The former emperor's covetousness had caused Yu Jing to avoid returning to Dali even once after Chu Yu ascended the throne with Bei Chu's support.
Therefore, even the search for her lost daughter was entrusted to people under her command.
Despite their best efforts, the daughter was not found.
However, with the former emperor's demise, he could no longer pose any threat to her.
Moreover, her daughter had already been found.
She felt that all the torment and hardship she had endured in the first half of her life were for this very moment, and it was all worth it!
Those tribulations were now insignificant.
Upon returning, Su Xiaoqi heard Ziyan whisper to her, "Madam, the young lady is crying in her room."
Su Xiaoqi was startled and quickly went to Shen Mingzhu's chamber.
Indeed, before even entering, she could hear suppressed, sorrowful sobs from within.
She stood outside the door, contemplating for a moment, thinking of giving her some time to come out on her own.
But clearly, it wasn't working.
Shen Mingzhu's crying not only didn't improve but grew more heartbroken, showing no signs of stopping.
Su Xiaoqi sighed and had to intervene.
Knocking on the door, she found Shen Mingzhu sobbing uncontrollably on the bed, her eyes red and swollen as if stung by a bee.
"Mingzhu…" Su Xiaoqi's heart ached as she stepped forward and embraced her.
Shen Mingzhu, realizing it was her sister-in-law, didn't struggle and fell into her embrace.
Her sobs continued to erupt.
Listening to her heartbroken cries, Su Xiaoqi remained silent for a while.
When Shen Mingzhu had cried herself out, she asked someone to bring hot water and personally took a cloth to gently wipe her face.
Her movements were tender, and her voice soft, "Mingzhu, tell your sister-in-law what happened?"
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law…" Just mentioning it brought tears to Shen Mingzhu's eyes.
Su Xiaoqi patted her back, comforting her, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid of anything. You have your mother, your elder brother, your sister-in-law, and Zhao Ge'er."
Shen Mingzhu nodded heavily, a warm current flowing through her shattered heart.
She choked back sobs and haltingly recounted the day's events.
It turned out she had personally witnessed Chen Jia'an entangled with Fang Gu today.
The entanglement here was meant literally, and it happened at Chen Jia'an's home.
She had originally gone to find Chen Jia'an to deliver a letter for him.
Since Chen Jia'an had moved, he hadn't written back.
Chen Jinniang, unaware of his address, had still sent the letter intended for him to the Scholar's Residence.
Shen Mingzhu decided to go and see him.
Although the servants initially tried to stop her, Ziyan, who was with her, was skilled in martial arts and wasn't afraid of them.
She swiftly subdued them all.
Then she barged in and witnessed a scandalous scene of naked entanglement.
"I, I saw them, I saw them on the bed… sob, sob, I'm too ashamed to show my face." Shen Mingzhu was deeply frightened.
Su Xiaoqi was also very angry.
She immediately intended to summon Zhang Feng to inform Shen Yun.
As she and Shen Mingzhu were women, it was not appropriate for them to confront Chen Jia'an.
However, Shen Yun was different.
"Forget it, forget it, sister-in-law. Don't let elder brother deal with him. We, we are over anyway." Shen Mingzhu was extremely resolute.
Let the lovers be together in the end.
Su Xiaoqi understood.
In fact, when she had first told Shen Mingzhu about seeing Chen Jia'an and Fang Gu together, although she hadn't shown it on her face, she secretly didn't quite believe it.
She thought there might have been some misunderstanding.
And that she would explain it clearly at a suitable time.
Therefore, such a trivial matter as delivering a letter would normally never fall to her personally.
But she went to give Chen Jia'an another chance.
Now she wished she hadn't gone and hadn't had her eyes sullied by those two.
After a brief period of self-righteous anger, Su Xiaoqi saw that Shen Mingzhu, having cried and vented, had emerged from her emotional turmoil.
She felt relieved.
As long as Shen Mingzhu was well, she had no other concerns.
After all, Chen Jia'an was Chen Jinniang's son, and they had once been such harmonious partners.
And they still collaborated happily to this day.
To directly act against her only son, Su Xiaoqi still felt a slight sense of guilt towards her.
But she couldn't let Shen Mingzhu suffer this loss in vain.
Fortunately, Shen Mingzhu was not a ruthless person.
She might be excessively kind, but there was nothing wrong with that.
Su Xiaoqi still hoped Shen Mingzhu would remain true to her nature.
After comforting Shen Mingzhu, Shen Yun returned.
Su Xiaoqi recounted the events to him.
Shen Yun was, as expected, furious. Had it not been for Su Xiaoqi holding him back, he would have rushed out immediately.
"It's for the best now. Before, when Mingzhu heard about Chen Jia'an and Fang Gu's relationship, she was still hesitant, unable to let go. Now it's good. Since she had to suffer this pain, it's better to get it over with quickly."
Once she endured this pain, she would have a new beginning.
"Besides, I don't think Mingzhu has Chen Jia'an in her eyes anymore. Back in the small city of Mianzhou, there weren't many outstanding people she had met, so naturally, Chen Jia'an could attract her. But now, Mingzhu has broadened her horizons, and her preferences will naturally change."
Of course, this didn't mean Shen Mingzhu was going to change her heart.
However, due to Shen Mingzhu's character, she would never do anything to betray Chen Jia'an first.
At least, in all the time she had been here, she hadn't done anything out of line.
On the other hand, Chen Jia'an was impatient and lacked principles.
Su Xiaoqi didn't voice these thoughts as directly as she thought them.
But she still criticized Chen Jia'an thoroughly.
Shen Yun listened with a somewhat闷闷 (mèn mèn -闷闷不乐, feeling down/gloomy) feeling, stating he wasn't comforted.
He also felt a sense of being subtly criticized.
Noticing Shen Yun's low spirits, Su Xiaoqi blinked her eyes and said, "Husband, are you still worried about Mingzhu's matter?"
Shen Yun shook his head, "Mingzhu is just overwhelmed by emotion. After she vents, she'll be fine."
Saying this, Shen Yun lowered his head and gazed at the young woman before him.
She was wearing a cross-collared ruqun today, its cut perfectly accentuating her full upper body.
Her slender neck was elegant and beautiful.
Her curved lips were slightly upturned, a hint of a delicate smile playing on them.
The more he looked, the more his heart stirred, and the more he felt he couldn't get enough of her.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and said in a deep voice, "And you, my dear wife, you've been in the capital for so long, have your thoughts changed?"
Shen Yun's true meaning was too subtle, hidden within that question. Su Xiaoqi's mind was still occupied with Shen Mingzhu's affairs, and for a moment, she didn't comprehend.
She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What did husband say?"
Shen Yun lowered his head and quietly gazed at her.
His deep eyes met Su Xiaoqi's.
Her eyes were like stars, shining brightly, but only illuminating the small piece of sky before her.
They couldn't reach any further.
A touch of sadness inexplicably crossed his heart.
At this moment, Su Xiaoqi also understood.
Shen Yun was asking if she had changed her feelings for him after being in the capital for so long.
The result was that she hadn't reacted for a moment, which had saddened him.
She smiled softly, her voice utterly enchanting, "Husband, do you know how wonderful you are?"
So wonderful that after seeing him, her eyes could no longer hold anyone else.
Shen Yun tilted his head. Su Xiaoqi's words flowed into his parched heart like a gentle stream, nourishing him, but it wasn't enough.
"How wonderful am I?" He leaned closer to Su Xiaoqi, his lips brushing against her earlobe, his voice deep and magnetic.
Su Xiaoqi's body went limp, and she collapsed into his embrace.