Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Sheng Puzhu shuddered and suddenly opened his eyes.

Shouchun Residence, in the warm room.

There were incense balls in the Boshan furnace, with green smoke curling up, and the light on the white-glazed lotus-petal candlestick was bright.

Old Madam Sheng was leaning on the rosewood couch inlaid with mica, covered with a thin red brocade quilt. A cup of steaming Huoshan Huangya tea was placed on the small rosewood table.

Sheng Mingya sat aside, angrily saying, "Just now the maid outside came back and said that the young master of the Xue family in Changxing Marquisate is still blocking the gate. He's really shameless."

Second Madam Sheng Zhuang sneered, "Mother, we've done our utmost to be kind and righteous since we called off the engagement. Considering that our cousin from the Xue family is pregnant, we didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize our moral integrity, so we didn't file a complaint against her for pushing someone."

"Their family believes that we, the Marquis of Mingde, as honest officials, have lost our temper and have repeatedly slandered my son's reputation."

Madam Sheng's eyes were red with anger. Seeing Sheng Mingshu coming in, she choked up and stood up, holding her hand to comfort her: "Don't be angry. Your father is back. With him, he will definitely deal a heavy blow to that evil man."

"Don't cry, mother."

"It's not a big deal. The engagement just ended a while ago, so I'm not in a hurry to meet her. If she's from a respectable and reasonable family and they're sincere about marrying her, they won't care about the rumors."

"Second sister is right. Auntie, please don't get too angry." Sheng Puzhu said as she ordered the nanny to wring out a clean handkerchief. "They in the Changxin Marquisate are simply unwilling to accept this. Now that their husband's reputation has been ruined, they're just throwing in the towel."

"Although we don't have to be afraid of their persistent tactics, a gentleman is open and honest, while a villain is treacherous. When my sisters go out in the future, I need to be careful and bring more people with me to feel at ease."

Madam Sheng nodded: "It's hard to guard against the actions of the villains in their family. If you don't have important matters during this period, you should try to go out as little as possible."

Madam Sheng sighed, "This is all we can do for now. No matter how despicable and shameless Xue Hanwen is, he's still a man of high status. We can't just beat him to death."

"Although Mingshu is not in a hurry to get married right now, if there are any good husbands, you might as well take a look and see if there is anyone you are satisfied with."

"Today, for my birthday party, my brother invited many young men into the mansion, and I watched them all from afar." Sheng Mingshu tugged at the handkerchief in her hand, lowering her eyelids as she explained helplessly, "There are many handsome men, but I was just deceived by Xue Hanwen once. Now, looking at all men, I find their minds difficult to guess, and I'm a little scared."

"Then what should we do?" Mrs. Sheng was shocked when she heard this.

"What about the young men in the Anguo Mansion? You all grew up together, and there are four of them who are around your age. Madam An said that as long as you like them, you can choose any one you like."

Sheng Mingshu shook her head silently.

"Don't you like it?" asked Mrs. Sheng Er.

Sheng Mingshu hummed, her expression a little bewildered. "It's not that I don't like him, but my husband's personality is unpredictable, and he's a military commander. What if he tricks me into going there, and I can't defeat him?"

"God!"

"Which girl would marry someone just to have a fight with her husband?" Madam Sheng frowned.

Sheng Mingshu had no choice but to explain patiently, "Mother, even if we don't fight, I've thought about it for a long time. At least I have to be able to protect myself in front of my husband. It would be best if I could find someone with a gentle temper. It doesn't matter if they're a little weak. As long as they look like I can win, that's fine."

Madam Sheng was amused and said, "Silly child, a girl is weak, where can I find a man who is even stronger?"

"Mother!"

"Don't mention it, it's true." Madam Sheng thought carefully for a long time and asked carefully, "At the birthday banquet today, the eldest lady of the Jingguo Mansion mentioned Mingshu several times."

"Mother, do you think this is for our second son?"

Sheng Puzhu's brows knitted together slightly when she heard this. Before she could say anything, she saw Sheng Mingzhu pointing at her knees and asking, "Is that the Second Young Master of the Xie family's main house? The one in the wheelchair?"

"Yes." Madam Sheng doted on her granddaughter and respected her opinions on everything. "Do you like it?"

"If you like it, ask your brother to invite him to your home for a visit next time."

Sheng Mingshu was slightly startled, and after thinking carefully for a long time, she looked at everyone in the warm room and said, "I don't know."

She hesitated and said, "Actually, I happened to meet a gentle man in the garden today. I'm not afraid of him like I am of other men."

"Maybe it's because of his injured leg. I just feel a little sorry for him."

Madam Sheng sighed secretly, and her heart relaxed a little: "Compared to others, you are just not afraid of him."

"Good boy, if you don't mind, I'll ask your father tonight if I can invite Qin to come to our house for a short visit sometime later."

Madam Sheng picked up the teacup and pressed the corners of her aged mouth together, "There's no need to rush. Although the Xie family's young master's temperament seems to be suitable for fate, it's a pity that he injured his leg. I'm afraid he won't be able to achieve anything in the future."

"And judging by Mingshu's personality, I think she needs someone who is efficient, decisive, and unwavering to protect her."

The through-draft blew through the flowers and trees in the front yard, and the branches and leaves made a rustling sound.

The bamboo curtain was opened with one hand, and Sheng Yanzhang stepped into the warm room with cold shoulders.

The man, who was nearly forty years old, was as thin as a mountain pine. He wore an indigo round-necked long robe over a half-worn rat-back gray rabbit fur cloak. The belt around his waist only hung a purse and a jade pendant of decent quality. He was too simple to look like a third-rank minister in the court.

"Mother." Sheng Yanzhang bowed to Old Madam Sheng.

"Get up."

"Yes." Sheng Yanzhang moved a crescent stool and sat down in front of Xishi's couch, taking over Nanny Gui's job of massaging her legs.

"How are you doing in Youzhou?" asked Old Lady Sheng.

Sheng Yanzhang said respectfully, "I have lived up to the Saint's trust and have completed it."

"Once it's done, it's fine. If the saint in the palace approves your leave, you can rest for a few days. If not, you will go to the Imperial College to work tomorrow. Don't delay." Old Lady Sheng tapped the edge of the couch with her fingertips and spoke slowly.

"Yes, son, I know."

"During this period of time, I have made my mother worry about her son." Sheng Yanzhang said guiltily.

"What is there to worry about? Mingshu is your daughter and also my granddaughter. Now that you are back, you should quickly deal with the affairs of Changxing Marquis Mansion. Your father cannot come forward for this matter, and your third brother's family is far away in Dengzhou, so you have to come by yourself." Old Lady Sheng ordered calmly.

Sheng Yanzhang nodded, his gentle eyes gradually becoming sharp: "My son knows that he will never let Ming Shubai suffer such an injustice."

"That's right."

"The nanny came to the study looking for me earlier. She said Xue Hanwen and his men were causing trouble outside the mansion. When I rushed over, there was only a pool of fresh ice on the ground, but no sign of the thief from the Xue family."

"Could it be that mother has been kicked out?"

Madam Sheng was stunned for a moment: "I asked Puzhu to take Mingshu away, but I didn't care about the people making trouble outside."

Sheng Yanzhang clenched his fist and sneered, "He's just lucky today."

"My daughter has been wronged. As a father, as long as I don't beat her to death, even if her family reports it to His Majesty, my colleagues will only say that I am too protective of my daughter."

Madam Sheng raised the corner of her mouth and smiled, "You are a civil official. How much strength can you use to hit someone? You can't kill them."

*

"Stop fighting."

"Please spare me... I'm really going to be beaten to death by you." Xue Hanwen was tied up in a sack. He tried his best to curl up into a ball, spitting blood foam from his mouth, and begging for mercy in his dying voice.

Deep in the narrow alley, the moonlight was squeezed by the high walls on both sides into a long line only as wide as a palm, barely illuminating the blood-stained red on the bluestone slabs.

Xie Zhiyan stood in the shadow of the wall with his hands behind his back. His black cloak was stained with night dew, revealing only his sharp jaw from the side.

A muffled sound came from the sack, and the struggling and squirming thing inside gradually stopped moving.

There were sinister shadows at the corners of Lu Zhoudu's eyes, and his tightly pursed lips gave off a chilling feeling. His fists were clenched tightly, and his pale skin, set against the bright red blood, made him look like a ruthless murderer.

The toe of his boot rolled over the pool of blood on the ground, his pale knuckles curled up, and he finally suppressed the murderous intent.

"Okay, hold your breath."

"It's getting late. I should go back." Xie Zhiyan suddenly spoke. He raised his hand to catch a snowflake falling from the sky and looked at Lu Zhoudu with a smile.

"I know in my heart that I won't die."

Lu Zhoudu shook the blood off his hands and ordered towards the alley entrance, "Send him back to the Changxing Marquis Mansion and tell Mrs. Liu that Xue Hanwen accidentally fell in front of the Dali Temple and we are kind enough to help him."

"Yes, I obey your command."

The sound of footsteps was mixed with the more distant sound of clappers.

Xie Zhiyan walked out of the alley slowly under the moonlight. The moonlight finally shone completely into his eyes. There was something thicker and deeper than the night, which made people feel it was a blasphemy even to explore it.

"Madam, would you like to go to bed first?" Madam Du tiptoed into the room and changed a cup of hot tea for Sheng Puzhu.

"That's fine. We have to get up early and go back tomorrow."

Sheng Puzhu handed the notebook to Madam Du, stretched herself, and after a moment's thought, she instructed, "Madam, please clean up the wing room. If my husband comes back, tell him I've gone to bed."

"This..." Madam Du hesitated, "If the lady and her husband return home together and sleep in the side room at night and the old lady finds out, she'll be worried about a quarrel between the lady and her husband."

Sheng Puzhu thought that she was still angry with Xie Zhiyan. If they slept in the same bed today, she would have no reason to let him sleep in the study when he returned home tomorrow.

So, without allowing any refusal, she said half in a command and half in a coquettish tone, "No, good Mammy, you go and clean it up."

Nanny Du had no choice but to turn around and leave.

A cool night, just after midnight.

Xie Zhiyan stood in front of the house. In the pitch-black darkness, only a solitary lamp under the corridor stretched his shadow.

"My dear..." Madam Du stood guard at the door, her voice weak, "My wife has gone to bed."

"Yeah." Xie Zhiyan raised his eyes with a deep and unfathomable gaze.

Madam Du shuddered for no reason. "My wife said she has prepared a room for my husband and asked him to go there and settle down."

"Really?" Xie Zhiyan raised his hand and knocked on the door with his fingertips. He was shrouded in shadows, so his expression could not be seen clearly.

"You step back." His voice was slightly deep, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry. His ink-black eyes were as calm as water.

Sheng Puju was not asleep at all. With her eyes closed, she clearly heard the sound of the door opening, and then he strode into the room. The sound of his jade belt being untied and his clothes falling almost rang in her ears.

After a while, the footsteps seemed to be farther away, and then the sound of water was heard in the bathroom.

But there was no hot water in the bathroom. It was so cold that Sheng Puzhu's heart was shaking just thinking about it.

I don't know how long it took, but the man reached into the hot brocade quilt with a cold hand, accurately grasped her fair and slender ankle, held it tightly, and said in a low and hoarse voice with a smile.

"lady."

"Is it fun to pretend to be asleep?"

Sheng Puzhu shuddered and suddenly opened his eyes.

The moonlight blended with the candlelight and crashed into his eyes that seemed deep and boundless.

Xie Zhiyan suddenly leaned over, pressed his thin lips against her earlobe, and bit her ear with his teeth, as if punishing her.