Chapter 115: A Bond Sealed (3)

The torrential rain showed no signs of stopping, and the night remained deep and dark.

The Fu family’s estate was not far from the Qi clan’s main residence. Like the Qi household, it was a grand mansion with towering gates and deep courtyards, exuding an air of opulence and prestige.

On this stormy night, however, a carriage silently arrived at the back gate of the Fu estate. It had barely stopped when a cloaked figure emerged, their face hidden beneath the hood, unwilling to reveal their identity.

No sooner had the figure stepped down than the back gate of the Fu estate opened on its own. A maid holding an umbrella stood waiting, bowed to the visitor, and then turned to lead them inside.

The visitor followed the maid with familiarity, weaving through the many buildings and pavilions of the Fu estate until they reached the entrance of an inconspicuous small building. Upon looking up, they saw that the lintel bore no inscription—it was unnamed.

The maid turned to bow to the visitor once more before silently retreating. The visitor glanced around to confirm they were alone, then pushed the door open and entered.

Inside, there was no one. The dim lighting created a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere, with faint traces of floral and cosmetic scents lingering in the air.

The visitor moved further into the inner chamber, only to find the bed empty. Just as they hesitated, a woman’s flirtatious laughter rang out, followed by arms wrapping around them from behind. The woman teased, “Coming so late and drenched in rain—what do you intend to do to me?”

With that, she pulled off the visitor’s cloak, revealing their true identity.

It was none other than Yang Dong.

Moments ago, he had been pale with fear under the sword of the Second Young Master Qi. But now, here he was, exuding charm and confidence. As soon as the cloak was removed, he turned and pulled the woman into a full embrace, tilting her chin and grinning. “Such foul weather, yet I still came for you, all because I missed you so much. But if you’re going to tease me like this, then I’ll leave.”

In the dim light, the woman’s face became visible. She was a middle-aged woman, perhaps around forty, heavily made-up. At first glance, she appeared strikingly beautiful, but upon closer inspection, her age and sharp features betrayed her. Her eyebrows were thin and arched, her eyes slanted upward, giving her an austere and unkind appearance—not particularly attractive.

However, her looks were irrelevant. What mattered was her identity. If Shen Xiling had been in this room at this moment, she would have immediately recognized the woman: she was Fu Zhen, the former wife of Shen Qian, Shen Xiling’s father.

Shen Xiling had only met this lady once—the time she led people into the courtyard where Shen Xiling and her mother resided and beat them. After that incident, neither Shen Qian nor Shen Xiling’s mother brought it up again, and the matter was left unresolved. Thus, Shen Xiling had never known that her father’s legitimate wife was the daughter of the Fu family and, by relation, also the aunt of Princess Consort Fu Rong, the fourth prince’s wife.

Three years ago, the downfall of the Shen family resulted in the execution of all male members and the exile of the women. However, given Fu Zhen’s noble lineage as a member of the Four Great Families, the Fus could not bear to see her suffer. They secretly swapped her identity and spirited her away, hiding her in an unnamed small building within the estate, where she lived in seclusion, never stepping foot outside.

Yang Dong’s earlier address of her as “Sister-in-law” was not without reason. His real name was Shen Cheng, the illegitimate younger brother of Shen Qian, the former Minister of Planning.

To understand the relationship between Yang Dong and Sister-in-law Fu Zhen, one must delve into a few details.

Twenty years ago, the Shen and Fu families arranged a marriage alliance, with the Fu family marrying their eldest daughter, Fu Zhen, to Shen Qian. However, rumors circulated that Shen Qian had already privately pledged his heart to a young woman from the Wei family of Langya. Shen Qian himself strongly opposed the arranged marriage and refused to consent.

Upon hearing this, the Fu family naturally grew dissatisfied and confronted the Shen family. As a prestigious household, the Shen family would not allow the Wei woman to enter their gates. They promised to give the Fu family an explanation. Eventually, through unknown means, they managed to subdue their son and finalize the marriage alliance. The wedding ceremony was celebrated widely, becoming a celebrated tale in Jiankang.

However, Shen Qian’s heart already belonged to another. Though he was forced to marry Fu Zhen under pressure, their marriage was strained from the start.

In his youth, Shen Qian was renowned as a handsome man in Jiankang. Even Princess Zhaohe, the sister of Emperor Liang, sought to marry him. Combined with his extraordinary demeanor and exceptional talent, Fu Zhen quickly fell for him, yearning for a passionate relationship.

But alas, her feelings were unreciprocated. Consumed by loneliness, Fu Zhen eventually found solace in the arms of Shen Qian’s younger brother, Shen Cheng.

Shen Cheng, though undervalued by the family due to his low birth, proved to be a shrewd businessman. His sharp mind and ruthless tactics allowed him to carve out a successful career, earning the favor of the Shen family elders and gradually taking over many of the family’s business ventures.

When Shen Qian discovered the affair between Fu Zhen and Shen Cheng, he felt little attachment to Fu Zhen due to his lingering affection for Wei. Feeling indebted to her as his nominal wife, he chose not to expose the affair to the elders of both families. Later, when Fu Zhen became pregnant with Shen Cheng’s child, Shen Qian remained indifferent. By then, he had grown disillusioned with the family and cared little about succession. He even offered to acknowledge the child as his own, provided Fu Zhen ceased her mistreatment of Wei and Shen Xiling.

Fu Zhen harbored resentment toward Shen Qian for his coldness but continued her illicit relationship with Shen Cheng, indulging in hedonistic pursuits. Over time, she succumbed to the allure of Wushi Powder , spiraling deeper into depravity. Together, she and Shen Cheng had two children.

A few years later, disaster struck the Shen family. In the blink of an eye, their dynasty crumbled, and both men and women of the family suffered greatly. Fu Zhen and Shen Cheng’s children, considered part of the Shen family’s legitimate line, were closely scrutinized. Their son was executed, and their daughter died of illness in prison.

Yet, the deaths of her children brought Fu Zhen little grief. She did not love Shen Cheng, and these children were merely the result of fleeting pleasures fueled by Wushi Powder . They served as constant reminders of her own downfall, and though she mourned briefly, she soon felt nothing.

Though Fu Zhen was now a shadow of her former self, she remained the beloved daughter of the Fu family. Her mother, unwilling to see her exiled, went to great lengths to rescue her and hide her within the estate, effectively saving her life.

But the story did not end there.

Shen Cheng, ever the opportunist, foresaw the impending doom of the Shen family and sought refuge with Fu Zhen. While professing his undying love for her, he also pledged allegiance to the Fu family, offering to seize control of the Shen family’s remaining commercial assets.

Though Fu Zhen did not truly love Shen Cheng, their long-standing relationship and shared children meant they had a deep bond. She pleaded on his behalf to the Fu family elders.

The elders cared little about the fate of their daughter’s lover but were intrigued by the prospect of acquiring the Shen family’s influence. Fu Hong, the third eldest uncle of Fu Zhen and the current Third Elder of the Fu family, had long heard of Shen Cheng’s capabilities and decided to vouch for him. Through great effort, they spared his life, changed his name, and gave him a new identity. Thus, Shen Cheng officially “died,” and the world gained a new figure: Yang Dong, the steward.

This tangled web of deceit and intrigue still had repercussions.

After being rescued and brought back home, Fu Zhen grew even more debauched. Besides Yang Dong, her longtime lover, she kept several young men for her amusement. Yang Dong was much the same. Neither husband nor mistress, their relationship defied convention, yet remained deeply intertwined after all these years.

At this moment, Fu Zhen pouted. “That’s ancient history. Why call me ‘Sister-in-law’? You’re just mocking me.”

She seemed displeased and attempted to push Yang Dong away, but he chuckled and pulled her back into his arms, planting a kiss on her. “It was just a joke. Why get so upset?”

Fu Zhen shot him a glare and sniffed but did not press the matter further.

Yang Dong smiled and asked, “Why are you here so late tonight? Did something happen?”

On any other day, Yang Dong would have evaded the question with some witty banter to avoid appearing desperate. But tonight, the memory of Qi Yin’s sword and piercing gaze haunted him, leaving him no room for such distractions. He simply nodded and asked, “Zhen-er… do you know if Third Elder has any ties with the Second Young Master of the Qi family?”

Fu Zhen initially snorted, as if mocking Yang Dong for coming only when he needed something. But upon closer inspection of his words, her brows furrowed. “The Second Young Master of the Qi family? That young chancellor?”

Yang Dong nodded gravely.

Fu Zhen studied him carefully. “You’ve offended him?”

Yang Dong avoided her gaze, embarrassment flickering in his eyes. He said nothing.

Fu Zhen, who had known him for years and borne him two children, understood him better than anyone. Seeing his expression, she deduced not only had he wronged the rising star Qi Yin, but the offense likely involved some scandalous affair.

Fu Zhen’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “You touched someone important to him?”

Yang Dong, realizing she had seen through him, knew better than to deny it lest she refuse to help him. He admitted reluctantly, venting his frustration. “I’m not reckless. With the Qi family at the height of their power and the Second Young Master ascending rapidly, how could I possibly provoke trouble intentionally? It’s just that he hid his little darling too well—I misjudged the situation and thought there was no connection between them. Who could have predicted…”

Yang Dong sighed regretfully and fell silent.

By this point, Fu Zhen understood everything. She realized Yang Dong had crossed a line by laying hands on someone dear to the Second Young Master Qi.

Her eyes blazed with anger. “Have you lost your mind? That Second Young Master Qi is at the peak of his influence. Even my brother wouldn’t dare offend him lightly, and yet you had the audacity to touch someone close to him!”

Yang Dong bristled at Fu Zhen’s reprimand, feeling a twinge of resentment. As a merchant, he shouldn’t have been privy to the intricate relationships surrounding the young master. His misjudgment stemmed from information passed along by the Fu family—that the Fourth Prince Consort Fu informed them Qi Yin’s engagement to Princess Six was set, and the girl, Fang Yun, would soon be married off. Believing this, Yang Dong acted accordingly, only to discover the information was false, leaving him entangled in this mess.

Fuming with anger, Yang Dong dared not lash out at Fu Zhen. Instead, he groveled and appeased her until her expression softened slightly.

Truthfully, Fu Zhen wasn’t genuinely angry. Though Qi Yin was formidable, he was still a junior in their circle of influential families. Any major issue could be smoothed over with enough effort. Moreover, Yang Dong had merely offended one of Qi Yin’s playthings—hardly worth much consideration. Could Qi Yin really afford to offend the Fu family over such a trivial matter?

Fu Zhen didn’t take the incident too seriously. Instead, she teased Yang Dong, smirking. “How old are you now? To lose control and touch someone else’s plaything? Was the girl extraordinarily beautiful or exceptionally seductive to bewitch you so?”

Her words stirred Yang Dong’s thoughts.

Though young, the girl possessed an exquisite figure and stunning beauty, especially the red mole between her brows—a feature so enchanting it seemed almost otherworldly. Today, though unsuccessful, he had touched her delicate hand and kissed her neck—a soft, fragrant experience that left him entranced.

However, Yang Dong dared not share these thoughts with Fu Zhen. Coughing lightly, he laughed awkwardly. “It wasn’t losing my mind—it was just casual fun…”

Fu Zhen snorted and fixed him with a half-teasing, half-serious stare. “Tell me, what’s the girl’s name? What does she look like? How does she compare to me?”

Hearing this, Yang Dong realized Fu Zhen was jealous. To avoid offending her, he fabricated a vague response. “She’s a young girl named Fang Yun—nothing extraordinary. How could she compare to your beauty, Zhen-er? You should know—I only have eyes for you…”

Fu Zhen didn’t believe his lies, but she enjoyed the flattery nonetheless, revealing a pleased smile. Scolding him playfully, she said, “Save your sweet talk. Your oily tongue is just trying to get me to plead with Third Uncle to save you, isn’t it? Do you think I can’t see through you?”

Yang Dong continued to chuckle nervously, denying her accusation. Fu Zhen paid no further attention, mentally noting the name “Fang Yun.” Dismissing the matter casually, she said, “Alright, alright. Tomorrow, I’ll go plead with Third Uncle on your behalf. With his protection, even someone as powerful as Qi Yin will have to give our Fu family face.”

Overjoyed, Yang Dong showered Fu Zhen with compliments and flirtatious remarks, making her laugh uncontrollably.

In the dimly lit, unnamed building, the air was filled with subtle fragrances. They talked and laughed for a while before, taking advantage of the lingering effects of Wushi Powder, they tumbled into bed together once more.