The Lady General’s Absolute Indulgence - Chapter 15

Huaian led Wan Ning back to the rear courtyard. Under the candlelight, Wan Ning shed her upper garments, making the purple bruises on her snow-white back look particularly startling. The girl’s body trembled slightly, her flush spreading from her neck to her cheeks.

Huaian acted as if she hadn’t noticed the blush. Her dark eyes remained unreadable as she pursed her lips and gently applied the medicine. Once finished, she instinctively leaned down toward that fair back, blowing softly on the skin and pressing a gentle kiss to the injured area.

Wan Ning’s body froze instantly. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and her hands gripped the quilt before her. A rosy glow swept across her skin.

Huaian’s kisses traveled from her back up to her neck, finally coming to a stop right against Wan Ning’s ear. Her scorching breath made Wan Ning shiver; everywhere her lips touched felt as if it had been seared by fire.

Huaian held Wan Ning tightly for a long time, finally speaking in a husky voice, “A-Ning, what am I to do with you?”

With her cheeks crimson and her eyes misty, Wan Ning slowly turned around. She raised herself up and, mimicking Huaian’s earlier actions, began to trace Huaian’s cool features with her lips—the elegant brow, the high bridge of the nose, and the thin lips.

When Wan Ning’s soft lips met Huaian’s, she suddenly grew bold, prying open Huaian’s teeth to kiss her with a fierce intensity. She was venting the grievances in her heart. An innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth; I am innocent, yet my beauty brings me pain. Was this how Mother ended up in Father’s rear courtyard?

The more Wan Ning thought, the more her heart ached. In her momentary daze, Huaian had already pinned her down, trapping her firmly within her arms.

Gazing into Wan Ning’s tear-filled eyes, Huaian explained patiently, “A-Ning, I wasn’t blaming you. I was just very scared. I’m scared that I didn’t protect you well enough; I’m scared of you being hurt.”

Wan Ning bit her lip and began to sob softly. Huaian kissed her cheeks tenderly, drinking away the tears.

Huaian held her close, patting her back to soothe her. Her tone was doting: “Alright now, good A-Ning, I’m here.”

The next day, news arrived that Fang Yanshu had already left the Shen residence to return home and prepare for his wedding. After packing their luggage and bidding farewell to Shen Wanjin, Wan Ning and Huaian prepared to head home.

Before departing, Wan Ning was loath to leave Yun-niang. She gripped her mother’s hand tightly, her eyes rimmed with red. “Mother, I will come back to see you. You must take care of your health.”

Yun-niang stroked Wan Ning’s hair affectionately. “I will.” She gently placed Wan Ning’s hand into Huaian’s and patted them. “You two stay well together. Don’t let your mother worry.”

Wan Ning nodded, her eyes red. Huaian put an arm around her shoulder and coaxed her softly, “A-Ning, let’s get in the carriage. Come spring, we’ll bring Mother to live with us for a while.”

Only then did Wan Ning reluctantly board the carriage with Huaian.

After they left, Yun-niang watched their departing direction for a long time. Suddenly, she broke into a violent coughing fit. Small flecks of crimson fell onto the handkerchief covering her mouth.

Yun-niang stared blankly at the blood. She thought sadly: A-Ning, you must live well. Mother might not make it to next spring.

“Mother! Are we just going to let them leave like that?” Shen Qingqing watched the carriage disappear into the distance, her heart full of resentment. She had always looked down on Shen Wan Ning; when did she ever have to be so cautious around her?

Lady Yang let out a cold sneer. “Qingqing, don’t worry. Whether they can make it back safely is another matter. I’ve asked around—no one knows where that Lin Huaian came from. She likely isn’t anyone of importance.”

Because of Magistrate Xu’s visit, Shen Wanjin had specifically instructed Lady Yang to treat Yun-niang well and stop making things difficult for her. Lady Yang was fuming; she loathed Yun-niang’s pitiable act and could never bring herself to be kind to her.

Shen Wan Ning was Yun-niang’s life. If Shen Wan Ning and Lin Huaian lost their lives to bandits on the road, would Yun-niang even want to live? Lady Yang plotted maliciously.

The carriage had been traveling for a long time, but Wan Ning still kept her head out the window, looking back. Her mother’s health didn’t seem good at all, and now her only confidante was no longer by her side. If anything happened, who would help her? Wan Ning was deeply unsettled.

Huaian gently pulled Wan Ning onto her lap, rubbing her small, cold hands. “A-Ning, worried about Mother?”

Wan Ning nodded. “In that house, it’s just the two of us. I’m worried about her.”

Huaian held Wan Ning closer to keep her warm. “A-Ning, before I left, I spoke to Nanny Li, the household manager. I asked her to look after Mother and send word to us immediately if anything happens.”

Wan Ning looked at Huaian in shock. A warm current surged through her heart, and she couldn’t help but nuzzle against Huaian’s chest. Her Huaian was so thoughtful and meticulous. This was an unspeakable happiness that she wanted to cherish privately. But what could she give her in return?

Watching the cat-like Wan Ning, Huaian stroked her long hair, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

The carriage reached a forest where the branches were draped in a light dusting of snow, looking exceptionally beautiful in their silver shroud. Before Wan Ning could admire the scenery, a group of men in black suddenly rushed out from the southeast.

“General Lin, I have heard much of your fame.” The leader of the black-clad men reined in his horse before the carriage.

Wan Ning instinctively clutched Huaian’s arm. “Huaian, what’s happening outside?” she asked nervously.

Huaian patted Wan Ning’s back. “It’s nothing. I’ll go out and send them away.”

Huaian lifted the curtain and stepped out quickly, blocking the men’s view of the interior. “I have already surrendered all military power. Leaving the capital was my act of sincerity. I hope you will stop disturbing me.”

The man in black held his sword and said in a heavy voice, “General, our Master requests that you return to the capital to assist him. Otherwise…”

“Oh? Otherwise what?” Huaian tilted her head, asking nonchalantly.

The man waved his hand in the air, and over a dozen well-trained assassins emerged from all directions. “The Master said that if a person cannot be used by him, they must never be used by anyone else!”

Huaian took a step back, slowly drawing a flexible sword from her sleeve. Her gaze turned freezing, her tone leaden: “I, Lin Huaian, have never been threatened by anyone!”

Then, she said tenderly to the interior of the carriage, “A-Ning, stay inside.”

The man in black gestured forward. “Attack!”

The assassins swarmed forward, surrounding Huaian. Swords flashed like dancing flowers, every strike aimed at her vitals.

Huaian remained unruffled, calmly guarding the carriage behind her and letting no one close. Her movements were lightning-fast. By the time her blade slit a throat, the assassin hadn’t even reacted, their eyes wide with disbelief as if they didn’t understand what had happened in that split second.

Huaian’s long sword formed a defensive barrier. As more and more assassins fell, the survivors hesitated, not daring to step closer.

At that moment, several men dressed as bandits were hiding in the woods, watching the scene.

“What’s going on? Someone paid us to rob them, but they’ve run into real assassins?” “Boss, should we still charge in?” “Are you stupid? Charging in would be suicide! Retreat! Just say the mission is done! We only wanted to scare them anyway; did you really want to end up with a body count?”

The bandits fled in a panic.