Chapter 89

Ning Zhen didn’t have strong feelings about flowers. 

“…Actually, I like hibiscus,” she said. 

Sheng Changyu replied, “Good taste. Hibiscus is the most enchanting flower in the world.” 

Ning Zhen: ? 

That comment sounded familiar, almost like something she had said before. 

“Red roses are too vulgar,” Sheng Changyu continued. “They bloom stiffly and lifelessly.” 

Ning Zhen didn’t argue. Since Sheng Changyu had honored her by coming to the ancestral home for the New Year’s ceremony, even if he claimed black was white, she wouldn’t bat an eye. 

The heavy clouds in the sky had mostly cleared, and the sunlight was much brighter than in the morning, streaming through the stained glass windows and landing just behind Ning Zhen. Her hair shimmered in the light, soft and fluffy like a cloud. 

“My cigarettes are downstairs,” Sheng Changyu said. 

“I’ll get them,” Ning Zhen immediately offered, standing up and going downstairs.  

She fetched the cigarettes, along with some snacks from the small kitchen, and returned upstairs. She poured him some tea. 

Sheng Changyu didn’t smoke but drank tea with her instead. 

“Do you want to come with me tonight? I can take you back to your family home so you can properly celebrate your birthday tomorrow,” he suddenly suggested. 

Ning Zhen was startled. “There’s so much to do…” 

“A house full of stewards, and you still need to supervise everything? That makes me think you lack authority and can’t manage your subordinates,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Ning Zhen: … 

—Don’t get mad, she reminded herself. His sharp tongue wasn’t new; he even argued with his own mother. 

“Well?” he urged, sipping his tea. 

“Fine!” Ning Zhen agreed. 

After saying yes, she looked at Sheng Changyu and suddenly felt like laughing. She couldn’t hold back the smile that soon spread across her face. 

Sheng Changyu teased her, “Laughing like a fool.” 

They didn’t talk about much after that, just drank tea and ate snacks occasionally. An hour passed before the housekeeper, Cao Ma, announced that lunch was ready. 

Lunch was a private meal between Sheng Changyu and Ning Zhen. She wasn’t picky about food, and the table had a good balance of meat and vegetables—chicken, duck, fish, and greens. 

Her skin looked healthy and radiant, likely because she ate and slept well without being a fussy eater. 

“No braised beef?” Sheng Changyu asked. 

Ning Zhen replied, “We didn’t make it today. Do you like it? If you do, we’ll have it for dinner.” 

“I thought you liked it.” 

“You can’t eat the same thing every meal,” Ning Zhen said. 

She immediately regretted her words, realizing they weren’t very tactful. 

But Sheng Changyu wasn’t offended. Instead, he asked, “What else do you like to eat?” 

Ning Zhen quickly responded, “I like most braised meats. What about you? What do you enjoy eating?” 

He had asked her a question, so it was natural for her to ask in return, keeping the conversation balanced. 

Without Governor Cheng Baisheng mediating, their conversations were always a bit awkward. 

“I’m still waiting on that cake you promised me,” Sheng Changyu remarked. 

Ning Zhen: … 

She felt like she needed to settle some scores with him. 

The cake with raisins had been mentioned when she sent him some porridge for the Laba Festival. After that, he left for a different city, causing a ruckus with his “officers crying at graves” stunt and consolidating power in a new region.  

By the time he returned, there had been several other disruptions. Then came the New Year preparations, and Ning Zhen had been too busy to catch her breath until today. 

“…It’s New Year’s Eve, and the Russian bakery is closed,” Ning Zhen explained. 

“The Russians celebrate New Year’s Eve too?” 

“When in Rome,” Ning Zhen said. “They won’t reopen until around the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.” 

Sheng Changyu’s expression remained indifferent. 

“Can you wait until the sixth day?” Ning Zhen asked. 

Sheng Changyu looked at her, his gaze meaningful. 

The implication was clear. 

The Governor wanted cake! 

He wanted it badly—so badly he wished he could have it right then. 

Ning Zhen felt like she was being forced into a corner. If she didn’t get him a cake today, it would be her failing. 

It was like turning in a blank exam, and Ning Zhen couldn’t stand that. 

Ning Zhen gritted her teeth. “Governor, I can bake a cake myself. Will you eat it?” 

Sheng Changyu replied, “Sure.” 

There was still time before the afternoon worship ancestral. Ning Zhen knew that the Sheng family’s large kitchen had an oven, which was usually used to bake pastries. The principles of baking were universal, so she decided to give it a try. 

Eggs, flour, sugar, oil, and raisins—how hard could it be? 

“Please sit for a while. I’ll bring you a book to read. Before 3 PM, I promise you’ll have your cake,” Ning Zhen said. 

Sheng Changyu responded, “If it’s too much trouble, forget it.” 

“It’s no trouble at all,” she insisted. 

“Thanks,” Sheng Changyu replied indifferently. 

After lunch, Ning Zhen headed straight to the large kitchen. The kitchen was the first department she took charge of, and everyone there was loyal to her. The cooks all eagerly helped her find ways to make the cake. 

A strong cook helped Ning Zhen beat the egg whites and sugar. 

“How’s your son’s health?” Ning Zhen asked Aunt Hong. 

Aunt Hong replied, “He’s much better than before. He can walk now and has an appetite.” 

“You’re a good person, so you’ll be blessed with good fortune,” Ning Zhen said. 

Aunt Hong thanked her. She didn’t mention the ginseng Ning Zhen had given her, as Cao Ma had strictly told her not to talk about it. 

Suddenly, the cook who was helping beat the egg whites spoke up, “Madam, my husband works in the ancestral hall. When I brought him lunch today, he mentioned something.” 

At the mention of the ancestral hall, Ning Zhen felt a sudden unease.  

“What happened?” 

“The women aren’t allowed to touch anything in the ancestral hall; it’s all handled by the men. This morning, my husband saw a small, slender servant sneak into the ancestral hall. He looked like a woman. When my husband spotted him, he shouted for him to stop, but the servant ran away.  

My husband was worried something might have happened, so he checked the whole hall thoroughly. The only thing he didn’t touch was the silk prepared for the ceremony because that was brought in by the stewards. But my husband wonders if anyone could’ve tampered with the silk?” the cook explained. 

Ning Zhen’s expression grew more serious as she listened. 

She had only been married for half a year and had taken charge for even less time. There were still many areas where her influence didn’t reach. 

Aunt Hong chimed in, “Your husband’s just being overly cautious.” 

“He’s always like this, sometimes he gets so particular it’s annoying,” the cook laughed. 

Everyone laughed along, but Ning Zhen was deeply worried. 

The cake was put into the oven, and it would take an hour to bake. Ning Zhen immediately left the kitchen, not calling anyone but heading straight to the chief steward’s room. 

Inside, more than ten stewards were sitting around, drinking tea. When they saw her enter, they all stood up. 

“Follow me immediately. Search every corner of the ancestral hall. Do it discreetly, and not a word of this gets out,” Ning Zhen ordered. 

The chief steward was surprised. “Madam, there are people stationed at the ancestral hall every day.” 

“The Governor is personally coming to lead the worship ancestral. Can you take responsibility if something goes wrong?” Ning Zhen asked. 

The chief steward was the second most powerful figure in the household, right under the old lady. Even the young masters and mistresses wouldn’t speak to him this way, let alone Ning Zhen, who was just a daughter-in-law. 

His face darkened. “Madam, that’s an extreme statement. Who in this house would dare harm the Governor?” 

“Go and check. Don’t ask questions,” Ning Zhen said firmly. 

The chief steward was frustrated by her strong attitude but stifled his anger. “I’ll go personally.” 

“Good. If word gets out, it’ll be your responsibility,” Ning Zhen added. 

The chief steward said nothing more. 

Ning Zhen returned to the kitchen just as the cake was about ready. A lean man came into the kitchen to talk quietly with his wife. She, in turn, whispered the message into Ning Zhen’s ear. 

“…After the New Year, both you and your husband will be rewarded,” Ning Zhen said with a smile. “You’ve done a great service.” 

She carried the freshly baked cake back to Zhaiyuju residence.