She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

"A self-inflicted injury?" Gu Shile looked up. The rain was fine and dense, winding down the umbrella ribs and spreading ink-like marks on the bluestone road.

Her voice remained calm and unhurried, without any emotional fluctuation, as she asked in return, "I don't quite understand what you mean, sister-in-law."

Shen Jingshu ignored her words, her gaze falling on the burn scar on her arm. She lightly pointed with her fingertip, "I heard that this burn scar was left on your seventh birthday, caused by boiling oil? But I remember that your birthday was in the dead of winter. At that time, even if boiling oil splashed, how could it have left such a deep mark through your thick brocade clothes?"

She had found these marks strange in her past life as well. But back then, her mind was completely focused on Fu Zijin, so she wouldn't have bothered to examine such trivial details.

Hearing about the Gu sisters' methods from others, he only thought they were the petty thoughts of young ladies and didn't think much of it.

Now that I've been given a second chance at life, many things have become clear to me when I look at the Gu sisters again.

How could a burn from hot oil in winter leave such a clear and deep scar on an arm, even through thick winter clothing?

Unless... it wasn't an accident at all, but something that was deliberately done.

Gu Shile's eyes flickered slightly, and she subtly hid her arm behind her back, concealing it under her wide sleeves. "What does this mean, sister-in-law? Do you suspect that I did this on purpose back then to gain sympathy?"

"Whether it was intentional or not, the Second Miss knows best in her heart." Shen Jingshu's tone was calm, but she pressed on step by step, and every word was precious. "I just want to remind the Second Miss that if you act for too long, you will eventually get lost in it and find it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. I'm afraid you won't even be able to tell yourself apart."

These words made Gu Shile's heart skip a beat.

She took a deep breath and said coldly, "Sister-in-law, you're overthinking it. Shile doesn't understand what you're saying. If you have nothing else to say, Shile will take her leave."

She said and turned to leave.

Shen Jingshu did not let her off the hook. Her voice rang out behind her, carrying a hint of unease, as if sighing and warning: "Second Miss, the human heart is the most unpredictable thing in this world. Being too clever for your own good can backfire and cost you your life. What you did today may one day come back to haunt you and become the rope that binds you."

Gu Shile paused slightly, gripped the umbrella handle tightly, and ultimately did not turn back. Her figure gradually disappeared into the misty rain, leaving only a series of footsteps fading into the distance.

Shen Jingshu gazed in the direction she had gone, her emotions unreadable, yet also showing a hint of understanding.

In this deep mansion, everyone wears a mask, everyone is acting, and it's all a mix of truth and falsehood. Who can truly see through it all?

Who can guarantee that they aren't a character in a play?

The Duke of Dingguo's Mansion and Ancestral Hall.

Gu Zhong knelt before the ancestral tablets, his face ashen.

Gu Changfeng stepped over the shattered porcelain scattered on the ground, walked behind Gu Zhong, and bowed, saying, "Father, did you call me?"

"You wicked child! Kneel down!" Gu Zhong whirled around, slamming his dragon-patterned staff down on the sandalwood table beside him, sending splinters flying. "Do you know your crime? Did you really think you could get away with the Northern Border Armaments? And what about the Ministry of War's sealing wax? If this is exposed, at best you'll be executed and your entire family wiped out; at worst, your entire clan will be exterminated. Do you know the implications of this?"

Gu Changfeng glanced at Jiang Jin'an standing to the side out of the corner of his eye, then knelt down, bowed his head and said, "Your son is terrified. During the joint trial by the three judicial departments, the drawing clearly bore the private seal of Prince Jing and had no connection with the Duke of Dingguo's mansion."

"Even now, you still dare to argue!" Gu Zhong was furious. He raised his dragon staff high and slammed it hard into Gu Changfeng's back. "You idiot! You've been used as a pawn and you don't even know it!"

Gu Changfeng groaned and swayed, but he forced himself to remain kneeling upright.

"Father, please calm down." Gu Changfeng endured the sharp pain in his back and spoke calmly, "I am indeed unaware of the details of this matter. But I dare to guarantee with my life that the Duke of Dingguo's mansion has never colluded with the Northern Border, much less harbored any thoughts of treason."

Jiang Jin'an watched the scene of father and son confronting each other and scoffed, "Young Master, you have quite the silver tongue. Since you claim to have no secret dealings with the Northern Border, how do you intend to prove your innocence regarding the official silver? Do you think that a mere empty promise can clear the Duke of Dingguo's mansion of suspicion and deceive the world?"

He stepped forward and stared intently at Gu Changfeng, "What crime should the heir apparent commit for deceiving the emperor? What crime should the Duke of Dingguo commit for protecting his wicked son?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhong glared at Jiang Jin'an and shouted sternly, "Jiang Jin'an, don't push your luck! The Duke of Dingguo's family has been loyal and virtuous for generations; how can you slander us like this!"

Jiang Jin'an remained unmoved, her tone still calm: "Jin'an is merely investigating a case under imperial orders, and everything is done in accordance with the law. How can you say that I'm going too far?"

Gu Changfeng raised his eyes and met Jiang Jin'an's gaze, but ultimately remained silent and lowered his eyes again.

Having achieved his goal, Jiang Jin'an paid no more attention to the Gu family father and son. He turned and strode away, leaving only one sentence that echoed in the empty ancestral hall: "Take care of yourself."

When we left the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, the drizzle was still falling steadily.

He looked up at the sky, and through the rain, he could vaguely see the Jiang family's carriage parked not far away.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, revealing Shen Jingshu's beautiful face, who was looking in his direction.

Jiang Jin'an quickened his pace and walked over, bending down to get into the carriage.

Seeing that his shoulder was a little damp, Shen Jingshu handed him a neatly folded brocade handkerchief. "Be careful not to catch a cold, wipe yourself dry."

The handkerchief carried a faint scent of angelica, her usual perfume.

The carriage jolted as it passed through the puddles. Shen Jingshu reached out and supported Jiang Jin'an's knees, feeling the cold dampness on his robes through her fingertips, and her brows furrowed slightly.

The faint sounds of vendors arguing and city guards banging their bamboo clappers could be heard outside the car window.

The carriage was quiet; the two remained silent until it stopped in front of the Jiang residence.

The rain subsided slightly, and Jiang Jin'an got off the carriage first, turning around and extending his hand to Shen Jingshu.

Shen Jingshu placed her hand in his palm, used the momentum to get off the carriage, and her toes touched the wet ground, splashing a few tiny water droplets onto the hem of her skirt.

Back at Yulu Garden, Shen Jingshu personally helped Jiang Jin'an change his clothes and instructed Jinse to prepare hot water and ginger soup.

Jiang Jin'an sat by the couch, letting her busy herself in the room, her eyes always following her.

Shen Jingshu took a dry towel, walked behind him and wiped his wet hair, then suddenly asked, "Is the coroner's wife and children still in Yangzhou?"

Jiang Jin'an replied without looking up, "They were moved to Youzhou last month."

Shen Jingshu paused.

Youzhou?

They're so far apart, one in the south and one in the north.

She didn't say anything more and continued drying his hair, but she started to think about it.

Youzhou... Could she go there too?