Her voice hung in the air like a silver needle piercing the ground, without a hint of echo. Jiang Xuanjin walked away, his azure brocade robe fluttering in the autumn wind, appearing ethereal.

Bai Xuanji stared blankly, feeling that this was indeed the rumored demeanor of Ziyang Jun—cold, aloof, and indifferent to others. Even if you offered your heart to him, he would not spare it a glance.

The Emperor’s decree was thus casually dismissed, and the Jiang family, along with Li Huaiyu, set off together, aiming to reach Ziyang’s main city first.

Throughout the journey, Huaiyu’s complexion grew increasingly worse, and she often had to lean against the cart, retching. Lu Jingxing, traveling with her, frowned at her distress. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

After rinsing her mouth with the water offered by the servant, Huaiyu turned back and smiled, “Good brothers share both joy and hardship; why not join me in embracing it?”

Lu Jingxing: “…”

With this person, it was impossible to have a serious conversation!

There were many travelers, and the line of carriages stretched long. During a break, Cheng Xu took the opportunity to approach the front.

“Madam,” he whispered, “the Lord requests that you sit at the front. He said that if the old master sees you missing, he will surely ask.”

Huaiyu shook her head. “I will sit here. If the old master inquires, just say I am speaking with Second Madam.”

If she truly sat with Jiang Xuanjin, given her current state, he would undoubtedly notice something amiss and call for a doctor, which would be disastrous.

Cheng Xu felt somewhat troubled but, seeing her stubbornness could only report back truthfully.

Jiang Xuanjin stood by the carriage, listening to Cheng Xu’s report, his face cold and silent.

“What kind of talk is this?” Jiang Shen muttered, “Traveling with Lu Jingxing right in front of you?”

“Shopkeeper Lu is injured. Huaiyu is merely making it convenient to care for him,” Xu Chuniang defended softly from the side.

Jiang Shen retorted irritably, “With so many people around, does she need to personally care for him? If she had any sense of propriety regarding Third Brother, she would know to avoid suspicion.”

Xu Chuniang frowned. “They are already divorced; what suspicion is there to avoid? Didn’t the Lord just welcome a new wife?”

Jiang Shen was momentarily speechless, looking at her with displeasure. “Why do you always have to argue with me?”

“I dare not, but this is the truth.”

“You…” Jiang Shen was a bit annoyed and was about to argue further when Jiang Xuanjin spoke up.

“Not at all.”

Both paused, and Jiang Shen asked in confusion, “What do you mean, ‘not at all’?”

“I have not welcomed a new wife,” he said quietly.

Xu Chuniang was taken aback, glancing at the distant Bai Erjie, and said, “If that is truly the case, you should at least say something to Huaiyu.”

“Why should I?” Jiang Xuanjin’s gaze was icy. “She has never said anything to me.”

With a whole entourage of concubines and an additional Lu Jingxing, had she ever explained anything to him? Why should he be the one to explain? He refused.

Jiang Shen nodded in agreement. “Exactly, an eye for an eye, fair play!”

Is there fairness in feelings? Xu Chuniang shook her head, about to speak again when Gulong approached, draping a coat over Jiang Shen.

“It’s quite chilly; be careful of your health, Young Master.” Wu Nong’s soft voice was enough to make one feel weak.

Jiang Shen turned and pulled her into an embrace, smiling, “You truly care for me.”

Unlike some people, who stood here for ages, only knowing how to argue with him.

Xu Chuniang’s eyelashes fluttered, and she turned her head away, pretending to admire the distant scenery.

She should have been used to it by now; he enjoyed being affectionate with his concubines in public. Her family had strict teachings, and she could not act in such a manner, which only made her less favored by him. Usually, Jiang Shen would be considerate of her feelings, but today, perhaps due to his temperament, he pulled Gulong closer, his hand resting on her slender waist, his lips brushing against her cheek as he smiled, “Gulong, do you see that blue tree over there?”

The forest was filled with shades of yellow and brown, with only a few evergreens, but where did a blue tree come from? It was nonsense.

Yet Gulong would follow his lead, saying, “I see it.”

“Very good!” Jiang Shen shot Xu Chuniang a sidelong glance and pecked Gulong’s lips.

Was he blaming her? Xu Chuniang lowered her gaze, forcing a smile as she curtsied to Jiang Xuanjin. “I will go check at the back.”

Jiang Xuanjin nodded, watching her lift her skirt and walk away faster. He murmured, “Second Brother, it’s time to go.”

Jiang Shen reluctantly released Gulong, signaling her to get back in the carriage, then turned back to say, “Where are we going? Disobedient people need to be properly disciplined. She has spent two days with Your Highness, and her temper has worsened. If we don’t correct her, she will surely ride on my head.”

Whether it was this remark about “Your Highness” that pleased Ziyang Jun, he did not scold further. He glanced at the sky and instructed the front to continue, hoping to reach an inn before the hour of the dog.

Xu Chuniang climbed into the carriage with Huaiyu and Lu Jingxing.

Seeing her pale face, Huaiyu frowned. “Did Jiang Shen bully you again?”

“No,” Xu Chuniang shook her head. “I am just petty; I cannot bear to see him close to others.”

Every time she saw it, it felt like a heart-wrenching experience.

“Is that what you call being petty?” Huaiyu exclaimed. “Isn’t that normal? Who likes to see their husband close to others?”

“But when I got married, my family taught me the three obediences and four virtues; the main wife should not be jealous,” Xu Chuniang said, her eyes reddening. “I feel ashamed before my wet nurse’s teachings.”

Lu Jingxing, listening nearby, chuckled, “You take men’s rules seriously, don’t you?”

Xu Chuniang and Li Huaiyu turned to look at him.

Lu Jingxing leaned back against the soft cushion, casually saying, “As a man, I certainly hope women are obedient and understanding, not jealous or troublesome. That way, our lives can be better. All this talk about women’s virtue is just a serious facade men use to deceive; anyone who believes it is a fool.”

He pointed at Huaiyu beside him. “Look at her; she never cares about those things.”

Xu Chuniang was taken aback. “Deceiving?”

Huaiyu said, “You can choose not to believe others, but this Shopkeeper Lu is quite the flirt in the capital, and he and Jiang Er Gongzi are of the same ilk; their thoughts are likely not far apart.”

With a bitter smile, Xu Chuniang said, “What can I do? If I don’t follow these rules, won’t I be even less favored by him?”

Lu Jingxing glanced at her. “I often ran into Jiang Er Gongzi at Tianxiang Courtyard; he favors beautiful women, especially those with autumn-like eyes. As long as you have a pair of eyes he likes, you can win his favor no matter what you do.”

Unfortunately, Xu Chuniang did not possess such beauty; her looks were plain, and her eyes were even more ordinary.

“Hey, don’t listen to him,” Huaiyu said, pouting. “At first glance, one might judge by appearance, but you’ve been with Jiang Er Gongzi for so long. If he still looks down on you for your looks, then there’s no need to stay with him.”

Such bold words startled Xu Chuniang, and she shook her head repeatedly. “I… I am already married to him; how could I not stay with him?”

“So what if you’re married? Getting a divorce is not that difficult,” Li Huaiyu raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Lu Jingxing chimed in, “there are plenty of examples right here. Since General Xu has gone to Danyang, why not ask for a divorce and come with us?”

The two of them were in perfect harmony, determined to break this marriage.

Outside, Chi Jin, who was sitting on the cart, could no longer hold back. He turned back and lifted the curtain, saying, “You two should do something good; Jiang Er Furen clearly cannot let go, which is why she is so upset.”

If she couldn’t let go, why ask for a divorce? Others could always analyze the pros and cons clearly and make the most rational judgments, but the emotional ties were something only those involved could understand.

Xu Chuniang looked at him in surprise.

The person sitting outside the carriage was fresh and handsome, with captivating eyes that sparkled like green mountains and clear waters.

No wonder people favored beautiful eyes; they made one feel at ease just by looking at them.

As the hour of the dog approached, the caravan stopped at an inn on the outskirts. Xu Chuniang lifted the curtain to take a look, frowning tightly. “This place…”

It looked like a black shop.

The Jiang family in front was also hesitating whether to get off, but Li Huaiyu and the others were bold, stepping inside without hesitation.

“Second Madam need not worry,” Chi Jin said, standing by the carriage. “We have so many people here.”

Xu Chuniang clutched the edge of the carriage door. “I read in a book that black shops, no matter how many people are present, only allow entry and no exit.”

Chi Jin paused, a smile playing on his lips. “Then I wonder if Madam has heard of a term called ‘black eats black’?”

The Jiang family members were serious, but none of their sides were easy to provoke. A black shop? Could it be darker than the Eldest Princess?

Xu Chuniang looked ahead and noticed that Gulong and the others seemed hesitant to get off as well. Jiang Shen was coaxing Gulong, reaching out to carry her down, which elicited a squeal from her.

She wanted to turn her face away, but her eyes seemed glued, unable to move.

“Your Highness is calling for you,” Chi Jin said casually, stepping in front of her. “Please get off.”

Finally coming to her senses, Xu Chuniang glanced at him gratefully, climbed down from the carriage, and followed him inside.

Jiang Shen was still coaxing Xue, casually glancing to the side. He saw Xu Chuniang following a man, seemingly forgetting he was ahead, and walked straight into the inn.

His brow furrowed, and Jiang Er Gongzi was quite displeased.

Not only did she not acknowledge her mistake, but she also learned to imitate Li Huaiyu’s blatant disregard for propriety.

“Young Master!” Xue exclaimed from behind, but Jiang Shen did not hear. He stepped into the inn’s main hall, scanning the surroundings.

Li Huaiyu and the others were laughing and sitting at a table, with Xu Chuniang beside her, while the man had already vanished.

His expression darkened slightly as he approached. He wanted to call Xu Chuniang to join him, but as he got closer, he heard Li Huaiyu say, “Our Chi Jin’s cooking is the best; after one meal he makes, you’ll have no worries left!”

“Yes, usually only His Highness gets to taste his cooking, but today is a good day; Chi Jin is willing to prepare a large feast.” Qing Xian sighed.

Lu Jingxing sat in the only grandmaster’s chair, glancing sideways at Jiang Shen, and said with a smile, “To please a beauty, what is a table full of dishes?”

He was not exaggerating. Li Huaiyu had indeed been tired from the journey, and Chi Jin had cooked to improve her appetite.

What others thought was none of his concern.

Jiang Shen’s expression darkened as he quickened his pace, intending to grab Xu Chuniang’s arm.

Lu Jingxing quickly signaled to Li Huaiyu, who noticed Jiang Shen and subtly nodded to Cheng Wu, who immediately stepped forward, discreetly blocking Xu Chuniang from Jiang Shen’s view.

Xu Chuniang was still lost in thought, not paying much attention to what was happening around her.

Seeing this, Qing Xian and the others stepped forward, pushing Jiang Shen toward the counter, laughing, “Second Young Master, our Highness does not like outsiders getting too close during meals.”

Jiang Shen fumed, “Am I an outsider? Xu Chuniang is not!”

“Second Madam is His Highness’s friend,” Cheng Wu said, cupping his hands.

Jiang Shen’s temples throbbed with anger, but the people in front of him were all skilled fighters, and with them surrounding him, he could not get through. Xu Chuniang, meanwhile, seemed completely oblivious, chatting with Li Huaiyu without even glancing his way.

Fine, he gritted his teeth. If she wanted to put on airs, let her. If she had the ability, she could stay away for a lifetime!

With a fierce flick of his sleeve, Jiang Shen turned and left.

Everyone settled into the inn, with the Jiang family dining in a room on the second floor while Li Huaiyu and the others relaxed in the main hall.

Chi Jin’s cooking was indeed excellent; after just a couple of bites, Xu Chuniang’s eyes lit up, and she quietly asked him how he made it. She also enjoyed cooking, but Jiang Shen rarely dined in her room, and the occasional snacks he sent her received little praise.

“I’ll write it down for you,” Chi Jin generously took out paper and pen from the counter. “The seasonings I used for these dishes are different from those of ordinary households.”

Xu Chuniang nodded repeatedly, watching him write with eager eyes.

Li Huaiyu, sitting beside them, grumbled, “Why can’t I have chopped pepper fish head?”

“It’s not good for your health,” Lu Jingxing glared at her. “You know your condition, right?”

“What about this eight-treasure rabbit dish…”

“Too spicy; you should stick to bone soup,” Lu Jingxing served her a bowl.

The atmosphere was pleasant, and everyone was in good spirits. Jiang Shen and Jiang Xuanjin were on the second floor, watching with cold smiles.

Jiang Shen said, “Can you make Li Huaiyu behave a little?”

Jiang Xuanjin shot him a sidelong glance. “What can I do to make her behave?”

With no justification, Jiang Shen could not even be angry; he had no ground to stand on.

Jiang Shen watched as the man finished writing a letter for Xu Chuniang. She happily accepted it, carefully folding it and placing it in her sleeve, treating it like a treasure.

His expression darkened as he scoffed.

After the meal, Xu Chuniang returned to her room. Cheng Xu mentioned that this room was for her alone, so when she entered, she did not knock.

However, when she pushed the door open, someone was inside.

Gulong was entwined around Jiang Shen, her slender waist swaying, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, whispering sweetly. The man beneath her held her waist, teasingly saying, “You are a spirit that draws in yang energy~”

Her fair skin was exposed. Xu Chuniang froze.

The last time he had coaxed her, he promised he would never let her see such things again, his tone so gentle that she had no doubts.

But now, the same scene unfolded again, the same heart-wrenching sight. Jiang Shen seemed completely unaware of her entrance, his actions growing bolder, his smile flirtatious and indifferent.

Her heart ached tightly, and Xu Chuniang lowered her gaze, turning to leave.

“Ah!” Gulong gasped in pain.

Jiang Shen instinctively pulled over a nearby garment to wrap around her, then looked up at the door. “Where are you going?”

Xu Chuniang paused, softly saying, “Sorry, I must have entered the wrong room.”

What a fool; did she think she had made a mistake? Jiang Shen sneered, patting Gulong’s back, and she, understanding, slipped past Xu Chuniang and exited.

The door closed, and the familiar scent enveloped Xu Chuniang from behind. She tried to calm herself, but her body trembled uncontrollably.

“What’s wrong? Cold?” He noticed her shivering and frowned, then chuckled, “You know it’s chilly, yet you wear something so thin. What are you trying to do, hmm?”

Xu Chuniang wanted to say she planned to return and change, but her teeth were clenched tightly. She dared not loosen them; if she did, she would embarrass herself by crying.

“I’m asking you a question; why are you trembling?” He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him, his impatience growing.

Xu Chuniang lowered her eyes, gently shaking her head.

“What does shaking your head mean? Are you feeling guilty?” He pinched her sleeve, just as he caught hold of the letter, and his expression darkened. “Xu Chuniang, when I married you, I seemed to have said I could support you for a lifetime, but don’t you dare rub sand in my eyes.”

Looking up at him in confusion, she did not understand the meaning behind his words.

Jiang Shen sneered, “Li Huaiyu is the Eldest Princess; she has power and noble status, so she can do as she pleases. But what about you?”

Slowly pulling out the item from her sleeve, he held it up before her, his eyes filled with mockery. “If you stray, you will be punished, and I won’t save you.”

His words carried a hint of anger, like a loud slap across the face.

With pale lips, Xu Chuniang stared at the item in his hand for a moment, the faint light in her eyes suddenly extinguished.

In a soft voice, she asked, “Do you like eating eight-treasure rabbit dish?”

Eight-treasure rabbit dish? Jiang Shen was puzzled. Why was she asking about this out of the blue? He preferred spicy food, and he naturally liked the eight-treasure rabbit dish. However, the flavor she made was not as good as that from the restaurants; he had tried it once and put down his chopsticks after just one bite.

Reaching for the letter he held, Xu Chuniang began to unfold it layer by layer in front of him. She smoothed out the creases and handed it back to him.

The strong and vigorous strokes revealed the secret recipe for an eight-treasure rabbit dish.

Jiang Shen was taken aback, reading it twice, feeling a sudden sense of unease.

“You… why did you ask him for this?”

It would have been better not to ask; even without thinking, he knew she was doing this for whom.

Jiang Shen pressed his lips together, his voice suddenly lowering as he folded the letter and placed it back in her sleeve. “Then… next time, make it for me.”

Xu Chuniang stared at him, her body still trembling slightly.

Jiang Shen felt inexplicably anxious and reached out to pull her closer, but she stepped back just enough to evade his hand.

The room was filled with a faint scent of rouge, which was somewhat cloying. Xu Chuniang covered her mouth and nose with her hand, turning to leave.

“Where are you going?” Jiang Shen was genuinely anxious now, stepping forward to block the door.

“Did I misunderstand? Can I just admit I made a mistake?” He frowned at her. “It’s so late; where do you want to go?”

“Back to my room,” Xu Chuniang said softly.

“This is your room!”

Her wet, glistening eyes looked up, meeting his gaze in confusion. Xu Chuniang found it somewhat amusing, her throat tightening as she choked back several sobs. “You knew this was my room all along?”

He knew it was her room yet deliberately came to be affectionate with Gulong. What had she done to deserve such treatment?

“Hey, no, that’s not it.” Regretting his words, Jiang Shen said, “I just…”

He had only been angry moments ago.

This thought could not be articulated, and Xu Chuniang’s eyes reddened as she forcefully pulled away from his grip, flinging the door open and rushing out.

As the hour of the dog approached, Li Huaiyu was about to find Jiang Xuanjin to discuss matters. However, when the door opened, Xu Chuniang rushed straight into her arms.

“What happened?” Catching her, Huaiyu looked down to see her red eyes.

Someone was chasing from behind, and Xu Chuniang bypassed her and entered the room, opening the empty wardrobe and diving inside without a second thought.

Li Huaiyu frowned, seeing Jiang Shen rushing over. She stepped forward, bracing herself against the doorframe, blocking the entrance.

“What do you want?” she asked, her tone unfriendly.

Jiang Shen was anxious, scratching his head. “Let me in!”

“No,” she replied succinctly, glancing at him sideways. “If you have the ability, then force your way in.”

Did he think he wouldn’t dare? Jiang Shen was somewhat annoyed, circling to the main door to climb through the window. Huaiyu reacted quickly, slamming the window shut, then returned to the door, standing there leisurely.

Jiang Shen’s face turned pale. “What do you want?”

Huaiyu shrugged. “If Second Young Master can explain what just happened, I might consider letting you through.”

Family matters were not something he could discuss with her. Jiang Shen gritted his teeth, standing stiffly, intending to argue with her. But the Danyang Eldest Princess was known for her stubbornness; who could outlast her?

After a moment, Jiang Shen finally spoke vaguely, “I misunderstood her and made her angry. I deserve a chance to explain.”

“Just a misunderstanding?” Huaiyu did not believe him. “With her admiration for you, as long as you don’t engage in any impropriety in front of her, she surely won’t hold other misunderstandings against you.”

Jiang Shen: “…”

“Seeing that expression, could it be that I hit the nail on the head?” Huaiyu realized, then crossed her arms and laughed coldly. “Second Young Master is impressive.”

“I’ve already said it; you should let me through.”

Li Huaiyu smiled. “I said I would consider it, but I never said I would let you through. The result of my consideration is that I won’t let you through. Second Young Master, please go back.”

With that, she ignored Jiang Shen’s flushed face and closed the door behind her.

The room was quiet. Huaiyu walked to the wardrobe, gently pulling open the door.

Xu Chuniang was curled up in the corner, looking up at the sound, tears streaming down her face.

Huaiyu brought a stool to sit outside, handing her a handkerchief. “Chi Jin also said I’m not good at comforting people. If you want to see him, I’ll let him in. If you don’t want to see him, I’ll make sure he doesn’t see a single hair on your head!”

Xu Chuniang shook her head, then nodded.

Huaiyu understood her meaning, reaching out to pat her head, smiling, “I’ve got your back.”

Xu Chuniang’s tears flowed even more fiercely, and she choked as she grasped Huaiyu’s hand, her fingertips trembling.

Fortunately, she was still here; otherwise, she would have nowhere to hide.

When she married over, her mother had advised her that climbing too high would be difficult, and with Jiang Er Gongzi’s lack of sincerity, she would surely suffer. At that time, Xu Chuniang was completely unafraid, holding Jiang Shen’s literary collection, her eyes bright as the morning sun. “I know; I’m not afraid!”

But now she truly understood that the courage of first love could not last long. The more one invested in everything, the more likely they were to regret it later, filled with heartache.

Marrying and living with someone was a matter that required careful consideration; one could not act impulsively. The man once married could lack talent or good looks, but he must… know how to care.