Zhong Sheng looked at his wife, listening to her speak so lightly about something so heavy, and he felt a complicated mix of emotions.
If Duan Ning hadn’t accidentally mentioned it today, Zhong Sheng would have had no idea such things were happening behind his back.
“If you don’t tell me, how are we supposed to face your parents together?”
“My mother said she called me home just to put on a show so Father could politely decline the other side,” Liu Yunhua smiled. “I thought it wasn’t necessary to tell you since it wasn’t going to happen for real, and I didn’t want you to worry. With Father out investigating the case and Mother already on edge, how could I bear to add to your burden?”
Zhong Sheng took a deep breath and gripped her hand tightly. “Yunhua, marrying you has truly been my greatest fortune. But I hope that if something like this ever happens again, you’ll tell me right away. I’m your husband — I can’t let you endure it alone.”
Even though she spoke lightly, he could tell the matter wasn’t so simple.
Liu Yunhua had thought he might blame her for acting without telling him or accuse her of being partial to her family, but she hadn’t expected him to say this instead.
The heavy weight on her heart suddenly lifted, and she felt a rush of relief. She slowly nodded, “I will tell you from now on. But, didn’t you say you just happened to run into Lord Duan? It doesn’t seem like a coincidence, does it?”
Zhong Sheng: …
“Yes, Duan Ning got the news and came specially to warn me.”
Liu Yunhua sighed lightly, “Lord Duan really has a warm heart. Afraid I’d sell you out, huh?”
Zhong Sheng flushed with embarrassment, “What are you saying? It’s my fault for being too absorbed in my work at the Hanlin Academy and neglecting you. I’ll make sure to invite him for a drink and thank him properly.”
Listening to her husband, Liu Yunhua sat across from him on the warm couch by the window. Steeling herself, she recounted everything in detail.
Zhong Sheng: …
Seeing the strange look on her husband’s face, she asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”
“What you said… actually matches Duan Ning’s speculation almost exactly.” Zhong Sheng couldn’t help but praise, “He will definitely have a brighter future than me.”
People are different, after all. Her husband was devoted to scholarship and had no interest in the political intrigues of court. Liu Yunhua thought this was just fine.
There was already one Censor at home who stirred up enough trouble; her husband’s steady temperament actually made life more peaceful. She didn’t think he was unambitious—on the contrary, she felt reassured.
But she kept these thoughts tightly locked in her heart; she could never let him know.
“Lord Duan and you are simply different types of people. He strives upward and has his own reasons for doing so. You have different ambitions—there’s no need to compare. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
Duan Ning fought so hard because he was born of a concubine. For a concubine-born son, either the family supports you fully, or you must rely solely on your own efforts.
Duan Ning’s case was special: although he had family support, he also worked exceptionally hard himself. Liu Yunhua knew a bit about the situation at the Dingyuan Marquis’s household—how the heir was the legitimate eldest son, and how Duan Ning’s mother, once favored, had earned the disdain of the main wife—so Duan Ning’s situation must have been difficult.
In such a situation, working tirelessly for success was his only path.
But after Mingxi returned to the Marquis’s household, things slowly began to change. Liu Yunhua thought Duan Ning’s reminder to her husband today was probably also out of consideration for her friendship with Mingxi.
Thinking of this, Liu Yunhua looked at her husband and asked, “What does Lord Duan think about all this?”
Zhong Sheng replied, “You wouldn’t tell me because you didn’t want me to be put in a difficult position.”
Liu Yunhua: …
Her husband suddenly seemed so perceptive—it must have been Duan Ning’s influence.
“But isn’t being caught in the middle even more awkward?” Zhong Sheng asked.
Liu Yunhua answered, “My mother wouldn’t really force me; she just wanted to ask. Once she sees I’m unwilling, she’ll let it go. I know both Father’s and your temperaments—you would never agree to such a thing. If we ended up hurting the relationship between our families, wouldn’t that just become a laughingstock?”
Hearing this, Zhong Sheng realized Duan Ning’s words had been completely accurate—this was indeed what his wife had thought.
He wasn’t good at hiding his emotions, and his thoughts immediately showed on his face. Liu Yunhua’s heart skipped a beat. “What else did Lord Duan say?”
“He said that we could actually turn this situation to our advantage. Although I don’t know exactly how, he suggested we could lure the snake out of its hole and then strike hard.”
“Lure the snake out of its hole… and strike hard?” Liu Yunhua muttered, her brows furrowing tightly. “But how would that work? Luring the snake out is extremely risky. We might even need Lord Liu’s cooperation—and how could he be willing?”
As she spoke, she suddenly paused. She might not be able to persuade Lord Liu, but Duan Wang might.
The two looked at each other. Zhong Sheng, looking awkward, said, “Duan Ning might be overestimating me. I don’t think I can convince my Father.”
It wasn’t just Lord Liu who needed to cooperate—his own Father had to as well.
How could that be possible?
Liu Yunhua’s mind was a mess. Duan Ning’s words surely weren’t random—he must have meant something deeper.
Then she thought of how the Emperor insisted her father-in-law go along on this investigation. Her face paled as she clutched her husband’s hand tightly. “Do you think the Emperor might have plans regarding your Father?”
Zhong Sheng said uncertainly, “Father’s just a Censor. He’s going along merely as a supervisor. What could there be to plan?”
“I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling about this,” Liu Yunhua said, her complexion ashen. “The Eastern Palace has already tried to pressure my family. If they can’t get their way, do you think your Father might be in danger?”
Zhong Sheng froze for a moment, then suddenly stood up. “You’re right. I’ll go find Duan Ning right now!”
“No, you can’t. What if someone’s watching us? It’s too dangerous,” Liu Yunhua said, taking a deep breath. “Since Lord Duan already gave you a heads-up, he must have a backup plan. Meet him tomorrow instead.”
It was the first time Zhong Sheng faced such a major crisis; his face was as grim as his wife’s. But seeing her hands trembling, he forced himself to appear calm.
“You’re right. I was too rash,” Zhong Sheng said. “Don’t worry. I’ll go see Duan Ning tomorrow and find out exactly what’s going on.”
Liu Yunhua nodded quickly. “Good. Once you get news, send me word. If things look bad, I’ll alert my family. If we work together, we can definitely get through this.”
Hearing his wife’s words, Zhong Sheng’s heart filled with guilt.
It was all because of his own incompetence—too idle in his official duties, too lacking in ambition. Otherwise, his wife wouldn’t have had to refuse her own family for his sake, and now, for his sake again, beg them for help. Didn’t she care about her dignity too?
No wonder Duan Ning had told him today: If a man does not strengthen himself, he will become meat on another’s chopping board.
Right now, he was nothing more than a fish beneath someone’s knife!
