The Lady General’s Absolute Indulgence - Chapter 12

Yun-niang arranged for Huaian and Wan Ning to rest in Wan Ning’s former bedroom. The room was simple and clean, with a small embroidery frame standing by the bed.

Wan Ning was tracing the frame, lost in memories of her former life, when Huaian suddenly swept her up and sat her down on her lap.

Wan Ning let out a small cry and instinctively wrapped her arms around Huaian’s neck. A soft chuckle sounded above her. “A-Ning, is this initiative your way of giving me a hint?”

Only then did Wan Ning realize she was nestled completely in Huaian’s embrace, her hands clinging to her neck in an intimate pose. She struggled, trying to hop down.

Huaian gave her no such chance. One arm tightened around her while the other hand cupped the back of her head, forcing her to tilt her face up. A pair of affectionate, timid eyes looked straight at Huaian, and rosy lips softly breathed her name: “Huaian.”

Huaian’s voice turned husky. “A-Ning, are you seducing me?”

Wan Ning’s cheeks flushed crimson, but as if under a spell, she tilted her head up and gave Huaian’s lips a light, lingering peck. “Mm…”

The desire in Huaian’s dark eyes deepened. Before Wan Ning could say another word, Huaian leaned down and captured her lips.

In the heat of the kiss, Wan Ning felt as if she were drowning. She could only clutch Huaian’s sleeve tightly, her heart yearning to sink deeper and deeper into this embrace.

Outside, the winter wind howled, but inside, the two intertwined figures did not part for a long time.

The next morning, the sun was high in the sky when Wan Ning finally woke. “Oh dear, how did it get so late?”

Huaian extended a long arm and pulled Wan Ning back into her chest, her voice lazy and relaxed. “A-Ning, I’ve already told Mother that you were exhausted from last night and should rest a bit longer.”

Wan Ning’s face turned beet red instantly, and she dove under the covers. “How could you… how could you say such a thing to Mother?”

Huaian leaned down, inhaling deeply against the crook of Wan Ning’s neck, and chuckled softly in her ear. “Then what should I have said? A-Ning, teach me.”

Wan Ning’s toes curled. Last night… Huaian had left marks all over her chest, neck, and even her shoulders. And now, she was speaking in such a pained, innocent voice. Just thinking about the previous night made Wan Ning’s heart tremble.

Huaian held Wan Ning tightly, idly playing with her long hair. The two lingered together in bed for a while longer before finally getting up.

Around noon, a servant suddenly came from the front courtyard to summon them. They said the young master of the Fang family had arrived in person to discuss the marriage and requested that Huaian and Wan Ning join them for a meal.

When Huaian, Wan Ning, and Yun-niang arrived, Shen Wanjin was bowing and scraping, smiling flatteringly at a man dressed in white. The man’s hair was tied high in a crown; his face was clean and handsome, and his lips were slightly pursed. Though he was smiling, a closer look revealed that the warmth did not reach his eyes.

Lady Yang was whispering something behind her hand nearby; the words “…that child Wan Ning just can’t stand being lonely…” drifted over.

Wan Ning’s lips turned pale, and her hands began to shake. She could tell Lady Yang was slandering her character. She was terrified that Huaian would hear it; she didn’t want Huaian to have even the slightest prejudice against her.

Huaian acted as if she heard nothing. She kept her arm firmly around Wan Ning as they walked to the square table and sat down.

Seeing them arrive, Lady Yang didn’t dare say more in front of Huaian and shut her mouth.

Fang Yanshu’s dark eyes remained fixed on Wan Ning. The girl before him was just as delicate and lovely as he remembered, her fair face flushed with a rosy tint. Her affectionate eyes looked timidly at everyone, and on her fair neck, a faint red mark was visible.

Fang Yanshu instinctively gripped his wine cup tighter. After a long silence, he spoke coolly. “Sister A-Ning, when did you marry?”

The Shen and Fang families would normally have had no overlap—one was a scholarly clan of generations, the other a family of merchants. Their connection existed only because Shen Wanjin had once saved Fang Yanshu’s father during a trade journey. When Master Fang first brought his son to the Shen house to offer thanks, Fang Yanshu had fallen in love with the timid girl at first sight and begged his father to arrange the match. Now that he had reached marriageable age, his “delicate pearl” had married another.

Fang Yanshu’s gaze was raw and direct. Wan Ning instinctively leaned closer to Huaian, shrinking back. She had always assumed she would marry Fang Yanshu; though she felt no romantic love for him, being questioned by him in public gave her an unearned sense of guilt.

Huaian kept Wan Ning in her arms, gently covering the girl’s hand with her own and patting it soothingly. “The sixth day of the eighth month this year.”

Fang Yanshu remarked indifferently, “Oh? What a pity… I wasn’t able to drink a celebratory toast at Sister A-Ning’s wedding.”

With one hand around Wan Ning’s shoulder and the other idly playing with her cup, Huaian spoke nonchalantly. “Wan Ning’s marriage is settled. When Young Master Fang has his grand wedding, we will be sure to offer our congratulations.”

Lady Yang didn’t want Fang Yanshu focusing too much on Wan Ning—the vixen was just like her mother, far too good at seducing men. She pushed Shen Qingqing toward him. “Qingqing, go sit beside your Brother Yanshu.”

Shen Qingqing sat down with a shy, bashful look. Fang Yanshu gave her only a brief, flat glance before continuing his meal without a change in expression.

As the party was eating, the gatekeeper announced that Magistrate Xu had arrived in person to deliver gifts.

Lady Yang gave a triumphant huff toward Yun-niang. “Our Yanshu has passed the imperial exams as a Jinshi; the Magistrate must have heard and come to curry favor.”

Yun-niang said nothing, keeping her head down as she ate.

Shen Qingqing gave Wan Ning a smug, haughty look. Ever since Wan Ning returned with the remarkably poised Huaian, her heart had felt as if it were soaking in vinegar, making it hard to breathe. Hmph! Finally, I can hold my head high today!

Shen Wanjin rubbed his hands in excitement. At that moment, Lady Yang whispered in his ear, “Master, we told everyone that girl Wan Ning eloped. Having her here might disgrace our family name. Why not let them return to the back courtyard so they don’t accidentally offend our distinguished guest?”

Shen Wanjin nodded, thinking this made perfect sense. He said to Wan Ning, “A-Ning, take your husband and head back for now.”

Wan Ning bit her lip, looking at her father with indignation. It was fine for them to bully her usually, but bullying Huaian was unacceptable.

Lady Yang seized the opportunity to add, “Oh, a great guest is arriving to celebrate your sister and brother-in-law’s upcoming union. It isn’t appropriate for you to stay here.”

Before Wan Ning could speak, Huaian’s gaze turned icy. But before she could say a word, Magistrate Xu had already entered with his attendants.

His flattering voice rang out from a distance. “Lord Lin! I heard you were visiting your wife’s family, so I prepared a humble gift. I hope you will accept it.”

Magistrate Xu thought to himself triumphantly: The Great General Lin doesn’t want others to know her identity, but surely there’s no harm in me quietly delivering some gifts to the house? Heh heh, once she returns to the capital, she’ll definitely remember my kindness! I’m so clever.

“Lord… Lord Lin?” Shen Wanjin was stunned. Where did a “Lord Lin” come from?

Lady Yang’s face turned a violent shade of red. It turned out the person everyone cared about was Lin Huaian! She was fuming—that wretched human trafficker! They had clearly said he was a nobody, a piece of trash no one wanted, yet now he was some kind of “Lord”! How would she and Qingqing ever be able to show their faces again?