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

The carriage drove out of the palace gate and headed north along Zhuque Avenue.

Shen Jingshu sat upright in the carriage, seemingly resting with her eyes closed, but in reality, her mind was constantly replaying her conversation with the Empress, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

Just as he was pondering this, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Shen Jingshu opened her eyes, lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out. She saw a magnificently decorated carriage, its body inlaid with gold and jade, blocking the road like a small mountain.

The carriage curtain was lifted by a slender hand, revealing a gentle and refined face—it was Prince Qi, Wen Huai'an.

He sat in the car, a smile playing on his lips, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Jingshu.

“Miss Shen, it’s truly fate that we meet here unexpectedly.” Wen Huai’an’s voice was still gentle, but Shen Jingshu sensed a deeper meaning that was hard to detect.

Shen Jingshu sighed inwardly. Last time, Prince Qi stopped her and told her about Chu Xiangling, clearing away a layer of mystery for her. She wondered what news he would bring this time, a blessing or a curse?

She lowered the carriage curtain and, through the thin veil, asked in a cool voice, "I wonder what brings Your Highness Prince Qi to stop me this time?"

"I just happened to be passing by and saw Miss Shen's carriage, so I thought I'd come over and say hello."

As Wen Huai'an spoke, he calmly stepped down from the carriage with the help of his attendants.

He limped along on one leg, walking slowly to Shen Jingshu's carriage. Though his steps were slow, he maintained the dignified demeanor befitting a prince. "Miss Shen's 'Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell' move was truly ingenious. I am ashamed of my inferiority and admire it to the extreme."

Shen Jingshu was startled. Wen Huai'an was indeed as rumored, well-informed and insightful. Everything she had done could not escape his eyes.

After a moment's thought, she said, "Your Highness, you flatter me. These are just trivial skills, hardly worthy of serious consideration."

"Miss Shen is too modest." Wen Huai'an chuckled, his voice tinged with amusement. "You discarded Xie Wanqing, this pawn, so easily. Don't you feel even a little bit of regret?"

"She has only herself to blame; she has no one else to blame but herself," Shen Jingshu said coldly. "Your Highness's extensive information network is truly admirable. May I ask how Your Highness learned of this matter?"

"I'm simply quite interested in Miss Shen's methods, and want to see how far you can go." Wen Huai'an's gaze fell on the carriage curtain. "I wonder what Miss Shen's plans are next? Could you perhaps reveal a little bit?"

Shen Jingshu retorted, "What makes you say that, Your Highness? I am but a young lady from a humble family, and everything I have done is merely for self-preservation. What other plans could I possibly have?"

Wen Huai'an's smile grew increasingly meaningful and enigmatic. "Why should Miss Shen belittle herself? I'm watching closely and looking forward to your performance. I hope you won't disappoint me."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and returned to his carriage, signaling the driver to continue on his way without saying anything more.

The two carriages passed each other. Shen Jingshu lifted the curtain and watched the carriages disappear into the distance, a strange unease rising in her heart.

……

A dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city.

Xie Wanqing huddled in the corner, her body trembling.

The wind, carrying the stench of decay from the withered branches and fallen leaves outside the dilapidated temple, poured in through the broken doors and windows, making her already cold body even stiffer.

After being expelled from the Pingyang Marquis's mansion, the Cheng family took advantage of Cheng Wenhao's absence from the capital to ruthlessly annul the engagement, ruining her reputation. The Xie family refused to take her in, and her first thought was of her brother Zijin. However, when she went to Liuyin Lane, she was told that he was not at home and his return date was uncertain.

Terrified by Wen Huaiqing's ruthless methods, she dared not seek refuge and found herself nowhere to go, forced to hide here in a sorry state.

She was cold and hungry, and her heart was twisted with hatred.

She couldn't understand why she had ended up in such a state.

Even though everything was meticulously planned, why did Shen Jingshu suddenly see through her conspiracy?

Did Bi Yi betray her?

"Shen Jingshu! I, Xie Wanqing, am sworn enemies with you. I swear I will not rest until I avenge this!" Xie Wanqing gritted her teeth, her voice hoarse, each word squeezed out from between her teeth, filled with deep-seated hatred.

Just then, the dilapidated temple's rickety wooden door was pushed open from the outside with a creaking sound.

A familiar figure appeared at the doorway, backlit, making it impossible to see the face clearly.

"Brother Zijin, is that you?" Xie Wanqing's eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, lit up instantly when she saw who it was, and her voice was filled with surprise and excitement, "Why are you here? You've finally come to save me!"

Fu Zijin entered the dilapidated temple, his gaze sweeping over Xie Wanqing's disheveled appearance, a fleeting look of disgust quickly passing through the depths of his eyes.

He quickly concealed his emotions, walked to Xie Wanqing's side, and said gently, "Wanqing, I heard that you were expelled from the Pingyang Marquis's mansion, and I was very worried. I came here specifically to find you and see if you are alright."

"Brother Zijin!" Xie Wanqing was moved to tears. She threw herself into Fu Zijin's arms and cried, "They all bully me, but you are the only one who treats me the best."

She deliberately showed weakness, trying to evoke his pity.

Fu Zijin patted her back gently and comforted her, "Don't cry, I'll help you."

"Really?" Xie Wanqing suddenly raised her head, looking at Fu Zijin with teary eyes. "You're really willing to help me?"

“Of course.” Fu Zijin looked down at her, the coldness in his eyes making Xie Wanqing instinctively shrink back. “As long as you obey me, I guarantee I will let you return to the Pingyang Marquis’s mansion and make those who bullied you pay a heavy price.”

"I'll listen to you, I'll listen to everything you say!" Xie Wanqing nodded repeatedly, as if she had grasped a lifeline. "Brother Zijin, I'll do whatever you ask me to do."

Fu Zijin smiled with satisfaction. "This is my good Wanqing."

He pulled out several silver notes from his pocket and stuffed them into her hand. "Listen, His Majesty has issued an edict ordering you to go to Qingyun Temple to copy Buddhist scriptures a hundred times, and to never return to the capital."

Xie Wanqing's face instantly turned as pale as paper.

"Go with peace of mind. I will bring you back to the capital afterward." He looked at her troubled gaze and added, "I know this is very unfair to you, but these are extraordinary times. For my future, please bear with it."

Xie Wanqing clutched the silver note tightly, her intense resentment almost tearing her apart, yet she still forced a gentle expression on her face, "Brother Zijin, Wanqing is willing to do anything for you."

Fu Zijin understood what she meant.

"I told you, I won't wrong you after it's done."

Xie Wanqing slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed her resentment, took the silver notes, and turned to leave the dilapidated temple.

As Fu Zijin watched her departing figure, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by a cold and sinister expression.