There was no shortage of affairs in the Ministry of Justice. The promise between Shen Yuning and Wan Yan to travel across the Great Zhou could not be fulfilled.
Wan Yan bid farewell to Shen Yuning early, saying that he would not be able to attend her wedding. His subsequent plans allowed for no delay.
The Wan family was now the number - one imperial merchant. For Wan Yan, he had achieved both fame and fortune, which had been the dreams of his first half of life.
However, he was not as happy as he thought he would be. Looking at the vast Great Zhou, where many places were still in a precarious state, he felt uneasy and wanted to use his abilities to bring about changes.
Shen Yuning highly approved. She even thought that if she hadn't agreed to this marriage, perhaps at this moment, she could also travel with Wan Yan to see all the beautiful mountains and rivers of the Great Zhou and do good deeds for the people of the Great Zhou.
Wan Yan found Shen Yuning's expression quite amusing. He thought that the Regent was rather pitiful. The wife he was about to marry had her heart set on the outside world.
He was also skeptical. Wasn't the very thing he most admired about Shen Yuning her broad - mindedness and concern for the people? It occurred to him that if Shen Yuning were like an ordinary boudoir girl, only knowing how to stay at home, then she wouldn't be the real Shen Yuning.
Wan Yan still comforted her, "Miss Yuning, don't worry. Now that you've become an official in the Ministry of Justice, it's a great thing that benefits the country and the people. I only hope that Doctor Shen will continue to move forward. The great cause of the country depends on people like you who are positive and motivated."
Watching Wan Yan's receding back, Shen Yuning felt even more melancholy. She and Wan Yan hadn't known each other for long, but they were like friends of different generations, and she felt that there were some similarities in their hearts.
Now they were about to part ways and go on their own paths.
However, even so, their goals were the same. Even if their paths were different, they would still strive together.
Shen Yuning then got into the carriage and prepared to return to the Xue family. Just then, she happened to see the Chen family's carriage.
Chen Wenwei lifted the carriage curtain and called out, "Sister Yuning."
If there was anyone Shen Yuning was most afraid of seeing, it was Chen Wenwei. Even though she had never liked him, seeing him made her feel quite guilty, as if she were a bad woman who had toyed with someone's feelings and then abandoned them.
However, Chen Wenwei looked in good spirits. He got out of the carriage, saluted Shen Yuning, and then said with a smile, "I've been on official business outside these days and haven't had the chance to see you. Now I should probably address you as Magistrate Shen."
Shen Yuning quickly said she didn't deserve such a title and then asked, "Have you finished the matters in your hand, Brother Chen?"
Chen Wenwei nodded. "They were originally small matters. My mother was worried about the third brother, third sister - in - law, and the two nephews. Since there was official business there, I took over and went there to have a look for my mother."
Shen Yuning looked up at him. In Yun County, Chen Wenwei would occasionally mention the Chen family on behalf of them, and he would talk about the second brother more often. He always seemed rather distant from his step - mother.
It was the first time he had spoken of Mrs. Chen so openly and considerately.
Chen Wenwei smiled again. "They're all well. In the future, we'll all be well too."
Shen Yuning lowered her head and smiled faintly, not knowing what to say.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Shen Yuning really wanted to explain her relationship with Xuanzhi to Chen Wenwei, but she didn't know how.
It was Chen Wenwei who took the initiative to say, "I'm going to set off for Wuyun next month."
Shen Yuning was a bit stunned. "So soon?"
Chen Wenwei smiled. "Not soon. I should have set off already. If I hadn't gone out, I might have left by now."
Originally, he was supposed to set off in September, but now it seemed that he was leaving in July?
Chen Wenwei's gaze was calm. "Sister Yuning, I'm afraid I won't be able to come back for a few years after I go... I won't be able to attend your wedding either. I only hope that in the future, everything will go well for you... for all of you."
Without waiting for her to reply, he performed a grand salute like the one he did when they first met, then turned around, got into his carriage, and left first.
Two good friends left in one day, and Shen Yuning felt a heavy weight in her heart.
Actually, this was the best outcome, wasn't it? Wan Yan's passion would surely find its best destination. And if Chen Wenwei had stayed in the capital, wouldn't their meetings have been awkward?
However, Shen Yuning felt guilty. She always thought it was because of her that Chen Wenwei had to go so far away.
Not long after Chen Wenwei left, Shen Yuning met Mrs. Chen at a banquet.
Mrs. Chen still looked kind. Holding her little grandson's hand, she smiled when she saw Shen Yuning. "Your Aunt Shen has had a good relationship with our family since childhood. When she was little, I often held her in my arms. I thought of her as my own daughter."
At this moment, Shen Yuning let go of her concerns. People came and went, which was normal. Why should she be so entangled in the past?
Mrs. Chen let her little grandson go and then pulled Shen Yuning to sit at the banquet table. Her eyebrows were filled with joy. "Your Second Brother Chen said you're very capable. After only studying for such a short time, you can already handle all the affairs in the Ministry of Justice."
Shen Yuning lowered her head shyly. "It's Second Brother who overpraises me. I'm rather clumsy. I'm really grateful for Second Brother's constant guidance."
Mrs. Chen laughed heartily. "You're like his real sister, so he'll surely take good care of you. Otherwise, not only him but even I won't allow it."
There was joy in her words, but Shen Yuning always felt there was something hidden. She hesitated for a moment but still couldn't help asking in a low voice how Chen Wenwei was.
Mrs. Chen didn't even pause for a moment. "Your Fourth Brother is fine too. Don't worry about him. That child has always been rather reserved since he was little. Now that he's grown older, he's become more open - minded."
Looking at the ladies and young misses coming and going around, she suddenly sighed. "Sometimes I think, if I wasn't so kind - hearted, if I had been a bit harsher and more strict with him, would he not be like this?"
Shen Yuning was in a daze and subconsciously held Mrs. Chen's hand. "Mrs. Chen, we all know that you're extremely kind..."
Mrs. Chen smiled. "Yes, I'm extremely kind. I don't have any other thoughts. I just hope the whole family can be harmonious and happy. He's capable, and I've never thought about anything else. I was also sincere in wanting to find a suitable girl for him."
Shen Yuning was in a daze, and Mrs. Chen didn't say anything else.
In a blink of an eye, the autumn wind blew, and it was the day of Shen Yuning's wedding.
She was going to enter the palace to become a princess, and in the future, she would also live in the palace. But for today's wedding, it was held in the Regent's Yu Palace.
However, there were an unusually large number of guests coming and going from the Xue family. Little sisters who usually couldn't be seen came one after another to give wedding gifts. There was also Weirui. Now that she was the granddaughter of the Princess of Jiayang and a member of the royal family, she should have gone to the palace. But she came early and sat in the room with her aunt, waiting for the red wedding sedan to come.
Just like when Xue Yuxin got married, Mrs. Shao kept a strict watch on the second branch of the family. However, only Xue Yuxuan and Xue Yujiao from the second branch came.
As usual, polite inquiries were made. Xue Yuxuan seemed a bit embarrassed and said euphemistically, "They're all sick."
All sick?
Mrs. Shao had taken care of Xue Yuhan's illness. She would send her personal maid to check on her every now and then. The reply was that she was still recuperating and it wasn't a serious illness. Occasionally, Mrs. Xiao would allow the maid to go in and check. Every time, Concubine Bai was also there, saying that there was nothing wrong.
Yuhan was a timid but affectionate child. It was her elder sister Yuning's wedding day today. She wouldn't have missed it normally. It was probably because she was afraid of spreading the illness, which wasn't auspicious, so she didn't come.
As for Mrs. Xiao, it was normal for her not to come. She had raised her daughter for more than ten years and then just abandoned her. Now that this daughter was getting married into a high - ranking family, Mrs. Xiao probably didn't have the nerve to come.
Lord Xue wasn't very happy. "All sick? What's going on? They should pay more attention. What about Yu Xi? Is he sick too?"
It was said that Xue Yuxi had gone through some training in the barracks and had grown up a lot. He had also become much stronger. With such a good physique, why was he sick too?
Lord Xue was always very perceptive. If it was a contagious and serious illness, it would be a big problem. So he asked a few more questions.
However, Xue Yuxuan stammered for a long time and finally muttered that Xue Yuxi was an ignorant child who didn't go home and was always out. He didn't know if he had learned some bad habits.
Lord Xue had watched Yu Xi grow up. He frowned tightly. A good child not going home was one thing, but why didn't he come to congratulate his elder sister on her big day?
At this moment, the servant beside Xue Yuxi ran over, bowed, and without looking at his own master, said to Lord Xue, "My lord, the young master said that he can't come to congratulate Second Sister on her wedding today. He hopes that the elder uncle won't blame him. The young master is already in the Yu Palace and is congratulating there."
Lord Xue frowned even more tightly. This child, his elder sister was getting married and he wasn't at home but went to his brother - in - law's house? What kind of logic was this?
Xue Yuxuan was furious and was about to scold the servant, but was stopped by Lord Xue. "Today is Yuning's wedding day. You'd better behave yourself. She's my daughter now, and you can't just do as you please."
Xue Yuxuan was a reckless person, but he also knew his elder brother's bottom line. Usually, he would cause some trouble at home to get some benefits because his elder brother turned a blind eye. But if he caused trouble today, he would probably get into more trouble.
But Xue Yujiao beside him turned pale and then red, red and then pale. She was the second elder sister of Xue Yuxi. This bitch obviously didn't take her as an elder sister. Her heart was all on that bitch Shen Yuning.
She twisted the silk handkerchief in her hand again and again but was helpless. Others thought that her mother was too embarrassed to attend Yuning's wedding, but she clearly knew that her mother was really sick, and the illness was quite serious.
It was all that bitch Bai in the mansion!
At this moment, Xue Yujiao was so angry that her teeth were itching. If her mother on the sickbed hadn't repeatedly told her to be obedient today before she went out, she would have already turned the roof over.
She didn't know that Mrs. Shao had already guarded against her. She had told the side branches of the Xue family and several sisters - in - law and younger sisters of the Shao family to keep a close eye on Xue Yujiao and not let her cause any trouble.
However, Xue Yujiao didn't want to cause a big commotion. These days, she had clearly realized that for the main branch of the family, she was like an ant and couldn't get any benefits.
If she couldn't get any benefits, she would at least make them suffer.
Xue Yujiao thought secretly and then walked towards the flower hall where the young ladies were.