Chapter 38 "You can say you are my wife..."

Chaotian Hall.

The emperor sat alone on the high dragon throne, his hand supporting his forehead. The candlelight shone on her, but it did not reach her face; it only illuminated her robes.

Her face was shrouded in darkness, only her voice still held a hint of emotion, "How did the banquet go?"

Zhan Yunmei placed her hands on her knees, turned her head to look at the snowy landscape outside the long window, and said, "Everything has been arranged properly. If nothing unexpected happens, Grand Secretary Zhang should be close to death."

“Alright,” the emperor yawned, smoothed his knees, stood up, and went to Zhan Yunmei.

Zhan Yunmei was so engrossed in looking out the window that she didn't notice the emperor walking towards her. By the time she realized it, the emperor had already slipped a string of silver coins with colorful strings into her hand.

"Yunmei, Happy New Year! I've been so busy this year, please tell your aunt not to blame me."

Just then, a female official outside the palace knocked on the door and reported in a panic, "Your Majesty, there was an assassin at the banquet, and Grand Secretary Zhang has been injured..."

"Another person was also injured."

The female official was new to the palace, clumsy and flustered. She couldn't remember who the other injured person was, only that he was tall and thin, and his clothes were ornately patterned.

Zhan Yunmei bid farewell to the emperor and hurried out of the hall. She grabbed a palace maid and asked with barely perceptible urgency, "Who had an accident at the banquet?"

The palace maid, flustered, answered in a panic, "Yes, there is Grand Secretary Zhang, uh... and... oh right, and Uncle Liang."

Suddenly, I breathed a sigh of relief.

With the new emperor ascending the throne, it was a particularly special case that a woman was in power. Offspring became a sensitive topic, especially since Grand Secretary Zhang felt that the emperor valued offspring and husbands, and repeatedly put her in a dangerous position.

Then there's the matter of disaster relief grain. The emperor values ​​people's livelihoods highly, and he entrusts disaster relief matters to people with high authority. With a little investigation, it's easy to find out which link in the chain went wrong. Trying to use this matter to exclude and suppress Zhan Yunmei, or to pressure the emperor, is a gross underestimation of them.

Without shedding blood, how could the officials be intimidated? Next spring, new officials would be recruited, and the bloodline of the new dynasty could be completely replaced. Hua Lang had confessed to the legacy of the previous dynasty, and the emperor used this as a pretext to pardon him and invite him to the New Year's banquet. Although he had already been pardoned, it was still necessary to maintain appearances.

It's a pity that other people were also involved at the banquet.

Liang Rong was carried into the Imperial Hospital. The imperial physician said that his injuries were not serious; he only had a shoulder injury and was otherwise fine.

After offering her brief words of comfort, Zhan Yunmei was about to leave when Liang Rong opened his eyes, weakly grabbing Zhan Yunmei's sleeve, his eyes filled with bright tears.

She turned around, and Liang Rong's tears fell down her cheeks.

She cried out in anguish, "General, that wicked son of yours has ruined me!"

.

Hua Lang had already left the palace under Yao Shuniang's arrangement. The emperor was busy, so Madam Zhan did not need to make a special trip to pay her respects and had already returned to the General's Mansion.

The main hall of the General's Mansion was lit up, and thick snow was falling outside. Zhan Yan returned to the General's Mansion first and sat in the main hall. Hua Lang and Yao Shuniang returned later.

Hearing footsteps outside the lobby, Zhan Yan turned around from under the lamplight, "Shuniang?"

Yao Shuniang stepped forward quickly, "General Pingbei."

Hua Lang followed closely behind, bowing his head slightly, and said, "General Pingbei."

Zhan Yan looked at the slender and tall person in front of her. The heavy cloak draped over his body did not make him look bulky; on the contrary, it made him look even thinner.

However, Hua Lang had his head down, so she couldn't see his face. She asked Yao Shuniang to leave first, and when only the two of them were left in the hall, she asked, "Are you Hua Lang?"

Zhan Yan has been stationed in Beiyuan for most of the year and rarely comes to the capital. He has hardly ever seen Hua Lang, and even if he had, he would probably still be in some corner of the palace.

So, she shouldn't know him. Either Zhan Yunmei told her, or she found out about him herself.

Hua Lang said, "Greetings, General Pingbei. This servant is Hua Lang."

“Raise your head.”

For some reason, I didn't have the courage to look up. Perhaps it was because of the things I had just done that made me feel guilty, or perhaps it was because this was Zhan Yunmei's mother, who exuded a kind of oppressive and authoritative aura.

But I had no choice but to look up and do as I was told.

Zhan Yan slowly examined Hua Lang's features with a calm expression, leaving Hua Lang unable to decipher her.

Fortunately, he wasn't facing Zhan Yunmei. Hua Lang wasn't timid. He raised his eyes to meet Zhan Yan's gaze, letting her see his eyes clearly. After seeing them clearly, he lowered his eyelids again, letting her scrutinize him.

“Hmm,” Zhan Yan nodded, sat down to the side, and casually asked, “Do you usually spend time with Yun Mei?”

"yes."

How has the General's Mansion treated you?

He thought for a moment and then said truthfully, "They treat me very well."

"Oh, very good?" Zhan Yan retorted, "Why do you keep calling yourself a servant? Are you a servant of this household?"

That really hits home.

How could Hua Lang know? He had been troubled by this question for a long time. He didn't know what role he played. He said he was a servant, but what master would sleep with a servant every day, or play with a servant on the couch?

To claim that he is the person Zhan Yunmei likes? That's utterly shameless.

After thinking it over, it seems that describing myself as Zhan Yunmei's plaything on her bed is the most appropriate, but I can't say it out loud.

He fell silent for a moment, at a loss for words.

The lobby was silent.

Soon, Zhan Yan burst out laughing. Unlike Zhan Yunmei's gentle laughter, her laughter was very hearty.

"Don't be nervous, Eunuch Hua Lang is very precious in the General's Mansion," Zhan Yan waved her hand, "Go back and rest. It's cold at night, and Yun Mei said you're not feeling well, so be careful not to catch a cold."

The laughter, though not loud, was deafening, leaving Hua Lang flattered and surprised... What did this mean? Had Zhan Yunmei mentioned him to her family...?

Even after returning to the main house, Hua Lang was still in a daze. Suddenly remembering that he needed to arrange a guest room for Zhan Yan, he got up again, called Yao Shuniang over, and asked her to go downstairs and start tidying up.

When Zhan Yunmei returned to the manor, it was already quite late. Most of the people in the manor had gone to bed. After learning from Yao Shuniang that Zhan Yan was still waiting for her, she went to the main hall first.

Zhan Yan remained seated, and waved to Zhan Yunmei when she returned.

“Mother,” Zhan Yunmei stepped forward and stood in front of Zhan Yan.

After more than a year apart, they met again without much concern. Zhan Yunmei had previously caused a minor disturbance by supporting the current emperor's overthrow of the previous dynasty, and neither of them were fond of small talk. Zhan Yan only asked about the current situation casually before getting straight to the point.

Zhan Yan said, "What are your plans for the future? Standing by the emperor's side is not a long-term solution."

"Once everything is settled, we will return to Beiyuan."

"Take him with you?"

Zhan Yunmei knew who Zhan Yan was referring to, and nodded, "Take her away."

Raising an army in rebellion is a matter of life and death. Zhan Yan initially disagreed with Zhan Yunmei's plan to overthrow the current dynasty and establish a new one, as it would be extremely difficult. Ironically, things unfolded as Zhan Yan had predicted. She caught a glimpse of the emperor from afar; he was emaciated, and even makeup couldn't hide his exhaustion. Zhan Yunmei had also lost weight, though she still possessed some spirit. Zhan Yan had watched both Zhan Yunmei and the emperor grow up. In today's context, such thoughts seemed disrespectful, but deep down, she considered them both her own flesh and blood. Seeing them in such a state now, she couldn't help but feel heartache.

After feeling sorry for them, Zhan Yan realized that they were doing it willingly, so she stopped interfering.

Zhan Yan said, "Is he willing to go with you? Judging from his appearance, he's not having a very good time in the manor."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Yunmei paused for a moment.

She didn't know what was wrong with Hua Lang. He looked thin and pitiful, and no matter how she tried to raise him, she couldn't make him any more lively. She had some doubts, wondering if Hua Lang simply didn't want to stay by her side, which was why he was like this.

However, the way Hua Lang looked at her didn't seem right.

Zhan Yunmei abandoned excessive thinking and stated bluntly, "If he doesn't want to, I'll just kidnap him."

Zhan Yan felt helpless about her daughter's domineering nature, but she didn't interfere much, since she couldn't control her anyway, so she just let her be.

What's the point of trying to reason with someone who rebels over a eunuch?

On the way back to the main house, Zhan Yunmei pondered for a moment whether it was a bad idea to bring him to the mansion. She didn't seem to have asked for his opinion.

But after only a moment of reflection, she opened the door and saw Hua Lang asleep on the table, and immediately put her reflections behind her.

“Hua Lang,” Zhan Yunmei bent down and poked Hua Lang’s cheek. He didn’t wake up, so she kept poking him.

Keep poking people until they wake up.

"General?" Hua Lang blinked blankly, and when his senses returned, he was about to say something.

Suddenly, Zhan Yunmei asked, "What did you do at the banquet today?"

I was shocked to hear that.

After seeing Liang Rong in the Imperial Garden, he couldn't stand Liang Rong's obsequious attitude and scoffed at it.

He admires Zhan Yunmei, but instead tries to please her family. What kind of behavior is that?

That's another story. Unexpectedly, when Zhan Yan entered the banquet, Liang Rong specifically sought him out. At that time, Yao Shuniang was not around, yet Liang Rong dared to make sarcastic remarks.

Actually, it's nothing more than belittling him.

Hua Lang had no interest in arguing with Liang Rong, so he rolled his eyes and returned to the banquet, where he happened to run into the assassin.

They kicked Liang Rong into the banquet hall and let him take an arrow.

Hua Lang did not think he was wrong, because it was Liang Rong who spoke first, saying that he had defiled Zhan Yunmei.

Although I got my revenge, it still wasn't satisfying enough.

"I didn't do anything," Hua Lang replied sullenly, turning her face away. "I've been waiting for you, but you haven't come back."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "The general always makes me wait."

Her tone was low and pitiful, without complaint or blame, only unspeakable grievances. If you listened carefully, it seemed... there was even a faint sob in her voice.

Zhan Yunmei reached out, pinched Hua Lang's chin, lifted his face, and glanced at his eyebrows and eyes. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she pressed her eyes down. Every inch of her gaze was... a show of weakness.

He probably doesn't realize that this is blatant seduction.

She loosened her grip, and immediately pinch marks and red marks appeared on his chin, which looked strangely stunning against his fair skin.

A crisp slap landed beside my ear.

Zhan Yunmei suddenly came to her senses, clenched her fists, and couldn't help but slap Hua Lang.

He tilted his head to the side, raised his hand in a daze to cover the side of his face that had been hit, and his eyes trembled in disbelief.

I feel so wronged.

I feel so wronged!

Tears streamed down Hua Lang's face, leaving her cheeks streaked with tears. Although she had been beaten before, none of them had ever made her feel so wronged.

He almost choked up.

There was not a trace of anger, only endless defeat.

Suddenly, she was pushed against the edge of the table by a force, her waist was slammed, and the sudden pain stopped her crying. Hua Lang looked up in a daze, not having time to see anything clearly.

A warm sensation swept over his lips as the person kissing him frantically invaded him, biting his tongue with their teeth, and a warm hand caressed his waist.

Hua Lang's mind went blank, and she stopped crying.

"Next time you need to find me, just have your attendant come. Shuniang must stay by your side." Zhan Yunmei released her lips and glanced down. She had kissed Hua Lang too hard, and the scab on Hua Lang's lower lip, which hadn't healed, fell off again, causing blood to seep out.

She raised her hand and rubbed it onto his lips.

"I don't blame you for hurting people, but you need to be more careful. Some things are not easy to clean up," she gently rubbed Hua Lang's cheek, which was red from being slapped, to make him cry and coax him back to his senses, otherwise there would be no next time.

It wasn't coaxing, but rather it sounded like enticement, or rather, eroding his thoughts to make him adapt.

He heard her gentle voice lingering around him.

"This slap wasn't your fault. I only hit you because I like you. Why would I touch someone I don't like?"

"What?" Hua Lang seemed a little confused.

What's the meaning?

How did hitting him turn into liking him...?

This is so strange.

But he accepted, and even tentatively reached out and wrapped his arms around Zhan Yunmei's neck.

She slowly unfastened her cloak, revealing clear marks on her body beneath her light-colored clothing—teeth marks and lip prints—resembling the winter plum blossoms in the snow outside the window.

Zhan Yunmei kissed the traces she had left behind, offered a hand for Hua Lang to hold, and gently lifted him onto the table.

The document booklets were really in the way, and she was a little annoyed by them, so she waved her hand and swept them all to the ground.

Raise your knee and place it between his legs.

Zhan Yunmei kissed him again, but unlike Jiang Cai's domineering behavior, this time it was tender and affectionate, consistent with her usual style. She gently parted his lips and entwined them.

Hua Lang unconsciously retreated, but she patiently pulled him back again and again.

“Your mother likes you very much,” Zhan Yunmei said, “but she thinks you are too thin.”

Hua Lang rested her head on the back of Zhan Yunmei's neck, her mind in a daze. Upon hearing her words, she quickly replied, "Oh... I understand, I'll eat more."

As for whether Zhan Yan actually said it or not, he didn't have time to think about it for the time being.

"When your mother asked who you were in the household, what did you say?"

He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, then opened them again, and said intermittently, in pain, "I didn't say anything."

"Why won't you tell me?" she kept pressing.

He clenched his teeth, suppressing a groan. He didn't know anything; he knew nothing at all. His thoughts seemed to have been shattered by her, broken into ruins.

"I don't know... I don't know what to say..."

Zhan Yunmei chuckled softly, feeling that it was about time; too long would make Hua Lang uncomfortable. She gently pushed him away from her, and his eyes, glistening with tears, became blurry and unfocused.

She pursed her lips, showing a guilty conscience, but her guilt was less than her wickedness. Before he could regain his senses, she pressed her hand against his wound.

Then distract him, "You can say you're my wife, or my favorite, whatever you want."

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Author's Note: Zhan Yan: Is he willing to go with you? (Question)

Zhan Yunmei: I don't know, but it's possible to snatch it.

Hua Lang: I do QnQ