Chapter 31: Still as fond of the innocent types as ever…

Chapter 31: Still as fond of the innocent types as ever...

"Your Highness, I'm feeling a bit unwell. Could you allow me to depart?" Cheng Yian blinked, trying to find a way to escape.

Princess Minglan saw right through her, "Are you pretending?"

"Why... are you so afraid of Lu Xusheng? An An, your father is Cheng Mingyu. Any man who doesn't submit to your authority, just divorce him and find a more obedient one."

Cheng Yian retorted, "Then what about you, Your Highness? Why have you been pining after my father for so many years? There are plenty of fish in the sea..." She mimicked Princess Minglan's tone.

Princess Minglan's face showed a trace of bitterness, "Because he was never mine to have."

Cheng Yian was left speechless.

The delay had already taken the carriage far away.

The snow fell softly, and the bustling world seemed to fall silent.

It was a snow imbued with a gentle charm, without the harsh northern winds or the heavy snowfall that could crush a city. The snowflakes drifted down like fine velvet, blanketing the capital.

The grand lights in front of Princess Minglan's residence intertwined with the silvery snow, casting an ethereal glow against the dusky horizon. The carriage stopped, and Princess Minglan led Cheng Yian inside.

Qiu Qing followed closely, unwavering.

The guards at Princess Minglan's residence were about to stop him, but Qiu Qing slightly bowed and saluted Princess Minglan,

"Your Highness, I am duty-bound to protect the young madam's safety. Unless I die, I will not retreat half a step."

Cheng Yian glanced at Qiu Qing. She had considered the consequences—if she caused a disturbance, it might attract Lu Xusheng, who had made bold threats last time. If he found out she had entered the princess's residence, he would surely cause a scene, and it would be hard to resolve. The best course of action was to minimize the situation. Besides, the alleged male companions were just words from Princess Minglan. If she didn't agree, could the princess compel her to take them in?

Therefore, she didn't signal Qiu Qing to send a message.

Since she didn't give the order, Qiu Qing couldn't act on his own.

He had been transferred to Cheng Yian by Lu Xusheng, so he was now Cheng Yian's man. A soldier's sacred duty is to obey orders.

Even though Qiu Qing was privately worried for the young general, he couldn't act without authorization.

Cheng Yian found an excuse for Qiu Qing,

"Your Highness, Qiu Qing has long admired that Your Highness's head guard was the champion of the imperial guards' martial arts competition. He wishes to seek his guidance."

Princess Minglan's gaze shifted to Qiu Qing. His tall and sturdy frame, his stern and upright appearance, and his good demeanor caught her attention. "Granted."

Princess Minglan led Cheng Yian directly to the Snow Pavilion. The Snow Pavilion in Princess Minglan's residence was built in a hollow on the west side of the estate, sheltered from the wind on all sides. In front of the pavilion was a spacious courtyard, with a row of weapons arrayed under the corridor on one side, showing that Princess Minglan truly enjoyed watching the guards' martial arts competitions here.

In the courtyard, Qiu Qing and Princess Minglan's head guard were engaged in a duel. The clashing of swords on the ground created a series of metallic clangs, adding a sense of gravity to the Snow Pavilion.

Cheng Yian watched intently, worried that Qiu Qing might lose and leave her in a difficult position. Princess Minglan, however, seemed indifferent. She had servants serve fruits, pastries, venison, and a plate of pickled vegetables. The deer wine had already been warmed, and she gestured for the maid to pour a cup for Cheng Yian.

Cheng Yian had just eaten, so she didn't touch the pastries, only taking a sip of the fiery wine. The liquid flowed down her throat, warming her from the inside out, and a wave of heat gradually spread through her limbs.

"Your Highness, this wine is indeed excellent, very warming."

Princess Minglan reclined on a soft couch covered with black fox fur, sipping the wine slowly, her gaze distant. "Take a jar back with you later. A couple of sips on a winter night will spice things up for you and your husband..."

Cheng Yian suddenly coughed violently upon hearing this. So the wine had such properties! She quickly put down the cup and stopped drinking.

"Your Highness, it's getting late. I've recently taken over managing the household, and I'm afraid there are still some domestic matters to attend to at home."

Princess Minglan looked at her with disdain, "Why should a woman confine herself to the inner chambers?"

Cheng Yian replied, "It's not exactly confining myself to the inner chambers. It's just handling things as they come up. Besides, I'm not like you, Your Highness. You are a royal princess, basking in wealth and honor. I still need to earn some property for myself, not just for my own security in old age but also for the future of my children."

Princess Minglan waved her hand grandly, "When you have children, let them recognize me as their godmother. After I pass away, this modest estate of mine will be left to them."

Cheng Yian, now fearless of anything, was only concerned that Princess Minglan might spend lavishly to dissuade her, "Your Highness, you are still young. Why not find a dependable man? If you have a child, you will have someone to succeed you in the future."

Princess Minglan said resolutely, "Except for Cheng Mingyu, I refuse to bear children for any other man."

Cheng Yian: "......"

Suddenly recalling that Princess Minglan had once had a consort, who after being divorced by the princess, remarried and had a son and a daughter. Now, those children often come to pay their respects to Princess Minglan.

Realizing this plan wouldn't work, Cheng Yian had to change her approach, "Your Highness, I suddenly think that someone like my father, whose heart cannot be pried open even with swords and axes, is not worth wasting one's life for. The best way to win someone's heart is to become like them, to outshine them... You are the Princess of the Great Jin Dynasty, with countless followers at your command. If you want to achieve something, none of those men can rival you."

Princess Minglan heard such words for the first time, "Surpass him, become like him?"

"Yes!" Cheng Yian encouraged her, "Didn't you just say that women shouldn't be confined to the inner chambers? If so, Your Highness, lead by example for us women."

Cheng Yian felt that this time she must be correct.

Unexpectedly, Princess Minglan's way of thinking was truly beyond ordinary understanding.

"So your father will finally notice me?"

Cheng Yian: "......"

Are we really stuck on this?

Better than this endless back-and-forth.

"Why not give it a shot?"

Princess Minglan had a sudden epiphany. After thirty years of chasing him, has Cheng Mingyu ever even looked her way?

To truly love him, you must become like him.

What a tempting thought.

Princess Minglan suddenly felt a surge of determination and quickly grabbed Cheng Yian's wrist,

"An An, you're really my good luck charm. No, I have to treat you." Princess Minglan turned to the female official beside her,

"Go, call Fu Kang and Fu Lin from the side courtyard."

Cheng Yian's face turned red with embarrassment, feeling like she had shot herself in the foot. She hastily stopped Princess Minglan and begged,

"Such a trivial matter doesn't deserve a reward. I really can't accept such a thing. You know how Lu Xusheng is—if you give me male companions today, I won't live to see tomorrow..."

Now Princess Minglan was the one getting frustrated. She gave Cheng Yian a measured look, her eyes briefly resting on Cheng Yian's figure. Princess Minglan's sharp eyes saw right through Cheng Yian's modest clothes and let out a snort,

"A figure like yours shouldn't be wasted on Lu Xusheng. You only live once—how can you know what's good or bad without trying out more men? I'll bring them over, take a look. If you like them, keep them. If not, we can always pick someone else..."

Before Cheng Yian could even refuse, two handsome men emerged from the corner of the corridor.

Each was tall and slender, with an air of grace and elegance, exuding refinement.

Cheng Yian was stunned at the sight.

Not because she was dazzled by their looks, but because these two were clearly styled after her father.

They were nearly the same height as her father, with pale complexions, broad shoulders, and narrow waists, exuding an air of elegance. Even their clothing and mannerisms were perfectly imitated. Though their faces and temperaments were different, from afar, they were undeniably striking and handsome.

Princess Minglan's taste in men was truly... unmatched.

At this point, Princess Minglan feigned a hint of shyness, "Ahem, my residence is filled with men like these. These two are the youngest and would suit you well."

Just as Cheng Yian was about to firmly refuse, she felt a chill run down her neck. She whipped her head around and saw a figure standing on the side corridor, dressed in a vivid crimson official robe, his narrow eyes glinting coldly. It was none other than Lu Xusheng.

No, I didn’t mean to...

Cheng Yian hurriedly covered her face.

Lu Xusheng was seething with rage.

Seeing her stunned expression, it was clear she still had a weakness for pretty boys.

He unsheathed the flexible sword from his waist, channeling his strength into his palm, and with a flick of his wrist, sent the sword whipping through the air like a serpent toward the two young men. The blade embedded itself into the pillar right in front of them, making them pale and collapse to the ground in fear.

Lu Xusheng had ruined the picturesque moment.

Princess Minglan, witnessing this, was furious. She stood up, her sleeves billowing.

"Lu Xusheng, how dare you act so recklessly in my residence!"

Lu Xusheng marched over with an air of authority, pulling the utterly dejected Cheng Yian behind him. His gaze was icy and sharp as he glared at Princess Minglan.

"I've acted recklessly more than once."

Without waiting for Princess Minglan's reaction, he barked at his men behind him,

"Men, drive out all the male consorts from Princess Minglan's residence!"

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of figures emerged from behind him, rushing like a whirlwind into every corner of the residence.

Princess Minglan, never having been so blatantly challenged before, was both furious and humiliated. "Lu Xusheng, this is an affront to the royal family!"

Lu Xusheng sneered disdainfully, a hint of arrogance in his lazy gaze.

"If I recall correctly, I warned Your Highness last time not to abduct my wife again. Since you dared to do it, you must face the consequences!"

Princess Minglan was beside herself with rage, pointing at his nose from a distance. "When did I abduct An An? You're deliberately provoking me!"

Cheng Yian, knowing the tempers of these two all too well—both fiery and stubborn—quickly stepped out from behind Lu Xusheng and stood between them, trying to explain.

"Xusheng, it's a misunderstanding. I was invited by Her Highness to enjoy some wine and tea..."

Princess Minglan glared at him. "Did you hear that?"

Lu Xusheng didn't even glance at Cheng Yian, instead fixing his arrogant gaze on Princess Minglan. "I said you abducted her, so you did..."

"You have guts!" Princess Minglan gritted her teeth in fury. "Men, throw Lu Xusheng out!"

Unfortunately, at this moment, the steward hurriedly came from the direction of the front courtyard and shouted at Princess Minglan,

"Your Highness, a fire has broken out in the official district, and I heard it’s reached the Censorate!"

Cheng Mingyu is in the Censorate!

Princess Minglan’s heart was in turmoil, and she couldn’t care about anything else, rushing out in a panic, pointing at Lu Xusheng and shouting,

"You wait, I’ll have your head!"

In an instant, Princess Minglan’s entourage retreated in a line, and Cheng Yian, unsure if it was true, hurried over to Lu Xusheng, asking in shock,

"Is what the steward said true?"

She was more level-headed than Princess Minglan and didn’t rush after her.

Lu Xusheng scoffed, suddenly bent down and picked her up horizontally, along with the cloud fox cloak, wrapping her up completely, leaving no part of her exposed, and strode out,

"It’s just a distraction." Otherwise, how could the guards of Princess Minglan’s residence be lured out?

Cheng Yian felt dizzy as he suddenly wrapped her in his arms, almost suffocating, struggling a few times to get a sliver of light, and asked muffledly, "What about my father, is he okay?"

"Do you think I’d actually harm your father? I only burned a warehouse outside the palace walls that Princess Minglan owned."

After Cheng Mingyu took over the Censorate, Princess Minglan, almost obsessively, pressured the emperor into giving her a warehouse outside the Censorate, where she built a pavilion that could overlook the Censorate from afar. Lu Xusheng burned that very place.

Cheng Yian remained concerned, "But it’s a secure area near the palace walls, aren’t you worried about being impeached by the censors tomorrow or Princess Minglan reporting you to the emperor?"

"First, someone would have to connect it to me, and second, do you think the Censorate would impeach me?"

Cheng Yian: "....."

True, the Censorate officials despised Princess Minglan, convinced she had disgraced their leader.

"But you didn’t need to go this far over something so trivial. I was confident I could leave the residence safely, and besides, Her Highness isn’t as overbearing and irrational as you believe..."

"Is that so?" A cold sneer came from above,

"She had men presented right in front of her. I think she’s just bitter and seeking to make me uncomfortable!"

Cheng Yian, afraid he’d misunderstood, quickly defended, "No, you misunderstood, it’s not what you saw..."

Before she could finish, Lu Xusheng tossed her into the carriage.

Furious, Lu Xusheng didn’t join her in the carriage but rode ahead to lead the way.

Cheng Yian was jolted all the way, and when the carriage finally stopped, those iron-like arms reached out again, wrapping her up completely, and they entered the study through a side door reserved for him, then through a small door into Ningji Hall.

The servants were startled to see him storm in.

Ru Hui, seeing Ru Lan chasing behind and noticing someone obviously cradled in Lu Xusheng’s arms, knew it was Cheng Yian, and quickly knelt down, blocking the way,

"Young Master, no matter how big the issue, please be careful with our lady, you must not harm her..."

Lu Xusheng ignored her words, stepping over her into the inner chamber.

When Cheng Yian finally saw daylight again, Lu Xusheng had already thrown her onto the canopy bed.

It was around 7 PM, and the snow outside cast a silvery glow, falling heavier than before.

The room was warm, heated from below, so it wasn't cold. Cheng Yian casually removed her cloak and tossed it aside, sitting calmly on the bed as she watched Lu Xusheng.

Lu Xusheng went to wash up and, upon returning, handed her a warm, wet towel.

Cheng Yian gave him a slow glance, took the towel, and wiped her face and hands before tossing it back onto the vanity.

Both curtains were pulled back, and the tall, imposing man sat squarely in front of the vanity, blocking her path, staring at her with intensity.

It wasn't exactly anger, but his expression was dark and menacing.

"Seen enough?" Lu Xusheng's thin lips were tightly pursed.

Cheng Yian felt unfairly accused, "No, you arrived just as they were leaving. I saw them, but I thought it resembled my father, so I was shocked. It wasn't because of them personally..."

"But you still looked..."

Cheng Yian choked, helplessly throwing up her hands, "Then what do you want me to do?"

Lu Xusheng pressed his tongue against his teeth, his face dark and silent.

Cheng Yian, unnerved by his demeanor, explained softly, "I barely saw anything, just a blurry figure in the distance that I thought looked like my father... I was thinking that Princess Minglan's taste remains the same..."

Unfortunately, Cheng Yian noticed that after saying this, the man's expression worsened, dark and still, like a stagnant pond, without a ripple.

Cheng Yian saw him reach up and pull down both curtains, then step towards her like a tiger stalking its prey.

The light was suddenly cut off, and Cheng Yian's heart skipped a beat, "Lu Xusheng, what are you doing?"

Her eyes hadn't yet adjusted to the darkness, and she couldn't see anything, only hearing faint rustling, not even the sound of breathing, as if a predator lurked nearby.

It was terrifying.

Cheng Yian was about to cry, scolding him, "Don't scare me, or I'll leave you!"

"If you don't say anything, I'll have someone call my father..."

Before she could finish, his tall figure loomed above her, his palm covering her soft lips, pushing her down onto the pillows. Cheng Yian heard the sound of his Adam's apple rolling, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

She glared at him pitifully, her lips trying to move, but he held them tightly.

Her soft, moist lips brushed his palm like a kitten's. Lu Xusheng's eyes were dark and deep, pulling her hand to his body,

"Look, feel, where am I inferior to those pretty boys?"

Forced to touch his burning skin, Cheng Yian's mind shook, her body trembled, and with that, she shook off her panic and fear.

Perhaps a bit overwhelmed by Lu Xusheng's thoughts, Cheng Yian began to follow his lead in a daze, her fingertips slowly tracing over his chest and abdomen.

Of course, she first felt some bumps, like scars, hard and firm. His solid chest led down to well-defined abs, each one brimming with strength.

So, all that earlier fuss was about taking off his clothes.

This guy, always showing off his physique.

He should have said so earlier, scaring her like that.

Feeling a deep groove, she didn't dare go further, and instead placed her hand on his broad shoulder, commenting thoughtfully.

"It'll do, I guess."

I can't let him get too cocky.

Lu Xusheng laughed at her "It'll do, I guess," and casually pulled off her belt, stripping her down.

Cheng Yian got nervous, sensing trouble, "Alright, alright, I give up. I was blind to even glance at those other guys. With our General Lu around, I have no eyes for anyone else."

See, she knows how to play along.

"But you still looked..."

You were totally mesmerized.

Lu Xusheng wasn't about to let her off easy.

"I really didn't..." Cheng Yian was caught in the act, and there was no way to clear her name now.

Seeing that he still hadn't come down, Cheng Yian felt a chill and murmured, "It's getting drafty in here."

Lu Xusheng gave a dark laugh, but his arm obediently slipped behind her back, lifting her up and wrapping the blankets snugly around her. Cheng Yian felt breathless, gasping for air, she simply clung to him.

Now it felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket, pressed tightly against him, she felt comfortable.

Lu Xusheng then draped her arm over his back, "Spell it out, what am I missing? If you don't give a proper reason, this isn't over today."

Cheng Yian scoffed softly.

Like she didn't know he was just messing with her.

But she wasn't exactly losing out.

So she pretended to compare, her soft fingertips measuring her territory, looking quite satisfied, "Now I understand, good-looking and handy too."

With a mocking laugh from him, he pressed her down hard.

Almost knocked Cheng Yian out.

Outside, it was unclear what time it was. The maids, hearing the noise, figured everything was fine and slowly left.

Birds chirped, clouds drifted, and everything felt dreamy, directionless.

Mist swirled, blurring her sight, but she knew this man was truly remarkable.

He could make her happy without even trying.

Today, after accidentally causing a scene, he didn't really get mad at her.

One thing about mature men—they know how to handle things, how to turn fights into peace, not the type to take out their frustrations on their wives after a bit of trouble outside.

His high status and power gave her a strong foundation and unmatched security.

By all accounts, Lu Xusheng was the perfect husband.

If there was one downside, it was that he wasn't into kissing.

Cheng Yian loved kissing, couldn't say why, just naturally did.

Lu Xusheng was different, even after being married for so long, he had only lightly touched her lips a couple of times, never going deeper.

She didn't know if it was dislike or just unfamiliarity.

If it was the former, she had nothing to say and wouldn't force it, after all, they were partners in life, and everyone has their unbreakable boundaries.

If it was the latter, she would teach him tomorrow.