Chapter 210
Chapter 210
The Count of Xuanwu's Estate.
The grand eunuch stood outside, waiting arrogantly. He expected the Count of Xuanwu to lead his entire family out to kneel and greet him. But when the central gates opened, only two people emerged, contrary to his expectations. They were the Countess of Xuanwu, Su Peipei, and the heir, Jin Mucong.
And what in the world was this woman wearing? Light armor, for combat? Standing beside her in attire completely unsuited for the occasion, Jin Mucong had black ink smeared on his lips and hands, his face a mask of panic. The grand eunuch had heard rumors that Jin Mucong, the heir to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, was a simpleton but not a fool. However, the fatty standing before him now certainly looked like a fool.
Jin Mucong had been too engrossed in writing his book. While brainstorming and writing, he had developed a habit of licking his brush, which resulted in his mouth being covered in black ink. When he wiped his mouth with his hand, his hand turned black as well.
The grand eunuch spoke in a cold tone.
“Is the Count of Xuanwu's Estate slighting us? This is a royal decree from His Majesty the King. Where is the Count of Xuanwu? Why has he not come to receive the decree?”
“My husband is not at the estate.”
Proper etiquette dictated that as the countess, Su Peipei should refer to her husband more formally as 'the master,' but she disliked such lofty terms.
“Where has he gone? Tell him to come and receive the decree.”
“He has gone to Sorrow's End Island.”
The grand eunuch's eyes twitched, a flicker of greed flashing through them. Even he knew of Sorrow's End Island. The rumors of the Jin Clan discovering a massive gold mine must have spread like wildfire, reaching even the royal palace. But even if the palace knew, there was little they could do. Sorrow's End Island was unequivocally the property of a vassal. For the King himself to seize it would be too great a burden and a massive loss of face.
Since the Count of Xuanwu was absent, the grand eunuch did not enter the estate. With the master away, entering would mean he wouldn't be properly hosted, which would be no fun for the grand eunuch.
“His Majesty the King has issued a decree. Jin Mucong, heir to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, kneel and receive it.”
But the fatty's mind was elsewhere, busy crafting his story.
‘I am destined to be a great author. Don't bother me with other things. What is a genius? I, Jin Mucong, will be thinking of my story even when I eat and shit. Since I started writing novels, I've even given up my favorite pastime of self-pleasure. The most enjoyable thing in this world is writing.’
The grand eunuch's voice sharpened.
“Jin Mucong, receive the decree. Young Master, are you perhaps dissatisfied with me?”
Only then did Jin Mucong look up, bewildered.
“Huh? Yes? Is it over?”
The grand eunuch was about to lose his temper, but seeing the fatty act like such an imbecile, he felt it was pointless. What's the use of arguing with a fool? It would only diminish my own dignity.
“Jin Mucong, receive the decree.”
Snapping to his senses, Jin Mucong was so stunned he nearly wet himself.
‘A decree for me? Wasn't I, Jin Mucong, just air? Even my parents always treated me like I was invisible. There's no way the King knows who I am. Why would the King issue a decree for me? I'm so scared.’
Jin Mucong looked around frantically.
‘Where's my brother-in-law? What should I do now?’
Su Peipei, who was beside him, said,
“Kneel.”
At his mother's command, which was like a mandate from heaven, Jin Mucong immediately straightened his back and knelt.
“The heir of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, Jin Mucong, is to enter the Imperial Academy to study. He must arrive within three days. There shall be no delay!”
Unlike Shen Lang's decree, the words 'By Imperial Mandate' were absent. In truth, in this world, only the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty was qualified to use those two words in a decree. However, most kings used the phrase when issuing important decrees to enhance their authority and convey solemnity.
The several decrees that King Ning Yuanxian of Yue had sent to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate had all lacked those words, which signified the King's attitude. After hearing the decree, Countess Su Peipei was stunned, and Jin Mucong was even more at a loss.
‘They want me to go to the Imperial Academy to study? And I have to leave within three days? W-what does this mean? What should I do? Brother-in-law, where are you?’
The grand eunuch said calmly,
“Receive the decree.”
Jin Mucong stepped forward and accepted the decree.
“Young Master, make your preparations. You will accompany me to the capital within three days.”
“What? I have to go with you?”
“I will personally escort you to the capital. Surely the Young Master is not dissatisfied?”
“No, no, I'm not.”
Jin Mucong shook his head.
“I will be waiting at the Prefect's Manor of Xuanwu City.”
And with that, the grand eunuch left immediately.
Jin Mucong asked fearfully,
“Mother, what should I do? I don't want to go. I don't want to leave home. I don't want to leave Father, Mother, my sister, and my brother-in-law.”
The fatty had never left home in his entire life. Countess Su Peipei spoke with a rare gentleness.
“Don't worry. Your brother-in-law will be back soon. He will surely think of a good solution.”
* * *
Yangwu Commandery Docks.
“My love, I… I slept with another woman.”
At Shen Lang's words, Mulan froze, her expression vacant. Shen Lang quickly embraced her, speaking in a soft voice.
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…”
Shen Lang was usually eloquent, but at this moment, he could utter nothing but apologies. Mulan said nothing in return, maintaining her silence. Just then, Huang Feng, who was standing nearby, urged them.
“We need to go. Otherwise, we'll draw the attention of those watching us.”
And so, Mulan left the docks like a walking corpse. Shen Lang and Mulan rode inside the carriage, while Huang Feng drove it herself, giving the two of them some time alone. Shen Lang gently held his wife, stroking her back, kissing her eyes, nose, and ears, and caressing her neck.
“My love, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!”
After a long while, tears finally welled up in Mulan's eyes. Then, she began to sob uncontrollably. Hearing her cries, Huang Feng, who was outside, finally felt a sense of relief. It was a good thing she could cry. But Mulan's wails were so heart-wrenching that even she felt uneasy.
‘There isn't a single good man in this world. I'm never getting married. Never.’
Mulan wept ceaselessly, unable to stop her tears. Seeing his wife's face swollen from crying so hard she could barely breathe, Shen Lang felt his heart shatter. He would rather she beat him furiously than see her cry so heartbreakingly.
“Ah… Ugh…”
Held in Shen Lang's arms, Mulan started pounding his back with her fists. But the force of her blows grew weaker with each strike, eventually becoming hollow punches that he could barely feel.
“My wife, just kill me instead. Please, say something, anything.”
Lifting her head, her vision blurred with tears, Mulan spoke as she cried.
“Who was she? It wasn't Xu Qianqian, was it?”
“It was Qiu Yao'er.”
“You didn't do it willingly, did you? She must have forced you.”
Shen Lang was taken aback. It was the truth, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Mulan gritted her teeth, tears streaming down her face.
“It must have been. It must have been. I'm going to kill her. Qiu Yao'er, I will kill you. She must have forced you. I will never believe that you did something to betray me.”
Shen Lang finally understood. Why, when a man cheats, the wife doesn't attack him but goes after the other woman. Then, Jin Mulan grabbed Shen Lang's face and stared at him as if she wanted to kill him.
She firmly believed that she and her husband loved each other. She wanted to look into Shen Lang's eyes and confirm his unwavering love for her. If she didn't see that love in his eyes, she was prepared to give up on everything.
And she saw it. In Shen Lang's eyes, there was deep affection, shame, and even anguish. It wasn't an act; it was genuine. At that moment, no words could describe Shen Lang's love for Mulan.
Mulan was filled with regret. Immense regret. Why had she insisted on treating their first time together like some pointless ritual? If they had slept together sooner, this would never have happened. And what was the result? Her husband's first time had been stolen by someone else. She couldn't wait another moment.
She immediately moved to embrace her husband. Her husband being forced by another didn't count as losing his chastity. He was still pure, and I, Jin Mulan, will claim it right now! Shen Lang realized his wife was also like a tigress. Her frenzy was on par with Qiu Yao'er's.
The only difference was that Qiu Yao'er had been under the influence of a drug, while his wife was driven purely by love.
“I'm going to devour you right now. I'm going to eat you alive.”
Mulan kissed him while crying and even shouting. Outside, driving the carriage, Huang Feng's hair stood on end.
‘Brother, why did you give me this job? I want to die right now. The scumbag husband cheated, but instead of hitting him, the wife is trying to sleep with him. My entire value system is crumbling. I don't know whether to believe in love or not anymore.’
She never imagined that Jin Mulan, the precious daughter of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, could be so bold and savage. This is a public road, and they're in a carriage.
* * *
A moment later, the carriage fell silent. It wasn't because Shen Lang was lacking, but because Mulan had stopped. Of course, it wasn't because she regretted trying to sleep with him. Mulan had discovered that Shen Lang's body was covered in gruesome wounds, too horrific to look at. Instantly, her heart ached so much it felt like dying, and she stopped. Otherwise, her husband's injuries would only worsen. Mulan leaned gently against Shen Lang, tenderly kissing every single wound on his body.
“Does it hurt?”
Mulan asked gently.
“I was drugged, so I didn't feel the pain at the time.”
Mulan lay in his arms again and kissed the spot over his heart.
‘Qiu Yao'er, I will kill you. I swear to the heavens, no, to all the gods and spirits. I will definitely kill you. My martial arts are still inferior to yours, Jin Mulan, so from this day forward, I will train like a madwoman. When my skills surpass yours, I will kill you. I will avenge my husband. How dare you injure my husband like this and defile him by force.’
“Husband, let's forget about this. Let's just forget it. You're a man, and she's a woman, so it's not like we're the ones who lost out. You mustn't let this leave a scar on your heart or harbor any resentment. We have so many more good days ahead of us.
And don't worry. I'll be gentle with you from now on. I'll never be this rough again. You can't let this cast a shadow over your heart. That act is actually a beautiful thing. Qiu Yao'er is a beast, so you can't consider what happened with her to be the real thing. Husband, why are you crying?”
Unable to bear it, Mulan reached out and wiped away Shen Lang's tears. But the more she wiped, the more he cried. Soon, Mulan began to cry along with him.
‘My wife, please don't. You're making me feel like even more of a scumbag.’
Shen Lang could never have imagined, not in a million years, that things would turn out this way. Mulan was comforting him, worried that he would be deeply hurt and that it would leave a shadow on his heart. And so, the two of them ended up crying together. Shen Lang cried out of shame at Mulan's kindness, while Mulan cried because her heart ached for the terrible thing her husband had endured.