Ruan Jiu jogged all the way to the Shen Mansion.
Tears and sweat alternated, blurring her face.
A carriage was parked in front of the Shen Mansion.
Shen Yu helped Qin Shuang out.
The moment Qin Shuang saw Ruan Jiu, her eyes were filled with surprise. "Yan'er..."
She couldn't help but take a few steps towards Ruan Jiu.
Suddenly, she stopped and looked at Ruan Jiu with a detached expression. "I wonder what brings Miss Ruan here so late?"
Ruan Jiu took a deep breath, a sneer crossing her lips. "I didn't expect the prestigious Shen family to be so stingy. A few mansions and shops are all you think can dismiss me?"
Hearing this, Qin Shuang was stunned for a moment.
The Shen family was in a perilous situation now. If they gave Ruan Jiu the properties under the Shen family's name, it would surely implicate her.
Then she frowned and asked, "I wonder what else Miss Ruan wants?"
Ruan Jiu smiled. "Everyone knows that the Shen family in the capital is extremely wealthy. How about I go back to the capital with you? I'd like to have a good look and experience the life of the legitimate daughter of the Shen family for a while."
In the past, if Qin Shuang had heard that Ruan Jiu was willing to go back to the capital with them, she would have been overjoyed.
But now, the Shen family was on the verge of collapse. The fact that Ruan Jiu was the legitimate daughter of the Shen family must not be known to others.
So, Qin Shuang said coldly, "Although you are indeed of the Shen family's blood, you were born in the countryside. How can you go back to the capital with us? How can you bear the title of the legitimate daughter of the Shen family?"
As Qin Shuang said these words, her heart felt like it was bleeding.
If it weren't for Shen Yu supporting her, she would have fallen to the ground.
There was a hint of desolation in Ruan Jiu's eyes.
She naturally understood that Qin Shuang was drawing a clear line from her for her own good.
"You left me sixteen years ago. Are you going to leave me again after sixteen years?"
These words instantly pierced Qin Shuang's heart.
But for Ruan Jiu's sake, she had to continue saying hurtful words.
She let out a cold snort. "Miss Ruan, don't be ungrateful! You..."
"Are you still not going to tell me the truth?!" Ruan Jiu immediately interrupted Qin Shuang.
"What truth? I don't know what you're talking about!" Qin Shuang averted her face, looking guilty.
Ruan Jiu stepped forward, her eyes red.
"Mother, don't leave me!"
Qin Shuang looked at Ruan Jiu in disbelief. "You... What did you call me?"
Just then, Xie Jingchu slowly stepped forward.
"Madam Shen, A Jiu already knows everything."
Hearing this, Qin Shuang was speechless.
She trembled as she held Ruan Jiu's hand.
She had dreamed of hearing this "mother"!
But now...
"Yan'er, you stay in Qinzhou. Leave the matters of the Shen family to me and Yu'er." Qin Shuang said earnestly as she patted Ruan Jiu's hand.
Then she forced a smile and continued, "Don't worry. When everything is over, we'll come back for you immediately!"
Qin Shuang stared at Ruan Jiu intently, not wanting to look away for a moment.
It seemed as if she wanted to engrave Ruan Jiu's appearance deeply in her mind.
Ruan Jiu lowered her eyelids. "Will you really come back?"
Qin Shuang's expression faltered.
She knew that she might never come back.
The Shen family had angered the emperor.
Only if she took all the blame and sacrificed herself could she save Shen Wenshan's life and the entire Shen family!
Qin Shuang still smiled and said, "Yes, I will definitely come back!"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu narrowed her eyes.
She withdrew her hand and looked at Qin Shuang coldly.
"Do you think what you're doing is great? You'll be free from all troubles after you die, but have you ever thought about how painful it will be for the people who are still alive?!"
Qin Shuang's eyes widened slightly. "You... How do you know?"
Ruan Jiu took a few steps back and said with a cold smile, "You're not saving the Shen family! You're making the living suffer in pain forever!"
Then she looked at Shen Yu and scolded, "And you! How could you just watch your mother go to her death?!"
Shen Yu lowered his head painfully. "It's my fault! I'm unable to save the Shen family!"
After saying that, Shen Yu raised his hand and slapped himself hard.
Seeing this, Qin Shuang immediately grabbed Shen Yu's hand and cried, "Yu'er, don't do this!"
Then she explained to Ruan Jiu, "I begged Yu'er to agree! He and the master are the pillars of the Shen family. As long as they're alive, the Shen family will still exist!
I can't let anything happen to them!"
If only one life could be sacrificed to calm this matter down, then it had to be hers!
Qin Shuang was in tears.
Ruan Jiu wiped the tears from her face. "Isn't there any other way?"
Qin Shuang lowered her head, her eyes filled with desolation.
If there were other choices, how could she bear to leave her children?
"There must be another way! I'll go back to the capital with you and we'll think of a way together!"
"No!" Qin Shuang immediately refused. "Mother doesn't want to implicate you!"
Ruan Jiu had suffered too much.
This time going back to the capital, if they were not careful, the entire Shen family would be exiled.
Ruan Jiu bit her lip. "Even if you don't agree, I'll still go to the capital!"
Seeing Ruan Jiu's determined look, Shen Yu advised Qin Shuang, "Mother, let younger sister go back to the capital with us. Otherwise, we'll be worried if she goes alone."
Ruan Jiu nodded expectantly.
Qin Shuang looked at them helplessly and had no choice but to agree.
Then she admonished, "But Yan'er, you must remember that you must never let others know that you're the legitimate daughter of the Shen family."
If there was really no way out, at least Ruan Jiu could get out of this unscathed.
Seeing that Qin Shuang had agreed, Ruan Jiu finally let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll go with you too." Xie Jingchu suddenly said.
"No!" Ruan Jiu blurted out.
Xie Jingchu looked at Ruan Jiu in confusion.
Ruan Jiu avoided his gaze.
Last time when Xie Jingchu went to the capital, he had attracted attention.
Before she could figure out Xie Jingchu's background, she would never let him take risks.
So, she immediately made up an excuse. "Your grandfather just passed away. There are still many things waiting for you to handle in the Xie family. It's better for you to stay in Qinzhou.
Moreover, if something unexpected happens, it'll be good to have you here as a backup."
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu frowned tightly.
After much thought, he said, "Then I'll let Qin Yuan go with you."
"No!" Qin Yuan was like Xie Jingchu's eyes. If he went with them, how could she investigate Xie Jingchu's background?
Xie Jingchu's frown deepened.
This little girl seemed a bit strange.
Seeing that Xie Jingchu was suspicious, Ruan Jiu immediately said, "It's not convenient for a big man like Qin Yuan to stay by my side. Besides, the Shen family has so many guards. What else do you have to worry about?"
Ruan Jiu shook Xie Jingchu's arm and pleaded, "I promise I'll come back immediately after the matter is resolved. Not a single hair on my head will be missing. Okay?"
Seeing that Ruan Jiu was determined.
Xie Jingchu had no choice but to agree reluctantly.
Ruan Jiu let out a sigh of relief.
She had to save Shen Wenshan and investigate Xie Jingchu's background.
This trip to the capital would be a long and arduous one.