"Ah Yao, something urgent has come up. I need to take a trip out of town."

Xue Xingyao’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, plummeted.

’A sense of helpless inevitability washed over her.’

She said nothing, her gaze lowered, her thoughts hidden.

Chen Shujing was anxious. Ever since he sent Shen Mingji to the military barracks to be disciplined, he hadn’t heard from him in a very long time.

Shen Mingji had a wild and arrogant nature. Although he’d caused Chen Shujing no small amount of trouble, upon learning that Chen Shujing was to marry, Shen Mingji chose to cut ties with him.

Before leaving, he had declared that whether he lived or died, no one should meddle in his affairs.

Shen Mingji was incredibly stubborn; once he made up his mind, a team of ten oxen couldn’t drag him back.

After that, Chen Shujing truly never received a single letter from him.

Not one.

It was as if Shen Mingji intended to have nothing more to do with him for the rest of his life.

Now that news had finally arrived, it was likely he was gravely injured.

Chen Shujing couldn’t rest easy. He had to go see for himself before he could be at peace.

’He is Xiaoxiao’s only remaining family.’

’The Shen family is unreliable. If I don’t look after Shen Mingji either, and something really happens to him, how could I ever face Xiaoxiao in the afterlife?’

’Once I’m sure Shen Mingji is alright, I’ll come back immediately. I absolutely won’t delay matters concerning the Xue Family.’

Chen Shujing said, "I’ve already made arrangements here in the Capital City and will leave people behind to help you with any troubles. Ah Yao, don’t be afraid."

A flicker of mockery passed through Xue Xingyao’s eyes.

She looked up at Chen Shujing. "The Xue Family ancestors have a history of Contribution from the Dragon. His Highness personally granted my request, so I believe Mother and the others will be fine. It was my own anxiety that made me lose my head just now."

Seeing that Xue Xingyao wasn’t angry, Chen Shujing breathed a sigh of relief.

He said gently, "I’ll rush back the moment I’m finished."

Xue Xingyao no longer cared if he came back or not. She was just glad that she had been shaken awake the moment her resolve had wavered.

She was Chen Shujing’s lawfully wedded wife, yet her family was still locked in prison, their fate uncertain at any moment.

But the moment Shen Mingxiao’s younger brother was in trouble, he dropped everything without a second thought.

’If it happened once, it will happen again.’ Xue Xingyao didn’t want to suffer this kind of grievance anymore.

Staying with the Chen Family would certainly preserve her life of wealth and status, but if she had to stifle her anger every day, she probably wouldn’t live for many more years.

Rather than die in misery, it was better to be free and decisive for once.

’Good or bad, she would accept the consequences.’

Chen Shujing was in a hurry to check on Shen Mingji. After a few more words of instruction, he was about to leave.

Sitting in her carriage, Xue Xingyao lifted the curtain and called out to him, "Young Master."

She had used that title again.

Chen Shujing frowned. It seemed she was angry after all, just not showing it earlier.

He turned to look at her, his expression serious. "Ah Yao, don’t throw a petty tantrum at a time like this. It’s a matter of life and death. I have to go."

The disappointment in Xue Xingyao’s eyes deepened.

’Was her family’s situation not a matter of life and death?’

The more disappointed she felt, the calmer her expression became, her heart turning into a pool of stagnant water.

She pulled at the corners of her mouth, revealing a faint, distant smile. "I’m not stopping you."

Chen Shujing’s expression softened slightly. Just as he was about to say something, Xue Xingyao’s words reached his ears again.

She said, "You don’t need to worry about my family’s affairs anymore. Do whatever you want. I won’t stop you, and you don’t have to come back to the Capital City."

Chen Shujing was anxious to leave town, and he had already made arrangements for the Xue Family’s affairs. He didn’t understand why Xue Xingyao couldn’t be a little more magnanimous.

By nature, he wasn’t one to lose his temper with others.

Chen Shujing said helplessly, "You’ve met Ah Ji. He’s my late friend’s younger brother. After we parted ways last time, he went to the army barracks. This time, he’s been seriously injured. It’s only right that I go see him."

"I saw it," Xue Xingyao said out of the blue.

The words made Chen Shujing suddenly think of the wooden box in his study.

Later, there was a fire in the study that burned some unimportant things, but the portrait inside the box remained completely untouched.

Nervous, Chen Shujing’s heart began to pound. THUMP THUMP THUMP.

’There are no walls that can keep a secret forever.’ He had considered that one day, Xue Xingyao might find out about Xiaoxiao’s existence.

But he had been certain that Xue Xingyao would accept it all.

After all, it had all happened before they knew each other. He hadn’t wronged Ah Yao.

But thinking it was one thing; facing it was another. In this moment, Chen Shujing felt an impulse to flee.

He didn’t dare ask Xue Xingyao what she had seen.

Nor did he dare to reveal everything at a time like this.

"Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it when I get back."

Xue Xingyao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Cry for her own pitiful state, having married a man who was not a good husband.

Or laugh that she had found out early, before she had drowned completely in her feelings. Although the pain cut to the bone, it wasn’t a fatal blow.

’Chen Shujing isn’t a fool. How could he not guess what I mean?’

Yet he was still so preoccupied with Shen Mingxiao’s brother, which was proof enough that in his heart, Shen Mingxiao was the one who mattered most.

’Can the living truly win against the dead?’

Even if they could, she no longer wanted to fight that battle.

Giving Chen Shujing no chance to escape, Xue Xingyao said, "I saw Miss Shen’s portrait in the study. I also learned about your past with her. You were soulmates. You can’t forget her."

So it was true. Chen Shujing froze in the middle of leaving. He didn’t turn back to look at Xue Xingyao.

His eyelid twitched uncontrollably. "The child... was it lost then?"

He had heard from the servants that she was writing a letter in the study when she suddenly had stomach pains.

Thinking back on it now, she must have seen the portrait and been emotionally devastated.

And so, the child was gone.

Chen Shujing suddenly found it hard to breathe. He had originally thought it was Duke Xue’s foolishness, which implicated his whole clan, that had caused Ah Yao to miscarry from anxiety.

He never imagined that he was the last straw that broke her.

Chen Shujing’s mind was a mess. He didn’t know how to face Xue Xingyao.

Only by leaving could he avoid being drowned in guilt.

He said, "Wait for me to return. I will give you an explanation."

A watery sheen appeared in Xue Xingyao’s eyes.

’He really cares so much about Shen Mingxiao, so much that he’s willing to ignore everything else.’

’Just the thought of Shen Mingji can make him like this. If Shen Mingxiao were still alive, he would probably be even more frantic.’

Xue Xingyao let out a forceful breath, expelling the stifling pressure that had been lodged in her chest.

"I don’t need your explanation. I only want one thing."

Her expression was resolute as she spoke the single word, "Divorce."

"Chen Shujing, let’s get a divorce!"

This was something Chen Shujing had never considered. He had married Xue Xingyao with the intention of having children with her and living a life of mutual respect.

Parting ways midway through life—he had never foreseen such a possibility.

The man finally turned his head and saw the shimmer of tears in Xue Xingyao’s eyes.

’She clearly can’t bear to part either, so why must she insist on a divorce?’

’What will she do after leaving the Chen Family?’

Chen Shujing admitted to himself that he was shameless; at this moment, he was suddenly grateful for Duke Xue’s foolishness.

Otherwise, Xue Xingyao would have demanded a divorce the day she discovered the portrait.

’She struggled with it for so long, even putting on an act with me, never bringing it up directly. This proves she was weighing her options.’

’She doesn’t absolutely have to have a divorce.’

’It’s just that Ah Ji is in trouble, and I have to leave the Capital City, so she’s scared.’

’That’s why she’s throwing a tantrum.’

"Ah Yao, calm down first. After this, I won’t get involved with Shen Mingji’s affairs again. I will also explain everything about the past to you clearly. I won’t hide anything from you anymore."

"I’ll agree to anything you want, but a divorce... is out of the question!"