The Lady General’s Absolute Indulgence - Chapter 13

Magistrate Xu, completely oblivious to the bizarre atmosphere, continued to speak to Huaian: “Lord Lin, I heard that your mother-in-law possesses exquisite embroidery skills. I specifically ordered my men to find an embroidered screen for her to enjoy.”

Huaian stood beside Magistrate Xu without a word, her expression calm but her eyes sweeping over the crowd with a piercing sharpness. Magistrate Xu couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat; the pressure radiating from this Great General Lin was so overwhelming that he felt at a loss.

After a long silence, Huaian nodded and said coldly, “Much obliged.”

Magistrate Xu let out a sigh of relief and immediately ordered his men to bring the screen forward. It was a jade openwork screen, crystal clear and without a single impurity—clearly a top-tier treasure.

Lady Yang’s eyes lit up. She stepped forward with a smile, nodding to the Magistrate. “Much obliged, Magistrate Xu. I am Wan Ning’s stepmother. You are far too kind; we will certainly treasure and keep this well.”

Huaian’s gaze was full of disdain. Keeping her arm around Wan Ning, she spoke indifferently: “Magistrate Xu, please have your men deliver the screen to the back courtyard. My wife’s mother, Yun-niang, lives there and does not enjoy socializing with outsiders.”

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it was clear enough for everyone present to hear. Some of the maids and older servants who usually disliked Lady Yang couldn’t hide the glints of amusement in their eyes; this was a public slap to the face.

The smile on Lady Yang’s face froze. She struggled to twitch the corners of her mouth. “Heh, this child…”

Only then did Magistrate Xu realize the atmosphere was extremely strange. It seemed the Great General did not like this stepmother. Had his gift been appropriate or a mistake? Regardless, he decided to say a few pleasantries and make a quick exit.

Magistrate Xu bowed low and said to Huaian, “Yes, yes, I understand.” He gestured to his men. “To the back courtyard!”

Watching the screen being carried away, Lady Yang gritted her teeth until they creaked. Lin Huaian had humiliated her in front of everyone!

“Lord Lin, if there is anything else you require, please do not hesitate to command me. I will do my utmost to fulfill it.”

“My mother-in-law, Yun-niang, has not been feeling well lately. I hope that from now on, you can send a doctor every month to check on her health.”

Magistrate Xu agreed readily. After a few more pleasantries, he led his men away.

Lady Yang glared at Yun-niang, her face turning various shades of blue and white. This Magistrate Xu has eyes but cannot see Mount Tai! she thought bitterly. Just wait until Yanshu becomes an official; when you come to curry favor then, I’ll throw all your gifts out!

Huaian didn’t give the crowd a single glance as she led Wan Ning away.

Shen Wanjin wiped the sweat from his forehead. How did Wan Ning get sold to someone so powerful? He was so nervous he didn’t even dare to breathe loudly. What a calamity, he thought; he was likely the first father-in-law in history who was too afraid to speak in front of his son-in-law.

Fang Yanshu stared at their departing figures for a long time, his gaze unreadable. Only the hand gripping his cup tightly betrayed his inner thoughts. That person should be in my arms right now, not being held by someone else.

After returning from the front hall, Wan Ning spent a long time staring at the screen in a daze. Magistrate Xu called Huaian “Lord,” and Huaian had mentioned her mother was the Duchess of Wei and that she had fought in the Battle of Qingping. Is Huaian the Heir to the Duke of Wei?

The more she thought about Huaian’s background, the more Wan Ning’s heart filled with a sense of loss. Could someone like me truly be a match for a Huaian like that?

Huaian, who was sitting nearby reading, noticed Wan Ning staring at the screen since they returned. She put down her book, walked over, and swept Wan Ning up to sit on her lap. Resting her head gently in the crook of the girl’s neck, she asked with a trace of mock grievance, “A-Ning, you haven’t talked to me since we finished dinner. Are you thinking about that damned Fang Yanshu?”

Wan Ning looked up sharply, her eyes filling with mist as she shook her head frantically, her small hands clutching Huaian’s sleeve. “Huaian, I’m not…”

Huaian gently kissed her wide eyes and pulled her closer. “Did you and Fang Yanshu know each other before?”

Wan Ning shrank into her embrace. Listening to the steady, powerful beat of Huaian’s heart, she said coquettishly, “I’ll tell you, but you mustn’t be angry.”

Huaian blew a breath into Wan Ning’s ear, making her squirm and giggle in her arms. Huaian couldn’t help but give her rounded bottom a light swat. “Sit still. Speak. I promise I won’t be angry.”

Wan Ning wrapped her arms around Huaian’s neck and tilted her head back slightly. “Because Father once saved Master Fang’s life, Master Fang promised to unite the two families in gratitude. Back then, Father arranged a match between me and Fang Yanshu…”

Huaian pressed her forehead against Wan Ning’s and rubbed it softly, her voice turning husky. “So, my little A-Ning… do you regret it?”

Wan Ning gave a brilliant smile and leaned up to find Huaian’s ear. “As long as it is you, I will never regret.”

The girl’s eyes seemed to hold ten thousand stars, shining with a sudden, radiant light. In the first eighteen years of her life, the words Lin Huaian had heard most often were that she must not lose, must not retreat, and must not have feelings. At this moment, all her logic collapsed. Huaian felt she would willingly give her life to this little girl.

Huaian leaned down to find those soft lips, licking and kissing them bit by bit. A fire burned within her, urging her to consume the little person before her, but her reason forced her to save the best of themselves for their wedding night.

After a long time, the two parted, breathless. Huaian leaned her forehead against Wan Ning’s and said helplessly, “Sooner or later, I’ll end up giving you my life.”

Wan Ning’s cheeks were crimson, her lips slightly swollen, and her body trembled slightly as she went soft in Huaian’s arms.

After a while, Wan Ning finally found her voice again and asked with a trace of sadness, “Huaian, why did Magistrate Xu call you ‘Lord’? Are you… really the Heir to the Duke of Wei?”

Huaian nodded slightly. “Mm. But if I had a choice, I would rather I wasn’t.”

Wan Ning lowered her lashes and asked cautiously, “Then… will you go back?”

Huaian kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry. I will arrange everything.”

She truly didn’t want to return to that bustling capital or be entangled in its schemes ever again. She only hoped that from now on, she could live as an ordinary Lin Huaian for the rest of her life.

“Mother! That Shen Wan Ning is a vixen! Brother Yanshu was staring at her the entire night!” In her room, Shen Qingqing smashed a teacup onto the floor and screamed, “I won’t accept this! I’m the one engaged to Brother Yanshu! Aside from that annoying face of hers, what else does she have?”

Lady Yang’s face was grim. She tapped a finger against Shen Qingqing’s forehead. “All you know how to do is get angry. What use is anger? We still don’t know Lin Huaian’s background, but judging by Magistrate Xu’s behavior, he is someone we cannot afford to provoke.”

Shen Qingqing pulled at Lady Yang’s arm, shouting irritably, “Mother! Aren’t you angry? She’s the daughter of a lowly embroiderer who climbed into Father’s bed, yet now she’s going to ride over our heads? Aren’t you angry?”

Bang! Lady Yang slammed her hand onto the table. “That wench Yun-niang seduced your father and gave birth to that little brat, and now they think they can climb over us? Qingqing, don’t worry. Mother will not let them have their way!”

“Tomorrow, I’ll go to the human trafficker to find out the truth. We’ll show them what’s what.”

Lady Yang’s gaze grew increasingly venomous as she leaned in and whispered into Shen Qingqing’s ear.