Chapter 45 Arrogance Due to Favor
Hua Lang's life was cut in two. His memories of the first half had long since disappeared, and his memories of the second half were always trapped in the palace. He had never left the capital region and had never seen the outside world.
He was able to jump out of that well and see the outside world thanks to Zhan Yunmei's good fortune.
However, he was never a person with leisure and refined tastes. He had no interest in appreciating scenery or making sentiments. He just sat in the car for a short while and then became listless.
The anticipation was real, but so was the boredom. The distance from the capital to Beiyuan was extremely long, taking half a month even at full speed, not to mention that Zhan Yunmei had specifically asked them to slow down and travel at a leisurely pace.
Hua Lang felt uncomfortable in his buttocks and shifted several times, trying to find a comfortable position. He made very little noise in the constantly bumping carriage.
But Zhan Yunmei still noticed, and quietly opened a crack in her eye to observe what Hua Lang was doing.
He tried to find a comfortable position, but couldn't, so he moved closer to her. As he tentatively checked if she was still asleep, she immediately closed her eyes.
He made sure she wasn't awake, then leaned close to her, pulled her arms apart, leaned against her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and draped his cloak over her.
"Isn't it uncomfortable to sit like this?"
Hua Lang was startled by the sudden sound. Zhan Yunmei had noticed her little movements. She felt a little flustered, but not panicked.
Now that she'd seen it all, he wasn't going to pretend anymore.
"It's uncomfortable, but a little better than before," he moved his head and nestled against her chest. It was so warm that he unconsciously closed his eyes and wanted to smile.
Such proactive clinginess is quite rare. Zhan Yunmei smiled and gently hugged him back. "Would you like to sit on top?"
Shall I sit down?
Hua Lang was puzzled for a moment, but when he met her smiling, piercing gaze, he understood.
“No,” he shook his head.
Although she kept saying he was very light and not heavy at all when she held him, he was still a living person, and living people have weight. His weight on her body would make her uncomfortable to some extent, especially since they were in a car.
Zhan Yunmei has mastered a skill.
She could see the subtle thoughts on his face.
"Whatever you want," she said. "You seem bored. Would you like to hear some stories about the Northern Yuan?"
Hua Lang raised her head slightly, not asking any further questions, but her gaze was fixed on what she had to say.
She chuckled softly, flicked her fingers, and pulled out the wolf fang hanging inside Hua Lang's collar. She twirled and played with it as she spoke.
“Unlike the capital, the snow in Beiyuan lasts longer and is colder. You have to wrap yourself up in a ball every day to keep warm. Summers are cool.”
Hua Lang listened attentively to Zhan Yunmei, her attention entirely focused on her gentle expression and soft voice.
Completely unaware, he had already been lifted onto Zhan Yunmei's lap.
If Hua Lang discovers something is wrong, he will definitely use the excuse of doing what's best for the general to escape to the side. So Zhan Yunmei kept talking but moved slowly.
“Bei Yuan often drinks strong liquor and has a strong palate. He has really hurt his body, so he eats light food. Your stomach and spleen are probably not used to the food there. I’ll have Shuniang arrange it for you.”
He nodded with every word she spoke.
Until she said, "The temperature difference between day and night is huge. When you are waiting for me at the mansion, remember to add clothes to keep warm."
Hua Lang suddenly raised his head, so suddenly that he accidentally bumped Zhan Yunmei's chin.
She pinched his cheek in retaliation. "What?"
“I…” he stammered, hesitant.
Zhan Yunmei lowered her eyes quietly, waiting for Hua Lang to continue.
Hua Lang pursed his lips, lowered his head, and realized that he had been lifted up by Zhan Yunmei. He tried to pull away, but the carriage suddenly shook, and he had no foothold. He swayed from side to side and was held tightly by her, pressed against her shoulder.
"Sorry, General, the snow is too heavy, and we can't see the stones on the road," the coachman shouted.
“Drive slowly and be very careful,” Zhan Yunmei said.
He casually stroked Hua Lang's nape, pinching and kneading the skin on the back of his neck with a light touch.
Hua Lang found it strange; she was clearly touching the neck and cheek, so why... was there a reaction in the back?
Belatedly, she realized that the carriage was too bumpy, and her knees kept hitting the ground.
A deep blush spread across her cheeks. Knowing she was being filthy, Hua Lang dared not look up and instead rubbed against Zhan Yunmei's neck.
"What does Jiang Cai want to say?" Zhan Yunmei felt the burning heat under her neck. Although she didn't know what was wrong with Hua Lang, she was certain that he wasn't sick, and if he wasn't sick, she didn't need to worry too much.
“I said… I don’t want to wait for you at the manor anymore.”
"Hmm?" Zhan Yunmei slowly sat up straight, pinched the back of Hua Lang's neck, pulled him out of her arms, and slapped his face. "What do you mean?"
Hua Lang said in a very low voice, "I want to go with you..." But there was something wrong with what he said.
Should he go and cause her trouble or make her worry? He can't help her with anything anyway.
No, no, that's not right.
He could do it. He could massage her shoulders and back, grind ink, find books for her, and even read documents to her. "Oh, I'll think about it!" Zhan Yunmei liked Hua Lang's current pitiful and pleading look. Of course, she wanted him to be with her all the time; that was wonderful.
Before telling him the truth, tease him a little. He looks adorable to her, and she can't help but tease him repeatedly.
.
The northern territory is vast, and the two generals of the Zhan family are responsible for guarding most of it. The emperor attaches great importance to the two generals, so the new general's mansion he bestowed upon them is extremely large, even larger than the mansion in the capital.
The main house was the first to be renovated. Its layout was basically the same as that of a general's mansion in the capital. With the familiar brocade quilts laid out and incense lit, it looked just like before.
After settling the accommodation matters, Zhan Yunmei took Hua Lang to meet Zhan Yan. Zhan Yan had long ago written Hua Lang's name into the family genealogy. When the two of them arrived, he only asked them to pay respects to the ancestral tablets.
After things stabilize, Zhan Yunmei will continue to work.
Staying on the frontier is only slightly less stressful than staying in the capital. In reality, it's still busy and tiring, but at least you don't have to be constantly cautious or maintain relationships with officials.
On duty.
Zhan Yunmei sat behind her desk reviewing military affairs, her expression calm and composed. Hua Lang sat beside her, often thinking of his past, how he used to get up very early every day, rush to the emperor's palace, and serve him like a slave, dealing with a mountain of unavoidable problems. He, in the past, was just as hardworking as Zhan Yunmei was now.
That won't work now; I'll feel sleepy after a while.
I lay on the table and fell asleep without realizing it.
Zhan Yunmei couldn't stand seeing him asleep, leaving her alone to handle official business. She raised her hand and tapped his head with the pen.
Feeling the pain, Hua Lang groaned and slowly touched the top of his head, but it did little to relieve the pain.
I was sleeping soundly, how could something be tapping my head?!
"Go to sleep," Zhan Yunmei said calmly, making marks on the document without any remorse for her actions.
"..." Hua Lang frowned.
Did she simply wake him up to go back to sleep?
"If you're not going to sleep, could you help me carry a few stacks of official documents out and hand them to the servant at the door?" Zhan Yunmei closed the booklet in her hand and took out another one.
"Oh, okay," Hua Lang's slight annoyance was easily brushed aside by her, and she didn't think about anything as she held the documents that she had finished reviewing.
The drill ground was not far from the duty room, and his coming and going were enough for people to see clearly.
Hua Lang seemed to understand Zhan Yunmei's purpose in having him carry the documents out, so that everyone would see him and know of his existence.
happy.
I'm so happy.
I'm extremely happy.
The corners of her lips were turned up high.
The moment Zhan Yunmei looked over, Hua Lang withdrew his smile, walked closer to her step by step, opened her arms, and straddled her.
"Won't this affect the general?"
"You only asked after you got on the train, don't you think you're being stupid?"
"Huh? Oh... then I'll go?"
Zhan Yunmei's gaze swept over Hua Lang's shoulder, landed on the booklet, made a mark, and casually said, "Okay, then you can go down."
“No,” he said, “I want it this way.”
For some reason, he couldn't help but want to laugh; a feeling of satisfaction, joy, and happiness enveloped him completely.
"General."
"Um?"
Hua Lang shook his head. "It's nothing."
After a while, he called out again, "General."
“I’m here,” she said.
He shook his head again.
"General."
"I am here."
"..."
He called her repeatedly, but never said what it was about. Yet Zhan Yunmei didn't feel disturbed. She was multitasking, half on official business and half on Hua Lang. Hearing him call her made her feel better, and she didn't seem so annoying when dealing with official business.
As darkness fell, Zhan Yunmei finished reviewing today's booklets and put down her pen.
Hua Lang had already fallen asleep on her shoulder, his breathing shallow and soft, his hand clutching her leather belt. She looked down and stared at him for a while as his eyes closed.
She called out softly, "Shuniang."
Is everything ready?
Yao Shuniang stared down at her toes, ignoring the intimate posture of the two men, and replied in a soft voice, "General, everything is ready."
Zhan Yunmei gently touched Hua Lang's face and said, "Okay, thank you for your hard work." She paused, thought for a moment, and added, "Let's not tell Hua Lang yet."
The world fell silent.
Hua Lang dared not open her eyes; her heart was pounding, and she was panicking.
What should be prepared?
Why can't we tell him?
What is she trying to hide?
No matter how terrified he was, he didn't open his eyes. How could he ask about something Zhan Yunmei didn't want to tell him?
"Hualang, is it fun to pretend to be asleep?"
It's not serious, not a question, just a tease.
After saying that, Zhan Yunmei cupped Hua Lang's face, shook it, poked his tightly closed eyelids with her fingertips, and kissed him.
Despite her gentle kisses, his stubbornness kicked in, and he refused to open his mouth, silently protesting her concealment.
But Zhan Yunmei didn't care.
She reached out and pried open his lips and teeth. He resisted, and she resisted him in return, her fingertips probing deeper and deeper.
Hua Lang suddenly frowned, the feeling of gagging was too uncomfortable, and he unconsciously stuck out his wet tongue slightly, revealing his pained expression, but he still tried his best to fight with her, refusing to let her kiss him deeply.
Arrogance stemming from favor.
This was the only word Zhan Yunmei could think of.
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Author's Note: Xiao Yunmei and Xiao Hualang are from a sweet romance novel, don't be afraid, my darlings! [covering face and peeking]
It's almost over. The extra chapters will probably include:
1. Daily life after marriage
2. The eunuch, retaining his memories, travels back to the time of the former dynasty's chief eunuch.
3. Modern if
We can add a few other dishes as needed, and you can also order anything else you'd like to see! [Sprinkling flowers]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
