After the two had finished their meal, Wu Da came over to consult An Sheng about arrangements for the team’s rest stop.
For as long as anyone could remember, when an inspection team stopped to rest, there were generally three options.
The first was a courier post station, the second was to set up camp, and the third was to enter a town along the route for rest.
An Sheng pondered for a moment, then instructed Wu Da to bring a map.
A Mei pressed close to An Sheng’s side, hugging his arm as she tilted her head curiously to look at the map. She couldn’t actually understand it, but she couldn’t help asking questions.
“Husband, where are we on the map right now?”
“Husband, what does this circle mean?”
“Husband, I recognize these as mountains, but what about here—is this a river?”
An Sheng curved the corners of his lips, pointing to a spot on the map, his finger moving slowly as he explained in a low, patient tone: “We’re currently here.”
“This line is the official road. Right now, we’re following it in this direction. These marks next to it are landmarks and towns.”
“This is a river, these are mountain ranges, and here is a low-lying area…”
A Mei’s eyes grew wide, her little mouth slightly open, looking like a student being taught.
When An Sheng finished explaining, A Mei’s eyes widened even more, bright and shimmering, overflowing with fervor and excitement. She looked at An Sheng with undisguised admiration and awe: “Wow, husband, you’re really amazing! You know everything!”
“My husband is the best person in the whole world. A Mei really, really likes you.”
An Sheng lifted his chin slightly, the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably, his narrow eyes curving with gentle amusement: “How could I be that impressive? I just worked hard to get ahead and please my superiors back then, by learning as much as I could—”
Before An Sheng could finish, A Mei stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips.
In that instant, it was as if the surging heat inside her had finally found an outlet. A Mei had only one thought: she wanted to kiss her husband. So she did. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly, kissing him while breathing heavily, her voice full of conviction: “In A Mei’s heart, husband is the best. No one can compare.”
An Sheng froze for a moment, but he quickly reacted. A blazing fire erupted in his eyes, as fierce as an avalanche. He took control, gripping her chin with intensity, and kissed her back with a force a thousand times more savage than hers.
It was a rough, artless kiss—no finesse, no technique—just raw, primal passion, pure strength overpowering her.
A Mei could always so easily stir An Sheng into a fierce beast, without warning, igniting him in an instant.
A Mei trembled with excitement, but soon she couldn’t bear the suffocating heat. She let out a soft moan and twisted her body in resistance.
An Sheng finally pulled back, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. They stood facing each other. He didn’t speak, just stared at A Mei with deep, dark eyes that didn’t blink. After a long moment, he said, “Wife, I really don’t know what to do with you.”
A Mei blinked, then blinked again. Her moist, glistening eyes gazed straight into An Sheng’s, the unguarded affection in them nearly drowning him.
An Sheng’s throat tightened. A turbulent wave surged deep in his eyes.
Suddenly, he reached out, cupping the back of A Mei’s head, gently pulling her into his arms. His fingers softly traced her small, delicate earlobe, his hot breath spilling against her cheek—intimate, teasing. Though they were old married couple, it easily made A Mei’s face turn crimson.
He spoke slowly, his tone carrying a peculiar lilt and temptation, as if flirting: “A Mei, I suddenly feel like I can’t hold back anymore. What about you? Are you thinking about it too?”
These words turned A Mei’s face redder than ever. Her gaze darted around nervously. She stared at the tent for a while, truly embarrassed, and finally answered shyly: “I want to, but—I don’t want to do it here.”
An Sheng continued breathing warmly against her ear, the heated, intimate air making A Mei’s heart itch uncontrollably.
He said, “Then shall we go to the carriage? Or—I noticed there’s a town not far from here. We could go to an inn there and get a room.”
A Mei grew even more bashful, turning her face away and refusing to speak. But An Sheng teased her further: “It seems my wife can’t wait. Maybe the carriage is better after all.”
With that, An Sheng took A Mei’s hand and started walking out.
“Hey!” A Mei couldn’t help tugging him back. When she met his inquisitive gaze, her crimson face was full of shyness, but she still stammered quietly: “No—it’s not soundproof. Other people will hear.”
An Sheng’s smile deepened as he coaxed, “Then let’s go to the inn.”
A Mei blinked and shook her head again: “Husband, this trip to Lindong has an important mission. The journey is urgent—how can you be so careless?”
But An Sheng raised an eyebrow, unconcerned, and gave her a meaningful grin: “Wife, you don’t understand. I actually want to go slowly. Since certain information has already been sent, the later we arrive, the more anxious and unsettled Prince Anchang and the official circles in Lindong will be. They’re the ones in a hurry, not us.”
A Mei’s dewy eyes blinked as she said hesitantly: “Is that really how it is?”
An Sheng’s lips curled into a carefree smile: “What I say is truer than gold itself.”
With that, he wrapped his arm around her slender waist, his large hand stroking her gently. His dark, shadowed eyes locked onto hers, and his soft, honeyed voice carried a seduction: “Wife, don’t change the subject. Be good—tell me, do you want to go to the inn with me?”
The meaning was all too clear. A Mei felt her heart melt. She glanced at An Sheng sideways, pursed her lips, then squirmed a little before finally letting out an “mm-hmm,” her voice shy: “A Mei will follow her husband’s decision.”
