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Zhu Shan and Ma Tiezhou lived together. After returning to Jiangcheng, Ma Tiezhou hired an old servant for Zhu Shan to cook and tend the fire. This old servant didn't live with them; he only came when it was time to work.

After Ma Tiezhou faked his death, Zhu Shan dismissed the old servant without even holding a funeral.

This was what Ma Tiezhou explained in his suicide note. He told Zhu Shan that he had jumped into the sea, and since his body couldn't be found, there was no need to hold a funeral. He didn't want others to know that he had committed suicide, and he asked Zhu Shan to preserve his final dignity.

Ma Tiezhou knew Zhu Shan all too well; he knew very well that Zhu Shan couldn't be happier to handle things this way.

After all, Ma Tiezhou was famous and highly respected in Jiangcheng. If people knew the truth, would Zhu Shan still be able to live? Even if they didn't know the truth, Ma Tiezhou's funeral would definitely attract many people to mourn, and Zhu Shan would become the focus of attention. In the midst of people's discussions, her identity as Ma's wife would be mentioned all the time.

This would make it inconvenient for her to later pursue Qi Bainian.

Handling it discreetly is the most appropriate approach.

Despite being husband and wife, Zhu Shan still kept vigil for Ma Tiezhou alone in the empty mourning hall all night.

The next morning, she dressed up in her finest clothes and prepared to go out.

But as soon as she opened the door, she saw a strikingly beautiful young girl running towards her, panting, and asking, "Is...is this Madam Ma?"

"Hmm." Zhu Shan responded indifferently, showing resistance to this form of address.

The young girl was Xia Qi, who had dressed up a bit. With one hand on her hip and the other on the door frame, she said, "I saw Lord Ma jump into the sea last night!"

Zhu Shan's expression suddenly changed!