Chapter 60

Shen Yu lay in bed for two days.

The doctor was highly skilled, and the wound on her back healed quickly after the fever subsided, thanks to the effective medicine he provided.

The incident where she was whipped was known throughout the household, and even the gatekeeper at the East Gate smiled and asked if she was feeling better when she left.

As soon as she left, the gatekeeper hurried to Qingpuju to deliver the news.

Shen Yu wandered around the streets as usual and then entered the clothing store run by the Lu family.

As soon as the shopkeeper saw her, he invited her to the inner room and closed the door behind them. “Miss, you’ve finally come. I’ve been waiting for days.”

Shen Yu took a seat. “Did Shen Yan reply to me?”

The shopkeeper of the Lu family was mostly made up of people from the Lu family, trained from a young age and then sent out to various places.

This was both to ensure their usefulness and because their family members were in the Lu family, making them easier to control.

The shopkeeper shook his head. “I went to Second Miss on the third day to deliver the letter. However, there has been no response yet. But there is news from Hezhou, from Madam and Miss Hongqiao.”

“Give it to me quickly,” Shen Yu reached out her hand.

Mrs. Lu was also a legendary figure. Although the Lu family was wealthy back then, it was not as prosperous as it is now. It was Madam Lu who single-handedly brought the Lu family to its current status.

Mrs. Lu had no sons of her own, only a daughter who had married far away.

Later, Mrs. Lu adopted a son from the clan, thinking it would be helpful to have someone to support her. The boy who was adopted from her uncle’s family was several years older than Shen Yu.

Even if the Lu family was wealthy, it was fine to give away some of the fortune. Mrs. Lu had said that most of it would be left to Shen Yu and Shen Zhao.

The shopkeeper took out the letters, and Shen Yu quietly opened the one from her grandmother.

The Lu shopkeeper didn’t disturb her and waited by the side.

Grandmother wrote in the letter that she missed her very much and was worried that her darling granddaughter was suffering too much. She said she knew what she wanted to do, and although she only wished for Shen Yu’s safety and happiness, she would support her in whatever she wanted to do.

There was one point she emphasized: to take care of her health and not to take any risks. If she couldn’t bear it, she should return to Hezhou, where her grandmother would be waiting for her.

After reading her grandmother’s letter, Shen Yu pouted, feeling like crying. She sniffled and held back her tears, then opened the one from Hongqiao.

Hongqiao had been in Hezhou for a long time, collecting information for Shen Yu and assisting Mrs. Lu.

In the letter, she mentioned that Madam’s health had deteriorated recently, but she didn’t want to tell Shen Yu, fearing it would disrupt her plans and hold her back.

At this point, Shen Yu couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.

The Lu shopkeeper tactfully left the room.

Shen Yu didn’t know if her current choice was right or wrong.

Should she give up her hatred and cherish the people around her, or should she continue on this difficult path?

She thought for a long time in her room but couldn’t find an answer.

Before leaving, she left letters for her grandmother and Hongqiao and asked the Lu shopkeeper to deliver a message to Shen Yan again.

When Xie Tingzhou returned from his trip, he hadn’t even reached the entrance of Qingpuju when he saw someone standing straight at the door.

He paused for a moment before continuing to walk as usual, lowering his gaze to look at her. “It’s not your shift today. What are you doing here?”

Shen Yu nodded. “No, I came to thank Your Highness.”

Xie Tingzhou stepped into the courtyard, and Shen Yu followed. “Where did Your Highness go today? I’ve been waiting here for a long time.”

The whereabouts of the master were not something a subordinate should inquire about, but Xie Tingzhou didn’t blame her, and Xifeng naturally wouldn’t remind her.

Xie Tingzhou heard a hint of complaint in her voice. “It’s the birthday of the former Grand Tutor. I went there.”

Speaking of the Grand Tutor, Shen Yu remembered Yu Wanqiu.

The Lu family had produced two Grand Tutors in succession, one was Yu Wanqiu’s grandfather, and the other was her father.

The news of her brother’s death must have reached Yu Wanqiu long ago. Shen Yu wondered how she was doing now.

With a thought, Shen Yu tentatively asked, “I heard that Mrs. Lu from the Lu family is exceptionally beautiful. Did Your Highness meet her?”

Xie Tingzhou suddenly stopped and turned around. “What? Are you interested in Mrs. Lu?”

“Of course not,” Shen Yu chuckled dryly. “I just want to see what an exceptionally beautiful woman looks like.”

“Ordinary,” Xie Tingzhou said.

After entering the room and having the maid serve tea, Xie Tingzhou finally asked, “What do you need to thank me for?”

Shen Yu said, “For Your Highness’s mercy in not killing me.”

“Are you mocking me?” Xie Tingzhou picked up his teacup.

After being whipped until he couldn’t get out of bed, he was now being thanked for not killing her. If this wasn’t sarcasm, what was it?

Shen Yu looked puzzled and continued, “Also, thank you for arranging for the doctor to treat my injuries and for arranging a maid for me

.”

Xie Tingzhou pursed his lips slightly. “It wasn’t me. Thank Xifeng if you must.”

Xifeng was standing at the door, pointing to himself with a puzzled expression.

Shen Yu turned to look at Xifeng. “Xifeng wouldn’t act without Your Highness’s orders.”

Xie Tingzhou chuckled lightly. “He still has that much authority.”

Xifeng stood behind them, feeling a bit heavy-hearted. When Shen Yu turned her head for the second time, he said solemnly, “Indeed… it was me.”

Regardless of whether Shen Yu believed it or not, as the Crown Prince, he couldn’t refute it in front of her.

When it was time to take the blame, as the leader of the guards, he had to step forward.

Xifeng couldn’t understand why this was a good thing, but the Crown Prince was pushing it onto him.

Shen Yu’s gaze shifted between the two of them before she walked up to Xifeng. “When is your next day off?”

Xi Feng reluctantly answered, “Tomorrow.”

Shen Yu nodded, “That’s perfect then. Tomorrow, I’ll treat you to a meal at Shiyue Pavilion in the city.”

Xi Feng glanced at the Crown Prince, Xie Tingzhou, who was lazily leaning back in his chair, watching him.

“No need for you to treat us to a meal,” Xi Feng’s spine tingled, “It’s all…”

“A meal? Who’s treating us to a meal?” Chang Liu bounded in, “Why didn’t you invite me?”

Shen Yu smiled, “You’re coming too. Let’s invite all the brothers who aren’t on duty tomorrow.”

Chang Liu, unaware of what had just happened, grinned and said, “So… are we inviting His Highness as well?”

Shen Yu glanced at Xie Tingzhou, “If His Highness is willing to grace us with his presence, then Shiyu is naturally most welcome.”

Xie Tingzhou nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Shen Yu took a few steps towards the door, then suddenly stopped.

She really wanted to talk to someone. In the past, it would have been her father or her brother. But now, with no one left, she realized that the person she had spent the most time with in Shengjing was Xie Tingzhou.

Seeing her hesitation, Xie Tingzhou set down his teacup. “Do you have something else on your mind?”

Taking a deep breath, Shen Yu gathered her courage, turned around, and glanced at Xi Feng and Chang Liu.

Understanding her signal, Xie Tingzhou waved his hand, and Xi Feng and Chang Liu left, closing the door behind them.

“Sit,” Xie Tingzhou said.

Shen Yu didn’t stand on ceremony and took a seat opposite him.

Whenever they were alone, they would inevitably reminisce about their journey together. Without guards or maids present, Xie Tingzhou seemed like the same person who used to rely on her for everything.

But whenever someone else was around, he transformed into the aloof, powerful, and invincible Crown Prince of Beilin.

Xie Tingzhou knew she had something to say and didn’t rush her, instead picking up a book and flipping through it.

“When His Highness said it’s fine to be casual without others around, is he serious?” Shen Yu asked.

Xie Tingzhou glanced at her sideways, “I’d like to see just how casual you can be.”