Sunlight filtered through the thin gauze and fell on a corner of the desk. Shi's father looked apologetically at Jiang Yunhuai, who had his head half-lowered and his face buried in the shadows.

"Shouzhi, this is rather sudden. I know you can't accept it right now. Go back and think it over carefully. Once you've made up your mind, send someone with a message so I can send a formal invitation to your household. After all, the wedding is approaching, and there are some things to consider..."

Jiang Yunhuai stared motionlessly at the dust motes dancing freely in the sunlight, the sounds around him fading into the distance.

He just couldn't figure it out.

Thinking back to that day of parting, the beautiful young girl shyly handed him a sachet she had sewn herself to repel insects. Knowing that he was about to embark on a long journey, she pretended to be calm but couldn't help but give him earnest advice. Her gentle tone and worried eyes showed that she had him in her heart.

How come everything has changed so much in just a few days?

Jiang Yunhuai rubbed the slightly frayed sachet at his waist and suddenly stood up.

Mr. Shi continued to patiently persuade him, hoping he could come to terms with it.

Jiang Yunhuai's actions startled him. Just as he was about to ask, Jiang Yunhuai clasped his hands in a salute.

"Uncle, please forgive me. I have official business to attend to. I will visit you another day."

Mr. Shi opened his mouth, wanting to say that the form of address was inappropriate now, but seeing his extremely gloomy face, he had no choice but to hold back.

Jiang Yunhuai was eager to ask the person in question in person, so he didn't notice that the way he addressed her was no longer appropriate. After exchanging greetings, he strode away with his long legs.

The door creaked open and then swayed shut. The study was silent for a long while before a soft sigh could be heard.

At Mingcui Courtyard, Madam Wang had already received news of Jiang Yunhuai's visit. Chunlan, having been ordered to wander around outside for a while, managed to gather some information before rushing back to report.

When she heard that Jiang Yunhuai had left with a terrible expression, Wang breathed a sigh of relief.

Although we don't know the specifics of what Shi's father and he discussed, knowing this much is enough.

Based on Wang's experience, the sons of wealthy families were very arrogant. She had seen this before in town. It wasn't a marriage proposal, but just a concubine. The daughter of the scholar was unwilling, so the young master simply turned away and left without bothering her again.

Of course, she automatically ignored the fact that the family moved out of town the next day, and no one knows what their final fate was.

Wang Shi never felt a sense of belonging to the Shi family. As long as her dowry wasn't short, she didn't care at all about the future of the Shi family or whether Shi's father would be suppressed.

With the annulment of the engagement now settled, Wang began to devise a plan to meet her husband without anyone else noticing.

Because of what happened last night, Madam Yu is now extremely nervous about her, and has ordered people to follow her every step of the way, even when she is sleeping, someone must keep watch in her room at night.

Now, even when Wang Shi leaves her courtyard, she needs to be surrounded by a large entourage, let alone when she leaves the mansion.

Zhang Mama brought over the lotus leaf and white fungus soup. Wang Shi took a couple of sips and found it refreshing and soft, so she asked, "Zhang Mama, what is this?"

Zhang's mother gave her name.

Wang fiddled with the spoon, stirring the thin slices of white tremella in the light green soup. She took a couple of sips with relish before putting down the spoon and saying, "This stuff looks nice, but it's not as refreshing as plum juice or as filling as minced meat pancakes. It just wastes a lot of firewood."

Mrs. Zhang's brow twitched slightly, suppressing her surprise, and she smiled and agreed.

Turning her head, she secretly pondered that this white fungus soup was something the girl had researched and developed in her spare time. She also loved to drink this dish in the summer of previous years. In addition, the girl had been raised in luxury since childhood, and her usual interests were nothing more than poetry, chess, and painting. Occasionally, she would think about food and needlework, which was enough to keep her grounded.

Those firewood and charcoal items were just a small amount of money, so why should she bother with them?

Zhang's mother glanced at Wang Shi without leaving a trace, wondering if she had forgotten the past and that her tastes and temperament could change.

Wang pretended to touch her lips with a handkerchief, happily making her own plans.

After dinner, Wang drank the so-called health-preserving soup as usual. Zhang's mother helped her lie down and then retreated to the next room.

Having resolved a major concern, Wang fell asleep very quickly today; almost instantly, she was fast asleep.

A faint sound of leaves pattering against the windowpane came from outside. Shi Lan opened her eyes alertly and stared silently at the windowpane through the hazy gauze curtains.

At the window frame, a gleaming metal object deftly pried open the bolt. Before the wooden block could fall, the window frame opened, and a long, slender hand reached out, grasped the wooden block, and gently placed it on the windowsill.

The window frame slowly rose, and the owner of the large hand leaped silently into the room like a nimble cheetah.

Shi Lan narrowed her eyes and tried to get up as gently as possible.

The gauze curtains swayed back and forth in the night breeze, and a large hand lifted them open with the wind, revealing a handsome face.

Shi Lan was relieved to see that the person who came was the one she was waiting for. But then she remembered that someone was in the next room and worried that he might accidentally wake up Wang Shi, so she reminded him, "Zhang Mama is in the next room."

The person paused, turned and went to the next room. When he came back, he pulled back the curtains completely, giving a full view of the beautiful figure sitting on the bed.

"Lan'er," Jiang Yunhuai couldn't hide his longing after not seeing her for over a month, and reached out to hug her tightly.

Shi Lan quickly dodged to the side. Based on previous experience, Wang Shi was very alert and would wake up at the slightest touch.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, she reached out and pulled down the incense sachet hanging above the bed, tossing it into his hand. "Everything I want to say is in this letter. You'll understand once you read it."

Shi Lan's expression was cold and indifferent. She had no feelings for Jiang Yunhuai and could only try her best to save his life.

Jiang Yunhuai was unaware that the body he was in had been replaced. Seeing his beloved treating him so coldly, the passion in his heart was instantly extinguished. The words of Shi's father during the day were like nails, each one wedged into his heart.

"Lan'er, do you really want to break off our engagement?" Jiang Yunhuai couldn't help but grab her hand and ask in a low voice.

Shi Lan felt a jolt in her soul, and glanced helplessly at Jiang Yunhuai, as Wang Shi once again took control of her body.

"Who are you?" Wang opened her eyes and saw herself being pulled by a strong man. She immediately screamed in alarm.

Jiang Yunhuai was stunned, somewhat bewildered.

Wang tried to pull her hand away from his tight grip by pulling it back.

Jiang Yunhuai was a military general, and the strength in his hands was far beyond what a woman and child like her could withstand.

After several fruitless attempts, Wang simply gave up and shouted at the top of her lungs toward the next room, "Mama Zhang, Mama Zhang."

The cubicle was quiet, and the person Wang had expected did not appear.

Jiang Yunhuai scrutinized her closely. From her panicked and distant gaze, he could tell that she really didn't seem to recognize him.

How is that possible?

Jiang Yunhuai found it absurd.

If his hand hadn't remained steadfast, and if this face, etched deeply in his heart, hadn't remained unchanged, Jiang Yunhuai would have doubted that this woman with her terrified eyes and fearful expression was truly the one he had pledged his heart to and vowed to spend his life with. (To be continued.)