After understanding the full story, they set off again.
Chi Chi remained silent throughout the journey, with Madam Su, You Rong, and Shen Jing doing all the talking.
They simply assumed Chi Chi was frightened and merely offered her a few words of comfort, not thinking much of it.
Finally, they arrived at the graves of Shen Rong and his wife.
Shen Rong and his wife had a very loving relationship during their lives; a year after Shen Rong's death from illness, his wife also passed away from grief.
Shen Jing honored his mother's last wish and buried them together.
As soon as Chi Chi arrived at the graves, she busied herself, carefully arranging all the offerings.
While Shen Jing and the others paid their respects, she knelt before the graves, silently burning paper, her eyes glistening with tears.
Madam Su held the incense sticks with both hands, bowing to the couple's graves in reverence, "My dear in-laws, rest assured, as long as I live, I will not let your son be bullied! Of course, your son is incredibly cunning, so I doubt many people could ever bully him..."
Shen Jing, however, said nothing, simply paying his respects in silence.
During the ritual, he could talk non-stop.
But when it came to a formal ceremony, he truly didn't know what to say.
Anyway, no matter how much he said, they wouldn't hear it.
Words spoken to the dead, only to be heard by the living, truly didn't need to be a long, elaborate speech.
Having the intention should be enough!
After paying their respects to Shen Rong and his wife, they returned to the Su Family.
They had barely settled down when Feng Min came to visit.
From Feng Min, they also learned the latest developments in the rebellion case.
Besides the Song Family and the Yu Family, two other officials in Luochuan Prefecture were implicated in the rebellion case.
However, their involvement was not deep; they were essentially tricked by Zhao Jianzhi.
Currently, the Song Residence and all properties of the Song Family have been sealed, and everyone in the Song Residence has been arrested.
The authorities are still searching for Song Lianxin, but she seems to have vanished into thin air.
Tomorrow, Zhao Jianzhi and other key offenders will be escorted to the capital.
After listening to Feng Min, Madam Su smiled and asked, "You didn't just come here today to tell us all this, did you?"
"Of course not."
Feng Min offered a placating smile, "This humble official heard from Eunuch Yu, who delivered the imperial decree, that you are about to return to the capital. This humble official's visit today is actually to ask for a favor!"
"Oh?"
Madam Su smiled, "What is it?"
Indeed, one never visits without a reason!
Feng Min gave a wry smile, "With such an incident occurring in Luochuan Prefecture, this humble official, as the Prefect of Huaizhou, certainly cannot escape responsibility. This humble official would like to ask Madam Su to speak a few good words on his behalf before His Majesty..."
"I don't think you need to worry about that."
Madam Su smiled, "Although you bear the responsibility of oversight, you also took timely action and reported the matter to the imperial court. In any case, your merits and demerits should cancel each other out."
To say Feng Min had committed a grave error was not entirely accurate; in fact, he could even be credited with merit.
However, since he held the position of Prefect of Huaizhou, he would inevitably be held accountable for such an incident.
She could understand Feng Min's concern, but she felt he had no need to worry at all.
"This humble official is not worried that His Majesty might vent his anger on this humble official due to Prince Ji's rebellion, is he?"
Feng Min gave a dry laugh, "I still ask Madam to say a few good words for this humble official. This humble official thanks you in advance."
With that, Feng Min stood up again and bowed to Madam Su.
Madam Su shook her head and smiled, "I won't say anything to praise you, but I will report all the circumstances truthfully to His Majesty."
"Thank you, Madam."
Feng Min quickly expressed his gratitude.
For him, a truthful report was a good word.
His fear was that Madam Su might speak ill of him before His Majesty.
"Lord Feng, you are too kind!"
Madam Su invited Feng Min to sit down again and then reminded him, "Prince Ji should be raising an army very soon. Huaizhou certainly has more than just Zhao Jianzhi as Prince Ji's men. Lord Feng, it would be best to firmly grasp military power, just in case!"
Feng Min was slightly surprised and quickly asked, "How does Madam know that Prince Ji will be raising an army soon?"
"We were attacked today; it was done by Master Leng's men."
Madam Su said in a serious tone, "We interrogated the assassins and learned that Master Leng has already fled Luochuan Prefecture! With his escape, Prince Ji will inevitably soon realize that his conspiracy has been exposed. If Prince Ji does not raise an army, he will only be waiting for death!"
Listening to Madam Su's words, Feng Min's eyelids suddenly twitched.
If that was the case, Prince Ji would indeed be raising an army very soon!
Huaizhou was the only path Prince Ji could take to march on the capital.
There was no doubt that there were still Prince Ji's accomplices in places outside Luochuan Prefecture!
Those accomplices might not even be known to Zhao Jianzhi.
Moreover, some of them might even hold considerable military power!
Once these people joined Prince Ji in rebellion, Huaizhou would quickly descend into chaos!
Thinking of this, Feng Min could no longer sit still. After thanking Madam Su, he hurriedly rose to take his leave.
He had to make some preparations in advance!
If something happened in Huaizhou, his head would likely not be safe.
...
At night, Su Yourong, thinking of their imminent return to the capital, tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Shen Jing slept in the outer room, occasionally hearing Su Yourong's movements as she turned over.
Shen Jing got up, walked to the curtain separating the two rooms, and teased, "The night is long, and I'm sleepless. Would this humble scholar like to come into the room and chat with Miss about matters of romance?"
As he spoke these words, Shen Jing was already prepared to hear the word "Scram" from Su Yourong.
However, after a brief silence, Su Yourong's response came from the inner room, "Sure!"
Huh?
Shen Jing was surprised.
She agreed?
Holy cow!
Was he about to get what he wanted?
Damn it!
Do you know how I've managed, facing such a beautiful girl every day, yet being able to look but not touch?
No!
You must know!
You've all been through this!
Shen Jing's heart secretly thrilled, and vaguely, he seemed to hear the howling of a wolf within him.
However, Shen Jing did not act immediately.
Something abnormal must be afoot!
Su Yourong agreeing so readily might be problematic!
"Am I really coming in?"
Shen Jing asked tentatively.
"No one's stopping you."
Su Yourong snorted lightly, "Come in if you want, otherwise lie back down and sleep!"
Upon hearing Su Yourong's words, Shen Jing immediately declared that he couldn't tolerate it.
Come in, then. Who's afraid of whom?
She couldn't possibly eat him, could she?
With this thought, Shen Jing immediately pulled aside the curtain and walked in.
The light in the inner room was dim, with only one oil lamp burning.
Su Yourong lay flat on the bed, and even the thin, cool quilt over her showed her curves.
Watching Shen Jing walk in, Su Yourong pulled the cool quilt up and slowly sat up.
Shen Jing walked over, sat on the edge of her bed, and asked seriously, "It's such a hot day, aren't you hot?"
"It's almost winter; you're telling me it's hot?"
Su Yourong looked at Shen Jing with amusement, secretly cursing this scoundrel for being such a faker.
Hot or not, didn't he know?
His little schemes were so obvious!
"Not hot?"
Shen Jing lowered his gaze and muttered to himself, "Could it be that my heart is too hot?"
Su Yourong didn't respond, just quietly watched Shen Jing perform.
She wanted to see how long this scoundrel could keep up the act.
Shen Jing's lips curled slightly, and he leaned forward, earnestly suggesting, "You feel cool, I feel hot. If we hug each other to sleep, then neither of us will be too cold or too hot!"
With that, Shen Jing didn't even ask for Su Yourong's permission, directly kicked off his shoes, and lay down.
Hmm, indeed, Su Yourong's bed was more comfortable than his own!
Su Yourong almost laughed in anger.
This scoundrel, so this was what he was waiting for!
Su Yourong suppressed the urge to kick Shen Jing off the bed, looking at him with an amused expression, "We're going back to the capital very soon. Aren't you worried at all?"
"What am I worried about?"
Shen Jing said indifferently, "Anyway, whether we want to or not, we have to go back to the capital!"
"Once we reach the capital, Princess Qinghe will definitely deal with you!"
Su Yourong smiled at Shen Jing, then suddenly sighed softly, "Actually, our Su Family also has enemies in the capital. Once you become the Su Family's son-in-law, you will inevitably be targeted by those people."
"For example?"
Shen Jing was curious.
Su Yourong parted her red lips slightly and slowly said, "The current Left Prime Minister, Duke of Ju, Yao Jian!"
"Who?"
Shen Jing's eyelids suddenly twitched...