My Partner Always Wants to Dig My Grave - Chapter 31

The shattered teacup was hastily cleared away by the servants who had entered, but the tea spilled on the floor still shimmered, a glaring testament to Sheng Zhen’s fury.

The person standing before Sheng Zhen kept their eyes lowered, their gaze not fixed on her, as if lost in thought. Seeing the other party in such a state, Sheng Zhen, who had never been treated so disrespectfully before, was so enraged that she let out a cold laugh. Her numb hand on the table tightened slightly, and she felt an angry urge to hurl the exquisite porcelain vase on the table as well.

However, years of upbringing allowed Sheng Zhen to regain her composure. She knew full well that such thoughts were improper, so after a moment, she reined in her emotions and sat back down in her chair, gesturing for the unrelated bystanders to leave.

The servants in the residence naturally dared not disobey Sheng Zhen’s command, but they only departed after seeing the other person nod in agreement.

Once only the two of them remained, Sheng Zhen raised a hand to gently massage her temples. She lifted her eyes slightly and shot a glare at the person before her, a flicker of unreadable emotion passing through her gaze. When she finally spoke, she made every effort to suppress her feelings.

“This princess believes the General is an intelligent person and must have long been aware of His Majesty and Her Majesty’s intentions. Your achievements have overshadowed the sovereign, arousing suspicion throughout the court. His Majesty and Her Majesty value talent and do not wish to dishearten the military officials of the realm. However, it seems neither of us desires this arrangement. Yet, General, you may need this opportunity to set their minds at ease.”

Every word seemed reasonable, but the other person knew they should not comply. After a moment of contemplation, they still intended to refuse.

But as soon as the other person began to speak, Sheng Zhen cut them off abruptly.

“General, take some time to reconsider. This princess will take a stroll in the garden and return later to hear your reply.”

With that, Sheng Zhen turned and left, giving the other person no chance to voice their refusal.

Si Wan watched Sheng Zhen’s retreating figure, then shifted her gaze to the person beside her, only to find them also watching Sheng Zhen depart, though the emotion in their eyes remained unreadable.

At that moment, the steward timidly entered. Seeing the person standing there with a cold, silent expression, he immediately wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and attempted to persuade them.

“Young Mistress, you have long resided at the border and may not be familiar with the intricacies of the court. Her Highness the Eldest Princess means well.”

Hearing this, the person fell silent for a long while before letting out a sigh and speaking softly.

“Uncle Zhao, you know that if I attend, the worst outcome would be an imperial decree. But she cannot marry me.”

Si Wan furrowed her brows slightly, seemingly unable to comprehend why the other person would risk defying the emperor’s intentions by refusing to attend the flower banquet hosted by the Eldest Princess.

The steward lowered his head slightly upon hearing this, as if equally resigned.

“But your status, after all…”

The other person raised a hand wearily, cutting off the steward’s words, and asked, “Where has the Eldest Princess gone?”

Hearing this, the steward knew they had likely relented and promptly replied, “Judging by the direction Her Highness took earlier, she should have gone to the garden in the residence.”

Upon learning Sheng Zhen’s whereabouts, the person nodded slightly and made to leave but seemed to remember something. Turning to the steward, they said, “There’s no need to follow me. Just make sure to properly store the tea leaves the Eldest Princess brought.”

The steward hurriedly acknowledged the instruction, and the other person departed as well.

Si Wan remained by that person’s side, often thinking to herself that this dream was far too long.

When Si Wan raised her eyes again, the glaring sunlight momentarily dazzled her. It wasn’t until she stepped under the shade of a tree that she could clearly see the figure in the distance from behind the trunk.

The palace maid who usually accompanied Sheng Zhen was nowhere to be seen, leaving only Sheng Zhen’s solitary figure in the garden.

As Si Wan looked over, she couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

The illusion she had glimpsed in the rain and mist that day seemed to reappear before her eyes at this very moment.

On a swing entwined with flowers sat a woman in luxurious silk robes. The pearl hairpins in her coiled hair chimed softly with her movements, and the vibrant floral decoration on her forehead added a touch of liveliness and tranquility to her usually bold and radiant face. The corners of her lips curled slightly, carrying a faint smile, as though she were somewhat pleased with her surroundings.

The person observing Sheng Zhen on the swing seemed momentarily captivated, their gaze fixed intently on her as if forgetting all proper decorum. The usual sharpness about them appeared softened by a layer of gentleness.

Noticing the gaze directed at her, Sheng Zhen lifted her eyes and looked over from afar, her smile lingering. The filtered sunlight happened to fall upon her, casting a halo of light so breathtaking it made one’s breath catch.

“Si Wan.”

Sheng Zhen seemed to be in good spirits as she called out the name, but her light, cheerful tone almost made Si Wan think she was calling for herself.

Upon hearing Sheng Zhen’s voice, the other person stiffened almost imperceptibly, pursed their lips slightly, and averted their gaze from Sheng Zhen.

Si Wan noticed the person’s tightly clenched hands and felt a flicker of confusion, unable to understand why a mere name would evoke such tension.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through Si Wan’s mind, the wooden tablet in the ancestral hall engraved with her name. She lowered her gaze, lost in thought.

Sheng Zhen narrowed her eyes, her smile fading as if recalling the other person’s repeated refusals. Her expression cooled once more, though her inquiry still carried a hint of politeness.

“General, have you made your decision?”

The other person seemed not to hear Sheng Zhen’s question, their gaze still fixed elsewhere, offering no response for a long while.

Si Wan watched as Sheng Zhen’s expression darkened, just as it had in the illusion from that rainy day. With a cold snort, she spoke in displeasure.

“You ignore me again. What arrogance.”

After saying this, Sheng Zhen stood up and glared in their direction, her eyes filled with such frustration it seemed she wished to tear the person before her to pieces. Then, she turned and walked away.

Si Wan had assumed Sheng Zhen would leave directly, just as she had seen in the illusion.

However, she now realized that Sheng Zhen had taken a detour and approached the other person.

Now standing face to face, the other person, a seasoned warrior, should have instinctively drawn their sword in alertness. Yet, there was no trace of hostility from the figure before them, as if the killing intent honed on the battlefield had been entirely forgotten.

Sheng Zhen frowned slightly, growing suspicious that the other person was deliberately ignoring her even as she stood before them. The polite smile on her face faded, and she waved a hand in front of the other’s eyes, speaking again.

“General Si. Si Wan.”

The last two words carried a clear edge of irritation, reinforcing her belief that this was intentional.

The scent of flowers, accidentally brushed onto her sleeve, wafted forward, overly sweet and cloying, jolting the other person back to awareness.

The woman finally looked at Sheng Zhen before her, but her turn of the head brought them uncomfortably close. She quickly stepped back, cupped her hands in a salute, and spoke.

“Your Highness, please maintain decorum.”

Hearing her words, Sheng Zhen let out a cold laugh and said, “I was merely checking if you’d gone completely stupid, standing there dumbly like that.”

With no one else around, Sheng Zhen’s words held no restraint.

The woman showed no change in expression, paying no mind to her remarks. Her tone remained respectful as she replied to her earlier question. “I shall attend Your Highness’s flower banquet.”

Having spent so much time inviting her only to be met with what felt like condescension, Sheng Zhen had long lost interest. Yet, she still managed to summon a smile, her gaze hiding a trace of cunning calculation as she studied her.

Just then, a palace maid emerged and, at Sheng Zhen’s signal, handed over the invitation that had been repeatedly returned. Before taking her leave, Sheng Zhen smiled politely, her posture elegant and dignified, her eyes betraying an unmistakable arrogance.

“Keep it safe. I shall await the General’s presence.”

Watching Sheng Zhen’s retreating figure, the woman bowed respectfully and said, “Farewell, Your Highness. However, I must ask that you refrain from using my name so casually in the future.”

Sheng Zhen paused mid-step but did not turn back, responding with a cold laugh, “It’s just a name. For the General to be so concerned, one might wonder if there’s something you’re hiding…”

“Your Highness, there is nothing,” came the firm, unwavering reply, which only provoked a mocking chuckle from Sheng Zhen.

Despite the resolute tone of that final statement, Si Wan inexplicably detected a hint of unease. She turned to look at the woman, whose salute remained held for a long moment, her clenched fist trembling slightly.

The woman’s voice and features grew hazy and distorted, the surroundings warping and shifting as fragmented images flashed by. A sharp pain in her head made Si Wan furrow her brows slightly.

When she opened her eyes again, the glaring light made it take a moment for her to realize she was awake. Yet, the dream remained vivid, and the frantic beating of her heart refused to calm no matter how she tried to soothe it.

Instinctively, Si Wan’s gaze searched for Sheng Zhen. Seeing her still seated nearby, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Noticing Si Wan was awake, Sheng Zhen handed her phone over, her mood cheerful as she said, “Si Wan, buy this set for me.”

Hearing Sheng Zhen call her name, it felt as though it overlapped with the voice from her dream. For a moment, Si Wan was dazed, the pale, smiling face before her merging with the Sheng Zhen from her dream.

Sheng Zhen wasn’t angered by Si Wan’s distraction but reached out to gently pinch her cheek, amused as she remarked, “Stunned into silence by my breathtaking beauty again, are you?”

Though the words were narcissistic, Si Wan knew Sheng Zhen truly deserved such praise and that she was only teasing.

The touch on her cheek brought Si Wan back to her senses. She suddenly grabbed Sheng Zhen’s hand, as if needing to confirm something, and asked, “What… did you call me?”

Unfazed by Si Wan’s odd behavior, Sheng Zhen increased the pressure of her pinch, her smile widening as she replied, “Si Wan.”

Her voice lifted slightly, reminiscent of the way she had called “Si Wan” in the dream.

Si Wan released her hand and took the phone from Sheng Zhen. A low battery notification popped up on the screen, prompting her to glance at the battery indicator in the upper right corner, where the faint red bar was nearly depleted.

Sheng Zhen had spent the entire night searching before finally picking one that met her expectations. Since it was Si Wan who had suggested it in the first place, she felt compelled to buy it no matter what.

Thinking this, Si Wan glanced at the style of the clothing before her eyes fell on the price tag below. She fell silent for a long moment, then looked up at Sheng Zhen and spoke carefully.

“This is too expensive.”

…