Nan Zhi didn't turn around. "I've already given up on this idea. Young Marshal, please don't misunderstand."

She remained wary of him.

Shen Yunjin could easily see that her tone was one of refusal, but her stiff body had already given her an answer.

He finally made up his mind: "I can help you."

"Help me?" Nan Zhi's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she turned back to look at him with a hopeful expression. "Then let me out now."

Shen Yunjin shook his head: "Not yet."

The timing isn't right; even if he lets her go, she won't be able to escape.

Nan Zhi's eyes dimmed, and she gave him a mocking smile, "Is the young marshal playing me again?"

"no……"

"The first time you met me, you told me to commit suicide, and when I did, you stopped me."

Nan Zhi laughed, her sarcasm growing stronger. "Later you were quite nice to me, and I thought... I actually thought you had a little bit of affection for me... I never expected you to change your tune again, playing me for fools time and time again!"

For a moment, she seemed to see through his feelings for her, but his actions left her only with doubt.

"Young Marshal, do you think it's fun to play with me like this, to watch me suffer, and then come to my rescue, to see me go from hope to despair?"

Shen Yunjin didn't want her to misunderstand him, but he didn't know how to explain, "No..."

He wanted to admit his feelings for her, but when he thought of Shen Zhencai's words, he fell silent.

If she finds out, it will only increase the danger to her.

Therefore, he can only remain silent about this relationship forever.

Seeing that he couldn't explain anything, Nanzhi smiled.

"Without the young marshal's help, don't you know how fortunate you are to marry your father?"

She said indifferently, "Young Marshal, you'd better leave quickly. If someone finds out, you might get away with it, but I could never explain myself even if I had ten mouths."

"Believe it or not, give me some time, and I'll help you leave."

Shen Yunjin watched her retreating figure. Even though he had made a promise, she still refused to believe it and remained indifferent, not turning back.

He gave her a deep look, said "Get some rest," and turned to leave.

After Shen Yunjin went out, he did not rush to leave.

He stood not far from the door, listening to the low sobs coming from inside, and his heart was gripped tightly once again.

Fearing she might do something foolish, he silently stayed by her side for a long time until the crying inside stopped and it became completely quiet. Only when he could faintly hear the sounds of servants getting up and working downstairs did he return to his room.

Shen Yunjin didn't rest at all. After taking a shower, it was already completely bright outside.

He decided not to sleep, changed his clothes, and went downstairs.

In the past, Nanzhi would usually come downstairs for breakfast around breakfast time, but she didn't come down today.

Shen Yunjin didn't see her for several days afterward.

Shen Yunjin started returning earlier and earlier, and on the few occasions she saw Nanzhi, she was listless and lacked energy.

He was like a mouse, always secretly watching her, afraid that she might do something rash. Fortunately, she did not attempt suicide again.

...

Although Nan Zhi's cold had almost completely subsided, she remained indifferent to Shen Zhencai. Several times when Shen Zhencai asked to go to her room, she made excuses to refuse.

Seeing her like this, the sixth concubine felt her opportunity had come and went to Shen Zhencai to sow discord:

"General, you treat her so well, yet she always treats you so coldly. It's really too much. It's as if marrying you is some kind of humiliation. In my opinion, you should lock her up and let her reflect on her actions. Only then will she be grateful to you."

The words of the sixth concubine caused Shen Zhencai's temper, which had been suppressed for the past few days, to flare up.

In a fit of anger, he ordered Nanzhi to be sent to the most remote and shabby room in the Marshal's Mansion.

The servant who brought her looked up and said coldly, "Ninth Concubine, the Marshal said that he will release you when you have thought it through."

Nanzhi felt no humiliation whatsoever. Looking at the simple, somewhat drafty house in front of her, she actually felt happy.

In order to punish Nanzhi, Shen Zhencai did not assign her a maid, nor did he provide her with any warm clothes; he simply had someone bring her a few thin garments.

The room was covered in dust, making it almost impossible to step inside.

Shen Zhencai sent someone to supervise her, intending to wait for her to honestly admit her mistake, but to his surprise, she rolled up her sleeves and started tidying up the house.

Nanzhi spent the whole afternoon cleaning the house. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and finally stopped, satisfied, without the slightest bit of frustration or sadness.

The food was cold and spoiled, but she ate it with a smile.

Even when the sixth concubine brought other concubines to humiliate her, she acted as if nothing had happened and didn't care at all.

Despite her frail appearance, she was surprisingly stubborn and impossible to deal with.

Seeing her like this, the guards went back and reported everything she had done to Shen Zhencai.

Seeing her so ungrateful, Shen Zhencai was so angry that he overturned the table.

As soon as Shen Yunjin returned to his residence, he heard gossip.

"The Ninth Concubine has been locked up in that dilapidated house on the west side by the Marshal. It will probably be difficult for her to get out in the future."

"I just don't understand why Ninth Concubine is so stubborn, refusing the Marshal again and again?"

"Sigh, do you think she might have found someone else she likes, which is why she..."

The more they talk, the more outrageous it gets.

Shen Yunjin interrupted them coldly, "Shut up!"

When the servants saw it was him, they were so frightened that they immediately lowered their heads and apologized.

"If I hear you say that again, you can all get out."

Shen Yunjin's voice was devoid of any warmth. He glanced at them expressionlessly and walked towards the mansion.

Upon entering the living room, I saw the messy, broken plates on the floor, the servants hiding far away and not daring to approach, and Shen Zhencai angrily pinching his brow on the sofa.

He asked, "Why are you so angry?"

Shen Zhencai was furious. "It's all because of that woman! She's utterly ungrateful!"

Shen Yunjin raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance: "Which one?"

"Who else could it be?" Shen Zhencai's chest heaved, clearly furious. "Ninth Concubine."

Shen Yunjin poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him, saying, "Calm down."

Shen Zhencai reached out and took the tea. After taking a sip, he felt his anger subside a bit.

Seeing that his complexion had improved, Shen Yunjin casually remarked, "Since she's so unwilling, then let her leave. I'd like to see if she can survive outside the Shen family, given how difficult the world is these days."

As he spoke, he seemed to have already anticipated the outcome and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Shen Zhencai listened to his words and seemed to be deep in thought.

But after thinking it over, he still didn't agree.

Shen Yunjin observed his expression without revealing her feelings. Seeing him frown and disagree, she said, "No, she's very stubborn and beautiful. If we let her go, she'll fall into someone else's hands, and I'll be cuckolded."

Shen Zhencai realized how many people coveted a woman as beautiful as her.

"Let her toughen up in that dilapidated house; she'll eventually beg for mercy."