Chapter 57

Wen Weinian’s car drove away. 

Cheng Baisheng, usually calm and composed, was infuriated this time and blurted out, “You’re not going to stop him?” 

Even if Wen Weinian had driven two miles away, it would have been easy for the people at the Governor’s mansion to stop him. This was Sheng Changyu’s territory. 

Sheng Changyu’s expression remained indifferent, almost unmoving. “Let him go. Come to the study. I have something to discuss with you.” 

With that, he turned and walked inside, not sparing Ning Zhen a glance. 

Ning Zhen stood nearby, witnessing the entire farce. She thought she wouldn’t be able to leave today. To her surprise, Sheng Changyu, enraged and almost losing his mind, completely forgot about her. 

Without hesitation, Ning Zhen got into the car and said to the driver, “Go quickly!” 

If they delayed even for a second, they might get caught in the crossfire. 

When Ning Zhen returned to the family home, the tension in her mind finally eased. 

“…Wen Weinian is really going to ruin me and my entire family,” she thought to herself. 

Reflecting on Wen Weinian, she realized his words had been a deliberate attempt to sow discord. Did he really believe that her marriage with Sheng Changyu was ordinary? His lies and manipulation would only make Sheng Changyu more resentful of her and the Ning family. 

Standing by the window, Ning Zhen thought of the late Wen Liangyu, feeling deeply discouraged. 

Wen Liangyu was dead, and she owed the Wen family a life. 

This winter was bitterly cold—just like the winter when Wen Liangyu had passed, bone-chilling. 

Yet, her abdominal pain had eased significantly, giving her a slight boost in spirit. 

In the afternoon, the old lady called Ning Zhen over, naturally to ask about everything that had happened the day before. 

When Ning Zhen stood at the gates of the Governor’s mansion earlier, she had resolved to side with Sheng Changyu. But after all that had happened, she wasn’t sure if Sheng Changyu still wanted her as the “Governor’s wife.” 

Even if she leaned towards Sheng Changyu, she couldn’t afford to offend the old lady. After all, they were mother and son. If Ning Zhen offended one to please the other, she would still be stuck in an impossible position. 

“I called Baisheng. He’s the one who asked me to come,” Ning Zhen said truthfully. 

The old lady listened, first in silence, then sighed deeply. “At least he had a birthday celebration. It gives me some peace of mind.” 

She seemed emotional and began complaining to Ning Zhen about Sheng Changyu. 

“…He always has to compete. I’ve treated him and A’kuan equally, but because he didn’t get more, he says I’m unfair. What kind of older brother acts like that?” the old lady said. 

Ning Zhen replied, “Mother, sometimes children just don’t understand.” 

The old lady vented her frustrations, recounting how Sheng Changyu was mischievous and disobedient, always making her angry, and how he stubbornly insisted on getting the most, unwilling to share equally with his younger siblings. 

“I don’t know when he developed this domineering personality,” the old lady concluded. “If something isn’t exclusively his, he doesn’t want it and gets angry instead.” 

Ning Zhen listened quietly, trying to piece together the personality traits of her new superior from the old lady’s words. 

If what she said was true, Sheng Changyu judged whether someone cared for him based on whether they gave him something that was exclusively his. Even if it was just a small cake, once it was given to him, no one else could have it. 

But a mother has more than one child. 

If the old lady made him a pair of shoes, and then made another pair for his brother, he would cut up the ones she made for him right in front of her. 

“He’s terrifying.” 

“He has so many concubines—there’s Su Qing’er, Yao Wenluo, and Miss Jiang—he’s far from faithful. Why does he demand exclusivity from others?” 

The more Ning Zhen thought about it, the more she realized how difficult he was to deal with. 

No wonder her father never got along with him. 

In the Ning family, Ning Zhoutong treated all three sons and one daughter equally and was strict with them. He never favored any of them in this way. 

After returning from the old lady’s quarters, Ning Zhen lost her appetite. 

She only had some medicine that night. 

“How is the medicine?” asked Cao Ma. 

“It works remarkably well,” Ning Zhen replied. “I’ve always suffered from menstrual pain, but after just two bowls, it doesn’t hurt much anymore.” 

Cao Ma asked, “Where did the Governor get the prescription?” 

Ning Zhen replied, “You can ask him yourself next time you see him.” 

Cao Ma was startled. “Do I have a death wish?” 

Ning Zhen couldn’t help but laugh. 

That night, Ning Zhen still couldn’t sleep, worried about whether Sheng Changyu would completely fall out with the Presidential Palace. 

“Can he actually fight?” 

While the people in the old mansion only cared about whether Ning Zhen had consummated her marriage with Sheng Changyu, she was deeply anxious. She constantly kept an eye on the happenings at the Governor’s mansion, but had no reliable sources of information.  

She had no choice but to return to her family home to ask her father and elder brother. 

“They went to the military camp last night. The Governor called them in the middle of the night,” her mother said. 

Ning Zhen felt a heavy cloud of worry settle over her. 

Lately, some speculators in the city had been experiencing significant fluctuations. The prices of rice and cotton had been steadily rising over the past few days. 

“Are they really going to war?” Ning Zhen’s hands and feet grew cold. 

For half a month, Ning Zhen was on edge, but then her father and brother suddenly returned to the city. Ning Zhen immediately rushed to her family home. 

“…Is the war off?” she asked. 

Her brother was slightly surprised. “Where did you hear that?” 

“I was just guessing. Is it true?” she pressed. 

Her brother replied, “Yes, it’s true. The army has pushed up to the Shandong border.” 

Ning Zhen was stunned. Sheng Changyu was truly a madman. 

“How many troops have been assembled? And why haven’t they informed the entire nation?” 

Her brother, Ning Yian, explained, “The Governor never intended for an actual war. He’s just intimidating the Presidential Palace. He’s gathered 100,000 troops.” 

“But mobilizing an army of 100,000 costs an enormous amount! Is he really just trying to scare the Presidential Palace?” Ning Zhen asked. “And there hasn’t been any news in the city. He’s mobilized troops in secret.” 

All this, just because Wen Weinian had shot at his mansion’s plaque? 

While Ning Zhen secretly discussed this with her brother, their father sent for her to come to the outer study. 

“There are things even your brother doesn’t know,” her father said. 

“Do you know?” Ning Zhen asked. 

“Sit down,” her father instructed. 

Ning Zhen sat down in the chair opposite her father’s desk. 

“In April, when you married Sheng Changyu and we were trapped in southern Anhui, a passenger ship passed through the area. It never reached the shore—it was robbed,” her father explained. 

“Whose ship was it?” Ning Zhen asked. 

“It belonged to the Presidential Palace. It was carrying the latest cannons and a significant amount of gold. To keep it secret, they only used a private guard, and outsiders thought it was just a regular cargo ship.” 

Her father continued, “Sheng Changyu got wind of this. While he had the four of us trapped in southern Anhui and used the newspapers to report false news about the frontlines to distract everyone, he was preparing for his wedding and gathering evidence to cover his tracks. At the same time the cargo ship was being robbed, another ship carrying twelve special envoys from the northern government was blown up. Not only did Sheng Changyu act in secret, but he also found scapegoats.” 

Ning Zhen was shocked. 

“The President even sent his son out to investigate the missing cargo. But the ‘prince’ is too young and was easily provoked by Sheng Changyu,” Ning Zhoutong said. “Wen Weinian’s provocation at the Governor’s mansion gave Sheng Changyu the perfect excuse to act.” 

“The Presidential Palace is more afraid of war than Sheng Changyu. They had to quickly present evidence from the investigation of the twelve special envoys to clear Sheng Changyu of any suspicion,” her father added. 

Ning Zhen asked, “So, the Presidential Palace is just letting this go?” 

“If they don’t, they’ll have to go to war. And it was their own son who stirred things up. If you were in their shoes, what would you do?” Ning Zhou furrowed his brow. 

Just like in April, when the Ning family men were trapped on the frontlines, cut off from reinforcements, and forced to the brink of rebellion. 

To kill someone, you first have to break their spirit. 

Ning Zhen tightly clenched her hands. 

After a long pause, she asked, “Father, what should we do? If he wants to destroy our family, it’s only a matter of time before he makes his move.”