Chapter 88

Ning Zhen was born on the first day of the Lunar New Year. 

“…I won’t be able to return to my family home to celebrate my birthday this year, so my mother sent the birthday gifts in advance. 

 Tomorrow, the first day of the new year, will be very busy, and my elder brother probably couldn’t deliver a gift on the day, so he sent it early as well,” Ning Zhen explained. 

“You have a lot of brothers,” Sheng Changyu remarked. 

Ning Zhen replied, “Yes.” 

After a few casual exchanges, Ning Zhen got to the main point. 

 Sheng Changyu would lead the ritual this year, with his three uncles handling the offerings of wine and silk. There were some details that needed to be confirmed. 

Sheng Changyu lounged on the sofa, lighting a cigarette, and soon the air was filled with the sharp scent of tobacco. 

 Ning Zhen remained composed as she continued discussing the arrangements for the old residence, while Sheng Changyu half-listened with an indifferent expression, showing neither approval nor displeasure. 

After a while, Ning Zhen’s phone rang. Apologizing to Sheng Changyu, she stood up to take the call. 

It was her elder brother. 

“Did you receive the roses?” he asked. “I went out of my way to buy them—twenty stems in total. Your sister-in-law said you’d really like them and insisted I split ten of them for you.” 

“I love them,” Ning Zhen replied with a smile. 

She then asked, “How did you manage to get roses this time of year? Where did you find them?” 

“Don’t ask. I got them from a friend,” her brother replied. “As long as you like them, it’s worth your sister-in-law’s efforts to think of you first when she gets something good.” 

Ning Zhen thanked him. 

When she finished the call and returned to the living room, Sheng Changyu was no longer there. 

He had gone to the bathroom. 

Ning Zhen sat down and sipped her tea, thinking about whether there was anything else she needed to mention. Suddenly, she saw her sixth cousin striding in. 

The old residence housed Ning Zhen and her in-laws, as well as Sheng Changyu’s three uncles. Each uncle had multiple wives and many children, most of whom Ning Zhen didn’t know well. 

Her sixth cousin’s name was Sheng Liu, an eighteen-year-old with a rather aloof personality who usually didn’t interact much with Ning Zhen. They had barely spoken before. 

He stormed over with quick, angry steps, causing Ning Zhen to frown slightly. 

“Sister-in-law, why are you forcing Sister Adu to her death?” Sheng Liu demanded right off the bat. 

Ning Zhen was baffled. “What?” 

“My mother already begged you, but you’re being relentless, insisting on keeping Sister Adu locked up. She’s on the verge of suicide, and her maid had to stop her,” Sheng Liu said, visibly agitated. 

Ning Zhen asked, “Who told you to say this?” 

“No one. I wanted to say it myself. The adults are all hypocrites, too scared to speak the truth, so I’ll say it. Sister Adu didn’t harm you. 

 Even if she made a mistake in a moment of weakness, no real damage was done. It’s New Year’s—why can’t we let bygones be bygones and have a harmonious family?” Sheng Liu shouted angrily. 

His young face was filled with hatred. 

Ning Zhen quietly looked at her cousin, who stood a head taller than her, and remained silent for a moment. 

Using an impulsive young man as a pawn and choosing New Year’s Eve to stir trouble was quite a clever move. 

The old lady didn’t want Xu Fangdu confined, as she still needed Xu to dote on her and keep her entertained. 

The only person who wanted to suppress Xu Fangdu was Ning Zhen. 

Xu had clearly chosen her target wisely. 

“…Do you always speak to my wife like this?” came a low voice from behind, deep and filled with the restrained fury of a sky heavy with clouds before a storm. 

Sheng Liu was startled. His angry face quickly turned to shock. 

Sheng Changyu, holding a handkerchief, wiped water from his hands and face. 

He had just gone to the bathroom and washed his face, but when he heard the commotion, he came out. 

He stood taller than Sheng Liu by half a head, with a solid chest and broad shoulders, far more imposing than the slender young man, exuding an overwhelming presence. 

Sheng Liu instinctively took half a step back. 

“Big… big brother,” he stammered. 

“When I’m not home, do you often shout at my wife like this?” Sheng Changyu asked coldly, his expression as icy as his tone. 

Sheng Liu’s legs trembled. He feared his eldest brother far more than his own father. 

“Big brother, I just…”  

“Go on, what ‘just’? Repeat what you just said to my wife! Let me hear it, and I’ll decide if you’re in the right,” Sheng Changyu pressed. 

Ning Zhen didn’t want the situation to escalate. 

It was New Year’s Eve, and everyone in the household knew that Ning Zhen had successfully invited Sheng Changyu to lead the worship ancestral. 

 This would greatly enhance her standing within the family. Whether it was the three uncles and their wives, or the head stewards of the household, they would all hold her in higher regard after this. 

Xu Fangdu’s scheming was insignificant in comparison to the bigger picture. 

“Governor, don’t mind the child. We have a lot to prepare for the worship ancestral later. Let’s deal with this after the New Year,” Ning Zhen suggested. 

Sheng Changyu threw down the handkerchief. “Don’t worry, I just want to hear what he has to say.” 

Sheng Liu, the rash young man, bit his lip hard and, surprisingly, spoke up again. “I… I hope Sister-in-law can be magnanimous and forgive Sister Adu this time.” 

“You hope?” Sheng Changyu’s temples pulsed with anger. “Who do you think you are, meddling in my household affairs? My wife dealing with my concubine, and even a little brat like you dares to interfere?” 

He reached toward his waist, as if to pull out a gun. 

Sheng Liu’s courage drained away, and his legs started to tremble. “Big brother, I…” 

Sheng Changyu’s eyes landed on the vase of roses in the dining room. 

He walked over, grabbed the bouquet, and began to beat Sheng Liu with it. 

“Living off the family’s wealth, enjoying all the luxuries of this estate, and now you think you’re some kind of ancestor! Do you think you have the right to speak about the people in my house?” Sheng Changyu’s voice was slow and deliberate as he cursed. 

One word at a time. 

The bouquet of roses was completely shredded, petals scattering everywhere. 

The rose stems, thorns still intact, scratched across Sheng Liu’s face. 

His face was covered in cuts, some of them bleeding, though it was hard to tell if it was from the scratches or the red-stained petals. 

He didn’t dare to dodge, didn’t dare to cry—he just endured it, hunching his shoulders. He looked completely different from the defiant young man who had confronted Ning Zhen earlier. 

The more arrogant he had been, the more cowardly he became now. 

Ning Zhen didn’t plead for him. 

When Sheng Changyu had broken all the rose stems, Sheng Liu’s face was covered in blood. 

Sheng Changyu tossed the broken stems aside. “Someone, come here.” 

Cao Ma hurried forward. “Yes, Governor, what are your orders?” 

“Take him away. Lock him up, and have the head steward report to me first thing tomorrow morning,” Sheng Changyu instructed. 

Cao Ma agreed and called Sheng Changyu’s driver and adjutant at the door to drag Sheng Liu away. 

Sheng Liu didn’t dare to resist in the slightest. 

Sheng Changyu looked at the mess on the floor and said coolly, “Tell someone to clean this up. I’m going to see my mother.” 

Ning Zhen instinctively reached out to tug on his sleeve. “Governor.” 

Sheng Changyu stopped in his tracks. 

His gaze was calm. 

After his outburst, the anger had mostly subsided. 

“After all, it’s New Year’s Eve. Please don’t argue with Mother,” Ning Zhen released his sleeve. “If you’d like, why don’t you rest upstairs for a bit? I have some delicious snacks prepared.” 

“Are you pleading for her?” 

“No, it’s just that if you two argue, it’ll only cause me trouble. You coming back for the worship ancestral is already the biggest honor I could hope for.” 

Sheng Changyu understood. 

He followed Ning Zhen upstairs. 

There was a small lounge on the upper floor, with a soft sofa. Sheng Changyu leaned back into it. 

A maid soon brought up tea. 

“…Your flowers were ruined. I’ll replace them for you tomorrow,” Sheng Changyu said. 

“It’s fine. Are your hands okay? Did you get pricked by the thorns?” Ning Zhen asked. 

Sheng Changyu opened his hand. 

He glanced at it and then held it out to Ning Zhen, letting her inspect it herself. 

Ning Zhen didn’t dare touch his hand, but seeing no visible cuts, she let out a sigh of relief. 

“Do you really like red roses?” Sheng Changyu asked her.