NOVPUB
Chapter 135: Chapter 135: One is stubborn, the other is soft-hearted but hard-mouthed!
Qingcheng watched as Mu Yan saw off that woman’s sedan, and she softly asked from behind him, "Yan, who is that person?"
Mu Yan did not answer her but instead said, "You’ve injured your leg before, you should rest more."
Miss Qingcheng’s eyes, clear as water, looked towards Mu Yan, "Alright, Yan, Qingcheng won’t be willful anymore!"
"Then let’s return to the mansion!" Mu Yan’s voice carried not a trace of joy.
"Yan, shall we go back together?" Qingcheng’s voice was still as pleasant-sounding.
Mu Yan looked towards the river and said, "No need, you go back first, I still have some things to handle."
"Yes." Qingcheng was escorted away by the Hidden Guards, while Mu Yan stood alone on the pleasure boat, unknowingly pushing open the storage room again.
He stepped to the spot where he and Zhan Lan had just kissed, the air still bore the faint fragrance from Zhan Lan.
His fingers rested on the wooden pillar, savoring the kiss they just shared.
The pain at his neck kept reminding him that everything that happened was real.
The air was so quiet that he could hear his own heartbeat, strong and firm.
He had lost control!
For a woman!
If not for the Hidden Guards and Qingcheng outside, he surely would have taken her.
This was an experience he had never had in his twenty-three years.
He didn’t understand if it was because he had been abstinent for too long, had never indulged himself before, and was simply provoked by lust, or if he really liked Zhan Lan.
Is this feeling what liking someone is?
...
Zhan Lan sat in the sedan, and after a quarter of an hour, finally returned to the Zhan Family.
Upon entering the house, Liu Xi noticed her troubled expression and immediately prepared bathwater for her.
As Zhan Lan bathed, the effects of the antidote pills finally neutralized the poison of the Confusion Love Powder.
Sitting in the bathtub, she thought about what happened today in the storage room on the pleasure boat.
Mu Yan had kissed her, and later, she had even initiated a kiss herself.
Now fully calm, Zhan Lan realized she had been a bit impulsive.
She should have resisted, right?
But her self-control had crumbled the moment she was in contact with Mu Yan.
"I must have been an old maid for too long, unable to hold myself back!" Zhan Lan fiercely slapped her forehead twice.
In her last life, she remained an old maid for twenty-one years, and even when she got married, either her husband Si Jun was at the frontier or pretended to be sick, so aside from holding hands, they shared no intimate gestures.
Back then she was naive, thought such pure affection was beautiful, and considered Si Jun a gentleman.
Zhan Lan touched her swollen lips, Mu Yan’s presence seemed still to linger around her, her face blushed, she must not be provoked by mere sights.
Yet her body was honest, just now she even wanted more.
"Ah... it turns out not only men are lecherous!" Zhan Lan felt ashamed, grabbed a ladle of water, and poured it over her head.
Desire is the essence of humanity, and indulgence is human nature.
Even though the Confusion Love Powder had stimulated her bodily desires, the fact that she didn’t resist being more intimate with Mu Yan, even contemplating seizing the moment to try things she hadn’t in her previous life.
It was terrifying!
Zhan Lan got out of the bathtub, dried herself off, dressed, and went to the outer room.
Little Black was already sound asleep, and Liu Xi was waiting for Zhan Lan, not yet asleep.
Seeing Zhan Lan come out with her face flushed and her lips slightly swollen, looking a bit desirous, she didn’t dare ask too much, and simply lowered her head to wipe the table.
"Liu Xi, fetch me a copy of the Dazang Sutra from the Li residence!" Zhan Lan said, wiping her damp hair.
"Yes, Miss!" Liu Xi soon brought back a scripture.
Zhan Lan opened the scripture and took out the Four Treasures of the Study, then said to Liu Xi, "You go rest, I’ll sleep in a bit."
Liu Xi was puzzled. Could the master be intending to copy scriptures so late at night?
She did not dare to disturb the master and thus respectfully took her leave.
After Liu Xi left, Zhan Lan opened the window and began copying from the Dazang Sutra.
She now had distracting thoughts that she needed to eliminate.
She could not let her basic instincts control her mind and body, or her path of revenge would be deemed over.
An hour later, a pigeon flew through the window and landed on Zhan Lan’s desk.
Zhan Lan fed it some millet and removed a piece of paper from its leg.
It was a few short words, all secret military codes of communication.
Zhan Lan thought that Xiao Chen indeed had a great tacit understanding with her, and his actions were impeccable.
He had already sent someone to hide the corpses of Qin Laoer and others in garbage bins, taken out of the city to destroy all traces.
Zhan Lan burned the note and, as the paper charred, she heard the night watch gong outside, reminding her it was time to rest.
She put away the scripture she had copied once; her handwriting wasn’t pretty, but it grew steadier towards the end.
Her desires had also calmed.
...
Mu Yan returned to his residence. He walked in front of a mirror and saw bite marks on his neck like those of a kitten’s scratch, his lips unconsciously curled up.
He went straight inside and lay down on his bed.
A servant came in with respect, "Master, the warm bath is ready."
Mu Yan didn’t look at him and simply said, "No need, you may leave."
The servant was surprised; their Family Head was extremely particular about cleanliness, taking a bath daily, and even immediately washing clothes worn outside.
But today, for some unknown reason, he lay on the bed in his daytime clothes, lost in thought.
Not daring to ask more, the servant was about to leave when Mu Yan stopped him, "Call Vermilion Bird here."
"Yes!" The servant quickly went to call someone.
Soon, Vermilion Bird entered, closed the door from inside, and respectfully stood by the door.
Mu Yan asked, "Check who the man was that came to meet Zhan Lan today. Additionally, quietly arrange for some people to secretly follow Zhan Lan, pick some smart ones so she won’t notice!"
Vermilion Bird was thrilled inside; he was again sure the master must like Miss Zhan.
He solemnly replied, "Yes, Master, I will make sure someone protects Miss Zhan well."
Mu Yan, with a cold face and turning slightly towards him, said, "Who said to protect her? It’s to surveil her!"
Vermilion Bird broke out in sweat and nodded perfunctorily, "Yes, Master, I will make sure someone surveils Miss Zhan well!"
"Go!" Mu Yan couldn’t be bothered with him, who said he cared about Zhan Lan.
Vermilion Bird just liked to recklessly guess his intentions.
Vermilion Bird strode out of Mu Yan’s room and after walking a few dozen steps, he muttered softly, "Still won’t admit it, clearly cares about Miss Zhan; these two, one oblivious, the other with a soft heart and harsh words, when will they be together!"
Vermilion Bird scratched his head and then whistled.
Instantly, dozens of Hidden Guards appeared from all directions.
Vermilion Bird picked a few to stay, the rest he sent away.
Yun He was one of the lucky ones. He solemnly asked, "Leader, what shall we do? Please instruct!"
