An Sheng had woken up a long time ago, but he couldn't bear to move. He closed his eyes, savoring the soft, fragrant warmth in his arms.
Over the years in that ruthless imperial palace, in order to rise above the rest, he had been exceedingly cautious, crawling through the mud and exhausting every scheme to achieve his current status.
But now, with this delicate softness in his arms, in a daze, all the hardships and exhaustion he had suffered in the past seemed to be smoothed away by her gentleness. A sense of deep gratification bloomed in An Sheng's heart, a boundless and soothing affection.
The person in the blankets shifted, burrowing further down before quickly wrapping around him like an octopus again. An Sheng sighed helplessly; he figured A Mei would never change this habit in her lifetime.
Just then, a faint rustling sound came from outside the carriage.
An Sheng skillfully moved A Mei off his body and sat up quietly. He then carefully tucked her in, lifted the thick carriage curtain, swept his gaze outward, and lowered his voice:
"Speak."
Cheng Wu stood waiting by the carriage and bowed slightly. "Eunuch An, we have reached the borders of Tanzhou. Lord Cui has sent someone to invite you over."
An Sheng gave a low snort, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "I will head over in a moment."
A Mei was bundled up tightly by An Sheng, revealing only her pink, tender earlobes. An Sheng leaned down and planted a kiss there before dressing himself and stepping out of the carriage.
Traveling through the night had left everyone exhausted. It wasn't until they entered Tanzhou territory that Cui Gudao finally ordered them to set up camp and rest.
By this time, Cui Gudao and his subordinates were full of fatigue, both mentally and physically drained.
An Sheng was welcomed into the tent.
Looking at An Sheng's energetic and radiant appearance, Cui Gudao spoke through gritted teeth, "Eunuch An, the journey has been exhausting. Did you rest well?"
An Sheng nodded, the corners of his mouth tugging up into a smiling expression. "Naturally. I ate well and slept well. Thank you for your concern, Lord Cui."
"I didn't expect Eunuch An to sleep so soundly. Whenever I think of failing His Majesty's trust, I cannot sleep a wink all night," Cui Gudao said sarcastically. His face was gloomy, his brows furrowed high, and the dark circles under his eyes were indeed very heavy.
An Sheng drawled out in his shrill voice, "Oh my, what is Lord Cui saying? I am merely a eunuch who serves His Majesty, a servant who waits on people in the palace. I have always been ignorant of political affairs. Now that I am outside with no real power or official duties, I must rely entirely on the Imperial Envoy. Why does your remark sound so awkward to my ears?"
Cui Gudao's face turned green, choked by An Sheng's words. He couldn't speak for a long while, finally managing to force out a sentence:
"Eunuch An, there is no need to be modest. His Majesty bestowed upon you a squad of personal guards. Such reliance and heavy favor is something even I cannot hope to match."
Hmph, it's good that you know. An Sheng dropped his smile, his brows raised high as he gave a cold snort. "Enough, Lord Cui. Let's not speak in riddles. Why did you ask me to come here?"
Cui Gudao took a booklet from his robes and handed it to An Sheng. "Please have a look, Eunuch An."
An Sheng raised an eyebrow. Before he could make a move, a sudden exclamation rang out nearby, and an arm blocked his way.
"You cannot! My Lord, this is a classified secret of the Ministry of Justice, you cannot give it to him!" Fu Lin, standing behind Cui Gudao, looked frantic. He actually stepped forward to block it, glaring at An Sheng with eyes full of hostility.
Cui Gudao froze, then shouted furiously, "Fu Lin, it is not your place to dictate what I do!"
Fu Lin was Cui Gudao's trusted aide. Perhaps the hostility he had harbored toward An Sheng for days had finally reached its breaking point. Stiffening his neck, he dropped to his knees with a thud and roared recklessly:
"My Lord, we are both imperially appointed officials who stand tall and upright! He is but a lowly eunuch, are we supposed to be afraid of him?!"
"Oh my, my!"
An Sheng let out a shrill laugh, carrying a chilling and bizarre tone. His venomous gaze locked dead onto Fu Lin. "Lord Fu, I really don't like hearing those words. What have I ever done to make Lord Fu harbor such hostility toward me?"
"You treacherous villain! Don't think that what you've done..." Fu Lin glared angrily at An Sheng, but before he could finish, Cui Gudao shouted him down.
"Shut up!"
"Men, Fu Lin is speaking out of turn! Drag him out of here at once!"
At Lord Cui's command, two men immediately entered from outside the tent and dragged Fu Lin away.
An Sheng sneered.
The veins on Cui Gudao's forehead bulged. Suppressing his anger, he cupped his hands toward An Sheng. "Please forgive him, Eunuch An. My strictness in managing my subordinates has been lacking, making a fool of myself in front of you."
An Sheng's venomous gaze swept over Cui Gudao without any concealment. He raised his chin, gave a snort, and reached out to take the booklet from Cui Gudao's hands. However, he was in no hurry to read it. Instead, he plopped down on a chair, delicately curled his pinky finger, and began to flip through the pages carefully.
The more he read, the wider the corners of An Sheng's mouth stretched.
Finally, An Sheng closed the booklet and tucked it directly into his robes. His voice carried a tremor of excitement, "I accept this grand gift from Lord Cui. As a return favor, I will naturally present you with a generous gift of my own. During this journey, Lord Cui has worked tirelessly and exhausted himself. Upon my return to the capital, I will report the truth to His Majesty."
Cui Gudao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though he couldn't find it in himself to be happy. His tone betrayed neither joy nor anger. "I will trouble Eunuch An, then."
An Sheng felt comfortable in his heart, and a smile piled onto his face as he spoke glibly, "Lord Cui is being too formal. Lord Cui is truly a living paragon of justice, a model of integrity. Having accompanied Lord Cui on this mission, I have truly benefited a great deal."
Cui Gudao was so angered by An Sheng's shameless and truth-twisting face that he actually laughed. He flicked his sleeves and ground his teeth, saying, "The feeling is mutual."
...
"Husband, can I not drink this? A Mei's time of the month is almost over, and my stomach really doesn't hurt anymore."
A Mei stared at the pitch-black medicinal brew in An Sheng's hands, her lips pressed tightly together and her brows deeply furrowed.
It was time for her daily medicine again.
An Sheng looked stern. "No, you must drink it. Every time your cycle comes, you have to drink it for a full seven days. On ordinary days, you must also follow a dietary therapy—no cold foods, and no overworking yourself."
"Oh." Knowing in her heart that her husband was doing this for her own good, A Mei didn't fuss. She squeezed her eyes shut and obediently drank it all.
Only after stuffing several pieces of candied fruit into her mouth did A Mei recover from the bitter taste.
An Sheng watched A Mei's bitter little expression and pondered for a moment before saying, "When we return to the capital, I'll invite an imperial physician to check your pulse and see if they can prescribe a medicine that isn't so bitter."
A Mei felt the bitterness dissipate. The candied fruit in her mouth grew sweeter with every chew, sweetening her heart all at once.
A Mei opened her bright, watery eyes and blinked. "Husband, aren't imperial physicians only for treating the noble figures in the palace?"
An Sheng nodded. "Naturally."
He then explained to A Mei in a low voice, "Most of the imperial physicians from the Imperial Academy of Medicine have their residences in the capital. Aside from the palace, imperial relatives, high-ranking officials, and noble families also invite imperial physicians on ordinary days."
"But aren't the imperial physicians stationed in the palace?" A Mei asked.
An Sheng pinched A Mei's little nose. "There isn't just one imperial physician. The Imperial Academy of Medicine works on shifts. On days when they aren't on duty in the palace, they will make house calls depending on the situation. If they encounter someone offering a high consultation fee, they naturally won't turn down the money."
A Mei stared at her husband, listening earnestly, her small mouth slightly agape. "Then how much silver does it cost to invite an imperial physician?"
An Sheng stated a number.
A Mei froze for a moment, her small face instantly turning solemn. "Husband, there's no need to invite an imperial physician. A Mei feels that the medicine isn't bitter at all anymore."
