In broad daylight, Eunuch An returned to his room to coax his wife, and did so for quite a long time. No matter how heavy or urgent the official duties were, his subordinates could only keep their eyes downcast, not daring to ask, much less disturb him.
A Mei, having just experienced intimacy for the first time, was already uncomfortable, tired, and shy. Naturally, she couldn't get out of bed. An Sheng soothed and coaxed her for a while, lingered affectionately a bit longer, and then, thinking of the pressing official business and the many matters requiring his attention, finally got up.
When Eunuch An finally emerged from that room, everyone was surprised to find that his usual gloomy and aloof expression was visibly softened, the corners of his mouth carrying a slight curve. Anyone could see he was in a good mood.
"Reporting to you, Eunuch. As per your instructions, the income from yesterday has been tallied. Please review the account book."
An Sheng looked at the figure of four hundred thousand taels of silver at the end of the ledger and gave a heavy, derisive snort. "A mere greeting gift, and such a lavish sum before any 'greasing of palms' has even begun. This Minjiang Prefecture is indeed awash in wealth."
An Sheng's fingers lightly stroked the account book, a shrewd gleam flashing in his eyes. His light, airy tone was full of meaning. "It truly is a... deadly assignment."
...
A Mei was truly exhausted. She had been worn out the day before and, before she could even recover, had been through another round of exertion. She slept straight through until noon without waking.
An Sheng was naturally busy, not a moment to spare. It wasn't until lunchtime that he found a brief respite. Hearing from Hehua that the Madame had not yet risen, An Sheng got up and returned to their room.
A Mei was curled up under the covers, sleeping soundly. Hearing movement, she gradually woke. The moment she saw her husband, her heart filled with sweetness mixed with the shyness left from their intimacy. She asked, "Husband, why have you come? Don't you have official business to handle?"
A Mei's little face was flushed, her docile appearance quite captivating. An Sheng's lips curved slightly. "It's past noon. I came to see if you were awake and if you're hungry."
Now that he mentioned it, A Mei did feel rather hungry. She nodded, replying obediently, "A Mei is hungry."
"Then get up. I'll have a meal with you."
"Don't want to get up." A Mei blinked, pouting, and coquettishly said to An Sheng, "I'm so tired, both tired and hungry. Husband, help me get dressed."
"You little... Alright then, I'll serve you by dressing you." An Sheng was helpless, dotingly reaching out to tap the tip of her nose. With practiced ease, he found all of A Mei's clothes from the nearby cabinet, pulled back the quilt to reveal a completely bare A Mei, paused for a moment, and then coaxed her to raise her arms.
A Mei was stunned for a second, her pink cheeks instantly flushing crimson all the way to her neck. She had only been teasing on purpose; how could she really let her husband dress her? She shook her head, reaching out to take the clothes from An Sheng's hands, and said softly, "Husband, A Mei was just joking. Husband handles important matters, how could you serve A Mei? A Mei will dress herself."
An Sheng was amused by A Mei's fickle little act. "Enough. My wife is someone I'm happy to serve."
A Mei's heart couldn't have been sweeter. Once dressed, the two went to have their meal together.
When it came to food, An Sheng wasn't particular. Since childhood, he had often gone hungry, so any meal, in his eyes, was just for filling the stomach. A Mei was the same; she ate anything and wasn't picky.
Su Fucheng and the posthouse chef had been terribly afraid of failing to serve this important figure well, especially the chef, who had been trembling with anxiety daily, worried his dishes wouldn't suit the noble's palate. Who would have thought this distinguished guest would be so easy to please?
Just as they were eating, someone announced that Postmaster Su had urgent business and requested an audience.
An Sheng agreed.
Su Fucheng hurried in with an anxious expression. He was about to speak when he caught sight of Madame An beside Eunuch An. With a jolt of alarm, he hastily bit back his words, his face momentarily turning a mix of green and red from the effort.
An Sheng frowned and slowly uttered one word: "Speak."
Su Fucheng hesitated, but seeing Eunuch An's darkening expression, he steeled himself and blurted out, "Eunuch An, Miss Liu has arrived. Only, only... Miss Liu has run into a pillar at the posthouse gate. She says, she says she would rather die than suffer disgrace."
Time seemed to stop for an instant.
A Mei was bewildered, and even An Sheng was momentarily taken aback. He asked, "What Miss Liu?"
Su Fucheng glanced guiltily at Madame An and stammered, "It's, it's... the daughter of that Official Liu you received yesterday."
An Sheng raised an eyebrow, remembered the matter, and suddenly let out an angry laugh. His face turned gloomy, a vein throbbing on his forehead. Just as he was about to erupt, he turned and met A Mei's curious gaze. He had no choice but to patiently explain, "I heard this Miss Liu is quite renowned in Minjiang Prefecture for her skill in small regular script. I've been busy, and was afraid you might be bored, so I thought of finding someone to chat with you and practice calligraphy in your spare time. I never imagined Official Liu seems to have misunderstood."
When he said the word "misunderstood," An Sheng wore a smile, but it was through gritted teeth.
A Mei first shot An Sheng a glare, then asked Official Su, "And that Miss Liu, how is she now?"
Su Fucheng hurriedly replied, "Madame, this official has already summoned a physician. Miss Liu is unharmed, only temporarily unconscious."
A Mei breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Since she is unwilling, then send Miss Liu back home."
"This...?" Su Fucheng stole a furtive glance at Eunuch An. This person was requested by Eunuch An, but the order to send her away came from Madame An. He was in a difficult position. Whom should he obey? If he sent her away and offended Eunuch An...
Then he heard Eunuch An let out a scornful laugh, his sharp, piercing voice dripping with venom. He barked, "Naturally, you listen to my wife. Now go, quickly!"
Su Fucheng immediately scrambled out of the room.
As soon as the man left, A Mei immediately stood up from her stool, walked over to An Sheng, and plopped herself onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his slender neck, planted a kiss on his cheek, and said in a tone both sweet and reproachful:
"Well now, husband, didn't you say just a few days ago that no matter what you did, you would keep A Mei by your side? It's only been a few days, so why are you already thinking of arranging someone to chat and practice calligraphy with A Mei? Does husband no longer want A Mei by his side?"
"Or was husband just making up an excuse to deceive A Mei, and actually wanted some Miss Liu all along?"
A Mei's body was fragrant and soft. An Sheng's large hand tightened around her. Remembering how not long ago A Mei had been so charmingly 'bullied' by him, An Sheng felt his throat tighten involuntarily, his breath instantly becoming ragged.
How strange it was! For An Sheng, that desire wasn't merely physical; it was more psychological. He truly wanted her every single moment, wanted to see her yield and respond to his touch, display her allure, and then weep and beg for mercy.
A Mei had said this on purpose. She knew her husband had no interest in that Miss Liu. But seeing her husband suddenly fall silent, his gaze towards her growing deep and obscure, A Mei felt an inexplicable flutter of panic.
A Mei murmured softly, "Husband."
Ansheng came back to his senses. Seeing A Mei's timid expression, his gaze softened once more. He replied gently, "Naturally, I want to keep A Mei by my side. But my days are so busy; I fear you wouldn't get proper rest if I kept you with me constantly. As for that Miss Liu, I only mentioned her because I heard she is quite learned, having studied under a renowned master. I thought some appropriate contact with her might be beneficial for you. That's the only reason I brought it up."
"Yes, husband. A Mei understands." The clouds in A Mei's heart instantly cleared away.
"But A Mei just loves her husband. A Mei wants to be by her husband's side every moment, and wants her husband by her side every moment too. Just thinking of that makes A Mei so happy."
Ansheng stared at A Mei in silence for a long while before finally speaking slowly, "When we were first married, I simply thought you were naive and ignorant of the world, foolish beyond measure. Now it seems I was truly mistaken about you... You... you really are going to be the death of me..."
