The two moved to a side hall. After Shen Hanshan sat down, he looked at Zhang Wan with a serious expression and asked bluntly, "Madam, how is Xiaoxiao's health? Why does she look so tired?"
Zhang Wan sighed softly, her tone gentle yet tinged with worry: "Your Highness need not worry too much. The young prince is fine, but the long journey and his young age have taken their toll. I have prescribed some medicine to help him recover. With regular care and a few more days of rest, he will be fully recovered."
Upon hearing this, Shen Hanshan's brows relaxed slightly, but then furrowed again: "Then why didn't Zhizhi come back with Xiaoxiao? Did she have something she wanted you to tell me?"
Zhang Wan shook her head.
Shen Hanshan's voice turned low and serious: "Where is that object?"
Zhang Wan shook her head again.
Shen Hanshan's face grew increasingly gloomy. He took a deep breath, slowly stood up, put his hands behind his back, turned his back to Zhang Wan, and paced around the room in silence.
A moment later, he turned around and saw Zhang Wan slowly take out a sealed letter from her sleeve, respectfully hand it to him, and say softly, "Your Highness, before she left, Her Highness specifically instructed me that if Your Highness asked, I should give this letter to Your Highness. She said that all the reasons are in the letter."
Upon hearing this, Shen Hanshan's expression changed, and he immediately reached out to take the letter. His fingers gently stroked the words on the cover, which read "To the Imperial Son-in-Law" in a flamboyant style. This made his previously slumped heart lift up a little.
He took a deep breath and slowly opened the envelope, only to find it empty. He frowned slightly, then turned the letter over; it was empty again.
He stared at the letter for a moment with a puzzled look, then finally put it down, looked up at Zhang Wan, and said in a deep voice, "Madam, has this secret letter ever left your side?"
Zhang Wan shook her head slightly, looking puzzled, and said, "No, but is there something wrong with this letter?" Suddenly, she thought of something and continued, "I once heard of a special kind of letter paper that, if soaked in a special water, can reveal the contents hidden in the letter."
"What kind of water?" Shen Hanshan asked anxiously.
Zhang Wan answered truthfully, "I don't know exactly what kind of water it is. Your Highness has many capable people under your command; perhaps you can ask them and find a solution."
She noticed that Shen Hanshan's expression was very unpleasant. After hesitating for a moment, she couldn't help but defend Zhao Zhi, saying, "Your Highness must have a compelling reason why she cannot return to Chaoyang County. There must be a mission she must complete in Yunchao. As for why she cannot return in person, I think it is for the sake of the overall situation, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble for the Prince and the children. Besides, she has always been thinking of the Prince."
Shen Hanshan clearly did not believe these words.
He frowned, a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.
If Zhao Zhi truly cared for him, how could she refuse to even see him once? He even suspected that Zhao Zhi might have been bewitched by Cui Shenghe; otherwise, why would she be willing to abandon her husband and children to stay in Yunchao?
Thinking about all this, Shen Hanshan felt like he was about to explode with anger, his heart aching as if countless ants were crawling inside him. He, a general who had once faced thousands of troops without flinching, often lost his composure when it came to Zhao Zhi. This was not a good sign.
At this moment, Zhang Wan gently comforted him, "Your Highness need not worry. My residence is right next door. I will assist Your Highness in taking care of the young prince and the young princess."
Shen Hanshan nodded gratefully, thanked Zhang Wan, and then turned and left the side hall. Although he appeared calm as a lake on the surface, his heart was in turmoil, as if entangled by a thousand threads.
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