After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

The old lady had heard this too many times and was tired of it.

He didn't say much at the time, only gave Xiao Jinghan a few instructions, and then let them leave.

On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, the old lady took Liu Yuansheng and set off for Xuzhou.

Liu Yuansheng didn't expect the old lady to act so quickly. So quickly that before she could even ask Xiao Jinghan for a divorce, she was going to Xuzhou with the old lady.

This matter frustrated her greatly, and what frustrated her even more was that Jiang Zhihuan actually sent someone to deliver another message to her, inquiring about Xiao Jinghan's recent movements.

But she actually knew that.

Last night, Xiao Jinghan told her that the Emperor had ordered him to investigate a corruption case in Yanzhou. Because the case involved members of the imperial family, he was instructed to conduct the investigation secretly and not to alert the suspects.

This means that Xiao Jinghan cannot bring too many followers or guards, greatly increasing the level of danger.

Liu Yuansheng reminded Xiao Jinghan to be careful, but Xiao Jinghan smiled and said it was fine, then left Chenxiang Courtyard without giving her a chance to mention divorce.

Liu Yuansheng was also puzzled. How could Xiao Jinghan plan so well? Every time she wanted to mention divorce, Xiao Jinghan would always leave in time, preventing her from saying it.

As time went on, the day finally came when they went to Xuzhou with the old lady. Now that they were separated, there was no way to mention divorce.

Throughout the journey, Liu Yuansheng was preoccupied with her own thoughts. However, upon arriving at the post station, she spotted Xiao Jinghan from afar.

Liu Yuansheng stared at the familiar figure, momentarily unable to believe her eyes. Xiao Jinghan? Shouldn't he be in Yanzhou handling a case? Why is he in Xuzhou?

What are you doing here?

Liu Yuansheng alighted from the carriage and walked straight to Xiao Jinghan, asking, "Didn't you go to Yanzhou?"

"We are going to Yanzhou, but we are really worried about you and your grandmother, so we plan to take a detour and send you and your grandmother to Xuzhou first, and then go to Yanzhou from Xuzhou."

As Xiao Jinghan explained, he and Liu Yuansheng walked towards the old lady's carriage. "Grandmother, why are you still lingering in the carriage? Come out quickly, your grandson will lead you to rest!"

The old lady peeked out and looked at the elusive Xiao Jinghan, saying, "What are you doing here, you little rascal?"

Xiao Jinghan said, "Your grandson missed you and made a detour to come and see you."

The old lady looked down at Xiao Jinghan and Liu Yuansheng's tightly clasped hands and said, "Miss me? You know perfectly well who you miss."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuansheng's face immediately turned red. Xiao Jinghan smiled and helped the old lady down from the carriage, saying, "Grandma, please come with me. The post station has prepared your favorite dishes. Please go and have a taste!"

The old lady feigned anger and slapped Xiao Jinghan's wrist. She then took Xiao Jinghan's hand with one hand and Liu Yuansheng's hand with the other, and slowly walked into the post station.

The inn was very warm. Liu Yuansheng and Xiao Jinghan accompanied the old lady for a meal before returning to their rooms to rest.

Although the room was simple, it was decorated very warmly. Liu Yuansheng was exhausted from the long journey and sat down on the bed as soon as she saw it. "Sure enough, the further south we go, the warmer the weather gets."

"That's right." Xiao Jinghan sat down next to Liu Yuansheng and handed her a round peach. "It's a specialty of Xuzhou. Try it."

Liu Yuansheng took the peach but didn't eat it. Thinking of the message Jiang Zhihuan had secretly sent through someone, she kindly reminded Xiao Jinghan, "Now that your sister-in-law is gone, the huge Zhenguo Duke's mansion has no one to manage the household affairs. You'd better find a reliable confidant to keep her in check."

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up?" Xiao Jinghan asked with a smile. "Besides, why is there no one in charge of things in the manor? Your sister-in-law is locked up on the estate, but aren't you and your fourth sister-in-law still here in the manor?"

Liu Yuansheng shook her head after hearing this. She was already thinking of divorcing Xiao Jinghan, so how could she possibly care about the affairs of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion? As for Sun Zhiyao, she was by nature a non-competitive person, and she was also pregnant, so she had no time to take care of the household affairs.

But problems will inevitably arise if no one is in charge. Otherwise, how could the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, which was originally as impregnable as a fortress, have someone colluding with outsiders to pass on messages?

Clearly, there is a traitor within the household.

"My fourth sister-in-law is pregnant, and I can't do anything about it, Grandmother..." Liu Yuansheng shook her head, "You'll have to find a way eventually."

"What method can I come up with?" As if deliberately making things difficult for her, Xiao Jinghan finally gave in.

Liu Yuansheng glanced at him and said defiantly, "Well, I do have a solution. Why don't you bring Yan'er's mother back?"

"Yan'er's mother?" Xiao Jinghan shook his head. "She can't be brought back."

"Why?" Liu Yuansheng asked in surprise.

"Because she died." She died the moment Yan'er was born.

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback upon hearing this.

She never imagined that Yan'er's background was so pitiful.

No wonder Xiao Jinghan refused to bring Yan'er's birth mother back; it turns out her birth mother was already gone.

"I'm sorry," Liu Yuansheng apologized, "I didn't mean to bring up your sad memories."

"My sorrow?" "Yan'er's mother passed away. Although I feel regret, I am not truly heartbroken."

"Aren't you sad?" Liu Yuansheng asked. "I don't think you're a heartless person. She did give birth to your child, don't you feel any grief for her death?"

"Who said she gave birth to my child? Yan'er isn't my child at all."

"What?"

Liu Yuansheng had originally planned to take this opportunity to bring up the matter of divorce with Xiao Jinghan, but after Xiao Jinghan said that, she immediately put the matter of divorce out of her mind.

"Yan'er isn't your child? Then, whose child is he?"

This time, Xiao Jinghan did not answer her question.

"Now is not the time for you to know these things," Xiao Jinghan comforted her. "I promise you, when the time is right, I will tell you everything."

Liu Yuansheng frowned.

She didn't know what Xiao Jinghan meant by "timing," but she knew that if she didn't bring up the matter of divorce soon, she would miss her chance.

"Your Highness, there's something I'd like to ask you..."

"I have something to do, I'll go out for a bit."

As expected, Xiao Jinghan could always predict Liu Yuansheng's words with such precision that it was as if he could read her mind, and this time was no exception.

"You must be tired from your journey. Take a rest, as you have to continue your journey tomorrow."

Fearing that Liu Yuansheng would say something else, Xiao Jinghan hurriedly left, but this time, Liu Yuansheng did not let him escape.

"Your Highness!"

Just as Xiao Jinghan was about to open the door and leave, Liu Yuansheng called out to him, "Young Master, we should get a divorce!"

Xiao Jinghan stopped.

He slowly turned his head, looking at the stubborn woman before him who was determined to divorce him, and said, "It's time for a divorce? I don't understand, what do you mean by 'it's time for a divorce'?"

"Your Highness, you promised me!" Liu Yuansheng's voice choked with emotion. "This matter has dragged on for so long, I don't want to delay any longer."

"Your Highness, let's get a divorce!"

Upon hearing Liu Yuansheng's words, a hint of helplessness and astonishment flashed in Xiao Jinghan's eyes, before he quickly regained his composure.

"You're still thinking about this?" Xiao Jinghan smiled faintly, a hint of helpless indulgence in his smile. "After everything we've been through together, why are you still so determined to divorce me? Is there something I did wrong?"

"No," Liu Yuansheng said. "Your Highness, I've told you before that our marriage was a mistake from the start. Now that the truth is out, why should we still cling to that mistake?"

"How can you be so sure that what happened back then was a mistake, and not an arrangement of fate?" Xiao Jinghan asked. "Did you promise Jiang Zhihuan something? Or did he promise you something?"

Liu Yuansheng's heart skipped a beat.

"My desire to divorce you has nothing to do with Jiang Zhihuan..."

"Since it's not about rekindling an old flame, let's think about it some more," Xiao Jinghan said. "You're going to Xuzhou with Grandmother, and I'm going to Yanzhou to investigate a case. Even if I agree now, you can't abandon Grandmother and immediately return to the Prime Minister's residence in the capital, can you?"

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback when she heard this.

What kind of reason is that?

Knowing full well that the other party was being unreasonable, Liu Yuansheng was helpless and could only watch as Xiao Jinghan closed the door and left.

At night, Xiao Jinghan returned, his body covered in frost.

Liu Yuansheng was still awake. Seeing Xiao Jinghan return, she went up to him and asked, "Where did you come from?"

"In Grandmother's room." Xiao Jinghan smiled and spread his hands. "Look, this is what the old lady gave me. She told me to hide it secretly and not show it to you."

Liu Yuansheng took the object from Xiao Jinghan without warning and was then startled.

"This..." She quickly returned the item to Xiao Jinghan, "You should keep it."

Xiao Jinghan chuckled and actually put the item away. "Scared?"

"What's there to be afraid of? It's just a baby that's being brought into the world."

Liu Yuansheng's face flushed. She made up her mind that the first thing she would do after accompanying the old lady to Xuzhou was to tell her that she wanted a divorce.

"It's getting late, Your Highness, you should go to bed early."

Feeling agitated, Liu Yuansheng put on her coat and cloak, saying, "I'm going out for a walk."

"Where are you going in the middle of the night?"

Seeing Liu Yuansheng about to leave, Xiao Jinghan stood up and stopped her, saying, "You're leaving as soon as I arrive? What, are you avoiding me?"

"No," Liu Yuansheng explained, "I took a nap this evening, and now I'm not sleepy anymore. I want to go for a walk; the air in the mountains is fresh."

"The mountains not only have fresh air, but also many wild animals. Aren't you afraid?"

"Please don't scare me, Your Highness."

"Then you can go." Xiao Jinghan suddenly relented and let her go. "Remember to have Ying'er follow."

Liu Yuansheng stared at Xiao Jinghan for a moment, then said, "Okay."

Outside, the full moon shines through the silvery frost.

Liu Yuansheng, wrapped in a thick cloak, walked alone outside the post station, savoring the biting mountain wind.

The wind stung her face, but she seemed oblivious, silently walking alone into the mountains.

She didn't know where she wanted to go, she just felt stifled and suffocated after being stuck in one place for so long, and wanted to breathe freely.

She didn't even listen to Xiao Jinghan's advice to bring Ying'er out, because based on her understanding of Ying'er, the girl should already be asleep.

Ever since what happened with Xie Qinghe, Ying'er has been listless and hasn't been able to recover her spirits. Liu Yuansheng knew that Ying'er had seen something she shouldn't have, and was almost punished afterwards, leaving her with a lingering emotional scar that needed time to heal.

She also had a mental illness, and despite recuperating for so long, she hadn't gotten better at all.

Liu Yuansheng grew increasingly depressed as she thought about it. Lost in thought, she silently walked into the mountains and forests, eventually reaching the halfway point.

When she realized she had reached the halfway point of the mountain, she couldn't help but admire her own perseverance. She had been in so much pain, yet she had still managed to get here.

The mountain forest was incredibly cold at night, and every now and then a few chilling hissing sounds could be heard, I had no idea what kind of animal was making them.

Liu Yuansheng looked around, but the vast wilderness only made her feel worse.

She wanted to return to the inn, but forgot the way up the mountain. She was lost and couldn't find her way, so she just wandered around in circles.

Worse still, those chilling sounds were getting louder and louder.

Liu Yuansheng felt a chill run down her spine. Just as she was filled with terror and didn't know what to do, Xiao Jinghan appeared behind her, draped a heavy fox fur coat over her shoulders, and said, "I told you to bring Ying'er with you, why didn't you listen?"

Liu Yuansheng was startled. She turned around and looked at Xiao Jinghan in disbelief, saying, "Young Master, how come it's you?"

"Why can't it be me?" Xiao Jinghan stared at her intently. "If I don't come, how will you get back? You look like you're lost."

"I really did get lost," Liu Yuansheng confessed honestly. "Luckily you found me, otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to get back."

"I'm sorry I've caused you trouble again. I don't want to do this, but sometimes I just can't control myself..."

Xiao Jinghan listened silently to Liu Yuansheng's words, then smiled faintly, "Can't control yourself? What? Is it because I refused to divorce you, and you felt hopeless, so you did something out of control?"

"No, it's not." Liu Yuansheng lowered her head. "But I can't say for sure what it is."

"If you can't explain it, then don't. You've put too many shackles on yourself, and it's actually people forcing you." Xiao Jinghan gently patted Liu Yuansheng's shoulder and said, "Alright, let's go. If we don't go back to sleep soon, it'll be dawn."

Liu Yuansheng looked up at the sky and felt a little guilty. Xiao Jinghan had been traveling all day and hadn't rested for a moment after returning to the post station. Instead, he had silently followed her into the mountains to find her. She didn't know how tired he must have been.

He nodded and said to Xiao Jinghan, "Okay, let's go back."

"Hmm." Xiao Jinghan held Liu Yuansheng's hand and led her down the mountain step by step. Whether it was her illusion or not, ever since Xiao Jinghan appeared, the wild animals in the mountains seemed to have stopped howling and disappeared to some unknown place.

As we were about to descend halfway down the mountain, suddenly, we heard a strange sound again.

Before Liu Yuansheng could identify the sounds, Xiao Jinghan shouted, "Watch out!"

Then, her feet left the ground, and Xiao Jinghan picked her up and held her behind him.

Liu Yuansheng, draped in a fox fur coat, barely managed to stop when she saw Xiao Jinghan catch an arrow with his bare hands, while more arrows rapidly pierced the sky, hurtling towards her and Xiao Jinghan...