Caught off guard, she could not help cursing aloud.
Only after she finished cursing did she belatedly look toward Mo Xuanchen and Cui Mingjian beside her.
Without warning, her gaze met the man's unfathomably deep black eyes.
Shen Yuxi forced herself to turn her head away and stop looking at him.
She diverted her attention.
[Wanxue doesn't know yet, does she?]
[If she knew, how would she have the heart to wait on her mother-in-law?]
System: [Chen Shisong no longer studies. He spends all day fooling around with Duke Dingguo's youngest daughter.] [He even promised to marry Duke Dingguo's youngest daughter once he places highly in the imperial examinations.]
Shen Yuxi was utterly disgusted by Chen Shisong.
[Seriously, Duke Dingguo's youngest daughter grew up showered with every indulgence. What sort of outstanding man hasn't she seen? How could she fall for Chen Shisong?]
[Chen Shisong is handsome and well educated, with a honeyed tongue and a knack for sweet-talking people.] [With just a few words, he coaxed Shangguan Niao into full bloom with delight.]
[Does Shangguan Niao know Chen Shisong has a wife?]
If she did not know, that was still excusable. If she knew the truth and persisted anyway, that was shameless.
[She knows.]
Wanxue swayed, almost unable to hold herself upright.
But she gritted her teeth and forced herself to listen to the end.
Even if she died, she had to die knowing the truth!
My husband.
She could not believe that the husband she loved so deeply could bear to treat her this way.
Before leaving for the capital to take the examinations, he had held her hands and sworn an oath.
Once he became the top scholar, he would return to fetch her and never let her suffer again.
Why? Why had things turned out like this?
Her heart told her she should trust her husband. He loved her so much; he would never betray her.
Every little moment they had shared replayed in her mind, frame by frame, like a film.
Reason forced her awake. Painful as it was, she had to face reality.
That voice was, in all likelihood, telling the truth.
Since her husband had gone to the capital, he had not sent even a single letter home.
She had simply assumed Chen Shisong was busy reviewing his books and studying. Never had she imagined he was busy romancing another woman.
Wanxue bit down hard on her lip. Scalding tears fell one after another, and even her breathing carried broken sobs.
[System, why is she crying?]
Shen Yuxi happened to catch sight of Wanxue's reddened eyes and the way she seemed on the verge of shattering. She froze for a moment.
Wh... what happened?
[Maybe her mother-in-law deliberately made things difficult for her, and she feels terribly wronged?] the System said, scratching its head.
[That old hag doesn't appreciate having such a good daughter-in-law. If it were me, I'd smash the medicine bowl right into her face.]
Cui Mingjian nodded in wholehearted agreement.
Still, Lord Little Shen probably would not encounter anything like that.
The empress was gentle and mild, and treated others kindly.
With His Majesty protecting her as well, none of the imperial relatives would be so blind as to provoke Lord Little Shen and invite trouble upon themselves.
The fourth prince was even more protective. If someone dared cause Lord Little Shen trouble today, the fourth prince would probably string them up and beat them tomorrow.
[Host, do you want to help her?]
Shen Yuxi's gaze wavered. [When it comes to Wanxue, I'm not sure whether it's better to let her see that scumbag for what he is or keep her in the dark. At least that way, things could stay as they are.]
Wanxue was sensitive and fragile at heart. If she learned that the husband she loved so deeply had gotten involved with another woman behind her back...
Even if she did not go mad, she would become depressed and constantly doubt herself.
Shen Yuxi understood Wanxue all too well.
Because in her previous life, she had been somewhat like Wanxue.
Experiencing someone's deep love for the first time, trying to give away her heart for the first time-the cruel truth really could strike someone down so hard they never recovered.
Never mind words like "He's only a man; you'll get over him sooner or later." For someone sensitive and tenderhearted who had never been loved, it was far too difficult.
But keeping silent would be far too unfair to Wanxue.
She would remain in the dark for the rest of her life and continue facing a man as disgusting as Chen Shisong.
Shen Yuxi sighed.
[I can't just walk up to her now and tell her that her husband has betrayed her, can I? She might not entirely believe me.]
[Once we return to the capital, I'll gather some solid evidence first.]
[Chen Shisong-a man of such character doesn't deserve to hold office even if he passes the examinations.]
As a fellow woman, she still wanted to help Wanxue.
To help her get away from these utterly awful people.
"..."
They stayed in Qingzhou for nearly a month.
The epidemic in Qingzhou was no longer as severe as it had been at first. Sixty to seventy percent of the patients had already stabilized and begun to recover.
Everything gradually returned to normal.
Meanwhile, far away in the capital, Emperor Xuanzhao and the entire Shen household worried day and night, unable even to sleep well.
And so, as soon as Qingzhou's situation stabilized...
Emperor Xuanzhao hastily issued an order commanding Shen Yuxi, Mo Xuanchen, and the others to set out for the capital immediately.
"Your Majesty, it is time for court," Eunuch Yang reminded him softly.
"Ah!"
Who knew how many times Emperor Xuanzhao had sighed that day?
"Without that little girl and the System sharing gossip, even attending court feels strange."
He had never thought anything of it before.
Since Shen Yuxi had come to court, although she chattered all day and even exposed his old secrets, the atmosphere at court had been filled with merriment.
Eunuch Yang smiled. "Counting the days, Lord Little Shen and His Highness the Fourth Prince should reach the capital in another two or three days."
Emperor Xuanzhao stepped into the Hall of Supreme Polarity. Looking at the civil and military officials kneeling throughout the hall, he said calmly, "Rise, my subjects."
"Thank you, Your Majesty-"
The civil and military officials stood with their hands lowered, silent and still. The solemn hall seemed empty and desolate instead.
Emperor Xuanzhao was far from the only one who found it strange.
Most of the officials felt deeply conflicted.
They wanted Shen Yuxi to return soon so they could keep enjoying the gossip, yet they feared she would dig up gossip about them.
Losing face was a small matter. Losing their lives would be serious.
"Those with memorials, present them. If there is no business, court is dismissed-" A shrill voice echoed through the hall.
Not a single civil or military official stepped forward. Every one of them was as quiet as a chicken.
"Court is dismissed."
Emperor Xuanzhao cast them an indifferent glance, left those words behind, and rose to leave without hesitation.
The officials dropped to their knees again in a rustling wave.
As the central figure in the case, Zhao Panggua was escorted back to the capital with them.
Upon learning of Zhao Panggua's embezzlement and bribery, Emperor Xuanzhao flew into a rage and ordered him executed by a thousand cuts three days later.
The entire Zhao family was reduced to slave status and imprisoned together, to be beheaded after autumn.
Having caused the deaths of so many innocent commoners, Emperor Xuanzhao felt even this punishment let him off too lightly.
On the return journey, Mo Xuanchen wanted to squeeze into the same carriage as Shen Yuxi again, but she flatly refused.
She said she wanted to rest in the carriage, so sharing it would be inconvenient.
"Father! Mother! Eldest Brother! Second Sister!"
Having received word, the Shen family had gathered at the estate gates early to wait.
Like a little cannonball, Shen Yuxi shot over to them with a whoosh.
She wrapped one arm around Minister Shen and the other around Madam Shen, hugging them tightly.
Shen Shiyan and Shen Tinglan stood to one side and exchanged helpless glances.
"Hehe, Eldest Brother, Second Sister."
As a master of keeping the scales balanced, how could she favor one over another?
Shen Yuxi hurried over to hug her eldest brother and second sister too.
"I missed you all so much!"
"You little ingrate. You only missed us with your mouth, didn't you?"
"No, I didn't! Eldest Brother, you're always accusing me unfairly."
Shen Yuxi formed a heart with both hands and held it over the left side of her chest.
She looked heartbroken, as if to say, "How could you think that of me?"
"I was away from home for half a month, thinking of you morning and night, my soul tethered to you even in dreams. I couldn't sleep at night or swallow a bite. Look at me-I've even lost weight."
She pointed at herself.
Madam Shen stroked Shen Yuxi's cheek and said with heartache, "You have lost weight. Have you been too busy lately to eat properly?"
Minister Shen and the other two: "..."
Forgive their poor eyesight, but they truly could not see where their youngest daughter or little sister had lost any weight.