The more cowardly a person is, the more wild they are; I've driven the villainous minister craz

Mingwei's voice was somewhat urgent, "Your Highness, why did you have to..."

Before he could finish speaking, Prince Chen raised his hand to interrupt him.

He bent down and placed his hands together in front of his forehead, performing a grand gesture.

“Yun Shang, this time it was my lack of discipline towards Tian Yin that led her to commit such a heinous act.” Prince Chen spoke sincerely, filled with remorse. “According to the laws of the Great Zhao Dynasty, nobles and royalty should be punished the same as commoners for their crimes, but Tian Yin…”

Prince Chen sighed, "She is, after all, my only cousin. She is now an orphan because of me. I cannot bear to punish her severely. So I hope that you can forgive Tianyin this time for my sake."

"I will definitely send people to keep an eye on her from now on, and I will absolutely not let her do anything again."

“Apart from Tianyin’s life, I can make any kind of compensation.”

Mingwei was greatly shocked.

He knew that the prince had taken a liking to this young master Yun, but he hadn't expected that the prince would value him to this extent.

Given the prince's status, even if there were evidence to prove that Princess Tianyin deliberately set fire to injure people, no one in Huicheng County would dare to accept the Yun family's lawsuit.

Your Highness need not be so polite to Yun Shang. If he wanted to protect the princess, he wouldn't need to do anything at all.

But now, the prince is actually apologizing to a mere scholar.

Mingwei's gaze towards Yunshang subtly shifted.

He will probably have to show more respect to this Young Master Yun in the future.

Yun Shang lowered his eyes to look at the teacup on the table, and did not speak for a moment.

Prince Chen maintained his apologetic gesture, without showing any displeasure on his face.

On the contrary, Mingwei felt sorry for the prince and secretly complained to himself that Yunshang was really too immature.

The prince has already apologized in person, yet he still dares to act arrogantly.

After a moment, Yun Shang stood up, bowed to Prince Chen, and said in a clear and calm voice, "Your Highness is too kind to this student."

Upon hearing this, Prince Chen slowly straightened up, his gaze gentle and a smile playing on his lips.

He lifted Yun Shang's wrist, "The Yun family has suffered a great calamity this time, and I am also filled with regret and pain."

"The Yun family has been burned to the ground and it will take time to rebuild. Fortunately, I have a nice house in Huicheng County. If you don't mind, why don't you move in with your family?"

“That house is not far from Bailu Academy. You can hear the academy’s recitation in the early morning, which will make it easier for you to go home.”

The last sentence made Yun Shang's heart flutter.

Bailu Academy does not require students living near the academy to live in the dormitories; those who live nearby can return home at night.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness," Yun Shang said humbly and politely.

In Prince Chen's view, accepting this gift also meant accepting Prince Chen's apology and that he would not hold Princess Tianyin's scheme against him.

The chief steward of Prince Chen smiled easily. "I know you can understand me, Yun Shang, thank you."

Yun Shang nodded slightly.

He lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting darkness within them.

Revenge... doesn't necessarily mean taking the other person's life.

*

Prince Chen left Shijia Village overnight.

Yun Shang told Madam Shen and Yu Wan about the Prince Chen giving them the house.

Yu Wan accepted it without any qualms.

Given her current status, it's impossible for her to make Wang Wanshu pay a heavy price. Therefore, she deserves some compensation.

With her injuries, it's impossible for her to raise money to go to Shengjing in a short time.

Moreover, she is not the kind of person who repays evil with kindness!

She repeatedly hinted to Wang Wanshu that she wouldn't compete with her for Yunshang, but Wang Wanshu tried to kill her again and again. Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone someone with quite a temper.

Wasn't Wang Wanshu unable to bear seeing her get close to Yun Shang?

Then she'll just have to put on a show for her!

Seeing that her son and daughter-in-law had no objections, Madam Shen agreed.

The house that Prince Chen gave her must be quite large, so Yu Wan wanted to invite Old Man Feng to live there with her. Old Man Feng refused without hesitation: "No, there are no medicinal herbs for me to collect in Huicheng County."

Old Man Feng is like a walking healing chamber. Yu Wan is worried that she can't protect herself from Wang Wanshu's protagonist aura, so she can only be safe by keeping Old Man Feng by her side.

She stared at Old Man Feng with pleading eyes, deliberately feigning grievance, "Old Man Feng, you were so worried about me when you were at the Yun family, you must have been reluctant to let anything happen to me again, right?"

"Elder Feng, please agree to come with us, okay?"

"What herbs do you need to gather? I'll hire someone to gather them for you."

Old Feng's expression softened slightly, but then he remembered something and put on a stern face again, "You just want my medical skills."

Yu Wan didn't hide anything and readily admitted it, but then she added, "But I want to be close to you because I feel that you are like my grandfather in my memory."

She lowered her eyes sadly. "Old Feng, as you know, I was trafficked here and have long forgotten my original family, but you feel very familiar and dear to me."

Shen and Yun Shang exchanged a glance, both seeing something in each other's eyes.

When Old Man Feng heard her call him "Grandfather," he was stunned for a long time.

After a long while, he awkwardly turned his head and strode towards the door, leaving behind the words, "This old man is really troubled by having you juniors like this..."

As he said this, he went back next door to pack his things.

Madam Shen couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at Yu Wan. "Yu Niang, we'll move to the county town once you're a bit better. You should rest well so your injuries will heal faster."

Yu Wan nodded obediently, "Mother-in-law, you too."

"Your injury should not be taken lightly."

Shen agreed with satisfaction, then took Yunshang out the door and turned back to close it.

He then lowered his voice and said to Yun Shang, "Shang'er, think of a way to find Yu Niang's biological parents."

Madam Shen spoke softly, “Although she has never mentioned wanting to find her biological parents to me, who doesn’t want to have biological parents? She is no longer a slave. If we can find her parents, the two families can re-arrange the marriage and hold a grand wedding for you.”

“When Yu Niang married you, she didn’t even wear a wedding dress. She only wore a red veil and bowed to your father’s memorial tablet with you. It was so simple and really wronged her.”

Yun Shang neither agreed immediately nor refused.

Madam Shen knew her son well; his expression meant he acquiesced.

"Alright, Mother is a little tired." Madam Shen yawned. "Go and rest now. Take good care of Yu Niang tonight, and make sure she doesn't scratch her wounds."

Yun Shang nodded. "Mother, you should rest well."

Shen also went back to her room.

Yun Shang stood under the eaves, looking towards where the Yun family was located.

A day has passed, and the fire has long been extinguished, but the sky over where the Yun family lives seems much gloomier than other places.

The dark ruins that could be vaguely seen served as a constant reminder to Yun Shang.

The Yun family was gone, and his family members almost all perished in the fire.

If it weren't for Yu Wan risking her life to save him... he would be facing the funeral arrangements for his mother and sister right now.

The instigator of all this was that high and mighty princess who treated human life like dirt.

Yun Shang's lips curled slightly, and the red mole at the corner of her eye looked somewhat mysterious and alluring.

No rush, there's plenty of time.