Rumble... a muffled sound of thunder came from the horizon.
A Mei, who had been taking an afternoon nap, jolted awake with a sudden, inexplicable panic. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked towards the sky, where dark clouds were churning.
Hehua came closer. "Does Madam have any instructions?"
A Mei frowned slightly. "Hehua, did my husband say when he would return?"
Hehua shook her head. "Eunuch An has not yet sent anyone back."
A Mei didn't know much about the details of this trip. Over the past few days, her husband had occasionally mentioned a few things. She roughly understood that as they got closer to their destination, all sorts of news kept pouring in. The issues of taxation and the disaster situation were far more complicated than the court had been led to believe.
They had arrived at Yidong County this morning, the area hardest hit by the recent floods. Before the party could even get settled, Official Cui and Eunuch An were invited away by the local officials who had been waiting for them. Now, it was past noon and they still hadn't returned.
The flood had occurred half a month ago, the deluge nearly destroying half the town. The damage within the city walls was severe, with countless houses and trees collapsed. Fortunately, the local officials had been somewhat dutiful, evacuating most of the commoners a step earlier. However, the incessant rainy season was nothing less than adding frost to snow for the disaster-stricken people.
The convoy had set up camp on high ground. Judging by the weather, it seemed rain was imminent. A Mei's heart was filled with concern for her husband. Just then, a soldier approached.
"Madam An, Eunuch An's tent has been properly prepared. This subordinate invites Madam to go and settle in."
A vague unease stirred within A Mei. She opened her mouth, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, deliberately drawing out her syllables to mask the tremor in her heart. "Alright. Hehua, let's pack our things and go over."
Another rumble of thunder sounded. The thick clouds blotted out the daylight, making it as dark as night. A Mei hurried over with her luggage. No sooner had she entered the tent than a downpour began.
Luckily, the tent was sturdily built, so there was no need to worry about leaks.
Hehua deftly boiled a pot of water, made tea for A Mei, and brought over two plates of pastries.
"Madam, please have something to eat. You hardly touched your lunch. It wouldn't be good if you ruined your health from hunger."
A Mei shook her head. How could she eat? For several days in a row, her husband had been swamped with work. During the day, he and Official Cui were always at odds, constantly clashing and viewing each other with disdain. By night, often when A Mei had already fallen asleep, An Sheng was still reviewing official documents. When A Mei woke up, An Sheng was already gone. A Mei thought about how, after only a few days on this journey, her husband had already lost weight. Her heart ached with helpless pity.
"I can't eat. Take them awa..." A Mei started to tell Hehua to take the pastries away, but then it occurred to her that her husband might return late with nothing to eat. She changed her words: "Just leave the pastries on the table."
"Yes, Madam."
A Mei waited and waited. It was past midnight when she finally heard the sound of the tent flap being lifted.
An Sheng returned, travel-worn and weary, his brow furrowed with worry. His originally gloomy, cool, and aloof countenance softened slightly upon seeing A Mei sitting by the bed.
An Sheng asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"My husband hadn't returned. A Mei couldn't sleep soundly." A Mei quickly stood up and walked to An Sheng's side, ready to help him out of his clothes.
An Sheng subtly shifted his body away. "I'm wet. This one can manage."
Faintly, A Mei caught a strange, slightly fishy, unpleasant smell. She sniffed and realized the odor seemed to be coming from An Sheng's clothes.
Without thinking further, A Mei hurriedly fetched a set of clean clothes from the luggage, brought over a basin of water, and found a clean towel. "Then husband should change everything. Husband, wipe your face first. Oh, are you hungry?"
Watching A Mei bustling about, a trace of a smile finally appeared on An Sheng's previously gloomy face. He washed his hands and face, changed into the clean clothes, and said, "This one hasn't eaten yet. Is there anything left?"
So he was hungry. A Mei brought out the two plates of pastries and poured a cup of hot tea for An Sheng. Seeing her husband begin to eat, A Mei sat down beside him and couldn't help but chatter. "How come it's so late and you haven't even had a proper meal? We traveled half the night yesterday and didn't rest well. We just arrived this morning and you were called away, not returning until midnight. There are so many people on this mission—the Imperial Commissioner, all those officials—why does everything always fall to my husband?"
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved A Mei felt—not for herself, but for her husband. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, her tone carrying a mix of coquettishness and complaint. "Husband, no matter how busy you are, you must still take care to eat and sleep. If you have to go out again tomorrow, take A Mei with you. A Mei can cook. I won't let my husband go hungry."
An Sheng had almost finished eating. He took a sip of hot tea, then reached out and pulled A Mei beside him into his arms, seating her on his lap. He asked softly by her ear, "Is it because this one didn't come back to keep you company all day that you feel wronged?"
A Mei's eyes reddened slightly, a pitiful look on her face. "A Mei isn't wronged. A Mei just missed her husband. Seeing husband so exhausted, A Mei's heart aches. I can't do anything. I can't even help husband with his work."
A Mei leaned softly against An Sheng's chest, her small hand unconsciously clutching his lapel. "Husband is working so hard for our family's future prospects. A Mei knows this journey is very difficult for husband. Godfather also said husband chose the most dangerous path. A Mei doesn't understand much, but A Mei isn't afraid. Husband, A Mei doesn't want to be separated from you." At this point, A Mei spoke with a pout, half sulking, half coy. "Today, husband had no news all day, didn't even send word at noon. A Mei was terribly worried."
These words warmed and pained An Sheng's heart. His gaze fixed on A Mei's slightly parted, rosy lips, he simply lowered his head and kissed her.
"Husband, you cou... mmm—" Before A Mei could finish, her small mouth was sealed. She squirmed, giving a light push against An Sheng's chest.
An Sheng, of course, remained unmoved. When the kiss ended, he looked down at the breathless A Mei, his eyes deep and meaningful. "This one finally understands now what it means for 'the sovereign to neglect his dawn audiences henceforth.' With such fragrance, warmth, and soft jade in one's arms, anyone's heart would melt. This one promises you, for the rest of this assignment, wherever this one goes, this one will take his wife. How about that?"
A Mei's eyes lit up, though she spoke with some embarrassment. "Is that alright? On ordinary days it might be fine, but if A Mei follows husband on official business, will others gossip?"
An Sheng laughed. "Is this one afraid of gossip? Who doesn't know by now that this one has a wife he dotes on to the very marrow of his bones? Your boxes and bundles are almost too heavy to carry, aren't they?"
Remembering the gold, silver, jewels, silks, and satins that local officials had specifically sent along the way to curry favor, A Mei's face flushed crimson with shame. She stammered, "Th-those... those weren't things A Mei asked for. It was husband who insisted on giving them to A Mei."
An Sheng nodded with a smile, patting A Mei's arm as if comforting a child. "That's right. It was this one who insisted on giving them to you."
A Mei didn't know what to say, so she simply turned her face away. She recalled how her husband had been at odds with Imperial Commissioner Cui over accepting these items. She asked awkwardly, "Husband, with those people sending us so many jewels and pearls... does this count as accepting bribes?"
"Hah, this is nothing." An Sheng scoffed lightly, pinching A Mei's rosy earlobe.
"You just need to tell me if you like them or not, hmm?"
"Mmm, A Mei likes them."
"Good. In the future, just tell me what you want. As long as it's within my power, I won't let you go wanting." An Sheng gave a cold hum, his tone casual yet meaningful. "I am a eunuch. My business is graft and bribery, pettiness and harshness, counting every penny, cunning and treachery, abusing power and bullying others. As my wife, you'd better understand that clearly."
An Sheng watched A Mei's expression grow timid and bewildered after hearing this, then raised an eyebrow. "What, are you scared? Afraid of losing your head someday by following me?"
Then, a soft, delicate voice came from his embrace: "If my head really were to roll, A Mei would naturally be afraid of the pain. But if not for you, husband, A Mei would have starved to death long ago. So, as long as I'm with you, even if I'm afraid, I'm willing."
"Besides, husband and wife are one. Whatever you do, A Mei will support you."
"Good. Good. Good." An Sheng said 'good' three times in a row.
He then revealed his plans for the next day. "I've already discussed with Cui Gudao. He will stay in Yidong County to handle the disaster relief matters. I will take some men and go ahead to the Min River region. Most of the tax problems originate there. I'll go first to test the waters."
A Mei, nestled in An Sheng's arms, murmured an agreement. "A Mei will accompany you, husband."
