Shen Zhiyi withdrew.

Only two people remained in the vast hall.

Shen Jin invited Yu Tingwan to sit down: "I noticed you at the Crown Prince’s funeral banquet last time."

Her tone was casual, as if speaking to a younger family member.

"Quite bold."

"Even while kneeling, you dared to secretly stuff food into your mouth."

Shen Jin handed over the white jade cup with poured tea: "But I didn’t expect Wei Zhao to be even more audacious, fearing you might still be hungry, so he didn’t forget to have someone send you more."

Yu Tingwan: ...

At that time, she didn’t know about the matter between Shen Jin and her uncle, but she had seen her beside the Empress Dowager.

She only knew she was Shen Zhiyi’s aunt.

It wasn’t surprising that Shen Zhiyi could act so flamboyantly outside the palace if she had someone inside.

Yu Tingwan was not restrained either.

"Excuse my impropriety."

Shen Jin: "What’s the big deal?"

She was indifferent: "Your status is there, as long as you don’t blow up the Crown Prince’s coffin, someone will protect you."

Yu Tingwan: ...

That’s not necessary.

Saying this, Shen Jin’s gaze fell on Yu Tingwan’s lower abdomen: "Are you pregnant?"

Otherwise, why would you eat so much?

Even Ning Suxuan, who doesn’t tolerate a speck of sand in her eyes, turned a blind eye?

Yu Tingwan was drinking water and almost sprayed it out upon hearing this.

"No."

She wished she was!

Shen Jin didn’t know whether to feel regret.

"Indeed. Wei Zhao’s health is like that."

But.

Her emotions dimmed slightly.

"It’s for the best."

She looked at Yu Tingwan: "His health isn’t good. Without descendants, the Ying Family poses no threat, and that person won’t target you."

The Wei Family can remain safe.

Under imperial power, too many tragedies have occurred.

This becomes a blessing in disguise.

Shen Jin said calmly: "I’ve said what I needed to say, now it’s your turn."

She didn’t think there was anything particularly worth visiting her for.

Yu Tingwan didn’t expect Shen Jin to be so direct.

She also got straight to the point.

"Visiting today might be inappropriate."

Shen Jin: ...

It is indeed inappropriate; even the Empress Dowager would be jealous.

Yu Tingwan gently said: "But it’s necessary for a junior like me to meet you."

She took out a well-preserved box from her sleeve and gently pushed it in front of Shen Jin.

"I obtained this from an old servant who served my late grandmother." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Granny Ma, in her old age, mistook me for Imperial Concubine you."

Shen Jin’s eyes slightly quivered, her gaze slowly landing on the box. For a moment, she didn’t make any other movements.

She seemed young, time favored her, leaving not many traces.

But also relentlessly.

Taking away the one she cared about the most.

Leaving no hope.

Shen Jin’s hand under her sleeve tightened, wanting to reach out, but her hand stopped mid-air and drew back.

She still remembered, sneaking out when she was young, going to the city gates with the people of Shangjing to welcome the triumphant return of the Wei Family Army.

Wei Fengyuan rode a horse, leading his troops, his features handsome and spirited.

Few knew Shen Jin and Wei Fengyuan had known each other since childhood.

The Shen Family’s status couldn’t compare to Duke Shun Mansion, not much interaction initially.

But Wei Fengyuan practiced martial arts since youth, often in the military. She, living with her grandmother in the countryside, often went to the creek to fish.

Not far from the camp, where Wei Fengyuan occasionally snuck out for a feast. They met often and became acquainted.

During the lantern festival, the city wasn’t on curfew, lit up brightly.

After reporting to the late Emperor in the Imperial Palace, he didn’t even return home, somehow changing out of his armor into civilian clothes to see her.

Old friends reunited.

She complained about the family’s troubles.

Nothing more than.

"Wei Fengyuan, you have no idea how opportunistic my father and brother are?"

"All the half-sisters at home are cunning, needing a lesson."

"How’s your injury this time? I heard you got stabbed, below... Did it hurt your brother? Is it broken?"

"Are we going to become sisters?"

Wei Fengyuan’s face darkened.

He also said many things.

"The sky at the border is very blue, you know how to ride, if you go there, it’ll be liberating."

"It’s been a long time since we met, can’t you hope for something good for me? A young lady should mind her words. Aren’t you ashamed?"

"I’m fine! Do you believe every rumor out there?"

That day, he also finally pierced the paper window.

"Who wants to be sisters with you? You think I’m idle writing letters every month just to you? Even my brother doesn’t get this. We’ve known each other a long time, it’s not just to settle with you. Do I need to be more clear? I want to be with you for a long time."

"Doesn’t it get crowded welcoming me every time, squeezed in the crowd?"

"Marry me, and wait openly at the gate for me, alright?"

How long had it been since she last thought of that person?

Long enough she thought she’d let go.

But she hadn’t; instead, growing timider, not daring to touch.

Shen Jin dared not think more.

She pushed the box back.

"Take it back."

Yu Tingwan didn’t expect her attitude to be like this.

"Aren’t you going to open and take a look?"

Shen Jin smiled slightly, very faintly.

"I’ve seen the jade pendant inside."

Yu Tingwan was slightly surprised.

"Back then, your uncle returned to the border shortly after receiving the imperial decree in Shangjing. The plan was to give me it as a token during the proposal. But fearing I’d find someone else, he boldly hung it at my waist, promising to bring me to the Wei Family as his bride wearing it after the proposal with three letters and six rites."

Shen Jin: "But later, when I entered the palace, it wasn’t appropriate to have it. After all, I let him down, and when your uncle returned from the border, I was already a concubine, unable to see him, so I had a servant return it."

She didn’t mention, at that time she took the jade pendant to show her brother and father.

She said her matters with Wei Fengyuan, she said she wanted to be the second lady of Duke Shun Mansion.

She knelt, pleading with family not to send her to the palace.

But father and brother accused her of foolishness.

"General Jing Yuan is good, but can he compare to the Emperor? What is the Shen Family? Neither high nor low, the Emperor favors you, be glad."

Moving swiftly, they sent her to the palace the next day.

No one reacted.

Nor could stop it.

The jade pendant wasn’t undelivered.

Rather, more regretfully returned.

Along with Shen Jin’s hope.

She didn’t feel worthy of Wei Fengyuan’s thoughts, also hoping he would find a new owner for the jade he briefly cherished.

Her life was ruined, destined as it was.

But Wei Fengyuan should marry, have children, he deserved better.

Yet he sacrificed.

Alone, leaving no descendants.

Would Shen Jin have the face to accept?

Yu Tingwan still passed the box back.

"Sure you’ve heard, I married my husband in the countryside."

"Only recently, he personally wrote my name in the family genealogy at the ancestral hall."

"The Wei Family genealogy is particularly thick."

As if idle chatter, she spoke casually.

"I heard earlier generations were particularly prosperous, but in Father’s generation, only he and my uncle remained."

"Father’s name is next to Mother’s."

Yu Tingwan said: "I also saw Uncle’s name listed with Father’s."

She slowly looked at Shen Jin, speaking word by word.

"Uncle never married, yet next to his name, just like Father and Mother, there’s a name."

Shen Jin briefly forgot to breathe.

Yu Tingwan: "My husband later told me, it was Uncle’s writing."

The genealogy, seldom touched by others.

Obviously, Wei Zhao was also surprised, not knowing when Wei Fengyuan wrote with what thoughts.

Coveting a concubine?

Yes, he coveted.

Yu Tingwan: "Uncle acknowledged you."

"Entered in the family genealogy, enshrined in the ancestral hall, recognized by the Wei Family elders."

She softly called Shen Jin: "Aunt, this is returning to its rightful owner."

In the empty palace hall, after who knows how long, came the sound of suppressed weeping from a woman.