Their gazes clashed fiercely in the air, neither willing to back down. The pattering rain only amplified the tense standoff within that small space.

Just then, Chun Tao carefully carried over a tray with two letters on it: "Miss, these are letters from the capital. One is from Miss Lin, and the other is... from the manor."

This little incident temporarily broke the deadlock.

Shen Yuewei took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions, and first opened Lin Wanqing's letter. The letter maintained a lighthearted tone, first inquiring about Lin Wanqing's well-being in Jiangnan, then recounting amusing anecdotes from the capital. Finally, it devoted considerable space to describing how bustling Shen Wenbai's "Yunshang Pavilion" was, and how Shen Wenbai, at a banquet attended by numerous merchants, spoke eloquently and with remarkable charm, drawing cheers from the entire audience. Between the lines, the young girl's yearning admiration almost overflowed from the page.

As Shen Yuewei read the letter, the raging anger she felt over Manager Wang was somewhat lessened, and she even felt a touch of helpless amusement. Second Brother… truly, things turned out unexpectedly well.

She put down Lin Wanqing's letter and then opened the letter from home. It was written by her mother, the handwriting neat and dignified, filled with deep concern.

The letter mentioned that her elder brother, Shen Wenqing, was gaining increasing favor in the Ministry of Justice. The Emperor had personally overseen several major cases, all of which her brother had handled brilliantly and efficiently, making a promotion imminent. The letter also mentioned that many family members had proposed marriages to her brother, but he remained unresponsive, acting as if nothing was amiss. Her mother wrote in the letter that her brother might have some kind of problem, as he had no women around him and always claimed to be busy with official duties whenever marriage was mentioned. Upon reading this, Shen Yuewei couldn't help but laugh, seemingly forgetting that she was negotiating with the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince stared intently at Shen Yuewei, his eyes filled with undisguised doting affection. It seemed he hadn't had a nightmare in a long time, and he wondered if what happened in his last nightmare was real or not.

She also mentioned that her second brother, Shen Wenbai, was doing very well in business, and specifically said that he had sent her several bolts of fine silk and some tonics to help with her pregnancy, urging her to take good care of herself. Every word she spoke conveyed the warmth and support of family.

These two letters, like a gentle remedy, soothed the sharpest anger in Shen Yuewei's heart. She wasn't fighting alone; she had family, friends, and the child in her womb. For their sake, she couldn't just confront them head-on.

She raised her head and looked at Xiao Chengjing, who had been silently watching her. The anger in her eyes subsided and transformed into a calmer and more decisive judgment.

"Manager Wang must come back." Her voice was clear and firm. "'Jinwei Ji's' business cannot stop. It is the foundation of my existence here, and the support I will rely on to raise my children in the future. If Your Highness insists on driving him away, it is tantamount to cutting off my path to survival."

Looking at the settled determination in her eyes, and glancing at the two letters from the capital in her hand, Xiao Chengjing understood. She had a new bargaining chip—the rise of the Shen brothers, especially Shen Wenbai's influence in the capital's business world, and Lin Wanqing's obvious bias.

"Let him come back, I can," Xiao Chengjing said slowly, his voice low, "but I have conditions."

Shen Yuewei's heart tightened: "What are the conditions?"

Xiao Chengjing's gaze fell on her protruding belly, his eyes becoming complex and deep, carrying an undeniable dominance.

Upon seeing this, Shen Yuewei immediately shouted, "Marrying you is impossible, and the child is not yours to have. The child is mine."

Xiao Chengjing was furious. He picked up the cup of water and drank it down to calm his inner turmoil.

"If you really don't want to marry me, then who do you want to marry?" the Crown Prince said with a wicked smile.