Shen Yunxi returned to Cining Palace as quickly as possible. Originally, the Empress Dowager had asked her to return to the Shen family tomorrow, but she couldn't wait any longer and wanted to go back right away.
She didn't know what was going on with Junxuan, but Shen Yunxi knew she had been incredibly audacious to have hurt him twice. If anything happened to him, she would be held responsible even if she died a thousand deaths.
Seeing that Shen Yunxi was in a hurry to return to the Shen family, the Empress Dowager did not try to stop her. Judging from her expression, she knew that she and Junxuan were not getting along very well, and she felt helpless.
"Yunxi, go back and rest well these next few days, and also ask yourself what you really think. If you don't want to dwell on the past anymore, I won't force you. I'll respect your wishes and help you." The Empress Dowager spoke tactfully.
Shen Yunxi wasn't unaware of the Empress Dowager's meaning; she fully understood the Empress Dowager's hidden intention. At this moment, she was finally relieved. It turned out that the Empress Dowager had already seen through it, so there was no need for her to say anything more.
Indeed, if the Empress Dowager, who had been immersed in the harem for decades, couldn't even see this, then she would have truly wasted all those years in the harem.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Yunxi felt a lump in her throat.
The Empress Dowager loved her so much; one can only imagine how heartbroken she must have been after her death in her previous life.
"Alright, why are you crying, girl? I didn't say anything to you. Since you want to go home as soon as possible, then hurry back. I'll have someone escort you, so I can feel more at ease," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
Shen Yunxi did not refuse the Empress Dowager's kindness. She nodded in agreement, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Please take care of yourself."
Even after boarding the carriage leaving the palace, Shen Yunxi's heart remained restless. As she exited the palace gates, she lifted the curtain and glanced at the palace receding into the distance, gradually calming down.
Jun-hyun, in this life we will finally not repeat the same mistakes, nor will we be entangled with each other anymore.
Shen Yunxi composed herself, and the carriage swayed and wobbled as it came to a stop at the gate of the Shen family.
Upon entering the mansion, Shen Yunxi headed towards the courtyard of Shen Zhong and Lan Pei. Before she even got there, she heard Shen Anyu's laughter.
"Father, Mother, Brother," Shen Yunxi said as she walked.
The three people inside paused for a moment, then all smiled.
Shen Anyu ran out immediately, exclaiming, "Sister, it's sister! Sister's back! I've missed her so much! Sister's finally back!"
Shen Yunxi chuckled. She noticed that Shen Anyu spoke much more fluently than before, which was a good thing.
"Yes, brother, I'm back." Shen Yunxi said with a smile, "The Empress Dowager asked me to bring back a lot of things, including some of your favorite snacks. I'll have Zhizhi deliver them to you later."
"There's food! Hehe, my little sister is so kind." Shen Anyu smiled happily.
As the siblings were talking, Shen Zhong and Lan Pei also came out. Upon seeing her parents, Shen Yunxi truly felt as if she had been in another world.
It's not entirely wrong to say it's like a lifetime ago, after all, they really did live a lifetime, it's just that others don't know it.
"Father, Mother, Yunxi is back," Shen Yunxi said.
Lan Pei looked at her daughter with a smile, "It's good that you're back. I heard you caught a cold a few days ago, and I was very worried about you. But the palace is not like the outside world, so I can't just go looking for you. Now that I see you've lost some weight, you must eat more these next few days to help your body recover."
The heavy-hearted man beside her didn't speak, but he also agreed with Lanpei's words, clearly feeling that his daughter should be properly nourished.
“Mother and Father, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m perfectly fine. But how have you two been doing during your month-long trip?” Shen Yunxi asked with a smile.
Shen Yunxi understood her parents' concerns, but she didn't want them to worry about her; they had already done enough for her.
Shen Yunxi felt that she had suddenly grown up. During the few days she spent in the mansion, she had thought a lot and understood her parents' good intentions for her.
Knowing that she was in love with Junxuan and that the late emperor had bestowed a marriage upon her, he was so heavy-hearted that he dared not even inquire about matters of the court, and even avoided many political affairs.
Shen Yunxi only learned about these things later.
In fact, Shen Zhong is a man full of ambition and passion. He wants to make his mark in his career, but in his previous life, he could only put his plans on hold because of his daughter.
Imagine if his daughter were Consort De, and he himself were Marquis Yong'an, and had made achievements in the court. Even if he didn't form cliques for personal gain, the people around him who were close to him were all powerful and influential. The emperor would certainly not be at ease.
Thinking of this, Shen Yunxi's eyes instantly reddened; she was truly unfilial.
Lan Pei smiled and stopped Shen Yunxi from going inside, saying as they walked, "Everything was fine when we were out, but I was a little worried about you and Anyu, fearing you might be bullied in the manor. I know quite a bit about what happened earlier, including your argument with your grandmother and third aunt. Although I don't usually like arguing with them, Yunxi, you are my daughter, and your mother can't just stand by and watch you be bullied. If they dare to do that again, no matter what others say, I will protect you."
Hearing Lan Pei's words, Shen Yunxi's eyes finally welled up with tears, but she smiled happily. Not only would her father and mother protect her, but she would also protect them and her older brother and sister.
"There's no need for that, Mother. I am no longer the Shen Yunxi I once was. They won't dare to bully me. Mother, I... I did something wrong before, almost ruining my reputation and making the Emperor take responsibility for me. I know I was wrong, and I won't force things anymore. Now I understand that the Emperor doesn't have me in his heart, and he doesn't want to fulfill the late Emperor's decree of marriage. I will find an opportunity to return the imperial decree to the Emperor, and then Father will no longer be restricted. Father is a man with ideals; he shouldn't give up everything for me. I understand all of that."
Upon hearing this, Lanpei and Chenzhong were both very surprised. The couple looked at each other and saw disbelief in each other's eyes. What had happened? Why had their daughter changed like this?
"Yunxi, what's wrong with you? Your mother is worried about you. Did you get bullied?" Lanpei asked with concern.
Tears streamed down Shen Yunxi's face as she gently leaned on Lan Pei's shoulder. "Mother, Yunxi doesn't know how to explain, but I know my own thoughts very clearly. Now I have truly given up my feelings for the Emperor. I only hope that my family is safe and well. I was ignorant in the past and caused you and Father a lot of trouble. I won't do that again from now on."
Seeing her daughter crying sadly, Lanpei felt even more distressed. She wanted to ask her daughter more questions, but was interrupted by a heavy heart.
"Alright, Madam, please don't say any more. Since Yunxi doesn't want to talk about it anymore, we as her parents shouldn't press her. Speaking of which, it's been quite a while since we last saw each other. Yunxi, please have dinner with us tonight, and we can talk after we've eaten." He said with a heavy smile, having also noticed the change in Shen Yunxi.
He used to hope his daughter would grow up quickly, but if the price of growing up was unbearable pain, he would rather Shen Yunxi not grow up.
Unfortunately, she has grown up.
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