Chapter 40

Outside the banquet hall of the Ge residence, there was a small courtyard set aside for guests to rest. 

Meng Xinliang, Wen Weinian, and the second son of the Ge family were sitting idly, chatting about recent business at the docks and making small talk. 

Guests were constantly coming and going in the courtyard, and servants were busy serving tea and water. 

The conversation was light and casual, nothing too private.  

Ge Er Shao (the second son) joked with Meng Xinliang, “When do you plan to propose to my sister? She’s getting impatient.” 

Holding a cigar, the soft red glow flickered slightly, making the green tourmaline ring on Meng Xinliang’s thumb appear even more vibrant. 

After taking a slow puff, he finally replied, “I’m not very familiar with Miss Ge. How could there be any talk of marriage?” 

“Still haven’t been won over by her?” Ge Er Shao laughed, “She’s been chasing after you for years.” 

“I’m grateful for Miss Ge’s affection, but I have no plans to settle down. A man who lives by the sword can’t easily enjoy a peaceful life,” Meng Xinliang said. 

Wen Weinian, sitting beside them, chimed in, “That’s just an excuse. Deputy Leader Meng simply doesn’t fancy your sister.” 

Ge Er Shao agreed, “I think so too. But my sister is truly beautiful. You won’t find many girls in Su City who surpass her.” 

Meng Xinliang nodded, “Miss Ge is indeed as beautiful as a goddess. Unfortunately, my aspirations don’t lie there.” 

As the three of them continued their casual conversation, there was a commotion in the room next door. 

At first, no one paid it any mind, and Ge Er Shao kept trying to matchmake his sister with Meng Xinliang. 

But then, a loud thud came from the next room, like something forcefully hitting the wall, accompanied by the sound of bones breaking. 

Then came a man’s blood-curdling scream. 

After the scream, his mouth seemed to be muffled, leaving only stifled, pained groans. 

Meng Xinliang’s face darkened slightly. 

Wen Weinian and Ge Er Shao also looked grim. 

“Please wait a moment, I’ll go check it out,” Ge Er Shao stood up. 

When he stepped outside, he saw his older brother and father standing at the doorway of the room next door. A few other young men, their legs trembling, were drenched in cold sweat despite the early winter chill. 

“What’s going on?” Ge Er Shao asked. 

His older brother motioned for him to be quiet. 

A moment later, the door opened, and Sheng Changyu emerged, rubbing his sore wrist. 

His crisp, new military uniform had a few drops of blood on it, slowly seeping in, like ink stains. 

Everyone stood up straight. 

“Governor,” Ge Er Shao greeted respectfully. 

Sheng Changyu nodded and walked away. Two of his adjutants followed shortly after. 

When Ge Er Shao peeked inside, he saw a man covered in blood lying on the floor, barely breathing. His face was so swollen it resembled a pig’s head, unrecognizable. 

“What happened?” he asked his older brother again. 

A few moments later, Ge Er Shao returned to the resting room. Meng Xinliang and Wen Weinian, still chatting, looked at him. 

“What was that just now?” Wen Weinian asked. 

Ge Er Shao sat down, chuckling, “It was Governor Sheng Changyu. He beat Wu Chen to a pulp. It was brutal—he didn’t even look human anymore.” 

Wen Weinian’s eyes darkened. 

Meng Xinliang glanced at him, then turned back to Ge Er Shao, “So, Wu Chen managed to provoke the Governor?” 

He added, “I’ve wanted to hit him too. He’s crossed me several times, but his father always pleaded, saying he’s their only heir.” 

Wu Chen had a notorious reputation as a lecher. 

When it came to his lustful pursuits, he had committed many unspeakable acts. Yet his family always protected him, and his father held some influence. 

Most people preferred not to mess with him. 

But today, he had the misfortune of crossing Sheng Changyu, as if even the heavens couldn’t tolerate him any longer and had decided to let Sheng handle the punishment. 

“The only heir is probably ruined now. Sheng Changyu really went at him hard,” Ge Er Shao whispered. 

“Sheng Changyu has changed a lot,” Meng Xinliang remarked, flicking the ash from his cigarette. 

Wen Weinian: “Has becoming a Governor made him more arrogant?” 

Ge Er Shao: “Actually, he’s become more restrained.” 

Wen Weinian:  

“My brother said that Sheng Changyu actually took someone from the banquet hall to beat them in private, which really surprised me. Given his usual temper, he’d normally beat someone on the spot, even to death. Today, he actually cared about my grandmother’s birthday and had the decency to close the door before beating someone,” Ge Er Shao said. 

“He’s really that arrogant?” 

“When he was a young marshal, he was even harsher than now. No matter what happened, no one could pin the blame on him. After all, the Grand Marshal was still in charge, and no one could truly punish Sheng Changyu,” Meng Xinliang said. 

Ge Er Shao: “Now that he’s a Governor, he has more responsibility. His subordinates keep nagging him, and he can’t push the blame onto his father anymore. From now on, he has to be more mindful of appearances.” 

Wen Weinian: “Eventually, a local power will bring him down.” 

Ge Er Shao was startled. 

“Are you planning to challenge him? You’d better reconsider before he chews you up alive. He’s Sheng Changyu,” Ge Er Shao warned. 

“Even you’re afraid of him?” 

“Who isn’t?” Ge Er Shao said. “He’s incredibly vengeful. Once you get on his bad side, he’ll stop at nothing to destroy you.” 

Then, with some excitement, he turned to Meng Xinliang, “I heard from my brother that Wu Chen got beaten because he made some lewd comments about the Governor’s wife.” 

Meng Xinliang: “Is that so?” 

“What’s going on with Sheng Changyu? My father used to say that Ning Zhoutong’s days were numbered. Ning Zhoutong was lucky—the Grand Marshal died just as Sheng Changyu was about to take over military affairs, so he didn’t have time to deal with him. Otherwise, given the feud between the Ning family and Sheng Changyu, their family graves would be full by now. But in the end, Sheng Changyu didn’t push Ning Zhoutong to his death and even married his daughter. Not only that, but Sheng Changyu fiercely defends her. Wu Chen only made a few teasing remarks about the Governor’s wife and was nearly beaten to death. Is Sheng Changyu not going to deal with Ning Zhoutong anymore?” Ge Er Shao asked in quick succession. 

Meng Xinliang: “Why are you so eager for Sheng Changyu to take down Ning Zhoutong?” 

“I have a grudge with Ning Ce. If the Ning family doesn’t fall, I’ll have to apologize to Ning Ce in a few days. Ning Ce isn’t a good person either, and I’d rather not make enemies,” Ge Er Shao replied. 

Meng Xinliang chuckled. 

Wen Weinian: “What kind of grudge is there between Sheng Changyu and the Ning family?” 

Ge Er Shao was well-informed. 

“It all started because of Su Qing’er,” Ge Er Shao said. 

He quickly relayed the story to Wen Weinian. 

“…Su Qing’er was on her way to visit her maternal family when she was injured. On the way back to the city, her driver collided with Ning Zhoutong’s car. It should have been a minor issue, but Su Qing’er had a trunk full of explosives. Since Ning Zhoutong worked for the military government, he took it seriously and reported it to the military police. 

Su Qing’er was running a high fever and had a festering wound, but Ning Zhoutong detained her on the road, refusing to let her leave until the explosives were investigated. She was delayed for four hours, and by the time she reached the military hospital, it was too late. She didn’t die that day but succumbed three days later. 

The Su family insisted that it was Ning Zhoutong’s fault for delaying her treatment, claiming she wouldn’t have died if she had reached the hospital earlier. 

Whether others believed it or not, Sheng Changyu did and wanted to execute Ning Zhoutong. But then the Grand Marshal passed away, and the matter was put on hold,” Ge Er Shao explained. 

Wen Weinian:  

Meng Xinliang smiled, “Sheng Changyu probably didn’t believe it either. He just wanted an excuse to vent—he’s never been one for reason. If he truly believed that Ning Zhoutong caused Su Qing’er’s death, he would’ve killed him long ago. Does he seem like the kind of person who cares about the bigger picture? 

The conflict between him and Ning Zhoutong didn’t start with Su Qing’er. Their political differences have been ongoing for years.”