Chapter 32 (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)

Chapter Thirty-One

Lin Rong didn't sleep well that night.

When I woke up, I lifted the covers.

She only felt that her underwear was sticky.

Lin Rong suddenly remembered what happened last night...

Those belong to Pei Zan.

Lin Rong sighed, thankful that she had drunk the herbal medicine last night; otherwise, given Pei Zan's greed, he would have caused trouble sooner or later.

Lin Rong used the remaining hot water to wipe herself down, changed into clean clothes, and stepped out of the tent.

Lin Rong wanted to visit Sesame. She brought a large bunch of grass that had been wiped dry with dew, and also brought Sesame a piece of maltose.

Horses can taste sweetness and usually love to eat fruits and sweets, but they shouldn't overindulge to avoid upset stomachs.

Lin Rong inquired everywhere and finally found Sesame, the horse that had been left in the far corner of the stable.

Lin Rong ran over happily, hugged the horse's neck tightly, and buried her face in the fine mane.

Sesame seemed pleased to see Lin Rong, stomping its front hooves and snorting a few times.

Lin Rong fed it candy and checked Sesame's injury.

Fortunately, a medic helped remove the arrow and applied medicine, and the bleeding stopped.

Lin Rong thought of that night when Sesame was injured, yet still wanted to wade through the water to carry her... He was just a beast in other people's eyes, yet he was more affectionate and righteous than a human.

Suddenly, Lin Rong felt a stinging pain in her nose, and her eyes burned.

Lin Rong wiped away her tears. She made a decision in her heart: she would let Sesame go; she couldn't let it stay trapped here.

Lin Rong applied medicine to Sesame again, and after confirming that its wound was not deep and could heal on its own, she led the reins and walked step by step toward the gate of the military camp.

Lin Rong had a history of running away, so Pei Zan kept a close eye on her. At the slightest sign of trouble, Uncle Feng would immediately report to his master.

Upon learning that Lin Rong only wanted to release a stallion, Pei Zan did not stop her.

Lin Rong knew that even if she tried to escape on Sesame again, Pei Zan could easily catch her. Not to mention that there were so many cavalry and archers in the camp. With a single military order, thousands of arrows would be fired, and she would be riddled with arrows in an instant.

Lin Rong still wanted to live, so she wouldn't act rashly.

Lin Rong untied the horse's reins and saddle, removing all the shackles from those sesame seeds.

She patted the horse's neck and said to Sesame, "Run, don't come back, no one will catch you."

Lin Rong slapped the horse's back hard, urging Sesame to leave.

The distant fields stretched as far as the eye could see, bathed in brilliant sunlight that cast a golden glow upon the land.

She watched Sesame slowly kick its hooves and run forward, and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

Lin Rong saw Sesame off and turned to return to camp.

Before she could even step into the military camp, something suddenly nudged her vest.

Lin Rong turned around blankly and met a pair of blinking horse eyes.

Sesame is back?

Lin Rong was incoherent. She wanted to speak, but her throat felt like it was blocked with cotton, and she suddenly choked up.

"Why did you come back? Do you want to come with me?" Lin Rong also felt that it was a bit ridiculous for her to cry over a horse. With tears in her eyes, she forced a smile. "But I can't take good care of you. What if you die one day..."

But Sesame either didn't understand or didn't care.

It bent its knees and stubbornly pawed at Lin Rong, urging her to mount the horse.

Lin Rong's heart softened. After thinking for a moment, she grabbed the horse's mane and carefully climbed onto its back.

"Never mind, let's go."

And so, the man and his horse staggered back to the military camp.

-

Two days later, the army set off together for the Luzhou camp.

Lin Rong didn't have many personal belongings; the only thing she needed to carry was sesame seeds.

Uncle Feng already knew that this mongrel horse was the young mistress's beloved horse, and he specifically instructed the stableman to take good care of it and not to neglect it in the slightest.

Sesame is now living a life of luxury just like its father, Moyu. Not only does it have the finest horse feed, but it also gets an extra meal of sweet fruit every day.

On the day of the trip, Zheng Huiyin pulled Lin Rong into the car.

She lowered the carriage curtain and asked mysteriously, "Rong'er, on the night you went back... did Governor Pei beat you?"

Lin Rong paused for a moment, then shook her head.

Zheng Huiyin breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought that Pei Zan was so violent that he might beat people in private.

Zheng Huiyin pulled her to sit down. Seeing that it was raining and the weather was cold, she put a silver hand warmer into Lin Rong's hand to keep her warm.

"Do you know that the Wu family daughter from Luzhou will be marrying into the family in a few months?"

Lin Rong had already heard about this from Pei Zan the day before yesterday.

“I know, that’s Governor Pei’s legal wife.”

Zheng Huiyin genuinely liked Lin Rong. After thinking for a moment, she decided to tell Lin Rong all the information she had gathered recently, "You must be very careful of this Miss Wu. She is no pushover."

Seeing Lin Rong's bewildered expression, Zheng Huiyin tapped her forehead and reminded her, "This third young lady is clearly a sheltered young lady who rarely shows her face in public, yet she has managed to attract the jealousy and rivalry of the sons of prominent families in Luzhou. They even disregarded their parents' wishes and personally sent matchmakers to propose marriage. However, her mother was originally a concubine who was promoted to the position of principal wife, and the noble families who valued social standing were unwilling to marry a wife with no support, so those marriages fell through."

"Rong'er, think about it. If she really never leaves her home, how did she manage to attract so many young men from noble families? They all insist on marrying her, even causing chaos and disorder. This woman is cunning and shrewd. You must be very careful in dealing with her."

Lin Rong nodded and thanked Zheng Huiyin for her kindness.

But in her heart she thought that she was just a concubine of low status and little influence. Who did she think she was, and how could she be qualified to interfere in the affairs of the mistress of the house?

Pei Zan thinks it's a good idea, so he can marry her; it's none of Lin Rong's business.

Before Lin Rong could even finish her tea and swallow the cake in her hand, Uncle Feng was already knocking on the carriage door, asking her to change carriages and travel together.

Zheng Huiyin guessed that Pei Zan had come in person to demand her return. She was furious but helpless, as she hadn't spent much time with Lin Rong yet!

Helpless, Zheng Huiyin could only watch as Lin Rong made an apologetic and resigned expression and left.

Guided by Uncle Feng, Lin Rong lifted her skirt and stepped into the green-canopied carriage where Pei Zan was.

The car door closed, and Lin Rong knelt on the ground. When she looked up, she saw Pei Zan's dark phoenix eyes.

For some reason, she felt a strange sense of dread.

She and Pei Zan hadn't seen each other for two whole days since their last sexual encounter.

Lin Rong was happy to have some free time, assuming that Pei Zan was busy with military affairs, so she didn't inquire about his whereabouts.

But looking at Pei Zan's expression today, his aura was so cold and indifferent, it was clear that he was not very happy.

Could it be that there are some military difficulties?

Lin Rong's head was spinning, and her mind was wandering.

While she was still in a daze, Pei Zan slowly put down the brush that was full of ink. The man's wide sleeves fluttered lightly, and his jade fingers grasped Lin Rong's slender wrist. In the blink of an eye, he pulled her into his arms.

Caught off guard by the attack, Lin Rong stumbled and fell into Pei Zan's warm, sandalwood-scented embrace.

She sat on Pei Zan's lap, both surprised and frightened. Her buttocks felt like they were being gnawed by ants, a tingling and numb sensation that made her restless.

It wasn't that the man's kneecaps were too hard and hurt her.

Lin Rong knew that Pei Zan was the type who wouldn't come to the temple without a reason, so his sudden pulling her into his arms must have some ulterior motive.

As expected, Pei Zan's breathing became slightly heavy.

Those long, icy fingers, as cold as snow, hooked around her underpants.

The cool hands kneaded the soft flesh of her snowy waist without any rhythm.

"Does it still hurt?"

Lin Rong, remembering the swelling and pain she still felt after applying the ointment, could only reply with a pale face, "I'm not fully healed yet, I'm afraid I can't serve the young master..."

Lin Rong felt uneasy as she recalled the scene of Pei Zan crying and shouting without stopping.

She felt sweat beading on her nose and was somewhat anxious, but she dared not move away and could only helplessly clench her fists.

Pei Zan lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

He clearly understood what Lin Rong meant...

But they still wanted to test the waters further.

Then, Lin Rong felt Pei Zan's calloused fingertips pause slightly.

Crushed on that fertile, wounded area.

Pei Zan stroked it gently, his attitude carefree.

Lin Rong's shoulders and back were stiff as she helplessly endured Pei Zan's offense.

The dazed look in her eyes gradually faded only after he withdrew his finger.

Pei Zan wiped the dampness from her fair fingertips.

They rolled over Lin Rong's skirt bit by bit.

Wipe it clean.

Even so, he did not let Lin Rong go, but simply held her and said something ambiguous.

"Can't you eat?"

"That's not necessarily true... Lin Rong, you're clearly very greedy."

-

Late at night, in Luzhou, at the Wu family ancestral home.

Wu Nianzhen, the third daughter of the second wife, had just been reprimanded by her eldest cousin Wu Chong and understood most of the situation.

The governor Pei, whom she was to marry in the future, kept a very favored concubine in his backyard.

Wu Nianzhen was not a foolish woman. Of course she knew that Pei Zan had connections everywhere and was now the uncrowned king of the six southern states. In the future, when heroes compete for power, he might even be able to conquer the world. How could she let go of such a great figure who could influence the world?

She was just a concubine.

Wu Nianzhen touched her pretty face, which had been maintained with face cream, and remembered her mother Liu's words.

"Everyone is talking behind your back about how you were raised by a concubine, but which of them isn't jealous that you now have a mother who was once a concubine but has been elevated to the status of a wife? Power and wealth are things that can be tangibly grasped, and those are the real good things... Did your late wife really die of illness? It's just that a noblewoman from a high-ranking family couldn't bring herself to flatter her husband, and she slowly died from the accumulated resentment."

Wu Nianzhen learned from her mother the true cause of her late wife, Madam Lu's, death.

The second wife, Madam Lu, and the second master were a young couple, deeply in love. Madam Lu dreamed of a lifelong, monogamous relationship, but the second master's heart wavered, and he was seduced by her mother, Madam Liu.

It all started as a fleeting affair after drinking. If Lady Lu had been wise, she could have easily taken her mother into the side gate as a concubine when the second master felt guilty, and she could have gained some of her husband's reliance and pity.

Unfortunately, Lady Lu felt betrayed by her husband. Instead of giving the second master a way out, she made a huge scene, causing him to lose face and dignity. The couple drifted apart from then on.

Several times, Lady Lu wanted to see her husband, so she personally went to the concubine's residence to bring him soup.

But her mother, Madam Liu, was cunning. She deliberately wore a gauze dress that had been scented with the second master's clothes to greet people, and when she curtsied, she intentionally showed several red marks on her chest from pinching...

Looking at the mottled and messy "kiss marks," Madam Lu was so angry that her eyes turned red. She smashed the bowl of sweet soup in the yard and never went to see the Second Master again.

Liu spent several years planting a thorn in the heart of the mistress, finally enduring until the day Lu died.

After that, Lady Liu gave birth to five sons. With her two children, she was elevated to the position of wife and no longer had to be mindful of others' opinions.

All Liu wanted was a good life. She didn't mind that the second master kept mistresses outside and indulged in romantic escapades within the mansion.

This shows Liu's magnanimity, but also her ruthlessness.

She advised her daughter: "Zhen'er, you must pretend to be generous, virtuous, and considerate. Win over the man's heart first, and then worry about other things. This marriage is a great opportunity for you to transform from a sparrow into a phoenix! You must remain calm and keep Governor Pei in check. You must know that this is the highest branch you can reach."

Wu Nianzhen heeded her mother's teachings... She knew that this marriage was forced upon the Wu family. Perhaps Pei Zan had assessed the situation before reluctantly agreeing. He held the Wu family in contempt and wanted to put them in a bad light, which was why he so blatantly displayed his favored concubine in public, deliberately embarrassing her.

Pei Zan's attitude was clear: he would fulfill the marriage agreement, but he would not respect or value Wu Nianzhen. Wu Nianzhen should be prepared and not cause trouble in the back of the Pei residence.

But Wu Nianzhen didn't care at all. She knew that she was so beautiful that few men could resist falling in love with her.

Wu Nianzhen always has opportunities to seduce Pei Zan.

As long as she successfully gives birth to a child and gains a foothold in the inner courtyard... she can tolerate her being just a concubine who has been favored for many years.

The author's note: I've seen some criticisms that the idea of ​​a legal wife not providing offspring is idealistic.

First of all, Pei Zan's power far exceeded that of the Wu family. Therefore, under this background, it was a favor for him to keep his promise of marriage. His consensus with the Wu family was to only reach the "marriage" agreement and make the Wu family dependent on him, without caring about the fact of the "marriage".

Therefore, if Pei Zan didn't want to give the Wu family an heir, he wouldn't touch his legal wife. On the other hand, he was actually quite "clean-minded" and only had eyes for Rong'er. If it weren't for his career and some other plans, he probably wouldn't have gotten married... After all, it's very rare for a man to lose his virginity at the age of 27, and he was quite stubborn in this regard.

However, Pei Zan currently has no concept of chastity. He always does things "I like it, so I do it." He doesn't like others, so forcing him is useless.

Let's keep reading the rest. If you really find something unreasonable or annoying, you can put it aside for now and don't worry too much about it. I'll continue writing mine and stick to my outline to finish this book! I saw everyone's comments, and they were so heartwarming. Thank you, everyone! I love you all!

Many of Duan Ping's works are super cute too, mwah!

This is kind of an extra update, but Wednesday's update is before 11 PM because I'm not feeling well today, so I'll rest first and write tomorrow. [hugs]