Rong Yan had turned a blind eye, and though they began with civility, it inevitably devolved into bickering. At first, Shen Ruoyu believed it was simply his nature, but later realized Rong Yan had been deceiving her. There was no cherished childhood connection; if not for her status, Rong Yan likely wouldn't have given her a second glance.

“Fine, I, Lu Zhixing, was blind, actually considering you a close friend. But Rong Yan, I truly despise you. At least I wouldn't be so two-faced as to deceive someone's genuine affections while hiding my own!” Lu Zhixing regretted that even Jiang Peizhi had seen the truth while he remained oblivious. No wonder Rong Yan's expression soured and his gaze darted away whenever Shen Xinghuai's name was mentioned; now it all made sense.

“Don't seek me out anymore, Rong Yan. From now on, we are strangers.” What Shen Xinghuai said in the plum garden was indeed true; Rong Yan harbored different feelings for him. Despite being betrothed to Shen Ruoyu and feigning devotion, he secretly yearned for her younger brother. And, what's more, he had been the one to pursue Shen Xinghuai first.

Bringing up the past only deepened Shen Ruoyu's disappointment in Rong Yan. “Your Lordship, please don't make things too difficult for Lord Rong. Now that my brother has been found, I will request an audience with His Majesty to formally dissolve our engagement. From then on, we shall part ways and each find our own peace.” She didn't even want to see Rong Yan and couldn't understand why he had followed her. The dungeon was oppressive, so Shen Ruoyu had excused herself to care for her brother.

Jiang Peizhi followed close behind. As she passed Lu Zhixing, she heard him murmur, “Surely Miss Shen hasn't forgotten the antidote is in my possession? Sparing your life is a tremendous act of mercy. I trust you won't divulge my experiences or what transpired in the dungeon.” 

Lu Zhixing was agitated, not only from being betrayed again, but also from his inner conflict. Someone like Shen Ruoyu should have died by his hand a thousand times over, yet killing her now felt too merciful. Sometimes, the slow torment of one's prey presented a more satisfying challenge. This poison, obtained from a recluse on the border years ago, was incurable except by him, meaning Shen Ruoyu's life was now in his hands.

Shen Ruoyu heard him but didn't respond. She had been careless today, thinking she could eliminate Lu Zhixing through Helian Yi, but he had clearly anticipated her move. Lu Zhixing held significant sway in the court, having promoted numerous officials who now held positions of power—in essence, he commanded a network of loyalists. She should have realized that someone who could even make the Emperor yield would possess cunning and influence.

Breaking off an engagement was no small matter. The betrothal had been a public spectacle, and its dissolution would undoubtedly become the talk of the capital. At this thought, Rong Yan chased after Shen Ruoyu, breathlessly clutching her skirt. “A’Yu! I will not agree to break off the engagement. Please reconsider. After all, such a thing would be… humiliating…” If Shen Ruoyu were to reveal his feelings for Shen Xinghuai, the reputation he had painstakingly cultivated would be ruined.

Atop the mountain, a red plum blossom drifted onto Shen Ruoyu's shoulder. She blinked, looking down at the hand gripping her skirt. “Humiliating? You don't want to break off the engagement because of appearances? Rong Yan, even after all these years as husband and wife, I still don't understand you. Is your so-called pride, the Rong family's reputation, all that matters to you?”

“Since you’ve remembered everything, let me tell you this: for years, you insisted on gifting me poria cake, even though I break out in hives whenever I eat it. When I was humiliated at the Spring Banquet, you blamed me for being unreasonable. When drunk, you called out my brother's name. Because no one in your household respected me as your wife, even the servants dared to disrespect me. With no one for company, I kept a cat to pass the time, but you gave it away to Qi Ziyi without even consulting me, simply because he liked it…”

Shen Ruoyu loved peonies and had cultivated a patch in her courtyard. But when Qi Ziyi pleaded with Rong Yan, claiming he couldn't tolerate their fragrance, Rong Yan had them uprooted that very day. Rong Yan rarely visited her courtyard, and with no one to confide in, she had taken in a small cat for companionship. 

She shared her daily woes with the silent creature and cherished it deeply. Yet, when Qi Ziyi visited and expressed his fondness for the cat, Rong Yan gave it away without a word to her. Later, the cat drowned in Qi Ziyi's estate. After that, Shen Ruoyu had stopped speaking to Rong Yan altogether. He hadn't understood her, even complaining, "Why are you so petty? It's just a cat. I can find you another one."

Remembering all this, bitterness welled up in Shen Ruoyu's heart. She yanked her skirt free, shoving Rong Yan away. “Rong Yan, there's no chance for us!” So he should stop pestering her. She had endured enough of the Rong household's twisted ways. Once bitten, twice shy. She now knew better and would never give her heart away so easily again.

“A’Yu!” Rong Yan slammed against the wall. He remembered the sparkle in her eyes when he lifted her veil on their wedding night. Now, they were icy, unwilling to even glance at him. Why? Did she hate him? He could make amends in this life…

“Hey, hey, hey! What do you think you’re doing? Can't you see Yuyu wants nothing to do with you? Get lost!” Rong Yan tried to follow, but Jiang Peizhi blocked his path.

“Jiang Peizhi, you’re not so innocent yourself. Can you honestly say you don't harbor any romantic feelings for A’Yu?” 

In the previous life, Jiang Peizhi had single-handedly exhumed Shen Ruoyu's body from a mass grave, ignoring the scorn and whispers, and given her a proper burial. Rong Yan didn't believe a mere friend would go to such lengths.

Golden sunlight illuminated Jiang Peizhi's fair face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I don’t know. I’ve always seen her as a sister. But if Lord Rong continues to treat her poorly, I just might steal her away.”