"Xiao Shan is a man of great courage and ambition, like a fierce lion descending from the heavens. His black attire is like ink, and his imposing presence, even from a thousand paces away, strikes fear into the enemy, making them dare not approach."
Xiao Shan held the book in his hands and paused. He couldn't read any further; it was making him sick.
Was this not too exaggerated?
Was this even describing a person?
More like a guardian beast of the nation.
"Exactly, continue~"
Ling Yao's head was wrapped in a white cloth, her gaze soft and luminous. Due to her weakness after childbirth, her voice was as light as a gentle breeze.
She enjoyed listening to these storybooks, especially when Xiao Shan read them. He seemed both frustrated and amused. Although it was praising him, he thought it was belittling him.
Xiao Shan had no choice but to continue reading.
"However, he fears one person the most. The fierce lion can become a kitten, and the fierce tiger a mouse... The Divine Maiden stands on a high platform, golden light shimmering behind her, woven with phoenix brocade, like an immortal from the Jade Pool descending to earth. The Divine General bows his head, wishing he could transform into the Divine Maiden's mount..."
Xiao Shan paused again, looking at Ling Yao with a sigh. "Am I such a sycophantic dog?"
Ling Yao couldn't help but laugh, revealing her small, pearly teeth. "Of course not. Even if you were more sycophantic, there's a magnificence others can't display."
Xiao Shan glared at her. Was that a compliment?
He recalled the description. It was eerily similar to the scene at the New Year's Eve banquet.
It must have been an official or their family member who attended that day.
Flattering the Divine Maiden and belittling him; it had to be a man.
How outrageous! Was he afraid? Shouldn't it be about his love for the Divine Maiden? How could it be fear?
What was this damned author's intention?
"After finishing this book today, tomorrow we'll read the story of the General and the Courtesan of the Border Town."
"What, what courtesan? This is pure fabrication."
Xiao Shan felt guilty. What a scoundrel! How did he know?
Could it be someone close to him betrayed him? Chen Kui? Du Ling was new, so it was impossible for her to know. It must have been Chen Kui.
Ling Yao saw his unnatural expression and knew there really was such a person. She glared at him indignantly.
Just then, Yu Shan came in to change the bedding. Ling Yao dismissed him.
"Aren't you supposed to be investigating that mysterious person? Go ahead, be careful."
Speaking of the mysterious person, Xiao Shan also became serious.
That day, he had rushed to the outskirts and found his missing camp brothers and General Hao. Unfortunately, they had all been killed, their skin blackened as if burned.
If he hadn't been wearing the protective amulet Ling Yao gave him, he might have been attacked and died as well. The assailant was wrapped in black, using black flames, which, like Ling Yao's, emanated from their palm.
Therefore, he suspected that person was like Ling Yao.
Possessing extraordinary abilities.
This was terrifying. However, the assailant's skill was limited. Because of the bead Ling Yao gave him, he had survived one attack. He then drew his saber and struck.
The assailant, unable to even dodge, was hit in the arm and let out a scream. It was a woman.
Then she fled.
When the black flames struck him, the bead on his chest also emitted a red flame. The two canceled each other out, and the bead shattered.
He also suffered a heavy blow, becoming weak all over, and thus couldn't pursue her.
The appearance of such a figure in the capital made it difficult to feel at ease.
He indeed needed to investigate thoroughly.
"The guards have been strengthened; there will be no problems."
Xiao Shan had fought with that person and knew how to deal with them. Although the person was strange, the flames were like hidden weapons. As long as one was fast enough, they could dodge. It was just unknown if she had other moves, like Ling Yao, using her mind?
If that were the case, it would be dangerous.
Yu Shan finished changing the bedding and was about to clean Ling Yao.
"Turn your head!"
Xiao Shan didn't leave. He even peeked over, wanting to intervene. Ling Yao was startled, her face suddenly flushing red. In her haste, she sharply reprimanded him.
Having just given birth, she hadn't recovered yet and must look unsightly. She didn't want to be seen.
Idiot! Please, just go quickly!
Xiao Shan clenched his fist and then sat on the stool by the bed, facing Ling Yao's face, no longer thinking of watching.
Yu Shan also breathed a sigh of relief. After changing the water several times and finishing the cleaning, she left, sweating profusely.
With the General staring intently, her task was not easy.
"Aren't you going to see the child? Why are you staying here!"
"What's there to see in them? A bunch of people surrounding them, the Emperor can't wait to carry them to the Taiyi Hall."
Hmm, so, you, the father, aren't going to see them?
"It's leaking..."
Xiao Shan rubbed his wet clothes with his index finger, and a smear of milky white stained his fingertip.
He brought it to his mouth and licked it clean, his eyes glowing green like a wolf's, and he stared again.
This was originally the child's nourishment...
Is this what a father should be like?
Ling Yao felt uncomfortable. Being stared at by him felt like being pricked by needles, a wave of numbness.
She reached out and covered his greedy eyes.
Xiao Shan licked his dry lips and coaxed, "Qing He said that it needs to be sucked out, otherwise it will congeal into stones."
"Then let it stop gradually."
"Stop talking!" Ling Yao said, embarrassed and annoyed. Did she not know this?
Hadn't it been sucked once last night?
It had hurt her terribly!
"It's also good for my body," he added. "I'll recover my strength immediately."
"I know!"
Ling Yao unfastened her clothes. She also felt very uncomfortable, her breasts swollen like stones. Lying flat was uncomfortable, and lying on her side was also uncomfortable.
She might as well consider it feeding the child.
"I'll be gentle," Xiao Shan said, leaning closer.
Ling Yao trembled with pain, gripping his hair to endure it. Later, when it lessened and the tightness finally eased, she felt some relief.
A few strands of Xiao Shan's black hair were pulled out. Ling Yao simply removed her jade crown, letting her thick hair cascade down.
One side was almost done; it was time to switch to the other.
Xiao Shan was very serious, not making a sound, only the gulping sound of swallowing.
He was truly like an infant, one hand still holding the other side, as if guarding its food.
The corners of her eyes were red, her gaze shimmering. Holding his head, her soul felt as if it were being drawn away.
Xiao Shan stopped.
His tongue swirled.
Everything was clean.
"Half is enough. Next time, it will gradually decrease."
He was as proper as could be.
If there wasn't something stuck to his nose.
"Change clothes."
"Yes, Princess."
Ling Yao looked at his awkward gait and chuckled softly, saying charmingly, "General, what's wrong with you?"
Xiao Shan, holding the clothes, turned around, not hiding anything. "Perhaps I overcompensated."
"Then what should we do?"
Xiao Shan sighed deeply. "I can only conserve my strength for now. In the future, I will be the Princess's mount, carrying the Princess through wind and rain, soaring through clouds."
"..."
As expected, it was Xiao Shan.
She couldn't compete.
"General—" Yu Liu's voice came from outside the door.
"The Emperor wants you to go to Chenwu Gate. General Chen and General Du have started fighting."
Damn it!
What were these two brats up to!
Had they not been disciplined recently and were getting restless?
Or were they brainwashed by the storybooks, thinking he was truly a kept man?