Three years later.
Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. After having lunch, Chen Yu took An'er to the riverbank.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead, sat on a large rock by the river, and held An'er in her arms.
Looking into the distance, the shimmering river surface was dazzling, but there wasn't a single passenger boat in sight.
A gust of autumn wind blew by, and the red jade pendant on her head swayed in the wind, but she felt upset.
She disliked ornate and flashy objects, but since the Empress had given her this red jade hairpin, she had no choice but to wear it.
Everyone said that she and the Empress were as close as sisters. Three years ago, the Empress was assassinated. She happened to enter the palace and encountered the assassin. In order to save the Empress, she was thrown out by the assassin and hit her head against a stone pillar, losing her memory.
However, she had no recollection of the Empress at all.
"Little brother, little brother is back!" An'er called out.
Shen Yu looked up and saw Yanran and Ping'er waving at them from the passenger ship.
Before autumn this year, Prince Jing insisted on taking Ping'er as his disciple, teaching her martial arts and literacy.
She worried that Ping'er was too young and would cause trouble for Prince Jing, so she had Yanran follow Ping'er around every day.
As the passenger ship docked, she rushed forward to greet her, but before she could even take Ping'er's hand, Ping'er leaped ashore, grabbed her clothes, and began shouting:
"Mother, Godfather said he'd take us to the night market tonight. Please don't refuse, Mother. My sister and I have never been to a night market before."
Yanran went ashore and joined in the commotion: "Yes, sister-in-law, Prince Jing said he's coming to pick us up by boat, and we can also enjoy the night view on both banks."
Shen Yu frowned in thought. She really couldn't recall her past with Prince Jing. People around her always seemed to be trying to bring them together, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Everyone says that her husband died because a villain coveted her beauty and killed him.
She then lived with her husband's mother and sister.
Over the years, they, as orphans and widows, have suffered many hardships, and each time it was Prince Jing who came to their aid.
She and Prince Jing developed feelings for each other and were deeply in love, and the Empress arranged their marriage. However, she suddenly lost her memory, so she was unable to fulfill the marriage agreement for a long time.
King Jing remained chaste for her, never taking a concubine, and waited for her all along.
Although she felt guilty, she couldn't go against her heart, because she couldn't muster even a trace of affection for Prince Jing!
She shook her head and said, "Tonight we'll stay home and enjoy the moon and eat mooncakes; we won't go to the night market."
After saying that, she took the two children and left.
Yanran followed behind, also looking sullen. Ever since Chenyu lost her memory, she could neither treat patients nor make flower tea, and spent her days sitting blankly in a daze.
On ordinary days, the whole family relies on the cotton-padded cotton shop to make a living.
This amount of money is far from enough. Thanks to Prince Jing's help, Chen Yu refused to accept it, so Prince Jing secretly gave the money to Yan Ran.
Over time, Yanran fell in love with Prince Jing.
However, the Empress bestowed a marriage upon Prince Jing and Chen Yu.
Seeing that Shenyu had once again refused Prince Jing's offer, Yanran chased after her and stood in front of her:
Sister-in-law, no, from today onwards I will call you Chenyu. My brother is dead. He died four years ago on the tenth day of the seventh lunar month.
Your inability to forget him and your search for him in the northern borderlands are all just your wild imaginations and your refusal to accept the truth.
What's wrong with Prince Jing? Ten years ago, he fell in love with you at first sight. After you lost your memory, our shop was burned down by villains; if it weren't for Prince Jing, we would have nowhere to live. Mother was seriously ill; if it weren't for him finding Old Master Li, she would have already…
For the past three years, he has been supporting us financially. Why are you so cold to him? Is your heart truly made of stone?
Chen Yu remained silent, then led the two children past Yan Ran and walked away.
The four returned to the Hundred Herbs Garden, where dozens of guards stood at the entrance. Needless to say, Hongyu had come again.
Hongyu was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, drinking tea. There were a lot of delicious food and fun things on the table, while Cuiwei and Heiya were carrying things into the house.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Hongyu put down her teacup, stood up, and went to greet them. An'er and Ping'er had already run over, tugging at her clothes and acting coquettishly.
"Your Majesty, did you bring the pine nut and lily soup from the Imperial Kitchen that you promised to bring for An'er?"
"Has Her Majesty the Empress brought the jade cricket jar she wished to bestow upon Ping'er?"
"Yes, yes, I brought it. How could I forget what your aunt promised you? Let Aunt Cuiwei give it to you."
Cuiwei took out pine nut and lily soda and a cricket jar, and took the two children out to play.
Seeing this, Hongyu winked at Heiya, and Heiya quickly chased after her.
If Hongyu does this, she fears that Cuiwei will gossip about the two children, which might arouse Chenyu's suspicion.
Shen Yu was already embarrassed. She avoided telling the children not to take things from strangers, but the children were closer to Hong Yu than she was.
Seeing Hongyu approaching, she quickly took two steps back and bowed impolitely: 【Chenyu greets Your Majesty the Empress.】
There's no need for us sisters to be so polite. If you hadn't rescued me from the Bai family, I wouldn't be where I am today. You've been kind to me, so it's only right that I treat you well.
As Hongyu spoke, she helped Chenyu up and took her arm to sit on the stone bench.
At this moment, Bailu brought a bowl of medicinal soup to Chenyu, saying, "Miss, it's time to drink your medicine."
Shen Yu took the small bowl, her mind filled with doubt. She would take the medicine every five days, and every time she took the medicine, Hong Yu would come to the Hundred Herbs Garden. No matter if it was windy, rainy, or snowy, Hong Yu never missed it, as if she were watching over her.
She had asked what kind of medicine it was. Hongyu always said it was a formula for nourishing blood and qi, but looking at the longan and red date slices in the bowl, she couldn't say anything.
Seeing Hongyu smiling at her as usual, she picked up the small bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
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