Prime Minister's Residence.
After listening to Chu Ningzhao's account, He Jingde couldn't help but feel angry and reprimanded, "Although the Shen family has fallen, their ancestors were all scholars. How could they produce such a descendant?"
Chu Ningzhao said helplessly, "I kindly kept him, afraid he would leak information or encounter other dangers, but he… insisted on leaving."
He Jingde continued, "You only thought that the Shen family was framed, but what if the Shen family wasn't wronged? What a serious crime it would be to harbor the son of a criminal! It's better that he left, so he doesn't implicate you."
Everyone else could think of this problem, only Shen Zhi couldn't.
Or perhaps, he had thought of it once…
Chu Ningzhao showed He Jingde what Shen Zhi had written, along with the IOU.
"When he first arrived, I even thought he was honest!" He Jingde slammed the IOU on the table, his impression of Shen Zhi plummeting.
Carrying the injustice of his entire family, he wasn't thinking about how to clear their name, yet he had the leisure to smash things and cause a scene at the Princess Manor!
Chu Ningzhao sighed along with him, looking clearly wronged but unwilling to say more.
"When the Shen family rebelled back then, I always refused to believe it. Grand Tutor Shen and I were close friends. I always felt that Grand Tutor Shen couldn't possibly betray the country…" He Jingde said, looking troubled at Chu Ningzhao.
Chu Ningzhao quickly said, "I understand. It still needs to be investigated. Shen Zhi has given you the evidence. Since you promised him, it wouldn't be good to break your word."
Chu Ningzhao had always been so tolerant, not letting Shen Zhi's actions anger her towards the entire Shen family.
"Alas! I'm getting old, always thinking of old friends. If the Shen family was truly wronged, how could I stand idly by?" He Jingde sighed repeatedly.
Chu Ningzhao comforted him for a long while. Part of the reason she had taken in Shen Zhi earlier was to help Prime Minister He with his worries.
He Jingde understood everything, it was just that Shen Zhi was too ignorant.
He also mentioned the Sixth Prince, who was Chu Ningzhao's biological younger brother and the winner in the previous life.
Speaking of him, He Jingde was very worried. The Empress had three children, and among them, Chu Ningzhao was the most stable, and only she would consider the bigger picture.
That Sixth Prince was willful and playful, relying entirely on Chu Ningzhao's constant supervision and reminders.
Later, to make him study properly, Chu Ningzhao even brought him to live in the Princess Manor.
As long as he was willing to study, Chu Ningzhao would always accompany him, no matter how late, or in any season.
After years of companionship, in the end, he only recognized Chu Yu as his sister.
The day after his ascension, he couldn't wait to send Chu Ningzhao off for a political marriage, she didn't know when his resentment began…
He Jingde mentioned him at this time, still wanting Chu Ningzhao to put in more effort and persuade him well.
Chu Ningzhao didn't want to bother with this anymore, but she still agreed verbally.
Coaxing people, she could do that too. Those innocuous words didn't take effort to say, so why make people unhappy?
As soon as she left the Prime Minister's Residence, Chu Yu arrived.
Chu Yu always competed with her for everything. Knowing she had come to the Prime Minister's Residence, Chu Yu worried she was there to gain favor, so she hurried over to see.
Upon asking, she found out it was about that Shen Gongzi.
When Chu Ningzhao took Shen Zhi away, Chu Yu felt that Chu Ningzhao was doing it to please Prime Minister He.
However, on this matter, Chu Yu didn't plan to compete with her.
Shen Zhi's identity was something others avoided. If Chu Ningzhao insisted on taking him in, it was unknown if she would win Prime Minister He's favor, but it would definitely bring her trouble.
Chu Yu had originally been thinking of finding the right moment to expose this matter.
She didn't expect Shen Zhi to be unwilling to stay there and leave…
Chu Yu even felt a bit regretful.
After leaving the Prime Minister's Residence, her maid told her that Shen Zhi had come looking for her today.
"What?" Chu Yu was surprised.
With the maid's reminder, she realized that the person she had kicked was Shen Zhi, and the person who came to look for her this morning was also Shen Zhi, this person had arrived last night.
Chu Yu's tone was a bit impatient, "Why isn't he hiding well with Chu Ningzhao and coming to me?"
"He wants the Princess to take him in."
Chu Yu asked, puzzled, "I don't even know him, why should I?"
The maid quickly said, "He's delusional, but don't worry, Princess, we've already had him chased away."
Chu Yu walked two steps forward, then suddenly stopped, her eyes darting as she said, "Why chase him away? Have someone clean him up, change his clothes, and I'll ask him what's going on."
Such a big problem, she had to find a way to send him back to Chu Ningzhao.
Shen Zhi huddled in the street corner, thinking of countermeasures.
After thinking for a long time, he realized he couldn't think of any countermeasures…
In his previous life, he had always been taken care of by Chu Ningzhao, never encountered any trouble, and never thought of solutions, always just followed instructions.
Now, he was still as destitute, powerless and without influence. After leaving the Princess Manor, he hadn't had a single bite to eat or drink. What solutions could he possibly think of?
Chu Yu still hadn't seen him. This wasn't Chu Yu's fault; dressed as a beggar, no one would bother with him.
The maids and servants in the manor also judged people by their appearance, thinking he was just a beggar, so they weren't even willing to relay a message.
How could he change into a new set of clothes and appear presentably before Chu Yu?
Once Chu Yu recognized him, she wouldn't ignore him.
Shen Zhi was dizzy with hunger, just thinking, when a few people approached him. Judging by their attire, they were servants from the Princess Manor.
"Are you Shen Zhi, Shen Gongzi?"
Shen Zhi nodded repeatedly, answering joyfully, "It's me! Has Princess An Yu remembered me?"
The person didn't answer, just waved his hand and said, "Take him away."
Shen Zhi didn't ask further or resist, following them into the Princess Manor.
He knew it! Chu Yu wouldn't lie to him! Chu Yu said she would save him, she would take him in!
Once inside, the few people led him to the servants' quarters, gave him a rough wash, and then threw him a set of coarse clothes.
Shen Zhi was in a relatively dazed state throughout.
The first day he arrived at Chu Ningzhao's residence, he was also in such a sorry state, but Chu Ningzhao arranged lodging for him and had hot water prepared for him to bathe and wash.
The cypress wood tub emitted a faint fragrance, the water temperature was suitable, and a layer of flower petals floated on top. The room was spacious, the floor was covered with sandalwood, and there was even a layer of brocade over the sandalwood…
The clothes thrown by the servant interrupted his memories.
Looking around again, it was dim and stuffy, with a faint smell of mildew. The people who had just splashed cold water on him had already left with the wooden buckets.
"Put on the new clothes, the Princess wants to see you."
When Shen Zhi heard the word 'Princess', the psychological gap he had just felt immediately disappeared.
Chu Ningzhao only knew how to put on an act and do superficial things. Chu Yu definitely didn't genuinely intend to treat him this way; it must have been an oversight.
He couldn't dwell on the past; he couldn't be deceived by Chu Ningzhao again.
Chu Yu wanted to see him? That meant she had decided to take him in!
He believed that staying with Chu Yu would definitely be more comfortable and at ease than staying with Chu Ningzhao.
