“Are you repenting? Or criticizing me?” His hand gripped my foot, fingers rubbing my sole.
“Repenting, definitely repenting,” I said, playing pitiful. “How dare I criticize the Secret Master?”
“Don’t dare?” An Jin raised an eyebrow, laughing lightly. “You once followed me and sold my portrait, set a dog on the Seventh Princess’s horse, even fought with her, and now you’re using a ‘beauty stratagem’! Is there anything you don’t dare to do?”
I felt aggrieved: “This isn’t a beauty stratagem; at most, it’s an old acquaintance stratagem.”
He gave me a cold glance, and I fell silent, sneezing.
His anger seemed to soften slightly. I knew that with an angry An Jin, I couldn’t be tough or soft, but needed to self-deprecate. So I cried dramatically: “I deserve punishment. This isn’t enough. I should be whipped with a thorny whip, beaten until my skin splits and flesh flies.”
An Jin’s brow furrowed as he probably imagined the scene.
“Then pour salt water to make me suffer terribly,” I added.
He shuddered.
“Finally, use your silken restraints to tie me up completely and drag me out for public humiliation, with a sign calling me an example of an unfaithful wife.”
He could not help it, his eyebrows knitted in exasperation: “Is it that serious? I just scratched your foot.”
It was inhumane! He tied my hands above my head to the bedpost, removed my shoes and socks, and used a feather to scratch my foot’s sole, knowing it was my most vulnerable spot.
I glared at him through teary eyes. He sighed, tucked my foot under the blanket, then moved close, burying his face in my earlobe. “You mischievous demon, I’m truly worried you’ll get yourself into trouble someday. What would I do?”
My heart softened, wanting to hug him, but I remembered my hands were still bound.
He kissed me passionately, whispering while kissing, forgetting to untie me. “Yan Huo is no ordinary person. The secret agents sent to Xiliang were eliminated by him. When he seized the throne, I tried to set up obstacles, yet he still became emperor. This person is more dangerous than anyone; trying to scheme against him is like seeking skin from a tiger.”
I retorted: “Didn’t he still fall for my trick?”
An Jin paused, gently biting, making my body go soft. “Do you really think it was that simple? In my opinion, he pretended to be drunk.”
My heart sank. “Are you saying he discovered my intentions? Did he manipulate me? Does this mean the lotus seal is fake?”
“The lotus seal should be real. But now, he knows you have ulterior motives.” His breath was hot and humid, his lips untying my clothing.
I was in shock, not fully attentive to his actions. “Does this mean we’ve been exposed?” I felt both regret and anger.
“Sort of,” he replied, reaching inside my clothes. I shrank back, realizing my outer garment was wide open. “He knows something’s wrong but doesn’t know which side you’re on. He’ll be cautious and wait to see our next move.”
“If we go after the Su family, Yan Huo will know we’re agents from Qi Kingdom? His next target will be you?” I felt uneasy. Yan Huo was cunning… I was far from his match.
“Don’t worry, he won’t move against us openly. At most, he’ll send people to monitor us.”
I sighed. “Looks like our efforts were in vain.”
“No. The Su family is Xiliang’s deepest line in Qi. Since he wants to use you, we’ll dig up this line.”
He wants to see how strong we are, so let’s show him.” His eyes narrowed like a soaring hawk.
I immediately became excited. “Let’s do it!”
Seeing my jubilant mood, he quickened his actions, somewhat dissatisfied: “Focus. We’ll discuss these matters later.”
“Mmm—” I half-closed my eyes, my body softening. “But—”
“Don’t speak.”
“At least untie my hands.”
“This is fine.” He buried his face, biting open my undergarment. “It looks better this way.” He stared at my chest.
I was indignant. “I knew it! You’ve been dissatisfied with my small chest for a long time!”
He smiled and touched it. “Small has its advantages.”
I found my mind going blank, forgetting the trouble I’d caused.
“I really can’t understand how someone with a stone face could become a general.” Little Sister was particularly harsh about the person she disliked. “No wonder, after he takes the field, he uses his icy venomous tongue to freeze and squeeze the enemies to death!”
I winked at her, but she continued, “A big man keeping a turtle as a pet. That turtle matches him quite well, they both have stone faces.”
I covered my face, twisting painfully to the side. “Don’t… say… anymore—”
She looked at me suspiciously. “Second Sister, what’s wrong with your eyes? A muscle spasm?”
I raised my trembling hand and waved behind her. “General Shen, long time no see.”
Little Sister was startled, turning to face a bluish stone-like figure and a mischievous grey parrot beside him. Princess Jiang Yunqiao burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The parrot, Yellow, called out: “General! General, ugly girl approaching, please be careful!”
I coughed, while Jiang Yunqiao laughed so hard she could barely breathe.
Little Sister lunged forward, trying to catch the parrot. Yellow flapped its wings and landed on General Shen’s shoulder.
They stared at each other, with Little Sister crossing her arms in disgust, and General Shen frowning deeply: “Throwing yourself into someone’s arms, shameless.”
“You, you—bastard!” Little Sister’s eyes widened: “I’d rather throw myself at a stone than at you!”
Seeing the situation escalate, Jiang Yunqiao and I quickly pulled them apart.
Yellow flew a happy circle and landed on my shoulder. “Princess, princess!”
Thinking of the late Fifth Princess filled me with guilt, and I gently stroked Yellow’s feathers as it squinted its eyes contentedly.
Before leaving, Jiang Yunqiao gave me the parrot. Having not found the Fifth Princess in the Qi Kingdom, she looked melancholic and gripped my hand meaningfully, saying: “Come visit Southern Rui when you have time.”
Author’s note: Thanks for the support, and happy New Year!
Chapter Forty-Seven: Escaping Marriage
With the departure of envoys from both countries, Yanfeng City finally returned to peace.
I raised the Camphor Tea Duck in my hand. Her eyes brightened for a moment, then she turned her head and waved her hand: “I can’t eat.”
“What could be more important than eating and sleeping?” I tore off a duck leg and stuffed it into her hand. “Fresh out of the oven, isn’t it fragrant?”
My younger sister swallowed her saliva. “Second Sister, I want some too.”
“Go! Do you see that wall? Stand facing it and reflect. Let me talk to Sitang.”
My younger sister howled: “Second Sister, you’re playing favorites!”
Song Sitang, seeing us bickering, momentarily forgot her troubles, laughing as she gnawed on the duck leg, smearing oil all over her mouth. “Sister Yao loves me best, that’ll make you angry!”
There was hope; it seemed she wasn’t completely disheartened. I gave my younger sister a look, and she reluctantly got up and left, leaving me and Song Sitang alone.
Song Sitang finished the duck leg, drank a large glass of water, and contentedly wiped her mouth: “I haven’t eaten so much in a long time. Sister Yao, you don’t know, for the sake of looking slimmer on my wedding day, I haven’t dared to eat meat for the past two months!” As she spoke, her eyes dimmed again. “Who would have thought…”
“Look at how pathetic you are!” I laughed and pinched her cheek. “Turning yourself into a resentful woman, have you forgotten what I told you?”
“No, I haven’t,” she shook her head. “There are good men everywhere, so why hang onto just one?”
“That’s not what I meant!” I darkened my face. “It’s ‘don’t make yourself suffer’!”
She made a sad face: “It’s easy to say, but hard to do. Sister Yao, what should I do?”
