After being reborn, I became the apple of my enemy's eye.

The old lady probably felt that she had talked about something unpleasant, so she added another unlucky comment.

Yan Yun looked up.

Zheng Jihua's eyes were cold, showing no protection whatsoever for his former wife.

Yan Yun lowered her head, her whole body trembling with rage. Hadn't she done enough in her death? She had given all her dowry to Zheng Jihua, and even though she lived worse than a servant, she always spoke well of Zheng Jihua in front of her mother and the others, protecting the Zheng family's reputation.

Even though she had no children, she agreed to let Zheng Jihua take a concubine. She had hoped to get along well with her mother-in-law who had lost her husband early and to treat her husband with respect. All that she had endured and sacrificed for more than ten years was seen by them as her being the one who made them unhappy.

Yan Yun didn't want to see their disgusting faces anymore, so she turned to leave.

Zheng Jihua grasped Yan Yun's hand firmly, having made up his mind. He told the old lady, "I'm going to take Ning'er to the academy in the distant capital."

The old lady immediately opened her eyes; she disagreed.

"No."

Zheng Jihua had already made up his mind. He looked at the old lady and said, "If Mother agrees to go with us, I will make the arrangements soon. As for Ning'er's matter, I will take care of it from now on. Mother, you just need to focus on recuperating. You have worked hard for so many years, and you should enjoy your retirement. After all, you still need to see the future that your son is creating again."

If the first sentence displeases the old lady, the second sentence will not at all.

Zheng Jihua, her son, knows best what she has sacrificed.

The future.

The old lady turned to the side and sighed, "Fine, let's do as you say."

Yan Yun's trip to Yuanjing was immediately put on the agenda.

Lu Yan learned of this news from the old lady, but he would not go with her; he would stay here, as it was the old lady's wish.

Ru Qing hesitated whether to go with Yan Yun.

Yan Yun let her choose whether to stay or leave together.

With Zheng Jihua by her side, Ru Qing couldn't do anything she wanted to do because Lu Yan was there.

Although Lu Yan was chosen by the old lady, Yan Yun felt that Lu Yan was a good person. Compared to the guys he had met before, this child was kinder. Ru Qing would definitely have a better future with him than with herself.

Ru Qing lowered her head. She thought the same thing as Yan Yun: Lu Yan was someone she could follow.

She had already made up her mind and told Yan Yun, "I will stay. I will never forget the kindness you have shown me, Miss."

Yan Yun wasn't doing it out of any gratitude.

She was originally saved to revitalize the Yan family, but now the plan has been disrupted, and she has no idea what's in that place called Yuanjing ahead.

She looked at Ruqing and instructed, "When the one-year agreement you mentioned comes to an end, go to the pawnshop I told you about and say that it contains things stored by Miss Zheng. Those things will definitely be of help to you."

Ru Qing felt a little sad, but then she remembered that there was someone else outside the courtyard.

"Miss, Young Master Lu Yan has been outside the courtyard the whole time."

Is he there?

"Invite him in."

Then I won't have to see him anymore.

Ru Qing led Lu Yan in, and he seemed a little awkward, since this was Yan Yun's boudoir. He handed the gifts he had brought to Yan Yun.

"This is a jade pendant that I had someone make."

It was a purple jade pendant, with delicate patterns carved on it.

Yan Yun glanced at it a few more times, but before she could say she would accept it, Lu Yan suddenly stood up. "Cousin Ning'er, I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now. I'll see you off on the day you depart."

Lu Yan arrived in a hurry and left in a hurry.

After glancing at Yan Yun, Ru Qing nodded and followed Lu Yan away.

The purple jade pendant he left behind was placed aside by Yan Yun after he closed the box.

She looked up at the roof beam. He hadn't come for the past few days, and she wondered if they would ever meet again after this parting. Yan Yun blew out the lamp and sat at the table waiting.

The next morning, the maid came in to pack Yan Yun's things.

"Miss, it's time to leave."

Yan Yun had everything she needed to carry with her, and she didn't care about the things the maid had packed.

Zheng Jihua was also in the room, presuming to be on Yan Yunhao's side, "Ask Miss what you need and bring it with you. Don't pack with your heads down, listen to Miss's instructions."

Looking at the clothes and jewelry that were no longer fashionable, Zheng Jihua thought of the ones Jiao Yun was wearing and decided that it would be better to buy them when they got to Yuanjing.

He looked at Yan Yun and reached out to touch her, but seeing that she was distracted, he didn't reach out, afraid of scaring her.

He told the maid to step aside and that he would tidy up himself, saying, "When we get to the capital, Father will give you the best of everything."

Yan Yun set off with Zheng Jihua.

Lu Yan and the old lady came out to see him off. Yan hadn't seen the outside world for a long time. When he left the mansion, the streets were much busier than before.

After just one glance, Yan Yun was carried into the carriage by Zheng Jihua.

The old lady shook her head, somewhat displeased.

After settling Yan Yun in, Zheng Jihua turned and bid farewell to her mother.

The old lady instructed Zheng Jihua: "Be careful on your journey."

"Yes, I will send a message back when I arrive."

"Let's go."

"Mother, please take good care of yourself before you set off."

After Zheng Jihua got into the carriage, the space was only this small. Looking at her daughter whom she hadn't seen for a long time, her heart almost melted. She had never had such an opportunity to be so close to her before.

His composure outside the carriage vanished completely. Looking at his daughter, he whispered, "After we get to the capital, your mother will be there too. You won't be frightened again, and this kind of accident won't happen again."

He didn't sit down after getting into the carriage. He would either take out his collection of books to read to Yan Yun or take out snacks from the food box for Yan Yun.

His obsequious and busy manner made him seem like a servant. It turned out that her once high and mighty husband could be so humble, as long as he wanted to.

Yan Yun pointed to the book beside him.

Zheng Jihua took it in his hand and started flipping through it, asking Yan Yun where she was looking.

Yan Yun pointed to the first page.

Zheng Jihua said, "Then I will start reading from here."

After Yan Yun nodded, Zheng Jihua began to read it word by word.

Yan Yun reached out to open the carriage window to look outside, but Zheng Jihua saw through her intention and stopped her. He smiled gently and said, "I'll open the window for you after we get through this part."

Yan Yun looked at him, but ignored him and pushed open the carriage window anyway.

A foul odor suddenly wafted into Yan Yun's nose.

Even though Zheng Jihua reached out quickly, Yan Yun still saw something outside the carriage when he looked down.

Horses and oxen were dragging planks, on which were placed many things. Although they were all covered with burlap, it was still visible that the people moving around were carrying decapitated corpses.