“An Dage, are you here to find the madam? The madam just entered with the Emperor of Western Liang to drink and catch up… An Dage, please don’t misunderstand the madam!”
An Jin was here too. Should I escape through the window? No, that was not feasible. This was the third floor!
What was going on? An Jin’s arrival was one thing, but why was Su Hui here too? I glanced back at Yan Or, who was red-faced and slumped on the table. Could he have arranged this scene?
But that didn’t make sense. I proposed the drinking, so he shouldn’t have anticipated this. With Yan Or’s methods, he wouldn’t resort to such a tasteless trick.
Feeling somewhat sad for misunderstood intentions, I walked around Su Hui, looking dejected and contrite as I approached An Jin: “Husband, I shouldn’t have drunk with His Majesty and even got him drunk.”
An Jin seemed both amused and annoyed as he coldly dragged me away without a word. I looked worried, imagining the punishment awaiting me at home. I caught a glimpse of Su Hui’s gloating smile, which made me gnash my teeth in anger.
As we arrived home, all the servants and workers pretended not to see anything. I looked around for help, but no one paid me any attention while An Jin thrust me into the room and signaled to Que’er. She quickly took Yuan Xiang away, and the others in the small courtyard dispersed.
An ominous feeling washed over me as An Jin slammed the door and began to undress. I swallowed nervously and held up the ink pad. “H-husband, I-I succeeded—”
He seemed not to hear me, instead removing his belt and testing its flexibility with satisfaction.
Panicked, I exclaimed, “What are you doing? According to the Secret Department’s rules, corporal punishment is prohibited!”
He smiled slightly. “Where did such a rule come from?”
“I made it up,” I replied, my eyes fixed on the belt, imagining what he might do with it.
After various unpleasant imaginings, I was finally defeated by my inner fear and lunged forward, hugging his waist and wailing, “Spare me, good sir—”
Chapter Forty-Six: Yan Or Stratagem
