Chapter 312: Agreement

Zheng Dan sighed softly. "It's all for the family. For years, the Chu family, relying on their ancestors' legacy, has controlled most of the official salt market in Mingyue City. The rest of our families have been suffocated, leaving us no choice but to find other ways.

"Back then, I was young and impetuous. Seeing my parents sighing and worrying all day, I wanted to share their burdens. Plus, I had an restless heart and wanted to try a different kind of life. So I gave it a try, and unexpectedly, it spiraled out of control, leading to the creation of the Giant Whale Gang.

"Over the years, the Giant Whale Gang has earned a lot of money for the Zheng family and has, to some extent, weakened the Chu family. My parents' smiles have become more frequent, but I can't bring myself to be happy."

Zuan thought to himself, indeed, different perspectives lead to different understandings of a problem.

From the Chu family's perspective, private salt was utterly detestable, and the Zheng family resorted to all sorts of despicable methods.

However, from the Zheng family's perspective, they were dissatisfied with the Chu family's generational privileges and questioned whether kings, nobles, generals, and ministers were born inherently superior.

Zuan couldn't judge who was right or wrong; it simply depended on whose side you were on.

"Why aren't you happy?" Noticing the sorrow in her eyes, Zuan felt a pang of pity and instinctively reached out to smooth her furrowed brow.

"After all, the Giant Whale Gang deals in smuggled private salt, so it's bound to be targeted by the River Defense Camp. A large part of our alliance with the Sang family is because of this. With their protection, we can smuggle salt more safely; otherwise, the Giant Whale Gang would have been destroyed long ago," Zheng Dan explained.

In fact, when the Chu family discovered the Zheng family's steward was involved in private salt, they already suspected the Sang family was also deeply implicated.

Now, it was finally confirmed.

Sang Hong was truly ruthless; to deal with the Chu family, he risked personal danger by getting involved in the private salt business.

It was well known that if exposed, even if the emperor wanted to protect him, he would lose his position as prefect.

Unfortunately, there was no evidence for any of this. It wasn't as if he could drag Zheng Dan to accuse the Sang family, was it?

He couldn't bring himself to do something so heartless.

After a moment's thought, Zuan asked, "So, do you like Sang Qian?"

Zheng Dan pursed her lips and smiled. "Are you jealous?"

Zuan snorted. "Why would I be jealous of him? If anything, he should be jealous of me."

Zheng Dan naturally understood what he meant. She gave him a resentful look before saying, "Regardless of appearance, family background, or ability, Sang Qian is a very suitable husband for our Zheng family. It's just that I don't have any special feelings for him. My agreement to this was entirely for the family's benefit. Oh, wait, actually, it wasn't even my decision to make; my family had already arranged it for me long ago."

Sensing the self-pity in her voice, Zuan said, "If that's the case, then let's forget about this engagement. You can come with me when the time comes."

"With you?" Zheng Dan's face held a hint of a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "With you to the Chu family?"

Zuan's breath caught. Thinking of the long-standing feud between the Chu and Zheng families, he was at a loss for words.

Zheng Dan sighed. "Although I've always appeared gentle and quiet, inside I'm quite proud and ambitious. I never imagined being someone's concubine, not even for Sang Qian, who comes from such a prominent family."

Noticing Zuan's somewhat displeased expression, she smiled slightly. "But you're different, A'Zu. Actually, becoming your concubine... wouldn't be impossible."

Seeing the tender affection in her eyes, Zuan tightly clasped her soft hand, momentarily speechless.

"Unfortunately..." Zheng Dan's tone shifted. "I'm not alone. I have to consider my family. I can't let my personal desires doom them to irreversible ruin.

"The Sang family, this time, represents the Emperor's will. The Chu family is acting against the heavens and is destined to fail, not to mention the long-standing grievances between the Zheng and Chu families. I don't yet have the power to make decisions for the Zheng family."

Zuan couldn't help but say, "But your body is already... how will you marry into the Sang family then?"

"We can figure that out later. There's still some time before the wedding, so we'll surely find a way to deceive them." A flicker of worry crossed Zheng Dan's brow. The Sang family wasn't foolish, especially Sang Hong, who was exceptionally shrewd. It would be incredibly difficult to fool them.

Zuan felt a little dejected. "Do you really want to marry into the Sang family that much?"

Zheng Dan's soft, delicate fingers gently caressed his cheek. "Is my dear brother angry?"

Hearing the word "brother" and recalling the intimate words she'd whispered last night, both of their hearts skipped a beat.

"The main reason is that we're not strong enough yet; often, we can't help ourselves," Zheng Dan sighed, but then immediately added, "However, A'Zu, you don't need to worry about anything else. Even if I marry into the Sang family, I will always be yours. Whenever you want me, you can come find me..."

Uttering such alluring words with an extremely dignified expression, she exuded an inexplicable sense of charm.

Zuan's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily said, "I wasn't asking for that..."

Zheng Dan gently pressed a finger to his lips. "I know you're not that kind of person. It's just the only thing I can do for you.

"From childhood, my family provided me with a life of luxury, and my parents and relatives treated me exceptionally well, giving me the best resources and education. I truly cannot abandon them. I hope you won't blame me, A'Zu."

Zuan shook his head. "You chose this because you are truly devoted and empathetic, both filial and incredibly responsible. How could I selfishly blame you? By the way, when are you and Sang Qian getting married?"

"Probably about a year from now," Zheng Dan replied after thinking for a moment.

Zuan said in a deep voice, "Alright, there's still time. When that day comes, I will definitely take you back, and then you won't have to worry about your family or any other issues."

Zheng Dan's face blossomed into a smile, her bright, moist eyes gazing at him with deep affection. "Okay, I'll wait for you."

"But in the meantime, you absolutely cannot let that Sang fellow take advantage of you," Zuan said, his face stern.

Zheng Dan pursed her lips and smiled. "Don't worry, he hasn't even held my hand."

Zuan was somewhat surprised. "Then, when you came to find me earlier..."

At the time, she had come to seduce him and had been quite uninhibited, so he had instinctively assumed she was the same with her fiancé. If he hadn't confirmed her virginity this time, he might have speculated even more.

Zheng Dan gave him a meaningful look. "You're talking? I don't know what it is, but every time I see you, I lose my composure. I was supposed to be using a honey trap, but I accidentally ended up losing both the lady and the troops."

Zuan laughed heartily. "It just proves we're meant to be."

Zheng Dan smiled sweetly, pressing her cheek tightly against his chest.

"Oh, by the way, what was your original reason for approaching me?" Zuan asked, a little curious.

"It was all for the Plum Blossom Gang's IOU of 7.5 million silver taels. So many families in the city were eyeing that lucrative Plum Blossom Gang," Zheng Dan said, laughing shyly, especially remembering how she had deliberately tried to seduce him at the beginning.

"It wasn't just the major families; even the academy was after it." Zuan briefly explained his deal with the academy. Since they were so intimate, there was no need to hide it from her.

Zheng Dan was both embarrassed and annoyed. "Oh, so you didn't even have that 7.5 million taels from the start! I was just wasting my time all along, and you deliberately kept quiet about it!"

Zuan chuckled. "Back then, we were adversaries, not friends, so why would I tell you? Besides, with such a beautiful woman throwing herself into my arms, what man would be foolish enough to expose the truth?"

"Ahhh, I'm going to bite you to death, you scoundrel!" Zheng Dan lunged at him, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws, while Zuan laughed and quickly dodged her.

Over the next few days, the two tacitly continued to stay there. One reason was to recover from their injuries; the other was that this was their most private sanctuary, where they didn't have to worry about responsibilities, families, or any other troublesome matters.

When a young man and woman are alone together, even a glance can ignite a passionate spark.

After Zheng Dan recovered from her passionate embrace, they settled into a period of uninhibited sweetness.

From time to time, sounds that would make passing birds blush echoed from the cave, along with intimate whispers between the lovers:

"If something unforeseen happens in the future, and I can't come to whisk you away, even if you marry into the Sang family, you can't let him touch you."

Zheng Dan giggled. "He'd be my legitimate husband, you know? Aren't you being a bit unreasonable?"

"I don't care, it's just not allowed!"

"Then you'd better be on time to steal me away, or I can't guarantee such a high-difficulty operation."

"You little minx, you're doing this on purpose to annoy me, aren't you?"

"Oh, good brother, have mercy!"

...

Unfortunately, happy times are always brief. A few days later, traces of soldiers searching the vicinity began to appear.