Mrs. Zhou started, lowering her eyes, "Your concubine doesn't know."
"Child, whether it's true or false, it all represents something from the past. Don't people have to look forward? Why do you always have to linger in the past?"
"Old Madam, I understand everything you've said, but I really want to know."
Madam Shen sighed, "Alright, this old one will tell you, it's true."
Although Mrs. Zhou had prepared herself mentally, she was still stunned by the answer, "Really?"
"Yes," Madam Shen replied curtly, without a hint of hesitation.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhou gave a bitter smile, "Old Madam answers so readily."
"Since you want to know, why should this old one conceal it? You would find out sooner or later anyway. There's not much difference between knowing sooner and knowing later."
"Old Madam is perceptive. If that's the case, your concubine has one more thing to ask." Mrs. Zhou said.
"Speak!" Madam Shen said slowly.
Mrs. Zhou looked at Madam Shen for a long time before saying, "Old Madam, that jade pendant was never with the Shen family, was it?"
Madam Shen nodded, "Yes, and you want to ask who it is that possesses this jade pendant, don't you?"
Mrs. Zhou trembled all over and looked at Madam Shen, "You know, don't you?"
Madam Shen sighed, "Sometimes not knowing is more blissful than knowing. Are you sure you still want to know?"
"Yes," Mrs. Zhou replied.
Madam Shen took a long, deep breath, "Xuan'er doesn't tell you for a reason, and this old one doesn't wish to tell you either."
"Old Madam, please tell me. These past few days, I haven't been able to sleep at night thinking about this matter. Every time I recall it, I feel restless."
Madam Shen looked at Mrs. Zhou and said, "Since you are insistent on knowing, this old one shall no longer conceal it. Actually, you might be able to guess who that person is?"
Mrs. Zhou looked at Madam Shen and, word by word, spoke the name of that person, "Is... is it the current Empress?"
Madam Shen smiled and nodded.
Mrs. Zhou stumbled back several steps in fright, almost falling to the ground, "It's... it's really her."
Madam Shen nodded, "It is her. Now that you know, don't you feel it would have been better not to know?"
Mrs. Zhou remained silent. She had indeed suspected that the person might be the Empress, but hearing it from Madam Shen's lips brought an indescribable feeling.
Tears began to stream down her face.
Madam Shen sighed, "Look at you. You insisted on knowing, and now you're here lamenting. Is it worth it?"
Mrs. Zhou wiped her tears, "Your concubine knows, everyone would say it's not worth it. But your concubine knows that if I don't get clarity, this life will be an unresolved knot in my heart. Although knowing makes me sad, it's better than being kept in the dark all along."
"You foolish child," Madam Shen sighed.
"Old Madam, I may be sad now, but I won't be sad in the future."
Madam Shen stepped forward and stroked her head, sighing, "Foolish child, you must be strong. Even if Xuan'er once admired the Empress, that is all in the past. I imagine Xuan'er now only feels reverence for the Empress, with no other personal feelings."
"Old Madam, your concubine is tired and will take her leave now!" After bowing, Mrs. Zhou departed.
Seeing Mrs. Zhou leave, Madam Shen quickly sent for Shen Yunxuan.
When Shen Yunxuan arrived, Madam Shen was dining. Seeing him, she quickly said, "Come and sit."
"Grandmother, is there something?" Shen Yunxuan walked over and sat down.
A servant placed a pair of bowls and chopsticks for him. Shen Yunxuan picked up his chopsticks and ate a few bites, only to realize his grandmother hadn't touched her food. He put down his chopsticks and asked, "Grandmother, is there something?"
Madam Shen nodded, "Mrs. Zhou visited today."
Shen Yunxuan said, "Grandmother, Mrs. Zhou is sensitive and introverted. Some things cannot be said too harshly to her."
Hearing this, Madam Shen smiled, "You never used to consider others' feelings. It seems Grandmother underestimated you before."
"Grandmother, what did Mrs. Zhou say to you?" Shen Yunxuan asked.
Madam Shen glanced at him, "She asked who the owner of that jade pendant was."
"Grandmother, you told her?" Shen Yunxuan asked.
Madam Shen said, "It's impossible to hide some things. Grandmother saw that Mrs. Zhou was deeply attached to this matter, so I decided to tell her."
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Grandmother is right. It was my oversight."
"Go quickly and comfort her. Although Grandmother is old, she can see that Mrs. Zhou cares for you deeply, and you also have some feelings for Mrs. Zhou."
Shen Yunxuan looked up at his grandmother and said, "Grandmother is right. Your grandson will go now."
With that, he stood up, bowed to Madam Shen, and left.
He arrived at Mrs. Zhou's room, dismissed the servants waiting outside, and then entered. Mrs. Zhou's complexion was not good, as if she had something on her mind.
"Madam..." Shen Yunxuan began.
Mrs. Zhou didn't look up, "Everyone, please leave. I wish to be alone and quiet."
"Madam, if there is anything troubling you, tell me."
Mrs. Zhou trembled all over, turned around, and looked at the person who had arrived, slightly surprised. She quickly stood up, "Sir, when did you arrive?"
"Just now," Shen Yunxuan replied.
Mrs. Zhou bit her lower lip, "Sir, you know everything?"
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Yes, I know everything."
Mrs. Zhou suddenly felt awkward. She didn't know how to speak or ask.
"Madam wants to know about me and the Empress, doesn't she?"
Mrs. Zhou trembled all over. She felt a slight shiver, and suddenly a pair of large hands covered hers. They were warm, and the chill she felt from trembling vanished instantly.
"If you know, nod. There is only one truth, and this is it," Shen Yunxuan said slowly.
Mrs. Zhou slightly stiffened and looked up, meeting his eyes, which were as dark as a misty fog. However, this time, there was a trace of light in his gaze, making him much brighter.
"Yes, your concubine wants to know," Mrs. Zhou said resolutely, word by word.
Shen Yunxuan nodded, took her hand, and led her to a chair. "Madam, I met the Empress a long time ago. The world was not yet unified then, and I was in the capital pursuing my runaway fiancée."
"Sir, you have a fiancée?" Mrs. Zhou asked in surprise. She didn't seem to have heard of this before.
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Yes, I was a bit of a scoundrel back then."
Recalling the past, he felt a desire to laugh.
He had come to the capital to get revenge on Nangong Yue and had also met that ambitious girl who had to conceal her true intentions.
He remembered that the Empress had threatened him back then.