Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Honor
Sang Yan bit back, trying to end the kiss.
It was unsuccessful.
He was in pain, yet still craving.
“He Ying, that’s enough.”
“Not enough.”
He loved kissing her too much.
...
How could there be such a wonderful thing as kissing in this world?
Just by kissing her, he felt he needed nothing more in his life.
Sang Yan almost fainted from his kisses.
She dared not think about what He Ying would do to her on their wedding night.
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With his heavy desires, he might end up killing her in bed.
Before Sang Yan could pass out, He Ying let her go.
But he continued to kiss and touch her incessantly.
He had always stayed away from women, but now that he could touch her, he was full of curiosity about her body.
It was like a child who had received a new toy, unable to let go.
“It feels so good. Ah Yan, you’re so sweet. Ah Yan, I like you so much. Only you.”
He said words that made one blush.
Sang Yan coughed a few times, subtly trying to dismiss him, “Shouldn’t you be going back?”
“Not going back. I’m staying here tonight.”
He Ying played with her fingers, gave a couple of pecks, then went on to play with her hair, even using a strand to sweep across his cheek, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Seeing him like this, Sang Yan, worn out by his clinginess, said, “Aren’t you busy with government affairs?”
“I’m never too busy for you.”
His tone was matter-of-factly.
Sang Yan was at a loss for words.
This man was showing more and more tendencies of a foolish ruler.
She couldn’t indulge him.
She needed to remind him.
He needed to be vigilant.
“Right now is a tumultuous time; you should focus and handle the state affairs properly.”
She felt that Qu Zhi’s disappearance was not so simple, “Like Qu Zhi, such a person might not be able to stay in the country and could very possibly defect and betray national intelligence.”
She was worried Qu Zhi might flee to another country and leak military intelligence, or even reveal that He Ying had her as his weakness.
“What you said makes sense.”
He Ying’s expression grew more serious, respecting and loving her worry for the nation, “Ah Yan, you are so good, only I know it. But that’s good. Your goodness is all mine.”
Sang Yan: “…”
A serious topic turned into sweet nothings the moment it reached his lips.
She was exasperated, “So are you going back or not?”
He Ying still shook his head, “Not going back. No hurry.”
Sang Yan was rendered speechless.
He Ying also remained silent, just quietly holding her, savoring the sweetness of her soft, fragrant warmth.
*
Suburb
The blood rain continued to fall.
However, the rain was getting lighter.
A troop of soldiers galloped through the blood rain.
“Clip-clop—”
Mud splattered where the hooves passed.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a group of soldiers returned to regroup.
The leader, dressed in a straw coat, riding a black horse, raised his voice and asked: “Did you find it?”
“Not yet.”
The soldiers hung their heads, soaked and disheveled, ashamed.
“Mr. Sang, could it be that… there’s no such thing at all. This blood rain…”
A soldier hesitated, yet his implication was clear—it was a divine warning from heaven.
Driven by his daughter’s stakes, Sang Kun could not tolerate such talk and barked harshly: “Are you questioning the Emperor’s words? How audacious!”
“Sir, please calm your anger, I dare not.”
The soldier dismounted and knelt to apologize.
Sang Kun did not argue with him, but said with a cold face, “Continue searching! It must be found before the Ministry of Industry does. Whether we can be promoted and rewarded depends entirely on this.”
“Yes.”
The soldiers, motivated by the promise of a reward, quickly mounted their horses and rode off.
Soon, only Sang Kun and two guards remained.
Sang Kun himself did not have much confidence.
He extended his hand to catch some blood rain, his face solemn, his eyebrows furrowed, and he muttered, “This matter of the blood rain could be either trivial or severe. If we can’t find what the Emperor mentioned, then we’ll have to fabricate it.”
By no means could he let his daughter be implicated and affect the prospects of the Sang Family.
The two guards understood his implied meaning, exchanged a glance, and remained silent.
The sky gradually darkened.
Sang Kun eventually found the Long Chan Temple.
Thinking of the Emperor being there, he went to seek an audience.
At that time,
Sang Yan and He Ying were reading a Buddhist Scripture.
The scripture recorded a story: A Zen master asked his disciples, if you were boiling water and ran out of wood halfway through, what would you do? All the disciples said they would go chop more wood. After hearing this, the Zen master asked them why they didn’t just pour out half of the water.
“One must give up to gain.”
After finishing the story, Sang Yan expressed her sentiments.
He Ying knew this principle too, but deliberately said, “Why pour it away? Chopping some wood isn’t too much effort.”
Sang Yan rolled her eyes, “Is this a matter of chopping wood? It teaches us to think differently.”
He Ying wouldn’t argue with her, indulging her with a smile, “Mhm, thinking differently.”
The fact was he wouldn’t give up.
Once something was in his hands, if he wanted it, there was no reason to let it go.
“Knock, knock—”
The door sounded twice.
Pei Muyang peeked in, “Emperor, Mr. Sang has arrived.”
Upon hearing it was Sang Kun, He Ying nodded, “Let him in.”
Before her father entered, Sang Yan moved away from He Ying’s legs.
Finally, she could sit properly.
“Your humble official greets the Emperor—”
Sang Kun walked in, flipping his robe and kneeling to salute.
He Ying lifted his hand, “My valued official, rise. Please, take a seat.”
He guessed his purpose for coming and once he was seated, he asked, “Did you find the Blood Rain Algae?”
Sang Kun looked ashamed, “I have failed Your Majesty’s grace, I have not found it yet.”
He Ying listened but didn’t blame him, just smiled faintly, “There’s no rush.”
Thinking of his injury, he added, “The Ministry of Industry is supporting this matter, and you can also delegate it to the subordinates in the Ministry of Revenue. You are injured and need not overtax yourself.”
Sang Kun, the Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue, naturally wanted to vie for the now vacant position of Minister of Revenue after Qu Zhi had fled with crimes on his shoulders.
“My injuries have much improved, and I shall surely share Your Majesty’s concerns.”
His words were pleasing.
He Ying praised with a smile, “My valued official’s dutifulness is a blessing for our nation.”
Sang Kun was delighted to receive the compliment, his face beaming, “Your Majesty flatters me, it is my honour.”
He said this, but his gaze toward Sang Yan was full of pity, “It’s just that Ah Yan has suffered here, praying Buddha.”
Sang Yan met her father’s concerned gaze and said indifferently, “You worry too much. I am quite well here.”
She could see through Sang Kun’s feigned paternal love and was not impressed.
Sang Kun still played the concerned father, “Ah, dear child, always swallowing bitterness to yourself, as before. Ah, indeed, ever since the death of Heir Jiang, you haven’t complained to us.”
He didn’t want Sang Yan to continue praying at the temple and deliberately portrayed her as pitiful to have the Emperor take her back to the Imperial Palace sooner.
And ideally, a grand wedding ceremony would be held upon her return.
It always felt like the more it was delayed, the more problems arose.
Sang Yan sensed his intentions and frowned, “With the Emperor here, what suffering can I undergo? Are you questioning the Emperor’s ability?”
Sang Kun naturally wouldn’t dare to question the Emperor’s capabilities, quickly saying, “No one dares to mistreat her where the Emperor resides, but it’s still not as safe and comfortable as the Imperial Palace.”
“Thank you for your concern. It’s only been a little over thirty days, it’ll pass in the blink of an eye.”
She didn’t want her Buddhist prayer efforts to be aborted due to his few words and changed the subject, “You needn’t worry about me. It’s more proper for you to focus on finding the Blood Rain Algae.”
Sang Kun nodded and promised, “Rest assured, I shall find the Blood Rain Algae, alleviate the public’s panic, and clear your reputation.”