Chapter 21 Why Hadn’t She Thought of Borrowing a Seed to Have a Child?…

Chapter 21

She had never considered conceiving a child through another man...

The Wei residence was silent late at night. Pang Shi had already retired, and with none of her attendants standing guard, Zhu Yinluan felt a slight easing of tension.

The gatekeeper, dozing by the stone pedestal with arms crossed, startled awake at Zhu Yinluan’s arrival and quickly opened the gate. Seeing him shivering from the cold, she instructed someone to bring him a blanket.

She also reminded Ming Ya to urge the storeroom to quickly prepare winter coats for the maids and servants. If they waited until the cold snap arrived, the capital would be caught unprepared, and she didn’t want anyone to suffer from the cold.

Back in her courtyard, after a quick wash, Zhu Yinluan collapsed onto the bed, feeling utterly drained. Though physically exhausted, she felt an odd sense of relief.

Her mind became clearer as she recalled her recent encounter with Shen Jingzhan and the words he had spoken.

Why should one be troubled by the opinions of others? Is that not merely inviting vexation?

Yes, he was right.

Beyond that, she couldn’t help but recall his familiar, gentle profile bathed in the candlelight.

This sense of familiarity... In truth, she had felt it every time she met Shen Jingzhan before.

But... but what?

Had she seen Shen Jingzhan before? It didn’t seem so.

Lost in thought, Zhu Yinluan gradually drifted into sleep.

This time, she began dreaming again—a dream much like the ones before.

After a few days’ respite, it returned, leaving her dazed. The dream fragments were nearly identical to what she had dreamed previously: she was speaking to a man whose face was indistinct. The lingering effects of the medicine left her in a heavy slumber, and she couldn’t discern what was being said.

Later, the scene shifted into an intensely vivid dream.

At first, she felt a burning heat, and the man beside her soothed her. When she began to weep softly, he pulled her close, initially just to wipe away her tears.

Zhu Yinluan couldn’t pinpoint when it happened, but his fingertips, which had been drying her tears, were replaced by his lips.

He no longer wiped her tears—instead, he kissed them away.

His kisses rained down on her face, followed by the same passionate embrace beneath the brocade quilt she had dreamed of before.

He gripped her slender waist, moving her body this way and that.

The dream felt so real that Zhu Yinluan was completely immersed.

Even the moment he held her waist and released himself within her, she was overwhelmed by his scorching heat.

It was this sensation that abruptly woke her.

Breathing heavily, she realized the sky was still dark.

Tonight, it was Jiao Hui on night duty. Hearing Zhu Yinluan’s sounds, she immediately entered.

“Miss, are you all right?” she asked, referring to the effects of the medicine.

“I’m fine...” Zhu Yinluan’s voice came out hoarse.

Jiao Hui hurried to fetch her a cup of hot tea and helped her sit up to drink.

“Miss, that medicine is strong and may have harmed your health. If you...”

Before she could finish, she placed a small porcelain bottle beside Zhu Yinluan.

“What is this?” Zhu Yinluan asked.

“Medicine that can make you appear sickly but won’t actually harm you,” Jiao Hui explained.

“How do you have something like this?” Zhu Yinluan questioned.

“I didn’t know you’d need such medicine before,” Jiao Hui said, explaining that while living on the streets to make ends meet, she had dabbled in some shady dealings. This was from that time—though old, it was still effective.

Zhu Yinluan hesitated only briefly before accepting the bottle.

Unable to sleep, she asked Jiao Hui from behind the bed curtains whether, during her time living on the streets, she had heard anything about Shen Jingzhan—specifically, about his past.

The curtains obscured her view, so Zhu Yinluan didn’t see the brief change in expression that crossed Jiao Hui’s face at the mention of Shen Jingzhan, which she quickly hid.

“I have only heard the same rumors as everyone else.”

“They say Heir Shen is a man of extraordinary talent, an exceptional man. Beyond that, nothing else.”

“No whispers about his past at all?” Zhu Yinluan pressed.

Jiao Hui shook her head. “I truly don’t know.”

Zhu Yinluan sighed but found it reasonable. How could outsiders easily know about Shen Jingzhan’s affairs?

“Rest now.” She asked no further, and Jiao Hui exhaled inwardly in relief.

“...”

While the Wei household enjoyed temporary peace, the Shen residence’s lights were still on.

Lady Shen had woken when the wind rose at night and inquired about Shen Jingzhan’s whereabouts, only to learn he had just returned.

When she asked the servants where he had gone, they said they didn’t know. Asked where he had returned from, they still said they didn’t know.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know—they simply didn’t dare say.

Laughing coldly, Lady Shen ordered someone to send for Shen Jingzhan.

At first, he refused, saying it was late and there was nothing urgent to bother her.

Knowing his temperament, Lady Shen sent word that if he didn’t come, she would go to him herself.

Shen Jingzhan could have simply left, but if the old lady was displeased, she would make a scene the next day.

The man arrived belatedly and bowed respectfully.

Lady Shen didn’t invite him to sit. After a long pause, she asked, “Where have you been so late?”

Shen Jingzhan smiled faintly, avoiding the question. “Has Grandmother’s health improved?”

“Hmph...” Lady Shen scoffed disdainfully. “Whether my health is good or not, shouldn’t you know best?”

“Grandmother talks cryptically. This grandson doesn’t understand.” He kept his handsome face calm, his smile unchanged.

Lady Shen frowned at his calm manner, frustrated. To the outside world, the Shen family was perfect—especially this first grandson of hers, who topped the list of the capital’s young nobles, outshining even both the late marquess and the current one in talent.

But who would have thought that Shen Jingzhan was also troublesome? It had been so long, yet he was still unmarried and childless. He seldom set foot in the marquis’s residence, having moved out long ago. Even meeting him was a challenge—sometimes, even sending people to find him proved futile.

"Are you truly ignorant, or just pretending?" the Dowager Shen pressed again.

"Your grandson truly doesn’t understand," he replied.

Seeing him play dumb, the Dowager Shen got straight to the point. "If you would just agree to marry and have children, my health would improve."

Shen Jingzhan remained silent, prompting the Dowager to snap, "When exactly do you plan to wed and start a family? You must give a clear answer—you can’t keep putting this off forever!"

What was even more infuriating was that he never stopped his family from matchmaking for him, yet once a candidate was chosen, he would vanish. After repeated disappointments, the Dowager Shen could no longer bear to flip through the list of noble daughters in the capital or send matchmakers, afraid others might say the Shen family was acting high and mighty and toying with people’s expectations.

Just when she thought Shen Jingzhan would maintain his silence to the end, he unexpectedly gave a definitive answer: "No later than late spring next year."

The Dowager Shen almost thought she misheard. Exchanging a glance with the maidservant beside her, she narrowed her eyes at him and asked, "Truly?"

"Would your grandson lie to you, Grandmother?"

"I wouldn’t put it past you!" Though he had given his word, the Dowager Shen still worried he might be playing for time—what if this was just a ploy?

"Since I’ve said it, I naturally won’t lie to you, Grandmother."

"Wait—" The Dowager Shen sensed something amiss. She repeated, "Late spring next year…" That was barely three or four months away. Time would fly, especially as the year drew to a close.

For him to agree so readily—could it be… "Have you taken a liking to some young lady?"

Since he had already spoken, he must have someone in mind. The Dowager Shen was certain.

Shen Jingzhan said nothing—his silence neither confirming nor denying.

"Which family’s daughter is it?" The Dowager Shen brightened, urging him to sit and pressing him for answers, her demeanor suggesting she wouldn’t give up until she got the truth from him.

"It’s late, Grandmother. You’re unwell—you should rest early. Your grandson won’t disturb you further."

Mrs. Shen, unwilling to let him go without extracting a name, had servants block his way. She listed several noble ladies from the capital, watching his reaction closely, but his expression remained impassive, giving nothing away.

Left with no choice, she recalled what Shen Jiaxian from the second branch had mentioned to her recently.

Though skeptical, the Dowager Shen couldn’t help probing: "It couldn’t be that young madam from the Wei family?"

Though Shen Jingzhan’s expression barely shifted, his steps hesitated briefly—a detail the Dowager Shen caught. Her face darkened instantly, and she ordered him to halt.

Unexpectedly, he turned back, a wry smile on his lips. "Grandmother, what nonsense is this?"

In the entire marquis’s household, only Shen Jingzhan dared speak to the Dowager Shen like this.

But at this moment, she was too focused to scold him, her gaze still fixed on him. Shen Jingzhan met her eyes, his brow slightly furrowed in skeptical amusement.

Even so, the Dowager Shen pressed, "So, you and that young woman have no connection?"

"What possible relation could your grandson have with a married woman?"

She shied away like delicate grass, recoiling at the slightest touch—how could there be any link between them?

"If there’s no connection, then why before at…" The Dowager Shen brought up the incident, part question, part explanation.

"My cousin pays no heed to his tutor’s teachings, spending his days making mischief. Now he even meddles in my affairs—truly needs correcting."

The Dowager Shen recalled how Shen Jiaxian had begged her not to reveal his words that day. Now, she found herself at a loss.

"Your cousin only means well."

"Does he?" Shen Jingzhan arched a brow slightly.

The Dowager Shen added, "Jiaxian means no harm—don’t take it out on him."

Shen Jingzhan merely smiled.

"Whether or not there’s anything between you and the Wei family, getting too close to the wives of court officials will stir gossip. You must be more cautious in the future."

She wanted to say that even heroes falter before beauty, cautioning him against being trapped, but it sounded too harsh.

More importantly, under her eldest grandson’s piercing gaze, the Dowager Shen couldn’t bring herself to disparage Zhu Yinluan.

She switched topics quickly. "...Don’t sully the lady’s name."

Shen Jingzhan ignored the comment, cupping his hands respectfully. "Since Grandmother is in good health, you should rest well. Your grandson takes his leave."

Unable to detain him, the Dowager Shen could only nod and let him go.

In the inner courtyard’s study, candlelight danced.

The handsome man, dressed in white, his dark hair… focused intently on his brushwork. The lifelike maiden on the paper bent over a bowl of noodles, the corners of her eyes flushed red.

After completing the final stroke, he set aside the brush and ink.

His gaze lingered on the painted girl, lost in thought. If she truly harbored ulterior motives, why hadn’t she tried currying favor—perhaps even bearing his child?

Or did she, like everyone else, believe there was no possibility between them?