His longtime servant, Old Liu, spoke to him on their way back to the manor. "Master, if you intend to marry Miss Shen, then devote yourself to her wholeheartedly. I've served you for many years and witnessed Miss Shen's kindness towards you. She should be the one in your heart. Do not continue to chill her affections."

It's said that young ladies are easily embarrassed, yet Uncle Liu had always observed the lengths Shen Ruoyu went to for Rong Yan. Those who served masters were most adept at reading expressions, and having served Rong Yan for so long, how could he not discern that his master's heart belonged to another?

It would be unbearable for anyone to have their beloved constantly thinking of their own sibling. If Miss Shen were to discover this, given her temperament, any possibility of reconciliation would be shattered.

"Uncle Liu, I understand. I will try to get to know her better…"

Rong Yan dared not promise to eventually love her, for he himself couldn't guarantee his future affections for Shen Ruoyu. He admitted that he sought her hand in marriage for her family's influence.

His parents had long since perished on the battlefield, leaving him as the sole pillar of the vast Rong Manor. While maintaining a facade of respectability, the Rong family had long lost its former glory. Despite his achievements, he still endured the scorn of others behind his back. Marrying Shen Ruoyu would be the key to restoring the Rong family to its former splendor.

Old Liu, aware that Rong Yan might not have taken his words to heart, sighed and shook his head. "Alas, Master, you should cherish her. It's not too late. Don't wait until you've lost her to regret it."

Rong Yan paid little attention to Old Liu's earnest advice. Accustomed to Shen Ruoyu's unwavering devotion, he simply attributed her recent coldness to a temporary ill mood. She had loved him for so many years; how could she possibly leave him now?

"Uncle Liu, return to your room and rest. I know what I'm doing in matters of the heart."

With the morning court session looming, Rong Yan retired after washing up. He was a light sleeper, rarely dreaming, but tonight, he fell into a protracted nightmare.

In his dream, he sat in a room, clad in white mourning robes. Just beyond the door, maidservants whispered amongst themselves. Their hushed voices reached his ears, and it all felt terrifyingly real.

"Xiao Cui, should we bring him food? The Master sits in his room day after day, refusing to eat or drink. Will he starve to death…?"

"I don't know. What's wrong with him? They say the dead cannot be revived, so what is he doing? He didn't even cry when the Madam passed, but now he looks utterly heartbroken."

Rong Yan's hands clenched into fists at his sides. Even knowing it was a dream, he felt an intense sense of suffocation, a tightness in his chest that made it hard to breathe. He heard them, talking about the Madam's death. Who was the Madam? He had yet to marry; who could they possibly be referring to?

"Dead… why…?"

The dream felt like a memory, as if it had truly happened. Rong Yan tried to stand and demand answers, but found himself paralyzed. He felt his face wet with tears, and touching his eyes, he realized he was crying.

"Why am I crying? What happened…?"

Panic seized him. In reality, he lay in bed, drenched in sweat, murmuring, "No, it's not… I've long since… towards you…"

He tossed and turned, his hands gripping the bedding, unable to utter the final words.

When Shen Ruoyu entered, she found him pale, his handsome face etched with distress. In his sleep, he mumbled incoherently, words Shen Ruoyu couldn't understand.

She patted his face, rousing him. "Lord Rong, the morning court session is about to begin. Aren't you going to wake up? I have something to tell you."

Shen Ruoyu had already made her intentions clear to Master Shen the previous day. She would not marry Rong Yan. A woman's worth wasn't solely defined by marriage. She had plans for her future, a life she intended to live for herself. At the very least, not marrying Rong Yan would spare her years of worry and heartache.

She had come to the Rong Manor so early to tell him precisely this.

"I'm sorry… Madam…"

Rong Yan awoke from his nightmare, Shen Ruoyu's beautiful face the first thing he saw. For a moment, he couldn't distinguish between dream and reality, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Shen Ruoyu froze, gazing into his eyes. Those damp, dark eyes were clouded with immense sorrow. His words and tone transported her back to her past lives.

The phrase left both of them bewildered.

The jeweled hair ornaments adorning her head trembled slightly. A flicker of unease ran through Shen Ruoyu, but she quickly composed herself, dismissing his words as sleep-induced ramblings. "Lord Rong, did you not sleep well? It's alright. I came to your residence to share some good news."

"I've thought it over and decided not to pursue you any longer. You don't care for me, do you? I'm setting you free. Our engagement was decreed by the Emperor. I will request that he retract his decree. I hope you will join me before the Emperor to clarify the matter."

The Shen family held considerable power. If Shen Ruoyu spoke, the Emperor would undoubtedly listen. Moreover, there was also the Third Princess in the palace, who held a deep affection for Rong Yan.

"Why? Why break off the engagement?"

Perhaps influenced by the lingering remnants of his nightmare, fragmented memories flickered through Rong Yan's mind, events that had never transpired.

Shen Ruoyu dropped the pretense. "Because you have a fondness for men, because you love my brother, because you merely intend to use me. Is that enough? After we break off the engagement, we will both be free. You won't have to exhaust yourself pretending to court me. It's a win-win situation."

After her father had summoned her to his study yesterday, she had come to a realization. There was no need to harbor resentment and remain entangled with such a person. 

Previously, she had been concerned about appearances, but now, Shen Ruoyu had changed her mind. It was better to simply lay everything bare. Of course, merely breaking off the engagement was too lenient. Shen Ruoyu had conditions.

Rong Yan, his schemes so easily exposed, felt a wave of fear wash over him, the shame of a liar unmasked.

"So you knew all along…?"