam Shen’s personality, how could she possibly allow Su Qingyao to enter the family?
Since Shen Yu had chosen to play ignorant despite knowing better, she would simply sit back and watch how chaotic his future days would become.
Just as Chu Ningwan was about to leave, she noticed someone approaching from another direction.
“Wan’er.”
Her footsteps halted instantly.
At the sound of the voice, she looked up in surprise.
“M-Mother?”
Judging by her mother’s expression, could it be that she had overheard everything just now?
Chu Ningwan quickly walked over, forcing a smile onto her face.
“Mother, when did you arrive?”
Seeing Chu Ningwan’s attempt to appear relaxed, Madam Chu sighed softly, her heart aching for her daughter.
“Wan’er, you’ve suffered.”
Chu Ningwan trembled slightly as Madam Chu took her hand.
She cared little about the gossip and judgment of outsiders.
But when it came to her mother, she could never remain indifferent.
“Mother…”
“I originally thought that, considering you and the Shen family’s young master grew up together and shared so many years of affection, even if he had lost the memories related to you, he wouldn’t go this far.”
“I never expected him to be so aggressive and unreasonable.”
“Perhaps it’s for the best if this engagement is dissolved.”
Madam Chu and Chu Ningwan walked together toward a pavilion.
“Mother, Shen Yu never lost his memory.”
“He… has been pretending all along.”
In front of her mother, Chu Ningwan felt less restrained and finally revealed the truth about Shen Yu.
“What?”
Madam Chu was even more shocked.
Earlier, she had only overheard fragments of the conversation between Shen Yu and the illegitimate daughter, and that alone had already filled her with anger.
Who would have thought that Shen Yu had deliberately chosen to forget Chu Ningwan?
To see her daughter humiliated in such a way was something Madam Chu absolutely could not tolerate.
“Wan’er, I’m taking you to the Marquis Manor right now to demand justice.”
Madam Chu was determined to stand up for her daughter.
But Chu Ningwan shook her head.
“Mother, didn’t you just say yourself that it’s better if this engagement is broken?”
“Shen Yu’s behavior only proves that he is not a worthy man.”
“Besides, even if Shen Yu wishes to marry me, that doesn’t mean I wish to marry him.”
“Do you already have another plan, Wan’er?”
Madam Chu immediately sensed the deeper meaning behind her daughter’s words.
“Yes.”
“Shen Yu is so eager to bring Su Qingyao before Father because he wants to elevate her status.”
“In three days, Su Qingyao will marry.”
“I will marry as well.”
“Only my groom will not be Shen Yu.”
“But Xiao Changyan.”
The name struck Madam Chu like a thunderbolt.
“Xiao Changyan?”
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
The man known throughout the kingdom as the War God?
The Prince of Ding?
The very prince who had remained unconscious for years and whose condition had left even the imperial physicians helpless?
How had her daughter become involved with him?