Chapter 9 His scheme was completely exposed by her.

Yao Shuniang instinctively reached out to help Hua Lang, who had been knocked backward, but upon seeing the person behind her, she subtly withdrew her movement.

So Hua Langxu fell into an embrace, a familiar embrace.

The fragrance wafted around him, exactly the same as the one he wore.

"How can you be so handsy in public? What kind of rule is that?" Zhan Yunmei supported Hua Lang's arms and patted his lower back with her palm when no one was watching, as a sign of comfort.

She smiled gently as she gazed at Geng Qi.

Geng Qi froze. Why was she here?

He recovered quickly, pointed at Hua Lang, and said angrily, "General, the people in your household who handle affairs are utterly insensitive and have repeatedly provoked me! How can a rough man like me tolerate this?"

Zhan Yunmei raised an eyebrow, tilted her head to look at Hua Lang, and asked him seriously, "Is that so?"

Hua Lang did not push her away immediately, but stood firm and slowly blinked.

He has ulterior motives. She keeps saying she wants him, but keeping him locked up in the mansion and occasionally making him do things isn't really being good to him. Does her kindness mean he won't be mistreated outside?

He was stingy; he just wanted her to prove to him that she was someone he could rely on.

Such an idea was too unattainable for him; he only dared to try it.

Zhan Yunmei caught a glimpse of a different emotion in his indifferent eyes. Whether it was scheming or longing, she couldn't tell for a moment.

At this point, it was impossible for Hua Lang to express her suffering herself; she was just waiting for him to say something.

Hua Lang also understood Zhan Yunmei's meaning and shook his head, "I did not provoke Lord Geng."

“Hmm,” Zhan Yunmei said without suspicion, choosing to believe Hua Lang. Then she said to Geng Qi, “How can you not understand human relationships? In my opinion, if Hua Lang doesn’t understand human relationships, then there is probably no one else in the world who does.”

"Shuniang, tell me what happened."

Suddenly called out, Yao Shuniang raised her eyes, glancing at Geng Qi, whose face was full of resentment, and then at Hua Lang, whose expression was deep.

She had seen all of Hua Lang's little tricks.

Enduring Hua Lang's sinister gaze, Yao Shuniang recounted the events in detail, without adding any personal opinions, merely restating the story.

My personal opinion includes the scene where she saw Hua Lang about to kick him but then pulled her foot back.

Upon hearing this, Zhan Yunmei touched Hua Lang's face with a hint of heartache. This behavior was far too intimate, and he gritted his teeth and glared at her secretly.

Unaware of her surroundings, she chuckled softly and beckoned to her attendant, saying, "Take some money and send it to the Beijing garrison so the officers can host a feast."

He then said to Geng Qi, "Deputy Geng, this private room is not for hosting banquets for the generals. We can't give it away. Take the money back with you and use it to treat the generals to drinks or whatever."

Geng Qi's face darkened immediately, but she had already given him money, and he didn't want to anger her. What if she got upset and acted impulsively, pinning the crime of murder on him?

It's best to stop once you've gained some benefits.

But he couldn't stand it; he was just a eunuch.

Geng Qi took the money, snorted heavily, and reminded Zhan Yunmei: "General, you must open your eyes wide and judge people carefully. Some servants are lawless and think they are some important people!"

"Who is Vice Minister Geng pointing to, Hua Lang?" Zhan Yunmei's gaze followed his.

He scoffed dismissively, "Otherwise what?"

Zhan Yunmei smiled faintly, "Hua Lang is not my servant."

The moment she spoke, Hua Lang glanced at her, his feelings indescribable, a mix of unease and restlessness in his heart.

He only wanted her to show him that she wouldn't let him be bullied, but he never expected her to say these things.

What followed was immense fear, and he wanted to shrink back, but in this situation he had nowhere to hide.

“Not a servant? Could she be a concubine?” Geng Qi didn’t take it seriously, because he didn’t have that concept in his mind. The founding general and the remnant of the previous dynasty were too shocking to say.

He took the money and wisely left.

Zhan Yunmei and her entourage were led into a private room by the waiter. Yao Shuniang stood outside the door on her own initiative. Zhan Yunmei suddenly came out and whispered instructions to her. After listening, she nodded and quickly left the restaurant.

"What would you like to eat?" Zhan Yunmei asked the waiter to show Hua Lang the menu.

Hua Lang glanced at it casually, then waved his hand, indicating that it was nothing to do with him.

"Then let's put on all the dishes listed," Zhan Yunmei said, not worrying about what to eat. After the waiter left and the door was closed, she beckoned to Hua Lang.

Hua Lang lowered his eyes and pretended not to see.

“Come here,” Zhan Yunmei commanded.

Hua Lang stared at the hand on Xi Lan's knee, the tender flesh soaked with the brown stains left by long-term application of medicine, and her knuckles twitched slightly.

“Hua Lang, come here,” Zhan Yunmei repeated.

Hua Lang reluctantly got up and moved slowly in front of Zhan Yunmei, who then pulled him onto her lap.

"Did I do it to your liking?" Zhan Yunmei pressed down on Hua Lang's neck, forcing him to bend over. "Did he hit your face? Does it hurt?"

Her warm concern almost made him believe her.

"So what if it hurts? For someone like me, being beaten and scolded is too lenient," Hua Lang said, trying to back away from Zhan Yunmei. Zhan Yunmei pressed down on his neck, and when he tried to back away, he was about to slam his face into her and fall down.

Therefore, Hua Lang dared not struggle.

Zhan Yunmei gently pinched Hua Lang's cheek that had been slapped. He winced in pain and couldn't help but squint and frown.

"You still say it doesn't hurt," Zhan Yunmei released her grip and lightly touched his lips. "Tell me, did I do what you wanted?"

By deliberately putting on this bullied act, does he really think she doesn't fully understand him?

It's true that she only met him a few times in the imperial court, but that doesn't mean she knew nothing about his past.

Hua Lang was the kind of person who was very servile and loyal to his master. When he accompanied the emperor to the imperial palace, someone attempted to assassinate the emperor on the way and also subjected him to a barrage of insults. At the time, he did not take any action, but only ordered people to protect the emperor.

That night, the entire family disappeared, and soon after, a batch of skeletons was found in the outskirts of Beijing.

Their family had never had any enemies; who else could it be but Hua Lang? The emperor would never bother with such insignificant people; if he did, the whole world would die.

Zhan Yunmei learned all of this from others.

Therefore, Hua Lang is definitely vengeful and violent.

So what if you fall from a position of power? Your habits and mindset won't be easily changed.

"It hurts," Hua Lang lowered her head and leaned on Zhan Yunmei's shoulder to hide her flushed cheeks. "I don't understand what you're saying, but you're not allowed to pinch me anymore."

Zhan Yunmei then realized that she had pinched his face again. She smiled and rubbed his head.

The meal was eaten in silence; no one said anything more, and Hua Lang ate very little.

The two returned to the mansion, took off their outer robes which were still damp with cold, and Hua Lang went to take a bath by himself, ignoring everyone else.

After Zhan Yunmei added charcoal to the stove, there was a knock on the door. It was Yao Shuniang who had returned.

"General, everything you ordered has been done."

Zhan Yunmei nodded, took out some money and gave it to Yao Shuniang, saying, "You've worked hard, still busy on New Year's Eve."

"No trouble at all, thank you, General," Yao Shuniang said with a grateful smile as she accepted the money and quickly left.

"What are your instructions?" Hua Lang stood behind the screen, only half of her body visible, her eyes fixed on Zhan Yunmei.

She knew he was unhappy with her little act of revenge; he was too insecure and would nitpick over everything.

But Zhan Yunmei prefers this version of Hualang.

Even those who stand above thousands of others may have a bunch of minor ailments, but they are all easily treatable.

In Zhan Yunmei's eyes, it wasn't a problem at all.

If her actions can earn his trust.

Zhan Yunmei walked towards the bathroom. "We laid an ambush on Geng Qi's way back home. Are you happy now?"

There was no response.

After bathing, the lights were still on in the inner room, but Hua Lang did not go to sleep.

He sat on the edge of the tatami mat, gazing out the window with a vacant look in his eyes, lost in thought.

She waved her hand, and he gradually came back to his senses, his gaze slowly falling on her.

Zhan Yunmei bent down and kissed Hua Lang's lips, prying open his tightly pursed lips and exploring the moisture in his mouth.

He never responded, and only very rarely would he flick her skin with a barely perceptible touch. But this time was different.

She kissed him for only a short while before he started panting, his hands on her shoulders lost their strength, and his whole body went limp. He would lean back whenever she touched him.

Judging from each reaction, Hua Lang had never behaved like this before Zhan Yunmei, so his body was very sensitive every time he was kissed or touched.

Their tongues intertwined, exchanging breaths. No matter how tough or sarcastic Hua Lang's words were, his lips remained soft, and his lip cavity remained warm and moist.

Zhan Yunmei released him. His eyes were hazy, and before he could react, he stared at her in a daze. She reached out her fingertip and pressed it against his lower lip.

"This is the third time I've asked you tonight. Does it suit your taste?" Zhan Yunmei frowned, but there was no anger on her face.

Hua Lang slowly regained her senses, and just before she was fully awake, her fingertips slipped inside and pressed directly against the base of her tongue.

If you're not careful, Hua Lang will feel like gagging, but she won't give up.

"Can you tell me?" Zhan Yunmei pressed on, swiping back and forth.

His schemes were laid bare by her, leaving him ashamed and utterly humiliated.

Hua Lang didn't speak, but Zhan Yunmei wouldn't let him off the hook. In the end, he couldn't stand her teasing anymore. He bit his finger with his teeth, nodded repeatedly, and his eyes reddened without him realizing it.

He felt his eyes dry, then moisten again. It wasn't that he wanted to cry; it was a reaction of gagging.

Zhan Yunmei released Hua Lang and wiped her hands with a handkerchief. "Speak out, just nodding won't do."

“Fu, Fu,” Hua Lang patted his chest, coughing incessantly, his words coming out in broken sentences.

Seeing that he was willing to comply with her and was constantly embarrassed, Zhan Yunmei felt that it was enough. If she continued, he would shut himself away again. It was not easy to get him to take a step forward and test the waters.

Zhan Yunmei looked at her fingers, which were covered in bite marks, feeling a mix of regret and satisfaction.

A note from the author:

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