Xiao Chi Zhan’s hand paused, and he raised an eyebrow, asking, “Li Yan, the second daughter of Prince Duan?”
“That’s right. My elderly madam says I’m getting on in years and have been reluctant to marry. It would be better to marry A’Yan. We are well-matched, grew up together, and know each other’s backgrounds.”
Prince Duan had long since stayed out of court affairs, holding only a title without real power.
The Dan Tai clan stood at the forefront of the four great clans and did not need marriage alliances to consolidate its political power. It was most suitable to find a legitimate daughter from a prominent family as a wife.
Dan Tai Ye spoke, then looked at the person at the desk and said with a playful smile, “The elderly madam fears you might be wary of the Dan Tai clan’s power, so she chose A’Yan after much deliberation.”
Xiao Chi Zhan lowered his gaze, calmly flipping through the memorials in his hands.
“Stop with the idle talk. Marry whomever you wish; no one will stop you.”
“The family is nagging me incessantly. The elderly madam is counting on me to carry on the family line.”
He leaned back lazily, lifting his eyelids, and reached for the wine jar on the low table, taking a drink.
Xiao Chi Zhan asked, “Is the second branch settled?”
“When I make a move, they’ll be crippled even if they don’t die.” After a pause, Dan Tai Ye said with a sinister smile, “Rest assured, as long as I, Dan Tai Ye, am alive, the Dan Tai clan, whether the main branch or the nineteen collateral branches, will only be loyal to the King of Ding Bei!”
The Dan Tai family possessed immense power, and struggles between the various branches were fierce. The second branch of the main family had secretly colluded with the third prince’s faction. To purge the various branches, Dan Tai Ye had taken action against the second branch.
While he was away in Northern Qi, the second branch had already been dealt with in secret.
“It’s enough that you have it figured out. Don’t let any rats slip through the cracks.” After a pause, Xiao Chi Zhan continued, “Liu Rong Ruo will bring Li Yu over later. Don’t leave yet; there’s something to discuss.”
Dan Tai Ye clicked his tongue. “I heard from Liu Rong Ruo that Prince Li Yu, though residing in the cold palace for a long time, has unique insights and considerable ideas regarding state affairs.”
“Having ideas is good. This King has been tired for a long time.”
“If you intend to yield power, those who want to kill you won’t be lenient.” He added irritably, “After traveling for so many days, you want to discuss politics as soon as you return? Won’t you let anyone rest?”
Xiao Chi Zhan rubbed his forehead tiredly. “I can’t sleep anyway.”
“You can’t sleep, but I sleep soundly.”
After speaking, Dan Tai Ye threw down the wine jar, stood up, and walked towards the exit.
“If there’s anything you need me to do, just send someone to find me. I’m truly exhausted. It’s better to be in a place of pleasure than to be here with you all.”
Seeing that the person behind him made no move and was still flipping through memorials, he strode away and returned to his residence.
General’s Residence.
Lan Mu Rou had just emerged from the bath, wearing a snow-white, soft silk robe and lying on the bed.
The sky outside was not yet dark, but she was extremely tired. Her head had barely touched the pillow when she fell asleep.
Upon his return, Dan Tai Ye pushed open the door, intending to enter, only to find it bolted from the inside, preventing him from getting in.
He directly kicked the door open with great force, nearly smashing half of it. The commotion startled Lan Mu Rou, who had just fallen asleep.
She sat up, pulled her clothes closer, and looked at the man walking in from the outer room with surprise.
‘Why – why are you back?’
Hadn’t he returned to the ancestral home?
Usually, he would stay the night and return, so why was he back so soon today?
Seeing her mouth agape, Dan Tai Ye strode in. “What? You don’t look very happy that I’m back?”
“No.”
“Come and help me get undressed.”
Lan Mu Rou took a deep breath and moved from the bed, pulling back the covers.
She was wearing only a snow-white silk robe, with her long, dark, lustrous hair cascading down to her waist, a graceful figure.
Dan Tai Ye leaned down, embraced her waist tightly, and buried his face in her neck, sniffing deeply.
“You just bathed; you smell so good.”
Lan Mu Rou, still clutching his collar with her hands, saw his demeanor and quickly pushed him away.
“General, perhaps you should bathe first?”
There was a smell of alcohol that was quite strong.
He ignored her words, suddenly lifted her by the waist, and sealed her lips.
The kiss was deep and firm, making her breath tremble.
Lan Mu Rou frowned and pushed against him with both hands, but he held her more fiercely and aggressively.
Her thin clothing was lightly pulled by him, sliding down to reveal a large expanse of fair skin. Her shoulders and neck were delicate and smooth, slender and soft.
His warm lips moved across her face, neck, and skin, like a beast smelling flesh, kissing with a ferocity that was like a wolf or tiger.
“Gen – General –”
Lan Mu Rou straightened her neck and tried to dodge backward, but his grip was very strong, holding her tightly.
“Your waist is as soft as if it had no bones.”
He chuckled teasingly, his hands moving even more wantonly.
Lan Mu Rou’s voice trembled slightly. “You should go bathe first.”
“Then you accompany me.”
‘Ah –’
Before she could refuse, he swept her into his arms and carried her towards the bathroom behind them.
Seeing him about to throw her into the bathtub, she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “I’ve already bathed. I can help you scrub your back.”
Dan Tai Ye raised an eyebrow. “Let’s bathe together.”
“I’ve already bathed; I really don’t want to wash again.”
If she washed with him here, she wouldn’t get any sleep tonight.
Seeing her insistent refusal to wash, Dan Tai Ye did not force her. He put her down, removed his clothes, and then entered the water.
Lan Mu Rou breathed a sigh of relief, sat in the pool, and picked up a cloth to wipe him.
She was already exhausted from the long journey. She thought that after he returned to the ancestral home, she could finally get some peaceful sleep, but he had returned.
“Distracted. What are you thinking about?”
Dan Tai Ye glanced at her sideways with displeasure.
Lan Mu Rou jolted back to reality and quickly asked, “General, why did you return today?”
“I missed you, of course.” Saying this, he grinned and pinched her face. “Don’t you miss me?”
She lowered her gaze and nodded slightly.
Dan Tai Ye looked at her expression, his eyes turning slightly cold. He withdrew his gaze, leaned against the side of the pool, and half-closed his eyes.
“The elderly madam asked me to marry A’Yan. What do you think?”
As soon as the words fell, Lan Mu Rou’s expression clearly stiffened. The lips of her lowered head turned slightly pale and trembled.
A’Yan?
It was Princess Qing He, Li Yan, the daughter of Prince Duan.
She had heard of this person long ago. Dan Tai Ye’s mother, Madam Yue Hua, had brought Princess Qing He to find her and force her to leave.
At that time, she had only recently arrived in the capital and was taken by them to a dark room and severely tortured.
Madam Yue Hua had also told her directly that their Dan Tai clan would never accept a commoner girl like her into the family, not even as a concubine.
The future legitimate wife of the Dan Tai clan could only be the daughter of Prince Duan, Li Yan.
Even if Dan Tai Ye insisted on keeping her, she could only be an outside mistress who couldn’t even enter the household, or she would be locked up for life.
Because the Dan Tai family could not have such a scandal spread. In such a prominent family, they absolutely forbade the future patriarch from having the scandal of keeping an outside mistress spread.
“A’Ye and A’Yan have known each other since childhood and have deep affection. His feelings for you are merely a passing fancy. Miss Lan, if you are wise, you should know that your fleeting romance with him can never compare to the affection of childhood sweethearts.”
Those accusations, those words, like thunder rolling in her ears, awakened the memories buried deep within her heart once again.
Lan Mu Rou snapped back to reality. She should have known this day would come sooner or later.
“Hmm? Why aren’t you speaking? Do you want me to marry her?”