Chu Zhennan’s agreement had originally been based on the assumption that the Qin father-and-son pair would not appear.
Now that Qin Yi had shown up, it proved that the matter had already reached the fiefdom.
Moreover, Ningwan was going to marry the Regent Prince today.
Let Shen Yu go mad—he would just watch quietly; he absolutely could not get involved. Otherwise, when disaster struck later, he would surely be implicated as well.
Chu Zhennan looked away and said to Qin Yi, “General Qin, rest assured. Ningwan is my daughter. I would never allow her to become a concubine.”
Qin Yi did not respond, only casting him a cold, sideways glance.
Shen Yu was stunned. He did not expect Chu Zhennan to suddenly change his stance. Unable to save face, he could only turn his gaze toward Chu Ningwan.
This woman—wasn’t she supposed to love him the most?
In his previous life, whenever he was in trouble, Chu Ningwan would always be the one to step forward for him.
But now, why was she so indifferent? Or was she still angry about Qingyao?
Shen Yu also knew very well that with Qin Yi present, his plan to make Chu Ningwan a concubine was likely impossible.
But if Chu Ningwan herself proposed it at this moment, then it would have nothing to do with him.
If others were to question it later, he could simply say she chose it herself—he had tried to stop her, but there was nothing he could do.
Thinking of this, Shen Yu’s gaze toward Chu Ningwan immediately turned heated.
He strode over to her.
“Ningwan, can we talk somewhere privately?”
Su Qingyao felt uneasy, but under so many watching eyes, she did not dare act too openly.
Both Madam Qin and Qin Yi instinctively wanted to stop them, but Chu Ningwan shook her head at them.
“Mother, Uncle, since Young Master Shen has something to say to me, I’ll go listen.”
Hearing this, Shen Yu revealed a “just as expected” expression. He knew it—this woman was hopelessly in love with him.
This would actually make things easier for his next plan.
Shen Yu led Chu Ningwan to a quieter place. The first thing he said was an accusation.
“Ningwan, do you really dislike seeing Qingyao doing well that much? Must you make things like this?”
“Shen Yu, so you think everything is my fault?”
“Isn’t it?” Shen Yu answered almost without hesitation.
But thinking of the current situation, his tone softened slightly.
“Ningwan, you know Qingyao’s status is already inferior to yours. Even if she becomes the principal wife, so what?”
“I swear that after she enters the household, I will hand the management authority over to you, alright?”
“Not good.”
Chu Ningwan rejected him.
“Shen Yu, didn’t you love Su Qingyao to the point of madness? Why are you changing your words now?”
“Or do you think I’m easy to fool, trying to use my compromise to silence public opinion? So that when people question it later, you can say everything was my own choice?”
Shen Yu’s expression froze. Her words were like a heavy blow.
He had not expected her to see through his thoughts so sharply.
In that instant, he felt all his schemes laid bare before her.
Humiliated and angry, Shen Yu snapped at her, trying to cover his embarrassment.
“Chu Ningwan, do you really have to compete with Qingyao?”
“I’m telling you—even if I marry you as my official wife today, I will never touch you!”
His expression turned ferocious; his patience was wearing thin.
“In my heart, there will only ever be Qingyao.”
“So what?”
Chu Ningwan replied indifferently, then smiled.
“Putting aside whether I care or not—Shen Yu, did you even send betrothal gifts for Su Qingyao?”
“No formal engagement, no exchange of marriage documents—how can you even speak of a principal wife? Don’t you find it ridiculous?”
“Besides, I’ve already broken off our engagement. Why do you think I would still marry you?”
Her tone carried undisguised contempt.
“Shen Yu, or are you pretending to have amnesia just to achieve this outcome?”
“You… what do you mean?” Shen Yu widened his eyes in shock.
He had thought his act of feigning amnesia was flawless, but being exposed so directly by Chu Ningwan shocked him deeply.
Could it be that she had seen through everything from the beginning, and was just waiting for this moment?
Shen Yu’s emotions became complicated—anger, shock, and uncertainty.
Just as he tried to continue questioning her, Chu Ningwan had already lost interest in continuing the conversation.
She glanced at the time. By her calculation, the person should be arriving soon.
But Shen Yu, still stuck on the issue of his fake amnesia, refused to let her go when he saw her turn away.
Today, he absolutely had to marry both women into his household, using the bridal veils to hide identities and get through it.
If Chu Ningwan refused to cooperate, things would become very difficult.
Most importantly, she had already seen through his plan.
That alone made him panic, his certainty replaced by anxiety and uncertainty.
As Chu Ningwan turned to leave, Shen Yu tried to grab her sleeve. If something of hers was left behind, she would have no choice but to marry him—or her reputation would be ruined.
But the moment he acted, Chu Ningwan had already sensed it.
Trying to use such despicable means to force her?
How disgusting.
However, since she had dared to come with him today, she was not unprepared.
The moment Shen Yu reached out, a silver needle shot out and pierced his wrist.
Pain struck instantly, and Shen Yu quickly withdrew his hand. When he saw what had pierced him, shock filled his eyes.
He had not expected Chu Ningwan to have such a trick hidden.
His anger surged.
“Chu Ningwan! You dare hurt me!”
“Are you not afraid that I—”
“Afraid of you?”
Chu Ningwan looked at him with a faint, mocking smile.
“Shen Yu, you still don’t understand something.”
“The reason I’m wearing a wedding dress today was never because of you.”
Shen Yu almost laughed in disbelief, as if her words were ridiculous.
“Enough, Chu Ningwan! Do you think I don’t know what you’re planning?”
“If you weren’t marrying me, why would you be in a wedding dress? And with so many people watching today—if you don’t marry me, who else could you possibly marry?”
He was certain of victory, his eyes full of calculation.
“Chu Ningwan, after today’s events, who would still want to marry you?”
Chu Ningwan let out a cold laugh.
At that moment, the sound of gongs and drums came from a distance.
It was Prince Xiao Changyan’s wedding procession arriving—neither early nor late, perfectly on time.
Now…