Chapter 7

Ning Zhen sat on the sofa in the old lady’s living room, her hands resting on her knees, eyes lowered. 

The room was full of people, yet it was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. 

The old lady, Third Concubine Xu Fangdu, and Ning Zhen all sat quietly, each lost in their own thoughts, no one speaking. 

From time to time, a military doctor came in and out, accompanied by FanFan’s cries—suppressed and full of grievance. 

“So, she doesn’t dare act arrogant in front of the General,” Ning Zhen thought. 

This was the second time she had encountered FanFan. 

Each time, FanFan had been more outrageous, even disregarding the old lady. 

Ning Zhen had assumed FanFan behaved just as willfully and rudely toward the General. 

But as soon as the General arrived, even FanFan’s cries became timid, no different from Xu Fangdu’s. 

—She had overestimated her. 

Ning Zhen’s brothers back home didn’t have concubines, and neither did her father or her two uncles. Ning Zhen had only ever seen marital disputes but had never witnessed concubines fighting for favor. 

This was an eye-opener. 

As her thoughts wandered, the beaded curtain rustled as footsteps approached. 

Ning Zhen raised her head and saw Sheng Changyu emerging from the side room. 

It was the early days of summer, and the humidity from the plum rain season made the heat even more stifling. Sheng Changyu wore military pants and tall boots, paired with a loose white shirt. 

The shirt hung loosely, giving him a casual, almost careless air, and through the half-open collar, his strong chest was faintly visible. 

His sharp gaze swept across the room, landing on Ning Zhen. 

Ning Zhen quickly averted her eyes. 

The old lady stood up. “How is she?” 

“Her left shoulder was shot through, but no internal organs were injured. It’s not serious,” Sheng Changyu replied. 

After he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Ning Zhen. 

The old lady followed his gaze toward Ning Zhen and almost fainted at the sight. 

Ning Zhen was wearing an off-white cheongsam, now stained with FanFan’s blood and mud from the ground, the hem filthy. From running, her temples were damp with sweat, and half of her once neat hair bun had come undone, strands clinging to her face. 

She looked utterly disheveled! 

The old lady had chosen Ning Zhen as Sheng Changyu’s wife, hoping for a poised and dignified daughter-in-law. Yet here she was, carrying a gun in her pocket, running faster than even the wild FanFan. The old lady was on the verge of collapse. 

Ning Zhen had behaved impeccably for the past month, displaying the grace of a lady from a distinguished family and the decorum of a general’s wife. But as soon as Sheng Changyu arrived, she appeared clumsy and vulgar. 

“Changyu, about today’s incident…” The old lady didn’t know how to broach the subject. 

Sheng Changyu’s voice was calm, betraying no emotion. “FanFan was disrespectful to you and forced the Madam to chase her in public. It’s truly unacceptable!” 

The old lady:  

She glanced out the window. 

Had the sun risen in the west? 

Sheng Changyu had always been protective of FanFan, cleaning up after her no matter how much trouble she caused. Why was he suddenly speaking fairly today? 

“How did the Madam handle it?” Sheng Changyu asked, looking at Ning Zhen. 

“I’ve punished her to kneel in the ancestral hall for seven days,” Ning Zhen responded swiftly, without any hesitation. 

She spoke confidently and assertively, taking the upper hand in the situation. 

The old lady cautiously observed Sheng Changyu’s expression. 

He wasn’t pleased, but he wasn’t angry either. His eyes were calm as he scrutinized Ning Zhen before finally saying, “Let’s follow the Madam’s decision.” 

And so, FanFan, who had just been shot, was sent to the ancestral hall in the Sheng family’s estate to serve her punishment. 

Sheng Changyu also stayed at the old estate. 

Naturally, he didn’t stay in Ning Zhen’s residence but went to Third Concubine Xu Fangdu’s quarters. 

Xu Fangdu helped him change, bringing him a set of fresh clothes. “Brother Yu, do you really intend to keep FanFan locked up? She’s already been shot.” 

“She’s grown too arrogant with my favor. She needs to be taught a lesson,” Sheng Changyu replied lazily as he leaned back on the sofa, now dressed in clean clothes. 

Xu Fangdu offered him tea and personally lit a cigarette for him. 

As the smoke curled upward, creating a thin mist, Sheng Changyu suddenly pulled Xu Fangdu into his arms. 

Her breath quickened. 

With a few quick motions, Sheng Changyu removed the thin outer layer she wore, leaving her in only a light purple short-sleeved cheongsam. 

“Let’s go to the bedroom,” Sheng Changyu said, lifting her in his arms. 

In the bedroom, Xu Fangdu lay flat on the bed as Sheng Changyu took off his shirt. 

His chest was solid, muscles clearly defined, and his abdomen showed distinct contours. His waist narrowed into a strong line that extended down into the waistband of his pants. 

Xu Fangdu trembled slightly. 

Sheng Changyu, however, pulled her up. “Massage my shoulders and neck, they’re really sore.” 

Xu Fangdu:  

Her small hands, soft and delicate, began kneading his shoulders and neck, not daring to slack off. 

Sheng Changyu then called to the adjutant at the door, “Go and summon the Madam.” 

The adjutant acknowledged and left. 

Xu Fangdu asked hesitantly, “Brother Yu, you’re calling her here?” 

“Why?” 

“Aren’t you going to her quarters?” Xu Fangdu continued, keeping her hands busy. “You haven’t been to Zhaiyuju Residence yet.” 

Sheng Changyu replied coldly, “Stop pretending. My affairs are none of your business.” 

Xu Fangdu bowed her head in submission, not daring to speak further. 

Soon, Ning Zhen arrived. 

Sheng Changyu closed the curtain. 

As a result, Ning Zhen stood outside the curtain, only able to see the blurred figures inside, seemingly undressed. 

She had changed into clean clothes and restyled her hair. 

Sheng Changyu studied her through the gap in the curtain for a moment, remaining silent. 

Ning Zhen remained calm, showing no sign of embarrassment. 

With a slight movement, Sheng Changyu pulled Xu Fangdu into his arms. 

Xu Fangdu let out a small gasp. 

Sheng Changyu shot her a warning look, and she obediently adjusted her position, quietly lying in his embrace. 

The woman outside the curtain continued to stand still, not even lifting her eyelids. 

“Your name is Ning Zhen?” Sheng Changyu finally spoke. 

He had deliberately kept Ning Zhen waiting for ten minutes. 

Since he hadn’t spoken, Ning Zhen also remained silent, seeming even more at ease than him. 

“Yes, General,” Ning Zhen responded. 

“Your marksmanship is impressive,” Sheng Changyu remarked. 

Running and shooting at the same time, with perfect aim, Sheng Changyu felt that “impressive” didn’t fully capture her skill. 

Her shooting was exceptional. 

“I learned it when I was young, practicing with my brothers,” Ning Zhen replied. 

Hearing this, Sheng Changyu frowned slightly, feeling a wave of disgust rise within him. 

His hatred for the Ning family was beyond words. 

One day, he would destroy the entire Ning clan. 

Such a sharp and capable woman, with such extraordinary marksmanship, yet she came from the Ning family. 

It was like finding a rare sapphire dredged from a cesspool. 

“You are my wife now,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Ning Zhen understood the underlying implication but simply responded with a “yes,” waiting for him to continue. 

“FanFan is my concubine. Was what you did to her today appropriate?” Sheng Changyu asked. 

Ning Zhen replied, “It was not entirely appropriate.” 

Sheng Changyu raised an eyebrow. “How so?” 

“She was disrespectful to the Old lady and even tried to sow discord between you and her. Punishing her was the right thing to do. For daring to run, she should have been executed on the spot,” Ning Zhen said. 

Sheng Changyu:  

Ning Zhen continued, “Not killing her was indeed inappropriate. However, this is the inner courtyard, and the women here are all timid. A death would upset Mother, and in the name of filial piety, I bent the rules and spared her life.” 

Sheng Changyu was silent for a moment, then suddenly pulled the curtain open and got up from the bed. 

Ning Zhen’s gaze lowered, and before she could react, she saw his abdominal muscles. 

He was bare-chested, wearing only loose undergarments. The lines of his muscles extended down into them. 

Ning Zhen quickly looked away. 

Sheng Changyu, without any concern, stood in front of her just like that. 

He was tall, and with the two of them standing so close, Ning Zhen had to tilt her head to meet his eyes. 

His eyelids drooped slightly, and he gazed down at her with a detached, indifferent expression.