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

"After you divorce and leave the Shen family, will the Xie family take you in? Your three elder brothers are not yet married. If you return to the manor after the divorce, it will probably cause controversy. Perhaps... you should wait a while, at least until your brothers are all married."

Shen Cong'an was not a pedantic person; it was just that the rumors and gossip in this world were too disgusting.

Xie Wanru's lips twitched slightly.

Her second brother was over forty years old in his previous life before he met his soulmate. By the time he got married, she would be old and faded.

“I can’t wait. I’m not comfortable living in this manor. This year’s snow disaster will continue until March. After March, my third brother will return to report the situation at the border to the Emperor. I don’t want my brother to see me suffering in the Shen manor.”

March.

Shen Cong'an silently calculated for a while. There were still two months left. Would this year's cold winter last that long?

While he was unconscious, the crown prince told him about the predicament he was in due to the cold. It had been going on for so long, and it must be very difficult to deal with.

“I have already written a letter home to my father and brothers to inform them of my intention to divorce. Whether the Xie family is willing to take me in is not a question that Brother Shen should be concerned about. What you should be thinking about now is how to help His Highness the Crown Prince overcome future difficulties without the Xie family as a marriage partner.”

Xie Wanru was not kicking someone when they were down.

When Shen Cong'an woke up in his previous life, the Third Prince had already been overthrown. The issues that needed to be addressed then were different from those that needed to be addressed now.

Moreover, she knew in her heart whether the Xie family would take her in.

The Emperor was afraid that if she married the Third Prince, with the Xie family as his backing, the Third Prince's power would be too great and would threaten the Crown Prince's position. That's why she chose a useless person like Shen Nian'an as her husband.

She really shouldn't have married into this Marquis's mansion just to spite someone. It seems she'll have to go and cry to the Empress tomorrow.

"I understand. Then I'll do as you say for now, and I'll cooperate with you. Oh, by the way, there's one more thing. Shen Nianqing came to see me..."

"She wants to marry the Crown Prince and become his consort, is that right?"

Xie Wanru smiled faintly, but her eyes were full of mockery.

"how do you know?"

Shen Cong'an was somewhat surprised. Shen Nianqing and Xie Wanru did not get along, so he would never have told Xie Wanru.

“I told you, I was reborn, why don’t you believe me? In my previous life, she used the palace banquet to create an opportunity to meet His Highness the Crown Prince, and that’s exactly what I was going to tell you.”

Xie Wanru's eyes were full of disdain. A woman like Shen Nianqing was not worthy of the Crown Prince.

"I will not allow her to tarnish the Crown Prince's reputation, not even if she is my sister. I will have someone keep a close eye on her at the palace banquet tomorrow."

Shen Cong'an was absolutely determined.

Because compared to the so-called Shen family, the Crown Prince seemed to be more sincere towards him.

"Then we'll act according to the circumstances tomorrow. I only know that the Crown Prince was framed for embezzling supplies, which led to thousands of people freezing to death in remote areas of the North. But I don't know how Xiao Yan did it."

"I will find out how to resolve this matter. Now that I'm awake, I won't let anything happen to the Crown Prince. Together, we will change the future."

Shen Cong'an offered Xie Wanru a cup of tea instead of wine.

Xie Wanru gently raised her teacup, and with a light touch to Shen Cong'an, it seemed that a tacit understanding had been established between them without needing to say a word.

She took a small sip. "Brother Shen, in this life, we must not only live for ourselves, but also protect those innocent people who suffer. The tragedy of the North must never be repeated."

Xie Wan never wanted to see the scene of corpses flooding the court in her previous life again.

"You're absolutely right, we can't let this tragedy repeat itself."

Shen Cong'an's eyes deepened, revealing a formidable wisdom and determination.

If he hadn't suddenly fallen into a coma, he would probably be the Crown Prince's right-hand man by now. Even though he still had some doubts about Xie Wanru's rebirth, it didn't stop him from cooperating with Xie Wanru to do things for the Crown Prince.

As night deepened, the two continued to discuss countermeasures until the moonlight outside the window shone like water, filling the room with silvery light.

The road ahead may be full of thorns, and if a mistake is made, Xie Wanru doesn't know what the outcome of this life will be.

"It's getting late, you should get some rest. You need to be well-rested for the palace banquet tomorrow," Xie Wanru said softly, rising to leave.

"You too." Shen Cong'an smiled back, watching Xie Wanru leave through the window, his heart filled with anticipation and confidence for the future.

In her previous life, Shen Nianqing's plan could be considered a success. She even entered the Crown Prince's residence and became a concubine. However, she did not expect that the Crown Prince would be convicted less than a month later, and she would return to the Shen residence.

In the years that followed, he kept picking a fight with Xie Wanru. Since the Crown Prince wouldn't be in trouble in this life, he naturally couldn't let this woman get away with it.

So even if Shen Cong'an doesn't bring it up tonight, Xie Wanru will find a way to resolve this matter.

Xie Wanru didn't expect that the next morning, Shen Nian'an would bring Shen Yanzhi to pay her respects. Since the incident at the academy, this greeting had become a thing of the past.

Since Shen Yanzhi couldn't get up, Xie Wanru was too lazy to teach him manners. She now completely let Shen Yanzhi grow up without any cares whether Shen Nian'an came to her place or not. She wished that the father and son would get as far away as possible.

In her past life, she urged Shen Yanzhi to study hard and even prayed that Shen Nian would come to Plum Garden more often. As she got older, she thought about the harmony and happiness of the family. In the end, it was all wishful thinking on her part, and she was disliked instead.

She doesn't care at all now, but this person is now eagerly sticking to her side.

"Miss, the Second Master and the Young Master have been waiting for almost half an hour."

Dongzhu reminded me.

No one is allowed to enter Plum Garden without Xie Wanru's permission; that's the rule. But since she'd been waiting for so long, she still had to inform her young mistress.

"I didn't make them wait. Let them wait as long as they want."

Xie Wanru snorted coldly.

Outside the door, Shen Yanzhi was already getting impatient.

"Father, can't you send someone to tell Mother that we can wait in the carriage?"

He was shivering from the cold.

Shen Nian'an didn't want to be here. He just wanted outsiders to see how harmonious his family of three looked. It was not easy for him to come to the palace. When others saw him standing with Xie Wanru, they would think that he was Xie's son-in-law.

"If I tell you to wait, you should just wait quietly. If you don't even have this much patience, how will you ever accomplish anything in the future?"

The Minister of Personnel's wife had a good relationship with the Xie family, and he needed that connection.

"Boring! You can wait here yourself."

Shen Yanzhi rolled her eyes at Shen Nian'an, turned to leave, but was pulled back by Shen Nian'an.

"Shen Yanzhi, what are you trying to do? I told you to wait, so just wait obediently. This Shen residence is not for you to give me attitude!"

Shen Yanzhi was caught and tried his best to break free.

"Let me go! Mother said I can come to pay my respects if I want, and I don't have to if I don't want to. I want to go outside and play, let me go!"

Shen Yanzhi shouted.