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

On the third day of the sixth lunar month, the midday sun scorched the capital city, and even the bluestone pavement seemed to radiate heat.

A large caravan came from the direction of Yangzhou and sailed into the capital.

The one leading the group was Cheng Wenhao, the young master of the Cheng family.

His brows showed signs of weariness from his journey, but his peach blossom eyes were bright and clear.

After returning from Yangzhou, I hurried along the way and finally arrived in the capital a few days earlier than originally planned.

He was eager to return home, wishing he could sprout wings and fly back immediately to his residence, bathe and change, rest properly, and tell Shen Jingshu everything he had seen and heard along the way.

Before he could even properly savor the long-lost atmosphere of the capital, a series of comments poured over him like a bucket of cold water, completely dampening his enthusiasm.

"Have you heard? Xie Wanqing, the cousin of the Marquis of Pingyang, actually poisoned Miss Shen!"

"You're only finding out now? That Xie Wanqing, who always pretends to be gentle and virtuous, I never expected her to be such a vicious snake!"

"I heard that she was jealous of Miss Shen and harbored malicious intentions, wanting to poison her. As a result, her plot was exposed, and she was driven out of the Marquis of Pingyang's house and even sent to Qingyun Temple by imperial decree!"

"Evil will be punished! This kind of woman should be made to reflect on her actions in a temple, spend her life eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures to atone for her sins!"

"The Cheng family was really unlucky to have arranged a marriage with such a family. They almost ended up marrying such a vicious woman! Luckily, they broke off the engagement in time, otherwise, who knows how badly they would have been implicated!"

"Who can argue with that? The Cheng family is quite decisive; they called off the engagement without hesitation. If it were someone else, they might have hesitated for a while."

……

As the discussions reached his ears, Cheng Wenhao felt a buzzing in his mind, and his mind went completely blank.

He pulled hard on the reins, and his horse, in pain, neighed, its hooves rising high before crashing down again.

Cheng Wenhao's expression changed slightly, his lips pressed tightly together, and he could hardly believe the news he had heard.

Did Xie Wanqing poison Shen Jingshu?

How can this be?

Although he hadn't known Shen Jingshu for very long, he knew her intelligence and vigilance. How could Xie Wanqing's little tricks possibly escape her notice?

Moreover, Shen Jingshu still has the servants left by Jiang Jin'an by her side, so how could Xie Wanqing possibly succeed?

But if it's not true, where did all this gossip come from?

Cheng Wenhao's mind was in complete turmoil. He spurred his horse on, urging it to gallop, which drew the attention of passersby who began to whisper among themselves.

"Isn't this Young Master Cheng? Why is he in such a hurry?"

"He recently had a sudden urge to go to Yangzhou with a merchant caravan, saying he wanted to gain some experience. He probably doesn't know what's going on in the capital! This is going to be quite a show!"

The vermilion gates of the Marquis of Pingyang's residence were tightly shut. Cheng Wenhao stood in front of the gate, but hesitated to knock.

He was a little scared, afraid of hearing the news he least wanted to hear.

Just as Cheng Wenhao was hesitating, the gate of the Pingyang Marquis's mansion suddenly opened, and a familiar figure appeared at the door—it was Shen Zizhong.

He was dressed in a navy blue casual suit, his face calm and his eyes deep, quietly looking at Cheng Wenhao.

Cheng Wenhao looked up and was overjoyed. He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "My lord, I am Cheng Wenhao. I have something to ask you."

Shen Zizhong looked Cheng Wenhao up and down, and seeing that he was travel-worn and anxious, he already understood a bit of what was going on.

He sighed and said, "Did you come here because of Xie Wanqing?"

Cheng Wenhao was speechless for a moment. He couldn't very well say that he came for Shen Jingshu, could he?

To outsiders, he and Shen Jingshu were not related, so his visit seemed rather abrupt. But to say he came for Xie Wanqing was utter nonsense; he wanted nothing more than to strangle that woman with his own hands, so why would he plead for her?

"Yes, I've come for Wanqing's sake." Cheng Wenhao had no choice but to answer, deciding to get through this hurdle first.

He paused, then hurriedly added, "I just returned to the capital and heard some rumors about Wanqing. I am very worried. I wonder if Your Excellency could tell me if those rumors are true? Is Miss Shen... alright?"

Shen Zizhong looked at the young man in front of him, his face showing nothing but anxiety and worry.

Was he worried about Jing Shu's safety, or was he afraid that his beloved would really cause a disaster?

For a moment, Shen Zizhong was also unsure of Cheng Wenhao's true intentions.

"The rumors are true. She did indeed poison Jing Shu, but Jing Shu is a lucky person and is fine. However, this matter has caused quite a stir, and Jing Shu's reputation has been affected. She is currently recuperating at Shaoguang Courtyard and is not in a position to receive guests."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Wenhao's heart sank. Sure enough, Shen Jingshu was still "poisoned".

“My lord, although Xie Wanqing is my betrothed and I have given betrothal gifts, I find her wicked deeds deeply despicable. I have come here today to see if I can be of any help.”

Shen Zizhong looked at Cheng Wenhao, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "You have a kind heart. However, Jing Shu should not be disturbed at the moment. I appreciate your kindness."

Cheng Wenhao grew anxious, realizing that Shen Zizhong was suspicious of him. Indeed, anyone would suspect someone like him, who had no connection with Shen Jingshu, suddenly showing up to inquire about her safety, especially since he was Xie Wanqing's nominal fiancé.

On a sudden impulse, he took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Shen Zizhong. “My lord, during my trip to Yangzhou, I happened to meet the Commandant. This is a letter he asked me to deliver to Miss Shen. Please pass it on to me.”

Shen Zizhong was taken aback. He took the letter and saw that the envelope was addressed to "Jing Shu". The handwriting was strong and powerful, and it was indeed Jiang Jin'an's handwriting.

His doubts lessened slightly; it seemed that Cheng Wenhao wasn't entirely lying.

"Wait a moment, I'll be right back."

Shen Zizhong took the letter, turned around, and walked into Shaoguang Courtyard.

Cheng Wenhao stood in the courtyard, feeling uneasy. He paced back and forth, glancing frequently in the direction of Shaoguang Courtyard.

Inside Shaoguang Courtyard, Shen Jingshu heard the sound of the gate opening and looked up to see Shen Zizhong walking in, holding a letter in his hand.

"Father, what brings you here?" Shen Jingshu asked, getting up.

She had been staying at home for the past few days, so her father's sudden visit must have been for something important.

“Cheng Wenhao has returned to Beijing,” Shen Zizhong handed the letter to Shen Jingshu, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. “He said he brought you a letter from Jiang Jin’an.”

Jiang Jin'an's letter?

Shen Jingshu took the letter, opened the envelope, and took out the letter paper. Inside, it read:

Jing Shu:

Seeing words is like meeting.

The matter in Yangzhou is nearing its end, and I will soon be returning to the capital.

Remember to be careful in everything you do.

Jin'an, courtesy name.

Gone?

After reading the letter, Shen Jingshu was both amused and exasperated.

The letter was concise, containing nothing more than announcing his impending return to the capital. This brevity was consistent with his usual style.

He specifically asked Cheng Wenhao to bring back a message just to say this?