With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Her hands, hanging at her sides, tightened slightly.

Every moment he was away from her, he was paving the way for her and overturning the court.

General Qiu sighed, "The Crown Prince has been so incompetent!" He murmured, "If only the Fourth Prince were still here..."

Shen Nannan was startled and asked, "The Fourth Prince?"

General Qiu realized his mistake, "It's nothing. I'm heading back now. Shen Run, you better watch out!"

General Qiu snorted again, turned around and left.

He took a couple of steps and then turned back to look at Shen Run. His eyes held something indescribable... not satisfaction, but not dissatisfaction either; it was more like a "let's see what happens" kind of scrutiny.

Qiu Tong watched her father's figure disappear through the courtyard gate, then looked down at Shen Run kneeling on the ground and smiled.

"Get up, he's gone."

Shen Run stood up, rubbed his reddened ear, and grimaced.

"Your dad has a really strong hand."

"Nonsense, he used to be a vanguard general, and he single-handedly beheaded more than a hundred enemies."

Shen Run shivered.

Qiu Tong looked at him and flicked his forehead.

"Don't worry, I won't let him beat you to death."

Shen Run trembled even more violently.

Just then, the gatekeeper came to report, "Young master, young lady, someone from the palace has arrived. A matron from the Empress Dowager's side has come to take Shen Yin into the palace for questioning. She's already at the gate."

As soon as he finished speaking, the butler led someone in.

She was an old woman with meticulously combed white hair, a serious face, and a ramrod straight back.

She walks silently, with steady steps, as if she has practiced.

Shen Nannan watched her gait and a thought struck her.

This old woman is no ordinary person.

In her past life, she had seen this kind of person in the Regent's Palace... silent and with piercing eyes, they were specially trained.

The old woman walked up to Shen Nannan, stopped, and curtsied.

"Miss Shen, I have been ordered by the Empress Dowager to bring Miss Shen Er into the palace for questioning."

"Shen Yin?"

The old woman nodded, her gaze lingering on Shen Nannan for a moment: "From the Ministry of Justice, Lin Wan'er confessed that it was related to Miss Shen. This matter involves many people, and the Empress Dowager is furious. She specially ordered this old servant to come."

The young eunuch behind her respectfully presented a mahogany box.

"Hearing that Miss Shen had been frightened, the Empress Dowager specially ordered me to bring some tonics to calm her nerves."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." She curtsied, "This humble woman will go to the palace to express my gratitude another day."

The old woman smiled. "Miss Shen, you were frightened last night. It... won't happen again."

Shen Nannan looked up at her. The old woman had already turned around and followed the steward to the second house's courtyard.

She stood there, clutching the mahogany box.

What does this mean?

She looked down at the box in her hand and suddenly noticed a note underneath.

She pulled it out and unfolded it.

There was a line of text written on it, the handwriting sharp and forceful.

"Miss, wait for me."

Shen Nannan felt a lump in her throat, folded the note, tucked it into her sleeve, and placed it with the jade pendant.

He said it would be soon. He said very soon.

Shen Yin cried all the way away when she was taken away.

"Shen Nannan! It was you, wasn't it! You ruined me! You framed me!"

She was dragged out by two eunuchs, her shoes kicked off, her hair disheveled, and her makeup ruined, tears and powder mingling together and covering her face.

"Sister...sister, please save me...it wasn't me...it was the Crown Prince who made me do it...sister..."

Shen Nannan stood under the eaves, watching Shen Yin being led out of the mansion by the nanny, without saying a word or moving.

Shen Yin turned to look at her, her face streaked with tears, her eyes filled with fear, regret, and a hint of hatred.

Shen Nannan looked into her eyes. In her previous life, Shen Yin did not directly harm the Shen family, but after the Shen family fell from power, she joined Tong Shi in kicking her when she was down and called her "the daughter of a traitor".

She looked away, turned and left.

In the courtyard of the wutong tree, Qiu Yu was tidying up the house. When she saw Shen Nannan come in, she put down what she was doing and went to greet her.

"Miss, you don't look well. Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"Hmm." Shen Nannan sat down on the soft couch, rubbing her temples. "I'm a little tired."

Qiu Yu poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over. After hesitating for a moment, she asked softly, "Miss, is A-Chao... not coming back?"

Shen Nannan paused for a moment while holding the teacup.

"Who said that?"

"Nobody said anything. It's just... when he's not here, it feels like something's missing from the manor."

Qiu Yu thought for a moment, "The rabbits have stopped making a fuss and are lying motionless in the basket. They won't even eat the carrots."

Shen Nannan put down her teacup and walked to the corridor.

The rabbit huddled in the straw basket, its ears drooping, with a plate of carrots in front of it, but it didn't touch it.

Upon seeing Shen Nannan, it raised its head, glanced at her with its red eyes, and then shrank back.

Shen Nannan squatted down and reached out to touch its ears.

"Aren't you used to it either?" she whispered.

"Me too."

The rabbit twitched its ears and rubbed against her palm.

Shen Nannan picked up the rabbit, went back into the house, and sat on the soft couch.

The rabbit nestled quietly in her arms, unlike its usual kicking.

"He'll come back," she said softly, looking down at the rabbit. "He promised."

The rabbit raised its head and looked at her with its red eyes.

"I'm a dog if I lie." She curled the corners of her mouth into a smile.

The rabbit twitched its ears and buried its head in her arms.