Chapter Seventeen: Turmoil

  Defeated by a woman in such an unexpected way, the unyielding spirit within Shen Zhong was suddenly ignited. He had long forgotten his original intention for coming here. "Let's play another round!" Without saying another word, he lowered his head and started to gather the chess pieces.

  Are you coming again?

  She was so ruthless in killing him just to get rid of him quickly.

  He is a general with wealth and leisure, while she still has to rush around for a living, how can she have the time to play chess with him?

  It wasn't that she was afraid of Jian Wu's simple and unadorned writing being discovered by him, or else she wouldn't have taken the initiative to invite him to play chess.

  Shen Zhong's eyes were cast down as he gathered the chess pieces, while Zhen Shi'niang's heart was secretly lamenting, but her face remained calm and serene. As she slowly picked up the pieces, she asked in a careless tone, "General, what brings you here so suddenly? Is there something on your mind?"

  Remind him discreetly that there is still something important to be done.

  "Th...". The hand picking up the chess piece froze there, and Shen Zhongjie was at a loss for words for a moment.

  Looking at her frail body that would collapse with just a gust of wind, he really couldn't bear to bring up the topic of divorce.

  Hesitating for a moment, Xī Què took a thick coat and walked over, first giving Shěn Zhōng a courtesy, "General, take care." Then he turned his head to look at Zhēn Shí Niáng, "It's getting cool in the evening, Miss, put on another layer of clothes." While saying that, he helped Zhēn Shí Niáng put on the coat, his eyes falling on the half-packed chessboard, "Let's finish the game later, General, please go inside and take a seat."

  Shen Zhongge glanced at Zhen Shiniang's pale face and stood up first, walking towards the front yard.

  Zhen Shining glared at Xi Que with all her might.

  She easily brought back the topic that had been running for half a day, and what was left was him proposing divorce, she nodded in agreement, then they parted ways simply. Why bother inviting him into the house, brewing another pot of tea to slowly talk?

  Although this lotus seed is produced in our own pond, it's also silver.

  She was deeply hurt by this hypocritical and venomous man who was planning to divorce his wife and remarry.

  "Miss's body can't stand the cool wind this evening." Knowing that Zhen Shi Niang didn't want to let Shen Zhong Bian enter the house, and would rather stay outside, Xi Que explained in a low voice while putting away the chess pieces on the stone table.

  Zhen Shining sighed, "Don't pick that up for now, just take the teapot back and brew another pot of tea..." She didn't want to bring the Go board into the house to continue playing with him.

  Jian Zhen didn't scold her again, and Ji Kuai responded with a "yes", then asked, "Should the servant go pick some vegetables to prepare dinner?"

  She wanted to ask Shen Zhongge if he would stay for dinner.

  However, within a month or so, Shen Zhongge came twice. Xi Que was overjoyed in her heart and hoped that her young mistress could reunite with her husband.

  After all, both of their children have grown up so big now.

  "Never mind..." Zhen Shi Niang turned her head and walked back, leaving Xi Que to slowly pack up.

  Shen Zhong was sitting on the edge of the kang, holding a book and reading. When he saw her come in, he asked, "...... Have you read all these books?"

  Zhen Shining's gaze fell on his hand, but it was a human meridian chart she usually looked at, and she nodded, "Let the general see the joke, I'm just bored and passing the time." She pulled over a stool and sat down not far from Shen Zhongjie, then went straight to the topic, "What brings you here today, General?"

  Since things can't be changed, there's no need for her to continue wasting time. Jianwen and Jianwu are still hiding at the magpie's house. Children have the strongest curiosity but also the least patience, it's hard to say they won't suddenly run back, so she'd better hurry up and send him off.

  Shen Zhong's face was strange, this is her third time asking today.

  Why is she so persistent about this issue?

  In just over a month, she has come twice by herself; surely she doesn't think he came today to take her back to the General's Manor and is getting impatient?

  She was weak and feeble by nature... If he were to say that he came to discuss divorce, wouldn't she be heartbroken? Then fall ill and not recover, and then...

  He didn't want to think about it anymore.

  The answer that came out at his call made a faintly tingling feeling arise in his heart, and his chest felt stifled.

  He took another look at her frail body and thought to himself, "Forget it, I'll wait a few more days. Once she's recovered, I'll bring it up again." The thought flashed through his mind, and he casually said, "...I'm on my way to the main camp for some business, just passing by here." His troops were stationed thirty miles away at Fenggu Mountain, a mere hour's ride.

  She guessed wrong, he actually didn't come to fire her?!

  Zhen Shining's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, and her heart began to pound: "If he gives me half a year, I'll definitely be able to arrange everything!" As soon as this thought flashed through her mind, Zhen Shining began to secretly calculate in her heart.

  For the time being, Shen Zhongge dispelled his thoughts of divorce and had nothing to say for a while.

  The house fell silent, and you could hear a pin drop.

  The magpie's footsteps broke the silence in the house, "General, please have some tea." The tray was placed on the only table in the room, and the teapot was lifted to pour a cup of tea for Shen Zhongjie by the side of the kang.

  Duan Cha took a sip of tea and Shen Zhongge raised his head to ask, "Why do you like reading this kind of book?" What's the point of her reading it if she doesn't even practice martial arts?

  Only after learning some acupuncture points can this book be put to use.

  It wasn't intentional to find a topic, but facing her warm and gentle demeanor, he suddenly had a desire to understand her.

  "I..."

  Just then, Rong Sheng's voice came, "Is the general still waiting here?"

  Rong Sheng is back. The magpie quickly walked out to welcome him.

  "Has the inn been booked?" Shen Zhongge asked as Rong Sheng walked in with a big sweat, "Why so long?"

  "General Hui..." Rong Sheng took the towel handed over by Xi Que and wiped his sweat, saying, "I've been to two inns from the east of the town to the west, both are fully booked..." Seeing Shen Zhong's confusion, he added, "The general doesn't know, it's now during the autumn harvest season, merchants from all over are lining up to buy lotus seeds and collect mountain goods."

  The lotus seeds in Wutong Town are famous, and every autumn, merchants come to collect them, and the price is also higher than elsewhere. Rong Sheng originally could have moved out of Shen Zhong's powerful name, forcing people to vacate a guest room, but this way, it wouldn't take long for the whole Wutong to know that General Jiang was staying in the inn, and many would come to visit him.

  This is not what Rong Sheng is worried about, but rather that he has heard that the general gets up early just to come and see Zhen Shi Niang, and believes that the women in the back courtyard of the General's Mansion will definitely tear off the roof of the General's Mansion.

  Shen Zhongge wanted to discuss divorce with Zhen Shiniang, but only his mother knew about it. He didn't tell anyone else, so Rongsheng naturally didn't know either.

  "Does the general want to go to the yamen and take a look?" Zhen Shi Niang lowered her eyebrows and thought for a moment, "Perhaps there is an inn that can accommodate us." Even if there was no inn, the county magistrate's mansion was so large that it would be more than enough to accommodate the two of them. She didn't want him to stay here.

  "I'll have to report to the authorities, I won't be able to sleep tonight." Shen Zhongge put down the book in his hand and walked to the window, quietly gazing at the blood-red sunset outside. After a long while, he suddenly turned around, "It's too late today, let's stay here for the night, Rongsheng, go take care of the carriage." He said to Rongsheng, but his eyes were fixed on Zhen Shiniang.