As soon as he stepped out of the palace doors, the profound gratitude on An Sheng's face vanished completely, his expression darkening in an instant.
An Sheng sneered inwardly. The Emperor rewarding him with women? Let alone the fact that he had promised A Mei he would never take a concubine, even if he hadn't, how would he dare accept? Serving a king is like accompanying a tiger; it is always better to be safe than sorry.
However, despite all of An Sheng's precautions, he hadn't calculated that even after he rejected the Emperor's gift of women, there would still be some smart aleck who would send people directly to his manor.
"Wu Da, what did you just say was in the sedan chair?"
A Mei stared wide-eyed at Wu Da, who looked as if he was about to cry.
"To answer Madam, there is a small sedan chair outside the back door. The steward who came with it said it was a gift for our Lord from Lord Song of the Ministry of Personnel. This servant was just wondering why someone sending a gift wouldn't use the main entrance instead of the back door, and why they used a sedan chair. When I got closer and lifted the curtain to take a look, I never expected to find two women sitting inside."
Wu Da didn't dare say the rest in front of Madam. He thought to himself: not just women, but the kind of soft, delicate beauties that evoke tender pity. Wu Da couldn't help but curse inwardly; this Lord Song really was courting death by sending people here without even investigating the situation in the An household.
A Mei frowned, the corners of her eyes lifting slightly as she asked, "So, they are sending women to my husband?"
Wu Da didn't dare say too much to that. He immediately put on a look of righteous indignation: "Rest assured, Madam, this servant will immediately send someone to drive away that steward and the people in the sedan chair!"
"Ah, wait a moment." Seeing Wu Da turning around to run off, A Mei stopped him. She stood up and slowly paced around the table twice, deep in thought as she walked. Finally, she stopped, pursed her lips, and turned to Wu Da. "Go invite them in first, but don't let them enter the house. Have them wait in the courtyard in front of the main hall. Tell them they must wait for our Lord to return and follow his arrangements. In the meantime, send someone to tell my husband exactly what happened here, and say that I asked you to tell him."
"Yes, Madam." Wu Da turned around to make the arrangements.
Once he left, the entire room was dead silent. Hehua, holding a tray, and a few other maids stood motionless, not daring to make the slightest sound. A Mei snapped back to reality and raised her eyebrows slightly. "Why is everyone just standing there in a daze? Where are my pastries? Bring them over quickly."
As soon as she spoke, the crowd finally reacted and hurriedly set out the food.
A Mei had woken up late and eaten late this morning. She originally planned to skip lunch and just eat dinner later, but her stomach started rumbling before it was even time. Thus, she ordered the maids to prepare some pastries to tide her over.
A Mei had a really good appetite. She had intended to eat just a little, but in the end, a plate of milk cakes, a plate of golden silk rolls, and a bowl of sweet bird's nest soup all found their way into her stomach.
Just as A Mei was rubbing her belly to digest her food, An Sheng rushed back to the manor.
The steward from the Li manor was waiting in the courtyard. Seeing a thin man surrounded by a crowd entering the manor, he figured this must be the Commander. He hurriedly fawned over him like a lapdog, stepping forward with an obsequious smile and bowing:
"Lord An, I am... Ouch!"
Before the man could finish speaking, accompanied by a miserable shriek, he was viciously kicked aside by An Sheng. A sharp, ruthless voice then reached everyone's ears: "You reckless fool, get out of my way!"
"Detain these people in the courtyard and wait for my orders!"
"Yes, My Lord!"
A Mei was just pondering whether she should skip dinner or eat something light when the sound of the door opening rang out. An Sheng entered the room with a gloomy face. As soon as he stepped inside, he coldly snorted at the servants waiting in the room: "Get out, all of you."
Once everyone had left, A Mei also walked out from behind the folding screen.
Upon seeing A Mei, An Sheng's originally gloomy expression shifted. His eyes were full of deep affection, his earnestness tinged with a hint of urgency.
He strode toward A Mei, speaking as he walked: "A Mei, listen to my explanation. This matter of sending people was entirely the doing of that man surnamed Song. It was not my intention at all. I only found out about it when you sent someone with the message."
"I have no dealings with that Song fellow normally; at most, we serve as officials in the same court. I don't know what possessed him to be so bold as to send people directly here. Rest assured, A Mei, I will dispose of them right now!"
At this point, An Sheng spoke through gritted teeth. He then gave a cold snort, curling his lips into a sinister smile. His icy breath carried a bloodthirsty impulse: "If he causes my wife to misunderstand, I have plenty of ways to claim his life!"
An Sheng was furious. He had managed to fend off the Emperor's gift of women today, only for this man surnamed Song to pull such a stunt. Right now, all he wanted to do was kill someone...
Seeing An Sheng's face turn gloomy and cold again, A Mei suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned softly against his chest, looked up into his eyes, and called out sweetly, "Oh, husband~"
This single call brought back An Sheng's bloodthirsty reason. He paused, lowering his head to look at the figure in his arms, only to see A Mei gazing at him with eyes full of smiles, curving like crescent moons and shining like stars.
"Don't be like this, husband. I didn't have someone notify you because I was angry with you."
A Mei's moist eyes stared at An Sheng endearingly and flirtatiously as she softly whined, "Of course I trust my husband. I am just angry at those people who always assume you are fond of women and try to send them to you. Husband, we need to think of a way to properly teach them a lesson, so they'll remember and stop thinking about sending women to you in the future. Alright?"
Hearing A Mei's words brought incomparable joy and comfort to An Sheng's heart. He held her tightly in his arms, his eyes melting with tenderness. He bowed his head to plant a kiss on her forehead, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "As for a method, I have thought of one, but it will require my Madam's cooperation."
"By the way, A Mei, let me first see if your nails are long."
A Mei: ?
A Mei: !
A Mei: ...
In the courtyard, the steward from the Song manor, who had been kicked far away by An Sheng, finally recovered his breath. He shakily climbed up from the ground, his face deathly pale, wearing a look of shock and terror. His mind was buzzing, and he was utterly baffled. He had come to deliver beautiful women; why had he been kicked?
Just as he wanted to ask how exactly he had offended Commander An, putting on a cautious, fawning expression, he didn't even have a chance to open his mouth.
He heard a muffled thud from the tightly shut main room nearby, sounding like a heavy object smashing onto the floor, followed by a series of shattering and scattering noises.
In an instant, you could hear a pin drop in the entire An estate.
Immediately after, a woman's high-pitched, angry shout reached the ears of everyone in the courtyard.
"Fine! You with the surname An, these beauties have been delivered right to our home. What else do you have to say for yourself!"
Then, the sharp, desperate voice unique to a eunuch drifted into everyone's ears.
"Madam! Listen to my explanation! What beauties? I know nothing about this! I truly did not ask for these people!"
"Do you think I am a fool! If you had not given your nod of approval, who would dare send women into your residence!"
"It really is not like that, Madam, oh Madam! Every word I say is the absolute truth. If you do not believe me, I will have them thrown out right this instant!"
"I will not listen! I cannot live like this anymore! You bastard surnamed An, I will fight you to the bitter end! I do not want to live anymore!"
Another wave of crashing and smashing sounds rang out.
Smack! Smack, smack!
"Ouch!"
"Ouch, my dear lady! Please stop hitting me, stop!"
...
As the sound of slapping echoed out, the crowd in the courtyard could not stop themselves from shuddering. Let alone the others, even Wu Da and Xiao Zhengzi, who were standing in the yard, wore expressions of absolute horror.
They were doomed!
The steward of the Song Manor, who had just managed to stand up, slumped back down onto the ground. Good heavens! What... what in the world was going on here!
...
