Chapter 46

Rong Shu looked at Madam Shen, insisting, "If there comes a day when Father has to choose between you and Zhaozhao, who would you pick?"

Madam Shen, hearing her daughter's childish words, scolded, "Who else could I choose but you!"

Rong Shu smiled, her eyebrows curving upward.

"Remember what you said today, Mother. Don't deceive Zhaozhao."

In her previous life, when Father had to choose between Mother and Aunt Pei, he had picked Aunt Pei.

Back then, Father hadn't confessed his crime yet, but perhaps fearing the worst, he wrote a letter of divorce right after being imprisoned in the Supreme Court. Aunt Pei became a free woman, but she refused to leave, insisting on staying by Father's side through life and death.

She and Mother were locked up in the same cell. Upon hearing Aunt Pei's words, Mother slapped her fiercely.

"How could Rong Hui marry into the Jiang family—don't you know? If something happened to you, how do you think her life in the Jiang family would be? She is now heavily pregnant, and you're willing to abandon your own daughter for a man? And Rong Qing, who's only seven years old now—should Father pass away, would you let Mother disappear too? Pei Yun, if I were you, I'd leave! Try to save Rong Xun if possible, but if not, take good care of our children and grandchildren!"

Aunt Pei was stunned for a long while.

Eventually, she bit her lip, held back her tears, and for the first and last time, bowed solemnly to Mother as a concubine before leaving the Supreme Court prison without looking back.

Upon Pei Yun's departure, Rong Shu turned to her father, pleading for a divorce certificate for her mother as well.

But he refused, responding coldly, "Your mother is and will always be a member of the Rong family, even in death. Zhaozhao, if the Cheng'an Marquis Estate cannot escape this calamity, your mother is the Marquis's wife, and wherever I am, she shall be. That is her fate."

Her mother said it was her fate, and her father claimed it was too.

Yet Rong Shu refused to believe in such a destiny.

She spent half the night talking with Madam Shen, and didn't wake up until the next day when daylight had already filled the room.

Mother Zhang came in to help her freshen up, smiling as she said, "Madam ordered the carriage to be prepared early this morning. You have to leave today, whether you want to or not."

Rong Shu removed the warm cloth from her face.

"It's alright, I'll be back soon." Within a month, or at most two, there should be news from Nijing.

Assuming Rong Shu was merely venting, Mother Zhang wrung out another hot cloth and said, "You've been back for so many days, and Lord Gu hasn't pressured you. Madam is worried that the Gu family might have objections."

Whether Madam Xu would have objections, Rong Shu wasn't sure, but Gu Changjin definitely wouldn't.

"Rest assured, Mother, Gu Changjin is swamped with work at the Ministry of Justice. He won't rush me even if I stay until the end of the month."

As she spoke, Madam Shen entered the room, followed by Yingyue and Ying Que. The two maids carried brimming jars of sweets, the sweet fragrance revealing them to be Rong Shu's favorite pine nut candies.

Rong Shu climbed into the carriage, holding the candy jar and leisurely enjoying her treats.

Upon returning to Wutong Lane, she first paid her respects to Madam Xu at Liumo Hall. After a brief conversation over tea, she returned to Songsi Courtyard.

Entering her room, she was about to change clothes and lie down when Yingyue announced, "Miss, Second Master is in the study. Should you pay him a visit?"

Rong Shu was slightly surprised. Shouldn't Gu Changjin be at the Ministry of Justice at this time?

"Did Second Master not go to work today?"

"He did, but he was sent back during noon," Yingyue paused before continuing, "It's said that his old injury has flared up."

Rong Shu's brow furrowed slightly. In her previous life, Gu Changjin worked tirelessly on cases day and night. Although his injuries healed slowly, they were steadily improving, and there had been no recurrence of any old wounds.

It was just that...

There were days when he seemed deeply troubled, and she had even asked him what was bothering him.

To be honest, Gu Changjin wasn't someone who wore his emotions on his sleeve, yet she couldn't help sensing his mood swings.

The thought had simply popped into her mind, and the question had slipped out.

Gu Changjin, of course, didn't bother explaining. He stared at her intently for a while before casually responding, "I'm just tired."

She could never quite decipher the look in his eyes during that moment.

His gaze appeared calm on the surface, but there seemed to be hidden currents beneath.

She had an inkling that he wasn't really talking about being tired, but something else.

Calculating the timeline, it was likely that Li'er's case would conclude around this time.

On the day Li'er's case came to a close, Rong Shu had an important task to attend to. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall the exact date when the verdict would be announced.

Oddly enough, her memories of the next three years seemed to be fading. For instance, she remembered that Li'er and Jin would be released from the Department of Justice's prison, but the specific day eluded her.

Yingyue was still eagerly waiting on the side. Rong Shu pondered for a moment and said, "Go fetch the Rejuvenating Pills that Mother prepared for Second Master. We'll head to the study."

In the study, Chang Ji was also updating Gu Changjin. "Madam just left the Six Vast Hall. She might come to the study soon."

Gu Changjin glanced up from his documents with a faint "mm."

Soon, footsteps approached from nearby.

Gu Changjin lifted his gaze from the document and looked at Chang Ji calmly.

Chang Ji's hairs stood on end under his gaze. With his hands clasped in his sleeves, he asked timidly, "Master, is there anything you need?"

Gu Changjin's lips curled. "Get out."

Chang Ji suddenly understood. It wouldn't do for him to be here when Madam came over. He hastily said, "I'll take my leave then."

As he left the room, he couldn't help but feel puzzled. Normally, no matter who visited the Songsi Courtyard, Master never asked him or Heng Ping to hide away.

Especially when Miss Wen Xi came, either he or Heng Ping had to be present.

Why must he avoid her today? Madam is such a wonderful person, not some devastating beast. Why must he keep his distance?

Gu Changjin's study was an isolated room without a courtyard, flanked by towering old phoenix trees on both sides. Since Chang Ji approached from the other end, Rong Shu naturally didn't encounter him.