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

Shen Cong'an's sarcasm made Shen Nian'an feel ashamed, but she was unwilling to admit that she was a useless and worthless person. She staggered out of Shen Cong'an's courtyard and went to find the royal physician to treat Fu Rou.

Thanks to Xie Wanru's reminder, Shen Cong'an secretly eliminated all the spies planted by the Third Prince, and the Crown Prince's deposition, which was supposed to happen, did not occur as the Third Prince had planned.

This made Shen Cong'an believe that Xie Wanru's identity was indeed not simple.

Shen Mo was at the Xie residence. With the year-end approaching and the academy on holiday, Shen Cong'an came to the Xie residence early in the morning to pick him up and chat with Xie Wanru.

“Now that your father has been dismissed from his post, Shen Nian’an can no longer serve in the court. Their careers are ruined. The things you are worried about should not happen. I think you can stop now.”

There was something unusual in Shen Cong'an's eyes.

"Also, I have already told His Highness the Crown Prince about your desire to divorce Shen Nian'an, and he will do his best to persuade the Emperor to issue an edict."

He initially wanted Shen Nian'an to experience what he had suffered, but seeing how he was handling things now, he felt a little reluctant.

The battle in Guhuang City made him realize that Xie Wanru really had the ability to foresee the future, so he also believed that Xie Wanru was indeed reborn.

"Stop?"

Xie Wanru murmured.

In this life, Shen Nian'an hasn't had a chance to become her opponent yet, but she knows that if she doesn't awaken and continues to treat them with the same sincerity as in her previous life, she is certain that Shen Nian'an will repay kindness with enmity.

"If Shen Nian'an and Shen Yanzhi could be reborn, do you think they would let me go?"

Xie Wanru's soul-searching question left Shen Cong'an at a loss, because he knew that if Xie Wanru had not been reborn, given Shen Nian'an's thought process and Shen Yanzhi's vicious and ruthless methods at such a young age, history would definitely repeat itself.

In this life, they haven't reached that point yet, and because Xie Wanru changed what was originally planned, some of the people affected were also changed.

"Shen Cong'an, have you forgotten the simple principle of 'a life for a life, a debt for a debt' so quickly? Or have you never understood it at all? If you have changed your mind and are unwilling to help me, you don't need to come to see me from now on. I know you won't go out and spread my identity. I don't force anyone."

Xie Wanru turned her head to look out the window. Snowflakes fell gently, adding a touch of chill to the winter day, and seemed to be silently telling the story of past grievances and affections.

Her gaze was firm and deep, as if it could pierce through the layers of snowflakes and reveal the self that had been betrayed and hurt.

Shen Cong'an understood Xie Wanru's insistence; she and Shen Nian'an were sworn enemies. However, he was also surprised that such deep hatred truly existed in this world, making it impossible for someone to let go even after being reborn.

He couldn't empathize with Xie Wanru's pain, but he also didn't want the situation to worsen.

“I understand how you feel. I don’t want you to forget those things, but wouldn’t it be better if those things hadn’t happened in the first place? Shen Nian’an isn’t that cold-blooded yet, and Shen Yanzhi is just a child. They haven’t done anything yet.”

Shen Cong'an's voice was deep and gentle, with a hint of comfort.

"I know you'll take action after the divorce, but Xie Wanru, Shen Nian'an, who wiped out your entire family, deserves to die. But in this life, Shen Nian'an hasn't done those things yet, does he deserve to die?"

Xie Wanru shook her head gently, a faint smile playing on her lips: "So I have to wait until he wipes out my entire family again before I take action against him? I have my own plans and my own bottom line. I will not kill innocent people indiscriminately, but I will definitely get back what Shen Nian'an and Shen Yanzhi owe me."

"But they haven't done anything yet. Shen Nian'an is just a man who betrayed your feelings, Shen Yanzhi..."

Xie Wanru plucked a leaf from a small tree in the bonsai, gathered her inner strength, and shot it at Shen Cong'an's right leg.

"Ah..." Shen Cong'an cried out in pain.

"So you do feel pain, huh? You were only in a coma for two years, and Doctor Huo went to such lengths to help you stand up. You were supposed to be in a coma for ten years, and after ten years, you, Shen Cong'an, wouldn't even have had the chance to stand up. Have you forgotten your scars so quickly?"

Xie Wanru had a moment of weakness when she saved Shen Yanzhi from drowning. After that, she was unconscious for several days and filled with regret. She vowed never to do such a thing again.

Even though he was indoors, Shen Cong'an's outer trousers were extremely thick.

Xie Wanru was still able to use the leaves to scratch his robes and injure his skin, which shows that Xie Wanru was highly skilled in martial arts.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

Shen Cong'an covered his wound with his hand; he had just been a little dazed.

If Xie Wanru hadn't saved him, he would still be living a dark and hopeless life, lying in bed at the mercy of others.

“The wound wasn’t deep; the flying leaf only scratched the skin. So you know how ridiculous it is that I, with such good martial arts skills, spent half my life in the inner quarters of the Shen family in my previous life? I taught Shen Yanzhi martial arts, but he used what he had learned to fight me. It was only because the old master favored me that I was able to start over in this life. How could I let down the heavens’ good intentions?”

Xie Wanru plucked another leaf, and this time, she flung it towards a lantern under the eaves.

A moment later, the lantern fell to the ground.

“It would be easy for me to kill someone, but I’m not the kind of person who disregards life.”

How can a woman of extraordinary destiny be confined to the inner quarters?

After Shen Cong'an realized this idea, his superficial advice from when he came vanished.

“Shen Cong’an follows Princess Yongchang’s lead without question.”

Shen Cong'an cupped his hands in greeting. He suddenly realized that Xie Wanru actually had a very broad perspective. Her involvement with the Shen family was simply because she didn't want to disrupt the rules of this world.

"And what about His Highness the Crown Prince?" Xie Wanru looked at Shen Cong'an meaningfully.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is the sovereign, an inviolable ruler. I believe that Princess Yongchang and His Highness the Crown Prince will be of one mind in the future, both hoping for peace and prosperity for the country. You and His Highness the Crown Prince will not stand on opposite sides.”

After Shen Cong'an finished answering, he noticed a meaningful smile on Xie Wanru's face.

“Nothing is absolute, but I’m very satisfied with your attitude now. Treat Mo’er well, and even if I take action against the Shen family, I will protect you all. Don’t worry about that.”

Xie Wanru broke off another leaf.

Shen Cong'an's gaze followed the leaf until, finally, the leaf appeared right in front of him.

"If you want to learn, I can teach you this move. It won't kill anyone, but it can be very useful when necessary."

Shen Cong'an solemnly accepted the leaf. To a scholar like him, Xie Wanru's move was quite unrestrained. In addition, Xie Wanru had just said that it would be easy for her to kill someone, but she didn't.

From this day forward, Shen Cong'an was impressed by Xie Wanru's composure in the face of her former enemy, rather than by her initial gratitude for saving his life.

"What's the name of this move?"

"Plucking leaves and letting flowers fly."