Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 36.1
Needless to say, the men’s attire worn on her body really gave off a unique flavor.
The outfit that was supposed to be flat became uneven as she sat, inexplicably adding a touch of a forbidden beauty.
Lu Yan held her waist, raised his hand to pour her another glass of wine and handed it to her. Shen Zhen raised her hand to take it.
He poured a glass, and she followed.
The strong aroma of wine filled her nose and soon her face turned red.
Lu Yan looked at the little girl in his arms who was already half drunk. He couldn’t help but reach out to play with her ears, bowed his head and kissed the corners of her eyes lovingly.
His expression was soft, but his tone was as cold as ever, “Why do you cry so much?”
Shen Zhen glared and retorted, “But I didn’t like to cry before.” The saying, drinking alcohol will boost courage was indeed true.
Lu Yan pinched her face and sneered, “Oh, really, it was all me who made you cry?”
Shen Zhen lowered her head and stopped looking at him.
Lu Yan didn’t coax her, he just put his hand on her waist and continued to rub it.
Seeing that she didn’t respond, he used a silver hook to lift up the curtain, patted her on the shoulder, and told her to look at the picturesque scenery outside.
She followed his index finger with her eyes – the cool breeze was blowing and the lights of thousands of houses were flickered. As she suddenly thought of something, her expression darkened.
After a while, she looked sideways at him and said, “My Lord, I have something to ask you.”
Lu Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Ask away.”
“Why do you dislike me crying so much?” In fact, Shen Zhen had wanted to ask him for a long time, but she never had the courage.
Lu Yan said without changing his expression: “I just dislike it.” After saying that, he subconsciously touched the tip of his nose.
What could he say?
Is it possible to tell her that when she sheds tears, his whole heart will tremble with pain?
Unexpectedly, Shen Zhen suddenly grabbed his hand and said softly: “Promise me something and I won’t cry in the future.”
Lu Yan pinched her chin, “Do you know how to negotiate terms with me now?”
Shen Zhen smiled, “Is it possible?”
Lu Yan raised his hand and drank a glass of wine, “Tell me.”
Shen Zhen reached out to hug his waist, put her mouth against his ear and said, “Can you promise me first?”
Lu Yan’s eyes sternly asked, “Reaching out for a yard after taking an inch1(be insatiable)?” Without even mentioning the conditions, she demanded his promise, if this is not reaching out for a yard after taking an inch, then what is.
Seeing that he was angry, Shen Zhen followed suit and put her hand on his waist and rubbed it back and forth twice.
Lu Yan was stunned by her reaction.
He looked down at her little hands, really unable to get angry at all.
He and Shen Zhen were born with different temperaments. He wanted her and doted on her based on his mood. He never gave her a chance to say no, nor did he respect her thoughts.
He was aware of her grievances, but he didn’t take it seriously.
In his eyes, between them, the east wind will only prevail over the west wind2(the East wind prevails over the West wind (progressive ideas prevail over reactionary ones); ).
But he never thought that he would also taste the feeling of steel, which has undergone countless trials, turning into a soft object that can wrap around the fingers.3(Metaphorically speaking, becoming powerless after experiencing failure. Later used as a metaphor to make a fiery and tough temperament become gentle.)
He looked at her cunning eyes, his heart dropped sharply.
Shen Zhen, did you lie to me like this in your last life?
Lu Yan drank two glasses of wine in a row and agreed in a hoarse voice. Then he looked into her eyes and said, “Can you speak now?”
Shen Zhen’s eyes lit up, she leaned forward to look for his ear and whispered: “After we return to Chang’an, I want to go to Daxingshan Temple.” Her breath smelling of alcohol fell on his ear, rubbing it against his ear making his heart warm.
Lu Yan held the cup and paused, “Why do you want to go there?”
Shen Zhen lowered her head and said, “The seventh day of the third lunar month is my mother’s death anniversary.” Chang’an is not as good as Yangzhou. When she goes back, it will be difficult for her to leave Chengyuan.
Lu Yan was startled, touched her hair and said, “I know, I will take you there.”
Shen Zhen smiled and said, “Thank you, My Lord.”
After a while, the sound of a flute came from the lake. Shen Zhen leaned into his arms obediently, wagging her fingers in accordance with the rhythm.
Apparently she was drunk.
Just as they were about to cross the arch bridge, a small boat rowed by with them and a slightly provocative voice came from inside, “Can the girl play the flute?”
The woman said: “Mo’er can only play the pipa4(pipa; pipa, a plucked string instrument with a fretted fingerboard; 4-stringed Chinese lute; pi-pa,a plucked string instrument with a fretted fingerboard), but not the flute.”
The man sarcastically said, “Stop pretending, I don’t want to listen to the pipa, I just want to ask you whether you play the flute5(I think play the flute here also means a double meaning for blow job??) or not?”
The man said again: “Come here, I will give you two copper coins.”
Hearing this, Lu Yan covered Shen Zhen’s ears without thinking. Shen Zhen looked back at him without knowing why.
Shen Zhen, who was drunk, was naturally more lively than usual. She listened to the sound of the flute in the distance and the gossip on the side and whispered to him: “My Lord, I can play the flute.”
Lu Yan’s body stiffened, and his Adam’s apple slowly slid down. At this moment, he had the desire to kill. In order to avoid these gossips, he purposely chartered the boat alone. Who would have expected that such a thing would happen.
Shen Zhen was so drunk that she held his hand and said, “My Lord, I can not only play the flute, but I can also play the harp6(Harp; konghou, an ancient plucked stringed instrument; harp, an ancient plucked stringed instrument).”
He couldn’t bear to listen to her words.
Lu Yan kissed her mouth without thinking. Shen Zhen was startled at first and then responded slowly.
He carried her to the couch at the stern of the boat.
The veins of the man’s strong arm were slightly raised and he was clasping her neck tightly. He really couldn’t hold it anymore…
Heavens knows, he really came to show her the scenery today.
He slowly pulled off the long garment on her body, revealing a large area of fair skin.
Every time he looked down at her like this, he could feel the tremors and loss of control coming from his limbs.
He held her ear in his mouth and whispered: “I’ll be gentler, don’t be afraid.”
Although Lu Yan was greedy, he was also patient. His knuckles were distinct and he could always push her to the point of passion before he gradually penetrated her.
After a while, her whole body was curled up in his arms and she could only gasp for breath softly due to his delicate fingering, like a dehydrated fish on the shore.
Such a delicate figure was probably what most men in the world love most, he thought.
The night was dark, and the New Year’s crescent moon was reflected on the lake. The water was sparkling and the boat was swaying.
Suddenly, a sweet voice was heard which made the moonlight tremble slightly and the fish in the lake were startled and fled in all directions.
After being exhausted, Lu Yan hugged her from behind and slowly closed his eyes.
And another memory flooded into his mind.
——
The time of this memory is – the spring of the 16th year of Yuanqing, the third day of the third lunar month.
Just after leaving court that day, Lu Yan was invited to the Tingzheng7(hold court; the hall where administer affairs of state are held Hall by the Emperor.
Emperor Cheng Yuan gently twirled the Buddhist beads in his hand and said, “Lu Yan, you have done a great job in Yangzhou this time.”
Lu Yan lifted his robe and knelt down, saying: “It was my fault that most of the evidence was burned.”
Emperor Chengyuan’s eyes fell on the incense burner but his tone was piercingly cold: “How can I blame you? No one would have thought that they would set fire to the ship.”
After saying that, Emperor Chengyuan took a report from the desk behind him and said quietly: “Selling private salt, forging weapons and hoarding private soldiers. Lu Yan, although you haven’t seen the account book, you can guess which of my sons did these things right?”
“Your Majesty, I dare not speak recklessly.” How could Lu Banquet dare to answer such questions?
Since the death of the late empress, Crown Prince Xiao Lu has become sickly and ridden with an illness, coughing loudly day in and day out.
To be honest, if such a person sits in the position of crown prince, there is no guarantee that others would not think too much.
Others as in – the third prince, born to Concubine Mu, with General Mu’s lineage behind him, and the sixth prince, born to Empress Xu, with Prime Minister Zuo, the Xu family behind him.
However, apart from these two tigers, there are other princes.
In the entire imperial city, who is not waiting for the crown prince to abdicate?
“I can’t sleep at night. Do you know what I’m worrying about?”
Lu Yan said: “Your Majesty is worrying, for the country, for the stability of the court and for the stability of the people.”
Emperor Cheng Yuan chuckled and said, “Lu Yan, uncle is also tired.”
Lu Yan’s heart sank and he whispered, “I am willing to share your worries for Your Majesty.”
Emperor Cheng Yuan coughed twice and said, “I remember you wrote in your book that you met a miracle doctor in Yangzhou?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Cheng Yuan changed the topic and said slowly: “I want him to consult, crown prince’s illness. Can you still find him?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Yan had come to understand that the Emperor was furious and was ready to assist the crown prince.
“I would like to set off immediately and rush to Yangzhou.”
Emperor Chengyuan waved his hand, “It’s not necessary right now. You just came back not long ago. Go and spend more time with your mother. If I tire you out, your mother will blame me.” Speaking of Princess Jing’an, a hint of a smile appeared on Emperor Cheng Yuan’s face.
Lu Yan said: “I understand.”
Emperor Chengyuan patted him on the shoulder and said, “Okay, it’s getting late. You can go back.”
Lu Yan left slowly.
It was raining outside the palace, and Yang Zong was waiting outside the palace holding an oiled paper umbrella.
Lu Yan bent down and got into the carriage, closed his eyes and pinched his brows.
Yang Zong whispered: “There is a letter from Mo Yue, saying that Miss Shen has something to ask you.”
Lu Yan sneered and said, “What does she want to say?”
“Mo Yue, did not mention what it was.”
Lu Yan tapped his fingers on his knees a few times, and then said, “Let’s go.”
It rained continuously in March, and the sky seemed to be covered with a layer of ash.
In Chengyuan…..
Shen Zhen opened the window and watched the sky outside change from gray-blue to ink.
A bolt of thunder struck down with a roar, as if a hole had been shaken in the sky and a torrent of rain fell from the sky, hitting the bluestone bricks in the yard, stirring up a mist.
Looking at the weather, she guessed that he would not come.
She was about to close the window when she saw an orange halo appearing not far away, starting from a dot and gradually getting bigger.
Yang Zong held a lamp in one hand and an umbrella in the other. Lu Yan, wearing a black cloak, appeared at the door.
He entered the room and sat down, giving her a sideways look, “Why did you send someone to find me?”
