Xu Zhi could understand Shen Mingwan's feelings very well. She took Shen Mingwan's hand and said, "Sister Mingwan, don't be sad. When you encounter problems, just think of a solution. Aunt Feng is only doing this for your own good."

Shen Mingwan gently shook her head and said, "Ajiu, if you want what's best for me, you should listen to my thoughts. I know she wants to make amends, but I really don't need to. Sometimes I think I probably shouldn't have come to Wuzhou and lived with them like this. It always reminds them of those unbearable past events. Ajiu, I really want to leave here."

Shen Mingwan covered her face with her hands, and a few drops of water leaked through her fingers. Only then did Xu Zhi realize that this time, Shen Mingwan was really under pressure from her own biological mother and was finding it hard to breathe.

Xu Zhi opened her mouth, but in the end, she didn't say anything. Shen Mingwan's eyes were red, and she gave Xu Zhi a sad smile. That smile made Xu Zhi feel a pang of sadness. She said, "Don't smile," but she didn't open her mouth.

Shen Mingwan took a deep breath and said, "Alright, don't say anything to make me feel better. I've been to see our shop these past few days. The craftsmen are doing a very meticulous job, and it will be finished in a few days. Once the shop is renovated, I'll go back to the capital and stay at the manor there. It'll be peaceful there."

Xu Zhi didn't want Shen Mingwan to go back. That manor wasn't peaceful; it was desolate and unsafe. It was really unsafe for a girl like her to live alone on the manor.

Shen Mingwan held Xu Zhi's hand and said, "Don't try to persuade me anymore. I've thought about it for a long time and I feel that I can't continue to be with them. I'm just my aunt's niece. Even my own father hasn't forced me to get married, so why should my aunt?"

Xu Zhi quickly interrupted her: "Sister Mingwan, you can't talk like that. Aunt Feng loves you the most. She did this so that you would have someone to accompany you in this world in the future."

Shen Mingwan gently shook her head and said, "Ajiu, you should go back first. I'm feeling sad right now and I don't have the energy to entertain you."

Seeing Shen Mingwan like this, Xu Zhi had no choice but to say goodbye and go home.

The house was quite lively. It had snowed, and the snow in the small garden hadn't been cleared yet. The small pond was frozen over, and Zheng Yuanyuan was playing by the pond with several maids.

Xu Zhi was in a bad mood because of Shen Mingwan, but seeing Zheng Yuanyuan's rosy cheeks from playing made her feel a little better.

Shen Mingwan left a few days later. Before leaving, she had a meal with Xu Zhi. She didn't show any expression on her face, but when Xu Zhi saw her off at the side door, Shen Mingwan held Xu Zhi's hand and was very reluctant to part.

Xu Zhi wanted to persuade her to stay, so she tried to persuade her a couple of times, but Shen Mingwan kept shaking her head. After smiling and saying goodbye to Xu Zhi, she returned to the back office.

Shen Mingwan left, and Xu Zhi felt a little down. However, she was down for only a few days before she had no time to be down. The shop was renovated, the chefs brought from the capital were all in their positions, and the recruited staff had also arrived. Every day, Xu Zhi would go to the shop early to watch the chefs teach the staff how to make pastries and prepare for the opening.

After the oven in the shop was lit, the sweet aroma of baking cakes filled the whole street. Many people came to ask when they could open for business. Xu Zhi chose a lucky day in early November and prepared to open for business.

Zheng Boyuan came back once, during the day. After lunch, he hurried back. He told Xu Zhi that there had been some unusual activity on the other side of the border river recently. If anything happened in Wuzhou, Xu Zhi should hurry to the capital. There were no high mountains or dangerous forests between the border river and Wuzhou. If the Great Yan attacked, it would be difficult for them to resist with their 20,000 soldiers who had not received much formal training.

Xu Zhi's heart tightened, and she asked Zheng Boyuan what he would do if such a thing really happened.

After a long silence, Zheng Boyuan told Xu Zhi that he had come to protect this land and would fight to the last moment, even if it meant risking his life.

After Zheng Boyuan left, Xu Zhi was unable to recover for several days. She understood the reasoning, but she was very afraid that something might happen to Zheng Boyuan.

Hong Gu naturally understood why Xu Zhi was in a bad mood. She wanted to comfort her, but felt that she had to figure things out herself. Even when Shi Liu wanted to chat with Xu Zhi, Hong Gu stopped her.

It wasn't until the cake shop opened and Xu Zhi was busy for several days that the frustration in her heart finally dissipated.

That day, Xu Zhi heard from a servant of the Feng family in the back courtyard that Madam Shen had fallen ill, so Xu Zhi took a basket of pastries from her own shop and went to the Feng family in the back courtyard.

Madam Shen's face was sallow as she lay on the bed. When she saw Xu Zhi coming over, she quickly sat up. The maidservant beside her placed a pillow behind her back, and she leaned against the headboard.

Xu Zhi handed over the basket and said, "Aunt Feng, this is something we made ourselves in our shop. Please bring it over so that Aunt Feng can have a taste."

The nanny beside Madam Shen quickly took it. Madam Shen smiled and said, "Ajiu is so kind, but I haven't been feeling well these past two days and haven't been able to get out of bed. I'm sorry to have troubled you, Ajiu."

Xu Zhi carefully observed Shen's expression and knew that she was troubled by her heartache. Shen Mingwan's insistence on returning to the estate in the capital was a big blow to Shen. She also regretted why she had to force Wan'er to find a husband. Wan'er had suffered so much, and it would have been fine if she didn't want to find a husband, but once she got into that mood, Shen wanted to help Shen Mingwan find a suitable family to settle down with immediately.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!