As dusk fell, Mr. Shi returned home, exhausted.

Shi Rong went to the study and had a private conversation with his father for about half an hour. When he came out, he looked very serious. A moment later, a steward hurriedly opened the gate of the mansion and left.

The following day, Shi Rong, representing the Shi family, arrived at the Zhou residence. White silk ribbons hung from the eaves of the Zhou family's corridor. Inside the room where the coffins were laid out, one large and one small, surrounded by monks in robes, chanting Buddhist mantras. Shi Rong looked at the mournful crowd with mixed feelings and sighed softly.

After the tedious mourning ceremony, Shi Rong returned to his residence and remained silent for a long time. When his father sent someone to summon him, his expression was still very unpleasant.

Seeing his father's appearance, Shi sighed.

"If you can't even handle the slightest thing, how will you survive in the officialdom in the future?"

Shi Rong remained silent in thought.

"Alright, give me that jade token. We can't just let this go like this. I need to have a serious talk with Marquis Dingyuan."

Shi Rong looked up at his father, but did not move.

"Father, Ning Zhan is not a good man. Why don't you take this opportunity..."

Shi's father looked at him and said, "I know what I'm doing." He spread his hands and said, "You don't need to worry about these things. Your most important thing right now is to study. I'll take care of Xi'er's affairs. I'm her father. Would I harm her?"

Shi Rong glanced at his father, gave a muffled reply, held his breath, and turned to leave.

Mr. Shi shook his head slightly, but he also knew that his son's experience was still shallow. Some things can only be truly remembered by experiencing them firsthand.

Seven days passed quickly. Zhou Yuanming's younger brother helped his brother and the coffin of his newlywed concubine back to their hometown. Shi Rong stood in the shadows at the street corner, using the high wall to conceal most of his figure.

In front of the mansion gate, Zhou Ren leaned on his cane, gazing at the carriage that was getting further and further away. His once straight back was now hunched over, his shrewd and bright eyes were now cloudy, and his once energetic face was now covered with deep wrinkles.

Seeing Zhou Ren, who had aged more than ten years in just a few days, Shi Rong covered his face and quietly left.

In mid-September, the morning sun shone brightly, and a cool breeze brought a refreshing breeze. A small sedan chair with a green curtain arrived at the gate of the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.

The sedan bearers opened the curtain, and Shi Fu peeked out at the gate with its imposing stone lions and majestic beast heads hanging from it, and said indifferently, "Send someone to knock on the gate."

A servant boy stepped forward and knocked on the door. The gatekeeper opened the door, and a shrewd-looking, short man glanced outside. Seeing Mr. Shi slowly stepping out of the sedan chair, he hurriedly greeted him with a smile, bowing repeatedly and saying, "This humble servant greets Lord Shi. My lord ordered me to wait here long ago, just waiting for you to arrive." As he spoke, he bent his back slightly and stepped aside to let him in.

Mr. Shi smiled and nodded, then followed the person inside.

In the covered walkway, a tall man with a broad face and dark chest strode over. When he reached him, he smiled broadly, cupped his hands in greeting to Shi Fu, and said, "Brother Jin Hong."

Shi Fu hurriedly bowed in return, saying, "This humble official greets Marquis Dingyuan."

Marquis Ning Huanzhi of Dingyuan hurriedly helped him up, saying, "Brother Jinhong, please get up quickly. There's no need for such formalities between us."

Mr. Shi rose with a smile and said, "Propriety must not be disregarded."

Ning Huanzhi could only shake his head, feeling helpless in the face of Shi's father's insistence.

The two exchanged pleasantries and entered the study next door.

Ning Huanzhi, courtesy name Yiliang, joined his father, the Earl of Dingyuan, in defending the border and fighting the enemy before he was even twenty. By the time he was twenty-five, his fame had spread far and wide. When the Earl of Dingyuan passed away, he was too busy defending the border and attacking the enemy camp to return home to fulfill his filial duty. The emperor was moved by his loyalty and, after the great victory, promoted him to the rank of Marquis. Now he is forty, but his name still awes the surrounding countries.

Ning Zhan was his first son, and Ning Huanzhi had high hopes for him. He taught him carefully from the time he was old enough to understand things. When he got older, he carefully selected Shi Xi, who was dignified, elegant and quiet, as the future eldest daughter-in-law of the Ning family.

Over the years, he has often sent Ning Zhan to visit the Shi residence. Shi Rong is about the same age as him, and the two have a harmonious relationship.

On the other hand, aside from the slight contact with Shi's father before because of the marriage agreement, Ning Huanzhi could only see him occasionally when he met him in court or when he sent New Year's gifts. Ning Huanzhi let this go.

Civil and military officials have always formed their own factions, especially civil officials who tend to stick together. Ning Huanzhi could understand Shi Fu's deliberate distancing, and was therefore curious about Shi Fu's special invitation to visit him today.

"Brother Jinhong, is there something important that you've done to make this special trip today?"

Ning Huanzhi looked at Shi Fu's silk-embroidered robe and said with a smile.

Mr. Shi looked down at himself, nodded, but his expression was hesitant.

Seeing his expression, Ning Huanzhi laughed heartily and said, "What can't we say between us? Speak freely."

Shi Fu looked at him, placed the jade pendant with two fish and pearls wrapped around it, as white as jade, and a large red marriage certificate on the table, and pushed it toward Ning Huanzhi.

Ning Huanzhi took a closer look, then his expression changed drastically. "Brother Jin Hong, what do you mean by this?"

Mr. Shi lowered his eyes, looked at the marriage certificate, remained silent for a long time, and then took out a piece of green jade and placed it on top.

Ning Huanzhi picked up the jade tablet, examined it from left to right, and then looked at Shi Fu with surprise and doubt, "How did you get it?"

Mr. Shi said calmly, "It's right next to the sedan chair where my daughter had the accident."

Ning Huanzhi's face turned pale instantly, and his lips trembled for a moment before he finally found his voice, "What, what did you say?"

Shi Fu suddenly raised his eyes, his expression cold and stern: "Marquis Ning is not yet blind and deaf, why do I need to repeat myself?"

Ning Huan stared intently at the jade tablet, then suddenly raised his voice and said, "Go and fetch the young master for me."

Someone answered from outside, followed by a series of hurried footsteps, after which the room fell silent.

Ning Huan stared intently at the jade tablet, recalling the emperor's fury upon learning of the tragedy in the capital a few days prior, and his heart trembled uncontrollably.

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