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

In an instant, the air seemed to freeze, and Liu Yuansheng felt a tightness in his chest, making it difficult to breathe.

She stared at Jiang Zhihuan in astonishment, her eyes filled with unconcealed sorrow. But Jiang Zhihuan seemed oblivious, his gaze quickly sweeping across her face before he bowed to Xiao Jinghan and said, "This humble official greets Lord Xiao."

Then he raised his head and stood there silently.

The atmosphere inside the tent became inexplicably awkward. Not only Xiao Jinghan, but even Ying'er noticed Liu Yuansheng's unusual behavior towards Jiang Zhihuan. Xiao Jinghan subtly observed the two of them for a moment, then asked, "Lord Jiang, you seem to be in a hurry. What are you looking for?"

"Reporting to your Excellency, I have come to retrieve the river works map." Jiang Zhihuan produced the map and handed it to the official who followed him. Only then did he look at Liu Yuansheng and ask, "What's wrong with Madam Xiao?"

Upon hearing Jiang Zhihuan's question, Liu Yuansheng couldn't help but tremble.

Xiao Jinghan took in her reaction, but his expression remained unchanged. "She's fine, just some minor injuries."

"Is Madam injured?" Jiang Zhihuan looked worried for Liu Yuansheng. "Madam must be careful when she goes out. The dam is under repair and the roads are muddy and difficult to travel. If it is not urgent, there is no need to come here rashly."

Liu Yuansheng stared blankly at Jiang Zhihuan, not catching a single word of what he said.

Her gaze was so direct that even Jiang Zhihuan, who was usually calm and collected, couldn't remain unmoved when stared at by those captivating eyes. A hint of shyness appeared on his jade-like face.

Seeing this, Xiao Jinghan couldn't help but ask curiously, "What? You two know each other?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuansheng lowered his eyes and suddenly clenched his sleeves.

Jiang Zhihuan's forehead twitched almost imperceptibly, then he coughed a few times. "You do look somewhat familiar." He paused, pondered for a moment, and said, "I heard that Madam Xiao used to practice Buddhism at Shuiyue Nunnery while still keeping her hair intact. Perhaps I've seen her a few times there."

We've met a few times.

The four words struck Liu Yuansheng's heart with a heavy blow, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.

Jiang Zhihuan looked away, but Xiao Jinghan scrutinized the two of them with interest. "So, you two are old acquaintances. Old friends meeting again, don't you have anything to say?"

Liu Yuansheng remained silent, and Jiang Zhihuan's pupils trembled slightly; he was speechless for a moment. In the silence, a guard standing outside the tent said, "Your Highness, Minister Gao has something to discuss with you."

"Understood." Xiao Jinghan immediately stood up. "I'll go take a look."

He walked calmly toward the tent, paused the moment he lifted the curtain, glanced at Liu Yuansheng, and then strode away.

After Xiao Jinghan left, the atmosphere in the tent became increasingly awkward.

Ying'er stood awkwardly behind Liu Yuansheng, who stared at Jiang Zhihuan. Jiang Zhihuan avoided Liu Yuansheng's gaze. "Since Madam is well, then this humble official shall take his leave."

He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Liu Yuansheng, turned around, and was about to leave. Seeing this, Liu Yuansheng suddenly stood up, rushed over, grabbed Jiang Zhihuan's sleeve, and blocked his way.

Jiang Zhihuan stopped, his gaze cautiously fixed on the curtained door, and asked solemnly, "Is there anything else, Madam Xiao?"

Liu Yuansheng stared at Jiang Zhihuan with red eyes, completely bewildered as to why Jiang Zhihuan pretended not to know her and why he had erased and covered up their past.

Could it be because she married Xiao Jinghan?

But she had no choice.

She will divorce Xiao Jinghan one day. She will follow him in life and in death.

But could he please stop pretending not to know her and ignoring her?

This hurt her more than killing her.

She wanted to explain to Jiang Zhihuan, but she couldn't speak, so she took out the medical book he had given her and handed it to him.

Jiang Zhihuan stared blankly at the yellowed medical book.

He looked up at Liu Yuansheng with disbelief, hesitated for a long time, and then took the medical book.

She's... trying to cut ties with him completely.

Jiang Zhihuan gripped the medical book tightly and said, "Madam, you don't want this book anymore?"

Liu Yuansheng frowned slightly and shook his head.

That's not what she meant.

"Alright, I understand," Jiang Zhihuan said with a wry smile. "Then I'll take my leave."

He turned around abruptly, but Liu Yuansheng grabbed his sleeve and, after searching for a while, finally found the orchid embroidered on his sleeve.

She pointed to the orchid and showed it to Jiang Zhihuan, wanting to tell him that she was waiting for him, that she was still the same person she was in the Shuiyue Nunnery.

She was the one who would embroider orchids on his clothes.

Because in her heart, he was a refined and elegant gentleman with noble character.

Has he truly forgotten their love? If so, why is he still reluctant to part with this orchid?

Liu Yuansheng grew increasingly distressed. Pointing to the orchid on Jiang Zhihuan's sleeve, she tried to demand an answer, but Jiang Zhihuan remained silent. Suddenly, Xiao Jinghan's voice rang out from outside the tent, "Lord Gao, there's no need for such formality. I will do my utmost to assist you with any requests."

Jiang Zhihuan, who was still lost in thought, suddenly came to his senses, gently brushed away Liu Yuansheng's hand, and said, "Madam, there is no need to see me off. Please rest well. I will take my leave now."

After saying this, he bowed deeply to Liu Yuansheng, then bowed to Xiao Jinghan, and left with the medical book.

"Lord Jiang is leaving already?" Xiao Jinghan looked at the dazed Liu Yuansheng with a playful smile. "And you? Are you leaving?"

Jiang Zhihuan was no longer in Liu Yuansheng's sight. She lowered her eyelids and nodded sadly.

-

By the time they returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, it was already dark.

After taking a bath, Xiao Jinghan sat in the warm pavilion and, with great effort, tore off a piece of skin from his right hand.

It was a complete, thin human skin that fit his hand perfectly, but its drawback was that it was useless after one use and could not be reused.

Xiao Jinghan reluctantly lit the human skin, threw it into the fire pit to burn, and then looked at his hands.

Because he wore human skin gloves for too long, the back of his hands became red, swollen, and ulcerated. This was unavoidable, as human skin gloves that are constantly soaked in medicine will inevitably cause some damage to the skin.

It's worth it to drag this scoundrel Jin Gongzheng down with us at this cost.

Xiao Jinghan was in a good mood, and thinking about the interesting thing he had stumbled upon today, he found it even more interesting.

The protagonist of this amusing anecdote, Liu Yuansheng, is sitting on the bed lost in thought, while Li, the wet nurse, is holding Yan'er and trying to play with her.

"Young master, what are you holding in your hand?"

"Oh, it's a rattle drum."

Li, the wet nurse, tried her best to coax Yan'er, but Yan'er kept looking for Liu Yuansheng, reaching out to her and making babbling sounds.

Ever since Liu Yuansheng returned from the riverbank, she seemed lost in thought, sitting alone on the bed with her eyes downcast, lost in contemplation for a long time. Li Nanny and Ying'er tried to persuade her several times, but to no avail, so they simply stopped talking and silently stayed by her side.

But Yan'er didn't think so. Seeing that Liu Yuansheng still ignored her, Yan'er pouted and started to cry.

His cries finally brought Liu Yuansheng to her senses. She looked up and was about to take Yan'er from Li Nanny's arms when Xiao Jinghan lifted the beaded curtain and walked in. "Li Nanny, take the young master away. I have something to say to the Third Young Mistress."