Chapter 43 She Didn’t Love Shen Jingzhan but Liked Having Intimacy with Him…

Chapter 43 Though she didn't love Shen Jingzhan, she took pleasure in their intimate moments...

To expect her to convince Shen Jingzhan not to establish a separate residence?

Even the Shen matriarch had been firmly refused by Shen Jingzhan when she brought this up, so it wasn’t entirely surprising that Mrs. Shen had resorted to approaching the Shi household through roundabout means.

For the last two days, she had been constantly by Shen Jingzhan’s side, leaving Mrs. Shen no opening to approach her. Thus, it was understandable that she had turned to Shen Xiyun to persuade her.

Just yesterday, she had already noticed Mrs. Shen’s furtive looks, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

It wasn’t about the matters between the Zhu and Wei families—it was about her and Shen Jingzhan moving out. Her first guess had been correct.

Coming back to herself, Zhu Yinluan silently sighed in relief. At least it wasn’t about the messy affairs between the Zhu and Wei families.

Though she had now successfully married Shen Jingzhan and no longer feared pressure from the Zhu and Wei families, her birth family and former in-laws still loomed over her like a sharp blade. If it fell, it would shatter her current peaceful life, dredging up those dark, suffocating memories of the past.

Those four years had been unbearable. Even though she had escaped, the lingering chokehold from enduring too much still enveloped her whenever she looked back.

She had never forgotten those agonizing days and nights—she had merely buried them deep in her heart.

"Luan'er, what are your thoughts?" Shen Xiyun asked, noticing her silence.

"I..."

She didn’t know...

Zhu Yinluan was well aware that her sole support in the Shen family was Shen Jingzhan. But if she completely depended on him without cultivating connections with the rest of the Shen family, it would be impossible to secure her position.

Even if it was just a marriage alliance...

Once a marital bond was formed, it wasn’t merely about mutual affection between two people—especially since she and Shen Jingzhan shared no such feelings, only interests.

If unforeseen circumstances arose in the future—for instance, if Shen Jingzhan no longer needed her as an ally and she was repudiated by the Shen family—she would truly have no recourse. Given the Shen family’s high status, she might even have to leave the capital to survive.

Lately, she had been so absorbed in the anxiety of entering the Shen family and the nocturnal trysts with Shen Jingzhan that she had neglected to plan for her own future. Busy fending off Old Mama’s eavesdropping, she had forgotten to strategize.

Now that she was part of the Shen family, perhaps she could use their influence to establish herself in the capital?

It wouldn’t be easy, but... she couldn’t afford to have no plan at all. For now, she would take things step by step.

With these thoughts, her mind cleared slightly, though she still didn’t know how to proceed. The Shen family members were difficult to approach—each one was a shrewd operator.

"I initially wanted to move out, but now..."

Mrs. Shen had even enlisted Shen Xiyun to persuade her to talk Shen Jingzhan out of it.

If she still insisted on leaving, wouldn’t she offend both Mrs. Shen and the Shen matriarch?

"Mother... what do you think?" she asked Shen Xiyun for advice.

Shen Xiyun explained, "Your mother-in-law mentioned that after Jingzhan passed the imperial exams, his official duties kept him away from home more often. Now, he frequently stays outside."

"As the eldest legitimate son of the main branch and the heir to the Marquisate, it’s completely improper for him to remain outside indefinitely."

That was true. Zhu Yinluan remained silent.

Shen Jingzhan was destined to inherit the title.

If he were to inherit, he would have to reside in the Zhaoping Marquisate.

At this thought, Zhu Yinluan suddenly felt a surreal realization—if no unforeseen conflicts arose between her and Shen Jingzhan by the time he inherited the title, she would become the Marchioness?

How could a mere concubine-born daughter like her deserve such a position?

Though she thought this, she revealed nothing.

Shen Xiyun continued, "I told your mother-in-law that this matter depends on your and Jingzhan’s considerations. I’m afraid I have no say in it."

At this point, Shen Xiyun offered no opinion on whether they should move out or not.

She understood clearly that though Zhu Yinluan appeared gentle, she had an inner resilience and could make her own decisions—unlike her three biological daughters.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Zhu Yinluan said, "Daughter understands."

"Mm." Shen Xiyun left it at that and didn’t press further.

Zhu Yinluan had initially wanted to ask about the Zhu and Wei families, but she felt it inappropriate to have Shen Xiyun monitor her former family’s affairs, so she stayed silent.

Well, she would cross that bridge when she came to it.

By the time they left the Shi residence, it was already very late.

Shen Jingzhan flipped through his policy discourses in the carriage for a while. When they reached the central boulevard of the capital, he set the booklet aside and asked if she wanted to go out for a stroll.

Zhu Yinluan, lost in thought, was startled. "Doesn't the capital have a curfew?"

She rarely went out after dinner, and it was long past curfew.

"Stick with me, Luan'er. Nothing will happen," he reassured her, explaining that the curfew hours had been adjusted due to the approaching Dragon Boat Festival.

"Alright," Zhu Yinluan nodded.

The capital at night was still bright, with lantern lights illuminating the eaves and rooftops.

The shops lining the streets were still lively, nearly full of people.

Though the festival hadn’t officially arrived, many shops were already selling special snacks for the occasion.

"Luan'er, would you like some?" he asked, noticing her lingering gaze.

Zhu Yinluan shook her head. "I have no appetite."

Even so, Shen Jingzhan had his attendants buy some to take back in the carriage, saying she could try them on the way home.

Shen Jingzhan was remarkably indulgent toward her—not just in material ways. Even when she barely glanced at something with the slightest pause, he noticed her interest in the festival snacks. His attentiveness was almost uncanny.

Was this the keen perceptiveness of someone who served in the Emperor's inner circle?

Beyond that, she also recalled that years ago, early in her marriage into the Wei family, she had once gone out with Wei Ruzuo during the capital’s annual temple fair—something she had never experienced before.

Back then, everything seemed new and exciting to her, yet he paid no attention to her interests and never bought her anything.

He even thought she, as a minor wife’s daughter, lacked refinement and decorum, scolding her not to look around in public to avoid becoming a laughingstock.

At the time, Zhu Yinluan felt humiliated, her heart ached with the urge to cry—not only was it painful then, but even now, the memory still stings.

From that moment on, she forced herself to become proper, demure, virtuous, and docile.

She shaped herself to be the kind of principal wife Wei Ruzuo desired, yet in the end, when she succeeded, he found her dull, rigid, and uninteresting.

Distracted, she was suddenly pulled into Shen Jingzhan’s embrace.

Startled by the impact against his broad, firm chest, Zhu Yinluan stiffened, "..."

She saw the tanghulu that had nearly grazed her eyes—had he not pulled her aside, she would have collided with it...

The vendor quickly apologized, "My apologies, madam, sir! I was moving aside for the carriage and didn’t notice anyone behind me." He repeatedly begged forgiveness and even offered them two skewers as compensation.

Shen Jingzhan accepted the tanghulu and tried to pay, but the vendor refused, insisting they take them to calm their fright.

In the end, Shen Jingzhan only took one skewer and handed it to Zhu Yinluan.

"You… don’t want any?"

Still shielded in his embrace, her startled eyes lingered on the shiny, sugar-coated tanghulu before her.

Little did she know, the vendor had slipped into an alley where one of Shen Jingzhan’s attendants waited, handing him a pouch of silver and praising his performance.

The vendor bowed repeatedly, beaming from ear to ear. "Many thanks, noble sir! If you ever need such services again, just call on me!"

"..."

"Luan'er, you eat first."

Coming to her senses, Zhu Yinluan straightened up, suppressing her discomfort with poise.

After hesitating, she finally took a small bite of the tanghulu.

It was too big to take a proper bite—even a bit hard.

Conscious of decorum, even if Shen Jingzhan didn’t mind, she couldn’t be careless in public.

So she merely tentatively licked it, like a cat sipping milk, before stopping.

Focused on the tanghulu, she didn’t notice the intensity of his gaze as he watched her every move.

After a long moment, she looked up, confused by his gaze—her innocent bewilderment unwittingly enticing, as if asking, *What are you looking at?*

Worried she had sesame seeds from the candy on her lips, she not only licked them but also touched them, finding nothing.

Yet Shen Jingzhan continued to stare.

Just as she was about to ask directly, he looked away and said, "The streets are crowded tonight. Shall I hold your hand?" He urged her to keep eating.

"Never mind..."

Shen Jingzhan’s commanding presence already drew enough attention—public hand-holding would draw even more attention.

Though they were married, such intimacy was improper, so she refused.

"I’ll be careful and follow clo—"

Before she could finish, he pulled her hand firmly toward him.

A child had stumbled past them, clutching a slingshot and a wooden puzzle.

The boy was so small she hadn’t even noticed him...

Her hand now tightly clasped in his, Zhu Yinluan nearly dropped the tanghulu in surprise, fumbling to save it.

She succeeded—but the sticky treat stuck to Shen Jingzhan’s moon-white robes, and her own hands were now covered in sugary glaze.

She hadn’t expected comeuppance to arrive so fast.

Horrified, she wanted to wipe it off, but her hands were just as messy.

He chuckled softly, setting her cheeks aflame. Biting her lip, she glanced up at him—only to meet his warm, amused gaze, leaving her too embarrassed to meet his eyes or lower hers. "..."

Even after returning to the marquis’s estate, her blush stubbornly lingered.

Seeing her persistent flush, Ming Ya grew concerned, asking if she’d eaten something spoiled or felt unwell.

Zhu Yinluan instinctively glanced at Shen Jingzhan, whose lips curled in a faint smile.

They silently agreed to leave the matter unspoken.

Ming Ya sensed the unspoken tension between them but didn’t pry.

Perhaps because of the day’s events, Zhu Yinluan felt Shen Jingzhan’s kisses that night were more aggressive than usual.

From the start, his mouth captured hers without wandering elsewhere.

His hands cradled her face, keeping her still.

She couldn’t turn away—only surrender to his escalating kiss.

After lingering on her lips, he gradually pressed deeper.

Yet even as she grew breathless, he paused to ask, "Is this alright?"

Their noses brushed as she murmured a breathless ‘yes,’ her face blushing like a peach.

Shen Jingzhan watched her intently for a moment before suddenly gripping her waist and spinning her around.

Zhu Yinluan let out a startled gasp.

In an instant, she was atop him, staring down.

His years of martial training had left his waist and abdomen firm, unyielding as steel.

The thin fabric of his underrobe made her frozen in place, for fear of brushing against him improperly.

Why had he suddenly switched their places, leaving her astride him?

Zhu Yinluan wanted to get down, but the man's large hands clamped her waist. If she wanted to descend, she would first need him to let go.

Lowering her eyes to avoid his gaze, yet he remained within her line of sight no matter how she tried to look away.

She caught sight of the exposed chest beneath his parted inner garment—the deep hollow of his collarbone, the defined edges of his profile.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

Before she could finish, Shen Jingzhan shifted his waist slightly—seemingly just adjusting his position—but she tumbled forward, landing atop him.

Her lips brushed against his.

Without another word, he sought her mouth and captured her lips, continuing where they'd left off.

Once their lips met again, Zhu Yinluan finally understood why he had changed positions.

He wanted her to take the lead, yielding control to her.

This actually made her feel safer.

After her clumsy yet slow response, Shen Jingzhan deepened the kiss, guiding her, even mirroring her.

Except he was far more skilled. Compared to his skill, Zhu Yinluan became acutely aware of her own inexperience.

It wasn’t her fault—she and Wei Ruzuo rarely kissed.

They had in the beginning, but she had been too timid to reciprocate, and Wei Ruzuo lacked patience. Gradually, he stopped kissing her altogether, focusing only on his own pleasure, never sparing a thought for hers.

At first, Zhu Yinluan had found intimacy shameful, then painful—yet she endured for the sake of bearing a child.

But with Shen Jingzhan, she discovered, for the first time, the pleasure of the *Rites of Zhou*.

She even began to understand why some men lingered in brothels, chasing after such delights.

Within the dimly lit curtains, the sounds of their kisses filled the air.

As they lost themselves further, Zhu Yinluan grew breathless. He would pause intermittently, and through repetition, she slowly learned to catch her breath.

His large hands traced along her curves, ascending the splendid hills of spring.

The moment he took hold, Zhu Yinluan let slip a soft cry.

This continued for several days, leaving the young maids outside marveling at how inseparable the two had become.

They had once believed the eldest young master to be indifferent to women, yet with Miss Zhu, he clung to her night after night, making merry late into the night.

"..."

Zhu Yinluan glanced down to see his lips pressing against the snowy summits.

Shen Jingzhan, who should have been in court advising policies and directing the Secretariat officials, was instead kissing her.

Even in such moments, his expression remained composed, free of lust's ugly desperation.

Perhaps it was because he was simply too handsome—his features like a jade-sculpted immortal, a gentleman of divine bearing.

Yet this jade-like gentleman, this model of restraint, had yielded to her.

Zhu Yinluan couldn’t hold back a muffled cry.

Her delicate, pale fingers clutched at his arms, her nails following the raised veins along his skin, leaving faint marks.

Electricity shot through her, and when his lips withdrew, she nearly chased after them, craving more.

She couldn't make sense of herself.

She didn’t love Shen Jingzhan—she was certain of that—yet she adored this intimacy with him.

His kisses were spellbinding, and he was so attentive to her every reaction.

Yet he remained restrained, hovering at the threshold, never crossing the final line.

"..."

This time was no exception, save for their positions.

Zhu Yinluan’s lower back bore the marks.

His. Hers.

Indistinguishable.

Exhausted, she collapsed against his chest, panting softly, her body limp.

Their robes were not fully removed.

Yet the air was thick with desire.

Had anyone seen them, none would guess they hadn't taken that final step.

Zhu Yinluan listened to the strong beat of his heart.

This time, it was clearer than before—her ear pressed directly against his chest.

Had she heard Shen Jingzhan’s heartbeat yesterday as well?

It struck her as familiar.

Her mind too foggy to recall, she only recognized the familiarity but couldn’t trace its origin.

As she pondered, her eyelids grew heavy, and sleep claimed her.

She completely forgot to leave his embrace—their performance had ended, and they should have parted ways to sleep separately.

After some time, the man gazed down at her peaceful face, her closed eyes, tracking her slowing breaths.

He raised a hand to caress her serene cheek, thumb brushing her soft earlobe.

His lips curled in quiet triumph.

Yes… she was growing less guarded around him.

After several days of investigation, the Zhu family obtained conclusive evidence.

The adopted daughter taken in by the Shi family, the one who married into the prestigious Shen family, was indeed Zhu Yinluan.

It was that very Zhu Yinluan who had been jointly expelled by the Wei and Zhu families, cut off completely.

Inside the main hall, no one from the Zhu family spoke, each weighing their own interests.

Compared to Zhu Chentan’s fury, Lord Zhu felt only excitement—for the first time, he seriously acknowledged the existence of this bastard daughter of his in his heart. He was practically licking his lips.

Who would have thought that after leaving the Wei family, she could quietly worm her way into the Shen family?

To gain Heir Shen as a son-in-law—this wasn’t just about bragging rights! If Shen Jingzhan were to call him "father-in-law" in public, he'd gain real clout!

Those officials who once looked down on him would surely come forward to suck up to him!

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, his face flushing red. He hastily instructed Mrs. Zhu to send a message to Zhu Yinluan, summoning her to return to the Zhu family with Shen Jingzhan—to acknowledge family ties, share a meal, and have a good chat to get chummy.

Seeing Lord Zhu’s enthusiasm, completely disregarding her feelings, resentment surged in Zhu Chentan’s heart. She clenched her fists.

That little bitch Zhu Yinluan, having married into a noble house without even showing her face, had already stolen their father's favor.

Zhu Chentan itched to smash everything in sight, but she couldn’t…

Because Mrs. Zhu had drilled into her beforehand to remain calm—her future prospects and marriage still depended on Zhu Yinluan. She mustn't cause a scene anywhere; not only that, she must find ways to suck up to her.

That was the very illegitimate sister she had looked down on since childhood—now she had to kiss her ass?!

At this thought, Zhu Chentan’s expression turned as if she had swallowed a fly, utterly disgusted.

What was Zhu Yinluan worth? She wasn't worthy to lick her boots! If she had any sense, she should hand over Shen Jingzhan and leave the Shen family of her own accord.

"My lord, you must have forgotten—she severed ties with the family before. You told her not to return. Now, I’m afraid sending a message may not be possible."

Mrs. Zhu had hoped Lord Zhu would take the initiative to reach out to the Shen family. After all, when she had seized the shops back earlier, she had scolded and threatened Zhu Yinluan. If she went to the Shen residence now, who knew whether she’d be served tea or piss in her cup?

Yet Lord Zhu had punted the problem back to her—to deliver the message?

If he, as the head of the household, feared offending the Shen family, how could she, a mere household woman, not be afraid?

That wretch’s spawn had now risen to an entirely different status!

"If you can’t send it, then find a way," Lord Zhu said sternly. "She is still a Zhu at heart. Marrying off without proper formalities—what kind of situation is that? As the lady of the house, it’s your duty to make things proper!"

Mrs. Zhu was left speechless.

Zhu Chentan couldn’t resist interjecting, "Father, how could you overlook this? Zhu Yinluan has sought the Shi family as her backing—she now calls General Shi ‘father’ and his wife ‘mother.’ Why would she ever return to our family?"

"What does that matter?" Lord Zhu’s wheels were turning loudly in his mind.

"If she managed to secure the Shi family as her support, that’s a skill in itself. If her heart remains with the Zhu family, wouldn’t we indirectly gain ties with the Shi family as well?"

General Shi held considerable influence among the military officials!

Zhu Chentan, scolded, put on a wounded look. "Father, are you saying your daughter is incompetent? That I’ve brought shame to the Zhu family?"

Lord Zhu was getting a splitting headache. After all, this was his cherished eldest legitimate daughter, doted upon for years. His tone softened.

"That’s not what I meant. I believe you will surely surpass your sister in the future."

"But for now, we must rely on her. We must reach out to her quickly, bring her home, have her work for the family—so you can marry well, so your father and brother can rise in rank. Who knows? Your mother might even earn the title of a noble lady."

Lord Zhu buttered them both up.

Zhu Chentan settled down, and Mrs. Zhu, considering the possibilities he mentioned, began scheming away.

Nearby, Zhu Mingsheng narrowed his eyes and suggested, "If we can’t meet Third Sister, why not approach the Shen family directly?"

"Why would the Shen family receive us?" Lord Zhu had no stomach for provoking the Shen family’s displeasure—after all, their stance on the matter remained unclear.

Most importantly, there was no information at all about how the Shen family had accepted Zhu Yinluan!

His plan was to meet Zhu Yinluan first—easier marks were always easier to handle.

As for how to see her, that was Mrs. Zhu’s problem to solve.

Zhu Mingsheng said, "Going in circles just to reach Third Sister—we’re jumping through hoops to save face for her cold-blooded betrayal of her own family. But won’t outsiders think we've got skeletons in our closet?"

Hearing this, the three turned to look at him.

"Why not send a calling card directly to the Shen family? Mother can play dumb, saying Third Sister ran off without a word from the Wei family, disappeared for a long time, and was only seen at the recent wedding banquet, where we learned she had married into the Shen family."

After some thought, Lord Zhu nodded. "Given the circumstances, this might be the only way."

He turned to Mrs. Zhu. "No point dragging our feet—tomorrow, deliver the calling card to the Shen family!"

Mrs. Zhu gritted her teeth. "...Very well."

The next morning, she personally had the calling card delivered to the Shen family's front gate.