Chapter 144
Yueming discussed with him with a hint of dissatisfaction: "Can't you praise me for my courage and wisdom in helping you solve a big problem?"
Yun Kai squinted at her and said, "You still dare to take credit? If I told you that I have to do something great that will benefit the country and the people but will require my own death, would you beat drums and gongs and happily tell me to go quickly?"
Yueming immediately retorted, "Why not? You said you wanted to go fight those Japanese, didn't I let you go without saying anything?"
Yun Kai rubbed his forehead with a headache: "Don't be stubborn. I'm in a state of panic, be careful or I'll really beat you up."
Threatening someone when you can't win an argument is really boring! Yueming curled her lips and continued to eat. When she finished a bowl of rice and handed it to Ai Ye to ask her to get another bowl, she suddenly remembered that the person next to her must have rushed back without eating or drinking. She turned her head and said softly, "You must be hungry too. I'll ask Ai Ye to get you some bowls and chopsticks."
She only remembered him when she was almost done eating. Yun Kai snorted indifferently, "No need. I'm full of fear from you. I'm not hungry at all."
If you don’t want to eat, then forget it. Yue understood him at a glance and said, “Then I’ll eat while you watch. I want to see if you’re hungry.”
Seeing her provocative, Yun Kai curled his lips and said as if to himself, "My father-in-law will probably be here in the next two days. Should I tell him about your playing with gunpowder?"
Yueming almost choked to death on the rice. What you fear will come true!
That "my father would be pleased that his daughter is no less capable than a boy" was just to set the tone. She said she was here to persuade Du Song. If Dad knew she'd nearly killed herself, he'd probably be furious. It would definitely be much more serious than Yun Kai's sarcastic remarks. She'd probably get her first family punishment.
She said weakly, extremely exhausted, "It's over, let it go! I'm fine anyway, and I won't worry about Dad anymore."
"Bang." Yun Kai slammed his palm on the table and gritted his teeth, "Are you just worried that your father will be worried? Seeing you standing in front of the pile of explosives with a fire in your hand, ready to die with those people, do you know how I, as a husband, felt? I couldn't even breathe. I was so panicked that I had to try my best to stay calm, for fear that my hand would shake and the arrow would go astray. Lan Yueming, if you want to kill me, just stab me with a knife, there's no need to go to such great lengths."
"I..." Yueming whispered, "I don't want to let Pujiang go, and I don't want to see Yun Xiang and Meng Dingfu end up like this."
Yun Kai raised his eyes and stared at her. "Why? Is it because you can't bear it? I know better than you how difficult the officials in the government office are. Not only will you not get the slightest support or gratitude from them by doing this, they will even sabotage you behind your back. Is it worth it for you to risk your life for these people?"
"This isn't just about anyone! We have a duty to our family, country, and the world." Yueming held his hand that was slamming the table and rubbed it gently. "When I was young, I thought I was the happiest person in the world because I had your undivided love. Now that I've grown up, I've become greedy. I not only want a lover who treats me as an equal, but also a healthy family, a safe country, and peace and prosperity for the people. As a woman, I'm talking to you about the righteousness of family and country. You may think my words are unrealistic and empty. But Yunkai, I'm no longer the Lan Yueming who would cry and ask you to help me get revenge when I was bullied. I changed when you didn't know. Dad, brother, you, and the people of Yunxiang are all people I'm willing to protect with my life."
Although it was somewhat inappropriate in this atmosphere, Yun Kai couldn't help but feel jealous. How did he end up in third place? Changsheng had already climbed ahead of him. He pulled Yueming's arm and pulled her into his arms, his voice a little hoarse with excitement: "Although I'm still very angry, I still have to say this. Well done, my wife! You are truly a heroine, and I am proud of you!"
In the meeting room, the young masters complained to Yunkai about Yueming's recent evil deeds. Even the usually mild-mannered head of the meeting room had some complaints about her.
Yun Kai leaned on the throne and supported his chin, listening for a while. He felt his eyelids fighting each other, and he fell asleep.
Everyone looked at each other in confusion as they listened to his soft snoring. Feng Xiaosai suppressed his laughter and walked to Yun Kai's feet, calling softly, "Master, Master."
Yun Kai opened his eyes: "Is everything finished? Then let's go!"
What are you doing? You’re breaking up now. We haven’t even talked about the main business yet!
The chairman of the court clasped his hands together and said to Yun Kai, "Master, you have been exhausted from the journey, and we do not wish you to suffer so much. But you have gone through this ordeal, and there is much to be done. I hope you will focus on government affairs."
Yun Kai covered his mouth with his hand and yawned. He lazily glanced at the people below and curled his lips and said, "Talking about the right and wrong of a woman, is this what you call politics?"
"A hen crowing at dawn has always been a sign of national ruin. If you don't take heed, great disaster is doomed."
Yun Kai looked up at the Lang Ye who had spoken, and sneered, "It is only natural that Yin Tai of my Han family holds my seal and governs on my behalf in my absence. How come you say she's trying to usurp the throne? You're really worrying too much. She really doesn't care about Prime Minister Yun's little piece of land."
"You can't say that..."
Yun Kai raised his palm to stop him, sneering, "I understand what you're thinking. Hiding under a woman's skirt to save your life is quite shameless. If I don't find some faults, how can I hold my head high in front of Prime Minister Yun in the future?"
The officer who stayed behind at the Military Affairs Department was unconvinced and said, "Master, you're really biased towards Yueming Yintai. This city was only able to be defended because all the private soldiers in the prefectures were sent out to serve. Without those private soldiers fighting so hard, who knows what would have happened to Yunxiang City!"
This actually reminded Yun Kai. He called out to Lao Ben, who had been kneeling because of the pain in his buttocks, "My wife Yin Tai gave me an IOU with your signature and seal. After the meeting is over, you will count the weapons and ammunition and send the money to the mansion."
There was an uproar, and someone shouted, "She made the decision, so why should the tax bureau pay for it?"
Yunkai glared at the source of the voice, sneered a few times, and said, "She used money as bait on the city wall to dampen Pujiang's spirit, and you didn't think a single good thing of her. She stood in front of the dynamite pile and refused to yield, and you thought it was no big deal. How can you despise her so much and still want her dowry? She's marrying me, Han Yunkai, not the Langfu government. A bunch of five-foot-tall men, but they don't have the courage of a little woman. You should all go to my father's pagoda and let him see what kind of losers Prime Minister Yun has raised. Not only are they afraid of death, but they're also thinking about a woman's pocket money."
Seeing that everyone was lying on the ground without answering, Yun Kai felt annoyed and said coldly, "Anything else? If you still want to talk about my Yin Tai, then shut up! I feel ashamed for you."
The Great Buddha, who had remained silent the entire time, bowed and said, "Master, please calm down for a moment. I need your instructions on the fate of the people temporarily residing in the official Buddhist temple. Madam has been kind enough to allow them to seek refuge in the city. Although the war has subsided, the village outside the city has been utterly destroyed by Pujiang. We must come up with a plan as soon as possible to help these people settle down."
"Master Buddha is right." Yun Kai nodded and said, "Yesterday Yin Tai mentioned to me how righteous Master Buddha is. If it weren't for Master Buddha's generosity, these people would have been homeless and would have definitely caused trouble."
The Great Buddha bowed again and said humbly, "We, the disciples seated here, have all been taught by the Buddha. Relieving the suffering of the world is our duty, and we do not deserve Yin Tai's unwarranted praise. On the contrary, Yin Tai treats the people like her own children and is brave and fierce on the battlefield. She is truly a heroine, and a blessing to Prime Minister Yun and us."
All the gentlemen felt that the Great Buddha had been driven crazy by the couple. Was he bowing to that female devil by giving him such disgusting flattery?
But Yunkai was clearly pleased with the photoshoot. With a gentle smile, he said to the Great Buddha, "Master, don't worry about the temporary residents. My Yintai is willing to donate 50,000 silver dollars to help rebuild the homes of all those whose homes have been destroyed. Qiangba and Laoben will go to the official Buddhist temple to announce the specific distribution." Then, with an apologetic look on his face, he added, "Buddhist temples are places of tranquility and meditation. I'm deeply troubled that you've been disturbed by the resettlement of these residents. My Yintai also said that those who have made great contributions should not suffer. She asked me to donate 20,000 silver dollars from my private treasury to the official Buddhist temple for repairs and the sculpture of the Buddha's statue. I hope Master, please fulfill my husband and I's wish and don't refuse."
"Doing what I can to help is not considered meritorious. But how can I refuse to accept the sincere devotion of Master and Yin Tai to the Buddha? I will chant before the Buddha every day and tell him about Master and Yin Tai's devotion."
Looking at Qiangba and Laoben who were afraid to put their butts on the ground but still crawled to the front, and Dafoye who was just short of having the word flattery written on his face, the other gentlemen realized that Yun Xiang's attitude had changed and turned into pillow talk.
Back in the backyard for dinner, he found Yueming absentmindedly eating, with rice grains all over the table. He pinched her chin and looked at her carefully, wondering, "There's no hole in it, so why is she eating rice all over the floor like a colander? You could even raise chickens there."
Yueming laughed dryly: "I do have something to tell you, but I'm afraid you'll be angry."
Yun Kai frowned: "What trouble have you gotten yourself into again?"
Yueming licked his lips, which were dry from nervousness, and said nervously, "It's about Se Manli."
"What happened to Semanli? Isn't she in Mengning with her mother? I sent my two brothers Feng and Xiaosai to pick her up last night."
"It's her and the guy surnamed Liu..."
Yueming stumbled through the whole story, feeling somewhat guilty at first. Seeing Yunkai's angry expression, she suddenly felt a sour taste rising from her dantian. Ever since Se Manli lost her loved ones, Yunkai had developed an inseparable softness and pity for her. Yueming knew that this feeling was more of a family bond, a resonance with Yunkai's own experience of losing loved ones. But she still asked with some resentment, "Why, are you reluctant to marry Se Manli?"
Yun Kai wiped his face helplessly: "What are you talking about? Why are you reluctant to give it up?"
Yueming pouted and asked, "So what do you mean?"
Yun Kai picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and gave it to her, saying unhappily, "Don't worry about it. I know my limits."
"What do you mean by propriety? You promised Dad that you would never dream of having two wives. My dad and my brother will break your legs."
"Women are truly the most vicious." Yun Kai laughed in anger. "Before you cursed me with that jealous, poisonous mouth of yours, could you please think carefully? Se Manli and that Liu guy were having an affair right under my nose, and as her brother, how could I not be angry but celebrate with drums and gongs? How could I be worthy of my deceased uncle?"
Yueming nodded in satisfaction: "Since you are not angry to death and still know that you are the brother, I am relieved. I don't care anymore, you handle it!"
She stopped trying, but Yun Kai didn't intend to let her go. He squinted his eyes at her and said, "You must have noticed it a long time ago. Why are you saying it now?"
Yueming sneered as he held the bowl in his hand. "What would have changed if I had said it earlier or later? Did you listen to me when I said it was bad for her to smoke opium? What did you say then? If smoking opium could help her forget those tragic things, then let her smoke it! Now you come here and question my intentions? You have so much free time, why don't you think about how to deter Liu from abandoning Se Manli?"
As soon as Se Manli returned to her own courtyard at the Tusi Mansion, she heard her personal maid come in with surprise and announce, "The master is here."
She sat numbly on the smoking couch. Ever since Yun Kai hadn't agreed to go save his father and the others, she hadn't spoken to him again. She had admired him since she was old enough to understand, but when that admiration turned to hatred, she didn't know what else they could say to each other.
Yun Kai didn't care about her cold attitude and sat down on the couch next to the smoking table. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
After a long while, Yun Kai said apologetically, "Se Manli, I'm sorry."
Semanli tilted her head to look at him: "What are you sorry for?"
Yun Kai looked at her gently and said, "I didn't take good care of you. My uncle and cousin are gone now. I should have cared more about you. I shouldn't have ignored your vulnerability, let you get addicted to opium, or let Liu's sweet words trick you into leaving."
Hearing Yun Kai mention the surname Liu, Se Manli blushed and said uncomfortably, "This kind of thing is consensual. No one is deceiving anyone... I'm being too picky about my family's affairs. Lan Yueming is right. You're not the ones I should hate..." At this point, she said a little sheepishly, "I also want to thank my aunt and you for taking me in."
"We're all family, why would you say such things?" Yun Kai patted her shoulder and said, "Just stay in the mansion and relax. When Liu comes back from Tengchong, I'll talk to him about it. If he's really sincere about you, I'll treat you like my younger sister, prepare a dowry for you, and carry you out. If he just wants to take advantage of you..." Yun Kai snorted coldly, "Yue Ming and I won't let him go."
Having said what he needed to say, Yun Kai was about to leave. At the door, a maid opened the curtain for him. Just as he lowered his head to step out, he heard Se Manli call out to him. Her face was filled with discomfort as she said, "You... you help me thank Lan Yueming. She was the one who caught those bastards who followed the Japanese to rob my family. I thank her on behalf of all my deceased relatives!"
Yun Kai winked at her and said, "How can you thank someone so reluctantly? I won't help you with this. Go and talk to her yourself."
He raised his foot to leave, then thought again and turned back: "Your world is not just about this smoking couch and this yard. It's time to get out!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
