Shen Guiyan’s heart sweetened, though her face remained perfectly composed as she nodded. “Alright.”

“That’s my good girl.” Gu Chaobei smiled cheerfully and kissed her forehead, then turned and walked away.

After seeing him off, Shen Guiyan turned to go back. But thinking that Gu Chaodong was still in the north courtyard, she frowned and simply had a passing servant call Baoshan out to accompany her for a walk.

Who would have known that just as she left the Gu residence gates, she would encounter someone completely unexpected.

But let’s set that aside for now and first look at Shen Guiya’s side. Yesterday afternoon when the north courtyard was in chaos, she had run out of the residence alone without even bringing Yushu, only having a servant send her to Youyuan Inn.

What kind of place was Youyuan Inn? The main hall was for dining, the second floor had private rooms for business discussions, and the third floor had guest rooms. Few people came and went, but all were distinguished guests.

Today she had long arranged to dine and discuss matters with Yuwen Houde. Han Jiangxue knew about it, but that foolish woman even approved, saying many good things about Shen Guiya and practically pushing her own husband over.

Yuwen Houde was a good man. Since marrying Lady Han, he had been completely devoted. But Shen Guiya had come out today well-prepared. Not only was she wearing a low-cut long dress embroidered with intertwined lotus flowers, but when she removed her outer cloak, the inner robe was also made of thin, gossamer silk. The makeup on her face was exquisitely applied—every frown and smile carried myriad charms.

“Lord Yuwen.”

Yuwen Houde uncomfortably averted his gaze and said in a low voice, “Madam Gu, what matter brings you here today?”

Shen Guiya smiled, closed the door behind her, and sat down beside him holding a box.

Normally when discussing business, people should sit facing each other. Yuwen Houde raised an eyebrow at this action and inadvertently caught sight of the large expanse of skin she’d exposed. His face turned serious. “What is Madam doing?”

Asking when he already knew. Shen Guiya smiled alluringly and presented the box to him. “I have a favor to ask, so naturally I must present something to please you, my lord.”

Fortunately, while this body’s face wasn’t much to look at, the figure was more than sufficient. As long as the cleavage was there, what matter couldn’t be handled?

Originally she’d wanted to handle matters for Gu Chaodong, but after seeing that scene in the north courtyard today, she felt that she’d support Gu Chaodong’s rise if she could—but if she couldn’t, she’d better look elsewhere. What use was a man whose heart wasn’t with her? She always needed to find herself more escape routes.

And this Lord Yuwen before her was an excellent escape route.

Yuwen Houde looked at her again, then opened the box. Inside was actually a sword tassel. He’d recently acquired a treasured sword and was precisely lacking such a tassel for decoration—Shen Guiya had managed to give exactly the right gift.

The tassel was red with an intricate lover’s knot on top, hanging an East Sea pearl. At a glance, one could tell the giver had put much thought into it.

“Madam truly knows how to choose gifts.” Yuwen Houde’s expression softened considerably.

Shen Guiya chuckled softly. This was something Lady Han had inadvertently mentioned—Yuwen Houde always felt his talents were unrecognized and most liked people who could cater to his preferences.

“As long as my lord likes it.” Shen Guiya took the opportunity to pick up the tea. “My lord, please…”

She held the tea at the position of Yuwen Houde’s elbow. With a slight lift of his hand, the neither-too-hot-nor-too-cold tea was entirely knocked over, flowing down her chest.

“Oh no!” Shen Guiya shrieked.

Yuwen Houde quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe for her. “I didn’t mean to—are you hurt?”

Shen Guiya let him wipe for a while before looking up at him with a flushed face, her eyes rippling with emotion, making Yuwen Houde instinctively swallow.

“It hurts a bit.” Shen Guiya gently pulled down her bodice and nestled into Yuwen Houde’s embrace. “My lord, look—it’s burned…”

Anyone who still didn’t understand now would be a fool. Conveniently, this place was well chosen—he could carry her upstairs to “treat the injury.”

At that moment, Lady Han was at home making a sword tassel, happily waiting for Yuwen Houde’s return, planning to give him a surprise. However, Shen Guiya, using all the information about Yuwen Houde’s preferences she’d gleaned from Lady Han, employed every skill to immerse him in tender indulgence.

Sometimes, being too kind really didn’t pay.

Gu Chaodong had stood in the north courtyard all night. With Shen Guiya not returning, no one knew. At Youyuan Inn, after countless passionate encounters, when leaving, Yuwen Houde looked at Shen Guiya with infinite tenderness in his eyes. “Wait for me. I’ll arrange for you to meet the General as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Shen Guiya smiled innocently and adorably.

“Yan’er.” Lady Bao stood outside the Prime Minister’s residence. Seeing Shen Guiyan emerge, she quickly approached.

Shen Guiyan looked at her with great surprise. Why was Lady Bao here?

Ever since Shen Shiqing had his official seal confiscated, hadn’t Lady Bao been confined in the ancestral hall? She’d heard some rumors but hadn’t bothered to help. Someone who had treated her poorly all these years—she wasn’t kind enough to blindly assist.

“What does Mother want?”

Lady Bao looked somewhat awkward, her face having aged considerably. She rubbed her hands and looked at her. “Your father’s official seal still hasn’t been returned, and he hasn’t even attended court. Everyone says Fourth Young Master is now a favorite before His Majesty. Could you help get the seal back?”

Shen Guiyan bowed to her. “Mother, it was you who personally took the seal to the yamen to have refugees beaten to death. Later, you offended His Majesty, which is why His Majesty personally confiscated Father’s seal. If you want it back now, Yan’er is powerless to help.”

“How can you be powerless?” Lady Bao smiled ingratiatingly. “You’ve always been clever, and you’re born with good fortune. You can surely help. It’s just asking His Majesty.”

“Why doesn’t Mother go ask herself?” Shen Guiyan smiled slightly. “Father hasn’t been stripped of his position. You’re still a noble lady. Using your past connections, entering the palace shouldn’t be difficult.”

Lady Bao’s face stiffened. She was afraid His Majesty would remember and place blame—how would she dare go to the palace to ask for the seal? Lord Shen had been ignoring her for quite some time now. If she didn’t get the seal back, she feared she might be divorced.

“Yan’er…” She rarely spoke so humbly. Before coming, she had already restrained herself again and again. “I didn’t treat you well enough before, but you’re still a member of the Shen family. Can you really bear to see your father lose his official position?”

“If Father had been conscientious in his duties, he wouldn’t have given Mother the official seal.” Shen Guiyan said, “Now that it’s been confiscated, Yan’er doesn’t feel there’s any need to get it back. If His Majesty feels Father can still fill this position, he’ll naturally return it.”

Lady Bao’s smile froze. She still couldn’t help darkening her expression. “The Shen family raised you for over ten years. Now that you’ve married well, can you just ignore whether your family lives or dies? If you hadn’t offended me first, would I have had people arrest refugees? If you hadn’t betrayed your family, would your father have made me take the seal to the yamen? Would it have been confiscated by His Majesty? At the end of the day, it’s all your fault, yet now you act so clean and innocent!”

Shen Guiyan looked up at her and chuckled softly. “Mother thinks it’s my fault?”

“If not yours, whose fault is it?” Lady Bao ultimately couldn’t restrain herself, her vicious face showing once again. “If it weren’t for Yai’er taking your place in the marriage arrangement, could you have married so well? Not being grateful is one thing, but you still…”

“Grateful?” Shen Guiyan stepped closer to Lady Bao with a smile. “Mother thinks that you and Guiya have shown me favor?”

Her face smiled, but her eyes were cold as needles. Lady Bao was frightened into taking a step back, looking at her with some terror.

Shen Guiyan couldn’t stop smiling. “Guiya bullied me repeatedly, taking what was mine from childhood, even having an affair with my fiancé and stealing my husband on my wedding day. Is that a favor?”

“You mistreated Concubine Qin, allowing Guiya to carry her and throw her into the pond in the middle of the night, giving no justice. Is that a favor?”

“To prevent my marriage, you gave Concubine Qin arsenic, making her die without vindication. Is that a favor?”

Lady Bao’s face turned deathly pale in shock as she stared at her. “You… you’re talking nonsense!”

“I’m talking nonsense.” Shen Guiyan nodded. “Yes, without evidence, I’m just talking nonsense.”

“But Mother, you remember well—the lessons you and Guiya taught me, Yan’er won’t forget a single one.” Shen Guiyan took a deep breath, her eyes somewhat red. “One day, I won’t need to pursue these past matters. Naturally, there will be other ways to make people pay blood for blood!”

Lady Bao retreated repeatedly, flicking her sleeve. “Who are you trying to frighten with such words… I’m your mother. If you’re treasonously unfilial, you won’t have a good end either.”

Shen Guiyan’s face regained its calm. Seeing Lady Bao return to her sedan chair, she bowed. “Safe travels, Mother.”

Lady Bao looked at her with some fear, couldn’t be bothered about asking her to retrieve the seal anymore, and hurriedly boarded the sedan to leave.

“Such fierce energy.” Someone emerged from behind the residence, clicking their tongue twice. “Scared her right off.”

Shen Guiyan froze and turned to look—it was actually Xu Zhuangzhou.

She hadn’t seen him since that time when Xu Mengdie rescued her and she’d seen him once. Shen Guiyan restrained her anger and looked at him. “Why are you here?”

“This humble one is helping Master Zhou.” Xu Zhuangzhou smiled candidly. “Recently Fourth Young Madam has faced many disasters. This humble one has been assisting Master Zhou’s side.”

The matter of Master Zhou opening a school was being arranged by Shen Guiyan, but she’d been so busy recently that she’d neglected it for quite some time.

“How do you know Master Zhou?”

Xu Zhuangzhou said candidly, “We met by chance. The master said I was clever but unfortunately learned martial arts from childhood rather than literature. Does Young Madam have time today to visit the school?”

Shen Guiyan’s eyes brightened. “Good.”

It was indeed time to see how things were progressing.

Getting into the sedan, Baoshan gave Xu Zhuangzhou another look. This person appearing out of nowhere was somewhat suspicious. But he was Concubine Xu’s younger brother, and in the residence he was always kind to people with a good reputation—he probably had no ill intentions.

The young mistress liked to use her spare money for good deeds. Opening the school could also relieve her boredom. Baoshan felt it was a good thing. So she told the sedan bearers the address and followed the sedan toward Master Zhou’s school.

At court, the Emperor was listening to old ministers’ counsel. Prime Minister Gu at the front had long been drafting his words. As soon as there was an opening, he immediately stepped forward. “This subject has a matter to report.”