Chapter 52

Sheng Changyu’s question left Ning Zhen unsure how to respond. 

She had gone abroad to study at sixteen. 

Before leaving the country, as a young girl, wasn’t every day filled with studying and martial arts training, waking up early and sleeping late? 

With so many brothers at home, was there no place to play? 

At Jin Nuan’s house, where there were many sisters, staying for three days at a time, with all the play and laughter, wasn’t that happiness enough? 

At her grandmother’s house, there was a large group of cousins. This one would keep Ning Zhen company for a while, and that one would take care of her for a bit. Wasn’t a whole day easily spent that way? 

And how many days of rest could there be in a month? 

She wasn’t a spoiled child with nothing to do, running all over town. 

She wasn’t even of age yet. When adults went out to socialize, it was for networking, and they wouldn’t bring an unmarried girl along. 

By the time Ning Zhen turned fifteen and was able to attend social events, she was already preparing to study abroad. 

Sheng Changyu was four years older than her, and he grew up in the military. Wasn’t it perfectly normal that he hadn’t seen her? 

As for Ning Zhen’s sister-in-law, Sheng Changyin, she spent all day studying and learning piano, with only a few friends. 

“Do you know a lot of girls?” Ning Zhen asked him. 

Sheng Changyu replied, “Not really.” 

“Then isn’t it perfectly normal that you haven’t seen me?” Ning Zhen said. 

Sheng Changyu frowned slightly. 

He was not pleased with Ning Zhen’s counter-question. 

Ning Zhen lowered her head and continued drinking her porridge, finishing what was left. 

Sheng Changyu casually ate a little himself. 

Ning Zhen silently prayed, “Please, no more complications. I just want to go home and sleep. I’m so tired.” 

Heaven didn’t trouble her that day. 

After dinner, Sheng Changyu’s car took Ning Zhen back to the old residence, and the journey was uneventful. 

At the Yao family residence, the servants had retreated outside. 

General Yao Shao was scolding his daughter. 

“Impatience for quick success, resorting to lowly tactics, will only push Changyu further away from you,” Yao Shao said. 

Yao Wenluo, her eyes swollen from crying, replied, “I’ve been miserable all day. Ning Zhen bullied me, and Ayu scolded me. Now, you’re criticizing me, too.” 

Yao Shao, exasperated by her failure, said, “Who’s to blame for that? I warned you repeatedly to mind your place. As a daughter of the Yao family, you don’t need to fight for anything. Whatever is meant to be, Changyu will give you.” 

“Will he marry me?” Yao Wenluo cried. 

Yao Shao was silent. 

“You and Mother said before that Ayu would definitely marry me. But now he’s married Ning Zhen, and she’s become the wife of the Governor,” Yao Wenluo sobbed. 

Sheng Changyu’s marriage had been arranged in a hurry. 

There wasn’t even half a month between the engagement and the wedding. The old lady in the old residence had chosen the bride, and Sheng Changyu didn’t object. 

General Yao had been busy during that period. 

By the time he returned to the city, he received an invitation from the Governor’s mansion. 

“Father, it’s not that I want to make a fuss. The position of Governor’s wife should have been mine,” Yao Wenluo said. “Ning Zhen stole my place.” 

She continued, “In terms of military achievements, you and Ning Zhoutong are equals. In terms of closeness, you are Ayu’s most trusted confidant. He should have married your daughter, not Ning Zhoutong’s.” 

“Shut up!” Yao Shao snapped, furious. 

At this point, Yao’s eldest son, Yao Anchi, stepped in to calm things down, urging his father and sister to cool off. 

“What’s the big deal that’s making you so upset?” Eldest son Yao Anchi said, pressing down on his sister’s shoulders. “It won’t take long. You’ll be the Governor’s wife soon enough.” 

“Brother, do you have a plan?” 

“We don’t need to act ourselves. There are plenty of people who can’t stand seeing Miss Ning in the position of Governor’s wife. Those close to her can be our allies, with just a little provocation,” Yao Anchi said. 

“You mean Xu Fangdu?” Yao Wenluo asked. 

“Don’t stir up trouble,” General Yao said. 

The eldest son replied, “Don’t worry, Father. I’ll handle it. It won’t harm your relationship with the Governor (Warlord Sheng Changyu). We can achieve our goal by using others.” 

General Yao sternly warned his two children, “Don’t act rashly! Just wait. When Ning Zhoutong dies, the Governor’s wife will naturally disappear as well.” 

“Father, we should prepare for both possibilities,” Yao Wenluo said. 

“Father, don’t worry about it, it won’t involve our family anyway,” Yao Anchi added. 

Yao Shao sighed, “I really don’t know what to do with you two.” 

He sent his two children away. 

When Ning Zhen returned to her room at Zhaiyuju Residence, she sneezed several times. 

“Am I catching a cold?” 

She hadn’t worn her scarf for a while, and though it felt chilly, it didn’t seem enough to cause a cold. 

That night, Ning Zhen got her period. 

Her lower abdomen ached, and with the cold of early winter, she curled up in bed, reluctant to get up. 

Cao Ma asked her, “Should I send the servants away?” 

Ning Zhen struggled to sit up. “No, I’ll finish the morning’s tasks first.” 

All morning, her complexion didn’t look good, slightly pale. 

Cao Ma went to the kitchen to make ginger soup with brown sugar. Ning Zhen drank a big bowl of it, finally feeling a bit better. 

The Governor’s mansion called. 

It was Cheng Baisheng on the phone, asking, “Ning Zhen, do you have time to go horseback riding?” 

Ning Zhen was in too much pain. Hearing the words “horseback riding” made her feel like her body was going to break apart. She quickly declined, “No, I’m not going.” 

“Afraid of the cold?” 

“Yes,” Ning Zhen replied. 

Then she remembered something and asked, “Baisheng, are you busy these days?” 

“Not really, just following the Governor’s schedule. He’s been in the city for the past half month, handling some social matters,” Cheng Baisheng said. 

Ning Zhen said, “My second brother and third brother want to invite you to a meal. When would you be free?” 

“Just me?” 

“They’d also like to invite the Governor, but they’re afraid he’d think we have ulterior motives. Besides, inviting the Governor would require my father. My brothers aren’t at that level,” Ning Zhen said. 

She then asked, “Do you think you’d be able to come?” 

“Of course,” Cheng Baisheng laughed. “Sure, set a time and I’ll be there.” 

Ning Zhen suggested, “How about early next month?” 

“Alright.” 

After hanging up, Cheng Baisheng sighed a bit. 

He turned to Sheng Changyu and said, “She doesn’t want to go out, says she’s afraid of the cold. Should I just tell her today is the Governor’s birthday and invite her out?” 

Sheng Changyu asked, “Who told you to call her?” 

“I thought you’d be bored.” 

“You’re the one who’s bored,” Sheng Changyu said, displeased. “I wasn’t even thinking about my birthday.” 

“Shall we have a drink, just the two of us?” 

“Just have the kitchen make some longevity noodles, no need for anything fancy,” Sheng Changyu said. 

“Alright, it’s up to you,” Cheng Baisheng replied. 

He then added, “By the way, Ning Zhen said she wants to invite me to dinner.” 

Sheng Changyu looked up, his gaze sharp as a blade of ice. “Invite you to dinner?” 

“With her second and third brothers,” Cheng Baisheng laughed. 

Sheng Changyu said, “Just say everything at once.” 

“I already did. Her brothers recently got new jobs and want to build connections with me by inviting me to dinner,” Cheng Baisheng explained. 

Sheng Changyu responded, “I was the one who assigned them those jobs. Why are they inviting you to dinner?” 

“Are you going?” 

“Of course not!” 

“They’re trying to win your favor indirectly by flattering the people around you. You can’t tolerate that?” Cheng Baisheng teased. 

Sheng Changyu didn’t bother responding, gesturing towards the study door for him to leave. 

A moment later, Cheng Baisheng brought in a bowl of longevity noodles, placing it by Sheng Changyu’s side before quietly leaving. 

Sheng Changyu stared at the bowl in silence for a long time. 

October 26th—his birthday. 

It was always such a ridiculous time of year. 

Meanwhile, the Sheng family’s old residence was arranging vehicles to deliver birthday gifts to his aunt. 

The gifts were lavish. 

Ning Zhen was curious, “Who’s this aunt?” 

“The Governor’s younger sister, born half an hour after him. She was the daughter of the third concubine and married into the Zhou family,” the kitchen steward explained.