After Xie Jingchu left, Ruan Jiu sat there, looking dejected.
The last two words were like a huge mountain weighing on her, making it hard for her to catch her breath for a long time.
She didn't believe a single word Xie Jingchu said, yet those words pierced her heart with unbearable pain.
But after all, it was her who had done something wrong, and she deserved to suffer these hardships.
She only hoped that Xie Jingchu would calm down soon.
However, when she went to look for Xie Jingchu, she learned that he had already left.
At this moment, she finally realized what Xie Jingchu meant by "forget it".
It was her willful actions that had created an insurmountable gulf between them.
In just one month, Ruan Jiu had lost a lot of weight.
"A Jiu, eat more," Qin Shuang said as she had prepared a table full of Ruan Jiu's favorite dishes. But Ruan Jiu still showed no appetite, which made Qin Shuang feel so heart - ache.
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu's wandering thoughts were pulled back.
She picked up her chopsticks and only picked up some green vegetables in front of her and put them into her mouth.
Seeing this, Qin Shuang sighed helplessly. "That Xie Jingchu is really something. How could he just go back to Qinzhou without saying a word?" There was a bit of complaint in her tone.
In Qin Shuang's view, the two of them must have had a small argument.
Shen Yu, sitting beside them, saw Ruan Jiu's eyes dim. He shook his head at Qin Shuang, signaling her not to say any more.
Shen Yu knew that Xie Jingchu didn't go back to Qinzhou but had gone to Shuozhou.
Xie Jingchu had met Shen Yu before he left. The devastated look on his face was still vivid in Shen Yu's mind.
Although Shen Yu knew that Xie Jingchu did this to protect Ruan Jiu, he didn't agree with his way of handling things.
Why couldn't they have a good talk? Why did he have to be so decisive?
When Xie Jingchu finally avenged his great hatred in the future, Shen Yu wondered how he would end up.
Ruan Jiu put down her chopsticks and said softly, "I'm done. You two enjoy your meal."
After saying that, she was about to get up and go back to her room.
Just then, Shen Wenshan suddenly said, "Wait."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu quietly sat back in her seat.
She lowered her head and played with her fingers.
Since Xie Jingchu left, she seemed to have lost interest in everything.
So she didn't really care what Shen Wenshan was going to say.
"I'm going to be away for a few days. I'll leave the matters in the capital to you two siblings," Shen Wenshan said seriously.
"Where are you going, Father?" Shen Yu asked anxiously.
"Shuozhou."
Hearing the word "Shuozhou", Ruan Jiu's hand stopped.
Shen Yu noticed the strange look in Ruan Jiu's eyes. So he asked the question in her mind on her behalf. "Is there something wrong in Shuozhou? Why do you have to go there in person?"
Although the Shen family had many industries in Shuozhou, it was not necessary for Shen Wenshan to go there himself.
"Not long ago, an epidemic suddenly broke out in Shuozhou. Now there is a shortage of medicinal materials in the city. And our Shen family has the largest medical center. His Majesty means for the Shen family to take the medicinal materials to Shuozhou first to help the people in the city."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu suddenly raised her head.
An epidemic broke out in Shuozhou.
Then what about Xie Jingchu...
Shen Yu frowned. "The situation in Shuozhou is very dangerous now. You can't go there in person, Father."
An epidemic was no small matter.
Shen Wenshan shook his head. "After all, it's His Majesty's order. If we just send someone randomly, it's inevitable that some ill - intentioned people will make a big deal out of it and charge the Shen family with the crime of disrespect."
"I'm willing to go to Shuozhou on Father's behalf."
Shen Yu was naturally worried about letting his father go to Shuozhou because of his old age.
"No," Shen Wenshan waved his hand. "Now that Zhaodi has just become pregnant, you should stay in the capital to take care of her."
After hearing this, Shen Yu frowned and pursed his lips. After a moment of hesitation in his eyes, he still said firmly, "A Zhao will understand. Just let me go."
"No!"
Just as the father - son duo were arguing fiercely, Ruan Jiu's voice suddenly sounded.
"Let me go."
Shen Yu turned to look at Ruan Jiu. "You want to go to Shuozhou?"
Ruan Jiu nodded.
Then, Shen Wenshan and Qin Shuang said in unison, "No!"
"A Jiu, the epidemic is spreading in Shuozhou now. I'm really worried about you!" Qin Shuang tried to persuade her.
Shen Yu glanced at Qin Shuang. "Mother, why didn't I see you worried about me just now? You're being so partial."
Qin Shuang glared at Shen Yu. "You're tough and thick - skinned. How can you be compared with your sister?"
Sure enough, Shen Yu had become the least favored one in the family.
Even the reason for not allowing him to go to Shuozhou was just to let him stay and take care of the pregnant Zhou Zhaodi.
Shen Yu pouted.
Ruan Jiu said calmly, "Father is old and can't endure the long - distance journey. And now sister - in - law is pregnant, so brother can't leave. Since I'm a member of the Shen family, I should take on this responsibility."
Although she said so, Shen Yu knew that Ruan Jiu was worried about Xie Jingchu.
This epidemic in Shuozhou seemed to give Ruan Jiu a reason to go and see Xie Jingchu.
"No!" Shen Wenshan refused. "You're a girl. How can you go to such a dangerous place?"
"It's just an epidemic. Don't worry, Father. I'll definitely take good care of myself." Ruan Jiu still wanted to fight for it.
Shen Wenshan still shook his head firmly.
Fortunately, Shen Yu saw through Ruan Jiu's thoughts and helped to persuade them. "Let A Jiu go."
Since he got married, Shen Yu had gradually understood the feelings between men and women.
He knew that Ruan Jiu and Xie Jingchu were in love with each other.
Seeing Ruan Jiu lose her appetite and be listless these days, he felt very heart - ache and worried about them.
If something really happened to Xie Jingchu in Shuozhou, Ruan Jiu might blame herself for the rest of her life.
Rather than that, it would be better for the two of them to meet and clear things up.
At least there would be no regrets.
"You naughty boy. Do you know what you're saying? How can you let A Jiu go to such a dangerous place!"
If it weren't for the fact that Shen Yu was about to become a father, Qin Shuang really wanted to pull his ears and twist them a few times.
She even thought that she should have left him in the dilapidated temple back then!
Shen Yu continued to persuade them. "A Jiu is not a child. She can protect herself. Now that she wants to go to Shuozhou, you should be happy. Do you still want to watch her lock herself in the room?"
Ruan Jiu nodded in agreement.
After hearing this, Qin Shuang suddenly thought that Shen Yu had a point.
These days, except for meal times, Ruan Jiu had always locked herself in the room.
If this continued, Qin Shuang was really afraid that she would suffocate herself.
But at the same time, she was worried about the danger in Shuozhou.
For a moment, Qin Shuang couldn't make up her mind. She frowned and looked at Shen Wenshan.
Shen Wenshan looked solemn. After thinking for a while, he said in a deep voice, "Alright. It's good for her to go out and relax."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu's eyes regained their sparkle.
Then she immediately got up and went back to her room to pack her things.
Shen Wenshan and Qin Shuang looked at each other.
Qin Shuang was puzzled. "Why does A Jiu look so happy?"
Shen Yu thought to himself, of course she's happy when she's going to see her sweetheart.
But Qin Shuang was still a bit worried. "Husband, is it really okay to let A Jiu go to Shuozhou?"
Shen Wenshan comforted her. "It's just going to deliver some medicinal materials. It won't take long. Just let her go out and relax. She'll be back in a few days."
After hearing this, Qin Shuang pursed her lips and nodded.
However, if Shen Wenshan had known that Ruan Jiu almost lost her life in Shuozhou this time, he would definitely never have agreed.