Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Unwilling to Humor Him

“I knew I shouldn’t have saved her!” Shang Hang Yu grumbled.

Sheng Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow. “Why? Did the Liu residence mistreat you?”

Could it be that they looked down on him as nothing but a spoiled young lord, unworthy of their precious daughter?

In her past life, the Liu family had eagerly married Liu Yan off as the Second Prince’s concubine. When the Second Prince died, they’d swiftly bundled Liu Yan and Liu Xu together and sent them into the Third Prince’s household.

With their grasping ways, it was only natural they’d disdain Shang Hang Yu now.

But imagining this possibility left Sheng Zhi Wan strangely irritated. Just like when she overheard Shang Xiu Yuan and Wang Huai Zhi belittling him in the tavern.

In the past, when Eastern Wa invaded and the entire kingdom stood helpless, it was Shang Hang Yu who had driven away the enemy with unmatched power, reclaiming five lost states. It was Shang Hang Yu who prevented the fall of the Sheng Kingdom, sparing countless lives from ruin.

Yet, a man like him was now scorned by these petty, scheming parasites!

How dare they?

Sheng Zhi Wan’s brows knitted tighter.

Shang Hang Yu, who’d only been half-serious, saw her displeasure and felt genuinely regretful.

“What could they possibly do to me?” He shrugged lightly. “But if I’d known rescuing her would upset you, Princess, I’d have pretended I never saw her.”

“Oh?” Sheng Zhi Wan pushed aside the untouched tea. “She’s a Liu daughter. Would Second Young Master Shang truly bear to ignore her plight?”

“What’s there to bear?” Shang Hang Yu sneered. “If she hadn’t looked so embarrassingly clumsy splashing in the water, I wouldn’t have even bothered using my whip to drag her ashore. Now that whip is spoiled by her touch—I’ll have to throw it away.”

He looked even more regretful now.

Sheng Zhi Wan paused, startled. “That’s how you saved her?”

“What else? Did you expect me to jump in myself and fish her out?” Shang Hang Yu’s eyes filled with disdain.

Unable to hold back, Sheng Zhi Wan let out a soft laugh. “If a Liu family lady can’t catch your eye, I wonder what kind of woman could?”

As soon as the words left her lips, his gaze fell intensely upon her.

In the dimness of the room, his stare burned like flame.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s smile froze beneath his heated gaze. Finally, her lashes trembled slightly, and she swiftly changed the subject. “Since Second Young Master Shang has returned, how is the situation in Tedan?”

Chuckling quietly, Shang Hang Yu didn’t press further.

For him, even this was enough.

In the past, the boldest he’d ever dared was stealing her away in dreams—and he’d ended up beaten soundly for it.

“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, suppressing his swirling thoughts and turned serious. “We’ve already closed our operation there.”

“What?” Sheng Zhi Wan was startled again. “So quickly?”

This was at least two months earlier than she’d expected!

“Yes, we underestimated Tedan’s Commerce Guild system. Their merchants were far more aggressive than anticipated, though such greed made them vulnerable.”

Shang Hang Yu handed her a piece of paper. “This is our total earnings.”

Unfolding it, Sheng Zhi Wan inhaled sharply.

Thirty-six million taels of silver!

Moreover, there were notes from various Tedan guilds, totaling over sixty million taels yet to be cashed.

“Also,” Shang Hang Yu continued, “as requested, we’ve exchanged silver for grain, horses, and medicine as much as possible. Iron is tricky—Tedan strictly controls it, and transporting it into Sheng Kingdom might lead to confiscation.”

Sheng Zhi Wan nodded thoughtfully. “It’s fine. Store them temporarily at Yi Prefecture’s border.”

Yi and Zhi Prefectures bordered Tedan—Yi in the north, Zhi in the south. Sheng Zhi Wan intended to leverage the northern famine to recruit refugees, making Yi more convenient for transport.

But that was a last resort.

War always harmed commoners most. If possible, she’d prefer taking power without bloodshed, even at the cost of maintaining idle troops.

“There’s too much silver. It’ll take at least three to five days to reach the capital. Where do you plan to store it?” Shang Hang Yu asked.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes lowered. “Split it in two. Store half in Second Young Master Shang’s commerce guild. The other half, send to Manifest Dragon Mountain.”

She explained her plans regarding the Northern Desert famine, the iron mine in Manifest Dragon Mountain, and Du Yi Zhi’s task of purchasing cotton and recruiting people for mining operations.

“But iron alone isn’t enough,” Sheng Zhi Wan looked directly at Shang Hang Yu. “The famine will create countless refugees. I intend to use the silver to feed them and eventually turn them into loyal forces.”

Her meaning was clear, though veiled.

Raising private armies was punishable by death. Revealing this openly was both a sign of trust and a test.

She knew Shang Hang Yu commanded his own troops.

But he didn’t know that she knew.

If he were truly devoted—even just due to that mysterious affection—he’d surely reveal something now.

Even silence, if he agreed to train refugees for her, would bind them irrevocably.

The room grew quiet. Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyelashes quivered lightly.

Shang Hang Yu met her gaze and smiled gently. “Since Princess trusts me enough to entrust such a fortune, then I won’t hide from you.”

“I do have skilled trainers. Moreover, my troops are stationed between Shuo and Ting Prefectures. If Princess is interested, I can someday bring you there.”

He spoke casually, as if discussing a scenic view rather than confessing treasonous secrets.

Sheng Zhi Wan blinked, genuinely surprised.

She’d expected him to agree—but not to lay out his cards so openly, even revealing where his secret army was stationed.

Anyone else might have doubted him, but she’d lived through Shang Hang Yu’s rise to prominence, knowing full well he’d launched his resistance from precisely those locations.

He spoke the truth.

Yet… why?

Did he truly trust her that much?

Seeing her confusion, Shang Hang Yu couldn’t suppress his curiosity anymore. He’d meant to take it slowly, but…

Did she really not remember at all?

“Does Princess know why I bothered to rescue that Liu girl?” he asked abruptly.

The topic shifted so quickly Sheng Zhi Wan couldn’t react.

Yet, he didn’t wait for her reply.

Shang Hang Yu murmured bitterly, “Of course, a noble person like you probably long forgot.”

“What?” Sheng Zhi Wan frowned.

“Nothing.” Shang Hang Yu huffed quietly.

But his sulky expression clearly suggested otherwise.

Glancing at him briefly, Sheng Zhi Wan nodded coldly. “If it’s truly nothing, Second Young Master Shang should return early. I’ll trouble you to handle matters at Manifest Dragon Mountain.”

She quickly informed him of how to contact Du Yi Zhi.

Her voice remained formal, strictly business.

The small opening in Shang Hang Yu’s heart slammed shut again.

He refused to believe she couldn’t see his agitation.

But she wouldn’t humor him.

Feeling inexplicably dejected, Shang Hang Yu nodded stiffly, accepted the token, and walked toward the window.

His hand lifted the curtain, but his steps suddenly halted.