The two sat facing each other in the carriage, neither of them speaking.
Xiao Yunying felt extremely embarrassed and lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers.
Luo Sheng coughed lightly: "Um... are you feeling better?"
Xiao Yunying hummed in agreement but didn't say anything.
Luo Sheng said, "I have already sent a letter to Minister Zuo. He is a fair and just man with a strict family tradition, and he will definitely punish Zuo Lanzhi severely."
Xiao Yunying didn't believe it and curled her lips, saying, "No matter how fair and just he is, he is still Zuo Lanzhi's father. I don't believe he can really be so heartless as to punish his own daughter to death."
After a moment of silence, Luo Sheng said, "Minister Zuo will punish her severely, but his wife is known throughout the capital for doting on her daughter..."
Xiao Yunying leaned to the side, too lazy to look at him: "That's settled then. With her mother protecting her, at most she'll just have to copy some books and be locked up for a few days. That'll be the end of it."
Luo Sheng truly didn't know how to handle this situation. After thinking for a long time, he managed to stammer out, "I will take responsibility for what happened that day..."
Xiao Yunying quickly interrupted, "No need, I don't need you to take responsibility."
Her tone was somewhat urgent, and as soon as she finished speaking, Luo Sheng's expression darkened.
Xiao Yunying thought for a moment, knowing that this matter had to be faced eventually, and said, "What happened that day was purely an accident, and I also know that the effects of the medicine will harm my body if it doesn't dissipate, otherwise I wouldn't keep getting nosebleeds."
I heard everything you said to me that night, but my body was out of control... I couldn't respond... I know you were trying to help me, so I won't blame you.
Xiao Yunying felt her cheeks getting hotter and hotter as she spoke. She took a deep breath and decided to finish what she had to say: "You don't need to talk to me about responsibility or anything like that. I believe that the premise for two people to form a new family and live together is that they truly love each other, not for the sake of so-called responsibility."
No one is anyone else's fault. We were forced together by various reasons, and now we're only married because of an imperial decree. I think it's best to treat each other with respect as before. If possible... divorce isn't out of the question in the future..."
"For two people to form a new family, the prerequisite must be that they truly love each other?"
Luo Sheng repeated the sentence in a low voice, then looked at Xiao Yunying and asked, "Didn't you insist on marrying me back then because you truly loved me?"
He knew perfectly well that the Xiao Yunying in front of him was not the Xiao Yunying he had heard about, but for some reason, he still asked the question.
Xiao Yunying didn't expect him to ask such a question. Thinking of the original owner who was no longer there, she said with a wistful tone and a deeper meaning, "Perhaps the Xiao Yunying of the past really loved you, but the Xiao Yunying of now is not the Xiao Yunying of the past."
Luo Sheng frowned, wanting to tell everything he knew and get to the bottom of things all at once.
He had barely opened his mouth when the coachman outside called out, "Master, Young Master Luo, we've arrived at the county office."
Xiao Yunying lifted her skirt and got out of the car first, leaving Luo Sheng with no choice but to swallow his words.
Upon entering the back courtyard of the county government office, Luo Sheng told Xiao Yunying to wait in the front hall while he went in to handle the paperwork.
After about half an incense stick's time, Luo Sheng came out with a booklet and said, "It's done."
"That's it?" Xiao Yunying felt that she hadn't really come here much of a use: "Then let's go back."
The two walked out of the county government office side by side, and Luo Sheng said dryly, "Let me take you to buy some new clothes."
Xiao Yunying waved her hand: "No need, I have clothes to wear."
At home, Zheng Yunwan does nothing but practice calligraphy and embroidery; she finishes embroidery for the children and then does embroidery for herself.
She made the whole set, from the inside out, including the underwear that she wore close to her body. The embroidery was exquisite, the workmanship was meticulous, and the color scheme was exactly what she wanted.
She loved it so much that she had already changed out of her modern underwear.
After all, it was her modified version of the bellyband, and it was quite comfortable to wear.
Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind: that night, the man couldn't untie the ropes of his undergarment, and in his anxiety, he pulled them tighter and tighter, tearing his undergarment in the process.
He quickly shook his head, interrupting his absurd recollection.
"I have more clothes than Yunwan has made for me, why should I buy clothes made by others?"
Remembering his mother's instructions, Luo Sheng said, "Then I'll buy you some jewelry and accessories?"
Xiao Yunying refused in the same way: "No need, I have enough with this wooden hairpin that Yuan Cheng gave me, I don't like wearing those kinds of jewelry."
Upon hearing this, Luo Sheng grabbed Xiao Yunying's arm: "This hairpin was given to you by Chen Yuancheng, not Chen Yuanyao?"
Xiao Yunying frowned: "What are you doing? You're hurting me."
Luo Sheng quickly let go of her hand: "Sorry."
Xiao Yunying rubbed her wrist: "Let's get in the car and go home quickly."
Inside the carriage, Luo Sheng finally couldn't hold back and asked again, "Was this wooden hairpin really a gift from Chen Yuancheng?"
Xiao Yunying said, "Yes, it was a housewarming gift from Yuan Cheng."
"Who would give a hairpin as a housewarming gift?"
"Yes, Yuan Yao even gave me such a heavy gold hairpin as a housewarming gift."
Although she didn't accept it, it was because it was too valuable.
Little did she know that this wooden hairpin was far more valuable than that gold hair ornament.
Luo Sheng frowned, and without thinking, blurted out, "You want a divorce because you're in love with him?"
Xiao Yunying's eyes widened: "Are you out of your mind? What nonsense are you talking about? I only consider Yuan Cheng a friend, or perhaps a younger brother. How could you say that!"
Seeing that she was only shocked and not guilty, Luo Yong thought she might really be unaware of the situation, so he softened his tone and said, "Here, no matter when, where, or for what reason, when a man gives a woman jewelry, it is to express his affection for her."
Xiao Yunying couldn't believe it and touched the wooden hairpin on the back of her head: "No...it can't be. Yuan Cheng said that he rarely interacted with people before and didn't understand social interactions. It was Yuan Yao who suggested that he decided to give me the wooden hairpin and comb."
She almost misunderstood when she first saw it, but after Chen Yuancheng explained, she gave up the idea.
Because I was like that in my past life, due to physical reasons and personality, I didn't have many friends for most of my life.
When I was in college, I had to think twice before saying even a few words to my classmates. Sometimes I would even call my parents to ask how to respond in certain situations so as not to seem too strange.
Luo Sheng knew that she had a very good relationship with Chen Yuancheng, so he could only say tactfully, "Chen Yuancheng started getting involved with various shops of the Chen family from the age of nine with his mother, and gradually took over the management on his own at the age of thirteen. He has seen far more people than you have. How could he rarely interact with people and not understand interpersonal relationships?"
Xiao Yunying thought about it for a moment, and it seemed to make sense.
She pulled out the wooden hairpin, ignoring her loose hair, and carefully examined it in her hand.
She was still struggling with the thought: "Those are just business people. Perhaps it's precisely because he considers me a friend that I don't know how to genuinely get along with him?"
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