You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Having experienced betrayal, humiliation, and separation by death in her past life, Xie Wanru had no expectations for a partner. She felt that life was so beautiful, why bother finding someone to torment her?

Doctor Huo simply smiled.

"Divorce is a big deal. You should think it through carefully. It's better to be a widow than a divorced woman."

Many people in the martial arts world are alone, and he was one of them. But he sometimes felt lonely. He was a man, and he had a disciple by his side, so it was different for him.

“How could I be a divorced woman? If anyone should be divorced, it should be Shen Nian’an.”

Xie Wanru showed a hint of disdain.

If it weren't for reassuring the Emperor that the Xie family had no intention of disloyalty, they would have chosen an inconspicuous husband for her.

She was angry at the time and had a falling out with Xiao Yan. In a fit of pique, she agreed.

In her past life, Xie Wanru and Xiao Yan had a relationship, a pure and beautiful love from their youth.

However, Xiao Yan delayed mentioning their marriage to the emperor and maintained close ties with the Northern Barbarian princess who had come to the Great Zhou. Furious, she married Shen Nian'an directly.

This marriage turned into an eternal regret.

"You're just being stubborn, but the Third Prince is getting engaged to the daughter of Grand Tutor Lou, so it's impossible for you two."

Old Huo sighed.

The Third Prince is handsome and talented, far superior to Shen Nian'an. Whether he stays in Xuancheng or goes to his fiefdom, he will still be a prince.

If Xie Wanru had married Xiao Yan as she wished, she might have already had children. Why did things turn out like this?

"You're overthinking it. I've long forgotten about this person. All you need to do now is help me revive Shen Cong'an and prepare a poison that will allow me to control him. Ideally, it should be the kind that requires monthly antidotes and won't harm his body. I don't want Shen Cong'an to wake up as a sickly person again, which would ruin my plans."

Hsieh Wan-ju emphasized.

If Xie Wanru hadn't known the fate of the Xie family in her previous life, she might still have harbored fantasies about the Third Prince. But having experienced all that, Xie Wanru only felt hatred towards Xiao Yan.

Now that he's grown up, he realizes that Xiao Yan only valued the Xie family for their support in his bid for the throne, not for Xie Wanru herself. His so-called affection was just an act to deceive her.

Old Master Huo reluctantly agreed, because he just happened to have a special connection with this girl and a good relationship with the Xie family.

"Okay, okay, but you have to give me some time. I'm not a bad person. I don't usually make the kind of poison you're talking about. I need to do some research."

Doctor Huo tried to defend himself.

He can easily produce healing pills, but he doesn't have any that could harm people. He may not have them on him, but he has them in his mind and he knows how to make them.

Xie Wanru wasn't in a hurry; she didn't mind waiting a little longer.

After that, Xie Wanru began to follow up on the purchase of charcoal and the soup kitchen. She even had people buy some cotton clothes in case of emergency.

By the time Xie Wanru finished her chores, Shen Mo's injuries had healed considerably. Xuancheng had already experienced a heavy snowfall, and the wind was bitingly cold.

"Mo'er isn't afraid of the cold, Mo'er wants to go to school."

Xie Wanru had already exempted Shen Mo from paying his respects early every morning. She didn't even go to pay her respects to Old Madam Shen, so why should she ask the child to do it for her? But Shen Mo still came every day.

“I’m worried that it will get cold and you’ll catch a chill at the school. Old Master Huo is trying to help you get better. If you catch a cold, all of Old Master Huo’s efforts will be wasted.”

Xie Wanru was determined to persuade Shen Mo.

In this weather, children and the elderly with weak constitutions are very susceptible to catching a cold and getting frostbite when they go out. Xie Wanru doesn't ask Shen Mo to pass the imperial examination with flying colors; she only wants him to grow up in love and be happy all his life.

"No, Mo'er has a thick coat! Look! It's very thick, the thickest coat Mo'er has ever worn."

Shen Mo pulled up his collar to show Xie Wanru.

Xie Wanru looked at Xu Jing, hoping he could persuade him, but Xu Jing shrugged; he had already tried, but it was no use. Shen Mo was overjoyed to be able to go to school; how could he possibly not go just because of the cold weather?

So Xie Wanru couldn't refuse and had to ask Xu Jing to send Shen Mo to Bailu Academy.

Xie Wanru was Shen Mo's second aunt in public, so she didn't want to appear too close to her and didn't personally see him off, lest she run into someone she knew and have trouble explaining herself.

She is now trying to create the illusion that she dotes on Shen Yanzhi.

These days, she hasn't said a single word of dislike for Shen Yanzhi; she only praises him. She agrees with everything Shen Yanzhi does and is very supportive.

Whenever Shen Yanzhi wanted to scoop the ice out of the lake to play with, Xie Wanru would have the servants do it for him, regardless of how well he did with his studies. Every day after he came home, Xie Wanru would let Shen Yanzhi have a great time.

Why aren't you saying anything? Are you upset because your senior sister didn't come to see you off?

Looking at Shen Mo, who was sitting properly, Xu Jing felt sorry for the boy.

Although he had already become much fairer and gained some weight with the help of Doctor Huo, Shen Mo always acted like an adult, completely lacking the liveliness a child should have. He only became a little more active when he was with Xie Wanru.

Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Junior Uncle, I'm not nervous, I'm just nervous."

His little hands were almost twisted into a pretzel inside his sleeves.

He didn't know he was going to Bailu Academy at first; he only found out this morning because he had been taking a medicinal bath at Doctor Huo's place when he visited that day and hadn't gone there.

"Nervous? Haha, you kid. It's just a school. You scholars aren't like us martial artists. You're all about wielding pens. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Xu Jing smiled. This kid was actually afraid of going to school. He would tell his senior sister when he got back, and then they would all laugh at Shen Mo together.

"Junior Uncle, can you teach me martial arts in the spring? I'm too weak."

Expectation reappeared in Shen Mo's eyes.

He was filled with envy for Aunt Wan's carefree attitude and his junior uncle's occasional movements. Martial arts practitioners' movements were ordinary, but they were different from others.

"Isn't it good to be a civil servant? You should focus on your studies and pass the imperial examinations. That would be much more comfortable than being a wanderer like us."

When Xu Jing said this, there was a certain amount of acting involved.

His life was incredibly carefree, but his senior sister repeatedly warned him that Shen Mo was still a child, and he should think twice before speaking to him, otherwise he might be led astray.

"No, Mo'er doesn't want to be an official. Mo'er wants to stay in the manor to protect Aunt Wan. If Mo'er becomes a civil official, she might be transferred to a place outside of Xuancheng. So Mo'er wants to learn martial arts. Even if she doesn't become an official in the future, she can still help Aunt Wan run errands and manage the Shen family."

Shen Mo said firmly.

His words came from the bottom of his heart and were entirely sincere.