Zheng Dan sighed softly, "It's all for the sake of the family. Over the years, the Chu family has controlled the vast majority of the official salt market in Mingyue City thanks to the legacy of their ancestors. The rest of our families are being suffocated by this pressure and have no choice but to find other ways."

"Back then, I was young and impetuous. Seeing my parents sighing all day long, I wanted to share their burdens. Plus, I had a restless heart and wanted to try a different life, so I gave it a try. I never expected that I would get out of control and end up creating the Giant Whale Gang."

"Over the years, the Giant Whale Gang has made a lot of money for the Zheng family and has also weakened the Chu family to some extent. My parents have smiled more often, but I can't be happy."

Zu An thought to himself that, indeed, different perspectives lead to different understandings of a problem.

In the eyes of the Chu family, smuggled salt was extremely despicable, and the Zheng family was also using all sorts of despicable means.

However, the Zheng family was also dissatisfied with the Chu family's generations of privileges, thinking, "Are kings and nobles born with special privileges?"

Even Zuan couldn't judge who was right and who was wrong; it all depended on which side they were on.

"Why can't you be happy?" Noticing the sorrow in her eyes, Zu An felt a pang of pity and couldn't help but reach out to smooth her furrowed brows.

“After all, the Giant Whale Gang is in the business of smuggling salt, so it’s inevitable that they will be targeted by the River Defense Battalion. Our marriage alliance with the Sang family is largely due to this. With the Sang family’s protection, we can smuggle salt with more peace of mind. Otherwise, the Giant Whale Gang would have been wiped out long ago,” Zheng Dan explained.

In fact, when the Chu family discovered that the Zheng family steward was involved in the salt smuggling, they guessed that the Sang family was probably also involved.

It has now finally been confirmed.

Sang Hong is really ruthless. In order to deal with the Chu family, he risked his life and got involved in the private salt business.

You should know that once it's exposed, even if the emperor wants to protect him, he won't be able to stay as governor.

Unfortunately, there is no evidence for any of this. It's impossible to drag Zheng Dan along to identify the Sang family, is it?

He could never do something so heartless.

After thinking for a moment, Zu'an asked, "So, do you like Sang Qian?"

Zheng Dan smiled and said, "Are you jealous?"

Zuan snorted: "Why would I be jealous of him? If anyone should be jealous, it's him eating mine."

Zheng Dan naturally knew what he was talking about. She gave him a resentful look before saying, "Regardless of appearance, family background, or ability, Sang Qian is a very good husband for our Zheng family. However, I really don't have any special feelings for him. I agreed to this matter entirely because it is beneficial to the family. Uh, no, actually this matter is not up to me to decide. My family has already made the decision for me."

Sensing the self-pity in her tone, Zu An said, "In that case, let's just get rid of this engagement. You can come with me then."

"With you?" Zheng Dan's face held a half-smile. "To the Chu family with you?"

Zu An's breath hitched. Thinking of the feud between the Chu and Zheng families, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

Zheng Dan sighed: "Although I appear gentle and quiet from childhood to adulthood, I am actually quite proud and arrogant. I have never thought of becoming someone's concubine, not even someone from a prestigious family like Sang Qian."

Seeing that Zu'an's expression was a little unpleasant, she smiled slightly: "But you are different, Zu'an. Actually, being your concubine... is not impossible."

Seeing the tenderness in her eyes, Zu'an tightly grasped her soft little hand, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Unfortunately…” Zheng Dan changed the subject, “I am not alone. I have to consider the family. I cannot bring the family to ruin for my own selfish interests.”

“The Sang family represents the Emperor’s will this time, while the Chu family is going against the will of Heaven and is destined to lose. Not to mention the long-standing feud between the Zheng and Chu families, I am not capable of making decisions for the Zheng family.”

Zuan couldn't help but say, "But your body is already... how will you arrange a marriage with the Sang family then?"

"We can figure out a way later. Anyway, there's still some time before the wedding. We'll always find a way to deceive them." A hint of worry flashed across Zheng Dan's brows. The Sang family weren't fools, especially Sang Hong, who was even more shrewd. It wouldn't be easy to fool them.

Zu An was somewhat annoyed: "You really want to marry into the Sang family that badly?"

Zheng Dan's soft, delicate fingers gently stroked his cheek: "My dear brother, are you angry?"

Upon hearing the word "brother," and recalling the sweet words she had uttered the night before, both of them felt a surge of emotion.

“The main problem is that we’re not strong enough yet. Many times we have no choice in what we do,” Zheng Dan sighed, but then immediately added, “But you don’t need to worry about anything else, Azu. Even if I marry into the Sang family, I will always be yours. You can come to me anytime you want…”

Her dignified demeanor as she uttered such alluring words possessed an inexplicable charm.

Zu An's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, "I didn't do it for that..."

Zheng Dan gently pressed her finger to his lips: "I know you're not that kind of person, but this is the only thing I can do for you."

“My family has provided me with a life of luxury since I was a child, and my parents and relatives have treated me very well, giving me the best resources and education. I really can’t abandon them. I hope you won’t blame me, Grandma.”

Zu An shook his head: "The reason you made this choice is because you are a person of deep feelings and a person of filial piety and a strong sense of responsibility. How could I selfishly blame you? By the way, when are you and Sang Qian getting married?"

"Probably about a year from now," Zheng Dan replied after thinking for a moment.

Zu An said in a deep voice, "Alright, there's still time. I'll definitely take you back then, and you won't have to worry about family issues or anything like that."

Zheng Dan smiled broadly, her bright, watery eyes gazing at him affectionately: "Okay, I'll wait for you."

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