Chapter 17. Falling in love with someone like Zhan Yunmei is a bit...
Princess Rongning wanted to cling to Zhan Yunmei. Since she could remember, Zhan Yunmei had been with her. Her parents had passed away early, and apart from her aunt, Zhan Yunmei was her closest relative.
Who wouldn't want to be with a gentle older sister like the general? Unfortunately, the general told her that her father-in-law was narrow-minded and she had to be with him all the time.
After listening to Yao Shuniang's brief account, Princess Rongning propped her head up with the candlelight, which made the cracked skin on her face very noticeable, but it still couldn't hide her youthful innocence.
She was somewhat envious of Hua Lang, but also a little disappointed. "What's so good about my father-in-law? As for his appearance, he's not exactly a beauty."
What's so good about her father-in-law? Actually, Zhan Yunmei herself wasn't quite sure. She was immediately attracted to him. What other explanation could there be besides liking his body?
However, after spending time together every day, Zhan Yunmei felt that she also liked Hua Lang's personality. What's a little fuss and tantrum? If you don't make a fuss or argue, it means you're not interested in me.
The side room had a small couch attached to it, but it wasn't very big. It was just enough for two people to sleep in, their bodies almost touching, their body heat mingling, which gave them a feeling of satisfaction.
Hua Lang turned his back, trying his best to minimize the space he occupied, not daring to make Zhan Yunmei too uncomfortable while sleeping. Whenever he moved, she would stroke his neck.
"It's fine to be squeezed together, don't move around too much," Zhan Yunmei rested her face on the back of Hua Lang's neck, closing her eyes as if she were about to fall asleep.
He seemed a little dissatisfied with his fidgeting.
"General, you must have spent a lot of time resting with other people in the past, so you must be used to it by now," Hua Lang blurted out with a sharp sarcasm, but immediately regretted it as soon as he finished speaking, his heart sinking along with him.
"Um?"
Upon hearing the question, Hua Lang immediately pursed her lips in a flustered manner, trying to cover it up: "I was just saying it offhand."
Zhan Yunmei hummed softly and gradually sat up. Hua Lang didn't understand what she wanted to do, and was lost in his own wild thoughts. He didn't want things to be like this. Somehow, his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own and started moving on its own.
The lights had been off for a long time, and Hua Lang's eyes had long since adjusted, so he could vaguely see his surroundings. Therefore, when Zhan Yunmei's figure loomed over him, Hua Lang could not see her expression, but he could see her figure above him.
“When going on a campaign, you do have to sleep together, but not like this, chest to back,” Zhan Yunmei reached out from under the couch and groped for something, which Hua Lang quickly noticed.
An inexplicable surge of excitement welled up inside me, but upon recognizing this emotion, it was quickly followed by immense self-loathing.
Is he sexually frustrated? Why would he think about such things?
Zhan Yunmei didn't give Hua Lang much time to think. How could a leader not act decisively?
Hua Lang involuntarily twisted and convulsed, gasping for breath and groaning uncontrollably.
He reached out his hand, she glanced at it, then placed her palm against his, lowered her head, and kissed him very gently, taking his feelings into consideration so as not to make his lips and teeth feel uncomfortable.
Taking advantage of the moment when their lips and teeth parted, Zhan Yunmei said, "Even in the military, we don't sleep like this, with only a nightgown between us."
Hua Lang couldn't speak; the throbbing pain and the strange pleasure coexisted. He wanted to beg for mercy, but shame outweighed it, and he gritted his teeth and remained silent. His grip on her hand tightened, almost leaving marks, but she didn't feel anything, nor did it hurt too much, so she simply let him grip her.
He was a timid cat or dog, only showing his claws and sharp teeth to outsiders and behind their backs. He always held back and shrank in front of her. She noticed that he had been acting strangely lately, but she wasn't perceptive enough, and because his thoughts were so complex, she couldn't figure out his true feelings. So she could only use the simplest and most direct method to appease him.
This method worked well; Hua Lang was willing to turn around and fall asleep face-to-face with Zhan Yunmei.
.
The guard post of the Beijing garrison was filled with incense similar to borneol by Zhan Yunmei. The whole room was filled with this smell. Others thought the smell was a bit strong, but she thought it reminded her of Hua Lang.
The founding generals wielded more power than even the imperial relatives. People often sent gifts to the Beijing garrison. Upon smelling the aroma emanating from the duty room, they would devise ways to send genuine incense over.
Zhan Yunmei refused them all.
In the afternoon, Zhan Yunmei accompanied the soldiers during training at the drill ground. The sun was blazing, and everyone was covered in sweat.
"Go prepare some water and deliver it to everyone after the training session," Zhan Yunmei instructed her attendant.
A short while later, the attendant returned. Zhan Yunmei was surprised by his speed, not expecting that he hadn't come back to talk about the water.
"General, Jingyang Palace has collapsed, and Consort He was almost injured. His Majesty has issued an edict ordering you to send a batch of soldiers over to help move materials and repair the palace."
The attendant was anxious, and his voice unconsciously grew louder. Geng Qi heard him and blurted out, "The capital garrison also has to take care of the affairs of the harem. General Zhan is really busy. Women are bound to get involved in those trivial matters."
Zhan Yunmei smiled and glanced at Geng Qi. She first arranged for people to coordinate with the various departments and the inner court. After they finished, Geng Qi was still standing in the same place.
Only then did she say, "Is it wrong for the soldiers of the Beijing garrison to participate in repairs and cooperation when necessary to supplement the labor force? They can't just devote themselves to the battlefield. What does this have to do with women? Even if the person standing in my position were a man, soldiers would still be transferred there."
Geng Qi knew he was being unreasonable, but he also knew it was just a casual remark, so why should she take it so seriously? He clicked his tongue and shook his head: "This humble servant was just saying it casually."
The implication was that arguing with him again would make her seem petty.
Zhan Yunmei naturally wouldn't bother arguing with him. It would be pointless to talk to someone as stubborn as him. It would be more worthwhile to use that time to go back to the duty room and review a couple of military affairs booklets.
He Shijun, Lan Wan's elder brother and the emperor's most favored concubine, lived in Jingyang Palace. When the emperor learned that the palace had collapsed and almost crushed He Shijun, he put aside his state affairs and personally went to bring him back to his own palace, coaxing him with sweet words.
After allocating manpower in the afternoon, Zhan Yunmei rushed to the palace as quickly as possible to coordinate with the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of War. After that, she also consulted with the Imperial Household Department.
If even the emperor cares about someone, how can she not put in some effort?
However, once the manpower was arranged, repairs could not begin immediately. Jingyang Palace was where favored concubines lived in the previous dynasty, and its construction was complex. During the turmoil and chaos at the founding of the dynasty, the blueprints for Jingyang Palace were burned. The people under them had to redraw the blueprints and measure the palace before they could begin repairing it.
After the coordination was completed, Zhan Yunmei wanted to leave the palace before the gates were locked. She had just stepped out of the Jingyang Palace courtyard when a female official from the emperor's side came over and invited her into the emperor's bedroom.
The emperor liked to stay in his bedchamber at night to review memorials. Incense was burned and ice was placed in the room. The steam from the ice mixed with the fragrance that Zhan Yunmei disliked, which was quite overpowering.
She covered her mouth and nose, and stood in the outer room through several layers of beaded curtains and gauze curtains, while the female official went in to report.
There was a faint, intermittent sobbing sound inside, soft and low, but it was definitely not a woman crying.
After a while, the crying stopped, and the emperor said, "Minister Zhan, come in."
Zhan Yunmei lowered her hand, bowed her head and went inside. Her eyes were fixed on two pairs of legs, one trembling and the other quivering. She felt like sighing.
The emperor was quite happy, though. With the palace collapsed, the beauty was crying and whining, wanting to go home as soon as possible.
The emperor himself knew that calling someone in and embracing his beauty was just to show off. No matter how powerful and wealthy he was, he shouldn't use his power like that. So he nudged He Shijun and said, "Go wait for me in the side room. It will be over in a moment."
He Shijun nodded obediently and followed the female official away, their legs finally separating.
After everyone had gone, the emperor offered Zhan Yunmei a seat and sighed, "What a miserable life! She's so short of money, and Jingyang Palace has collapsed. The previous emperor was no human being. Why did he build such a luxurious palace? Now look what's happened. I wonder how much it would cost to repair it. If he doesn't repair it, how can he keep his concubines at ease? If word gets out of the capital, people will just say that the current emperor is so poor that he can't even afford to repair the palace for his favorite concubine."
Heaven knows the Emperor's heartache when the palace servants relayed the news of Jingyang Palace's collapse to Chaotian Hall. Upon learning of the financial burden of the repairs, she felt dizzy and disoriented.
"Zhan Qing, haven't you gotten the answer yet? How can Hua Lang keep such a tight mouth?"
Zhan Yunmei's heart skipped a beat. She chuckled and slowly said, "Your Majesty, Hua Lang has been vomiting a lot these days. He's not feeling well and spends all day in bed. He's so weak that he doesn't even have the strength to open his eyes. How could I possibly have the chance to ask him anything?"
She paused, then continued in a serious tone: "I am in a difficult position now. I have some face outside because of your prestige. My wife is sick now, and I woke her up. She kept asking me questions, and it turned out to be about money. If someone overheard, it's not important that I lose face, but that it indirectly hurts your face."
The emperor and his ministers went back and forth, pushing and shoving each other, each trying to gain sympathy. The emperor sighed repeatedly, completely fooled by Zhan Yunmei's nonsensical ramblings.
He waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, stall the three ministries and the Imperial Household Department for a bit, we'll talk about the money later!"
"I obey the order."
Walking along the road out of the palace, Zhan Yunmei sighed softly. The emperor was not to be trifled with, and serving the emperor meant she couldn't afford to suffer any grievances. Staying in the capital was getting worse every day. In truth, it would be better to retreat to the frontier to guard the border, just like her own mother, where she wouldn't have to fear or be wary, and could act freely. She never had any grand ambitions; peace and freedom were the best things for her.
If she doesn't ask when she gets back today, that's definitely not going to work; she's hoping Hua Lang will be less sensitive.
The cold moonlight shone on her face, giving her a melancholy feeling even in the middle of summer. Zhan Yunmei faced the cold moonlight, her fingertips tapping and stroking the red marks on the back of her hand.
She walked slowly to the palace gate. At this time, the key was lowered. The palace servants did not intend to let her out, but seeing that it was Zhan Yunmei, they were wary of the military general's authority and let her out anyway.
At this time, Hua Lang had no idea that Zhan Yunmei was using him as an excuse to deceive the emperor; he only felt that she was not coming back.
Once the thought started, he couldn't stop it. He began to feel anxious again. Had he really done something wrong and made her lose interest?
He still remembered her half-serious, half-joking remark when she told him to come by himself. He clenched his fist, a surge of emotion welling up inside him.
If this can make her care about him in ways other than physical intimacy, he was hesitant before but is now resolute, and he is willing to do it.
How could he be willing to do something so undignified? Where had his last shred of pride gone? At this moment, Hua Lang had a strange answer.
He might... have developed a crush on Zhan Yunmei, a crush on the person who kidnapped him and imprisoned him, a person who is also decisive and straightforward, yet gentle and refined. Falling for someone like Zhan Yunmei would probably be quite easy for him.
Therefore, by this point, Hua Lang clearly realized that receiving her love, whether in person or body, was an honor, and he should be grateful instead of unreasonably hoping for more.
But he's despicable; he just doesn't know how to be content.
A note from the author:
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