Over the past year, a string of absurd things had happened to Sheng Mingjian, and his standing in Sheng Mingzhu’s eyes had plummeted time and again.
She’d heard it all by now—Sheng Mingjian swung both ways!
And on top of that, he’d gone and ruined that certain part of himself in the most unspeakable way!
What an absolute disgrace! His grandmother would be rolling in her grave!
What’s more, he’d failed the imperial exams—far from the brilliant scholar she’d imagined him to be. And whether he could even pass in the next round was anyone’s guess…
A man like this? Sheng Mingzhu was growing more and more contemptuous of him by the day.
But she wasn’t about to reject him outright, either.
After all, having more men meant having more options—what if he actually amounted to something someday?
Besides, he was the biological son of that old woman at Peony Courtyard. No matter how coldly that woman treated her own son, surely she still cared about him deep down.
As long as Sheng Mingzhu had a hold on his heart, that old woman would have to tread lightly around her too…
The room fell silent for a moment. Sheng Mingjian felt a mix of nervousness and hope as he spoke up.
“Mingzhu… from now on, could you try to see me as a man?”
“But… you’re my big brother…” Sheng Mingzhu replied, feigning hesitation.
Sheng Mingjian grew animated. “Mingzhu, we’re not blood-related at all! If you’d just accept me, we could get married…
“I know the rumors might not be kind at first, but things will get better…
“I’ll make you my lawful wife. I’ll love only you for the rest of my life—no concubines, no side women…”
He kept pouring out promises, terrified that Sheng Mingzhu might turn him down.
Watching him grovel like that only deepened her disdain. But on the surface, she pretended to be shy, lowering her head demurely.
“I… I don’t know…”
She didn’t call him “big brother” this time. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes darted away.
That sent Sheng Mingjian over the moon. He nearly scooped her up and spun her around the room right then and there.
After a good while, he finally stepped out of the room, beaming from ear to ear.
Unbeknownst to them, Yuluo had been hiding behind the window, eavesdropping on their entire conversation.
A cruel smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
——-
Back in his own courtyard, Sheng Mingjian felt utterly at ease—body and soul.
He even had a rare, hearty dinner. And then, quite suddenly, a certain urge came over him.
Ever since that wretched woman Qingxin had ruined his reputation and been sent off to the estate, he’d been busy preparing for the exams and hadn’t touched a single woman.
After failing, he’d been too dejected to even think about it. But now, the mood struck him out of nowhere.
To him, a woman who warmed his bed was no different from a tool.
He felt no love for tools, and he’d never elevate one to the status of concubine.
So, he didn’t see any conflict with the promises he’d just made to Sheng Mingzhu.
“Call that maid who’s always bringing me pastries!” he ordered.
After a moment, a delicate-looking girl with a petite frame entered his room.
There was something about her—a certain air that faintly reminded him of Sheng Mingzhu.
But… after nearly a quarter of an hour of her earnest efforts, he… felt absolutely nothing.
The poor girl was crying, her whole body trembling.
That pitiful look was exactly the kind Sheng Mingjian usually liked.
But his body simply wouldn’t cooperate.
His mood shifted from irritation to anxiety, then unease, and finally to outright terror.
Suddenly, he remembered something—once before, after a particularly heavy meal, he’d called a maid over, and he hadn’t been able to perform then either…
Back then, he’d had to summon Qingxin before anything worked.
Was he completely useless without her now?
Sheng Mingjian felt like he’d plunged into an icy abyss, his limbs cold as death…
Refusing to believe it, he called in two more maids one after another…
And still—absolutely nothing.
In the end, Yuwen had to swallow his pride and fetch the household physician. The doctor examined him for a long while but found nothing physically wrong.
Somewhat tactfully, he suggested that perhaps Sheng Mingjian might have better luck with a man instead of a woman…
Sheng Mingjian was so furious he nearly coughed up blood on the spot.
Soon enough, Sheng Minmin over at Peony Courtyard learned exactly what had gone down.
She laughed for a good long while when she heard the news, tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.
Sheng Mingjian must be absolutely terrified right now, huh?
And terror is never a pleasant thing to feel.
She guessed he’d head to the estate tomorrow. And when he found out that Qingxin had already been taken away by Dongsheng—well, how would that feel?
A father stealing his own son’s woman—what a scandal that would be!
And once Sheng Mingjian realized that only Qingxin could do the trick, would Sheng Yong actually let her go?
On one side, the woman he desired. On the other, the son he valued.
Sure, Sheng Mingjian had failed this round of exams, but in Sheng Yong’s heart, his eldest legitimate son was still the one he prized most.
What choice would Sheng Yong make?
If he refused to give her up, the father-son relationship would surely fracture…
If they “shared,” it would become a colossal scandal if it ever got out.
She couldn’t wait to see how this would unfold.
“Madam.”
Just then, Qingying entered, carrying a bowl of warm sweet wine that gave off a fragrant, steaming aroma.
At some point, Sheng Minmin had taken to drinking a little every night.
She’d sip her wine, picturing the miserable fates awaiting her enemies.
It helped her sleep with fewer nightmares, and life had been growing sweeter by the day.
After a couple of sips of the warm wine, she suddenly remembered that Dujuan had come to the manor today.
She asked, “Any progress on Du-momo’s end?”
Qingying shook her head. “Not yet, I’m afraid.”
Sheng Minmin wasn’t discouraged. “Keep getting closer to her.”
Last time Soft Concubine was poisoned, Sheng Minmin had brought up the Huang family tragedy with her and Sheng Mingshu—and shared her suspicions.
In fact, she’d been quietly investigating this matter for years.
She’d discovered that the official who’d originally handled the Huang family case had passed away from illness, and the bandits involved had all been beheaded—leaving no leads whatsoever.
After mulling it over, she figured she might try probing Du-momo.
Back then, Xian-jie’s mother, Lady Lin, had taken her own life after hearing the terrible news. But Sheng Minmin felt there was something off about her death.
No matter how dire a mother’s circumstances, she’d most likely never abandon her infant child to die.
If it wasn’t suicide, then it was murder…
As Lady Lin’s wet nurse, Du-momo would know best whether she was the type to take her own life.
And if Lady Lin really was murdered, had Du-momo secretly gathered evidence?
Sheng Minmin hoped that Du-momo had something in her hands that could bring Sheng Yong down.
But she knew—even if Du-momo did have proof of Sheng Yong’s crimes, she wouldn’t hand it over lightly.
If she gave it up that easily, she wouldn’t be the Du-momo everyone knew—and Sheng Yong would’ve spotted the anomaly and eliminated her long ago.
In the process of her revenge, Sheng Yong, the three Sheng brothers, and Sheng Mingzhu would all die one by one.
That would draw far too much attention. Even if she fooled outsiders, some people within the household would inevitably catch on.
But if she could get her hands on evidence of Sheng Yong’s guilt, her actions would become much easier to understand—and much easier to forgive.
After all, Sheng Yong had murdered her loved ones. Wasn’t it only right that she struck back?
Of course, even if Du-momo had no evidence of Sheng Yong’s crimes at all, she would still take her revenge!
And if anyone in this household stood in her way, she wouldn’t hesitate to cut them down!
Sheng Minmin wasn’t just out for revenge—she was determined to walk away from it all unscathed.
