Shen Yanzhi’s arrival in Qingzhou was accompanied by physicians brought from the Shen family in the capital as a precaution.

Therefore, after arriving at the temporary residence, he did not send anyone to the medical clinic to summon the physician.

The Qingzhou magistrate’s men kept watch outside the residence all night but gained nothing.

Qin Zheng insisted that the Shen family physician treat Lin Zhao’s injuries first before examining herself.

The physician, an old member of the Shen family, had heard some rumors about his young master and Qin Zheng, the former prince’s consort.

Learning that Qin Zheng had lost her memory and recalling the righteousness of the Duke of Qin, he couldn’t help but feel some pity.

After finishing his examination, he only offered some advice on taking care of herself before retiring in front of Qin Zheng.

As he stepped out, he saw Shen Yanzhi standing with hands behind his back under the moonlit corridor.

The night sky hung a crescent moon, making his slender figure appear even more fragile.

Hearing the footsteps, he didn’t turn back but asked, “How is she?”

The physician sighed, “After experiencing the calamity of a fallen country and the chaos of the Eastern Palace, this exile must have suffered a lot along the way. It’s likely that the Princess Consort was deeply traumatized and lost her memory under immense pain.”

Shen Yanzhi closed his phoenix eyes.

His delicate and pale face seemed fragile under the moonlight, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Can she recover her memory?”

The physician looked troubled. “It depends on fate. Perhaps she will recover after some time, or perhaps she will never recover it.”

“For now, don’t let her know about the Duke of Qin’s matters. You may leave.”

After the physician bowed and left silently, Shen Yanzhi glanced at the room at the end of the corridor.

His phoenix eyes suppressed too much unspeakable pain.

Countless mountains pressed down on him, and he never had a moment to catch his breath.

“Perhaps, it’s better that you don’t remember.”

Forgetting the ten or so years they spent together, growing up, playing chess, gambling, and pouring tea.

Forgetting the many pains after the fall of Chu.

If she doesn’t remember love, does she also forget hate?

For a moment, Shen Yanzhi even despicably felt that this was a chance given to him by heaven to start anew with her.

As long as Azheng is by his side, what does it matter if she remembers the past? They can spend the rest of their lives together.

The wind rose, and the lanterns on the corridor swayed in the wind.

His face, even more delicate than a woman’s, became dim in the flickering light and shadow.

Chen Qing hurriedly walked from the other end of the corridor and clasped his fists. “Master, the captured water bandits have been interrogated. They only knew that the Princess Consort was taken from the bandit’s den in the Qiyun stronghold.

They have never seen the former prince. Moreover, the batch of weapons taken by the water bandits was also stolen by the mountain bandits.

Subordinates suspect that the former prince is hiding in the Qiyun stronghold.”

Shen Yanzhi’s phoenix eyes instantly turned icy. “Then attack the Qiyun stronghold.”

Chen Qing hesitated for a moment and said, “The Qiyun stronghold is built on the Lianyanshan Mountain, surrounded by steep cliffs tens of meters high on all sides. Outsiders can’t climb up.

The Princess Consort once stayed in the bandits’ den… Why not ask the Princess Consort about the terrain on the mountain? Perhaps it could help us…”

Unexpectedly, as soon as Shen Yanzhi heard this, he suddenly approached and grabbed Chen Qing by the collar, his eyes tinged with redness, and he said in a vicious tone, “No one is allowed to mention anything about the stronghold to her. She needs to recuperate!”

Chen Qing understood that Shen Yanzhi was afraid of leaving Qin Zheng with unpleasant memories of the mountain bandit’s den, so he dared not mention the matter again and bowed, saying, “I remember.”

Only then did Shen Yanzhi release Chen Qing. “Go down and continue investigating the Qiyun stronghold.”

Chen Qing acknowledged the order and left.

After he left, Shen Yanzhi continued to stand alone in the corridor for a long time.

He had many things he wanted to say to Qin Zheng, but she had lost her memory, and it wasn’t the right time for anything.

As the maids carrying clothes and jewelry passed by the corridor, they stopped one after another to bow to him, “Greetings, sir.”

Shen Yanzhi glanced at the tray of jewelry and saw that they were all exquisite hairpins and ornaments, flashy but not worthy of Qin Zheng.

Thinking of what the Qingzhou magistrate said about a man exchanging a jade hairpin for a jade hairpin belonging to the former prince, a nameless anger burned in his heart.

He coldly ordered, “There is a jade hairpin in the storeroom. Send that jade hairpin over.”

The maids didn’t understand, but they still obeyed and left.

---

Qin Zheng’s room was next to Lin Zhao’s. Having just finished bathing, she was soon surrounded by maids bringing clothes and jewelry.

The pear-white Shu brocade gown was put on her, and even without looking in the mirror, Qin Zheng could feel how cold and elegant she looked in this outfit.

After the maid helped her twist her hair, when she was about to insert the hairpin, Qin Zheng politely declined the expensive white jade hairpin in the maid’s hand and used her own wooden hairpin to simply tie up her long hair.

She had no other clothes to change into but wore this outfit.

However, she did have the hairpin to tie her hair.

Both she and Lin Zhao had only eaten breakfast.

By now, in the middle of the night, they were starving.

Perhaps knowing that Shen Yanzhi had gone to deal with the bandits tonight, the kitchen at the mansion had been keeping the food warm.

Qin Zheng and Lin Zhao were each sent a bowl of snow clam soup and a bowl of bird’s nest.

Except for when he brought them back, Shen Yanzhi had not appeared again.

Lin Zhao felt uncomfortable being alone in the room and came to share the late-night snack with Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng only drank half a bowl of snow clam soup and lost her appetite.

Lin Zhao had a big appetite, so Qin Zheng gave her the bird’s nest to eat to replenish her body.

After finishing two bowls of bird’s nest, Lin Zhao smacked her lips and said, “Is this sweet egg soup? It tastes strangely sweet.”

The maid who came to clean up the bowls gave her a glance and said, “This is bird’s nest made from blood swallows. It costs ten taels of silver for one qian.”

Ten qian make up one tael.

Lin Zhao was almost choked.

She suddenly felt that the two bowls she had just drunk were not bird’s nest but white, shiny silver.

After the maid said that, Qin Zheng glanced at her with a calm look, but the maid lowered her head and didn’t say another word while cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks.

After the maid left, Lin Zhao felt embarrassed and said, “Elder Sister A Zheng, let’s leave here tomorrow.”

The mansion was filled with signs of wealth.

Even a bowl of soup was made from bird’s nest costing ten taels of silver per qian.

Lin Zhao was afraid that if she stayed a few more days, she would owe a lifetime of debt just from eating and drinking at the mansion.

Qin Zheng knew what Lin Zhao was worried about, but she couldn’t explain the complicated situation to her in detail.

She sighed softly and said, “I’m afraid it won’t be so easy.”

With Shen Yanzhi’s obsession with the Princess Consort, how could he easily let her leave?

They had escaped from the bandit’s den, and now, although there was no danger to their lives at Shen Yanzhi’s place, they were definitely restricted in their movements.

If Qin Zheng rashly mentioned leaving to Shen Yanzhi, it would only backfire, likely leading him to increase surveillance over them secretly.

This would be even more disadvantageous for them to find an opportunity to escape later.

Qin Zheng’s main concern now was Chu Chengji’s safety.

Shen Yanzhi had already found her, and it was likely that Chu Chengji’s whereabouts would also be discovered shortly.

The people at the Qiyun stronghold were just a group of farmers forced up the mountain, while Shen Yanzhi had tens of thousands of well-trained soldiers under his command.

If they clashed at this moment, even if Chu Chengji’s martial arts were exceptional, how could he fight against tens of thousands of people alone?

Listening to Qin Zheng’s words, Lin Zhao remembered the additional guards outside the courtyard when they arrived. She suddenly realized that if it wasn’t for protection, it was a disguised form of confinement.

After hesitating for a moment, she voiced her doubts from the bottom of her heart, “Sister A Zheng, does that official like you?”

Every time he saw Sister A Zheng, his gaze almost stuck to her body, but his eyes were always filled with sadness.

On the other hand, Qin Zheng treated him just like a stranger.

Lin Zhao couldn’t understand the relationship between the two.

Qin Zheng’s eyes paused slightly, and she replied half-truthfully, “I don’t remember many things from before. I’ve only heard from others that I was betrothed to him before marrying my husband.”

Lin Zhao’s face was full of astonishment.

This development seemed more convoluted than the stories she had heard from the storyteller in the teahouse.

Earlier, when Wu Xiaoshui captured them in the bandits’ stronghold, he mentioned something about a wanted order.

Although Qin Zheng didn’t know why she was being wanted by the officials, being engaged to a high-ranking official before marrying her husband indicated that her family was either wealthy or noble.

The situation in the capital had changed dramatically, and the State of Chu had fallen.

Many high-ranking officials had fled from the capital.

Lin Zhao, although uneducated, understood the principle of “the emperor’s power wanes and waxes.”

The high-ranking official must have risen rapidly, while Sister A Zheng and her husband were wanted fugitives.

It was obvious that their family was at odds with the government.

With her injuries still not healed and Sister A Zheng being wanted in Qingzhou, coupled with the additional guards watching over the courtyard, it would be difficult for them to escape.

The current situation had become awkward.

They were completely dependent on others in this place.

Although the high-ranking official who rescued them hadn’t said anything, the attitude of the servants underneath was uncomfortable.

This was also why Lin Zhao liked Qin Zheng so much.

Although Qin Zheng was born into a wealthy and noble family, she had never looked down on them from the bandit stronghold.

On the other hand, the servants of those noble families, even if they were just servants and not masters, still acted as if they were superior.

Lin Zhao felt uneasy after hearing the maid’s words earlier.

She knew that Qin Zheng must be feeling even worse.

The more Lin Zhao thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt.

She squeezed Qin Zheng’s hand and said, “Once my injuries are better, I’ll take Sister A Zheng out. Tomorrow, I’ll directly ask them to bring us pickled vegetables and steamed buns. We don’t care about bird’s nest and such.”

Qin Zheng knew that Lin Zhao was trying to comfort herself in a roundabout way.

She held Lin Zhao’s hand back and smiled lightly, “Okay.”

Honestly speaking, she didn’t want to be too involved with Shen Yanzhi.

Escaping from the dungeon, afraid of falling into the hands of the bandits again, going with him was a last resort, but it was still better to keep a clear boundary in the future.

Shen Yanzhi’s affection was not for her, but for the Princess Consort.

When reading books, it seemed romantic to become famous for the sake of love.

But now that she was truly in this world, Qin Zheng realized many things that she had overlooked while reading — even if the Princess Consort was still alive, it would be difficult for her to become a couple with Shen Yanzhi.

Some things, once missed, were missed forever.

Shen Yanzhi had a family behind him and a future in officialdom.

If he wanted to be with the Princess Consort, he would not only face pressure from his family and the court but also the scrutiny of the public

….

Qin Zheng with her voice lowering a bit, “I’m not worried about that now. The government has started to crack down on bandits, and with the example of Panlong Gully, the forces in those mountains behind us probably won’t fare well either. Zhao, you should conceal your identity here for now. I’m afraid if they target the Qiyun Village, they’ll come after you.”

Lin Zhao nodded with a serious expression.

In the eyes of officials, bandits are bandits, regardless of whether you rob the rich to help the poor or have a record of evil deeds.

Talking about this topic was inevitably heavy.

Qin Zheng continued, “The immediate priority now is to heal your wounds. We can discuss the rest of the matters later. It’s late, Zhao, you should rest for tonight.”

Lin Zhao nodded and got up to return to her room.

After seeing her off, Qin Zheng sat at the Eight Immortals table, pondering the current situation.

She couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

Her semi-dry long hair sticking together was uncomfortable.

She went to the dressing table to pick up a wooden comb to straighten her hair.

Perhaps it was because Lin Zhao had just mentioned Chu Chengji, but as soon as she picked up the wooden comb, she suddenly remembered the comb Chu Chengji had carved for her.

There was a slight discomfort in her chest.

Just the day before, when Chu Chengji helped her make a tile bucket, he asked her if she wanted to buy anything after going down the mountain.

Now, it seemed difficult to see him again.

When they were together, she didn’t feel anything unusual.

But now that they were suddenly separated, she felt a vague sense of sadness.

If he knew she was here with Shen Yanzhi, would he let her continue his plan to restore the country, or would he try to find a way to take her back?

The feeling of discomfort in her heart grew heavier.

In fact, Qin Zheng didn’t know what she was to Chu Chengji other than being his nominal wife.

She stopped her thoughts from going further, quickly combed her hair, extinguished the lamp, and went to bed to rest.

Regardless of whether Chu Chengji would come to find her, when Lin Zhao’s injuries improved a bit, she would have to find an opportunity to leave here.

---

Liangyan Mountain.

The twilight was dark, and the waning moon hung in the sky.

A homing pigeon flapped its wings and landed at the window where the candlelight was still on.

After a moment, the window leaf opened, and a bony hand took out the letter from the pigeon’s tube.

After scanning the letter briefly, it lit the letter paper in front of the candle, and it turned into ashes in an instant.

Chu Chengji sat at the table writing something.

The homing pigeon stood by the window, waiting for a while, not getting any food like last time.

It tilted its head, its green eyes staring at the tall figure in front of the candle, and it chirped in protest, “Goo?”

Chu Chengji ignored it.

After finishing writing the letter and putting it into the tube, the homing pigeon didn’t seem to intend to fly away.

He frowned at the homing pigeon for a while, then suddenly opened the door, went to the cage where the homing pigeon was kept before, and took out the small bowl used to feed it with grains.

He sprinkled a small amount on the windowsill.

The homing pigeon chirped twice, pecked at it with its head lowered, then flew away contentedly.

It had only been fed for a few days, and it had already learned to beg for food?

Chu Chengji closed the window with a subtle expression, and when he turned around, he extinguished the candle, and when he lay on the bed, he habitually only occupied one side.

The fragrance of her faint cold scent still lingered on the quilt.

When he looked sideways, most of the bed inside was empty.

Usually, at this time, she would be sleeping tightly inside, and only when she fell into a deep sleep would she push him hard to the side…

He pressed his lips tightly together, closed his eyes.