What Sheng Mingshu couldn’t stand most was anyone harming his birth mother.
He also hadn’t forgotten about Sheng Mingyi—how his third brother had schemed against his mother.
That grudge had been festering in Sheng Mingyi’s heart all this time. To get his revenge, and to make sure nothing like that ever happened again, Sheng Mingshu had studied even harder over the past two years than he ever had before.
This year’s imperial examinations, he was going to give it his all. He knew that showing his true abilities might invite even more jealousy and resentment.
But danger and opportunity went hand in hand, and he couldn’t spend his whole life lying low and never sticking his neck out.
So when it was time to act, he had to act.
The “grand competition” was fast approaching. Sheng Mingshu was confident he could pass the provincial exams and become a juren—though taking the top spot would be a challenge. Still, he would do his very best.
———
Over on the other side, Sheng Minmin received word from her contacts outside.
She broke into a grin right away.
A while back, she’d planted Yu Wen and Yu Jing beside Sheng Mingjian, and both had recently reported that Sheng Mingjian had been unusually irritable lately, with a strange look in his eyes when he sized people up.
He’d also stopped taking the two of them with him when he went out, preferring instead to bring Yu Cheng and Yu Gong, whom he’d bought a couple of years earlier.
So Sheng Minmin had told her people outside to keep a close watch on Sheng Mingjian.
Just now, word had come that Sheng Mingjian had gone to—a male brothel…
And he’d even paid to be the one bottoming…
But in the end, he still couldn’t perform, and he’d scared the young attendants in the room into tears…
Sheng Minmin found it absolutely satisfying. So cathartic!
She’d originally given Qingxin to Sheng Mingjian hoping the woman would drain him physically.
Later, when Qingxin seduced Sheng Yong and he actually took the bait, she naturally had to deploy that lethal weapon to the man who posed the biggest threat—Sheng Yong—and let her sap his vitality day by day…
Sheng Mingjian was left out in the cold, and his decline slowed down.
That didn’t matter, though. Once Sheng Yong was no longer a threat, handling Sheng Mingjian would be a piece of cake.
And now, with Sheng Mingjian resorting to places like that, it looked like he was truly on the verge of losing his mind.
Sheng Minmin suddenly felt that a man this unhinged, given a little nudge, might just do something crazy—like fighting Sheng Yong over a woman.
She burned the letter and had Qingying pass a message to Yu Wen and Yu Jing, telling them to “fan the flames” at the right moment.
At the same time, she remembered the news she’d received at noon—that Sheng Mingzhu had arranged to meet Zhu Qisheng tomorrow.
But oddly enough, this time it wasn’t at their usual teahouse. She’d booked a private room at an opera troupe instead.
Sheng Minmin had been to that place before. The private rooms were fully equipped—you could watch the show, listen to the singing, and even sleep there…
Given Sheng Mingzhu’s current… circumstances, was she planning to offer herself up?
Sheng Minmin had a gut feeling that something big was going down tomorrow.
So she had her people book a box for her too—right next to Sheng Mingzhu’s.
——–
The next day, Sheng Minmin claimed she wasn’t feeling well.
A few visitors came in the morning to check on her, and seeing her pale face, they offered their sympathies.
After they left, Sheng Minmin had Qingdai disguise her, and the two slipped out of the manor, heading straight for the opera garden.
The shows didn’t start until the afternoon, with the main performances at night, so the place had just opened for the day when they arrived.
Their room was on the third floor. Qingdai handed over some banknotes, and soon a spread of food, wine, fruits, and snacks was brought in.
Once everything was set, Qingdai dismissed the attendants, made a few arrangements in the adjacent room, and then came back, closing the door behind her.
Downstairs in the afternoon, the opera troupe began their sing-song performance.
And then, finally, Zhu Qisheng and Sheng Mingzhu appeared.
The moment Sheng Mingzhu stepped into the room, she threw herself into Zhu Qisheng’s arms, her eyes glistening with tears.
“Brother Sheng…”
In the past, they’d always met at teahouses, where they had to be more restrained—no hugging or holding like this.
Today, finally holding his beloved in his arms and hearing her delicate, tearful voice, Zhu Qisheng felt half his body go weak.
He could also smell the fragrance emanating from Sheng Mingzhu.
He’d caught whiffs of it before—his Mingzhu sister had always carried a uniquely pleasant scent, a little sweet, and it always made his heart itch.
Now with her in his arms, the scent was even more intoxicating.
He spoke softly, not even noticing that his voice had turned a little hoarse.
“Mingzhu sister, I’m here…
“Has someone been bullying you again? Tell me—I’ll stand up for you!”
Sheng Mingzhu looked moved on the surface, but inside, she was cursing up a storm.
Rely on you?
What have you actually ever done for me?
When those little bitches at Haitang Yard bullied me, did you ever get me justice?
You tell me to wait when I ask you to marry me—I’ve waited over two years and you’re still nowhere!
Useless!
If I really depended on you, even the cabbage soup would’ve gone cold!
“Brother Sheng… Father and Mother are preparing to arrange marriages for Seventh Sister and Cousin… Once their matches are set… it’ll be my turn…”
Before she could finish, Zhu Qisheng was already frantic.
“Mingzhu sister, I won’t let you marry anyone else!
“You can’t marry another man—you’re mine!”
Sheng Mingzhu’s tears streamed down her face, making her look utterly fragile and heartbroken.
“But my standing is so awkward—I’m not worthy of you, Brother Sheng… If this continues, I’ll only hold you back from finding a wife and having children…
“Brother Sheng, I don’t want to be a burden to you. I don’t want you to fight with your family because of me…
“I only hope that one day you’ll marry a woman you truly love, and that you’ll live a happy, harmonious life together…”
“No—the woman I love is you! Only you!”
Zhu Qisheng pulled her even tighter.
That sweet, tantalizing scent drifted into his nose, and he couldn’t help but cup her face with one hand, his gaze falling on those delicate, alluring lips…
“Brother Sheng… today… I came to say goodbye…”
Sheng Mingzhu’s voice was choked with tears.
“I can’t bear to see you torn. I understand you—I won’t blame you…
“But I hope you’ll understand me too, because I can’t go against Father and Mother’s wishes…
“I just pray that Mother doesn’t still hold a grudge against me and deliberately find me a bad match…
“My future husband—as long as he’s not too old, has all his limbs, and doesn’t hit me… that’ll be good enough…”
Zhu Qisheng’s body was on the verge of breaking, and so was his mind.
“How dare they!
“I won’t allow it!
“I won’t let you marry anyone else!”
Sheng Mingzhu gazed up at him longingly, her watery eyes brimming with affection. One hand timidly reached up to caress his face.
“Brother Sheng… I’ll always keep you in my heart. I’ll remember you forever, think of you always…
“I only hope you won’t forget me too soon…”
