Watching the people leave, Shen Zhiyi beckoned to Yu Tingwan to head out.

Yu Tingwan had nothing else to take, no need to tidy up her appearance, and she descended the steps, ready to get on the carriage from the Ministry of the Imperial Household.

"Aren’t you going to ask me why I’ve changed my mind and agreed to Xiao Huaian?"

The voice of Shen Zhiyi came from beside her.

Recently, they had entered the palace together to see Shen Jin, so Yu Tingwan could guess some of it.

What was unexpected was that Shen Zhiyi was so decisive.

"You are a person with a plan, and though you have your aunt’s protection, she is far away in the Imperial Palace and cannot aid you in close matters. The Shen Family’s internal affairs are likely something she does not want to involve herself in. Your mother is weak, and if not for you, she would have long been swallowed up by the favored concubines, leaving nothing behind."

"Decisions concerning a lifetime, even in a moment of anger, would not be made without thought, risking everything. I gather you’ve thought it through and aren’t acting impulsively."

"In that case, why should I, an outsider, be nosy?"

She was always rational and clear-minded, yet often willing to appear confused.

If it were someone else, she would never have bothered to say these words.

But coming from Shen Zhiyi...

Yu Tingwan eventually said, "However, I must remind you of something." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

If not for Yu Tingwan, Shen Zhiyi wouldn’t have listened to others preach.

But now.

Even though she had more experience than Yu Tingwan, in many ways she was far less perceptive.

Shen Zhiyi humbly said, "Tell me, I’ll remember."

Yu Tingwan opened her mouth but finally remained silent.

"Say it!"

Yu Tingwan: "Forget it, let Xiao Huaian tell you instead."

Shen Zhiyi: ...

Mentioning that person, Shen Zhiyi felt quite puzzled.

She didn’t know what he was busy with. That day in front of her father, he said he wanted to marry her, yet whatever he wanted to discuss further was interrupted by a sudden summons from a trusted aide.

He hurriedly left behind a simple message, reassuring her to wait for the wedding.

In these days, he was nowhere to be seen.

Shen Zhiyi began to worry that Xiao Huaian was going to cancel on her.

But from the way Duchess Zhongyong behaved, it seemed he valued this marriage highly.

The sound of hooves approached as someone rode towards them.

"Whoa!"

Pulling in the reins, the horse neighed, raising its front hooves high and kicking up a cloud of dust.

A man with thick eyebrows like swords and a high, defined nose, his features sharply cut like sculpture, wearing a cloak trimmed with silver threads, lightly leapt down from the horse.

He raised his eyes toward the sign of the Duke Shun Mansion.

Turning his gaze, a smile blossomed at the corners of his mouth as he walked briskly toward Yu Tingwan.

"Madam, are you about to go out?"

Yu Tingwan was halfway into the carriage from the Ministry of the Imperial Household, but upon hearing the voice, she stepped out again.

She found this person unfamiliar and her expression remained calm.

"And you are?"

The man smiled, "I have a life-and-death camaraderie with General Wei, just happened to be passing by and thought I’d pay respects."

Yu Tingwan: "Oh."

She asked.

"And then?"

Her demeanor didn’t seem very friendly: "You’re not visiting me, why tell me about it? Expecting me to host you?"

Liang Rui, Third Prince of Liang State: ???

"I can’t get in."

Yu Tingwan: "Where’s your visit card?"

Yu Tingwan: "Oh, you don’t have one."

"Then wait for a report, if my husband wants to see you, the guards will let you in."

Having said that, she went back into the carriage.

She told the coachman outside, "Let’s go."

The wheels rolled and the carriage moved far away.

Shen Zhiyi: "Who was that, making you so curt?"

It shouldn’t be like this.

A visitor is a guest!

Yu Tingwan lowered her gaze, her expression calm: "If I guessed right, it’s the Third Prince of Liang State, Liang Rui."

Shen Zhiyi: Moments of disbelief.

She froze in place.

For a moment, she nearly jumped up.

"Who!"

Yu Tingwan didn’t understand what was so shocking: "He came with ill intentions."

Shen Zhiyi wanted to ask how Yu Tingwan dared this attitude.

But remembering that Yu Tingwan was just as unruly to Duchess Shun, it seemed whatever she did was...normal.

Yu Tingwan: "Can you imagine why he would try to enter through the main gate so properly?"

"Why?"

Yu Tingwan: "The Duke Shun Mansion is heavily guarded. If he forced his way, it would cause a great uproar, but coming quietly avoids revealing his trail."

And as long as she spoke up, he could directly enter.

That’s why he came to say hello.

"No wonder..."

Shen Zhiyi realized upon her reminder.

"No wonder he recognized you at first glance."

Calling her Madam.

Either he had already seen a portrait of Yu Tingwan and understood the people of the Duke Shun Mansion.

Or he had met Princess Jiasan before.

Wait a minute.

Shen Zhiyi: "Isn’t he afraid of not returning?"

Talking about some life-and-death friendship, bah!

A battlefield life-and-death relationship indeed!

Yu Tingwan softly: "My husband is weak; what can he do to him?"

Shen Zhiyi’s expression fell: "True."

Wei Zhao was indeed unwell.

"How can you be at ease leaving with me?"

Yu Tingwan had her reasons: "As a woman, I won’t add to his troubles."

Shen Zhiyi: ...

It seemed a bit off.

However.

Meanwhile, Liang Rui was quietly waiting for an announcement.

When he finally got in, it was already half an incense stick later.

Rong Di led the way.

Liang Rui wasn’t at all anxious, even had the leisurely mood to look around, until he entered the guest hall.

He did not smell any medicine.

He saw the widely reported Wei Zhao, who supposedly needed a wheelchair even to walk.

He wasn’t in a wheelchair but was rather kneeling, brewing tea with fluid movements.

"Brother Wei."

Liang Rui greeted insincerely, "I personally saw your Deputy General, Chi Yu, encase you in a coffin last time. How are you alive again?"

He was very disappointed indeed.

But then...

"Your wife is truly fierce."

Liang Rui seated himself directly across from Wei Zhao: "As if if I continued, her finger would be pointed right at my face."

"If you are willing to join us in Liang State, our women are as gentle as water."

Wei Zhao remained composed and unmoved: "You’ve seen that I’m not dead, when do you plan to leave?"

"Leave what?"

"Having come all this way, you should stay for a few days."

Liang Rui noted Wei Zhao’s complexion wasn’t good, but his speech and tea-brewing weren’t that of a gravely ill person.

His gaze, when it came, although accompanied by no action, was overwhelming as before.

He stood at a moment of indecision.

Liang Rui’s smile faltered, "Wei Zhao, has the Wei Family been worth the generations of service to the Ying Family?"

"Before coming, I’ve inquired—your father’s death is linked to your emperor. Such a capricious ruler, how can he deserve your loyalty?"

Wei Zhao spoke calmly, "Daring to come to Shangjing alone, you’re not afraid of death?"

Liang Rui feigned sincerity, "As long as you’re alive, nothing will happen to me."

"If our private meeting were reported to the Holy Emperor, you’d have a hard time explaining, and the Wei Family might become the next Prince Yan Mansion, accused of treason."

Isn’t this providing leverage against Emperor Qian?

"If something happens to me, Liang State would be thrown into chaos. And nothing good awaits you, right? Your father is dead, your mother, oh, and your recently married wife, can’t suffer the same fate."