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

Upon hearing this, the wet nurse immediately picked up the young master and left. Xiao Jinghan glared at Ying'er, "You get out too."

Ying'er scrutinized Xiao Jinghan's expression, sensing something was amiss. "Young Master, my young lady and Lord Jiang..."

She tried to explain for Liu Yuansheng, but Xiao Jinghan interrupted her, "Get out."

Ying'er shut her mouth tightly and ran away in a flash.

The room was brightly lit by candlelight, but it couldn't illuminate Liu Yuansheng's face. She sat silently on the bed, lost in thought, her soul seemingly detached from her body.

This is exactly how she looked when she first married into the Zhenguo Duke's household.

Disheartened and dejected, like withered wood and dead ashes.

Initially, Xiao Jinghan didn't quite understand why Liu Yuansheng was in such a half-dead state, but today, he roughly figured it out.

"Are you sleepy? If not, let's chat. Ever since we came back from Yuxu Temple, either you've been sick or I've been busy, and we haven't really spoken much."

Xiao Jinghan casually sat down on the daybed, rested his elbows on the low table, glanced at Liu Yuansheng, and said.

Liu Yuansheng looked sorrowful, clearly burdened with worries. Xiao Jinghan couldn't help but tease, "Before, when Liu Nianxi caused you trouble, or when the Cao butcher's family came to annoy you, you were never this distracted. Just who is this Lord Jiang that he can provoke you like this?"

Xiao Jinghan leaned forward slightly, pressing down, "Tell me, who exactly is he?"

Liu Yuansheng remained silent.

Undeterred, Xiao Jinghan asked again, "Didn't you ask me to inquire about someone before? Was it him?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuansheng slowly turned her face and nodded to Xiao Jinghan.

Xiao Jinghan paused, seemingly surprised that Liu Yuansheng would admit it so readily.

"You're quite honest," he said. "Aren't you afraid I'll get angry?"

Liu Yuansheng shook her head.

She didn't think she couldn't tell Xiao Jinghan about this, nor did she think Xiao Jinghan would be angry.

As expected, Xiao Jinghan was not angry at all. Instead, he asked with great interest, "How did you two meet? How did you get together? And why did you break up?"

This time, Liu Yuansheng did not answer, because it was a long story.

"Don't want to talk about it? Fine." Xiao Jinghan stared at Liu Yuansheng's face for a moment, and for some reason, a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

He wasn't exactly angry, much less furious, but it certainly made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

It was probably the man's pride that was acting up, because, in any case, Liu Yuansheng was now his wife.

He had no intention of divorcing his wife.

He didn't want Liu Yuansheng to make him a cuckold.

"It is indeed a sad thing that lovers cannot be together. In Grandma's words, it is that the two of you are destined to be apart, so don't make trouble for yourself."

After saying this, Xiao Jinghan stood up, pondered for a moment, and then said in a deep voice, "Our marriage was indeed something neither of us wanted, but we have gotten along well after the marriage. I really don't want to cause any trouble or disgraceful things that would worry my grandmother."

He looked at Liu Yuansheng meaningfully, "You know about Grandmother's health. I've told you before that I can disregard and not care about anything else, but no one can hurt Grandmother and Yan'er."

"Although you have a heart condition, you are a reasonable person and should be able to understand what I have to say. I have said all I need to say, and I hope you will take good care of yourself."

After saying that, he withdrew his gaze from Liu Yuansheng and turned to leave.

The candlelight in front of her flickered as Xiao Jinghan's figure moved, and Liu Yuansheng snapped back to her senses, stood up, and followed Xiao Jinghan.

Hearing Liu Yuansheng's footsteps, Xiao Jinghan stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"

Liu Yuansheng pointed at Xiao Jinghan, then at herself, put her two fingers together, and then separated them.

She was telling Xiao Jinghan that she wanted a divorce.

Just then, Xiao Jinghan yawned, covering his face with his hand, and didn't see her movement clearly. "What are you trying to say?"

"Show me again."

Liu Yuansheng stared at the back of Xiao Jinghan's hand, momentarily stunned.

On the flawless white back of his hand, there was a large, red, swollen, and festering wound.

She suppressed the urge to bring up divorce for the time being, pointed to the wounds on his hand, and asked, "How did you get that?"

"You're asking about that? It's nothing, I just accidentally brushed against it."

Xiao Jinghan nonchalantly withdrew his hand and said, "You'd better remember what I just said, otherwise..."

He chuckled, said nothing, and left without a word.

-

Xiao Jinghan had a smooth three years in the Censorate, and the only person who gave him a headache was Jin Gongzheng.

As it turns out, Jin Gongzheng was indeed his mortal enemy.

After being taken away by the Censorate, Jin Gongzheng insisted that he was wronged and had never done anything to treason. He claimed that the spies from the Wedge Tribe who frequented his residence were all there to bribe him and spy on military intelligence, and that he had always firmly refused them and had not been misled in the slightest.

He tried his best to defend himself, portraying himself as a loyal and virtuous minister who was devoted to serving his country, steadfast in his resolve, and unmoved by external influences.

"If this continues, Lord Zhao might have to release Jin Gongzheng."

Inside the flower hall on the west side of the ceremonial gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Liang Yuheng held a glass cup and said to Xiao Jinghan with a worried expression, "Brother Xiao, you'd better think of a solution quickly."

Xiao Jinghan lay on the rocking chair, listlessly dozing off. "The innocent are innocent. Perhaps Lord Jin really was wronged?"

"Then you're next to be in trouble," Liang Yuheng said. "That Mullertaiji is eyeing your life."

"Why would he be after me? It's not like I killed his brother."

Liang Yuheng's smile was meaningful. "Even if it's not you, once Jin Gongzheng comes out, it will become you."

Xiao Jinghan chuckled. "That's terrifying. I haven't had enough of my good life yet, and I don't want to go to jail with a fabricated charge. How about this, I'll have Lord Zhao release Lord Jin and test him out."

Liang Yuheng became interested upon hearing this, "How do we try it?"

Xiao Jinghan sat up and explained the plan to Liang Yuheng in detail. Liang Yuheng slapped his thigh, "Brilliant! This plan is brilliant! However..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Jingzhuo ran out from the rose bushes, yelling, "Get away, don't sting me!"

Xiao Jinghan and Liang Yuheng were taken aback and looked at Xiao Jingzhuo.

"Fourth brother? What are you doing here?"

"Me? I came to pick flowers." Xiao Jingzhuo rubbed his nose and said, "But those bees kept buzzing around me and stung me all over my head."

"You really know how to pick a place to join in the fun. Don't you know that Lord Liang and I are discussing important matters here?"

"I don't know, nobody told me, and we've been here for a while."

"You guys?" Xiao Jinghan glanced at him. "Who are you with?"

"Third Sister-in-law," Xiao Jingzhuo pointed to the depths of the flower bushes, "she's right there."

Xiao Jinghan was taken aback. He turned his head and saw Liu Yuansheng standing under the rose wall with a basket, quietly watching him.

It's really her.