The man’s voice was low, with a strangely cold tone, like stepping out into the winter snow and colliding head-on with a pine tree covered in frost.

The breath of cold air that filled the lungs was chilling but not freezing.

Zanying, caught off guard, was slightly embarrassed but remained composed. “The Grand Marshal and my mother refer to each other as siblings, so he is like an uncle to me.”

Wei Yu paused, gently interrupting her, “How do you know it’s true?”

“What do you mean?”

Wei Yu’s calm gaze fixed on the innocent young girl before him. “I have a good relationship with your mother, but that’s only my side of the story. You haven’t yet verified it with Manager Du, so how can you be sure it’s true? Don’t you realize how coincidental it is that I returned on the day of your coming of age? Shouldn’t you be suspicious of all my actions? I might have ulterior motives.”

As he spoke, his eyes briefly swept over Zanying’s slender waist. Besides the pouch given by Gu Xichan, there was also a white jade key hanging from it.

That fleeting glance sent a chill from the top of Zanying’s head to the tips of her toes.

She had indeed never entertained such dark and twisted doubts.

If the Grand Marshal hadn’t mentioned it, she wouldn’t have thought in that direction at all.

Before the Grand Marshal appeared that rainy night and until he spoke just now, Zanying had only admiration for him, without any suspicion.

Could it be that trusting him was wrong?

A heavy sense of grievance suddenly welled up in Zanying.

Who else would have cared for her coming of age like that, noticed her minor embarrassments, cared for her unobtrusively, or would have comforted her in such a way, even if it was just to pat wood to dispel bad luck?

Even the closest kin could only do so much.

“The Grand Marshal would not act this way. I am discerning,” Zanying’s voice trembled, like ripples on a water surface disturbed by a fish’s tail, but she still tried to answer calmly.

“How will you discern? What is your basis?”

Zanying was at a loss for words again.

Wei Yu sighed softly, “To trust others too easily will lead to harm.”

Zanying’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Unconsciously, she pressed her left hand against her right arm, blinking rapidly to wipe away the moisture gathering in her eyes.

She couldn’t argue with him but at least understood one thing: if the Grand Marshal truly had ill intentions, he wouldn’t have revealed them so openly.

So she knew, she knew.

Her sadness was not from his advice but from the fact that his words precisely hit on her past life’s sore spot.

To trust others too easily, leading to harm and death, was precisely a reflection of her previous life.

Was she so naive in her past life, unable to discern and being easily deceived?

Wei Yu’s words had splashed a cold bucket of water on Zanying, suddenly making her realize that if she were to live again, still tender and soft-hearted, and relied on others unreservedly just because they were kind, eager to reciprocate kindness, then how could she progress?

How could her future path be long and enduring?

But if she were to encounter someone good to her, should she first build a high wall in her heart for protection, analyze the pros and cons, judge right and wrong, and then decide how to interact with others?

Is that the kind of person she wants to become?

Zanying lowered her head, silent for a long time.

Wei Yu thought his tone hadn’t been harsh, but seeing the girl’s expression, he stopped and rubbed his fingers.

His thin lips parted slightly, and Zanying turned her head away.

Wei Yu remembered that the tea table’s drawer had been replaced with fruits picked from the Gu family’s garden.

He intended to open it but then realized she had probably lost her appetite.

His fingertips hesitatedly tapped on his knee, a fleeting moment of uncertainty flashing across his face.

And so, he remained silent all the way.

As the sun began to set, the carriage arrived at the base of Lou Xuan Mountain.

The bodyguard stopped the carriage and said, “General.”

Wei Yi spoke, “We have arrived.”

The bodyguard replied, “It seems someone is waiting for Mrs. Fu ahead.”

Upon hearing this, Zanying lifted the curtain of the carriage.

The first thing she saw was Li Jinghuan, dressed in a white dragon-scaled robe, who was indeed still waiting there.

Beside the prince’s chariot, there was now an additional carriage, surrounded by several strong servants and two men in formal robes—Fu Xiao and Fu Zean.

Next to this pair was the graceful figure of Fu Zhuangxue.

The woman, dressed in delicate white, was being supported by Fu Zean and was seated on a stone by the roadside.

From a distance, she appeared to be deeply aggrieved, a small, pitiful figure evoking sympathy.

Seeing this group, Zanying closed her eyes for a moment, her already low spirits sinking further.

They truly took her words as if they were just idle talk.

“Lin Rui,” Wei Yi said in a deep voice.

The guards outside began to move, but Zanying turned her face with great seriousness and said, “Mr. Fu, I can handle it myself. I will get down.”

Her tone was as respectful and familiar as before.

She gave a slight bow to Wei Yi and supported herself as she got out of the carriage.

She walked towards the people she did not want to see again.

Avoidance was futile; she had never intended to hide behind others in every situation.

Wei Yi’s previous words had, in another sense, awakened her—if she wanted to become strong, she could not be undone by a harsh truth, nor could she close her eyes at the mention of past harm.

This world was not made for naive people.

So she would no longer be a naive child.

“General, should we intervene?” Lin Rui asked, watching the small figure of the young lady under the sunset, his voice low.

The person inside the carriage was silent for a moment before saying, “She wants to handle it herself. Let her.”

As Zanying stepped out of the carriage, the people waiting under the white marble archway all approached her.

Li Jinghuan moved the fastest, reaching her side. Finally seeing her in full, he examined her up and down.

Noting that her lips were slightly pale and the corners of her eyes were red, he felt a pang of worry.

His gaze swept over the carriages on the road, and the veins on his forehead bulged slightly.

Yet his voice was gentle, “A’ying, have you been mistreated? Don’t be afraid. Tell your brother Jinghuan. Come back to the palace with me, and I promise you, nothing like this will happen again. Is that okay?”

Zanying’s eyes, shaped like peach petals, had their inner corners slightly upturned and the outer corners arched.

When slightly rubbed, they produced a rosy hue like applied rouge.

Usually, when she smiled, her bright eyes were approachable and charming.

But now, without smiling, they revealed a cold elegance like a plum blossom in the snow.

The term “Brother Jinghuan” made her frown, and she ignored everyone, her gaze fixed on Fu Zhuangxue standing at the back.

This was her first time examining this woman carefully.

Upon closer inspection, Zanying noticed that the multi-colored cloud-patterned shoes under Fu Zhuangxue’s skirt were stained with red, which was blood.

Seeing this, Fu Zhuangxue quickly stood up from the bluestone, limping and approaching with a look of anxiety and apology.

“Ah Ying,” Fu Xiao, having never seen Zanying so cold, forced a smile and said, “Please don’t misunderstand. I know you don’t want to see this stepdaughter of your uncle, but it wasn’t us who brought her here.”

As an elder uncle, Fu Xiao lowered his stance significantly when speaking to Zanying.

It was unavoidable; if this troublesome matter wasn’t resolved, not only might his late brother’s posthumous title become a pipe dream, but even his own position as Vice Minister was at risk.

Fu Zean, seeing his second uncle’s explanation, frowned in disapproval and looked at Zanying with mixed emotions. “Ah Xue came here to apologize, walking all the way from the Fu residence, taking a whole day. We had no prior knowledge of this.”

His tone was filled with pity and, beyond that, a hint of reproach.

It seemed as if he was saying, “Look, we didn’t want her to come, but she’s here and in such a pitiful state. Why can’t you be more magnanimous and forgive her?”

Fu Zhuangxue, with tears in her eyes, spoke up, “Sister, it’s all my fault for making you unhappy. I apologize. As long as you come home, I’m willing to do anything.”

Zanying looked down at Fu Zhuangxue’s feet and nodded. “I see.”

“So it is,” Zanying continued, “You walked from the border to Jiangnan, and you’re worried that others don’t know of your suffering, so you’re using me to show off, is that it?”

Fu Zhuangxue’s eyes widened in shock, shaking her head repeatedly.

Before she could respond, Fu Zean stepped in front of her, his eyes filled with disappointment as he looked at Zanying.

“Listen to what you’re saying. Even if you aren’t sisters by blood, don’t you have even a basic sense of sympathy? Ah Xue never used her suffering to beg for pity. Why are you so malicious in your suspicions?”

He was about to speak further in defense of his sister when Fu Xiao discreetly pulled him aside.

They had discussed their approach thoroughly before coming.

The goal was to persuade Ah Ying to return home and to ensure that they could attend the morning court session.

It was best to keep any inappropriate comments to themselves.

Zanying ignored Fu Zean’s discontented expression, her dark and listless eyes focused solely on Fu Zhuangxue.

There was no hatred, no jealousy, only a hint of indifferent confusion.

“Why bother? If you hadn’t come before me, I wouldn’t have gone to the Fu residence to catch you and make a fuss. If you could survive such hardships, acknowledge your ancestors, and return to your clan, you should cherish your good fortune. The elders and brothers all care for you. Enjoy your life well; the future will be fine.”