Chapter 953: Stormy Winds Rising

"What are you doing?" Sang Qian cried out, quickly pulling the quilt tightly around her. Although she was wearing pajamas, in front of him, she still felt as if she were naked.

Zu'an smiled. "Didn't you tell me to come in?"

Sang Qian nearly fainted from anger. "Is that what I meant?!"

"Just a joke, don't be so angry," Zu'an said. He didn't approach her but found a stool near the door and sat down. To reassure her, he even left the door open. "I just came to talk to you. Otherwise, some doubts in my mind will remain unresolved."

Seeing that he had no intention of further offending her, Sang Qian gradually calmed down. "You're wondering why I'm not holding you responsible?"

"Exactly." This was what Zu'an found most perplexing. Although this world was more open than ancient times, women's chastity was still highly valued. For a well-bred young lady like her, such an incident could ruin her lifelong happiness and bring disgrace upon the entire Sang family. So why was she acting as if nothing had happened?

Sang Qian's chest rose and fell rapidly, clearly indicating an intense internal struggle.

After a long moment, she took a deep breath. "All right, I'll tell you why: because our Sang family needs to continue its bloodline."

Zu'an: "???"

What was she talking about? He was stunned for a long time.

A blush flashed across Sang Qian's face, but at this point, she couldn't afford to care. "Because my eldest brother died young without leaving any heirs, our Sang family faces the risk of dying out. My father thought the best outcome would be for my sister-in-law to get pregnant, so we could claim the child was my brother's posthumous son. But then, the child born to my sister-in-law wouldn't have the Sang family's bloodline. So, Father arranged for me to take her place, and any child I bear will be publicly declared as my sister-in-law's posthumous son."

Zu'an was utterly bewildered, his eyes wide. Had he really stumbled upon those "wealthy family seeking heirs" schemes from the telephone poles in his previous life?

The key was that this didn't seem to be a scam; he hadn't lost anything and had actually gained a lot.

"So you and your uncle..." Zu'an was cut off before he could finish by a mortified and angry Sang Qian.

"I didn't know about this beforehand; I only found out after last night," Sang Qian said, her eyes red. Tears began to fall sadly as she spoke. "Last night, I was rendered immobile by pressure points and placed there. Who knew you, you scoundrel, couldn't even tell people apart and just charged in regardless of anything!"

Zu'an walked over and offered her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. Sang Qian initially wanted to tell him not to touch her, but feeling the pity in his eyes, she silently took the handkerchief.

"Why did you tell me the truth?" Zu'an sighed.

Sang Qian gradually composed herself. "Although I don't mind deceiving people, I never intended to use my own body to deceive anyone."

There was another reason she didn't state. She had always been resourceful, so how could she not have thought of what her father wanted?

She knew that given Zu'an's sharp mind, he would likely figure it out soon enough. Rather than letting him deduce it, it was better to be clear from the start and foster a good relationship with him.

If her father had personally revealed this matter, it would have damaged the Sang family's reputation and appeared overtly utilitarian and calculating.

But as the victim, she was different. By leveraging his current guilt, telling him wouldn't make him resentful; instead, it would elicit his sympathy.

As expected, as a man, no one could resist a woman's touching tears. He sighed, "About this... I don't know what to say. You've truly been wronged."

He actually wanted to say, "Why keep such a thing a secret? If you had told me directly, I would have been more than willing to help."

However, he knew this situation was not suitable for such remarks.

Sang Qian wiped away her tears. "Alright, now you know the whole story, so there's no need to feel guilty or keep questioning me about this and that."

Seeing that he wanted to say something more, Sang Qian raised her hand to stop him. "If you truly feel some remorse, please promise me to keep this matter confidential. Don't let my sister-in-law or my father know that you're aware of it, so the Sang family can retain its last shred of dignity."

Seeing her eyes well up with tears and filled with pleading, Zu'an could understand her feelings at that moment. After all, this was not a glorious matter, and if it became public, it would be a huge scandal.

"All right, I promise you," Zu'an solemnly vowed.

"Thank you," Sang Qian whispered, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she lowered her head.

"Uh, one last question."

"What?"

"How can you be sure it worked last night?"

Sang Qian's cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip, saying, "I don't know."

She was still too embarrassed to mention that her father had given her a fertility pill; it was too humiliating.

Zu'an was silent for a moment before cautiously suggesting, "Shall we try a few more times?"

"Get out!" A pillow came flying at him in response.

Anger value from Sang Qian: +222 +222 +222...

Zu'an left her room with a smile. Of course, he didn't genuinely have that intention. He had noticed Sang Qian's depressed mood these past two days and was worried she was keeping too much bottled up, so he used this method to let her fully vent.

He made his way to Zheng Dan's room. The servants and maids were already asleep, and with his current cultivation level, he wouldn't disturb them.

"Who's there?" Zheng Dan's sharp voice came from inside the room after he entered.

"It's me." Hearing her voice, Zu'an breathed a sigh of relief. This time, there would be no mistake.

He skillfully slipped into the fragrant bedding. Zheng Dan gently held his mischievous hand, her beautiful eyes shining brightly in the dark. "Did something happen between you and Xiaoqian?"

"Nothing at all," Zu'an thought to himself. He had just promised to keep it a secret, so it wouldn't be right to reveal it and damage her reputation.

"Really? Then why was her attitude towards you so strange today?" Zheng Dan asked, puzzled.

"She's always found me annoying. Maybe she's just upset about our relationship," Zu'an explained with a smile.

"Oh, you've made it so I can't face anyone in the Sang family anymore," Zheng Dan said, embarrassed.

"Actually, you don't need to feel so guilty," Zu'an said meaningfully. "Perhaps they've already tacitly approved of our relationship."

"I also thought both the father and daughter were a bit strange today," Zheng Dan said, looking puzzled. "Given the Sang family's current situation, it's not suitable for an outsider to stay overnight, yet they've been inviting you to stay here these past few days."

"Maybe they want me to help you have a child," Zu'an said, half-jokingly, half-seriously.

"Pfft!" Zheng Dan scoffed. She didn't believe him, of course, but it had been a long time since they had been together, and his words stirred her desires. Her fair arms wrapped around him, gently embracing the man on top of her.

...

A few days passed, and then the imperial court suddenly issued an order: Sang Hong, the Minister of Revenue, was appointed as Imperial Commissioner, and Zu'an, the Crown Prince's Deputy, was to lead the Imperial Guards to ensure the safety of the Commissioner's delegation. Their mission was to travel to Yunzhong Prefecture to appoint a new Duke of Yunzhong and to investigate the disappearance of the former Duke.

As soon as this imperial decree was issued, it caused quite a stir among the various factions in the capital.

At the Prince of Qi's residence, the Prince said to his son, "Zhi'er, go to Yunzhong Prefecture and see if that girl from the Pei family is suitable. If you're satisfied, make her your concubine directly."

Zhao Zhi, the Prince of Qi's heir, was somewhat displeased. "Father, if a common-born daughter from the Pei family wants to climb into our ranks, she should be sent to the capital for me to inspect. Why do I have to go there myself?"

The Prince of Qi frowned, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. "Zhi'er, your answer disappoints me greatly. At a time like this, are you still concerned with women?"

Zhao Zhi's heart jolted, but he was not foolish and quickly reacted. "Is it perhaps related to this Imperial Commissioner?"

The Prince of Qi nodded. "Precisely. Your proposal in Yunzhong Prefecture is merely a cover. In reality, you have another mission. When the time comes, you are to do this and this..."

He then beckoned his son closer and began to whisper into his ear.

After listening, Zhao Zhi's face was filled with shock. "Father, something like this actually exists?"