Chapter 115: Shen Zhifeng Misunderstands the News of a Child

Pearl and Yicui had both been granted time off by Shen Qingyun, so the two of them went to the street together to join in the excitement.

General Han was required to report the situation at the border to the Emperor upon his return to the capital, so he would not be arriving at the manor until later.

"Miss, Madam, the sight was truly awe-inspiring! There were so many soldiers and warhorses that it felt as if the very ground was shaking as they marched by," Yicui said, her face still filled with the memory.

"Indeed, indeed! The old General rode at the front, draped in a silver-white war cloak—he looked so majestic. And Prince Li! He made all the ladies and madams along the way stare until their eyes were wide open!" Pearl chimed in, eager to describe the scene.

Yicui nudged the exuberant Pearl with her elbow. Pearl blinked, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Though, Prince Li wouldn't look at anyone. His face looked like it could freeze into shards of ice."

Shen Qingyun shot them a playful glare. "That’s enough. Go and see if the main kitchen has everything ready."

"Yes, Miss." The two maids laughed and withdrew together.

Shen Qingyun looked at her mother beside her and couldn't help but tease, "Mother, you’ve been absent-minded since this morning. Are you thinking about General Xiao Jue?"

Han Rou’s face flushed. She turned and tapped Shen Qingyun on the head. "You little imp, speaking nonsense! I’m going to the gate to check again. Why haven't they returned yet?"

Amused, Shen Qingyun followed her to the gate.

The two women watched anxiously several times until dusk, when a guard finally came running over, panting, "Madam, Miss, the Great General has returned! He is only two streets away!"

Upon hearing this, Han Rou sprang up from her chair. "Quick, Qingyun, come with me to the gate to welcome your grandfather."

The two walked quickly to the entrance. Shen Qingyun nervously smoothed her dress and stared unblinkingly toward the street corner.

As the old General’s figure on his warhorse appeared at the end of the street, Han Rou’s eyes welled up with tears, and she hurriedly ordered the servants to light the firecrackers.

The crisp crackle of firecrackers broke the quiet of the sky. The old General swung down from his horse and strode toward them.

Han Rou and Shen Qingyun bowed respectfully. "Father, Grandfather, you have returned."

General Han pulled them both up. He stared at Han Rou for a long moment, seeing the tears in her eyes, and his gaze softened. "You are a mother yourself now; why are you still acting like such a child?"

Han Rou wiped the corners of her eyes in embarrassment and hurriedly pulled Shen Qingyun forward. "Father, this is Qingyun."

General Han stroked his beard and began to observe Shen Qingyun closely.

The young girl before him bore a seven-part resemblance to the young Han Rou. Dressed in an orange-red *ruqun* with a front-opening jacket, she already displayed a peerless beauty despite her youth. Her demeanor was calm, and her clear eyes held a look of admiration that softened the old General’s heart.

"Good child, good child. Come, let’s not stand at the gate. Let’s go inside the manor first."

"Yes."

Han Rou beamed, her eyes crinkling, and hurried off to instruct the staff to serve the meal.

The three of them dined together. The General's manor was not bound by many rigid rules, and they chatted as they ate, enjoying the harmonious atmosphere of a normal family.

Shen Qingyun stayed at the General's manor that night. She recalled that in her previous life, General Han had suffered severe injuries and remained at the border to recover instead of returning to the capital. Things were much better now.

She slept soundly, but the next day, when she saw Han Rou, she noticed her eyes were red and swollen.

Shen Qingyun quietly asked Nanny Chen, who served Han Rou. The nanny sighed, "In the past, General Xiao Jue would always come to the Han manor for meals. He didn't come yesterday, and when we asked the Great General, we learned that General Xiao Jue had suffered a leg injury. He likely won't return to the capital until he has recovered. Madam is worried."

A leg injury? Shen Qingyun was stunned. In her previous life, General Han had suffered a leg injury. How could this be?

Her heart trembled violently. She hurriedly asked if the injury was serious. Fortunately, Nanny Chen replied, "The General said that while he shouldn't move around for now, he should recover in a month or two. Don't worry, Miss."

Shen Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief. She intended to comfort Han Rou, but to her surprise, she found that her mother had already composed herself and was managing the household affairs in an orderly fashion.

Han Rou seemed to have changed. It wasn't a sudden, earth-shattering shift, but she was visibly becoming stronger and more steady.

Nanny Chen noticed it too. She smiled and said to Shen Qingyun, "Madam really is different from before. A while ago, the Duke came to the manor to find her several times, and she had him thrown out directly."

Shen Qingyun frowned upon hearing this. Shen Zhifeng, instead of appeasing his beautiful concubines, actually had the audacity to harass her mother. It seemed he was far too idle.

Once she returned to the Duke’s manor, she summoned Hanyu. "Find a way to let Shen Zhifeng know about the business regarding the Marchioness of Jiang."

Hanyu nodded. Thus, while Shen Zhifeng was out picking up medicine, he unintentionally overheard people gossiping that the Marchioness of Jiang had gone out to buy abortifacients.

Shen Zhifeng was stunned. Abortifacients?

Could it be that the Marchioness of Jiang was carrying his child, yet she hadn't told him and intended to secretly get rid of it!

Shen Zhifeng’s heart could no longer remain calm. After the death of Shen Minglei, he had always wanted another son. Hearing this news so suddenly, he was overjoyed. He immediately sent a message to the Marchioness of Jiang and arranged to meet her in secret.

The Marchioness of Jiang had originally intended to head to the countryside estate, so she decided to see Shen Zhifeng first.

Upon meeting, Shen Zhifeng grabbed her wrist in excitement and asked urgently, "Are you pregnant?"

"How do you know?" The Marchioness of Jiang’s head buzzed, the words escaping her lips before she could stop them. Her face turned deathly pale. How could he know? Did he know about Shi Shaohua and come to confront her?

But she wasn't his wife. Even if she was carrying another man's child, it shouldn't be his place to be angry!

Before the Marchioness of Jiang could retort, Shen Zhifeng began to stroke her stomach with fervor. "This is my child, right? You cannot get rid of him. You cannot get rid of him."

The Marchioness of Jiang’s expression worsened. She realized with a jolt that Shen Zhifeng had misunderstood, but she knew she could not explain that this was actually another man’s child. After all, Shen Zhifeng did not yet know about Shi Shaohua.

In Shen Zhifeng’s eyes, this might be his only chance. If it were a son, he would have an heir.

Ever since he had been poisoned with the sterility-inducing drug, his body had never fully recovered. He had been relying on stimulants, which only provided temporary relief and created a vicious cycle.

"Weiwei, I know this is selfish, but please, bear him in secret, will you? As long as you give birth to him, I will find a way to change his identity and adopt him into the manor. The Duke’s manor will belong to our son!"

Seeing the Marchioness of Jiang remain silent, Shen Zhifeng, fearing she might still abort the child, urged her desperately.