Lu Wanning was in a rather bad mood. Although Sheng Songlin had saved her today, she didn't think he was a good person. Since he was going to cooperate with Sheng Chenyi, he couldn't be a good one.
However, things shouldn't be judged one - sidedly. It was just that Sheng Songlin's stance was different from hers. She just hoped that when Sheng Jinyu and Sheng Chenyi fought for the position of heir in the future, Sheng Songlin wouldn't become an obstacle.
Anyway, Sheng Songyan was on Sheng Jinyu's side. Even if Sheng Songlin didn't care, she did. She had to find a way to tell Sheng Songyan.
The next day, without sending an invitation, Lu Wanning went straight to General Zhen's mansion to find Zhen Yan.
The gate of the Zhen family was tightly closed. It took about the time for an incense stick to burn before an old maid came and led Lu Wanning in.
Jiyue frowned and asked, "Maid, is Miss Zhen at home?"
The old maid nodded. "Miss is ill and can't come out to greet you. Please don't blame her, Princess."
Ill?
"Is it serious? Should we call a doctor?"
The old maid quickly replied, "A doctor has been called. It's just a cold. She needs to rest carefully."
Jiyue didn't ask any more questions. She followed Lu Wanning to Zhen Yan's courtyard. When they entered the inner room, they smelled the medicine. Zhen Yan was pale, lying in bed and coughing.
Lu Wanning was worried. She stepped forward and held Zhen Yan's hand. "Sister Zhen, why do you look like this after just a short time apart?"
Zhen Yan coughed a few times, looked out of the door, and asked hoarsely, "Did you come alone?"
Lu Wanning nodded. "Yes, I'm alone."
Zhen Yan pointed at Jiyue and said to the old maid, "I want to talk to Ning'er alone. Take her out for a stroll."
The old maid did as she was told. Immediately, Zhen Yan rolled over and got up. She pulled Lu Wanning and said, "Oh, if I had known you were coming alone, I wouldn't have bothered to pretend. I'm so bored. Come on, let's go to the back to practice whip - fighting."
Lu Wanning was completely confused. Looking closely, she found that Zhen Yan's pale face was because she had put on too much powder. The light in the room was dim and the bed curtain was half - drawn, so she couldn't see clearly before. Now that Zhen Yan got out of bed and came to the window, it was clear as day.
Zhen Yan didn't care. She put on an outer robe and pulled Lu Wanning out from the back. Soon they arrived at the Zhen family's martial arts training ground.
Lu Wanning still wasn't at ease. She looked at Zhen Yan for a long time and asked, "Why are you pretending to be ill?"
Zhen Yan said helplessly, "I had no choice. I had already announced that I was going back to Daihe. Now that the weather is cool, it's time to set off. But... he begged me to cover for him, so I..."
Lu Wanning stared at her with wide eyes. "So, you're really together with Sheng Songyan?"
Zhen Yan frowned. "Don't talk so vulgarly. What do you mean by 'together'? It's impossible between him and me. I would never like a man like him."
Lu Wanning quickly asked, "Then why are you helping him?"
Zhen Yan was a bit coy before she said, "He... sweet - talked me. I just couldn't resist for a moment and agreed. Alas, the men around me are all iron - willed. Who is like him? He cries at every turn. I... just couldn't bear it, so I had to..."
Lu Wanning rolled her eyes. Like this and you still say you don't like him?
Zhen Yan quickly explained, "Moreover, I did it for you too."
Lu Wanning pointed at herself. "For me?"
Zhen Yan nodded. "Yes, it's for you. Aren't you having an affair with Prince Yu?"
"Stop!" Lu Wanning used to chat casually with Zhen Yan, but she didn't expect her to use these words so well. "Don't talk nonsense about having an affair. I've always behaved properly with Prince Yu. There's nothing between us."
Zhen Yan waved her hand. "Come on. You were the one who boasted everywhere that you had hugged his thigh. If you've hugged his thigh, there must be something going on."
Lu Wanning was at a loss for words and didn't know how to refute for a moment.
Zhen Yan didn't care. She continued, "Sheng Songyan is hiding his talents for Prince Yu. Since you like Prince Yu, helping Sheng Songyan is also helping you."
Lu Wanning forced a smile. "I should thank you then."
"Don't mention it. You're my sister after all."
Lu Wanning wished she could slap her, but since she couldn't beat her, she could only grit her teeth and bear it.
However, she told Zhen Yan in detail what had happened when she saw Sheng Songlin in the brothel yesterday.
Zhen Yan stared at her with wide eyes. "You... you went to the brothel?"
Lu Wanning knew that it was quite shocking for a woman to go to such a place in this era. She hesitated for a moment and tried to organize her words to explain.
"Why didn't you take me with you when you went to the brothel?" Zhen Yan pushed Lu Wanning. "Are we still sisters? I always think of you, but you didn't take me to such a fun place?"
Lu Wanning touched her nose. Forget it. Zhen Yan was an outlier in this era. She couldn't be judged by ordinary people's standards.
"Oh, I've heard about it from others before. I even begged my brother to take me there, but he scolded me. I've always wanted to go. How about we go together some other day? No, better late than never. Ning'er, shall we go today?"
Lu Wanning pulled a long face. "I don't know who was supposed to be ill and should be lying in bed unable to move."
Zhen Yan blinked and smiled sheepishly. "It doesn't matter. We can disguise ourselves as men. We're just going to the brothel to see the women there. Tsk tsk. I've only heard about them in story - books. It's said that the women there have such soft waists that you can almost hold them with one hand. And their breasts, tsk tsk..."
Seeing that Zhen Yan was almost drooling, Lu Wanning got angry. "Are you listening to me or not?"
Zhen Yan swallowed her saliva and quickly nodded. "Okay, you can go on."
Lu Wanning told her why she had gone to the brothel and the conversation between Sheng Songlin and the two officials close to Sheng Chenyi. "So, Sheng Songlin wants to defeat Sheng Songyan and become the heir himself."
Zhen Yan fell silent and frowned tightly.
Seeing this, Lu Wanning subconsciously lowered her voice. "I couldn't find Sheng Songyan. I thought that since we're friends, I should inform him. Everyone outside is saying that he's chasing after you. So I came to ask you first."
Zhen Yan thought for a while and then looked up. "You mean you went there with He Chan?"
Lu Wanning was confused but still nodded.
Zhen Yan asked again, "So, why did He Chan go there?"
Seeing that Zhen Yan's thoughts were completely different from hers, Lu Wanning was furious. "Zhen Yan, what's wrong with you? I'm talking about something serious. What are you thinking about?"
Zhen Yan scratched her head. "I'm just wondering why a young lady like He Chan would go to such a place."
Lu Wanning sighed deeply. "Aren't you worried that your lover's position as the heir is going to be taken away?"
"What's there to worry about? He doesn't care about being the heir."
After saying that, Zhen Yan realized what she had said and quickly denied it. "No, what are you talking about? He's not my lover. I've told you several times that I don't like a man like him!"