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

After receiving the news, Granny Chen went into the room to inform Song Wan.

Song Wan sat on the couch, her eyes closed, turning the prayer beads in her hand, her face serene and silent. Granny Chen waited by her side, and after a long while, Song Wan finally spoke: "Granny, go and take a look. Don't let Jing Shu harm her face."

After Granny Chen left, Song Wan opened her eyes and sighed, "As time goes by, people's hearts also change."

Shen Zizhong sighed as well.

Over here, Xie Wanqing's wails were extremely pitiful. The entire Marquis's mansion knew that she had been beaten by the eldest daughter because of Chunlan's matter. Therefore, when Jiang Jin'an arrived, the gatekeeper led him directly to Luoying Courtyard.

Shen Yuanzhou ran over, panicking, "Brother-in-law, you'd better hurry and see! My cousin Wanqing is about to be beaten to death by my older sister!"

Jiang Jin'an stepped into the Cherry Blossom Courtyard and saw Shen Jingshu raising her whip again. He immediately flashed to Shen Jingshu's side, grasped her wrist, and said softly, "Jingshu, let's go back."

Upon seeing Jiang Jin'an, Shen Jingshu's fierce aura dissipated. She pursed her lips and put down the soft whip.

She gave Xie Wanqing a cold glare, handed the soft whip to Yaoqin, and turned to leave.

Xie Wanqing had already fallen to the ground, looking extremely disheveled, with two faint bloody marks on both arms. Thanks to Bi Yi and Fei Yun's protection, she wasn't beaten too badly.

As the group left the courtyard, Granny Chen approached. Shen Jingshu quickly took a few steps forward and asked, "Granny, is Mother looking for me?"

Granny Chen shook her head and bowed, saying, "This old servant is here to convey a message to the eldest young lady on behalf of the madam. The madam instructed you to be careful not to hurt the young lady's face when you strike her."

Granny Chen relayed the message truthfully.

Back at Shaoguang Courtyard, Jiang Jin'an and Shen Jingshu went into the inner room, leaving Yaoqin and Jinse to guard the courtyard.

"Is it Fu Zijin?" Jiang Jin'an broke the silence first.

Shen Jingshu knew he was asking about Chunlan, and shook her head, "It's not certain yet, but it's highly likely."

Her voice sounded tired, as if she were struggling to breathe.

Jiang Jin'an said, "I have already sent Lin Yu and Wu Chen to deal with the traces of her visiting Banri Xian. I will investigate this matter, so you don't need to worry."

“I’m not worried about that. Even if they find out, I have ways to deal with it.”

Shen Jingshu walked to the window, paused for a moment, turned to look at Jiang Jin'an, her eyes full of confusion, "Does Your Excellency believe in fate?"

Jiang Jin'an was at a loss for words.

"If fate is already predetermined, is it true that no matter how much we struggle or resist, we will ultimately be unable to change it?" Shen Jingshu stretched out her hands, looked down at her palms, and said softly, "Then what is the meaning of everything I am doing now?"

From the day I met her, she seemed to have been carrying a deep-seated hatred.

Jiang Jin'an didn't understand where this hatred came from, nor did he understand what she meant by those words, but his heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles, a pain that was both subtle and sharp.

Previously, she had always been lively, intelligent, and confident; he had never seen her so confused and helpless.

He stepped forward and embraced Shen Jingshu.

He lowered his head, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "If you alone cannot fight against fate, then I will fight against it with you."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Inside the rolled-up beaded curtain, a scene of extravagant indulgence unfolded, the air thick with the scents of cosmetics and wine.

"Disperse! The Commandery is handling a case!" A sharp shout rang out, instantly shattering the extravagant atmosphere.

The store erupted in chaos. The girls, their faces pale with fright, rose in panic and hastily gathered to one side.

Jiang Jin'an led the way, followed by a group of captains dressed in neat flying fish uniforms, who filed in one after another.

As the premier brothel in the capital, Juanjuanzhulian was usually a place frequented by the sons of Wang Xun. Now that it had been suddenly disturbed, everyone was displeased and their faces were filled with anger.

"Has the Commandant taken his investigation to a brothel?"

A young man who looked like a playboy was the first to make a move. His face was flushed and his eyes were somewhat drunk. Perhaps he had been drinking, which made him much bolder.

Jiang Jin'an glanced at them and said coldly, "Take him down."

The man was pinned to the ground before he could even put on his clothes properly.

“A murder has occurred since the beaded curtain was rolled up, and it is my duty to investigate the case.” Jiang Jin’an slowly paced back and forth, stopping in front of the man. He leaned down slightly and looked at the man on the ground. “If anyone has any doubts, there are plenty of empty rooms in the imperial prison.”

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, no one daring to utter another word.

Seeing this, the madam secretly groaned, fearing that she would be unable to continue her business in the future. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, smiling and saying, "Who would dare to stop the Commandant from investigating a case? Young Master Wang is still drunk. Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart."

Jiang Jin'an raised his chin, and the group went upstairs again to search the place, symbolically arresting a few people who were abusing hemp in the side rooms.

The captain then summoned the madam and asked, "Where does that alley lead?"

The madam hurriedly replied, "Sir, that's just a storeroom. This is a legitimate business; we have official registration, and the girls all come here voluntarily."

"Did you know that someone died in the alley last night?" the captain continued to press.

“I know! I know! People from the yamen came and asked around, but the girl looked unfamiliar; she wasn’t the one who rolled up the beaded curtain.”

"Have you heard any strange noises?"

"No, I haven't heard a sound from the singing and dancing in this secluded place day and night." After saying this, the madam glanced cautiously at Jiang Jin'an and said to the captain, "Sir, the yamen has already asked about these things."

"The yamen is the yamen, and the Commandery is the Commandery! Just answer their questions truthfully!"

The madam repeatedly agreed.

Jiang Jin'an glanced at the madam indifferently, parted his thin lips slightly, and said, "Lead the way."

The madam led them downstairs, when suddenly a beautiful woman ran over, knelt directly in front of Jiang Jin'an, and said, "My lord, I have met that young lady."

The madam's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

That night, Shen Jingshu slept very restlessly.

She had many dreams.

She dreamt that she was running barefoot through the Marquis's mansion, where the entire family was wiped out, the corpses of the servants were piled up haphazardly, and not even a single cat was spared, with blood flowing like a river.

She dreamt that she came to a mass grave, where the bodies of her father, mother, and brother were separated and carelessly discarded, their eyes wide open in death.

She dreamt that Yaoqin and Jinse were tortured beyond recognition by Xie Wanqing, yet they still called out for the eldest daughter.

She dreamt that her corpse lay in the Fu family's dungeon, the hairpin still stuck in her chest. It was Jiang Jin'an who carried her body back to the Marquis's mansion and ordered everyone in the Shen family to prepare her body for burial.

Finally, she dreamed that Fu Zijin and Wen Huaiqing were locked in a cage, and Jiang Jin'an went there every day to cut off a piece of their flesh until they died.

Jiang Jin'an set the place on fire.

Shen Jingshu was jolted awake from this series of nightmares. Her nightgown was soaked with sweat. She gasped for breath as her thoughts gradually cleared.