Can't wait? What can't wait? Is it the kind of thing A Mei was thinking in her head?
A Mei was so shocked by An Sheng's brazen words that she was at a loss for what to say. Her lips trembled, and it took her a long moment to find her voice again.
"Husband, you're not like you used to be."
An Sheng stared at A Mei and chuckled. "How is your husband different?"
A Mei was very honest. "Before, at home, husband would never act like this at night, always... always devouring A Mei, and... and touching A Mei."
An Sheng raised an eyebrow, patiently guiding her. "This is only the beginning. Your husband hasn't even started properly. In the proper course of marital relations, things naturally go further. Then you'll feel pleasure, and your husband will also find his satisfaction."
The An Sheng of the past believed he had no desire for matters between men and women. But the current him, faced with his own delicate and soft little wife, felt possessiveness and a need for control that had reached an almost perverse level. Then again, a eunuch's inability to perform the conjugal act doesn't mean he lacks desire. As for how to relieve and vent this desire, An Sheng had plenty of methods in mind.
But An Sheng didn't want to frighten the girl either, so he could only take it slowly.
Recalling their wedding night, A Mei naturally couldn't agree with her husband's words. She muttered a soft complaint. "It wasn't pleasurable. It was clearly very painful. A Mei even bled, and husband was rough with me."
The sight of A Mei's pitiful, wronged expression at this moment seemed both wretched and adorable in An Sheng's eyes.
"A Mei, the first time is always painful. It won't hurt afterwards." An Sheng's voice was low, carrying a hint of coaxing. "Your husband was indeed crude with you that first time. He apologizes to A Mei. But it won't happen again. Your husband cherishes you too much, how could he bear to make you hurt again?"
A Mei shifted, lifting her head to look at her husband with an innocent expression. "Really?"
When An Sheng met A Mei's naive, obedient, and dependent gaze, the color of his eyes instantly turned deep, obscure, and turbulent, as if floodwaters and fierce beasts were about to break free.
"When has your husband ever lied to you?"
A Mei leaned softly against An Sheng's chest, nodding in agreement. "Mmm, husband is the best to A Mei."
A Mei looked again at the strange, fervent look in her husband's eyes that she couldn't understand. She couldn't help but swallow nervously and spoke timidly, "Husband looks so strange, as if you want to devour A Mei."
An Sheng couldn't stop thinking, she was truly too endearing. He did indeed want to devour her, but his words said otherwise:
"What nonsense is that little head of yours thinking about all day? Have you finished the studies your husband assigned you? Get up and practice your calligraphy now."
"The road is too bumpy right now, I can't write well. I'll write when it's smoother." A Mei acted coquettishly, lazing in An Sheng's embrace for a while longer before finally getting up to practice her characters. By the time she finished writing two pages of calligraphy, the convoy had finally arrived at the relay station.
Because the news had been sent ahead, before the convoy even arrived, the stationmaster and couriers of this relay station had long been waiting.
As soon as the convoy arrived,
they saw the crowd part as a figure dressed in a long robe, with a thin face and gloomy eyes, descended from the carriage. The people waiting there felt a sense of certainty, thinking to themselves, this must be Eunuch An.
The stationmaster hurriedly led his subordinates forward to bow and pay respects.
"This humble official, Su Fucheng, stationmaster of the Minjiang Prefecture border relay station, pays his respects to Eunuch An. Eunuch An gracing our station with your presence truly brings honor to this humble place."
An Sheng raised his voice, revealing a chilling smile, his thin, strange, and sinister voice sounding odd and gloomy. "So it's Stationmaster Su. This humble one is new here and unfamiliar with the place. I'll have to trouble Stationmaster Su then."
Hearing An Sheng speak, Su Fucheng felt as if goosebumps had broken out all over his body. Suppressing his discomfort, he piled on a smile. "Eunuch An, you are too kind. What trouble could it be? It is this humble official's honor to be of service to Eunuch An."
Just as Su Fucheng was about to lead everyone into the station, he saw Eunuch An turn back towards the carriage, his previously sinister and low demeanor changing subtly, a hint of a smile appearing as he lowered his voice and said, "Come down now. I'll help you."
Immediately after, a delicate and pretty woman in a goose-yellow ruqun skirt stepped down from the carriage, holding onto Eunuch An's hand.
Su Fucheng wore a puzzled expression.
A man who appeared to be a guard shouted, "Hurry up and invite Eunuch An and Madam An inside!"
Su Fucheng gave a start, concealing his shock and suspicion, and said with an apologetic smile, "Please, Eunuch An, Madam An, follow this humble official this way."
The crowd entered the relay station in a grand procession.
An Sheng truly meant it when he said he would keep A Mei by his side. No matter the occasion, he kept A Mei with him.
This journey's tasks, missions, reports, personnel transfers, arrangements, and all other matters, big and small, had to pass through An Sheng's hands. At first, A Mei felt awkward following An Sheng around, but after many times, she grew accustomed to it.
Having finished her studies, A Mei, with nothing else to do, took up needlework to embroider a handkerchief. She dared to stare at her husband, but others couldn't stare. No matter how curious they were, they could only prick up their ears to listen to the comings and goings.
Then she heard someone say.
"Eunuch An, this subordinate has already spread the news that Eunuch An and Madam are staying at this relay station."
"This is the message the scouts just sent back. Please review it, Eunuch An!"
An Sheng took the letter, and for a moment, the entire room fell into silence.
A Mei secretly watched her husband. The letter seemed quite long. Her husband's narrow eyes narrowed slightly as he read very intently. Suddenly, it seemed he had seen something interesting.
Even An Sheng's eyes showed a moment of bewilderment.
"Hah!"
An Sheng laughed. He closed the letter and placed it on the desk. The man's lips curved slightly upward, a thick malice and brutality flowing from his dark eyes. His hoarse, sharp voice seemed laced with venom. "Interesting. Truly interesting!"
"Proceed according to this humble one's plan."
"Yes! This subordinate takes his leave!"
A Mei was dying of curiosity inside. Once the man left and there was no one else in the room, she set aside her needlework, slipped over to An Sheng's desk, stared at the letter, and asked:
"Husband, what does the letter say?"
An Sheng's expression turned somewhat strange. With one hand, he pulled A Mei into his embrace to sit on his lap. With the other hand, he grasped A Mei's small hand, gently kneading it, and said meaningfully, "This humble one suddenly finds it rather laughable. That they call this humble one sinister, cunning, arrogant and bullying, insatiably greedy—this humble one accepts that. But to say this humble one is dissolute and extravagant, living in extreme luxury, oppressing men and seizing women... for a moment, this humble one didn't even react."
A Mei widened her eyes, puffing up her cheeks angrily. "Nonsense! How can people slander husband like that? All along our journey, apart from accepting some jewels and money, when have we ever done such things?"
Listening to her, An Sheng reached up a hand and pinched her smooth, tender cheek. "Do it? Why not do it? Since that's the case, then this humble one really mustn't disappoint them."
A Mei tilted her head, looking at An Sheng with a face full of questions.
An Sheng pinched the tip of A Mei's nose. Thinking of the purpose of this trip, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he said leisurely, "My good wife, you must cooperate well with your husband to put on this show."
A Mei: ...
