As soon as they returned to the room, A Mei went to the dressing table to find a small mirror.
One look, and sure enough.
A Mei pouted her little mouth, leaned close to An Sheng again, and pointed at her lips, starting to grumble.
"Husband, look, look, my lips are all swollen."
"I am the mistress of the household, after all. It is so inappropriate to go out and let the servants see me like this. Godfather always says I lack the presence of a proper mistress. Now look what has happened. If he sees this, who knows how he will nag me again."
"Husband, could you be a little gentler when you kiss me in the future? Why does it feel like you are biting? My lips still feel numb right now."
A Mei murmured her trivial complaints, carrying a hint of spoiled grievance. It did not sound like she was truly angry; instead, it carried an inadvertent, sweet delight.
An Sheng's breathing had become ragged the moment he entered the door. He appeared calm on the surface, but the faintly throbbing veins on his forehead were enough to show that the man was on the verge of erupting.
This thirst, aroused by A Mei, could only be quenched by swallowing her whole and kneading her into his very bones.
But he was restraining himself.
After all, he was different from a real man. As a rootless person, seeking release upon A Mei would always inadvertently become a bit tyrannical, and he did not want to hurt his own wife.
However, An Sheng ground his teeth with the tip of his tongue, his eyes full of hidden, dark undercurrents. He really could hardly hold back any longer.
The look An Sheng gave A Mei carried a bizarre, restless urge. It seemed gentle, yet it made A Mei's heart inexplicably tighten.
Innocent as A Mei was, even she instantly recognized the strange twist and excitement in her husband's eyes, carrying a familiar fervor and madness. Having shared physical intimacy for so long, how could she not understand? A rosy flush spread across her fair cheeks, making her look even more delicate and charming, so much so that An Sheng could not tear his eyes away.
A Mei lowered her head to hide her blushing face and shyly took a step back. "Why are you looking at me like that, Husband?"
"Oh, right, what did you want to tell me?"
An Sheng licked his dry lips and slowly took a step forward, enveloping A Mei's entire figure in a highly aggressive manner. At this moment, his gaze was deep, flickering with light and shadow, as he spoke softly, "I had great success in the official court today and am extremely happy. Would A Mei be willing to have a drink with me?"
"It just so happens that we husband and wife have not drank together in a long time."
Speaking of drinking, A Mei's thoughts could not help but drift. She remembered the peach blossom wine they drank before, and how her husband had coaxed her into calling him older brother. Her little face instantly turned as red as blood...
An Sheng quietly took in A Mei's expression, then concealed the emotions in the depths of his eyes. He met A Mei's shy, dodging gaze perfectly naturally and said leisurely, "I entered the palace at a young age, struggling and surviving through countless life-and-death situations all these years. Now that I have achieved my desires and seized power, my heart is truly gratified. You and I are one as husband and wife; there are many intimate words I can only share with you."
Saying this, An Sheng's tone softened even more, filled with lingering affection. "It just so happens I returned to the manor early today, and I have not had a drink in a long time either. So, A Mei, keep me company and drink a little with me, won't you?"
A Mei had originally been immersed in her bashful emotions, but hearing An Sheng say this, her heart steadied. She felt a pang of heartache for him while also feeling happy for her husband. Especially when those soft words won't you left her husband's lips at the end, A Mei felt her heart tremble. How could she possibly refuse?
A Mei smiled shyly and said obediently, "Alright then. Since you are happy, Husband, I will drink a little with you."
An Sheng's eyes and brows crinkled in a smile. "Good girl."
At this moment, An Sheng was so incredibly gentle that A Mei felt as if she were already drunk before even touching a drop of wine.
The servants quickly prepared a few dishes of food to go with the wine.
An Sheng personally poured a cup for A Mei. "This is a royally bestowed Snow Fragrance Brew. It is sweet and mellow on the palate, perfectly suited for you."
A Mei held up the cup and sniffed it. Sure enough, there was no pungent smell of alcohol; instead, it carried a fresh fruity aroma and an elegant floral scent. She took a small sip, her eyes lighting up, and flashed a bright smile at An Sheng. "Husband, it really is delicious! It is sweet!"
Saying so, she took another sip. After half a small cup of wine went down her throat, A Mei suddenly remembered to ask, her face full of trust and innocence, "Husband, this wine will not be like that peach blossom wine from last time, with a really strong aftereffect, right?"
An Sheng's gaze flickered slightly as he curled his lips. "Just drink it. It is not like that peach blossom wine."
As for how it was different, An Sheng did not elaborate. But A Mei naively assumed it meant the aftereffect was nowhere near as strong as the peach blossom wine, so she naturally relaxed and happily began clinking cups with her husband.
The two chatted casually. An Sheng mentioned the turbulence in the imperial court and how His Majesty intended to bring fresh blood into the upper echelons of the government.
A Mei listened in shock. "Husband, what about the people who are replaced? How will His Majesty deal with them?"
An Sheng wore a half-smile, a trace of ruthlessness flashing through his eyes, yet he spoke ambiguously to A Mei, "Naturally, I will be the one to handle it. As for how, it is hard to say for sure."
A Mei let out a soft oh. By this time, her cup was empty, so An Sheng poured her another.
A Mei stared at the cup but did not reach for it. Her bright, watery eyes blinked, and suddenly, she stood up from her chair.
An Sheng raised an eyebrow and had just started to say, "Don't want to drink anymore?"
When he saw A Mei shake her head. She then shuffled over to An Sheng's side, plopped herself down on his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and called out softly, "Husband, I want you to feed it to me."
An Sheng's breath hitched, and then he slowly exhaled. "Alright. As long as it is what my wife requests, I will naturally satisfy it."
A Mei smiled prettily and nestled in An Sheng's embrace, drinking several more cups.
As a few more cups of wine went down, an unnatural flush quietly crept up A Mei's cheeks. Her eyes gradually grew hazy, and a faint fragrance of wine slipped out when she spoke. She acted spoiled toward An Sheng, "Husband, I feel a little dizzy. I must be drunk."
At this moment, A Mei's eyes were like silk, carrying a unique sort of naive innocence. She had long since tempted An Sheng beyond his ability to control himself. Forcing himself to endure, he said, "With me here, what does it matter if you get drunk?"
A Mei suddenly huffed, shooting An Sheng a dazed, reproachful glare, and said coquettishly, "Do not think I am stupid. I saw through it ages ago. You are just waiting for me to get drunk so you can bully me."
An Sheng's breathing instantly fell into chaos. He asked, "Then will A Mei let me bully her?"
A Mei was truly getting dizzy. She shrank entirely into An Sheng's embrace and, after a long while, struggled to mumble, "Do you even need to ask? When have I ever been unwilling for you, Husband?"
The string that An Sheng had kept taut all this time finally snapped.
A Mei was once again roughly tossed onto the bed. The mattress was soft, so naturally, it did not hurt, but A Mei was already dizzy, and such a motion made her let out an uncomfortable whimper.
Struggling, she began to complain, "Mmm, Husband, be gentler."
A Mei struggled in a half-hearted, inviting manner. In no time, her clothes were torn open by An Sheng, the lapels sliding to the sides to reveal her pale collarbones and a camisole embroidered with peony flowers. An Sheng ripped the camisole away in one swift motion, exposing a snowy white chest. The two soft mounds, in particular, trembled pitifully with An Sheng's movements.
Suddenly, A Mei began to pant unbearably, faintly sensing that something was wrong with her.
Huh, A Mei thought with great effort, why was her body getting hotter and hotter, growing more and more desperate, more and more...
A Mei let out a soft whimper. Feeling completely at a loss, she shrank back slightly and called out in a small voice that was both coquettish and pleading, "Husband."
The very next moment, a soft tongue began to lick A Mei's earlobe, and that familiar, scorching breath brushed against her ear.
"Be good. I slipped a little something into your wine. Don't be afraid, the medicine won't do your body any harm. My sweet A Mei, please don't blame me. I had no choice, I simply couldn't hold myself back any longer."
A Mei: ?
A Mei: !
A Mei: ...
...
