Chapter 116: Shaohua Shi Catches the Secret Meeting

An eerie silence hung heavily in the air.

Lady Jianghou struggled to open her mouth but could not utter a single word. She felt as if she could hear the pounding of her own heart.

Although she and Shen Zhifeng had met sporadically, after their last secret encounter, she had become pregnant—and this child was definitely not Shen Zhifeng’s.

At this moment, Shen Zhifeng gazed at her tenderly. “Weiwei, you know I have no son. Do you really have the heart to terminate our child?”

“I have no choice. It’s still too early. When the belly grows, how could I face anyone?” Lady Jianghou sighed but still did not reveal the truth.

She knew well that men could have multiple wives and countless mistresses, yet they could not tolerate a woman’s infidelity.

She feared that if she told him the truth, Shen Zhifeng might explode with rage. Though the current situation was awkward and perilous, perhaps she could still earn some of his pity and guilt.

Shen Zhifeng paced restlessly in the room, then suddenly grasped Lady Jianghou’s arm. “Weiwei, listen. I’ll arrange everything. When your belly becomes obvious and can no longer be hidden, you tell them you want to visit relatives in another province. I’ll have someone pretend to be your kin and take you there to stay, alright?”

Lady Jianghou was tempted but shook her head. “No, even if I say I’m visiting relatives, a normal trip would only last ten days to two weeks. A longer stay might be one or two months at most. How could that be enough time?”

“Then just say you want to extend your stay for a few more months.”

“That won’t do either. Next month, Sisi will come of age, and I must prepare her and Lin’er’s wedding. How could I be pregnant then?” Lady Jianghou shook her head vehemently. Though she wanted to keep the child, the risk was far too great.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already started planning the wedding banquet. Everything will be simple. As soon as Sisi comes of age, she’ll marry immediately. For the next month or two, your belly can still be concealed. After that, leave everything to me,” Shen Zhifeng assured her.

For the sake of his son, Shen Zhifeng naturally put aside Shen Sisi’s feelings. Sons were more important than daughters. “When they are newlyweds, in the sweet honeymoon phase, you can find an excuse to stay out longer. They won’t be in a hurry to have you back.”

Hearing this, Lady Jianghou’s wavering resolve weakened further.

Shen Zhifeng pleaded with her for a long time, unwilling to let her go. They quarreled for hours in the courtyard, delaying the trip to the estate.

The cold wind carried everything to Shen Qingyun’s ears, darkening her eyes as she sneered at Shen Zhifeng’s confidence in himself.

Previously, Ruo Feng had indeed given them medicine, and the old madam and Shen Sisi had likely been cured of the infertility potion, but Shen Zhifeng was different.

His body had been secretly weakened by her. If he took the medicine on time and abstained from women during treatment to build his strength, he might have partially recovered.

But Shen Zhifeng was clearly forcing himself to indulge in pleasure while still taking those dangerous drugs. Expecting him to impregnate a woman was utterly fanciful.

Yet Shen Zhifeng was so confident. He would never admit he had a problem and firmly believed the miraculous doctor’s medicine had restored him—at worst, his stamina was lacking.

He also never suspected Lady Jianghou might have another man.

“Han Feng, go to the Jianghou residence. Quietly inform that Shi Shaohua and tell him where Lady Jianghou is now. Lure him there,” Shen Qingyun ordered calmly.

Han Feng was momentarily stunned, realizing their lady appeared delicate and exquisite but harbored a cunning mind.

He obeyed silently and slipped a note onto a small table in Shi Shaohua’s room.

Shi Shaohua thought the message was secretly sent by Shen Sisi and did not suspect anything. He opened it and read, curious to learn Lady Jianghou had gone to the courtyard.

Hadn’t she said she was going to the estate to take abortive medicine?

Since the message was sent to him, Shi Shaohua decided to investigate.

When he sneaked into the courtyard quietly, he overheard a man and woman speaking inside. The female voice was unmistakably Lady Jianghou’s.

Shi Shaohua was stunned, anger rising within him. He never imagined this old woman was secretly with another man behind his back. Could the child not be his either?

He felt humiliated. Though he was a libertine, he always toyed with women’s affections, never the other way around. He had been deceived by Lady Jianghou’s façade, believing she was a chaste widow.

Though he understood that if he could seduce her, others could too.

Still, Shi Shaohua was unwilling to accept it. He crept closer to the window, poked a small hole with his finger, and peered inside.

Shen Zhifeng had his back turned, but his figure and occasional profile revealed an older man.

Shi Shaohua’s anger deepened. Lady Jianghou was not picky at all—to think she would forgo such a young and handsome man like him for someone like this. He felt insulted.

But cautious as ever, Shi Shaohua could not yet confirm the man’s identity. He dared not burst in to catch them in the act, nor risk angering Lady Jianghou. So, he slunk back to his residence.

When Lady Jianghou returned that evening, he greeted her with a mournful face and said cautiously, “This afternoon, I went to the courtyard to fetch something I forgot and unexpectedly saw you.”

Lady Jianghou was still at a loss for how to explain why she hadn’t gone to the estate, stunned speechless by Shi Shaohua’s words.

“No, Shaohua, it’s not what you think! It’s just... this...”

“Madam, please don’t say any more. I know my humble origins and low status. After the autumn examinations, I will leave discreetly. I hope you remember that wherever I go, my heart will always think of you.”

Shi Shaohua’s eyes reddened as he turned his back, refusing to look at Lady Jianghou.

Panicking, she hurriedly explained, “No, Shaohua, my heart belongs only to you. Don’t leave, please listen to me!”

She threw herself at him from behind, tears streaming down. “I’ll tell you everything, alright? Believe me, right now, no one else matters but you.”

Shi Shaohua faced away, a triumphant smile on his lips, but his voice choked as he replied, “Alright, Weiwei, speak. I’m listening.”

Seeing his softened tone, Lady Jianghou rejoiced and quickly said, “I... I was forced...”

She portrayed herself as a victim, forced into the situation until Shen Zhifeng took a concubine and let her go, unaware of how Shen Zhifeng had learned of her pregnancy.

Shi Shaohua’s eyes gleamed. “That man is none other than Duke Shen Zhifeng of the Shen National Palace? Are you saying he believes the child is his?”