Even if Shen Yunjiao didn't ask, Shen Qinghuai would bring it up himself, because he also felt it was a bit strange.

"Brother?" Shen Yunjiao asked nervously, but saw that he looked very serious.

Shen Qinghuai asked her solemnly, "It's strange, but I ran into the Crown Prince at the Ministry of Revenue today, and he seemed to deliberately tell me about your imprisonment in the Pei family ancestral hall."

"Shen Yunjiao, tell me honestly, did you know the Crown Prince before? Why did he help you?" Shen Qinghuai asked directly.

Shen Yunjiao's eyes flickered, and her heart skipped a beat.

She quickly explained, "Brother, what you're saying is ridiculous. How could I possibly know the Crown Prince? I just happened to run into him at the royal banquet that day. Besides, I don't even remember what the Crown Prince looks like. He probably just saw you and mentioned him casually."

"Brother, don't worry about it. I'm a little tired. Let me rest."

Seeing that Shen Yunjiao looked exhausted as she leaned against the car window, Shen Qinghuai sighed and decided not to ask any further questions.

Anyway, he brought Shen Yunjiao out of the Pei residence and would never let his sister go back to that hellhole again.

Shen Yunjiao felt extremely guilty and could only look at the fleeting street scene outside the window.

She was never good at lying, but fortunately Shen Qinghuai didn't have the habit of pressing for answers.

But Xiao Huaijin actually helped her, allowing her brother to find her smoothly and avoid further conflict with Pei Zhixuan, so he can be considered a good person.

If I ever run into Xiao Huaijin again, I'll thank him properly then.

Shen Yunjiao and her entourage returned to the Shen residence in about half an hour.

She realized that she had only been away for a short time, but she already missed every flower and tree in the Shen Mansion. Perhaps it was because here that she felt like she was at home.

This time when they returned to the mansion, Aunt Liu did not stand ostentatiously at the gate as she had last time. Instead, she waited for them in the main courtyard of the Shen mansion with Shen Zhizhang.

Because of her foot injury, Shen Yunjiao was first carried into the main courtyard by servants in a sedan chair, and then Shen Qinghuai carried her into the flower hall.

When she saw Shen Zhizhang, she wanted to get down and bow respectfully, but Shen Zhizhang nervously instructed, "Quickly put your sister on the chair."

Aunt Liu hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked, "How come the eldest daughter was punished by the young master after only a few days?"

"Then Pei Zhixuan's family are no good people either, taking turns bullying my sister," Shen Qinghuai said angrily.

Shen Zhizhang glanced at his pitiful daughter and said loudly, "You may all leave now. I have something to say to Yun Jiao."

Shen Yunjiao nodded and then said to Aunt Liu, "Aunt, I left in a hurry this time. The two maids you brought me last time are still in the Pei residence. I didn't take them with me. Anyway, they are all from the Shen family, so I don't think the Pei family will make things too difficult for them."

Aunt Liu's thoughts shifted slightly. She decided to let Shen Yunjiao stay at the Pei residence; perhaps she would return someday.

So she quickly reassured them, "It's alright. They are born into the Shen family and have the master's name on their behalf, so no one will dare to mistreat them. Here, I'll go to the kitchen to prepare some food for the young lady."

After saying this, Aunt Liu bowed and turned to leave the flower hall.

Shen Qinghuai refused to leave, saying, "Father, what do you and my sister have to say that you have to keep from me?"

"You scoundrel! What are you doing, eavesdropping on gossip? Get out of here!" Shen Zhizhang replied, his face grim.

Shen Yunjiao quickly gave him a wink, and Shen Qinghuai had no choice but to leave.

“Father.” Shen Yunjiao lowered her head obediently, “I thought Father was still angry with you last time.”

Shen Zhizhang coughed awkwardly and sat down in a chair. "Your nonsense may not make sense at first glance, but I know that you must be overwhelmed with worry to have such dreams."

Shen Yunjiao nodded: "I am indeed worried about Father. He holds a high position and wields great power. I fear that His Majesty will become suspicious of him, and I also fear that the Crown Prince will be wary of Father."

Of course, she couldn't reveal the plot of the novel casually, but with just a few simple reminders, Shen Zhizhang, who had been through the officialdom for a long time, would definitely understand.

As expected, Shen Zhizhang sighed and said, "I understand, but Yun Jiao, what is the current situation between you and Prince Pei?"

Looking at his daughter's injured foot and melancholy expression, Shen Zhizhang knew that things were not so simple.

“That Pei Zhixuan looks so respectable, I never imagined he would favor his concubine over his wife to such an extent!” Shen Zhizhang clenched his fists tightly in anger. “Don’t worry, I will seek justice for you.”

“Father, this injury has nothing to do with Pei Zhixuan,” Shen Yunjiao said, her eyes lowered.

Maybe a little? But it doesn't really matter anyway.

"Does Father know that I have a physical defect? ​​I may not be able to have children in the future, and that's why Pei Zhixuan's mother punished me."

"What nonsense is this? You have been frail and sickly since childhood, but I have never heard a doctor say that you cannot have children. Which doctor is talking nonsense?" Shen Zhizhang said in a deep voice.

“Is it possible that I wasn’t born with this disease?” Shen Yunjiao raised her eyes, took a deep breath, and replied.

"You mean—" Shen Zhizhang paused, "that someone poisoned him?"

"Do you have any clues?" Shen Zhizhang asked after a moment of contemplation. When he saw her nod slightly, his expression immediately turned grim.

"Father, allow me to investigate properly. It's not convenient to alert them right now," Shen Yunjiao replied calmly.

Fish will always succumb to temptation and take the bait; just be patient.

—

The moonlight outside the window was hazy, while the candlelight inside flickered.

"Fu Xia, slow down." Shen Yunjiao placed her hand on the small table and one foot on the wooden stool, watching Fu Xia carefully remove the silk cloth from her foot.

"Girl, does it hurt a lot?" Fu Xia asked with concern.

Just as Shen Yunjiao was about to answer, a familiar cuckoo call came from outside the window.

Her eyes flickered slightly. "Fu Xia, go outside and see if the elm wood powder mixed with sesame oil I ordered is ready."

As soon as Fu Xia stepped out, Shen Yun Jiao coughed slightly.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed past the half-open window, leaving behind only a small blue bottle and a letter.

Shen Yunjiao hopped on one foot to the windowsill and unfolded the letter.

"A secret medicine from the royal palace; it will be helpful for your wound."

Shen Yunjiao couldn't help but smile.

She opened the small bottle and sniffed it; a faint, wonderful fragrance instantly wafted out.

His Highness the Crown Prince treated her quite well.

Shen Yunjiao bounced back to bed and lay down on the canopy bed, lost in thought.