Chapter 13: Converging (Part 2)

  Spring red suddenly shook, tears fell down with a swoosh.

  "You're not leaving yet, you have to wait until the slap is on your face!" Seeing Shen Zhong's darkened face, Chu Xinyi scolded Chunhong and then turned her head to comfort Shen Zhong, "......Chunhong has no filter on her mouth, General, don't listen to her nonsense. Several sisters are already spoiling me, how could they bully me?" She stretched out her wrist for him to see, "Look at this sandalwood Buddha, it was begged by my elder sister when she went to the temple to burn incense." With a gentle and soft expression like a little daughter-in-law.

  Everything should be done in moderation, and this is a principle that Chu Xinyi understands best.

  Shen Zhong'e was a straightforward person who would not tolerate bullying and had always been soft-hearted, which Zhen Shiyin had understood since the time he drove her out of the ancestral mansion.

  Women understand women best. Chu Xinyi knew that Zhen Shiniang was deeply in love with Shen Zhongjie, a love that was obsessive, crazy and reckless.

  Unfortunately, she used the wrong method.

  Relying on her family's power, she wanted to turn him into her own pet, a puppet that could be manipulated at will, so she tried every means to torment Shen Zhongke. However, she didn't know that Shen Zhongke was also an unyielding and strong-willed man, a majestic eagle destined to soar high in the sky. How could he stoop to being controlled by a woman?

  So, the former him would not care that the Yue family was a powerful Minister of Revenue, and as a small sixth-grade official with no foundation, he would challenge the authority of the Zhen family and confront Zhen Shi.

  According to Mrs. Xiao, when Shen Zhongge brought in the concubine, he infuriated Zhen Shangshu, who was at the height of his power at that time. The next day, he took Zhen Shi back and prepared to take action against Shen Zhongge. At that time, it would have been easy for the Zhen family to destroy Shen Zhongge, just like crushing an ant.

  It was Zhen Shining who knelt in front of her father's study for a whole night, only to dispel Zhen Shangshu's intention to kill Shen Zhongjie. Unfortunately, Zhen Shining did so much for him behind his back, but never let him know.

  Because she is also proud.

  She didn't want him to know how much she cared about him, she just wanted to conquer him with her strong will until the end when she was abandoned. When Shen Zhongjie was forced to break his promise and marry Zhen Shimai, she had cried and asked him if he loved Zhen Shimai?

  He said he didn't love her, but as a man, once married, he would treat her well and make her forget him. That answer made her heart ache. Chu Xinyi believed that if Zhen Shiniang had used a different approach with him back then, they might be a harmonious couple now, and she wouldn't have the life she has today in the General's mansion.

  In Chu Xinyi's heart, Zhen Shiniang was just such a stupid woman.

  If it were Chu Xinyi, she would never have a hard collision with Shen Zhongge. Just like today, it seems that she retreated, but this matter will definitely be remembered by Shen Zhongge. Next, he will go to the ancestral mansion to find his legitimate wife who was abandoned for five years, forcing her to divorce or kill herself, and then establish himself as the rightful husband.

  She had just made an effort with Chunhong, and she didn't really want Shen Zhongxi to help her deal with the concubines. Once she was promoted to the position of wife, she could handle these concubines with one hand. Her only goal was to make Shen Zhongxi understand that as a concubine, she was in charge of the general's mansion and it was unbearable for him, so he would feel sorry for her, and that was enough.

  Indeed, seeing her on the verge of tears, Shen Zhongge's expression eased up. He sighed and said, "Don't just listen to these people's nonsense. Letting you host the Mid-Autumn Festival, all these years I wasn't in the mansion, it was indeed a hardship for you. How much you've paid out, I have an account of it in my heart." As he spoke, Shen Zhongge's eyes flashed with the scene of that day when he saw Zhen Shiniang, and he thought to himself, "It's time to settle her now."

  "I can share the general's worries, and I don't feel even a bit humiliated." With these soft and gentle words, Chu Xinyi personally poured tea for Shen Zhongge, lightly changing the subject, "General, have some tea..."

  Shen Zhongjie's anger disappeared at her gentle words, and he sat with a straight face, sipping his tea mouthful by mouthful.

  Gazing at Shen Zhongge as he drank tea, Chu Xinyi murmured, "......General, you really are handsome. After so many years of battles, I thought the wind and rain would have made you rough and old, but unexpectedly, not a single wrinkle can be seen." Her slender fingers gently stroked his eyebrows, "You're even more handsome than five years ago. I heard from the maids that on the day you entered the city, it was as if the streets were empty, those unmarried young ladies couldn't take their eyes off you, and they all vowed to marry a great general like you. It's said that even the Sixth Princess has taken a liking to you, but who knows if it's true or not?" Unable to contain his expression any longer, Shen Zhongge rarely revealed a hint of a smile, pulling down her soft wrist to hold in his hand, "......In the blink of an eye, five years have passed. How can one not grow old? As long as Yier doesn't mind my age, that's all that matters."

  "General, you're getting old and teasing people." Chu Xinyi playfully punched him, "It's actually the concubine." She regretfully stroked a few almost imperceptible fine lines at the corner of her eye, "Today when I looked in the mirror, there were fine lines at the corners of my eyes." Seriously looking at Shen Zhongjie, "...General, as your position gets higher and higher, will you get tired of the concubine later?" She was said to be a beauty, but she was only one year younger than Shen Zhongjie.

  Men are all resistant to aging, ten years later, she was already full of wrinkles, but he still looked handsome and dignified, how can this not make people worry?

  "How could it be?" Shen Zhongge feigned anger.

  Chu Xinyi bit her lip, looking like a wronged little wife.

  Shen Zhongge sighed, pulled her into his arms and said, "...... Don't worry, no matter what the reason is, once I marry you, I will take responsibility to the end. As long as you don't make a big mistake that goes against heaven and reason, I will never abandon you." He also said, "...... You should know, I don't often come here because I'm afraid other concubines will resent you, it's also for your own good, so when I go out to battle they won't isolate you and make things difficult for you everywhere."

  Chu Xinyi felt bitter in her heart.

  She's not afraid of this at all. In terms of cunning, who in the mansion can be her match? She's so resentful that she wishes he could stay with her every day, making those women jealous to death.

  "I know." With a turbulent heart, Chu Xinyi's face showed gratitude, her hand touching her flat abdomen. "The general has always considered me, but my belly is not cooperating, and I have not been able to give the general a son or daughter... General... will you despise me?"

  Chen Zhong laughed loudly, "...... Yi'er was worried for nothing, I'm not old yet, and in a few more years, having children will be just the same."

  Chu Xinyi pushed him away and sat up straight, "General, you're already so old and still have no children. Even if you're not anxious, the old lady is getting anxious!" Remembering the old lady's words from earlier in the day, her voice softened, "The few maids by my side, Chunhong is a straightforward one, but she has a quick temper and might not be able to serve the general well. On the other hand, Chunlan is calm and thoughtful, good at understanding people's intentions... why don't you take her in, General? If she can bear you a son or daughter, it would put my mind at ease." Shen Zhongge looked at her with a gloomy expression, his eyes narrowed as if trying to see into her heart, but he couldn't.

  Shaking his head, "Yi'er is being overly anxious, having all of you is enough for this lifetime." These words weren't just perfunctory.

  He was born into a common family, although his family was well-off but not extremely wealthy. His father had only one woman in his life, his mother, and Shen Zhongke grew up seeing the loving relationship between his parents. He had always fantasized that when he got married, he would be like them, devoted to each other until old age. That's why he promised to marry Chu Xinyi, who was as gentle as water. Unfortunately... He let out a deep sigh, "If I hadn't quarreled with her back then, I wouldn't have brought in so many concubines, causing chaos in the household and making my mother worry endlessly. Now that I think about it, I'm starting to regret it."

  He used to be really ridiculous!

  Even if Zhen Shiniang was wrong, had he ever been patient with her? Now that I think about it, if they had both taken a step back in the past, things might not have ended up like this between him and Zhen Shiniang.

  "The concubine is really afraid of disappointing General's good intentions." Chu Xinyi's voice was a bit sour.

  This is what she thinks in her heart.

  Although adhering to the principle of equal distribution of rain and dew, every time Shen Zhongge returned from a campaign, he would spend more time in Bixi Garden than in other courtyards. Privately, she had also taken quite a few medicines, but her belly still showed no signs of pregnancy.

  Since ancient times, the mother relies on her child's nobility. Especially as Shen Zhongjie's power grows greater and his status becomes more honorable, if she truly cannot give birth to a son or daughter, or is surpassed by another woman...

  Chu Xinyi didn't dare think further.

  Shen Zhong's eyes narrowed as if smiling but not quite, gazing at her. Suddenly, he shouted in annoyance, "General, the concubine is speaking seriously!"

  Before she could finish speaking, Shen Zhongge suddenly swept her up in his arms, "...... Yi'er is eager to have children, I'll just have to endure a bit more hardship."

  Chu Xinyi's face turned red with anger and she said, "General, I'm not joking!" She tried her best to struggle free from his grasp.

  "I'm not kidding!" Shen Zhongge burst out laughing and strode towards the bedside.

  The shouting gradually turned into gasps, stirring up a room of whispers...

  After making love, Chu Xinyi called Chunhong to bring in water and serve Shen Zhongke a bath. After washing up, she got back into bed, where Shen Zhongke was already half asleep with his eyes closed.

  He didn't agree to accept the bribe, making Chu Xinyi extremely happy. She gently wrapped her arm around his waist and softly called out, "General..."

  "Hmm..." Shen Zhongke responded vaguely.

  "Or else, I'll go ask the doctor?"

  "What?" The voice was somewhat vague.

  "I heard that in Wutong Town, there is a divine doctor named Jian. He's the one who makes the Jianji Agaricus blazei, which your maid mentioned a few days ago. He specializes in treating all sorts of difficult and complicated diseases. I heard that his family's senior maid servant had been married for three years without getting pregnant, but after taking his medicine, she became pregnant within three months." Her face buried in his back, her voice softened, "I'll go find him too, maybe it will work."

  After asking for half a day without any response, Chu Xinyi raised her head and saw that Shen Zhongge had already started breathing evenly...

  The bell tolls!

  Her face suddenly changed, Chu Xinyi sat up abruptly.

  The body moved slightly, and Shen Zhongge continued to sleep soundly with a snore.

  "Pig!"

  She grumbled and turned over, lying down with her back to him, staring at the hazy moonlight outside the window.