"What?!!"
Feng Ying was so shocked she forgot to lower her voice. "Does Yan Zheng know about this?"
Song Jia's eyes gleamed with calculation. "Well, given Chief Minister Yan's shrewdness, it should be impossible to hide. But since those two address each other as siblings, and the Chief Minister trusts her blindly, he remains unaware for now..."
Smack!
Feng Ying slammed her palm on the table. "That shameless harlot!"
How dare another woman cuckold the man she longed for but couldn't have?
Yet the thought quickly gave way to excitement—this was a golden opportunity. If she could break them apart, wouldn't marrying into the Yan family be within reach?
"What does Master Song think about me exposing this scandal?"
Remembering Chu Ruoyin's fate as a cautionary tale, she asked cautiously first.
Song Jia smiled. "Naturally... When it concerns the Chief Minister, even if he turns a blind eye, the one seated on the throne won't tolerate it. Once investigated thoroughly, their illicit affair will be exposed, and Miss Feng will achieve her heart's desire."
Though his explanation seemed overly simplistic, Feng Ying's joy at the prospect of becoming a Yan overwhelmed all doubts.
"Very well. I'll follow your advice. Little Dai, fetch the silver and escort Master Song out!"
As Song Jia stepped out of the Northern Garrison General's residence, the midday sun blazed overhead.
Squinting at the sky, he murmured with a smirk, "Foolish."
Without concrete evidence, thinking a few rumors could topple the Chief Minister's wife proved Feng Ying's lack of wits.
Not that he truly intended to help her. This was merely an opportunity to draw public attention to the couple...
Soon enough, the world would see...
How strikingly similar they were!
He chuckled in delight. "Report back to our master. Before the Lantern Festival, Young Master Lang will agree to an alliance."
A peasant-dressed attendant behind him bowed slightly. "As you command, Azure Dragon Envoy."
With that, the man vanished into the crowd like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
That night, in the Yan residence—
After days of exhaustion, Chu Ruoyan yearned for proper rest. She bathed early, hoping for sweet dreams.
Yet moments later, the covers were flung aside, and a pair of slender, masculine fingers trailed over her skin...
"Not tonight... tomorrow," she pleaded.
The fingers paused. Yan Zheng leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Be good. Tonight."
Chu Ruoyan: "..."
Why was this man insatiable in such matters?
Frowning in silent protest, she suddenly found herself scooped up—blanket and all—into his arms.
Instinctively wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she whispered, "Where are you taking me?"
Without answering, Yan Zheng strode briskly to a storage courtyard.
The unlocked door swung open at his kick. A glance inside made Chu Ruoyan's face burn crimson. "Yan Zheng, you shameless rogue!"
What obscene contraptions filled this room?
A black-lacquered pleasure bed adorned with dangling jade rings...
Silk-covered mianling toys whose shapes remained unmistakable...
And an assortment of outrageously sized jiaoxiansheng...
With a raised brow, Yan Zheng deposited her onto the gilded bed. "A-Yan, shall we try this today?"
The slightest movement sent the jade rings chiming. Flustered, she hissed, "No! Absolutely not!"
"Oh? Then perhaps this..." He reached for a mianling, making her punch his shoulder in protest. "Before marriage, I never knew you were such a vulgar beast!"
His eyes darkened dangerously as his breath tickled her ear. "Vulgar beast, you say?"
Recognizing the threat in his tone, Chu Ruoyan bit her lip and clutched his collar. "Yan Zheng... Sanlang, I beg you... These toys are too much. Let's forget them, please?"
Her glistening eyes and rosy lips proved irresistible. After savoring her distress, Yan Zheng finally relented. "Sweet A-Yan, these weren't my purchases."
Chu Ruoyan: "?"
"Someone insisted we try every single one..."
"???" Trying them all would kill me!
"That person also demanded I use the largest jiaoxiansheng..."
"!!!" It's not even bigger than him!
Noticing his teasing gaze, realization dawned. "Who... are you talking about?"
Yan Zheng nodded. "You, A-Yan."
Her eyes widened like a startled deer's. "Impossible!"
"True. You made quite the spectacle when buying them. I advised returning them, but you refused." His innocent expression was infuriating—she had no memories from her emotionless period.
Stunned speechless, she finally whispered, "I must've been mad!"
Enduring his nightly attentions was taxing enough. Why seek additional aids?
Snapping back to reality, she pulled him into a desperate kiss.
Breathless after their tangle, she murmured against his lips, "Let's... return to our chamber..."
Smirking in victory, Yan Zheng carried her back. She had initiated this—he was merely obliging.
By the time she awoke past noon, Yulu peeked through the bed curtains worriedly while Nanny Zhou scolded, "Young Mistress, you mustn't indulge the Young Master's excesses! Newlyweds or not, such recklessness harms your health!"
Last night, they'd waited with bathwater from midnight till dawn, hearing choked sobs through the doors—proof of the escapade's intensity.
Blushing, Chu Ruoyan deflected, "Understood... Might I have some of your apricot blossom cakes?"
Seeing through the ruse but too fond to press further, Nanny Zhou sighed. "Very well, this old servant will—" She paused, turning to Yulu. "Fetch the ingredients to our kitchen. I'll bake them here."
Puzzled, Chu Ruoyan asked, "Why? You always praised the main kitchen's ovens."
Nanny Zhou stiffened, but Yulu blurted, "It's Old Xu! He's been pestering her since yesterday to showcase his 'unique oral skills.' She's hiding!"
Chu Ruoyan laughed. "Oh? Is that so..."
Truthfully, this might blossom into romance. Nanny Zhou had remained unwed to care for her, while Old Xu—Yan Zheng's trusted aide—was silver-tongued enough to charm anyone.
But Nanny Zhou flushed crimson. "That old rascal's just bored! Pay him no mind—he'll lose interest soon."
Exchanging glances with Yulu, neither voiced the obvious: What if he doesn't? Some matters required patience.
Suddenly, Madam Li rushed in with Yan Wenjing's wet nurse—a sight reminiscent of when the boy brawled at the Imperial Academy.
Sure enough, Madam Li cried, "Wenjing caused trouble again! This time, he buried a dozen classmates in dirt!"
