Chapter 90

Ning Zhen returned to Zhaiyuju Residence and first stayed in the living room, chatting with Cao Ma. 

It seemed like small talk. 

“Is Master Pu Xuan still in the city?” Ning Zhen asked. 

Cao Ma replied, “I’m not sure. I’ll need to call the household to ask.” 

“Find a way to inform Grandmother and ask her to invite Master Pu Xuan to the Sheng family’s old residence,” Ning Zhen instructed. 

Cao Ma hesitated, “Master Pu Xuan doesn’t seem to be very familiar with the Old Lady. The Sheng family doesn’t usually welcome monks or nuns.” 

They had suffered losses in the past, leading the Old Lady to still question the legitimacy of Sheng Changyu’s bloodline. Back when the Great Governor was alive, he had strictly forbidden any monks, nuns, or religious figures from visiting the residence. 

“Times have changed. Hurry,” Ning Zhen said. 

She wanted to send a message to the Old Lady indirectly through the master. 

Cao Ma went to take care of it, and Ning Zhen brought the cake upstairs. 

“… It’s my first time making one. I’m not very skilled. The kitchen maids helped out a lot since they’ve made sponge cakes before,” Ning Zhen explained. 

She added, “I whipped the cream myself, and I also did the icing.” 

Sheng Changyu looked at the cake for a long moment before commenting, “I can tell. It looks like child’s play.” 

Ning Zhen:… 

“Have a taste. It’s actually not bad; I tried it when it came out of the oven,” Ning Zhen cut him a small piece. 

Sheng Changyu, who had asked for the cake in the first place, graciously took a bite. 

Indeed, the cake was made by the kitchen maids, while Ning Zhen had just provided the finishing touches. 

The cake itself was soft and delicious, though the cream was overly sweet and a bit clumsy. 

However, Sheng Changyu was in a good mood, and he didn’t mind the sweetness. The small flaws didn’t bother him. 

“… The raisins aren’t very good,” he commented. 

“Too sweet?” Ning Zhen asked. 

“They were soaked too long,” Sheng Changyu remarked. 

Ning Zhen:  

If she had known, she would have just thrown in some dry raisins—there would have been nothing for him to criticize. 

“Are you cursing me?” he suddenly asked. 

Ning Zhen jumped, wondering if she had let something slip, and quickly feigned ignorance, “No, of course not.” 

“Not even in your heart?” he pressed. 

Ning Zhen:  

She had made the cake; even if it wasn’t perfect, it was still a lot of effort. Did he really have to be so harsh? 

“Want a bite?” he asked, holding his fork out to her. 

Ning Zhen instinctively dodged, “I’ll take my own.” 

Sheng Changyu didn’t withdraw the fork, “Are you avoiding me?” 

Ning Zhen had no choice but to lean in and eat the piece of cake from his fork. 

She regretted it immediately, nearly spitting it out, “Oh no!” 

“What’s wrong?” he asked. 

“I put too much sugar in the cream—it’s sickeningly sweet,” Ning Zhen admitted, embarrassed. 

It was so awkward that she wanted to disappear. 

The cake itself had been fine, but she must have added sugar to the cream twice by mistake. 

It was overwhelmingly sweet, like a sugar overload on her taste buds. 

No wonder Sheng Changyu had managed to finish a whole piece. 

“It’s alright,” Sheng Changyu said, “Overly sweet doesn’t mean it’s bad. I think it’s fine.” 

Ning Zhen felt a mixture of emotions. 

She headed downstairs to make some tea, hoping it would counteract the sweetness. But after trying it, she decided to brew two cups of bitter coffee instead to cleanse the palate. 

While making the coffee, Cao Ma quietly informed her, “Everything has been arranged.” 

Ning Zhen nodded in acknowledgment. 

She brought the coffee upstairs. Sheng Changyu took a sip and refused to drink any more. 

“This tastes worse than medicine,” he commented. 

Ning Zhen:  

She rang the bell, calling for the maids to bring tea upstairs. 

After all this back and forth, it was already four in the afternoon, and it was time for the ancestral rituals at the old residence to begin. 

Ning Zhen and Sheng Changyu descended the stairs together and headed to the ancestral hall. 

In the Old Lady’s courtyard, Master Pu Xuan had just left. 

The ancestral hall of the Sheng family was located in the southwest corner of the large estate and was built in an extravagant style. 

As the afternoon sun cast long shadows, Ning Zhen and Sheng Changyu walked slowly toward it. 

“After we finish the New Year’s Eve dinner, we’ll head out to enjoy the lanterns and watch the fireworks. Once it’s past midnight, you can return to your mother’s house,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Ning Zhen replied, “Alright, I’ll follow your plan.” 

“I got a gift from you for my birthday; what do you want for yours?” he asked. 

Ning Zhen said, “I want something, but you have to promise to agree.” 

“Are you going to ask for something big?” 

“Yes.” 

“Alright, just because it’s your birthday,” Sheng Changyu said readily. 

Ning Zhen continued, “No matter what happens later, I want you to stay calm and not get angry. That’s my birthday wish.” 

Sheng Changyu’s expression darkened. “What’s going on?” 

“Nothing, just a precaution. Just keep it in mind, and when you’re about to lose your temper, remember what I said, okay?” Ning Zhen replied. 

“Tell me the truth,” Sheng Changyu insisted. 

“Really, it’s nothing. I just said it in passing,” Ning Zhen smiled. “So, can I have my birthday gift?” 

Sheng Changyu studied her carefully. 

Seeing she gave nothing away, he didn’t press further. 

“… Every New Year, something bad always happens. I thought this year would be different,” Sheng Changyu said coldly. 

His good mood vanished. 

A cloud drifted over, blocking the sunlight, and the sky began to darken again. 

The sunlight in his heart disappeared as well. 

The ancestral hall for the sacrificial rites was spacious, with three large and tall main rooms where the ancestors’ tablets were placed. In the courtyard, a shed had been set up with a furnace for burning silk offerings. 

The courtyard was full of people. The younger generation stood in separate groups of men and women, while the elders accompanied the Old Lady inside the ancestral hall. 

“… The master said there might be a fire this New Year. If there’s a fire, it’s a sign of prosperity for descendants next year,” the Old Lady said to her sister-in-law. 

The aunt, knowing how much the Old Lady longed for more descendants, smiled and said, “The master is always so accurate. It will definitely come true. There are so many candles during the New Year, there’s always one or two small fires every year.” 

The Old Lady replied, “I didn’t expect him to visit suddenly.” 

There was a smile on her face. 

When Sheng Changyu entered, the light-hearted atmosphere immediately turned tense. 

The Old Lady saw him and wanted to complain, thinking of how he never came for the worship ancestral during previous New Year celebrations. But if she complained, he’d probably walk out, and the joyful New Year’s Eve would turn into a disaster. 

“Mother,” Sheng Changyu approached the Old Lady, his face displeased. 

Seeing his expression, the Old Lady became a little annoyed: He agreed to come for the worship, and now he’s showing a sour face. 

Better if he hadn’t come at all. 

“Is it time? Let’s begin,” the Old Lady said without much small talk. 

The Sheng family’s sacrificial worship began. 

Incense was lit inside, while silk offerings were burned outside. 

Suddenly, the flames from the silk offerings shot up unusually high. 

“Step back!” 

“Watch out! What’s going on?” 

The flames leaped up and quickly burned through the shed, setting the roof on fire. 

Everyone stepped back in fright. 

The steward hurriedly ordered water to be fetched to put out the fire. 

The Old Lady came out from inside. “No, no, if it’s not spreading to the house, let it burn. It’s fine if the shed burns down.” 

The master had just predicted a fire, and it happened so quickly. It seemed his words were coming true. 

The Old Lady was delighted. 

Everyone, after hearing the reason, didn’t interfere, stepping back to watch the shed burn. 

The servants stood by with water buckets to prevent the fire from spreading. 

Sheng Changyu’s thick eyebrows furrowed deeply. He glanced at Ning Zhen, who stood beside his mother, silently asking her what was happening. 

Ning Zhen avoided his gaze. 

When the shed had finished burning, smoke still lingered in the air, and everyone remained standing at the entrance of the ancestral hall. 

Suddenly, a maid ran over, crying out, “Old Lady, the concubine has committed suicide!” 

Everyone: shocked 

Sheng Changyu: shocked