Chapter 8. His contradictory statements show that he's becoming lax with her...

The eerie emptiness that Zhan Yunmei unearthed quickly disappeared at the time, but left a long and subtle aftertaste.

This lingering taste would linger on Hua Lang's tongue whenever he saw Zhan Yunmei's lips, as if her lips and teeth were still inside his, as if her scent was still in front of him.

Hua Lang just wanted to hide away during this time, and try to talk to Zhan Yunmei as little as possible.

In the morning, Zhan Yunmei got up, but he pretended to be fast asleep and didn't move at all.

Every evening, he hoped that Zhan Yunmei would be too busy to have dinner, so that he could lie down as soon as possible, continue to play dead, and reduce the number of times he appeared in the mansion.

As Hua Lang had hoped, the investigation into Zhan Yunmei's assassination attempt before the review was progressing very slowly, as if someone was deliberately delaying it, and in short, there was no useful progress.

Zhan Yunmei was not a magnanimous person. Since someone wanted to harm her, she had to find out the truth. In addition, with the end of the year approaching, the Beijing garrison was inevitably busy, and it was common for them to miss returning home for dinner.

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Zhan Yunmei still couldn't make it back for dinner. Hua Lang breathed a sigh of relief. After taking a bath, he was in a good mood and accepted the request to have the medicine applied.

Yao Shuniang carried the medicine basin into the main room and placed it on the small table in the outer room. Through a thick pear wood screen, she could glimpse a figure in the inner room, tall and thin, with a straight posture.

Hua Lang was renowned and known to everyone in the previous dynasty. However, even at the height of his power, he was not entirely without malice. He assisted the emperor in handling important national affairs, and many things were managed smoothly by him. He also did not maliciously nitpick at his servants.

Yao Shuniang couldn't immediately determine what kind of person he was.

Occasionally, I wondered what Zhan Yunmei saw in him? Upon receiving the emperor's invitation, he immediately rushed from the border town, leading his troops to conquer the city.

But ultimately, it has little to do with her. She just needs to do what Zhan Yunmei instructed her to do honestly and diligently.

Yao Shuniang silently shook her head, added warm water to the medicine basin, stirred it several times, and reminded from afar, "Eunuch Hua Lang, the medicine is ready, this servant will take her leave now."

Hua Lang did not respond. Even through the screen, he could see Yao Shuniang's puzzled but not inquisitive gaze.

After Yao Shuniang closed the door, Hua Lang went out into the outer room and applied medicine to her fingers as instructed by the physician.

The cool sensation of the herbs spread across his ten fingers, emitting a faint, astringent bitterness. Their presence on his fingers was so strong that Hua Lang could not ignore them.

He's become incredibly sensitive to his fingers.

After Zhan Yunmei uttered those profound words, Hua Lang was restless every day, unable to let go of the resentment even though she hadn't done anything to him.

Filled with fear, apprehension, tension, and a barely perceptible thirst for knowledge, he secretly inquired about some strange and unusual things.

For example, how would we treat someone like Zhan Yunmei? What methods would we use? How would we apply them?

The herbs had completely cooled down, and the dark brown liquid at the bottom dripped onto the edge of the basin, slid onto the table, and stained it. Hua Lang suddenly regained his senses, wiped the excess liquid from his hands with a handkerchief, and then wiped the herbs on the table.

No matter how many times I wipe it, it won't get clean.

"It's fine if it can't be wiped clean, it's just a medicine stain."

Suddenly, Zhan Yunmei's gentle voice rang out from behind him. Hua Lang's heart skipped a beat, and he clenched his handkerchief. He turned around, and Zhan Yunmei took the opportunity to step forward and hug him.

Zhan Yunmei raised an eyebrow, her sharp eyes seemingly seeing through Hua Lang's inner turmoil. "Why didn't you sleep tonight?"

"Get away," Hua Lang nudged her, pulled away from her embrace, and walked straight into the inner room without explaining her question.

"It was just a casual question, why are you so angry?" Zhan Yunmei didn't care about Hua Lang's offense and rudeness. He was a bit fierce, but she wasn't too resistant when she was close to him.

After Zhan Yunmei finished changing her clothes, she came to the bedside, but Hua Lang still had his back to her.

She lifted the covers and got onto the bed, frowning in displeasure at the large empty space in the middle of the wide bedding.

He reached out, grabbed Hua Lang by the collar, and pulled him closer.

Pretending to be dead at this point is useless; Hua Lang can't possibly lie and say he was asleep after being roughly pulled by her.

He himself didn't believe it.

He turned around, glaring angrily at Zhan Yunmei, looking fierce, as if he might pounce on her and bite her at any moment.

"Why are you glaring at me again?" Zhan Yunmei said unconcernedly, and even pulled him closer to her legs. "You did a good job on the thing I asked you to do last Laba Festival. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, so you should go and book a restaurant early. I'll go over there after I finish my shift."

Hua Lang's cheek touched her supple thigh, and he awkwardly tried to sit up, but she held his back and waist, not allowing him to move.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to accept the position. "I won't go."

"What's wrong? Wouldn't it be better to go out for a walk?" Zhan Yunmei touched Hua Lang's face. His hand was as annoying as a mosquito, and he kept swatting her hand away.

She patted him away, but not with much force. Zhan Yunmei wasn't sure if Hua Lang was genuinely resisting or just being reserved, so she lowered her head.

When their eyes met, Hua Lang lost her composure and lowered her gaze, her eyelashes concealing her panicked expression.

"Oh no, is someone outside willing to see me? Going out would only cause me trouble."

Zhan Yunmei was taken aback, then smiled. He had previously said he wanted to leave the General's Mansion and run away, but now it seemed that going out would only cause her trouble.

His contradictory statements are a sign that he's become lax with her.

"Hmm, whatever you want. If you don't want to go, then don't go," Zhan Yunmei said, her mood improving. She reached out to fan out the lamp from the outside of the bed and slowly lay down.

Hua Lang silently crawled to the innermost part of the bed, turning her back to him.

The snow has stopped, and there are signs that the sun will come out.

Yao Shuniang led several strong servants to carry water to the flower hall and refill the water vat.

Hua Langwo returned to the main house, but Zhan Yunmei still asked them to add water to the water tank in the flower hall. He would pick some flowers and plants there when he was in a good mood, but if there was no water, it would make him unhappy.

Yao Shuniang was somewhat surprised; was Eunuch Hua Lang really that stingy?

Hua Lang, who was sitting in the flower hall gazing at the sky, suddenly sneezed. Turning his head, he saw Yao Shuniang leading people in to add water.

"Eunuch Hua Lang?" Yao Shuniang was even more surprised to see Hua Lang come out.

After she shouted, she didn't say anything else. She didn't threaten him like she used to on Laba Festival. He realized that Zhan Yunmei hadn't told him what she had said last night.

Hua Lang pretended to be nonchalant, nodded slightly to Yao Shuniang, and continued to look up at the sky.

The servants filled the water vat, and Yao Shuniang followed them out. Suddenly, she heard someone behind her say, "Take me out."

She immediately sent someone to prepare a carriage to accompany Hua Lang out of the mansion. Along the way, they stopped and started, and Yao Shuniang looked at Hua Lang as if she was looking for something.

She asked, "What are you looking for?"

"Which restaurant is better?" Hua Lang asked, staring out the car window.

Hua Lang spent most of his life in the palace. He had no relatives or friends outside the palace. His private residence and land were managed by special people. He himself rarely left the palace. At most, he would go with the emperor to the imperial palace.

Because of his power and influence in the previous dynasty, he had a broad knowledge base, but because of his power and status, he was confined to his own little world and knew nothing about the outside world.

Following Hua Lang's gaze, Yao Shuniang looked out the window and pointed to a multi-story building. "This restaurant is the most famous in the capital, offering a wide variety of delicacies from all over the world."

Hua Lang looked up and saw a magnificent and luxurious pavilion, huge in scale, which must have cost a lot.

Zhan Yunmei should... not be short of money.

Hua Lang and Yao Shuniang got off the carriage and entered the restaurant. They went to the counter and asked someone to reserve a private room. Just as the manager responded, someone came up to the counter.

"Are there any private rooms available? I'd like to reserve one."

The innkeeper was engrossed in keeping accounts, and was about to smile and say that the room had been booked when he looked up and suddenly exclaimed with delight, "Lord Geng!" But his expression quickly turned somber. "Unfortunately, the last private room has just been booked."

Since the reservation was already made, Geng Qi didn't plan to linger, but upon closer inspection, he saw that Hua Lang was beside him.

Others might be able to give in, but Hua Lang wouldn't.

Geng Qi took out a heavy bag of silver coins. "I'll pay extra. Give me a private room. It's the end of the year, we should reward our Jingying soldiers."

The shopkeeper was in a dilemma, but he accepted the money bag with both hands.

That's quite a lot...

Without hesitation, the shopkeeper smiled ingratiatingly at Hua Lang, his smile perfunctory and shallow, clearly hoping that Hua Lang would give in.

"My esteemed guest, you see, these generals and soldiers faced many hardships in establishing the nation, and they rarely had a day off throughout the year, otherwise..."

“No,” Hua Lang said decisively. “Yao Shuniang, let’s go.”

Yao Shuniang smiled slightly, "Yes."

Indifference is the best response to provocation. Geng Qi, unable to get Hua Lang's wrath, felt a surge of anger.

He had promised his men to drink at this restaurant, and he had already made the promise, but he couldn't get a reservation. It was too embarrassing, especially since it was New Year's Eve tonight, and if he went out to look for other places now, there probably wouldn't be many good ones left.

He wanted to throw money at the innkeeper to force him to give up the private room, but reason prevailed over anger; he didn't want to go against the common people.

So he caught up with Hua Lang, grabbed his shoulder, forced him to turn around, and hurled insults at him.

Geng Qi didn't consider so much; his mind was entirely focused on his dismal military career and Zhan Yunmei's subtle arrogance.

I get so angry just thinking about it!

Besides, Zhan Yunmei was harboring remnants of her evil deeds, and he so righteously kept it a secret for her, without reporting it to the emperor. He had already been loyal enough.

And that's not all. What does the matter of Zhan Yunmei being harmed have to do with him? Rong Ning has no evidence and keeps throwing mud at him.

How could a grown man like him tolerate this?

If you can't argue with your superiors and take it out on them, can't you at least vent your anger on the next person who has fallen on hard times?

Yao Shuniang sensed something was wrong. She steadied Hua Lang and spoke up the moment Geng Qi rushed over: "Lord Geng, why don't you consider the order of arrival?"

“Tsk, it’s just a gathering of military officers anyway, whether General Zhan makes the reservation or I do it,” Geng Qi thought to himself that Zhan Yunmei’s reservation at the restaurant was for the Beijing garrison. “In that case, why bother having this eunuch make the reservation? I feel disgusted sitting in the room he booked.”

Yao Shuniang was unaware of the affair between Zhan Yunmei and Hua Lang. In the instant she became suspicious, Hua Lang suddenly sneered.

"Shameless." Hua Lang slowly glanced at him, her eyes filled with disdain.

Hua Lang is a person who is best at using words and expressions to ridicule others. His meanness and acerbity are written in his eyes and on his face. He can make people angry with just this little skill.

Geng Qi's pride was instantly ignited, and he stormed up to confront Hua Lang.

Just as Hua Lang was about to kick out, a faint, scent resembling camphor wafted from behind him.

A strange idea began to sprout.

He paused for a moment, lowered his eyes, and withdrew his foot, taking the full force of Geng Qi's punch.

A note from the author:

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