Chapter 140 All Men Are the Same
Chu Jichen looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness: "It's getting late. Shall we go straight back to the manor? Or...would you like to find a place for dinner first?"
Shen Qingci forcibly suppressed the turbulent emotions surging within her, and a faint smile returned to her face: "Let's go straight back to the manor. The chefs here are much better than those outside, and... it's safer."
Chu Jichen's smile deepened as he reached out his hand to her.
Shen Qingci's gaze lingered for a moment on his long, strong hand with distinct knuckles, before she finally placed her slightly cool fingertips into his palm.
The carriage started moving slowly. The interior was dimly lit, and the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant due to the silence.
Shen Qingci felt as if a huge rock was pressing on her heart, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
She finally couldn't hold back, her voice carrying a hint of probing that she herself didn't realize: "Your Highness...who did you meet at Yunmeng Tower just now?"
Chu Jichen's expression remained unchanged, as if he were merely stating a trivial matter: "An old friend, whom I met at the border years ago."
Old friend?
Shen Qingci's heart sank even further. She tried to make her voice sound relaxed and casual, even with a hint of joking: "Oh? Is it a male acquaintance, or... a female acquaintance?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen finally raised an eyebrow slightly. He turned his head, his deep phoenix eyes fixed on her in the dim light, a half-smile curving his lips: "Qingqing... are you concerned about me?"
He was changing the subject.
Shen Qingci's heart sank to the bottom.
He didn't want to answer.
A strange mix of bitterness and self-mockery welled up inside her, yet she still tried to comfort herself: at least... he didn't lie to her.
Shen Qingci lowered his eyes, concealing all the emotions in them. When he spoke again, his voice had regained its usual calm: "I have only heard that Yunmenglou's sweet and sour pork ribs are exceptional. Since Your Highness has met an old friend, it is rather... a bit too inhumane not to invite him to try the restaurant's specialty dishes."
A smile flashed in Chu Jichen's eyes: "It's alright. She'll be staying in the capital from now on... there will be plenty of opportunities."
They will all stay in the capital...
Shen Qingci's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
Therefore, everything Huo Yunzhan said is true.
That woman and that child will truly stay in the capital from now on, staying by his side.
Should she remind him of something?
After all, Huo Yunzhan already knew about the existence of the mother and daughter.
Given his despicable nature, he would surely try to take advantage of them.
Shen Qingci's thoughts went through a thousand and one turns, but in the end, reason prevailed.
Regardless of what the future holds for her and Chu Jichen, for now, they are still in the same boat.
"Oh, by the way," she mentioned casually, "I ran into Huo Yunzhan today while I was checking the accounts at various shops."
Chu Jichen's gaze sharpened instantly as they met eyes.
Shen Qingci avoided his gaze and said calmly, "He didn't do anything, just those same old self-serving platitudes, saying that everything he did before was for my own good."
She paused, a hint of sarcasm in her voice: "He even tried to sow discord between us, saying with absolute certainty... Your Highness, you've been keeping a mistress behind my back, and you even have an illegitimate daughter outside."
"Absurd!" Chu Jichen retorted coldly, his aura instantly dropping to freezing point.
He spoke those two words with absolute certainty, without the slightest hesitation.
Shen Qingci's heart was gripped by an indescribable emotion in that instant.
She looked up and gazed at him quietly.
Under the light, his profile was clearly defined, his expression was cold and stern, and his deep phoenix eyes were filled with a slight anger and disdain caused by being slandered.
His appearance was so sincere... that she almost believed him.
But she saw it with her own eyes.
She saw him holding the child with her own eyes, and she saw him showing such tenderness to that woman.
So, he could lie to her too.
It turns out that all men in the world are truly the same.
Whether it's the affectionate Huo Yunzhan or the powerful Chu Jichen, when faced with secrets they don't want to reveal, they lie with such composure and self-righteousness.
A bone-chilling cold, mixed with deep disappointment, slowly spread from the depths of my heart.
That's fine.
She said to herself.
That's fine too.
If he were honest with her, she might soften her heart and still feel conflicted.
But since he chose to deceive, it proves that there is still an insurmountable gap between them.
Their relationship was nothing more than a transaction.
She shouldn't, and can't, harbor any unrealistic fantasies about this.
Having figured this out, the last ripple in Shen Qingci's heart caused by him slowly subsided into calm.
She lowered her eyes, concealing all emotions, and spoke in a flat tone as if she were talking about something completely unrelated to herself: "Yes, I also think it's utterly absurd. Huo Yunzhan really goes to any lengths to sow discord among us."
She had already given her a heads-up; she had done everything she could.
As for whether he believes her or not, and how to deal with him, that's... no longer her concern.
Back at the Prince's residence, the two had dinner together.
Just as she put down her chopsticks, the steward rushed over with an invitation: "Your Highness, the Ministry of War's residence just sent an invitation, saying that the Minister's wife will be holding a flower viewing banquet in three days and cordially invites you to come to the residence for a chat."
Shen Qingci took the invitation, glanced at it, and nodded: "I understand, I will be there."
A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Jichen's eyes: "You really want to go?"
“Of course I will go.” Shen Qingci nodded without any hesitation. She raised her eyes and looked at him intently. “I want to thoroughly investigate the old case of the Shen family. The Minister of War… has close ties with military generals, doesn’t he?”
"Moreover," a cold glint flashed in her eyes, "the old lady of the Huo family, as well as people from the Prime Minister's residence, will likely be present at such a banquet."
"I've finally managed to become the Regent's Consort, wouldn't it be a waste not to make good use of this position?"
She has thought it through.
Since the decision has been made to cut the Gordian knot and bring the Shen family's past to the forefront as soon as possible, starting with those in the know, such as the Huo and Liu families, is naturally the best choice!
At the banquet three days later, she could use those three days to think carefully about how to make her move.
So what if, while taking action, they bring the Shen family's past into the open?
It's been a year since that incident, and most people have probably forgotten about it.
We need to make them remember.
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