In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

Just as they were about to stop, the boat, which was already unstable, was suddenly pulled over by Zhang Shen's clumsy carrying. What started as his own swaying and staggering suddenly became two people struggling to stand.

Caught off guard, Zhu Qingyu was suddenly hugged by him, causing her to sway and nearly fall into the water together.

Zhang Shen was terrified and quickly grabbed Zhu Qingyu's arm with one hand to support her.

"I'm so sorry, I was too excited. Did I bump into you?"

Zhu Qingyu steadied herself by holding onto the cabin, pulled her arm away from Zhang Shen's grasp, and slipped out of his embrace, smiling:

"I didn't get hurt, it's alright. I was just saying I'd go to the inn to settle in first, and then come find you. Now that you're here, let's go, let's get off the boat first, I have something to tell you."

Zhang Shen looked at his empty palms, then at Zhu Qingyu who was already walking ahead on her own. He had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but subconsciously he didn't want to face it. He withdrew his hand and followed her off the boat.

Originally, Zhu Qingyu planned to go to the post station to settle the people she had brought back before going to find Zhang Shen. However, since Zhang Shen had already arranged for someone to pick them up, the plan naturally had to be changed. The group changed their route and went to the Jiangning Textile Bureau first.

Leaving the Zhang family's head steward and Uncle Qi to arrange the follow-up matters, Zhu Qingyu and Zhang Shen got into the carriage one after the other.

Zhu Qingyu got into the car first and sat down.

Zhang Shen followed her in, wanting to sit close to her as before, but because of her distance on the ship, he subconsciously sat half a fist's distance away from her, not daring to get too close.

Zhu Qingyu looked at the distance of half a fist and smiled:

"Jingyan, how did you know I was coming to Jiangning?"

Mentioning this inevitably brought up Zhang Shen's complaints:

"The name of the Divine Doctor has spread all over the country, how could I not know? And you, you didn't even write me a letter. I have to find out your whereabouts from other people every day, piecing together the date you'll return, and running to the ferry every day to see if you've come back. I'm just worried that you won't make it in time and won't be able to spend the Dragon Boat Festival at home. And you still say you're going to the post station? You're already home, what post station are you going to?"

Since Zhang Shen had already said that he was home, Zhu Qingyu thought to herself, "It has to be said eventually, and it's better to say it sooner rather than later," so she said:

"Jingyan, there's something I want to discuss with you. When we got married, we agreed that it wouldn't be taken seriously, you know that, and I know that. But now, I think..."

It has been half a year since Zhu Qingyu left.

Zhang Shen was on official business and could not disobey the imperial decree. He could neither enter the palace nor go to the northern frontier, and he had to endure the pain of separation from her to come to Jiangning alone to take up his post.

After enduring six months, Zhu Qingyu finally returned, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she started talking about what happened back then.

Seeing that the unpleasant situation he didn't want to face had become a reality—because of her return—Zhang Shen's initially excited heart suddenly froze.

A strong sense of unease spread through Zhang Shen's heart. He felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out of him, and he couldn't even bear to hear Zhu Qingyu say what she was about to say. He looked at her pitifully, his eyes reddening, and replied:

"Qingyu, Ruohua is waiting for us at home. Let's go home and eat first, then we'll talk, okay?"

Although Zhu Qingyu wanted to clarify things as soon as possible, Zhang Shen's reluctance to discuss it was within her expectations.

After all, his words and actions over the years have shown that he wants more than just a cover-up; he wants much more.

She hadn't even actually said it yet, but his expression already looked so sad.

Because of Zhang Shen's sadness, Zhu Qingyu couldn't bear to tell him these things right now, so she changed the subject:

"Alright, let's talk about this after we finish eating. Jingyan, you've been in Jiangning for six months, how's your job going?"

Changing the topic was like changing the atmosphere. The unspeakable topic between the two was temporarily set aside, and they talked about their respective jobs over the past six months. They chatted back and forth, and the relaxed atmosphere returned. They talked all the way home, and they still had so much to say.

Upon receiving the news, Zhang Ruohua rushed to the door to greet Zhu Qingyu. She immediately pounced on her.

"Sister-in-law, you're back! Sister-in-law, I missed you so much! Sister-in-law, why didn't you tell me you were leaving? You didn't even write to me. I waited so long and I was heartbroken! Sister-in-law, I wrote you so many letters, but I don't know where to send them. I'll show them to you later!"

Zhang Ruohua chattered on and on, clinging to Zhu Qingyu's arm, and the two entered the gate of the Jiangning Textile Bureau in a warm and affectionate manner.

Zhang Shen watched from behind, then looked at his empty palms.

She left his embrace, but did not push Ruohua away.

She is still willing to be their family, but she wants to change her relationship with him.

Zhang Shen guessed what Zhu Qingyu wanted to say to him, and because he guessed it, waves of pain spread through his heart.

In the six months since she left, things have changed between her and him.

Even earlier, a year ago, when the Imperial Guards stepped into the banquet at the Yangzhou government office and looked at him, things between them were already different from before.

He was deceiving himself, wanting to pretend everything was as before, but now she had to tell him herself that things were different.

Zhang Ruohua walked ahead, holding Zhu Qingyu's arm. Turning back and noticing her brother hadn't followed, she realized something and said with a grin:

"Second brother, what are you standing there for? Time to eat! Are you angry because I hugged sister-in-law and you didn't get to hug her?"

Zhang Shen smiled and followed in their footsteps:

"Yeah, I don't even get to hug anyone."

Zhang Ruohua still held Zhu Qingyu's arm tightly, laughing heartily.

"I don't care, I'm going with my sister-in-law."

Zhang Ruohua's good mood lasted until the family finished dinner. Zhu Qingyu said to her:

"Ruohua, are there any guest rooms available?"

Zhang Ruohua had always been in charge of the Zhang family's household affairs. Thinking Zhu Qingyu was asking if the people who had come with her from the northern frontier had been properly arranged, she replied:

"Sister-in-law, I've made arrangements for everyone you brought back. They all have places to stay, so don't worry."

Zhu Qingyu smiled and said:

"No, it's for me. It's too late to go to the inn tonight, so I'll stay in the guest room for now. Tomorrow I'll have someone clean up Huiyi Hall, and then I'll move there."

Zhang Ruohua was terrified. She looked at Zhang Shen and then at Zhu Qingyu, worried that her sister-in-law and second brother had quarreled. She didn't dare to say anything.

Zhu Qingyu stood up:

"Well then, I haven't visited the government office yet, so I'll go take a look myself and pick one."

Zhu Qingyu got up to leave, but Zhang Shen, who was sitting next to her, grabbed her sleeve, stopping her from leaving, and said in a muffled voice:

"Don't stay in the guest room."

Seeing that something was wrong, Zhang Ruohua quickly jumped up, ran to the door, and went out to close the door behind her.

Only the two of them remained in the room, and Zhang Shen's voice was tinged with tears:

"Is it for him?"

Zhu Qingyu let him tug at her sleeve and replied:

"Yes. Jingyan, if you want to blame me, I understand and accept it."

Zhang Shen was even more heartbroken. He tried to hold back his tears, but they finally broke down and fell.

"I'm blaming you, Qingyu. You're so biased towards him! I'm so upset! How could you be so biased towards him? He's clearly so bad, I want to scold him! Why doesn't he dare to say it himself! He's so bad, I want to curse him to death!"