What I'm implying is that I don't want to see you again, I won't accept your kindness, and I hope you can leave my life forever.

Huo Jingsha was stunned for a long time. He wanted to nod, but he couldn't move his neck at all. Waves of bitterness surged up in his heart, so much so that he had to breathe desperately to relieve it a little. Blinking away the misty tears in his eyes, he wanted to beg her... Yao'er, please, let me protect you silently in the shadows. You are my wife. If I don't protect you, who else can I protect?

He could see her determined expression, as well as a calmness and persistence he had never witnessed before, and in the end, he still chose to compromise.

"Okay, I can grant your request, but on one condition: accept these things. I promise this is the last time. If you agree, I promise I will never bother you again." He struggled to finish saying this.

"I promise you," Shu Yao nodded without hesitation, only hoping he would leave quickly. After this period of calm and reflection, she felt that leaving him might not be the end of a wonderful life, but the beginning of a completely new one. Once she found Xiao Bao, she would leave with her son for good.

When she first arrived here, she would lie in bed alone late at night, lost in thought, thinking about her son, about their time together, about everything that happened at the Huo family mansion; and... about the way he lay half-naked on top of Yuefang that night, holding her and kissing her tenderly. Every time she thought about it, her heart ached.

But as the pain intensified, she suddenly realized that it wasn't as sharp anymore. She then understood that she had probably accepted everything—his infidelity, his abandonment—and was gradually adapting to living alone. Her heart was at peace; the rest was up to time to slowly forget.

Huo Jingsha realized her resoluteness and noticed that the fervor in her eyes when she looked at her was gone. As she turned away, a tear still rolled down her cheek.

He left the house step by step, his heart dying little by little along with him.

Huo Jingsha, you should be happy. She finally doesn't love you anymore. Isn't that exactly what you needed? Only by knowing you but not being with you can she continue to live a good life. Yes, you should be happy.

He left dejectedly, trying to force a smile, but his features remained stiff and he couldn't make any expression. Hiding deep in the woods, he knelt under a tree, praying to God with a heart ashen with despair... God, let me die, why is living so painful? Every nerve, every inch of skin, even every strand of hair in his body was aching intensely.

It was as if his heart had been ripped out; from then on, he was a heartless person.

This time, Huo Jingsha really disappeared completely. Shu Yao stood in the courtyard for a long time, and finally gritted her teeth and picked up the things on the ground, but she didn't eat any of them, letting them rot. In the end, she went crazy.

A few days later, Shu Yao went to the city. In addition to replenishing some daily necessities, she also wanted to sell some herbs she had dug up in the back mountain to raise money. The money she had used to pawn her hairpin was almost gone. Since she didn't know how long it would be before she could see Xiao Bao again, she needed more money to get by.

There is a clinic on West Third Street, run by Dr. He's apprentice. It can treat illnesses and dispense medicine, and it is especially good at pediatrics. Several times when Xiao Bao was unwell, they brought him here for treatment. Speaking of which, Dr. He's apprentice had met her a few times.

Upon seeing her, the other person was genuinely taken aback. Shu Yao spoke first, "Hello, Doctor Lang, I've gathered some herbs, which have been dried. I wonder if you need them?"

She took the initiative to state her purpose: firstly, to dispel his concerns and avoid putting him in a difficult position; secondly, to acknowledge that she was no longer the young mistress of the Huo family, since the young mistress of the Huo family would not stoop so low as to sell herbs here.

Dr. Lang was a middle-aged man in his forties, honest and kind, and very sincere. He noticed Shu Yao's intentions but didn't act too warmly or coldly. He treated her like any other ordinary customer who came in. Shu Yao was very grateful for his understanding without saying anything.

After taking the basket from her and examining it, Doctor Lang said a number, "Five taels."

Wow... that's quite a lot! She flashed a bright smile and thanked them repeatedly.

Immediately afterward, Doctor Lang went to the counter to weigh the silver, while Shu Yao wandered around the hall, her eyes suddenly drawn to a rabbit specimen in a corner. She squatted down to examine it closely. Just then, hurried footsteps rushed in from outside, and a voice said to Doctor Lang in a very anxious tone, "Doctor, you...you must come with me to the manor to see him quickly! My young master has diarrhea again. I don't know if it's because he just started eating solid food or ate something wrong. He's had diarrhea three times this morning, and...he even vomited once. We're so worried!"

Upon hearing the voice, Shu Yao froze and turned around to see Chun Lü.

The child was vomiting and had diarrhea. Who was she talking about? Was it Yuefang's fake Xiaobao, or her real son Xiaobao? Shuyao panicked.

She wanted to go out and find out the truth, but she was afraid of alerting the enemy, so she could only hide in a corner for the time being. Because of Doctor He's connection, and seeing Chunlu's anxious and almost crying appearance, Doctor Lang forgot to pay for Shuyao's medicine. He only gave a few instructions to the young shop assistant in the hall, then carried his medicine box and hurriedly got on Huo's horse and left.

After Shu Yao came out, she didn't care about money anymore and ran towards the Huo residence.

She arrived at the gate of the Huo residence. In the past, she could walk through this gate with ease, and it was perfectly natural for her to come and go as she pleased. But now, the gatekeeper would only treat her as a stranger and block her from entering, and would not easily let her in.

Shu Yao, being sensible, hid behind a tree at a respectable distance. No longer the mistress of the house, getting inside would be harder than climbing to heaven. Indeed, how could a lowly commoner like her easily enter the residence of a high-ranking official?

But she wouldn't give up easily. Her mind was preoccupied with whether the sick child was the real Xiaobao or the fake one. She waited from day to night, but Dr. Lang didn't come out. Her heart began to race with anxiety, and she almost rushed in recklessly. Was the child very ill? Otherwise, why hadn't he come out for so long? That wretched Huo Jingsha! She cursed him a thousand times in her heart, refusing to believe he could hide Xiaobao forever.