“You have to sleep together. Then keep sleeping together—a lot. That’s how you’ll have a baby.”
Jiang Yihuan took her hand solemnly.
“Zhiru, thank you. You’re my true friend.”
Zhu Xian: “…”
“Miss Jiang, please don’t do anything reckless. When you and Master truly fall in love, he’ll naturally sleep with you.”
Jiang Yihuan nibbled on her finger thoughtfully.
“Why can’t I sleep with him first, and then fall in love? If I make him happy enough, won’t he start liking me? Isn’t that the proper order?”
Zhu Xian wanted to cry.
Could she possibly tell her she was wrong? Who in the world would dare try to “sleep their way” into conquering Wei Zhao?
Wei Zhao was distracted throughout the morning court session. After court ended, the Emperor asked him to stay behind.
“My loyal minister, is something weighing on your mind? You may speak freely.”
Thinking of Jiang Yihuan crying, Wei Zhao replied,
“Jiang Qianli escaped while being escorted into exile.”
The Emperor slammed his hand down in regret.
“What? He escaped? You should have killed him with one stroke back then. My loyal minister, you’re simply too kind.”
Bah! That little wolf cub Wei Zhao!
Wei Zhao had earned unmatched military glory by pacifying the Seven Prefectures. To reassure the young official—and to help the Crown Prince win him over—the Emperor had appointed him Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince.
Who would have thought Wei Zhao would not only continue commanding his own powerful army but become even more arrogant? He even built a residence beyond what his rank permitted. Instead of distancing himself, the Crown Prince repeatedly defended him, and the two became exceptionally close.
The Emperor had long resented the Crown Prince’s weakness. Thus, he cultivated Jiang Qianli instead.
Jiang Qianli hadn’t disappointed him—he had nearly killed Wei Zhao. Unfortunately, he ultimately lost and was sentenced to exile three thousand li away.
The Emperor still intended to use him, so he secretly arranged for Jiang Qianli’s rescue during the exile journey.
Casting a sidelong glance at Wei Zhao, he thought smugly:
So even you have your setbacks.
Jiang Yihuan waited at home for two whole days without seeing Wei Zhao.
She grew anxious.
Old Madam Wei was even more anxious.
If her eldest grandson didn’t come home, what would happen? In three days, her grandnephew’s hands were to be chopped off.
After learning that Wei Zhao was staying at his private residence on East Street, she immediately called Jiang Yihuan over.
“My child, when a man doesn’t come home for several days, it means his heart has started wandering.”
Jiang Yihuan’s face filled with terror.
She couldn’t live without Wei Zhao.
“Old Madam… what should I do?”
“You’re so beautiful. How could he bear to abandon you? I’ll dress you up. Go find him.”
Though Old Madam Wei was sharp-tongued, she had excellent taste.
She had Wei Zhilan surrender her newly tailored summer dress, then brought out her treasured jewelry and personally dressed Jiang Yihuan.
Everyone gasped.
“She’s so beautiful?”
Old Madam Wei beamed proudly.
“She has excellent features to begin with. She simply shouldn’t wear those gaudy, colorful clothes—they distract from her natural beauty.”
Zhu Xian silently cursed.
Old hag, what do you know?
Jiang Yihuan lifted the South Sea pearl and agate bracelet on her wrist.
“Old Madam, I thought you were stingy.”
Old Madam choked.
“Go quickly. Don’t let some other woman steal your place.”
Zhu Xian readily volunteered to escort her.
The steward of the East Residence opened the gate with a smile.
“Miss Zhu Xian, what brings you here? Master is handling some matters in the rear courtyard. And this young lady is…?”
He looked curiously at Jiang Yihuan.
She stammered shyly,
“Hello, Uncle… I-I’m here to see Wei-lang.”
“Wei-lang?”
“Mm. Wei Zhao.”
The steward wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead.
He suddenly knew exactly who she was.
“Please wait in the side hall. I’ll notify the General.”
“No need. I’ll go find him myself.”
“No, no, no! Miss, you absolutely can’t go! Really, you can’t—ah!”
The portly steward hurried after her, panting.
She absolutely must not see what was happening in the courtyard!
To avoid the people who used to bully her, Jiang Yihuan had developed exceptionally sharp hearing.
She heard Wei Zhao’s voice.
Gathering her skirts, she ran toward the sound.
Soon she found him.
“Wei Zhao—”
Wei Zhao turned around.
Dozens of men stood in the courtyard.
Each wore only a pair of thin trousers. Their upper bodies were completely bare, displaying powerful, muscular physiques full of raw strength.
Jiang Yihuan’s eyes widened.
“…Th-this… What are you all doing in broad daylight?”
The men were equally stunned.
How had a woman gotten into the General’s courtyard?
Wasn’t he famously uninterested in women?
Wei Zhao hurried over and covered Jiang Yihuan’s eyes.
“What are you all standing around for? Put your clothes back on!”
The men scrambled to dress themselves.
Being seen half-naked by such a beautiful young woman was rather embarrassing.
“How did you get in here?” Wei Zhao demanded.
Today, Jiang Yihuan wasn’t wearing her usual brightly colored brocade.
Instead, she wore a misty lavender dress beneath a layer of sheer gauze.
Her cloud-like updo revealed her smooth, radiant forehead, while her dark eyes sparkled like stars.
She looked suddenly much more grown-up.
“And you still have the nerve to ask? You haven’t come home! I waited all day… then all night… I…”
She was on the verge of tears.
Wei Zhao was speechless.
“I’ve only been away for two days.”
In truth, he rarely stayed at the Wei residence.
Only because Jiang Yihuan had moved there had he begun returning every day.
She puffed out her cheeks.
“Two days is already a long time!”
Deputy General Zhong chimed in from below.
“The young lady is right. General, you should visit her more often. She’s still so young.”
Jiang Yihuan looked at him.
“You’re so tall. Nearly nine chi, aren’t you? About as tall as that big fool from the Fu family.”
The deputy general laughed heartily.
“Replying to Miss—I stand nine chi and two cun.”
She pointed toward the men.
“What were you all doing just now? Did your General make you strip? Has he grown tired of me and started liking men instead?”
Her eyes turned red.
“Wei Zhao… you don’t keep women—you keep men? My life is so miserable…”
The courtyard erupted in laughter.
“You’ve misunderstood, Miss! We’re his deputy generals. We came from the Seven Prefectures to report on military affairs. Since we hadn’t seen each other for a long time, we sparred together. We got hot and took off our shirts. We apologize for making a spectacle of ourselves.”
“Really? Wei Zhao wasn’t looking at your bodies? None of you are… involved with each other?”
Wei Zhao shot her a reproachful look.
Deputy General Zhong practically roared,
“No! Why would he be interested in rough men like us? The only person he cares about is you!”
“That’s right! The General only has eyes for you! He was even impatient just now!”
“Then fine. Take your shirts off again so I can have another look. I didn’t get a good look earlier.”
Everyone struggled to suppress their laughter as they looked toward Wei Zhao.
They didn’t mind.
The question was whether their General minded.
With a dark expression, Wei Zhao grabbed Jiang Yihuan by the collar and carried her away, all the way into the inner courtyard.
“I told you before to stop worrying about me. What exactly are you doing? Do you know how they’ll laugh at me?”
Not long ago, one of his deputy generals had become distracted by romance.
Wei Zhao had mocked him mercilessly for lacking ambition.
Now…
Hearing the icy tone of his voice, Jiang Yihuan grew nervous.
“I… I just wanted you to keep me company. When I can’t see you… I’m scared.”
“What are you afraid of? Zhu Xian’s encouraging your nonsense again. Have her take you home immediately. Don’t interfere with my work.”
He had just received word that the Emperor had secretly sent spies into the prefectures under his control, hoping to find an excuse to strip him of his military authority.
As if he would allow that.
Frightened, Jiang Yihuan no longer wanted to implicate Zhu Xian.
She quickly lowered her head.
“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have made trouble. Please don’t punish Zhu Xian. I forced her to bring me. I… I’ll leave right away.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
Wei Zhao sighed helplessly.
“Don’t cry. I wasn’t even scolding you.”
Jiang Yihuan forced out a flattering smile.
For some reason, that expression only made Wei Zhao feel even worse.
“…Waaah… You’re so mean. Zhu Xian said people try to kill you every few days. I was afraid you’d die somewhere outside. If you died… what would I do?”
She cried so hard that her hairstyle came undone, framing her snow-white face and making her look pitiful yet irresistibly adorable.
Seeing her like this, Wei Zhao’s heart felt as though it had been soaked in vinegar—aching with a sour, indescribable pain.
“Stop crying. Come here.”
“I’m not coming!”