Chapter 19

Ning Zhen suddenly saw Sheng Changyu. 

He didn’t come alone but with a group of people. 

He was dressed very differently from his usual carefree style, looking especially formal: a German-style military uniform, buttoned up to the top, with spotless military boots. His medals were polished to a shine, gleaming brightly in the sunlight. 

—Ning Zhen had met him before the wedding, helping him fix his car, and he had been dressed like this after returning from outside. 

On certain special occasions, he would dress up very formally, and his whole demeanor would change, becoming dignified and authoritative. 

Beside him was Cheng Baisheng, also in full military uniform. 

Apart from Cheng Baisheng, there were a few middle-aged men, about the same age as Ning Zhen’s father. 

And there was FanFan. 

FanFan was wearing a bright redcheongsam embroidered with golden peonies, blooming like a bouquet of flowers, and she was holding Sheng Changyu’s arm. 

They all saw Ning Zhen. 

Ning Zhen’s expression stiffened slightly. 

Sheng Changyu paused in his steps, hesitated for a moment, then walked over. 

Ning Zhen quickly and hastily wiped her tears. 

“…Special Envoy Wen, you’ve been in Suzhou causing trouble for some time now, and now you’re even bullying my wife?” Sheng Changyu stood in front of Wen Weinian, raising an eyebrow, his tone sharp and threatening. 

Wen Weinian’s face darkened further. “Governor, you’re twisting the facts! I’m here on official duty to investigate a case. You’ve been uncooperative, obstructing me at every turn, and now you dare say I’m causing trouble?” 

“How have I not cooperated?” Sheng Changyu replied coldly. 

Wen Weinian could no longer contain his anger: “How have you cooperated at all?” 

Sheng Changyu: “Set the big issues aside for now. What gives you the right to bother my wife? Even if your father were standing in front of me, he’d have to show respect. What do you think you are?” 

Wen Weinian: “You’re quite the strategist, shifting the blame onto a woman. You’re nothing but a petty local tyrant—despicable and shameless.” 

The two men exchanged insults, almost ready to come to blows. 

Cheng Baisheng stepped in, pulling Sheng Changyu back a few steps. 

At the same time, Cheng Baisheng sternly looked at Wen Weinian: “Mr. Wen, calm down. If you can’t complete your task, there will be no way to report back.” 

“And why can’t I complete my task? You should ask yourselves,” Wen Weinian retorted. 

“You’re asking me? I’ll tell you: it’s because you’re incompetent, useless. You picked up some foreign knowledge and now you think you’re something special,” Sheng Changyu said mockingly. 

Cheng Baisheng:  

His attempts to mediate were futile. 

“If you’ve got the guts, go back to the capital and lodge a complaint. Have your father join forces with other warlords and send troops to attack me. But if you think you can flaunt your status as a prince on my turf, you’ve got the wrong idea,” Sheng Changyu declared. 

Wen Weinian: “A tiny pond where even frogs croak and pretend to be kings. If you think I’m here to flaunt, I’d rather not lower my standards.” 

Cheng Baisheng:  

One of Wen Weinian’s men stepped forward to pull him away. 

Wen Weinian wasn’t afraid of Sheng Changyu, but the people around him were terrified. 

Cheng Baisheng tried to calm Sheng Changyu down, and the others joined in, including FanFan. 

FanFan, nestled close to Sheng Changyu, said, “This started because of your wife. Why is she crying? How badly could she have been wronged?” 

As soon as she spoke, Ning Zhen, who had been somewhat forgotten in the midst of Sheng and Wen’s argument, became the focus again. 

Before Ning Zhen could say anything, Sheng Changyu frowned, casting a stern glance at FanFan: “What nonsense are you spouting? On my turf, my wife can do whatever she pleases.” 

FanFan quickly tried to backtrack: “I—I didn’t mean it like that, Governor. I’m just bad with words.” 

FanFan was only bold when Sheng Changyu wasn’t around or when he was in a good mood. 

The moment he got serious, she cowered even more than Xu Fangdu. 

“If you can’t speak properly, then shut up. Does my wife’s business concern you?” Sheng Changyu continued. 

FanFan meekly agreed, her face awkwardly twisted with embarrassment. 

Ning Zhen remained silent throughout. 

Wen Weinian was pulled inside by his men, and Cheng Baisheng also led the group into the restaurant. 

Ning Zhen and Sheng Changyu stood at the doorway. 

He looked her over. 

Ning Zhen bit her lip slightly. 

“Here,” he suddenly unhooked the gun holster from his waist and handed her a pistol. 

Ning Zhen: ? 

“You’re such a good shot, don’t waste it. If someone rubs you the wrong way, give them a full round. It’s better to make others bleed than to shed your own tears,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Ning Zhen:  

That wasn’t quite the situation. 

Yet, she had no way to explain. 

Sheng Changyu didn’t make things difficult for her. In fact, giving her a gun showed he was clearly upholding the position of “the Governor’s wife.” Ning Zhen gripped the gun tightly. 

“Thank you, Governor,” she said. 

Sheng Changyu asked, “What are you doing here?” 

“Having a meal with my brothers.” 

At the mention of her brothers, Sheng Changyu couldn’t help but frown slightly. 

“Go ahead,” he said. 

He went inside first. 

Ning Zhen went to the car to get shawls for her two sisters-in-law and placed Sheng Changyu’s pistol in her handbag before heading upstairs. 

She had composed herself by then. 

Later that day, Cheng Baisheng continued to advise Sheng Changyu not to get caught up in disputes with the special envoy. 

“The important thing is to quickly send Wen Weinian away,” Cheng Baisheng said. 

“It’s not that I don’t want to. He’s latched onto this, insisting that we’re responsible for the cruise ship explosion,” Sheng Changyu said, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag. 

“You went too far with the ship incident. You shouldn’t have acted so close to the port,” Cheng Baisheng said. 

Sheng Changyu: “What’s done is done.” 

Cheng Baisheng:  

The Presidential Palace in the north had gone all out this time, even sending the “prince” himself. 

This “prince” took everything seriously. Since they couldn’t assassinate him, they had no choice but to put up with it. 

It had been many years since Sheng Changyu had suffered this kind of humiliation. 

“…What’s up with Ning Zhen today?” Cheng Baisheng asked suddenly. “She seems to know Wen Weinian.” 

Sheng Changyu: “Who cares.” 

“She’s your wife. Maybe she could help,” Cheng Baisheng said. 

Sheng Changyu: “She’s from the Ning family.” 

“She could be yours too,” Cheng Baisheng said. “Seriously, doesn’t she tempt you? She’s so beautiful.” 

Ning Zhen’s looks and figure were undeniably striking. 

“She’s Ning Zhoutong’s daughter,” Sheng Changyu exhaled smoke. “I’m not that desperate.” 

“Are you just going to leave her there as your wife?” 

“A wife is a wife. A woman is a woman. The fact that I’m willing to keep her here is already enough respect for her,” Sheng Changyu replied. 

Cheng Baisheng had no choice but to change the subject. 

After discussing important matters, the conversation turned back to Wen Weinian. 

Cheng Baisheng said, “He seems to have some connection with Ning Zhen. I can investigate what kind of relationship they have.” 

Sheng Changyu: “Ning Zhen wouldn’t dare betray me. She’s smart. No need to investigate—it doesn’t concern me.” 

“Aren’t you curious?” 

“Curiosity is the beginning of one’s downfall. She’s the Governor’s wife, and as long as nothing major happens, that won’t change. I don’t need to be curious about her,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Cheng Baisheng:  

Ning Zhen stayed at home for five days before returning to her family’s old house. 

She brought gifts for the old lady, her sister-in-law, and a few aunts. 

The old lady specifically called her over to ask how things were going with Sheng Changyu. 

Ning Zhen answered honestly: “The Governor was busy that night. He dropped me off at my parents’ house, and I haven’t seen him since.” 

The old lady asked, “What’s keeping him so busy?” 

“I didn’t dare ask,” Ning Zhen said. 

The old lady was greatly disappointed.