Inside the station hall.
An Sheng sat in the grand armchair at the head of the hall, with two rows of chairs arranged to the left and right, each occupied by some people, while others stood. At this moment, those who could enter this place were either the chief officials of various ministries who had set out with An Sheng for Lindong or An Sheng’s trusted confidants and close followers.
An Sheng remained silent, and the entire hall was eerily quiet.
He slowly lifted his teacup, took a sip, and a chilling coldness gradually surfaced on his face. He spoke unhurriedly: “This journey to Lindong involves many matters and bears heavy responsibilities. I trust you all understand that well. I have received intelligence that Prince Anchang, having played the role of a local emperor in Lindong for so long, grows increasingly lawless and disregards the imperial court. Hah, what a three-dynasty supreme imperial prince—all he relies on is the late emperor’s benevolence. As the saying goes, every new emperor brings his own courtiers. You must know that our Emperor Chengde places the greatest emphasis on rules and order.”
An Sheng curled his lips, pausing slightly, leaving his words suggestive. His tone began with a strange, tempered warmth, but gradually his voice sharpened, turning cold and harsh, growing ever more brutal and deadly quiet.
“None of you present are fools. You should understand what I mean. I hold the post of commissioner of the Imperial Factory. Though I am now an imperial envoy, I will naturally conduct matters according to the rules of the Imperial Factory!”
As he spoke, a nearly manic, dark malevolence surfaced undisguised in his eyes. He suppressed his bitter, venomous smile, his lips pressed into a taut line, and his ruthless words poured down like a deluge, stifling the breath of everyone present.
“This is not a pleasure trip, nor is it a chance to smooth things over, and certainly not a mere formality! Listen carefully: we are going to turn the officialdom of Lindong upside down, leaving it in utter chaos! Let me warn you now—if any of you dares to show mercy or pity, I don’t care if you are of royal blood, imperial relatives, or whose son you are—my sword of imperial sanction will taste blood!”
When An Sheng returned to his room, A Mei was still asleep. Waking faintly at the sound, she rolled over to face him, opened her eyes, and looked at him. Her moist, alluring gaze shimmered like a pool of water, rippling with hints of spring warmth. In a soft voice, tinged with a coquettish note, she said, “Husband, weren’t you sleeping with me? Why did you come in from outside?”
With just one look, all the sharpness and hostility An Sheng had carried in from outside vanished.
A gentle curve touched An Sheng’s lips. He sat on the edge of the bed, leaned down, and kissed A Mei’s cheek. Coming in from the cold, his lips were cool, yet as they pressed against her soft, warm cheek, they felt intensely hot—a touch that lingered only briefly before he pulled back. He explained softly, “I woke up early and went out to handle some business.”
“Oh,” A Mei blinked, looking at him, her lips slowly pouting upward. Suddenly, she gently lifted the corner of the blanket and glanced inside, her cheeks reddening. She bit her lower lip instinctively and lay on the bed, peeking at An Sheng a few times with a shy, maidenly air.
An Sheng’s heart tightened at her suddenly bashful demeanor. He leaned down again and lightly kissed her cheek once more. His lips moved as he spoke, his tone laced with seductive charm: “Why are you suddenly shy with me again, my wife? Isn’t your shyness a bit late now?”
A Mei shot him a playful glare, her earlier shyness giving way to a bright, coquettish boldness. She blurted out, “It’s not exactly shyness—it’s just that you’re so neatly dressed, while I’m lying here naked. The thought just makes me feel… feel…”
An Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly, his eyes gleaming. His voice dropped, husky and coaxing. “Feel what?”
A Mei clutched the blanket, her lively eyes flickering, and murmured so faintly it was almost a whisper: “A Mei feels a tingle in her heart, and can’t help wanting to be close to you, husband.”
An Sheng laughed out loud.
The moment he laughed, A Mei, who hadn’t felt embarrassed before, suddenly grew even more flustered. She let out a small huff through her nose, pursed her lips as if feigning anger, and turned her face away, though she couldn’t hide the faint pink of her ears.
“Hmph, husband is laughing at A Mei.”
An Sheng’s smile grew even gentler. He tucked the stray strands of hair near her cheek behind her ear and said softly, “Darling A Mei, don’t be upset. I’m not laughing at you—I’m laughing with joy.”
“Really?” She turned her head back, staring at An Sheng with wide eyes. To him, it made his little wife seem both adorable and playful.
A warmth seemed to flow into An Sheng’s heart. He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes, reflecting inwardly—this was the woman he cherished in the palm of his hand, the woman who belonged solely to him, An Sheng.
He let out a soft sigh, then leaned over her, still separating them by the blanket. Cradling her face in his hands, he kissed her deeply.
A Mei responded, deepening the kiss. Their lips gently brushed, and she let out a soft moan, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Unable to resist, she extended her tongue, teasingly hooking his, reluctant to let go even as the kiss neared its end.
A visible obsession and fervor filled An Sheng’s eyes.
At last, they parted. Breathing heavily, An Sheng whispered into the flushed tip of A Mei’s ear, “My darling, you’re not thinking of going at it again, are you? If this keeps up, this husband of yours might not be able to handle his wife much longer.”
…
