Translator – Xiao He Lian
This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.
Chapter 24.1
The shadow of the moon, reflected on the tiles.
The flickering candlelight was reflected on the account book on the desk, and the paper made a clattering sound when the wind blew.
The man’s figure gradually approached her.
“Shen Zhen.” His voice was low and hoarse, as if something was about to explode.
Shen Zhen’s pen suddenly stopped, and her eyelashes trembled slightly. When she raised her eyes, she met his dark and deep eyes and his Adam’s apple that was slowly sliding down.
When he looked at her like this, most of the time he wouldn’t allow her to refuse.
Before she could think about it, Lu Yan took the wolf hair brush out of her hand, threw it to the ground, closed the account book, and put it aside.
“Sit up.” Lu Yan stood up and tapped the table with his index finger.
Shen Zhen’s face turned red instantly.
That breathless feeling came again.
She didn’t know why he always liked to do that on the table, but when she thought of the scraped knees before, she couldn’t lift her legs up.
The posture that Shen Zhen dislikes the most is loved by every man in the world.
Lu Yan saw that she refused to move and thought she was shy, so he hugged her body and lowered his head to bite her earlobe.
Biting lightly and sucking hard, the hot breath from the man’s breath and the barely audible breathing reached her ears.
Her body couldn’t help but tremble.
But after a long time, her eyes were still avoiding him, and her two small hands were pressed against his chest, with a hint of rejection.
Lu Yan frowned slightly and reached out to pat her. There was no menstrual belt.
Her period has not come…
Shen Zhen’s cheeks felt hot due to his familiar movements. In desperation, she had no choice but to lift up her skirt and show him the bruises on her knees that had not faded yet.
Her fair and tender skin was all red and purple. Anyone who looked at it would think that the person who did evil to her didn’t have the slightest bit of pity.
Perhaps Lu Yan also felt that the scars in front of him were too much, so he put his fist to his lips and coughed lightly.
When he placed her back on the couch, Lu Yan rarely had a moment of introspection.
Don’t let her exert force on her knees.
However, after changing positions, the situation was still not much better.
He liked burning lamps, but she only liked darkness. It was okay when her back was turned, at least she couldn’t see the mocking look in his eyes.
As long as she can’t see him, he can do whatever he wants.
But once their eyes met like this, her heart rose in her throat.
Suddenly, she felt like a swaying driftwood in the boundless sea…
There was only one hairpin on her head, and it finally fell to the ground with a “ding” sound, and her dark black hair scattered.
So embarrassing,,,
Her fingers secretly curled up, digging into the carved edge of the couch, until her fingertips turned white.
Lu Yan looked down at her. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, it would be hard for him to believe that such an otherworldly face could produce such an alluring body.
Really pure desire.
This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.
Shen Zhen was almost crying because of him and said incoherently: “My Lord, don’t look, don’t look.”
But Lu Yan has a dark heart. The more she resisted, the more he stared into her eyes.
Even though she was charming and enchanting in all kinds of ways, he can’t help but harden his hard and keep pushing her.
It wasn’t until he really forced her to cry that he kissed her eyelids.
The moonlight was hazy, and it wasn’t until the man groaned that her little hand gradually relaxed.
He didn’t know whether it was due to mysophobia or kindness. Seeing Shen Zhen lying on the couch unable to move, Lu Yan actually carried her to the clean room and helped her clean up..
The night was dark but Shen Zhen really couldn’t fall asleep.
She stared at the rafters without moving.
Such beautiful eyes were finally tinged with sadness in the dark night when no one could see them.
After a while, she turned her head and her eyes fell on the dying moonlight outside.
——
Zhao Family in Yangzhou, Governor’s Office.
The curtain hanging at the edge was quietly opened, and a ray of morning light filtered in through the gap in the window.
A maid named Jiuzhi stood in the center of the inner room and said slowly: “Madam, momo sent someone to deliver a message, the Wei family has indeed gone to Gaofu again.”
Madam Zhao suppressed the smile on her face, reached out to pick up the hot tea in front of her, and said to Jiuzhi: “Have you found out what I asked you to investigate before?”
“According to the spies’, the Wei family in Jingzhou does have a son named Wei Huan. He is twenty-four years old and has already married. He is married to the daughter of the Jingzhou County government and has a son and a daughter.” Jiuzhi paused, and then said: “Madam, the Wei family is more complicated than we thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Wei family is quite famous in Jingzhou. They are not only engaged in the cloth business, they also have salt.”
The eldest lady raised her eyebrows, “Since he even has salt, what is he doing in Yangzhou?” In her opinion, how can a few rags be as profitable as selling salt?
“The Wei family has a lot of ambitions and is ready to make money all over the world. Wei Huan came to Yangzhou, and Wei Qi, the second young master of the Wei family, went to Luoyang.”
Madam Zhao said: “So, he really came to Yangzhou to find a way to make money?”
Jiuzhi said: “At present, it seems that it is indeed the case.”
Madam Zhao suddenly hissed and said to the little girl who was massaging her legs, “Be gentler.” Then she said, “I heard that Young Master Wei has a very beautiful concubine with him?”
“Yes, I heard Zhuang Yue say that Young Master Wei really loves that concubine. He spent hundreds of copper coins just buying jewelry for her.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhao smiled and sighed, “So in short, he is an infatuated person?”
Jiuzhi stood aside respectfully, not daring to agree casually.
After a while, Madam Zhao folded her hands on her knees and said: “First send someone to Heron Garden to keep an eye on it, and then go back to the Gao family to tell my brother and sister-in-law that they don’t need to worry about the rest.”
“Yes.”
In the evening, Zhao Chong returned to his house.
Zhao Chong couldn’t compare to a noble man like Lu Yan. It took him most of his life to climb to where he is today.
He was over forty years old and had many wrinkles, but his aura became much more noble because of the official uniform he wore.
Inside the house, while listening to his wife’s words, he rubbed his hands in front of the stove and said, “Do you think the Wei family can be trusted, madam?”
Madam Zhao thought for a moment and said: “There is no reason to put the meat in your mouth without eating it, regardless of whether it is from the Liu family or the Wei family. If it is trustworthy, let’s try it ourselves and we’ll find out.”
Zhao Chong said: “Pour me a glass of water.”
Madam Zhao quickly walked to the side, poured a glass of water, handed it to him and said: “Two days ago, people from the Governor’s Office came, saying that there was a shortage of silver for smelting iron at the Chengxi canal, and they asked us to make up for it. Master, please forgive me for speaking frankly, it’s okay if things work out, because there’s still a lot of wealth waiting for us, but if things don’t work out…”
Zhao Chong narrowed his eyes and interrupted her directly, “You don’t have to tell me the rest.”
——
At noon the next day, word came from the Gao family, and Yang Zong hurried into the study, “Master, the Gao family has spread word that their boss wants to see us, but…”
Lu Yan said: “Speak quickly.”
“They said they want you to bring Miss Shen with you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yan’s eyebrows knitted together and he turned the ring on his finger, “When?”
“Tonight, Yangzhou Twenty Four Bridge.”
Yangzhou Twenty-Four Bridge is the most famous fireworks1(red light district/brothel) destination in the entire Jin Dynasty. Even brothels in Pingkang lane in Chang’an cannot compare with it.
All officials who have been to Yangzhou say that such ecstasy reminds people of the Wine pool and meat forest2(is an idiom . In modern times, it means that a person’s life is extremely luxurious and indulgent, without any restraint. The Wine Pond and Meat Forest is an indictment of the corrupt and extravagant behavior of the last emperor of the Shang Dynasty , Emperor Xin [2] . It refers to the establishment of a pond full of wine in the sand dunes, with different types of meat hung around the pond , just like a forest . This place is very convenient for eating and drinking, and it also allows men and women to get naked and run and play in it, which is extremely obscene and debauched.) where King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty was trying to please Su Daji(Su Daji should be King Zhou’s concubine.).
Lu Yan looked at the map in his hand over and over again, put his index finger on his forehead, thought for a long time, and then said, “I see.”
Then he said: “Tell our people to lie in ambush the Governor’s Mansion. If our identities are exposed, tell them to capture Zhao Chong and his wife alive.”
“This subordinate understands.”
——
