Qin Sheng did indeed say that, and that's what he thought.

But Qin Sheng spent the whole morning thinking about how her parents must have been worried when she said she would never get married again.

That's just how the world is. Even if you get divorced, as long as you don't remarry after the divorce, it seems like you'll still encounter endless troubles.

"I was just saying."

Qin Sheng got up and sat down at the table.

Besides, if she were to actually get married, who could she marry? What good man could a divorced woman possibly marry?

Qin Sheng felt annoyed just thinking about this.

...

Near the end of the month, Yue Rongheng wrote a letter to Qin Sheng, telling her about the upcoming completion of the academy.

He even asked her if she wanted to open a study together in the capital.

Qin Sheng had considered this idea before, and seeing Yue Rongheng mention it in his letter, the idea resurfaced.

She immediately discussed it with several managers.

Yu Fu and Awei both thought it was feasible, after all, opening a shop doesn't have to be limited to Ningzhou.

“However—” Yu Fu said, “Since we are doing business with the Regent, it’s not enough for just a few of us to show up. It will have to be done by you, my lady.”

After all, the regent's status is what it is.

Although they were Qin Sheng's stewards, they were just ordinary people.

Awei said, "But if that's the case, my wife will have no choice but to return to the capital."

Qin Sheng was taken aback and subconsciously calculated the time in her mind. It had been several months since she left the capital.

She pursed her lips and nodded: "That's fine, I also wanted to go back and see my parents."

I don't know if my mother's headache has gotten better. My brother is currently on the battlefield thousands of miles away, and I am in Ningzhou.

Thinking about all this, Qin Sheng couldn't help but feel guilty.

...

Qin Sheng quickly decided on the date to return to the capital. She didn't bring much with her, only a few changes of clothes.

When passing through Bixia Town, Qin Sheng asked Lü Qingfeng, "Do you want to go and pay your respects to your father?"

Since they were already in Bixia Town, Qin Sheng didn't mind spending an extra half day.

"No, thank you." Lü Qingfeng said calmly, "You can pay your respects in your heart; you don't necessarily have to go to the grave."

"..."

...

Qin Sheng had someone inform her parents beforehand.

After not seeing her daughter for several months, Madam Qin was so excited that tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

Even Qin Zhengde's eyes reddened.

After dinner, Madam Qin kept asking her daughter about her experiences in Ningzhou, worried that she might not be doing well or might have suffered some injustice.

They talked until very late, so late that Qin Zhengde came looking for them.

After washing up and lying in bed, Emerald covered Qin Sheng with a light blanket before saying, "Madam's headache has subsided, so you can rest assured."

Speaking of this, Qin Sheng nodded: "Physician Wen is indeed a highly skilled physician."

She had originally intended to prepare a thank-you gift herself and have it delivered to Physician Wen's residence, but her mother said that her father had already sent it.

Jade covered her with the blanket. "Tomorrow we have to accompany Madam to the Great Xiangguo Temple to offer incense. My lady, you should go to sleep early."

After saying that, he lowered the curtains on both sides.

Qin Sheng, however, couldn't fall asleep.

Returning to Beijing after several months, she had a strange and indescribable feeling.

After tossing and turning until late into the night, Qin Sheng finally fell asleep.

I hadn't been asleep for long when Jade woke me up. This morning, my wife and I were going to the Daxiangguo Temple to offer incense.

However, something happened at Daxiangguo Temple today, and it was closed for a day of rest.

But since we've already left, we can't just turn back.

The mother and daughter discussed it and decided to go to Huaguang Temple.

However, Huaguang Temple was quite far away, and by the time we arrived and offered incense, it was already late.

Madam Qin wanted to listen to the master's sermon and couldn't leave for a while, so Qin Sheng took Jade and strolled around outside.

She suddenly remembered that the first time she met Yue Rongheng after her rebirth was at this Huaguang Temple.

Qin Sheng stood by the small pond, her gaze about to leave the koi in the water, when she suddenly met another pair of eyes.

"..."

The man standing on the opposite side of the pond, dressed in a navy blue robe and exuding a handsome and dashing air, was none other than Yue Rongheng.

"Your Highness?"

Qin Sheng almost bit her tongue, somewhat surprised. How could he appear in front of her so soon after she had just thought of him?

Yue Rongheng nodded slightly to her from a distance, then turned his head and said something to Yun Yin behind him. Yun Yin quickly turned and left.

Since they were in public, Qin Sheng couldn't just walk over and say what was on her mind to him.

Besides, Madam Qin is also here.

Qin Sheng didn't want her mother to overthink things.

So she simply gave him a slight bow from afar, said nothing more, and, mindful of the stares of others, left first.

Yue Rongheng: "..."

He had just asked Yunyin to make arrangements in the back, to let everyone nearby leave, so he could talk to her.

Who knew this girl could run faster than a rabbit?

When Yunyin returned after making the arrangements, he found that Qin Niangzi had already left. He subconsciously comforted her, "It's alright, Master. There's plenty of time in the future."

Now that Madam Qin has returned to the capital, she won't be leaving tomorrow.

Yue Rongheng's handsome thin lips were slightly pursed into a straight line, and for some reason, he felt a kind of inexplicable irritation.

After a long while, he turned and left without saying a word.

Qin Sheng returned to the main hall.

Not long after, Madam Qin finished listening to the sutra. She asked her servant to donate several hundred taels of silver for incense oil, and the mother and daughter had a vegetarian meal before returning home.

On the return journey in the carriage, Madam Qin hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

Qin Sheng was still thinking about meeting Yue Rongheng at Huaguang Temple, and was somewhat absent-minded.

"Sheng'er..."

Finally, Madam Qin, holding her daughter's hand, spoke first: "It is said that there are many talented young men in Ningzhou. In your few months in Ningzhou, have you met any good ones?"

"..."

“Mother…” Qin Sheng pursed her lips: “I went to Ningzhou to do business, I didn’t have the mind to think about those things.”

"How can that be the same? That's your life's most important event!"

Madam Qin sighed as she spoke, her eyes welling up with tears again: "Sheng'er, you're still so young."

Her daughter isn't even twenty yet, is she really going to live like this forever?

If I can find a good husband and have one or two more children, my daughter won't be all alone when they're all gone.

"Mother, I have my own plans." Qin Sheng grasped her mother's hand in return. "You don't need to worry about it."

Madam Qin: "..." How could she not worry?

Fortunately, her daughter will be staying for a while this time, so she can take this opportunity to pick out some things for her.

...

Qin Sheng had been back for a few days and was planning to find a time to meet with Yue Rongheng to discuss opening a bookstore together.