"Sister, when will Douzi finally get to see brother-in-law?" Douzi held a candied hawthorn stick in one hand, while his other hand sprinkled fish food into the lake bit by bit.
"Your brother-in-law is truly too busy."
A Mei sat side-by-side with her younger brother by the pond. Watching the ripples on the lake and the fish fighting for food, she let out a sigh. "Who could say otherwise? I only just realized that being a government official is no easy task."
Thinking about how her husband had to wake up before dawn every day to attend court, and work until the dead of night before he could return home to rest, A Mei felt both a deep ache in her heart and a sense of uselessness, knowing she couldn't help him with anything.
Normally, Douzi had to go to school and do his homework after coming home. These past few days, aside from her own studies, A Mei also had to learn how to read ledgers and calculate accounts from her godfather. Therefore, other than meal times, it was rare for the siblings to have such free time.
"Douzi, tell me, is anyone still bullying you at school?"
Douzi shook his head and puffed out his little chest. His eyes wide and round, he wore a look of youthful pride. "No, Sister! Who doesn't know that my brother-in-law is the Commander of the Inner Depot now? If anyone dares to bully me again, I'll tell him!"
A Mei burst into laughter. She reached out and tapped Douzi's little head. "Well, look at you, already learning how to throw your weight around."
Douzi chuckled, giving a shy smile. "Sister, I learned it from others. Besides, I wouldn't cause trouble on purpose. Uncle said, if people don't cross me, I won't cross them, but if they do, I will definitely strike back."
A Mei nodded. "That's right, you must always listen to your uncle from now on."
They hadn't spoken for long before Douzi was whisked away by A Mei's father to do his homework.
A Mei continued to feed the fish with waning interest. At that moment, Wu Da came over from outside to pay his respects.
"Madam, your servant just came from the Master's side. The Master said he is still too busy to step away today, so you need not wait for him for dinner. He specifically instructed me that if you feel bored at home and want to go out for a stroll, listen to some music, or visit anywhere you like, you only need to give me the word."
Hearing Wu Da's words and realizing that her husband still kept her in his thoughts despite being so busy outside, A Mei felt an endless sweetness swell in her heart. The corners of her lips curled up uncontrollably.
However, A Mei felt too shy to show it in front of Wu Da. She forced down her smile and gave a soft affirmative noise. "Go back and tell my husband that I am doing very well at home and that he shouldn't worry about me."
"Oh right, Wu Da, has my husband eaten yet?"
"To answer Madam, the Master has already eaten the lunch you had me bring him. He usually has dinner a bit later, without a fixed time."
A Mei let out an oh. Then, as if a thought had struck her, her eyes shifted. "Wait a moment. Take something to my husband for me."
"Yes, Madam."
An Sheng walked slowly out of the prison. His expressionless face carried a bone-chilling coldness.
At that moment, someone hurried up from behind, stepping to An Sheng's side and bowing. "My Lord, that man has breathed his last."
An Sheng's gaze suddenly darkened, revealing a bloodthirsty brutality in the depths of his eyes. He let out a sinister chuckle, his shrill voice exceptionally eerie. "He got off too easy."
Someone else knelt and offered up a clean handkerchief. An Sheng casually took it, his eyes brimming with thick malice.
Tilting his head and raising his brows, he wiped the blood from his hands with a look of disgust and spoke in a haunting tone. "Thought he could end it all with death? Hmph, in his dreams. Doesn't he still have a few brothers and nephews? Arrest them all and interrogate them thoroughly."
"Yes, My Lord!"
Just then, Wu Da came over from outside, holding a gift box.
"My Lord, Madam instructed your servant to bring this to you."
The moment the word Madam was spoken, the twisted coldness in An Sheng's eyes paused, giving way to a burst of tenderness. He reached out to take the item, his voice warming slightly. "Did Madam leave the manor?"
Wu Da replied, "She did not. I delivered your message, but Madam did not seem interested in going out to play. Instead, she prepared this for your servant to bring to you."
Hearing Wu Da's words, An Sheng reached out and opened the box. Inside were two servings of exquisite pastries, and beneath the pastry plate lay a folded piece of paper.
An Sheng took out the paper and unfolded it. Greeting his eyes was A Mei's unique handwriting.
It read:
Miss my husband.
Signed, A Mei.
Those few words in total visibly softened An Sheng's entire demeanor.
After a long while, he gently folded the paper, tucked it into his robes, and said to Wu Da:
"Prepare water early, and ready a clean change of clothes. I will return to the manor early today."
"Yes, My Lord."
A Mei was sleeping soundly, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was licking her face. The wet sensation grew stronger and stronger, making A Mei shiver and suddenly open her eyes.
A Mei let out a soft murmur as she opened her eyes, only to immediately gaze into a pair of eyes that held a teasing smile.
An Sheng looked at A Mei's dazed and flustered little expression as she woke up. The corners of his lips curled up as he planted a kiss on her forehead. His tender kisses then slid down to the tip of her nose, finally landing on her soft, moist lips, ending with a punishing little bite.
"Husband, you're back!" A Mei snapped back to her senses, surprise flashing in her eyes. But then, as An Sheng gently bit her, she shuddered uncontrollably. "Mmm... Husband, don't bite me."
An Sheng hovered over A Mei, propping himself up on his arms. His deep eyes fell upon her small face, his eyebrows raised slightly:
"Well now. And here I thought my Madam missed me so much she couldn't eat or sleep. I pushed aside my official duties to return home early, only to find my Madam already fast asleep and snoring softly."
"Saying you missed me... turns out you were just tricking me on purpose."
A Mei's face instantly flushed red from her husband's teasing. She gave An Sheng a coy glare and spoke softly, "I did not. You are wronging me, Husband. I only went to sleep early for your sake."
An Sheng narrowed his eyes, a hint of questioning in his slender gaze. His warm breath brushed against A Mei's smooth cheek. "For my sake?"
"Mhm!" A Mei nodded, shifting her body a bit bashfully. "Last night, I waited for you to come home, but as I waited, I couldn't hold on and fell asleep. By the time I woke up, you had already left. If it weren't for the clothes you changed out of by the bed, I would have thought you never came home."
A Mei's coquettish tone carried a hint of complaint. An Sheng's heart instantly melted with affection and guilt. He said softly, "Didn't I tell you? I've been quite busy these days and come home late. You don't have to wait up for me at night. If you're tired, go to sleep early."
A Mei blinked her dewy eyes and shook her head, her voice crisp. "That won't do! I miss you, Husband. I wouldn't be happy going a whole day without seeing you, so I thought of a great idea."
The smile on An Sheng's lips widened, and he humored her by putting on a curious expression. "What idea?"
