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

Shen Jingshu clutched the letter, her fingers slightly damp where they touched, her knuckles turning white.

Looking at Shen Jingshu's tense profile, Wen Yin felt a pang of sadness. The usually lively and charming girl was now like an arrow on a bowstring. She couldn't even utter a word of comfort.

"How could my cousin be in trouble!" Gu Shiyi slammed her hand on the table, angrily saying, "He entered the training camp of the Commandery at the age of thirteen, fighting wild beasts and slaying villains. At sixteen, he fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Over the years, he has risen step by step to the position of Commandery Chief. What storms hasn't he weathered? How dare those filthy villains say he's dead! I don't believe it! And you shouldn't believe it either!"

Lu Linlang remained relatively calm and stepped forward to put her arm around Shiyi's shoulder, comforting her, "Shiyi, calm down. The news hasn't been confirmed yet, so don't panic. If you act like this, won't Miss Shen feel even worse?"

Shen Jingshu raised her head, her eyes regaining their former clarity. "Miss Lu is quite right. The news has not yet been confirmed, so naturally I don't believe it either. I want to see him alive or dead. I won't believe he's dead until I see his body."

She believed that Jiang Jin'an would not be in any trouble; he must have his own plan.

That man was a master strategist, full of clever ideas, and could even navigate the murky waters of Yanzhou with ease. How could he possibly encounter misfortune on his way back to the capital?

There must be something fishy going on here!

She quickly sorted through all the information in her mind. Jiang Jin'an's "death" came too suddenly and too coincidentally. It was as if... as if someone deliberately threw out bait to cover up some shady dealings, or to lure some people into a trap.

Who benefits the most from Jiang Jin'an's "incident"?

Wen Huaiqing? Duke of Dingguo?

neither.

Shen Jingshu's aura suddenly became sharp and fierce.

She composed herself and said to the group, "It's getting late, you should all go back and rest. Prime Minister Lu and Madam Wen are still waiting in the front hall, don't keep the elders waiting."

Gu Shiyi wanted to stay longer, "Jing Shu, let me stay and keep you company, I..."

Gu Shile grabbed her hand, interrupting her, "Let's go back."

She nodded slightly to Shen Jingshu and said, "Sister Shen, please take care. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Lu Linlang also said, "Miss Shen, don't worry, my grandfather values ​​the Commandant the most, and he will definitely help to find out the truth."

As the group approached the front hall, Wen Yin suddenly stopped, took Shen Jingshu's hand, and whispered, "I'm afraid I won't be able to see you as often in the future."

Shen Jingshu asked, "Why? Has something happened?"

“My father has spoken with me several times recently, and what he said was all about Prince Jing’s intentions… He intends to take me as a concubine, and my mother has also started to teach me proper manners… As you know, the Prince’s mansion has many rules, unlike ordinary families.”

Shen Jingshu's heart sank. She knew Wen Yin's feelings, and now that Prince Jing had interfered, Wen Yin's situation was predictable. "Then you and Gu Er..."

Before she could even ask the question, Wen Yin gave a bitter smile, shook her head, squeezed Shen Jingshu's hand tightly for a moment, then let go and hurriedly walked towards Madam Lü.

Shen Jingshu watched Wen Yin's departing figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

If she goes to Prince Jing's mansion, she will be unable to control her own destiny, and from then on, they will probably never be able to go back to the way things were before.

After seeing the others off, she summoned Wuchen and instructed him in a deep voice, "Wuchen, I need you to do a few things for me. First, have someone investigate and find out the source of Jiang Jin'an's 'death news,' who is spreading this news, and what their purpose is. Second, keep a close eye on the movements of various forces in the capital, especially Prince Jing and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, and see if they make any unusual moves. Also..."

She paused, her eyes growing even colder. "Fu Zijin, see what he's been doing lately, and who he's been in contact with."

Wuchen accepted the order without saying much, simply nodding before disappearing into the night.

Shen Zizhong left the mansion with Lu Ming and did not return all night.

On the fifth day of the sixth lunar month, just as dawn was breaking, news spread through the palace that Emperor Hui had summoned the Chancellor and Marquis Pingyang Ye late at night. The three of them had a long private conversation in the imperial study, the contents of which remained unknown to outsiders.

The streets were much quieter that day. Even the pedestrians were in a hurry, their faces filled with fear and unease. They dared not linger for fear of getting into trouble.

In the teahouses and taverns, the noise subsided considerably, but the conversations all revolved around the "news of Jiang Jin'an's death."

Various whispers and discussions reached the Marquis's residence, causing considerable distress.

The wedding day is the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.

The street in front of the Marquis's mansion was quiet, with only the large red lanterns and red silk hanging high swaying gently in the wind.

There was still no news from Jiang Jin'an.

At dawn, Shen Jingshu sat in front of her dressing table, letting the old woman comb her hair as if nothing was wrong. Song Wan, on the other hand, held her daughter's hand, her voice choked with emotion, "Thinking back to when you were just a tiny little thing, and now you're getting married."

"Mother, don't be sad, your daughter is fine."

But whether the words "all is well" are true or false, no one knows.

"Good child, it's good that you have your own plans." Song Wan sighed softly and tidied the stray hairs by her temples. "If he really is... you don't have to wrong yourself. In any case, you are the apple of my eye in the Pingyang Marquis's mansion, and the most precious treasure in your mother's heart."

Shen Jingshu grasped Song Wan's hand in return, "Mother, rest assured, I understand."

Seeing that the mother and daughter had paused their conversation, the kind-hearted woman began to sing a hair-combing song:

"One comb to the end, no worries about wealth; two combs to the end, no illness or worries; three combs to the end, many children and long life; three combs to the end, a harmonious and loving marriage; two combs to the end, flying wing to wing; three combs to the end, a lifelong bond of love, with a beginning and an end, rich and noble."

After finishing the lyrics, she started to style her hair, her skillful hands moving up and down with practiced ease.

Looking at her mother through the bronze mirror, Shen Jingshu smiled and said, "Mother, why don't you smile too? At worst, I'll still be living in the Marquis's mansion, and I don't think anyone will object."

"You child..." Song Wan could no longer hold back, tears welled up in her eyes, and she choked with sobs.

Seeing this, the kind-hearted woman quickly spoke up to ease the tension: "Madam, please don't be sad. This is a joyous day for the young lady. It would be inappropriate to ruin her makeup by crying."

She quickened her pace, gathering the last strand of hair into her bun.

Song Wan wiped away her tears, forced a smile, and personally placed the auspicious pearl crown on her daughter's head.

A soft cough came from outside. The mother and daughter looked in the direction of the sound and saw Shen Zizhong and Shen Yuanzhou standing outside the door, looking into the house with complicated expressions.

Shen Zizhong's eyes were also a little red. He cleared his throat and said, "I just came to take a look. The time is almost here, and it's time to get ready."

Shen Yuanzhou stood behind his father, also looking sullen.

Normally lively and active, he was now as still as a wooden puppet. But he remembered his father's instructions: he had to carry his older sister out later, which was the only thing he could do for her.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside, a mix of gongs, drums, and firecrackers, growing louder as it approached. Ah Shou ran all the way to the front of Shaoguang Courtyard and shouted, "The wedding procession is here!"

Song Wan patted Shen Jingshu's hand again, and together with Shen Zizhong, they went to the front yard first.

The long wedding procession stretched as far as the eye could see, with ten miles of red bridal makeup, a grand spectacle rarely seen in the capital.

However, the person in charge was none other than Crown Prince Wen Huaizhang.

He was dressed in the crown prince's robes, with a jade belt tightly cinched at his waist, which made his figure appear even more upright.

The onlookers were abuzz with discussion, saying that although the captain's fate was uncertain, his pomp and circumstance were certainly impressive.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the crowd. A ragged man pushed his way to the front, pointed at the grand wedding procession, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "What's the use of a grand procession? That living Yama is dead!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding area fell completely silent.

Wen Huaizhang's face darkened immediately, and the guards beside him stepped forward and took the man down.

"You audacious madman, how dare you spread such heresy and mislead the public!"

The man, however, showed no fear. Instead, he laughed heartily, "What, did I say something wrong? That Jiang Yanluo, he's dead! Good riddance! A wonderful death!"