Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Upon arriving back at the count's estate, Shen Lang frowned.
"Shen Lang, if you're making that face to hide some funny business with Zhang Chunhua, you don't have to."
'What?'
Hearing Mulan's words, Shen Lang quickly looked up and asked in a surprised voice.
"Jin Mulan, were you following me?"
But in less than a second, Shen Lang immediately changed his tune.
"My lady, were you secretly protecting me all this time, worried for my safety? You... you treat me too well, don't you? I'm deeply moved."
Look at that. Two completely different sentences with the same underlying meaning. One was the path to life, the other, the path to death. Mulan walked up to Shen Lang, sat on his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck. The scene was exceedingly beautiful, even sensual. Mulan had never been so proactive with physical contact in her life. Moreover, for a woman with a figure as explosive as hers to sit on his lap, the sensation was devastatingly potent. But every hair on Shen Lang's body stood on end.
This was the very scene that had occurred just a few hours ago. Because Zhang Chunhua had sat on his lap just like this, Shen Lang didn't dare move a muscle.
"My husband, I can understand a man going out and having a little fun when the opportunity arises. As long as your heart is at home and you don't lose your mind, it can't be called cheating."
Mulan said in a coquettish voice. Her words were the very sentiments Shen Lang himself had once expressed. With no way out of the current crisis, anything Shen Lang said would be wrong. So, in a situation like this, he had no choice but to use the Great Art of Soul-Shifting, Mind-Diverting, and Topic-Changing.
"My lady, I made a mistake today."
Shen Lang said in a solemn voice.
"What is it?"
"To probe the internal affairs of the count's estate, Zhang Chong sent Zhang Chunhua before the banquet, and then asked me to compose a poem at the banquet. I handled it without any mistakes, but there was one oversight, and I believe someone like Zhang Chong would have seen through it."
Shen Lang lightly described the situation, explaining the predicament of being entangled with Zhang Chunhua while simultaneously shifting the topic. Mulan was not one to let personal matters overshadow official business, so she immediately asked seriously.
"What opening did you show?"
"I was too proactive in saving the climber. Would a person driven into a corner have the heart to save a complete stranger? Human nature is to preserve oneself first, then others. When you yourself might be drowning, would you care if someone else lives or dies?"
Mulan frowned and suddenly said.
"If I were in a life-or-death situation, I would save you first."
Shen Lang pulled Mulan into a tight embrace, kissed her lips, and said tenderly.
"Me too. Because we consider each other more important than ourselves. No one can ever take your place in my heart."
Mulan said quietly.
"But doesn't one teapot come with several cups?"
"Nonsense, utter nonsense."
After speaking, Shen Lang threw the three teacups from the table onto the floor, shattering them and leaving only one.
"My lady, my body is weak, so my abilities in the bedroom are likely not very good. Just handling you alone drains all my strength; where would I find the energy for another woman? You're worrying too much."
Seeing her husband disparage himself just to survive, Mulan finally burst out laughing. An ordinary man would boast about his great prowess in bed, but her husband was unique, always saying he wasn't capable.
"You're so exasperating..."
Mulan twisted her slender waist, grinding against him until Shen Lang was about to lose his mind. Then, Mulan asked a serious question.
"Husband, you said Zhang Chong saw through your opening. Do we need to deal with it urgently?"
"It's urgent, very urgent. You're pressing too hard..."
Shen Lang's body trembled. Mulan reached out, grabbed both of Shen Lang's ears firmly, and said.
"Stop talking nonsense and talk about what's important."
"It won't be a problem. But we must make arrangements just in case. Let's just hope no one ends up getting stabbed in the back by me."
* * *
Time flew by as if on wings, and Shen Lang no longer had the luxury of acting smug. Tomorrow, the curtain would officially rise on the Jinshan Island dispute, and the three contests between the Count of Xuanwu's Estate and the Count of Jinhai's Estate would officially begin! To ensure absolute fairness, the contests were decided to be held at a neutral location: the hunting grounds of Nujiang Prefecture.
Inside the Zhang family's old residence.
A group of people were arguing, their faces red to their ears, slamming tables and smashing cups. On the table lay a map depicting the fief and Sorrowlove Island of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. On the map, mines, refineries, salt pans, horse pastures, mulberry fields, large and small fortresses, and manors were all clearly marked. Just by looking at this map, one could see how deep the accumulated wealth of a noble family over a century old was.
Among modern corporations, if a business incurs a loss, they sell off other assets or buildings they own to immediately cover the loss and then seek new ventures and markets. The Count of Xuanwu's Estate was akin to one of these corporations, possessing the equivalent of more than ten massive buildings. But now, these assets had become a delectable meal laid out on the plates of other powerful figures. The Hidden Yuan Society, the Count of Jinhai, the Count of Jing'an, the New Governance Faction, the Viscount of Nanshan's Estate, the Marquis of Zhenbei's Estate, and even the Pirate King Qiu Tianwei were all fighting to divide the spoils. The Count of Xuanwu's Estate had not yet fallen, yet everyone was treating them like a corpse, arbitrarily carving up the profits.
"The Count of Xuanwu's Estate owes our Hidden Yuan Society an astronomical debt and has mortgaged Sorrowlove Island. We don't care who ultimately gets the island, the salt pans, and the mines, but our Hidden Yuan Society will take half of the profits generated from them. In addition, our Hidden Yuan Society has the right to auction off the antiques and paintings in the Count of Xuanwu's Estate."
"Our Tang Clan was the main force in destroying the Count of Xuanwu's Estate this time, so we should get the largest piece when dividing the profits. If anyone tries to compete with me for the mines of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, I will become their enemy."
"The Jin Clan also owes money to our Raging Tide City, so give half of the Sorrowlove Island salt pans to our Qiu Clan. Otherwise, don't think anyone's ships will be able to sail the seas safely."
"Our Count of Jing'an's Estate suffered hundreds of casualties to destroy the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. My son-in-law, Lin Zhuo, also lost his life on the battlefield. If I don't get any share of the profits, I will remember all of you."
"Our Viscount of Nanshan's Estate doesn't need anything else. We want the Jin Clan's ten thousand mu of mulberry fields. I, Zhu Nanzheng, cannot be said to be greedy, so surely you won't try to take a mere ten thousand mu of farmland from me, will you?"
The scene before them looked like a dance of demons, yet it was also a very familiar one. In the early 20th century, the great powers greedily carved up China's national interests. At that time, China clearly had a government and sovereignty. Similarly, the Count of Xuanwu's Estate had not yet fallen, but in everyone's eyes, they were as good as dead.
When the Count of Xuanwu's Estate fell, the one who would gain the most was, of course, the King. This was because the fief owned by the Count of Xuanwu would become the King's property. Assuming it was like eating a meat soup, it was only natural for the King to pick the largest piece of meat before his subjects could drink the remaining broth. Otherwise, what subject would be willing to lay down their life for the King in the future?
At this gathering to divide the profits, the least greedy person was Zhang Chong. He wanted nothing, nor could he demand anything. This was because he was the one orchestrating the attack to destroy the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. He only wanted a smooth path in the political world and the position of Vice-Governor of Xuanzhou. The marriage between Zhang Jin and Chi Yu had already been confirmed; they just needed to find the right time to announce it. The Chi family would provide the funds at any time.
The political profiteers belonging to the Hidden Yuan Society began to persuade people. Once he was connected to the Hidden Yuan Society by marriage, everything became easier. The people who had originally been obstructing Zhang Chong's path to the Vice-Governor position stopped their attacks one after another. Thanks to this, he spent less than half of the one hundred thousand gold taels he had originally planned. As soon as the Count of Xuanwu's Estate was destroyed, Zhang Chong would be appointed as the Vice-Governor of Xuanzhou and enter the prime of his life.
* * *
The night before the Jinshan Island dispute.
The decisive battle would begin tomorrow. Although Mulan believed she would surely win, she couldn't help but feel nervous. In the past, she had been incredibly strong-willed. But after marrying Shen Lang, she felt that while she had become stronger, she had also become weaker at the same time. When people fall in love, they become stronger to protect their loved one, but also weaker due to anxiety.
Mulan was nervous, but Jin Mucong was no less tense than she was. However, as usual, he was still frantically copying the answers to the practice questions. Jin Mucong had memorized nineteen essays and one hundred and thirty poems by heart. That's right, twenty more poems had been added, bringing the total to one hundred and fifty. For two months, he had copied the practice questions dozens of times, yet he was still terrified of forgetting, so he frantically copied them again and again. He hadn't even pleasured himself for over a month.
"Fatty, go to sleep."
After speaking, Shen Lang handed Jin Mucong a few colored drawings. They were all sensual and provocative pictures of women. When the pressure was too great, one needed a little release to sleep soundly. Jin Mucong took them and said in a trembling voice.
"Brother-in-law, I'm scared."
"What are you scared of?"
"I'm afraid I'll lose to Tang Yun and ruin the family's fate."
"You're overthinking it. It's normal for you to lose, and strange if you win. I have no expectations for you. It's just that you were lazing around too much..."
"Ugh..."
Jin Mucong felt his blood boil.
"Enjoy yourself a bit. After you're done, go to sleep early."
* * *
Mulan was so tense she could barely breathe. Tomorrow's first contest was her martial duel against Tang Yan. She had to step forward, fight Tang Yan, and win.
"Husband, what if Tang Yan uses a different sword technique? What if his Meteor Sword Art from Beyond the Heavens is different from what we thought? What if I make a mistake during the duel and lose to him? If I lose, we'll be utterly defeated in the Jinshan Island dispute, and our family will be finished."
Shen Lang held his wife in his arms, inhaling the alluring scent from her body. In Shen Lang's embrace, Mulan gradually calmed down. But soon, her breathing became ragged again.
"Husband, please let go. It's pressing into me uncomfortably."
"My lady, you're too tense. I have a move that can relieve all your tension, you know?"
"What is it?"
"After one round, all your worries will disappear."
Mulan pried Shen Lang's hand away.
"No. I don't want to do it at a time like this. Husband, everything is part of your plan, right? No matter what happens, you have a way to solve it, and our family will definitely win, right?"
Women were so soft-hearted. Shen Lang nodded repeatedly.
"That's right! In the entire world, only I am undefeated! Tomorrow, let's go and *do* them!"
"Let's kill them!"
Mulan thought that word was too vulgar to be used carelessly, believing it would tarnish her purity. But with her husband, she felt it was alright to use that word. In the future, she would only use that word for her husband. And if someone were to use it on her, it would probably be her husband, wouldn't it?
* * *
The next day.
Two hundred cavalrymen from the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, full of imposing dignity, escorted Shen Lang, Jin Zhuo, Mulan, and Jin Mucong to the hunting grounds of Nujiang Prefecture. The Jinshan Island dispute, the three contests that would decide the fate of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, had officially begun. The long-awaited curtain had finally risen