In the carriage.
Shen Sangning peeled a lychee, the snow-white flesh pinched between her fingertips.
She suddenly recalled her past life—roughly half a year later, Shen Yi had firmly decided to send a concubine to Pei Ruyan.
Even though Shen Yi doted on Shen Miaoyi, he ultimately valued profit more.
Seeing that Shen Miaoyi had never won Pei Ruyan’s favor, he planned to send his illegitimate daughter, Shen Luoyu, into the Guogong Manor as well.
Unfortunately, Shen Luoyu’s ambitions soared higher than the sky—she wanted to replace Shen Miaoyi.
When Liu Shi learned of this intention, she nearly had Shen Luoyu killed.
But even without Liu Shi’s interference, their plan was doomed to fail.
Shen Sangning understood this family all too well—they all shared one common trait:
A lack of self-awareness.
They always mistook polite courtesy from respectable people as a sign of weakness. The Ningguo Duke Residence’s courteous treatment of the Chengan Earl’s Residence did not mean they genuinely respected Shen Yi or would allow themselves to be manipulated.
When the time came and the Duke Residence was provoked… Shen Sangning would quite enjoy watching the drama unfold.
Shen Sangning popped the lychee into her mouth, puffing out her cheeks, and said to Pei Ruyan, “Should we discuss the issue of heirs?”
Heirs.
Heirs again.
Pei Ruyan didn’t understand. “Does Madam truly like children, or does she want to use a child to consolidate her position?”
This soul-searching question truly stumped Shen Sangning.
To be honest, it was a bit of both.
But given the current circumstances, the latter weighed more heavily, especially since Pei Ruyan’s time was running out.
Seeing her unable to answer, Pei Ruyan answered for her, “You have no feelings for me, so it’s clearly the latter.”
“I can tell you right now—there’s no rush regarding heirs. You don’t need to think about using a child to secure your position, and I will absolutely never take a concubine.”
He spoke with utmost seriousness.
Truthfully, aside from his unwillingness to have children, Pei Ruyan was an excellent husband.
But not having children was a significant problem.
He wasn’t in a hurry because he didn’t know his life would be short!
Shen Sangning said helplessly, “But I am in a hurry.”
She didn’t hold back her emotions and was very straightforward.
Pei Ruyan pressed his lips together tightly. “Is Madam happy?”
Huh?
Shen Sangning wasn’t sure what he meant, but then he continued:
“Your father didn’t love your mother, yet they had you. Do you consider yourself happy?”
There was no mockery or sarcasm in his words—it seemed like a purely genuine question.
Yet it left Shen Sangning momentarily speechless; she couldn’t answer.
Once, she had longed for her father’s love, but it felt as if she had never truly received it. Even those brief moments of illusion were merely self-deception.
Her mother loved her—probably.
But when she was young, she always felt her mother’s gaze held a deep sorrow.
As if, through her, her mother was looking at someone else.
Shen Sangning fell silent for a long moment before saying discontentedly, “You’re being rather presumptuous.”
Noticing her displeased expression, Pei Ruyan lowered his eyelashes and said earnestly, “My apologies. I only meant that if there’s no affection between a couple, there’s no need to force having children.”
Pei Ruyan thought of his own parents, who merely treated each other with formal respect.
His mother clearly loved him, but that love came with high expectations and nothing but strictness.
From the moment he was born, all the elders had instilled in him: “You are the future head of the family. You should not crave something like love.”
As for favoritism, his father doted on his second brother’s birth mother and favored his second brother even more. His second brother could live as he pleased.
A faint, lonely smile tugged at the corner of Pei Ruyan’s lips as he said slowly and indifferently, “You want to use a child to consolidate your position, but have you ever considered how the child would feel?”
“This…” For a moment, Shen Sangning truly had no rebuttal.
She felt inexplicably upset for a moment before suddenly realizing, “Wait, that doesn’t make sense. Most married couples in this world follow their parents’ arrangements and matchmakers’ words. Does that mean none of them should have children?”
“You would be a good father, and I would be a good mother. Moreover, the Ningguo Duke Residence holds high status—how could this background possibly disadvantage our child?”
The eldest legitimate son raised in the Ningguo Duke Residence possessed every characteristic befitting an heir of an aristocratic family.
Shen Sangning never expected that only when it came to the concept of procreation would he hold such stubborn, unique views.
“Not disadvantage,” Pei Ruyan coldly corrected, “but unwillingness.”
Shen Sangning glanced at him and murmured in protest, “If you were unwilling, then why did you touch me on our wedding night?”
It didn’t seem like he was that unwilling after all.
Recalling that night now, with the lights out, he hadn’t been so reserved.
Hadn’t he even kissed her neck until it turned red?
No matter how softly she spoke, her words clearly reached Pei Ruyan’s ears.
Instantly, his fair neck flushed crimson, though his expression turned stern. “That was because—”
Just then, the carriage abruptly halted.
They had arrived at the Ningguo Duke Residence.
Pei Ruyan cut himself off mid-sentence, shifting his gaze away from her face. His voice grew devoid of emotion. “From today onward, I will be staying in the study. There’s no need for you to seek me out.”
“How can that be acceptable?” Shen Sangning immediately objected.
Staying in the study every day?
Hah, this wasn’t building a family—it was losing one!
Pei Ruyan said nothing more, rising and sweeping his sleeves as he departed.
Watching his retreating figure, Shen Sangning felt at a loss.
What kind of man in this world would so strongly resist sharing a room with his wife?
If, as he said, one shouldn’t have children without love, then Shen Sangning would have to wait until who-knows-when.
First, she didn’t seek his affection.
Second, there was no time to take things slowly.
Since reasoning with him was futile…
In that case, she would have to give things a push herself.
Shen Sangning made up her mind: she would drug him tonight!