Chapter 504: Chapter 501: Don’t Make a Sound—Is This Dignified?

The sky turned dark, and as dusk fell, the ancestral hall at Duke Shun Mansion was dimly lit by candlelight, which cast cold shadows on the lacquered memorial tablets.

Ning Suxuan tore page after page from the scripture she had been copying by hand and threw them into a copper basin.

The flames leapt up, licking the pages.

"I forgot to mention, Duke Zhongyong’s legitimate son got married a while back."

"They have only this one son, so the ceremony was grand, with half of Shangjing’s officials coming to celebrate. That night, Duke Zhongyong, drunk after the festivities, reminisced about you."

"After your accident, he spent years trying countless ways to solve the unfinished chess game you left, yet every move felt like strangling the last slim thread of hope."

Her fingertips hovered in the air, hesitant to fall.

"They say chess is like life; he always thought this endgame had no solution."

"Yet on the day Gui Zhi played, a white piece moved half an inch before his eyes, revealing a flaw. It seemed a black piece could revive the entire board, only for the next moment to plunge it deeper into a deathtrap."

Her tone was calm, as if she were discussing common affairs.

"Duke Zhongyong regrets never drinking with you again."

"I also have regrets."

"When Gui Zhi got married, our elders weren’t around."

"Though my daughter-in-law doesn’t mention it and doesn’t feel wronged, I always feel we let her down."

Ning Suxuan, wearing a mismatched male-style ring, lightly touched the cold inscriptions on the memorial tablet, and ashes from the incense drifted onto her plain robe, reminiscent of the paper money fluttering in the funeral hall years ago.

She murmured softly.

"When you left, you said Da Jin would have a wise ruler. Now Gui Zhi wants to take on this task."

"Husband..."

"Protect him at all costs."

"Don’t let him... follow in your footsteps."

As the last of the scriptures burned to ashes, silence suddenly descended upon the shrine.

A breeze passed by, causing the candlelight to sway.

Ning Suxuan lifted her eyes.

She saw a wisp of blue smoke rising, curling and lingering, as if silently responding to an old friend.

Leaving the ancestral hall, Ning Suxuan returned directly to the main courtyard.

"Hasn’t Gui Zhi returned yet?"

"Madam, the General returned an hour ago. The Young Madam personally went to the kitchen to hurry the meal."

Ning Suxuan nodded slightly.

"However..."

Ning Suxuan paused her steps: "What’s the matter?"

"Some of the nourishing dishes, after being served, had little of the warm soup left."

It was unusual for Gui Zhi, who disliked soup.

Ning Suxuan frowned deeply.

Could he be injured?

Every time he returned triumphant from the border, unless the wounds were visible on his face, neck, or hands, he never mentioned any other discomfort.

Having been away for several days, and with last night’s darkness, she couldn’t detect anything.

Ning Suxuan couldn’t shake her concern: "I’ll go check on him."

Inside the room.

The lights were bright.

Yu Tingwan’s face was flushed as she struggled to cling to the man’s shoulder.

She felt dazed and covered in sweat, unable to hold on as gravity pulled her down, only to be pushed back up by him, holding her waist tightly.

"I..."

Weary and annoyed, she let out a soft whimper, her toes tensing tightly.

Wei Zhao: "Don’t talk."

Yu Tingwan was about to protest.

"Mother is here."

Yu Tingwan: ???

Guilt flashed across her eyes, but she heard no noise from outside after a while and thought Wei Zhao was deceiving her.

She couldn’t take it anymore, as Wei Zhao was too intense this time, and it lasted long, perhaps provoked by her, he started without much foreplay.

Initially uncomfortable.

But soon, the body’s response couldn’t be denied.

She couldn’t stop trembling.

The corners of her eyes glistened with tears, and her pale arms weakly pressed against him.

Then Ning Suxuan knocked on the door.

"Gui Zhi."

Clearly, with the door locked, it couldn’t just be opened.

Yet, for the first time, Yu Tingwan felt a hot flush of shame, not daring to move.

The feeling was indescribable.

But the intrusion he caused couldn’t be ignored; it was too intense.

She held her breath, barely daring to breathe.

But Wei Zhao had no concerns, lifting her up by the waist.

This posture.

Her pupils shrank as she clamped her hand over her mouth.

Afraid the person outside might realize what they were doing.

This feeling, just like being on the verge of being caught having an illicit liaison, was too scandalous.

Trained as a martial artist, Wei Zhao moved silently, unhurriedly carrying her to the washroom.

With his movements, Yu Tingwan rested her burning face against his neck.

"Go out!"

The culprit whispered into her ear in a barely audible voice.

And quite maliciously.

"Shh."

"Not a sound, don’t you want to keep this discreet?"

Yu Tingwan: ???

Damn it.

After a moment of not hearing anything from inside, Ning Suxuan said.

"Madam, perhaps the General is already asleep."

No, she knew her son well.

Any unusual noise would alert him. There’s no way he wouldn’t respond.

And Yu Tingwan isn’t the type to go to bed early.

At this hour, she should be lounging in the courtyard on the golden rocking chair, eating bird’s nest soup, and asking if she wanted a bowl.

Ning Suxuan chuckled: "I suppose he thought she was bored stuck at home and took her out."

Yu Tingwan didn’t know how she managed to survive that night.

She didn’t dare to curse loudly.

Nor had the strength to punch Wei Zhao hard.

After he cleaned her up and laid her on the soft bed, she turned her back to Wei Zhao, not even wanting to look at him.

Wei Zhao, undeterred, turned her back around.

Yu Tingwan endured the soreness, slowly managing to turn back to face the wall.

Her shoulder was gently tugged, and Wei Zhao turned her again.

Yu Tingwan turned, and he continued to turn her.

Neither spoke, and after several rounds...

She couldn’t turn anymore.

As the firelight flickered, it cast a faint red mist over the canopy, enveloping the two who lay facing each other, casting a hazy reflection on the brocade.

Yu Tingwan’s hair was half-loose, the tear mole at her eye’s corner stark in the candlelight. The bedding lay piled at her waist, revealing a snow-white neck.

She felt there was something she had overlooked.

But she couldn’t recall it.

He leaned back on the pillow, propping his head with one hand, the other entwining a stray strand of her hair.

"Continue?"

He asked.

Yu Tingwan uttered two words: "Taunting?"

Wei Zhao: "I thought you liked it."

Like hell I do!

I clearly don’t want to see you!

She informed him: "You’re done for."

Wei Zhao: "I heard you."

It’s been a while since taking a beating, he’s strangely nostalgic.

Yu Tingwan: ???

Wei Zhao was considerate, knowing she was tired.

He pulled her into his arms: "Sleep now."

Build up energy.

Wei Zhao: "Tomorrow, I’ll be waiting."

Yu Tingwan was stuck, unable to voice her frustration. Her expression was blank, but she couldn’t hide the traces of the rouge from earlier.

"Don’t be smug."

It lacked any intimidation.

Wei Zhao chuckled: "Thirsty?"

After all, she had shed quite a bit of tears.

She was thirsty as he mentioned it.

Yu Tingwan: "Yes."

Wei Zhao: "Where’s the Deer Blood Wine?"

Yu Tingwan: ???

He slowly sat up, eyes reflecting the flickering fire like a restless beast.

"I’ll pour you a cup."

Hearing the words Deer Blood Wine made Yu Tingwan tense all over, especially there.

"No... no need."

Wei Zhao: "Why so nervous?"

"I’m not the one drinking it."