Chapter 947: Setting a Trap

"What do you mean?" Sang Qian was puzzled, wondering if her sister-in-law or Zu'an might be long-lost blood relatives of the Sang family.

Sang Hong slowly replied, "I secretly added something to the wine tonight."

"What? You poisoned Zu'an?" Sang Qian was startled. She wondered if her father was angry and wanted to deal with Zu'an. Although Zu'an had some annoying habits, he hadn't committed a crime deserving of death, and he had helped the Sang family a great deal.

Just as she was about to persuade her father to change his mind, Sang Hong spoke again: "Don't worry, it's not poison. It's a fertility pill I acquired at great expense some time ago. This pill is harmless to the body; in fact, it helps women conceive more easily."

"Oh!" Sang Qian gasped, a captivating blush spreading across her cheeks. "Father, why didn't you tell me? Now I've drunk it too."

Whether it was psychological or not, she felt her whole body growing intensely hot.

Sang Hong looked at her, his expression somewhat complex. "If I had told you, it would have been easy for you to act unusually and make Zu'an suspicious. Don't worry, this wine is harmless to your body, and even beneficial."

As an unmarried young woman, Sang Qian felt awkward discussing such a topic. She quickly said, "Father, you still haven't answered my question. Even if my sister-in-law gets pregnant and has a child, it wouldn't be related to the Sang family."

Sang Hong looked at her and slowly replied, "What your sister-in-law bears certainly won't be related to the Sang family, but what *you* bear will be."

Sang Qian: "???"

She stared blankly. Just as she was about to ask another question, her body suddenly went limp, and she slowly started to fall backward. Someone from behind caught her. She looked up and saw the person's face, asking in shock, "Aunt Mu, what are you doing?"

This middle-aged woman served her father. Ever since her mother passed away, she had primarily managed her father's daily life. Although they hadn't formally married, the Sang family members generally regarded her as Sang Hong's concubine, and everyone treated her with great respect. Sang Qian had never imagined she would act against her.

Aunt Mu, the middle-aged woman, apologetically withdrew her gaze and looked at Sang Hong. "Master, do we really have to do this?"

Hesitation flickered across Sang Hong's face, but he finally said, "Qian'er, don't blame me. I'm doing this for the continuation of the Sang family."

After speaking, he waved his hand, signaling Aunt Mu to proceed with the plan.

If he could still father children, he wouldn't need to trouble his descendants like this, but now he truly had no other choice.

Sang Qian looked utterly confused, unable to comprehend why her father would say such a thing.

Next, Aunt Mu lifted her horizontally, moving swiftly and lightly through the house.

Sang Qian began to panic. "Aunt Mu, where are you taking me?"

Aunt Mu didn't answer the question, only saying, "Qian'er, don't blame your father. For the sake of the entire family, he has no other option."

"What exactly are you trying to do?" The more mysterious Aunt Mu's words became, the more anxious Sang Qian felt.

At this point, Aunt Mu carried her to a house. Sang Qian was startled. "Isn't this my sister-in-law's room?"

What surprised her, however, was that there wasn't a single maid in the courtyard, clearly indicating they had been dismissed earlier.

Aunt Mu didn't reply. She pushed the door open, laid Sang Qian on the bed, and began unbuttoning her collar.

Sang Qian finally understood her father's plan. She felt both shame and anger. "What is Father thinking? I want to see Father, I'll talk to him myself!"

Aunt Mu sighed. "Your father is also in a difficult position, but he cannot allow the Sang family line to end. He can only wrong you like this. However, Aunt Mu has also been secretly observing during this time, and that person is exceptional in both character and ability. If you adjust your mindset, it's not such a bad deal."

Tears welled up in Sang Qian's eyes. "Is this really something you can talk about in terms of gain or loss?"

Aunt Mu's hands were nimble; she quickly removed Sang Qian's clothes, revealing her youthful, radiant body. "Qian'er, you are truly beautiful," she couldn't help but exclaim.

Sang Qian didn't want to speak to her. She turned her head away, silently shedding tears.

Aunt Mu sighed, lowered the bed curtains, and then extinguished the lamp in the room before quietly closing the door and leaving.

***

Meanwhile, Zu'an watched Sang Hong stumble back, surprised. "Uncle, aren't you drunk?"

Zheng Dan, standing nearby, had flushed cheeks. She thought to herself how fortunate it was that she had hidden quickly; otherwise, if her father-in-law had seen them pulling and tugging, she would have died of shame.

Sang Hong waved his hand. "I'm not drunk. Let's keep drinking."

Zu'an looked around. "Oh, where's little sister Qian?"

"She probably doesn't like drinking with us stinky men and has already gone back to her room," Sang Hong said nonchalantly, refilling Zu'an's cup.

Zu'an quickly said, "I can't drink any more, or I won't be able to walk back later."

With his cultivation, he could easily dispel the effects of alcohol by circulating his inner energy, preventing him from getting drunk. But what would be the point of drinking then?

Therefore, most cultivators didn't deliberately control themselves when truly drinking, allowing the alcohol to stimulate their nerves and provide the pleasure of intoxication.

Sang Hong laughed heartily. "It's late now, and it's inconvenient for you to go back. Why don't you stay at my residence for the night? Don't mind that it's a bit old."

Zu'an thought, *Perfectly aligned with my wishes*, and smiled, saying, "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

As he spoke, he glanced at Zheng Dan. Zheng Dan understood the meaning in his eyes, and her cheeks immediately flushed.

With Sang Qian gone, it was truly inconvenient for her, a woman, to remain there. So, she used the opportunity to excuse herself.

Zu'an didn't mind, secretly sending a message to her to wait for him that night.

Zheng Dan's departing figure stumbled, then quickened her pace.

Back in her courtyard, her mind was filled with Zu'an's teasing gaze. *This guy is getting bolder and bolder,* she thought, *daring to say such nonsense right in front of my father-in-law...*

*Huh, where have all the maids in the courtyard gone?*

Just as she was about to push the door open, she felt a sudden numbness in her back, and then she fainted.

Aunt Mu caught her, sighed, then carried her to Sang Qian's room, laid her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

***

Meanwhile, Sang Hong was enthusiastically urging Zu'an to drink, chatting about everything under the sun, from court politics to the gossip among officials.

Every word he spoke was confidential; if it got out, it would offend people and even earn the Emperor's displeasure. Feeling the sincerity in Sang Hong's words, Zu'an knew that Sang Hong truly regarded him as one of his own, and so he drank with even more enjoyment.

After an unknown amount of time, Sang Hong was completely passed out. Zu'an, too, started seeing double, thinking, *This old man's alcohol tolerance is truly incredible; he actually managed to get me this drunk.*

At that moment, a middle-aged woman slowly approached, checked on Sang Hong, and then said to Zu'an, "Young Master Zu, I'll take you to rest."

"I wouldn't dare trouble you, madam," Zu'an replied. Having visited the Sang family many times, he naturally recognized Aunt Mu, who was considered half a mistress of the house.

"You're too kind, young master, it's my duty," Aunt Mu said. Hearing the word "madam," a hint of pleasure appeared in her eyes. She thought, *This young man is handsome and speaks so pleasantly; it's hard not to feel fond of him.*

After speaking, she personally led him to a side room. "Young master, please rest well. I won't disturb you further."

She then left.

Zu'an found it a bit strange, wondering why a maid couldn't handle this task; why did she need to personally escort him?

However, with the alcohol affecting him, he simply assumed she was showing great hospitality and didn't think much of it.

He feigned entering the room, waited until he estimated Aunt Mu had gone far enough, then stumbled out of the window and made his way toward Zheng Dan's room.

All the way there, he felt light-headed, and the path ahead seemed to split into several. He couldn't help but pat his head. "How can the Sang family's wine be so potent?"

However, with all the blood in his brain rushing to his lower abdomen, he had no time to ponder these subtle abnormalities.

He effortlessly made his way to Zheng Dan's room. Pressing lightly on the window, he found it was indeed ajar. His heart swelled with joy; Dan Dan had clearly left the door open for him.

He quietly slipped inside. The room was unlit, and he vaguely saw Zheng Dan sleeping on the bed, her figure appearing even more graceful and soft through the bed curtains.

Whether it was the surging alcohol or some other reason, he felt an intense heat throughout his body. Unable to restrain himself, he quickly shed his clothes and slipped under the covers. "Dan Dan, you've been waiting long, haven't you...?"