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How could Shen Yizhen not be annoyed?

"You can meet Zhaozhao, and then I'll send you back to Yangzhou!" Shen Yizhen didn't bother to discuss it further, firmly deciding, "You risked your life for this chance to achieve greatness. Don't waste it!"

Lu Shiyi wasn't too concerned. "I've recommended Lan'er to serve under Governor Liang. He's still young, the perfect age to make his mark. With him there, why should I worry about our family's reputation not rising? As for me, I'll happily work under Manager Shen to earn silver and enjoy the rest of my days."

Lu Lan was Lu Shiyi's own nephew, similar to his uncle in being open-hearted and adaptable. Serving under Governor Liang would indeed secure his future.

Shen Yizhen had no choice but to drop the subject.

With sharp eyes, Lu Shiyi spotted half of Rong Shu's deer-skin boots outside the screen wall. He called out with a laugh, "Why is Zhaozhao hiding there?"

Caught eavesdropping, Rong Shu didn't feel embarrassed. She walked out from behind the screen wall with a clear conscience, her face flushed with delight as she greeted them, "Mother! Uncle Shiyi!"

Seeing her daughter, Shen Yizhen lost interest in Lu Shiyi's matters. She hurried forward, examining Rong Shu from head to toe. Only when she saw that Rong Shu was unharmed did she relax.

Throughout her journey, she had been most afraid of Zhaozhao being bullied while she wasn't around.

Even though Lord Liu had repeatedly reassured her that with the prince by Zhaozhao's side, nothing bad would happen, Shen Yizhen wouldn't have been at ease until she saw Zhaozhao with her own eyes.

The two women, having not seen each other for nearly half a year, both had a lot they wanted to say.

Shen Yizhen took Rong Shu's hand and said, "Let's go inside and talk."

After taking a few steps, she paused and looked back at Lu Shiyi. Summoning a servant, she instructed, "Prepare a guest room for Chief Inspector Lu and ask the kitchen to prepare some fine wine."

Having given her instructions, she walked briskly back to the East Yard with Rong Shu.

Knowing that the two would have much to discuss privately, Nurse Zhou prepared tea and then led the maids out of the room.

Shen Yizhen studied Rong Shu closely and smiled. "Inspector Liu told me you've been at the Eastern Palace this whole time, so I shouldn't worry. Now it seems my concerns were unnecessary."

"I wouldn't have caused you worry even if I weren't at the Eastern Palace. I'm not a three-year-old anymore," Rong Shu replied, pouring a cup of Dragon Well tea for Shen Yizhen. "But Mother, you look thinner. Take care of yourself in Minglu Yard these few days and don't concern yourself with anything else."

As she spoke, she took out the official divorce document stamped by the government and recounted the events at the Cheng'an Marquis Estate in detail.

Shen Yizhen had been the Marquis' wife for over two decades. Although she hadn't been content there, she never wished for the family to fall into such dire straits.

Especially the younger generation of the Marquis household – it was truly a pity for them.

Despite the sighs of regret, the fall of the Cheng'an Marquis Estate could only be said to be the result of their own misdeeds.

"Your actions were right. Since the Cheng'an Marquis Estate made mistakes, they must face the consequences – that is justice," Shen Yizhen took the cup of tea Rong Shu offered, not rushing to drink it. She comforted her, "Don't feel guilty, and don't concern yourself with what others might say."

Rong Shu replied, "I don't feel guilty at all. The fact that the Rong family can return to Taiyuan Prefecture to start anew is already an act of grace from His Majesty. Apart from Uncle Two, the others were spared from imprisonment."

Second Master Rong, Rong Yu, was an official appointed by the court, and he had knowingly broken the law. His crime was naturally more severe than that of Madam Zhu's. Once the new year arrived, Rong Yu would be escorted back to the capital to serve his sentence in the Da Li Temple prison.

Shen Yizhen sipped her tea and said, "The Rong family wasn't stripped of their military registration, which was a favor granted by the Emperor for the sake of the former old master and the late master. Indeed, we should be grateful."

"Now that Mother is no longer related to the Rong family, once the Lantern Festival passes and the government offices reopen, I will go and alter our household registration, officially incorporating you into the Shen family."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yizhen pondered for a moment before setting down her teacup. She carefully chose her words, "Zhaozhao, there are some things Mother wants to discuss with you."

Back when she learned from Tan Zhi that Zhaozhao was not her biological daughter, her first instinct was to silence him, preventing Zhaozhao from discovering the truth.

But during their journey to the capital, she had thought deeply about it.

This was Zhaozhao's heritage; she could not, nor should she, keep it hidden. If... if Zhaozhao wished to search for her birth parents, she had no right to stand in her way.

"In Yangzhou, Tan Zhi shared a secret with me," Shen Yizhen looked at Rong Shu, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and spoke slowly, "Your birth mother is not me. I gave birth to a stillborn, but it was Aunt Zhang who brought you to the Shen family, making you my daughter."

Rong Shu had long guessed that her mother's hasty trip to the capital was due to discovering she wasn't truly a Shen.

Shen Yizhen continued, "If you wish to find your biological parents, I will help you. Remember, no matter who your real parents are, you will always be my daughter, Shen Yizhen, for life."

These words made Rong Shu's eyes instantly well up with tears.

"I already have a mother. Why would I look for another? Mother, please don't mention this again." Rong Shu spoke earnestly, "I only want to be your daughter. God sent me to your side at that time precisely so I could be your daughter."

Shen Yizhen's eyes also teared up.

Judging from the child's tone, she likely already knew she wasn't her biological mother. This thought tugged at Shen Yizhen's heartstrings once more.

"Alright, Mother won't mention it again in the future!"

Rong Shu couldn't bear to see her mother cry, so she quickly changed the subject, "What's going on between Mother and Uncle Lu Shiyi?"

From what she had just heard, it seemed that Lu Shiyi was ready to abandon everything in Yangzhou and come to the capital to be with Mother.

The moment Mother and Rong Xun's divorce certificate was stamped with the official seal, Rong Shu had already dispatched someone to Yangzhou to deliver the news. It seemed that Uncle Shi Yi must have learned of Mother's divorce and thus made the decisive decision to come to the capital.

"I could have no business with him," Shen Yizhen glanced at her. "Don't meddle in adults' affairs, child."

She then poked Zhaozhao's forehead. "Were you hiding behind the screen just now to watch a spectacle of Mother's anger?"

"How dare I, Zhaozhao?" Rong Shu hastily explained. "I only thought that if Uncle Shi Yi were to upset Mother, I would speak up for him."