An Sheng led A Mei to his living quarters in the palace. The room was not considered large, but it had everything one could need.
A Mei's eyes revealed a sense of novelty. She looked left and right, then suddenly let out an Ah, her tone somewhat disappointed. Husband, so this is what the rooms in the palace are like. Although it is tidy, why doesn't it look as magnificent as A Mei imagined?
An Sheng gave A Mei a helpless glare, let out a chuckle, and said leisurely, Do you think I am one of the noble lords of the palace? I am just a servant. Back then, when I was promoted to a seventh-rank managing eunuch, I also had to use silver to be assigned this room. If it were in the past, when I was still a low-ranking eunuch, it would be over a dozen people squeezed into one room.
A Mei felt her heart clench and couldn't help but ask, Over a dozen people? How big was the room? How did you sleep?
An Sheng recalled for a moment. Not big, a bit smaller than this one. We all slept on a communal bed.
Then wasn't it hot in the summer and cold in the winter?
An Sheng scoffed and said lightly, It was good enough if it didn't let in the wind and rain. Who would care about the cold or heat of those low-ranking servants.
An Sheng's words sounded calm and breezy, but falling into A Mei's ears, they only made her chest feel heavy. Her heart ached terribly, and the rims of her eyes faintly turned red.
Husband. A Mei pursed her lips, blinked, and called out softly, looking pitiful as if she were about to cry.
An Sheng sighed and reached out to gently pull her into his arms. Feeling her whole demeanor turn downcast, his gaze became gentle and deep. What's the matter? Aren't I perfectly fine now? Everything was worth it.
A Mei leaned against An Sheng's chest and spoke in a muffled voice, But whenever I think of how difficult it was for Husband in the past, A Mei's heart feels so uncomfortable and aches so much.
An Sheng's breathing took on a slight tremble. A Mei's words were like a ray of sunlight in the harsh winter, blazing and warm, piercing straight through his limbs and bones.
The two embraced like this, letting time slip away.
Suddenly, A Mei lifted her head and asked, Husband, you are an official lord now and no longer take shifts in the palace. How can you still have a room here?
An Sheng's slender eyes narrowed slightly as he slowly explained, I am different from other officials. I am a eunuch who came out of this imperial palace. No matter how much glory I have outside, this palace is ultimately my root. Throughout the dynasties, there has been a clear rule forbidding outside men from staying overnight in the imperial palace. But I am not a real man, so naturally, I am not included in this rule. This is also a special grace from His Majesty and the late Emperor.
A Mei let out an Oh and said, No wonder.
At this time, a knock came from the door. It turned out to be a few young eunuchs bringing over tea and fire basins.
They set down the items and respectfully withdrew.
With the placement of two fire basins burning with high-quality red charcoal, the originally cold room gradually warmed up.
A Mei let out a sound of surprise, her bright eyes fixing on An Sheng. Husband, why did they even send charcoal basins? How could they be so attentive?
An Sheng chuckled, speaking faintly with a hidden meaning, In this palace, those without the ability to read the room simply cannot survive.
A Mei's brows furrowed. She looked confused and carried a trace of timidity, saying sorrowfully, With Husband saying this, A Mei feels the imperial palace is so scary.
An Sheng hooked the corners of his lips. Meeting A Mei's ignorant and innocent appearance, he seemed to sigh and pity her. What is there to fear? This world has always been like this. Wherever there are people, there are people eating people.
A Mei naturally thought of her past days and gave a muffled Mm. That's true, who could say otherwise? In this world, everyone lives a difficult life.
But the next moment, A Mei showed a big smile to An Sheng, her face full of rejoicing. But you know, A Mei is just too lucky to be able to marry Husband and live so happily now. I must have accumulated virtue and done good deeds in my past life to have such a good fate to marry Husband in this life.
An Sheng's mouth curved high, his slender eyes bending into crescents. You ah, these words make my heart happy. Such a sweet little mouth.
A Mei pouted her little lips and said coquettishly, It's not a sweet mouth, A Mei is speaking the truth. Then Husband, tell me what A Mei said wrong.
An Sheng immediately nodded. Right, right, right, Madam is completely right.
The temperature in the room grew higher and higher. A Mei felt a bit hot. She tugged at the collar around her neck and let out a small breath. Husband, can A Mei take off her outer coat? Why does it feel a little hot?
An Sheng murmured his agreement. The style of her noblewoman's attire was complicated, so he naturally reached out to help A Mei undo the frog closures at her collar, taking off the garment to reveal a light-colored inner robe lined with thin cotton.
The space in the room was not large. A Mei did not want to sit on a chair, so she plopped down on the edge of the bed in the room. Then, she spread her hands to measure the bed, saying as she measured:
Husband, your bed isn't big. It's fine for one person to sleep normally, but if two people sleep on it, it seems crowded. Saying this, A Mei suddenly gave An Sheng a cheeky smile, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. However, A Mei is somewhat thin, and Husband is also thin. If the two of us sleep here, it wouldn't be too crowded.
The woman on the bed was charming and agile, her smiling words beautiful, and her figure exquisite. Wearing close-fitting inner clothes that could only be revealed to an intimate person, and more importantly, sitting in the room where he had once lived in the palace for a long time, this scene and setting brought about a tangle of indescribable emotions, instantly giving An Sheng an illusion as if a lifetime had passed.
An Sheng suddenly stepped forward and stood in front of A Mei. One hand clasped the back of A Mei's head, while the other hand lifted A Mei's chin. He lowered his head and leaned down, kissing her fiercely.
A Mei was slightly hurt by An Sheng's sudden wild actions and couldn't help but reach out to push him. An Sheng remained steadfast, his arms tightening more and more. He kissed A Mei until her head spun, and she was almost suffocated by the kiss.
Mmph...
When he finally released A Mei, A Mei suddenly lost her strength and slipped down onto the bed. She lay on the bed, panting rapidly. Finally catching her breath, she then looked up and glared at An Sheng, complaining coquettishly, What is Husband doing? A Mei could barely breathe...
Before A Mei could finish speaking, she was shocked into silence by the heat and frenzy swelling in An Sheng's dark eyes, almost to the point of overflowing. That gaze was completely different from the past, as if it had been scorched by the fires of hell. The desire and possessiveness burning inside were things A Mei had never seen before, so intense that it even made one feel fear.
Time fell silent, and it was unknown how long had passed.
A Mei found her voice again.
No, wait, Husband, how come you... A Mei was both shocked and doubtful. She didn't understand why her husband had suddenly changed into a different person.
An Sheng suddenly pinched her jaw. His deep, dark eyes stared intently at A Mei's flustered and bewildered, yet unafraid face. His expression was clearly tender and deeply affectionate, yet it carried an indescribable domineering tyranny. His hand trembled, not daring to exert force, forcefully restraining the brutality around him, afraid of hurting A Mei. Yet, from his mouth came the words, A Mei, I want you. Right here, right now.
It was not a discussion, nor was it a request; it was a notification.
A Mei: ?
A Mei: ...
