Chapter 259: Chapter 202: The Subject of Rumors

Shen Ruoxi nodded gently and said to Zou Family, “Yes, in two more days we should be going back.”

Zou Family nodded slightly and after a pause said, “I must see him, he saved me, I must thank him.”

Unexpectedly, Fifth Sister-in-law asked to see him. Shen Ruoxi lowered her voice, “Fifth Sister-in-law, are you calling him only to thank him?”

Zou Family was stunned by this and instantly showed a mixture of shyness and annoyance on her face, “Ruoxi, what do you mean by that?”

Shen Ruoxi was about to speak when the door suddenly opened, and Yang Family entered with a nervous expression, “Ruoxi, something’s happened.”

Shen Ruoxi froze for a moment, “Big Sister-in-law, don’t worry. What exactly happened? Speak slowly.”

Yang Family glanced at Zou Family, forced a dry laugh and said, “Ruoxi, come outside, I’ll tell you.”

Shen Ruoxi paused in confusion, and Zou Family immediately felt the matter related to herself, “Big Sister-in-law, what can’t be said in front of me? If it’s concerning me, I have the right to know.”

Yang Family looked hesitant, and Shen Ruoxi said, “Big Sister-in-law, Fifth Sister-in-law indeed has the right to know. Just say it directly! It’s alright.”

Yang Family stomped her foot, gritted her teeth and said, “Then I’ll say it. Chunyu Che, this bastard, wants to hold Fifth Brother’s wife responsible for trying to kill him, and wants the Emperor to hand her over before he leaves Capital City.”

Shen Ruoxi frowned deeply, thinking to herself who’s got such a big mouth to have spread this news around.

The only ones who knew of this would be the Emperor, them as a couple, and Chunyu Che, yet the news has spread so quickly.

“Hand me over?” Zou Family was first stunned, then thought of how he had risked himself to save her by charging into a pack of wolves, and found the rumor quite amusing.

Yang Family saw their reactions and became confused herself, “What kind of expression is that? This matter is no joke. I’ve asked the Emperor to hand me over since I’m the one who came up with this idea; I’m the mastermind behind it, not related to Fifth Brother’s wife.”

“Big Sister-in-law, I will be alright,” Zou Family smiled slightly, appearing calm.

Shen Ruoxi stood thoughtful aside, eyes glinting as if contemplating something.

Yang Family grew more anxious, “Fifth Brother’s wife, do you still hold fantasies for Chunyu Che? He’s the Emperor of Beichang; we attempted to murder him, how could he let it go? Such a ruthless man is capable of anything.”

Shen Ruoxi slightly frowned, pondering to herself.

If Big Sister-in-law knew the truth of this matter, she’d be fiercely angry, capable of swallowing everyone whole, leaving Fifth Sister-in-law no chance to escape.

Perhaps, this was precisely why Chunyu Che acted this way, ensuring no gossip would leak out.

Shen Ruoxi also thought the recent rumor might have been spread by Chunyu Che too; she gently said, “Big Sister-in-law, don’t be anxious. I’ve come precisely for this matter, and I just returned from Chunyu Che’s post station, intending to discuss this with Fifth Sister-in-law. Could you step outside for a moment?”

Yang Family was dumbfounded, “I can’t be informed?”

Shen Ruoxi patiently explained, “Big Sister-in-law, it’s not that I’m deliberately withholding from you, it’s just difficult to say certain things in a third person’s presence. I have heartfelt words for Fifth Sister-in-law and hope you understand. Besides, this matter is significant, concerning two nations.”

Yang Family reflected for a moment, realizing it’s a grave matter of murdering another nation’s Emperor, ultimately nodded, “Fine, eat here today, I’ll have the kitchen prepare well.”

Shen Ruoxi said with a smile, “Thank you, Big Sister-in-law.”

“Alright, you two talk, I’ll head down.”

Shen Ruoxi and Zou Family spoke in unison, “Big Sister-in-law, take care.”

Once again, only Shen Ruoxi and Zou Family remained in the room.

Shen Ruoxi watched Zou Family and noticed no trace of tension on her face, she couldn’t help but lower her voice and ask, “Fifth Sister-in-law, are you really confident that Chunyu Che won’t hold you responsible?”

Zou Family sighed lightly, “Ruoxi, if he truly wanted to blame, when we were helpless at the cliff bottom, he could have finished me with a single stab, why go through life-risking efforts to save me? Isn’t that contradictory?”

Shen Ruoxi replied, “What if his intention was to use it against you later, and thus against our country?”

Zou Family chuckled and shook her head, “Ruoxi, who would risk their own life for such manipulation? At that moment, we both thought we were doomed, you wouldn’t understand because you haven’t experienced it.”

Shen Ruoxi nodded gently, “I indeed don’t understand because Chunyu Che told me the truth today.”

Zou Family heard this and suddenly froze, “Told the truth?”

She suddenly recalled the kiss she gave him at the bottom of the cliff and his responding kiss, feeling her heart tighten, hoping he hadn’t mentioned it!

Shen Ruoxi continued to watch her quietly, seeing Zou Family’s cheeks turning red and an unnatural expression cross her face, there were matters that didn’t need asking, the answers were clear.

“Ruoxi, why are you looking at me like that? You’re making me feel embarrassed, is something wrong?” Zou Family’s eyes dodged, not daring to meet Shen Ruoxi’s gaze.

Shen Ruoxi smiled lightly, “Fifth Sister-in-law, I didn’t speak truthfully in front of Big Sister-in-law; actually, I know Chunyu Che doesn’t truly wish to hold you accountable but actually wants to take you back to Beichang Country, did you promise him something?”

Shen Ruoxi stared intently at Zou Family, her words urgent.

Zou Family’s face flushed instantly, like a ripe apple, hands flailing in panic, “No, no, I didn’t promise him, it was when he hid me that he said so. If we both live, he wanted me to go to Beichang with him, but he simply didn’t ask me.”

Shen Ruoxi lowered her voice, a trace of skepticism in her tone, “Fifth Sister-in-law, I don’t believe without some indication; he’d want to take you to Beichang.”

Recalling the incident, Zou Family felt like punching herself hard.

A widow, how could she recklessly go and kiss him like that?

A woman taking the initiative to kiss another man, if claimed to have no thoughts for him, who would believe?

It was precisely this impulsive act that may have led Chunyu Che into misunderstanding.

Yet this embarrassing matter, how could she possibly tell Shen Ruoxi? What would that make her?

“Ruoxi, Ruoxi, I…” Zou Family’s voice carried endless confliction and agony.

Suddenly, Zou Family gave herself a fierce slap, leaving Shen Ruoxi completely unresponsive.

Seeing Zou Family land the solid slap, Shen Ruoxi was stunned, “Fifth Sister-in-law, you…”

Zou Family’s tears finally escaped uncontrollably, “Ruoxi, Fifth Sister-in-law indeed kept something from you. At that time, I was really headless, I…”

“Fifth Sister-in-law, don’t burden yourself. I’ll stand by you for anything; life is yours alone, only you can hold it.” Shen Ruoxi held Zou Family’s hand, her gaze firm, offering her encouragement.

Zou Family nodded, her face filled with embarrassment and guilt, yet she bit the bullet and spilled it all out, “He told me about himself, his life plagued by misfortune due to others’ words branding him a jinx, grew up with his mother in the Cold Palace.

He said he ate rats, totally unlike the glamorous, splendorous Prince we thought of.

He said he never held a woman, believing it was a regret for his life.

When the pack of wolves chased to the cave entrance, about to pounce, we both thought we’d be devoured.

At that life-or-death moment, I impulsively kissed him, telling him to find someone he truly admired in his next life.

Unexpectedly, my kiss reignited his survival instincts, he fled with me, yet soon became exhausted, hid me in the grass, saying if we lived, go to Beichang with him!

I hadn’t said I wouldn’t go, he also kissed me, saying it was a gift in return and then lured the wolves away.

Ruoxi, I truly have no ground to stand upon! If your elder brother knew in the afterlife, he’d surely rebuke me as fickle and immoral. Ruoxi, punish me!”

Zou Family finished with tears streaming down visibly, filled with regret and self-recrimination.

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