Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

Shen Ningzhu found it somewhat amusing.

"What if I don't?"

Shen Yu narrowed his eyes, a terrifying light flashing in his cold, imposing gaze. A half-smile curved his lips as he said, almost with certainty,

“I know you’ve always been afraid of death. I can promise you that when the Emperor returns to the capital and investigates your escape, I will help you by doing something to save your life.”

Shen Ningzhu blinked.

What do you mean? Don't they know that Jinxiu Huanian is her child?

However, one thing did remind her.

It's time to sever all ties with these people.

To avoid damaging Jinxiu Huanian's reputation in the future. "It's not impossible for me to let Shen Ningxue go."

Liu Zhiyi frowned, "Zhuzhu..."

Shen Ningzhu gave her a reassuring look, then turned to the others and said,

"But I have a condition."

Shen Yu said, "Tell me about it."

Shen Ningzhu took a deep breath and said, "I want you to write a letter severing ties, stating that from now on, you and I will be like strangers, with no further connection whatsoever."

In this era, filial piety is of paramount importance.

She couldn't let anyone use this to manipulate her and her two children in the future.

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Chenyi lost his composure for the first time and shouted, "No!"

"Yier?"

Jiang Wanwan shouted angrily, "Don't forget that your own sister is still suffering in the temple. You care about her and treat her like a sister, but she can't wait to sever ties with you."

Otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a request.

Shen Chenyi bowed respectfully to Jiang Wanwan and said in a deep voice, "I disagree with severing ties with her. Mother, Father, Zhuzhu is young and doesn't understand. Let's talk to her properly. I believe that in time, she will understand."

Shen Chenxi also said somewhat awkwardly,

"What my brother says is true. Although she... it doesn't warrant severing ties with family, does it?"

After saying that, he glared at Shen Ningzhu fiercely, as if blaming her for being ignorant.

Shen Ningzhu was really tired, her head was about to explode, and she just wanted to cut the Gordian knot and didn't want to argue with them anymore.

Pressing his index finger firmly against his temple,

"I only want unique favoritism. If I can't give it to you, I'd rather not have it. So there's no need to say anything more. Let's sever ties."

Shen Chenyi angrily grabbed her wrist, his face dark as he spoke each word clearly.

"Do you know what you're doing? You've offended the Emperor. The Prime Minister alone won't be enough."

“As long as you are still my sister, even if you are only my adopted sister, based on this relationship, my father and I have the right to say a few good words for you in court.”

Even with the emperor's violent temper, she would likely not escape death.

Thinking of this, Shen Chenyi's eyes showed even more worry.

Shen Ningzhu felt she couldn't get along with them anymore, so she directly ordered Chen Aniu to see the guests out.

Seeing that she was stubborn and unyielding, the men were so angry that they almost fainted, but they had no other choice but to write a letter severing ties on the spot.

Shen Ningzhu took it and examined it carefully. Seeing that there were no problems, she signed her name and then handed it to Chen Aniu, telling him to go to the Jingzhao government office to register later.

The way he threw off his burden made the group so angry they almost lost their balance.

"You ungrateful wretch! How could I possibly..."

"Shut up--"

"If you keep yelling at me, I'll have someone drag you down and throw you out the door. And don't even think about me giving up on Shen Ningxue's matter."

Zhao Meihua was stunned by the shout, and looked at Shen Ningzhu with extremely vicious eyes, as if she wanted to bite off a few pieces of her flesh.

"Get lost. As for Shen Ningxue, you can pick her up tomorrow. No one will stop you."

……

My ears were finally clear.

The two best friends arrived at the boudoir, which had already been arranged, and Liu Zhiyi took the initiative to tell Shen Ningzhu everything that had happened on the estate that day.

"I had already warned them, but I didn't expect them to still dare to come and cause trouble for you, and they even chose to come to your door right after you arrived. It really makes me furious."

"Alright, I know you feel sorry for me, but this is ancient times, there are too many rules, and it's inconvenient to do things here. But from now on, things will be much easier."

Liu Zhiyi understood; she was referring to the letter severing ties with her family.

It's worth it to exchange Shen Ningxue for freedom in the future.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Someone, bring up some hot water. We'll serve the dishes after Zhuzhu has washed up."

"Yes."

Shen Ningzhu was exhausted. She forced herself to finish washing up, ate some light and easily digestible food, and went to bed.

I slept until the afternoon of the following day.

As soon as they stepped out of the room, they saw two dirty children digging in the soil by the flower bed. Hearing the noise, they turned around, their eyes lighting up when they saw Shen Ningzhu. They tossed aside their small shovels and rakes, cheering as they ran over, shouting in unison...

"Mother~~~"

Seeing that they were still lively and cheerful, I knew that they were being well protected and well taken care of.

The events in Luoshui Town did not frighten them.

They weren't too worried or scared because she hadn't shown up for so long. Shen Ningzhu felt comforted, knowing that her best friend was the most reliable person in the world.

"Long time no see, babies, did you miss your mommy?"

"I want to..."

"By the way, where is your aunt?"

Shen Jinxiu quickly spoke up, "Where else could we go? Godfather's here, so Auntie can just go inside with him and be all lovey-dovey."

Shen Ningzhu raised an eyebrow. This little guy already knows what "you and I are so affectionate" means?

Judging from this, the two of them really have a good relationship; they couldn't wait to see each other after only a day apart... cough cough...

Shen Ningzhu smiled, feeling happy for Liu Zhiyi.

Just then, the door diagonally opposite suddenly opened, and Liu Zhiyi walked out, blushing, and smiled.

"Zhuzhu is awake? Someone, quickly bring up the food that's keeping warm on the stove."

She gave Shen Jinxiu another reproachful glare.

"Don't talk nonsense. Your aunt just had something to talk to your godfather about and that's why she went back to her room."

Splendid Years: Pshaw, we've seen you two fighting on horseback and biting each other's lips so many times.

I saw it through the crack in the door just now.

It's the same as before, you bite me, I bite you, pushing and shoving each other, there's nothing new about it. I don't understand why adults are so strange, don't they get tired of it?

Two tiny heads, each holding a big question mark.

Song Hanchuan cleared his throat and said,

"Miss Shen, tomorrow is an auspicious day. I would like to bring a matchmaker to formally propose marriage. What do you think?"

Shen Ningzhu looked at Liu Zhiyi and saw that she had her head down but couldn't hide the corners of her lips curving up. She jokingly sighed, "A daughter is not meant to be kept at home. Keeping her here and there will only lead to enmity."

Just agreed.

The next day, the news that the Crown Prince had bestowed a marriage upon the Prime Minister spread like wildfire, reaching every street and alley.

At the same time, 128 loads of betrothal gifts were carried out from the Prime Minister's residence and headed towards the west of the city.

When Pei Yun Chu heard the news, she cursed Song Han Chuan for being heartless and ungrateful, for forgetting his old flame so quickly.

"Come here, prepare the horses."

"I'm going to see what kind of background that woman has, what kind of celestial beauty she looks, that she could bewitch Song Hanchuan, who has been abstinent for many years, to the point that he would give up all his wealth to marry her."