The stage and the dining area were separated by a small pond. With the moon reflected in the water, the sweet scent of osmanthus filling the air, and the lively sound of drums and elegant water sleeves twirling on stage, the night was festive and bustling. 

At the head table sat Sheng Changyu, Ning Zhen, the old lady, Sheng Changyu’s younger sister, and two uncles. 

Before the meal, they first performed the moon-worship ceremony. 

Once that was done, mooncakes and fruits were placed on the table but not yet removed. Sheng Changyu’s younger sister, Sheng Changyin, was hungry and eager to try a mooncake. 

She first offered one to her mother, then took another piece and handed it to Xu Fangdu, seated at the nearby table, before preparing to eat it herself. 

Sheng Changyu glanced at her. 

Sheng Changyin panicked slightly and instinctively offered the small mooncake to him. “Brother, would you like some?” 

“Do I look like I want to eat it?” Sheng Changyu retorted. “How old are you, still so greedy?” 

Sheng Changyin, only fourteen years old, was embarrassed to the point of tears. 

The old lady wanted to speak but hesitated, afraid that the more she said, the more annoyed Sheng Changyu would get. 

If he got angry, he might flip the table. 

Ning Zhen couldn’t let the tension linger, so she intervened. “It’s the holiday—you’re supposed to enjoy mooncakes. These were made by our kitchen here. You should try one, Governor.” 

Sheng Changyu shot her a warning glance, signaling her not to meddle. 

He had been fine a moment ago. 

Ning Zhen couldn’t understand what had upset him over a child eating a mooncake. 

His moods were unpredictable and difficult to grasp. 

But she stood her ground, aligning herself with the old lady‘s side, and continued, unafraid: “If you can’t eat the whole thing, just take a bite.” 

Sheng Changyu looked at her, and finally, he accepted the mooncake. 

Sheng Changyin, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, gave Ning Zhen a grateful look. 

Since Ning Zhen had married into the family, this was the first time Sheng Changyin had shown her any kindness. 

Sheng Changyu took a bite of the mooncake and, after finishing it, handed the rest to Ning Zhen. “You try it.” 

Ning Zhen:  

The old lady‘s lips curled into a slight smile. 

Worried that he might suddenly change his mood, Ning Zhen took a small bite, showing she didn’t mind sharing food with him.  

To her surprise, the mooncake tasted quite good, and she ended up eating the whole thing, which seemed to improve Sheng Changyu’s mood significantly. 

As dinner neared its end, Sheng Changyu stood up, preparing to leave. 

“…Ning Zhen and I are going for a walk,” Sheng Changyu said. 

The old lady nodded. “Go ahead.” 

“We might not return tonight,” Sheng Changyu added. 

At that, the dining hall suddenly fell silent. 

Everyone pricked up their ears, with only the sound of the opera singer’s soft, melodious voice from the stage filling the air. 

The old lady was momentarily stunned but then smiled warmly. “No rush to come back. There’s nothing urgent here. For you young couples, it’s most important to keep the relationship strong.” 

Ning Zhen lowered her gaze, pretending to be embarrassed, while internally calculating how many days she could stay at her family’s house. 

Sheng Changyu nodded and led Ning Zhen away. 

As soon as they left, the room erupted in whispers. 

Second Aunt leaned over to the old lady and whispered, “Sister-in-law, perhaps a grandchild is on the way?” 

The old lady sighed softly in relief, “Let’s hope the ancestors bless us.” 

Meanwhile, Xu Fangdu, who was sitting nearby, looked desolate and forlorn. 

She quietly got up and left. 

Sheng Changyin wanted to follow her, but the old lady held her back. 

The old lady walked a few steps away with her daughter and scolded, “You’re old enough to know better. How could you be so thoughtless?” 

Sheng Changyin felt wronged. “What did I do wrong? Brother was upset with me, and now you’re scolding me too.” 

“Why do you think he was upset?” 

“He was annoyed that I was greedy,” Sheng Changyin said, biting her lip in frustration. 

The old lady almost had a heart attack from anger. “You’re nearly fifteen, and still so naive. Do you really think he was upset because you wanted to eat?” 

“Why else?” 

“You gave me a mooncake, then one to Xu Fangdu, but did you ever think to offer one to your sister-in-law? She’s sitting right beside you.” 

Sheng Changyin finally understood. “Brother was upset about that? Over something so small?” 

He’s so hard to get along with. 

“He’s very protective of his own. Not acknowledging your sister-in-law is no small matter,” the old lady said. 

It finally dawned on Sheng Changyin why her brother had only taken the mooncake when Ning Zhen suggested it and why he insisted on sharing it with her. 

The sister-in-law not only didn’t hold a grudge but also helped her out of the situation. 

Sheng Changyin thought his sister-in-law was quite nice and generous. 

Ning Zhen and Sheng Changyu left the dining hall and found his car parked on the path. 

“… Governor, I’ll drive myself back and get a few things,” Ning Zhen said. 

Sheng Changyu asked, “How many days are you planning to stay?” 

“Will you cover for me?” she inquired. 

“Sure,” he replied, seeming in good spirits with a relaxed expression. 

Ning Zhen, bold as ever, asked, “A month?” 

Sheng Changyu responded, “That might be a bit troublesome.” 

“Difficult to explain?” 

“If you stay a month and don’t come back with a child, you’ll have some explaining to do,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Ning Zhen:  

“Let’s make it five days,” he said. “Don’t pack; just take my car. I’ll come pick you up in five days to lessen any suspicion.” 

Ning Zhen considered this and got into his car. 

However, just as the car was leaving the Sheng family’s old house, the adjutant slowed down and informed Sheng Changyu, “Governor, someone is waiting for you at the gate.” 

Ning Zhen and Sheng Changyu looked over. 

Under the Mid-Autumn night’s moonlight, which was clear and bright, the scene looked serene and slightly cool. 

At the gate stood a car with a young woman by its side, dressed in a pale pink cheongsam embroidered with begonia flowers and draped with a long fringed shawl. 

She kept glancing around, and the fringes of her shawl swayed gently with her movements, creating a mesmerizing effect. 

Ning Zhen recognized her. 

Seeing the car, the young woman walked over. 

“Stop the car.” 

Sheng Changyu’s expression gave nothing away as he rolled down the window and asked, “What are you doing here so late?” 

His tone was indifferent and lazy. 

“Ah Yu, I wanted to call you, but your adjutant said you were at the old house. There are lantern displays on two streets tonight. Take me to see them,” the young woman said cheerfully. 

Sheng Changyu remained calm, his face partially covered in moonlight, still expressionless. “What nonsense is this? Go home.” 

“I won’t! Ah Yu, you promised me last time. You said I could ask you anytime. I just want to see the lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival,” the young woman insisted. 

She then noticed someone in the shadows and turned to look. 

Ning Zhen’s eyes met hers. 

“… It’s you, Ning Zhen,” the young woman said disdainfully, with a tone of arrogance. 

“Miss Yao, long time no see,” Ning Zhen responded. 

The young woman was named Yao Wenluo, and her father held a position equal to Ning Zhen’s father. 

Yao Wenluo was well-known in social circles. She was lively and cheerful, very generous, and had a wide circle of friends. However, she could also be domineering and dismissive of those she disliked. 

Before Ning Zhen went abroad, she had clashed with Yao Wenluo over her second sister-in-law, Jin Nuan. 

At that time, Yao Wenluo had tried to seize fabric that Jin Nuan had brought for her clothes, causing a scene when Jin Nuan refused to give in. 

After that, Yao Wenluo targeted Jin Nuan, even going so far as to trample Jin Nuan’s 16th birthday invitation into the mud and threatening other young ladies not to attend Jin Nuan’s events. 

During an outing, her “lackeys” mocked Jin Nuan, and Ning Zhen retaliated. When Yao Wenluo couldn’t hold back and tried to retaliate, Ning Zhen had given her a beating. 

Typically, few could stand up to Ning Zhen, and Yao Wenluo was no exception, ending up with a bruised face. 

This incident led to a quarrel between the two families of the young women’s guardians. Even years later, the two guardians still had a poor relationship. 

However, unlike Ning Zhen’s family, which faced constant crises, Yao Wenluo’s father was a trusted adjutant of Sheng Changyu. 

General Yao had been a steady supporter of Sheng Changyu. 

When Sheng Changyu first joined the military, it was General Yao who taught him military strategies, handling relationships within the army, and shooting. 

General Yao was considered Sheng Changyu’s “mentor,” whereas Ning Zhen’s father had always been a source of concern for Sheng Changyu. 

As Ning Zhen and Yao Wenluo crossed paths again, their expressions were different, each calculating their next move.