Chapter 70: Ah Ying, Long Time No See

“Liu Fuying!”

Shen Xiunian’s voice rang out at the courtyard gate, startling the two people inside.

He strode in, his gaze locking onto the person standing opposite Liu Fuying as he approached.

Facing Liu Fuying was none other than Shen Yiliang.

“General Shen.” Seeing Shen Xiunian’s aggressive demeanor, Shen Yiliang could guess the situation. “General, please don’t misunderstand. It’s not what you think.”

“Not what I think?”

Shen Xiunian walked past Liu Fuying and stopped squarely in front of Shen Yiliang, his eyes fixed on him like a hawk’s.

“Why is everyone not going home so late at night?”

His words were strange, but everyone could tell he was implying that Liu Fuying and Shen Yiliang were having a secret rendezvous late at night.

Then, he turned to look at Liu Fuying, as if demanding an explanation.

“General, please listen to my detailed explanation. Actually, Fu…”

Fu?

Fu what, Fuying?

Shen Xiunian frowned, his gaze returning to Shen Yiliang. He thought to himself that these two had already reached such a point—daring to call each other so intimately in front of him without shame. In private, wouldn’t they be embracing each other?

When Shen Yiliang uttered the word “Fu,” Liu Fuying was also surprised.

In the past, at least in front of others, Shen Yiliang would not call her “Sister Fuying.” Today, for some unknown reason, and in front of her husband at that, did he accidentally slip up in his haste?

As she pondered this, Shen Yiliang spoke again.

“Madam and I have nothing between us. Actually, my sister is here too, in the room to the east. Today, Madam helped us a great deal. My sister and nephew were quite frightened, so Madam brought them to the mountains to relax. I only came to escort them and am about to leave now. Please don’t misunderstand Madam. She is the kindest person.”

After speaking, he bowed respectfully to Shen Xiunian.

His final glance at Liu Fuying was filled with concern, which only fueled another wave of anger in Shen Xiunian’s heart.

“Hmph.”

After Shen Yiliang left, Shen Xiunian let out a cold laugh.

Liu Fuying, however, couldn’t be bothered to guess what his laugh meant and turned to enter the room.

Seeing this, Shen Xiunian grew even angrier.

“I’ve said before that as long as you don’t make a scene in public, you can do whatever you want outside. But you two are too careless. This inn is bustling with people. If someone sees an unrelated man entering your courtyard, what will become of the Shen Family’s reputation?”

“…”

Liu Fuying offered no response and was about to step inside.

Her reaction undoubtedly ignited Shen Xiunian’s anger again. He chased after her, reaching out as if to grab her arm.

Unexpectedly, she reacted quickly, sidestepping to avoid him.

She faced Shen Xiunian, exhaling as she looked at his sickly pale face, which appeared even weaker under the moonlight.

“General, your serious injury hasn’t healed yet. Why get so worked up?”

“You ask me why I’m getting worked…”

“Now you accuse me of having no shame, but you’ve long known that I often visit their home. Why didn’t you say back then that my visits were shameless? Didn’t you hear just now? His sister is here. Everyone passing by saw that I invited his sister. He only escorted them here and left immediately. I really don’t know what madness has come over you this time.”

“I…”

“If I’m not mistaken, you came to ask me to return with you. Is this how you ask for a favor?”

“You…”

“General, there is truly no need for such trouble. Go back and sign that divorce agreement. From then on, no matter who I secretly meet or engage in improper affairs with, it will no longer tarnish the reputation of your Shen Family.”

“…”

Shen Xiunian’s face turned ashen, once again left speechless by her retort.

It was always like this—every time, she had the upper hand, and every time, he ended up at a loss in front of her.

Yet she wasn’t wrong. He had long known that Liu Fuying often visited the Shen widow’s house, which naturally meant she couldn’t avoid interacting with that Shen Yiliang.

But the problem lay precisely here: why did it have to be Shen Yiliang and not someone else?

Wasn’t it because Shen Yiliang resembled Pei Zhouwu?

He hadn’t mentioned it before because Pei Zhouwu was far away, unable to see her again.

Now, his sudden outburst was because Pei Zhouwu was right here, and in his heart…

“Do you still… hold feelings for Pei Zhouwu in your heart?” Shen Xiunian, after restraining himself repeatedly, finally asked.

Liu Fuying’s expression turned cold. Tonight’s Shen Xiunian was truly not himself.

His sudden intense hostility toward Shen Yiliang, and abruptly bringing up Pei Zhouwu—whom they had agreed never to mention again—what was going on? Had he gone to the battlefield to kill enemies only to find Pei Zhouwu there? Who knew what had provoked him? He was truly unwell.

“If…” he began again.

“If we truly divorce, and if you happen to meet Pei Zhouwu again, would you go with him?”

“Shen Xiunian.” Liu Fuying sighed heavily, her head throbbing painfully. “If you’re unwell, go take medicine and see a doctor. Don’t bother me with such nonsense.”

“I will not divorce!”

These words, Shen Xiunian uttered with absolute resolve.

But immediately after, his gaze flickered as if evading something, and he specifically added, “Don’t forget the agreement we made at our wedding. Now that the entire Shen Family’s estate is under your control, you must also fulfill your own promises.”

“…”

Liu Fuying still felt that today’s Shen Xiunian was filled with peculiarities from start to finish.

“Liu Fuying, I promise you: from now on, as long as I am home, I will treat Xi Nian and Xiyun well. I will never let them suffer grievances like this afternoon again. And I ask you to remember your responsibilities. If you have no objections, I will go back now and relay this to Mother, lest she stir up trouble again.”

Seeing no objection from Liu Fuying, he understood and turned around, leaving even faster than he had arrived.

On the surface, it seemed he didn’t want to look at Liu Fuying any longer or waste words with her, but in reality, no one noticed the guilty, fleeing look in his eyes as he escaped.

His swift, wind-like steps gradually slowed after leaving the courtyard, as if he had lost his soul.

Earlier, when he saw Liu Fuying and Shen Yiliang standing together, he had been momentarily dazed. For an instant, he had even mistaken it for Pei Zhouwu facing her.

In the end, the person he minded was still Pei Zhouwu.

Yet he couldn’t quite understand why he minded Pei Zhouwu so much. Was it simply because he resented his own foolishness in once sympathizing with an adulterer?

Regardless, Pei Zhouwu was simply not acceptable!

…

Kong Linyu got up several times during the night, and each time he could still see the candlelight burning in Pei Zhouwu’s room.

Several times he wanted to knock on the door, but each time he held back.

Recalling the earlier scenes, he had asked Pei Zhouwu while bandaging his hand injury, but Pei Zhouwu had refused to say anything. Asking again now would likely yield the same result. Scratching his head, he dared not disturb him and could only return to his room.

The next day, Pei Zhouwu left early in the morning.

He went to find the owner of the hot spring inn and handed over the drawings he had worked on all night.

“I think the hot spring from last night is extremely spacious, so let’s build it there.”

The innkeeper glanced at Pei Zhouwu, then frowned at the blueprint with a troubled expression, until Pei Zhouwu took out a gold ingot.

“Young master is truly generous.”

“Can it be built?”

“Yes, with extra manpower, of course it can.”

“How long?”

“At least five days.”

“Two days.”

“…Alright, if you say two days, then two days it is.”

The innkeeper happily accepted the gold and carefully examined the blueprint Pei Zhouwu had given him. The paper depicted two bamboo houses, with their size, interior and exterior structures, and the placement of tables, chairs, and beds all clearly drawn.

Exactly the same as the bamboo houses in the Xiangshan prison in Shangjing City.

The construction had to be carried out in secret, and Pei Zhouwu gave detailed instructions one by one.

Having drawn the blueprint all night, it seemed to have aggravated the injury to his hand, as even the gauze wrapped around his fingers was stained with blood.

After returning to his own guest room, he shut himself in for two days.

During this time, Kong Linyu reported multiple times about Liu Fuying. Though he didn’t know the reason, he paid careful attention to the matter.

On the second day after that night, the Old Madam of the Shen Family also arrived at the hot spring inn, reportedly planning to stay for three to five days.

Upon hearing the news, Pei Zhouwu had already made up his mind.

For these two days, there had been no unusual movements from Liu Fuying’s side, indicating that Xi Nian hadn’t revealed that she had seen him that night. She was a good child who kept her promises.

In the blink of an eye, the two-day deadline arrived.

The innkeeper personally came to deliver the message, saying the bamboo house on the Back Mountain was completed.

Pei Zhouwu finally stepped outside, the sunlight dispelling the gloom that had settled over him during his two days of seclusion.

“A Ying.”

“It’s been so long—how could I not give you a surprise?”