Until late at night, Shen Jingwen did not go to Ning Mansion to ask for the token. He just sat quietly in his study, thinking about what happened during the day.

He really hadn't expected Ning Wan's actions, and he hadn't expected that the reason she rushed here was because she was afraid that he would choose the wrong person and bring trouble to the Ning family.

Don’t you want to have anything to do with the affairs of the court?

Even though Jun Yan's identity as the crown prince had not yet been determined, just because of the emperor's favor towards him, he had already become the object of many girls' pursuit.

There were countless petitions from the people about how a fish could leap over the dragon gate or a sparrow could turn into a phoenix. All of them wanted to gain the favor of the future crown prince and finally hold the highest position in the harem.

Thinking of the other party snatching his token and fleeing in panic, Shen Jingwen's eyes were like ink suddenly falling into clear water, and they darkened in an instant.

Breaking off the engagement was naturally impossible. He actually hoped that Ning Wan could really see through Jun Yan's intentions and wanted to protect the Ning family well; instead of wanting to use this token to meet Jun Yan and degenerate into a pawn in the hands of others.

At the same time, Ning Wan, who was already asleep in the backyard of the Ning Mansion, sneezed inexplicably.

Ning Wan turned over and pulled the quilt beside her. On the pillow was the token that she had not yet put away. It shone coldly in the moonlight, like something ominous.

"Jing'er."

Mother Shen came out at some point, stood at the door, her hand on the door frame, and called softly.

Her illness has not been cured, and she has been relying on drugs to barely stay alive over the years, but she is still rarely sober.

Shen Jingwen was slightly startled, and looked in the direction of the voice. All his thoughts were pulled back. He stood up very quickly and helped Shen's mother into the study.

"It's late at night, why hasn't mother rested yet?"

Mother Shen sat on the couch and looked at her son in front of her, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, her eyes gentle as water:

"Please sit down. I usually sleep too much and it's rare for me to be awake. Mother wants to talk to you."

Shen Jingwen heard this and sat down on the other side of the couch.

Mother Shen's eyes fell on Shen Jingwen's face, and she looked at him carefully, but she couldn't help thinking in her heart: I wonder if she will have the chance to see Jing'er get married.

"Do you have any plans for the next step?" Mother Shen came back to her senses and asked softly.

"Yes, I will take part in the Autumn Examination in three years." Shen Jingwen did not hide his plan and told the truth.

Mother Shen knew that Jing'er had a very high character and would definitely not be confined to the market. She thought for a moment and said, "Back then, your father also..."

Mother Shen said, her tone paused, and her eyes fell on Jing'er's face again.

After seeing the hurt in Shen Jingwen's eyes, Mother Shen couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Ever since Jing'er's father passed away, she rarely mentioned him in front of young Jing'er. But just because she didn't mention him, it didn't mean that Jing'er didn't yearn for fatherly love.

The dim candlelight flickered slightly, but Shen Jingwen was so nervous that he didn't say a word.

Mother Shen thought about it, and continued to speak the unfinished words, her tone was calm and had a reassuring power:

"Your father also took part in the Autumn Examination twice, but failed each time. He was depressed and stopped at the level of a scholar."

"He had no ambition to be a teacher in Rongping, but he had no choice but to stay to support his family. His ambitions were nowhere to be realized, and he eventually died of depression."

"Jing'er, the purpose of my mother saying this is not to persuade you to give up, but to tell you that some things cannot be forced. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just do your best in everything."

Shen Jingwen's heart trembled slightly. This was the first time his mother told him the reasons for his father's death.

The atmosphere in the study suddenly became quiet, and Mother Shen couldn't help coughing lightly, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she remembered something.

"What happened during the day? Why did you quarrel with the little girl from the Ning family?" There was a hint of curiosity in Mother Shen's eyes, but no anger.

Knowing that Mother Shen wanted to change the subject, Shen Jingwen naturally cooperated.

After some deliberation, he still didn't explain the real reason, but just calmly replied: "There is a little misunderstanding. I will go and explain it to her in a few days."

Mother Shen frowned slightly, and for a moment she couldn’t tell whether she should believe it or not: “Misunderstanding?”

"If mother heard correctly, the girl from the Ning family even said she wanted to cancel the engagement. Doesn't it seem like this misunderstanding is serious?"

Mother Shen said this, but she knew in her heart that Jing'er in front of her was probably deliberately hiding the truth from her.

Although she could only hear vaguely in the room and was barely conscious, and only heard a few sporadic words, she knew that things were not simple.

A complex look flashed across Shen Jingwen's eyes. Perhaps he didn't know how to explain it, so he could only remain silent.

"Jing'er, don't blame your mother for being too talkative."

"Since you have already made an engagement with the Ning family, you cannot act insincerely and waste other people's affection."

"If you really don't like Miss Ning, please say so in advance. Don't let people misunderstand you, and don't lose your basic sense of morality because of this."

Mother Shen couldn't imagine what made Ning Wan so angry, but it was her son who caused the trouble himself, otherwise how could he be forced to say such words about the life and death of the Ning family.

Shen Jingwen shuddered slightly, and looking at Shen's mother, whose expression was tinged with fatigue, he did not explain too much, but just nodded slightly.

Mother Shen knew that it was useless for her to say more, and she recalled the conversation with Jing'er three years ago, and thought to herself: Three years have passed, and nothing has changed.

She even began to suspect that by agreeing to this marriage for Jing'er, she might be harming the girl from the Ning family.

Thinking of this, she felt even more guilty.