On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Ruan Jiu decided to set off with Xie Jingchu for Qinzhou.
She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would be reluctant to leave.
Qin Shuang held Ruan Jiu's hand tightly with tears in her eyes and didn't want to let go.
Although she had tried her best to hold back the tears in her eyes, her red - rimmed eyes still made people feel heart - rending.
Meanwhile, Shen Wenshan kept ordering the servants to carry the things prepared for Ruan Jiu onto the carriage one by one.
If Ruan Jiu hadn't declined repeatedly, Shen Wenshan would have wanted to move all the things in the Shen family to Qinzhou for her.
"A Jiu, you must come back to the capital to visit us often in the future." Qin Shuang kept rubbing Ruan Jiu's hand.
"Okay," Ruan Jiu replied.
Suddenly, Qin Shuang let out a long sigh. "It's better not to come to the capital. The capital is too dangerous."
But if that was the case, she didn't know when she would see Ruan Jiu next time.
Thinking of this, Qin Shuang could no longer hold back her tears, and they fell one by one.
The tears dropped on Ruan Jiu's hand, and for a moment, her eyes also began to redden.
Shen Wenshan walked over, put his arm around Qin Shuang's shoulder, and comforted her, "Don't be sad, madam. When I hand over the Shen family to that brat, we'll go back to the old mansion in Qinzhou."
"Really?" Qin Shuang said in surprise. "Then you must hurry up!"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu laughed through her tears.
Fortunately, Shen Yu wasn't here today. Otherwise, he would have complained that he had become a child without parental love.
Just then, the sound of hurried hoofbeats came.
They saw Shen Yu pull on the reins and dismount from his horse.
When he stood in front of Ruan Jiu, there were beads of sweat on his forehead, and he was gasping for breath.
Ruan Jiu frowned. "We said our goodbyes yesterday. Why did you come back specially today?"
After they said goodbye yesterday, Shen Yu accompanied Zhou Zhaodi back to the Zhou family.
According to the rules in the capital, a newly - married woman should stay at her parents' home for three days during the New Year.
Shen Yu's return today might make the Zhou family think that the Shen family didn't value Zhou Zhaodi.
Ruan Jiu couldn't help but worry that Zhou Chang would make things difficult for Zhou Zhaodi because of this.
Then Shen Yu caught his breath and said, "A Zhao will understand."
Then he continued, "Come with me. I have something to tell you!"
Before Ruan Jiu could say anything, Shen Yu grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside.
The others were left standing there, looking at each other in surprise.
In the study, Shen Yu made sure no one was following him, then closed the door tightly.
Looking at Ruan Jiu seriously, he said, "I seem to have found out Xie Jingchu's background."
Seeing Shen Yu's complex expression, Ruan Jiu knew that things must be complicated.
Shen Yu continued, "Yesterday I accompanied A Zhao back to the Zhou family. After Zhou Chang got drunk, he accidentally said something about how Gu Kexing gradually rose to a high position back then.
But one thing caught my attention.
I thought there must be something fishy about it. Maybe if we found out the truth, we could get rid of Gu Kexing.
So I immediately sent someone to investigate, and unexpectedly, I really found out something."
Shen Yu took a deep breath. "Back then, General Huo Yuan of the Loyal and Brave Army had made great military achievements, and his younger sister, Concubine Shu, was extremely favored by the emperor. It was said that after the death of the former queen, Concubine Shu was the most likely one to ascend to the position of the queen. For a while, the Huo family was full of glory and splendor.
Later, General Huo was ordered to pacify the border. A war that was supposed to last only two months actually dragged on for half a year. Moreover, General Huo, who had always been invincible, unfortunately died in that battle. The 100,000 - strong army was completely wiped out, and not a single survivor was left.
The emperor posthumously conferred General Huo Yuan the title of Marquis Chengen, and his wife was granted the title of a first - rank imperial - order lady. After young Master Huo came of age, he would inherit General Huo's mantle and become the new Marquis Chengen. In the future, the descendants of the Huo family would inherit the title for generations.
But not long after, Gu Kexing suddenly presented the letters between General Huo and the enemy army, accusing General Huo of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. He claimed that General Huo not only caused our dynasty to lose cities and the 100,000 - strong army to be completely wiped out, but also reaped what he had sown and was killed by the enemy.
The emperor was extremely angry. Overnight, the entire family of the Marquis Chengen Mansion was massacred, and even the newly - born son of Lady Huo didn't escape this disaster.
Concubine Shu, who had once been the most favored in the harem, was also sent to the cold palace by the emperor and was not allowed to leave until she died.
But Gu Kexing took the position of the prime minister because of this, and his younger sister became the current queen overnight."
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu felt a faint uneasiness in her heart. Frowning, she asked, "But what does all this have to do with A Jing's background?"
Shen Yu continued, "Back then, Lady Huo had a close friend in her boudoir. They were as close as sisters. This person was none other than Old Lady Xie, Jiang Yi, from Qinzhou."
Ruan Jiu was stunned and exclaimed, "Could it be that A Jing is the newly - born son of Lady Huo?"
Did Lady Huo entrust her son to someone on her deathbed when the Huo family was in trouble?
Then she shook her head. "No, by that time, Old Lady Xie had been married to Qinzhou for many years."
She denied those terrible speculations in her heart.
Shen Yu stared intently. "When the Huo family had an accident, Old Lady Xie happened to be back in the capital to visit her relatives. Not long after, Old Lady Xie left the capital in a hurry, and the time just matched Xie Jingchu's age."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu's body went limp, and she couldn't help but take a deep breath.
If that was really the case, wouldn't Xie Jingchu be shouldering a blood - drenched vengeance!
Seeing Ruan Jiu frowning and looking solemn, Shen Yu immediately comforted her, "But this is just a speculation. Maybe it's all just a coincidence."
Ruan Jiu clenched her fingers so tightly that she didn't even notice her nails digging into her flesh. She frowned and shook her head.
Her intuition told her that Xie Jingchu was that child back then.
No wonder Old Master Xie had kept Xie Jingchu in the old mansion to grow up!
No wonder someone went to Qinzhou to inquire for information after Xie Jingchu showed up in the capital!
No wonder Old Master Xie told her before he died that if Xie Jingchu ever found out his own background, she should persuade him to let go of his hatred!
How could all these be coincidences!
Shen Yu pursed his lips and asked, "Then are you going to tell Xie Jingchu about this?"
Ruan Jiu bit her lip tightly.
She didn't believe that General Huo would collude with the enemy and betray the country. This must be a frame - up by Gu Kexing!
Climbing to a high position by stepping on so many corpses, wasn't Gu Kexing afraid that the souls of the 100,000 heroes would come back to claim his life at night?!
But now Gu Kexing was extremely powerful. Not to mention the matter of avenging the Huo family.
I'm afraid that as long as Xie Jingchu's identity was exposed, Gu Kexing wouldn't let him leave the capital alive.
However, if she kept this matter to herself, she could return to Qinzhou safely with Xie Jingchu and live the quiet life she had longed for.
But the lives of the entire Huo family and the 100,000 - strong army, all these together, could probably dye the moat red.
With such a deep hatred, how could she act as if she knew nothing!
She couldn't do it!
Ruan Jiu's eyebrows seemed to be never able to relax again.
After a long time, she said with difficulty, "Brother, please go and call A Jing here."
Shen Yu nodded, stood up, and walked out.
But his steps were much slower than when he came in.
Ruan Jiu stood up, walked outside the door, and looked up at the sky.
Grandfather, I'm sorry!
I'm afraid A Jiu will break my promise.