Chapter 184: Definitely Will Return

Shen Nanyuan nodded, her eye sockets feeling somewhat warm. She rushed forward and hugged Madam Shen, saying coyly, "Thank you, Mother."

Madam Shen's eyes were also slightly red. She affectionately stroked Shen Nanyuan's head and said, "Don't get too caught up in playing outside and forget to come back. Mother will always be waiting for you at home, remember to return."

"I know, Mother," Shen Nanyuan said, her voice slightly muffled. "Rest assured, I will definitely come back."

The evening meal consisted entirely of her favorite dishes. After finishing, Shen Nanyuan returned to the Shaohua Courtyard and found Uncle Li and Jinzhu bustling about packing her things. In particular, Uncle Li had made a large batch of pastries, carefully packing them into food boxes for her to eat along the journey.

"It's winter now, and these are pastries that can keep for a few days. You must remember to eat them on the road."

Shen Nanyuan clicked her tongue, "You made way too much."

Uncle Li smiled with embarrassment, "I didn't intend to make this much at first. Anyway, Milady, you can share them with Qingrui and the other guards so they don't go bad."

With that, he looked at Shen Nanyuan, the light in his eyes flickering, and said reluctantly, "I just don't know when I'll get to cook for Milady again."

"Oh, I'll be coming back, Uncle Li," Shen Nanyuan blinked. "You cook so well, how could I bear not to come back? Don't worry, I'm just going out to have a look and will be back in a few months."

Uncle Li nodded and sighed softly, "Milady, hurry inside, it's cold out here."

With Gu Shiyao residing in the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion, and to avoid alerting the enemy, Shen Nanyuan decided to leave at daybreak just as the city gates opened. Shen Shinian had made prior arrangements at the gates, and coupled with the early hour, there would surely be fewer people, making it somewhat safer.

Shen Nanyuan sat in the room, her gaze sweeping around. Now that the time to leave was imminent, she felt a sudden reluctance.

Counting from the time she transmigrated here until now, it had been over two years, almost three.

Time passed quickly, yet after being here for so long, there was still not the slightest sign of a way back.

She wondered if she would spend the rest of her life here.

In a few years, she might even forget some things from her reality.

She sighed softly, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. Watching Jinzhu, who kept glancing over at her, she couldn't help curving her lips into a smile and asking, "Why do you keep looking at me?"

"I can't bear to see Milady go."

Jinzhu said, "This is the first time since this maid was born that I've been separated from Milady for so long."

"Won't you feel even more reluctant when you get married in the future?"

Jinzhu's face flushed slightly, "This maid has no desire to marry. I want to stay in the Shaohua Courtyard for the rest of my life."

As soon as her voice trailed off, Qingrui's voice followed closely behind, "This maid as well."

Shen Nanyuan felt somewhat helpless. "You both will have to marry one day. You can't stay by my side forever, or my guilt would be too great. You need to go find your own happiness."

"This maid does not want to marry."

Both of their stances were resolute. Shen Nanyuan smiled, shook her head, and said no more.

However, as the night deepened, her own heart began to tense up.

Her heart pounded rhythmically; even by the midnight hour, she still hadn't fallen asleep. She sat up with a heavy sigh, figuring that since she would likely be traveling all day tomorrow, she could just sleep in the carriage.

Moreover, to ensure she was comfortable on the journey, Shen Shinian had even remodeled the carriage, making the interior exceptionally cozy.

She had also asked Qingrui to buy some new storybooks, opting for maximum comfort. It felt rather like going on a modern-day vacation.

She found some of the remaining storybooks in the room, lit a lamp, and sat down on the outer couch to read.

Yet as she read, a sudden knock on the door startled her, making her whole body freeze. It wasn't until she heard Jinzhu's voice following right after that she exhaled a sudden breath of relief, walked over, and gently opened the door.

Jinzhu looked startled, "Milady, why haven't you rested yet?"

"I couldn't sleep," she said, still shaken. "What about you? Why are you up?"

A look of embarrassment crossed Jinzhu's face. "Uncle Li had some leftover pastries from earlier today and told this maid I could eat them if I got hungry at night. Then I ended up getting woken up by hunger."

Hearing this, Shen Nanyuan couldn't help smiling. "Then go eat quickly, and go straight to bed afterwards."

"Yes, Milady," Jinzhu said with a beaming smile. "Milady, you have to get up early, so you should rest soon too."

Shen Nanyuan closed the door, listening as Jinzhu's footsteps faded into the distance, before turning back to the couch.

She really had been frightened just now.

She had almost thought it was Xiao Yan. If he had discovered her, she truly wasn't sure if she would be able to leave.

In the original book, Xiao Yan's temperament was gloomy and ruthless. Although he wasn't as fierce or cruel now as in the original text, she still had to be wary of him.

---

The next day, just as the sky was turning pale, Qingrui woke Shen Nanyuan up.

Everything outside was fully prepared, and the carriage was already waiting outside the back door of the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion.

She exchanged a few words with the reluctant Uncle Li and Jinzhu in the courtyard before hurrying toward the back door. Shen Shinian and the others were all waiting for her. Catching sight of her, he couldn't help teasing, "I thought you were going to oversleep today."

"How could that be," Shen Nanyuan retorted. "I thought *you* were going to oversleep and wouldn't even send me off."

Shen Shinian smiled, his eyes overflowing with affection, and after a moment spoke softly, "I've arranged for guards disguised as domestic servants to protect you by your side. You must mind your own safety while outside, write letters home frequently to report that you're safe, and remember to come back."

"I know, I know," Shen Nanyuan muttered, "Why does everyone act like I'm never coming back?"

She smiled and said, "No matter what, I will return. Only the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion is my home."

Shen Nanyuan turned her head to look at Shen Yi and Madam Shen standing nearby, her voice growing heavier, "Father, Mother, don't worry about me. You must take good care of your health, and I will definitely return after some time."

Madam Shen nodded. Though reluctant, she gently said, "Hurry off now, it will be fully bright if you delay any longer."

There were two carriages waiting outside the door, surrounded by guards disguised as servants. During the journey, Shen Nanyuan would ride in the front carriage while the guards followed in the rear carriage, with two coachmen standing by waiting. Shen Nanyuan looked back and caught sight of Madam Shen's tear-reddened eyes, feeling a heavy weight press down in her chest. She turned her head back, let Qingrui help her up into the carriage, and then lifted the curtain to say, "You all should head back now."

Shen Shinian raised a hand and waved, "Go on."

The carriage slowly rolled forward, leaving the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion gradually behind in its wake. Shen Nanyuan lowered the curtain, her eye sockets aching with unshed tears.