In Madam Shen's memory, the most embarrassing and nightmarish experience of her life was, at her age, encountering robbers who intended to assault her.
And this incident was arranged by Shen Wei!
She still remembered Shen Wei's cold gaze and his slightly strange words when he told her about it.
"It's only because you are Shen Wei's biological mother that I arranged for the village elder. If there's a next time, do you think I'll arrange someone to save you again?"
Thinking of this, Madam Shen's face turned pale, her expression as if she had seen a ghost.
Shen Wang still looked disbelieving, "Wang Hehua must be deliberately lying to us! She was dealt with by Li Yueshu, got scared, and is deliberately lying to trick us!"
Madam Shen tugged at his sleeve, "No... he's really not the third child, he's not Shen Wei."
Shen Wang frowned and glared at her hatefully, his effeminate voice particularly grating, "You've always told me not to provoke them, and now you're using this kind of lie to trick me. Do you think I'll fall for it!"
"I'm not lying to you, I..." Madam Shen hesitated, then made up her mind and, swallowing her pride, spoke the truth, "The robbers who attacked me last time... they were arranged by him! He said he would only arrange for the village elder to save me because of Shen Wei, and that he wouldn't let me off so easily next time!"
"If he were truly Shen Wei, how could he do such a thing and say such words!"
She had only Shen Wang as her son, yet she could no longer bear descendants. As for whether her grandson was successful or not, or even alive, the Shen family was already destined to end.
Her only hope in the latter half of her life was Shen Wang. She couldn't let him go to his death!
As expected, upon hearing this, Shen Wang's expression changed drastically, filled with terror.
"He... are you telling the truth?"
Madam Shen felt a flush of shame but still nodded, "How could I lie to you about something like this."
As soon as she said this, Shen Wang seemed to lose all his strength and sat down on the ground.
Madam Shen squatted down and took his hand, seemingly resigned to fate, "Son, let's live our own lives peacefully. Accept your fate!"
Shen Wang trembled slightly.
He didn't want to accept his fate!
He was now separated from his wife and children, and had even lost his dignity as a man. Why should he accept his fate!
But if he didn't accept his fate, what else could he do...
Shen Wang lowered his head, as if his soul had been drained.
The entire Shen household became gloomy.
After Wang Hehua left, the rumors about her and the Shen family's third son quickly disappeared.
Most of the villagers sided with Li Yueshu, and with the Shen family causing no more trouble, the matter was soon forgotten.
Li Yueshu learned about Wang Hehua's departure from Aunt Liu, but she didn't pay it much mind, focusing instead on preparing for her trip to Chongzhou.
Her intention to go to Chongzhou was not kept secret, and many people heard about it, including her parents, Father Li and Mother Li, from the neighboring village.
As instructed by Li Xiangru, they had been keeping an eye on Li Yueshu's situation for the past two years, which was why they found out so quickly.
Upon learning this, the couple became somewhat anxious.
Xiangru had specifically told them when she left not to get involved in any of Li Yueshu's affairs, but to absolutely prevent her from going to Chongzhou.
But Mother Li was troubled, "This... her legs are her own. How can we stop her?"
Father Li also frowned, but he wasn't as worried as Mother Li.
No matter how capable Li Yueshu was, she was still their daughter in name.
There were ways to keep her here.
After thinking for a while, Father Li turned and instructed Mother Li, "Tomorrow, you go to the Shen family and have a good chat with your in-law."
The Shen family had always disliked the third branch of the family. If Li Yueshu took her family to Chongzhou to enjoy themselves, the Shen family would surely be the first to object!
However, Mother Li didn't expect that as soon as she mentioned it was about the third branch, Madam Shen directly closed the door and, through the crack, said, "The third branch has completely severed ties with us. You can go directly to them with any matters. It has nothing to do with us!"
Mother Li was stunned, completely unaware of the drastic change in the Shen family's attitude. She didn't know what to do.
After a long hesitation, she decided to return to Father Li to discuss it.
If only Xiangru were here, she would surely know what to do!
And at this moment, Li Xiangru, who was being discussed by Mother Li, was resting on her way back to Chongzhou.
Since there was no rush, Li Xiangru and her entourage traveled slowly, also giving Crown Prince a greater opportunity to prepare.
After returning this time, she would no longer be considered part of the Second Prince's faction in the eyes of the world. Her interactions with the Crown Prince would no longer need to be clandestine.
Thinking about the situation after returning to Chongzhou, Li Xiangru was in a very good mood, and the fatigue of several days of travel seemed to vanish.
She casually handed her water flask to Huai'er, who was beside her, and her gaze suddenly fell upon a man in the distance with white gauze covering his eyes.
Compared to his disheveled state when they first met, the bruises on his lips were almost invisible, and he carried an air of cool nobility.
After a moment's thought, Li Xiangru got up and walked over.
"Young Master Bai, have some dried provisions," she said, offering him the meat patty in her hand. "You are still injured, and this child is at a growing stage. You can't always subsist on wild fruits."
Since waking up two days ago, Ji Mo Bai had intended to leave, but they were in the wilderness. The nearest towns were all in the same direction, so he had been traveling with Li Yueshu.
However, while their paths were the same, they traveled separately.
Li Yueshu had asked Ji Mo Bai and Man Xing to travel with her several times, but he had refused.
He had saved her life, and in return, he had given her a pill that could save her life at a crucial moment. It was a fair exchange, and there was no reason to continue accepting her kindness.
"Thank you, Miss Gu. My servant and I are accustomed to it," Ji Mo Bai replied with a distant and polite tone, his stance firm.
Li Xiangru looked at him, then at Man Xing, who was silently gnawing on wild fruits nearby.
Despite being a child, he endured hardship without complaint, which was quite likable.
Li Xiangru retracted her hand holding the meat patty but did not leave. Instead, she sat down beside Ji Mo Bai.
"I heard from my accompanying physician that you, Young Master Bai, have excellent medical skills. May I ask who your teacher is?"
She asked out of curiosity, not truly expecting an answer.
Ji Mo Bai did not intend to answer either, "I merely have a slight understanding of medicine. It's not something that can be called excellent."
Looking at his demeanor, Li Xiangru found him increasingly mysterious.
Even in Chongzhou, she hadn't met many young masters from noble families who possessed such a refined and noble aura.
Li Xiangru looked at the person beside her curiously and asked, "At our current pace, we should reach a town tomorrow. Where do you plan to go then, Young Master Bai?"
Ji Mo Bai held a half-eaten wild fruit in his hand and turned his head slightly, "I am a person with no fixed abode, drifting from place to place. After my injuries heal, I don't know where I will go."
Li Xiangru glanced at the basket beside him and frowned slightly, "If you want to recover, I'm afraid the money you get from selling these herbs won't be enough, will it?"
Having known them for two days, she naturally knew that this master and servant pair had been collecting herbs all along, intending to sell them in town for money.
Looking at the two of them, Li Xiangru suddenly had an idea, "Young Master Bai, why don't you come with us to Chongzhou? I'll hire you as the physician for my estate."