Chapter 99
Chapter 99
“Wife, this is terrible, terrible! Zhang Chunhua, that shameless vixen, tried to seduce me. Look at this. It's an acrostic poem. She tried to lure me to the covered bridge in the middle of the night. She has no shame! She puts on such a prim and proper act, I thought she was a lady from a noble family, but it turns out she's this kind of person. Wife, we must draw a clear line with a woman like her and cut off all contact from now on.”
Shen Lang said, pounding his chest, his voice filled with righteous indignation.
“It's outrageous. I consider her an enemy, yet she wants to sleep with me. Unthinkable.”
After speaking, Shen Lang glanced at the paper on Mulan’s desk, on which Zhang Chunhua’s poem was written. Mulan had already circled eight characters. Though Mulan was remarkably straightforward, she was also intelligent. She might not enjoy poetry, but she had a deep appreciation for it. She had long since realized the poem was an acrostic but had said nothing, waiting for Shen Lang to discover it himself.
A cold sweat trickled down Shen Lang’s back.
‘It's a good thing I came when I did. If I had been even half an hour later... I'd be a cold corpse by now. I'm saved. That was close. But, wife, I never knew you were this kind of person. Where did all your straightforwardness go?’
“Don't you see, wife? Am I not a man of integrity? Am I not steadfast?”
Shen Lang wore a righteous expression, like the hero of a drama. Mulan spoke in a soft voice.
“If my lord had no intention of going, why would you copy the poem onto paper, and then discover the acrostic within it? It suggests that you were interested in her and harbored improper thoughts.”
Shen Lang’s face fell.
‘You didn't curse me out loud, but inwardly, you've already called me a scoundrel. You're scolding me for having the intention, even though I didn't do anything wrong.’
“Pfft!”
Mulan’s expression softened into a smile, her face as beautiful as a blossoming flower.
“Alright, I’ll say you’re a good man.”
Mulan said in a gentle voice, then lightly kissed Shen Lang’s cheek.
* * *
The summer heat had passed, and the weather had cooled to about ten degrees Celsius. Inside the Zhang family’s old residence, a grand and ornate room was kept at a comfortable twenty degrees Celsius by a smokeless coal fire. Zhang Chunhua was reading a book.
She was lounging lazily in a large, plush chair. Dressed only in her undergarments, she was practically bare, her posture exquisitely beautiful and alluring. She was still reading *Boundless Wind and Moon*, written by Shen Lang, for the eleventh time. Her maid found her so captivating that she could hardly bear to look, feeling her own appearance pale in comparison.
“My lady, didn't you invite Young Master Shen Lang to the covered bridge? Why haven't you left yet?”
The maid asked Zhang Chunhua.
“He won't come. If he actually went there, I would think him pathetic from now on.”
“Huh? Then why did you invite him?”
“I was just provoking him to test his character. And at the same time, I was letting Jin Mulan know that I intend to steal her man. I hope Jin Mulan makes a scene. I hope she's as straightforward as they say.”
* * *
Big Dummy was finally awake! His body was extraordinary; despite his severe injuries, he had nearly recovered in just half a month. A normal person’s broken bones would take a long time to mend, but his had healed completely in less than a month. The physician was astonished by his healing ability. But even after his wounds had healed, Big Dummy had remained unconscious. Then one day, he finally opened his eyes.
‘Where am I? Why am I here?’
Shen Lang had poured a great deal of attention on him, but even being near, he couldn't have a conversation or chat with him. The news that Big Dummy was awake brought Shen Lang immense joy. Overcome with emotion, he immediately ran to see him.
“Big Dummy, you’re all better.”
“Yeah, I'm all better, Little Dummy.”
“From now on, don't call me Little Dummy. Call me Master.”
“Okay, Little Dummy.”
“Not Little Dummy, call me Master.”
“Okay, Little Dummy.”
Beside them, Mulan let out a “Pfft!” of laughter.
“From now on, you must call him Master Shen Lang. Understand?”
Big Dummy immediately shouted.
“Yes, Master.”
Shen Lang fell silent, glaring at Big Dummy in frustration. He suspected this orangutan wasn't actually stupid, but was only pretending to be. Then, Mulan spoke to Big Dummy.
“Big Dummy, you’ll live here from now on, alright?”
“What about my father, mother, and brother?”
“Your brother has gone on a long journey, and your father is injured and staying nearby. Your stepmother is also in this house.”
Big Dummy closed his mouth and said nothing. He didn't want to stay in someone else's house, but he didn't know how to express it. Mulan said in a gentle voice.
“Shen Lang needs you. Many people want to bully Shen Lang, so you have to protect him. Understand?”
Big Dummy suddenly shot to his feet and said.
“Who's bullying Little Dummy? You can hit me, but you can't hit Little Dummy.”
To this day, Shen Lang still didn't know why Big Dummy had been so good to him since childhood. But the reason was simple. Long ago, the mentally challenged Shen Lang had given Big Dummy a piece of candy. From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever given Big Dummy candy or asked him to play. A lonely and solitary person will remember even the smallest kindness for a lifetime.
“Then how about you two brothers stay here together? Your stepmother is here too, and if you want, we can bring your father here as well.”
At this, Big Dummy agreed to stay at the Count’s estate. Mulan and Shen Lang returned to their own courtyard.
“My lord, tomorrow I plan to examine Big Dummy's qi, blood, and bone structure. I think he might have a natural talent for martial arts.”
Shen Lang was filled with anticipation. Big Dummy was huge and powerfully built, as if he had a mutant gene, and his body was incredibly special, recovering from serious injuries with astonishing speed. The key was his healing ability. Shen Lang had just used his X-ray vision to examine Big Dummy’s broken bones and couldn't find even a trace of the injuries. It was truly mysterious. He possessed a healing power as absurd as a protagonist in a novel.
‘I'm the protagonist here, so why wasn't I given a gifted body? No, maybe I was given an even greater natural talent? I should get myself tested tomorrow too. I might be a once-in-a-century—no, a once-in-ten-thousand-years martial arts prodigy. I must be! Even though I have no intention of learning martial arts, I might still possess a once-in-ten-thousand-years talent for it.’
Seeing her husband once again lost in a ridiculous flight of fancy, Mulan couldn't hold back any longer. She said in a sweet voice.
“My lord, it's getting dark. I shall retire for the night!”
“Ah, of course!”
And with that, she returned to her room.
* * *
Shen Lang also returned to his room. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He was terribly bored. Days had passed, but the King's edict had not arrived, and everything was too quiet. Just then, Shen Lang saw steam wafting from Mulan’s window. It seemed she hadn't closed her window.
‘Is Mulan bathing?’
Shen Lang’s heart instantly itched as a beautiful scene formed in his mind.
‘Should I go take a peek? No. That would be so undignified. I, Shen Lang, am a proud man of seven feet. How could I do something so sordid? If Mulan found out, how could I ever face her? I, Shen Lang, may be a romantic, but I am not a scoundrel. I have my dignity.’
A moment later.
Shen Lang, his face covered by a mask, carefully climbed the wall. If one is going to do something shameless, one might as well cover one's face. Besides, I, Shen Lang, am climbing this wall to read a book by moonlight, not to spy on my wife. Even if I get caught, I have an excuse.
‘Sigh! My wife's room is so high up I have to climb the wall to see it, and I have a fear of heights. Still, for the sake of my wife's bath... no, for the sake of reading by moonlight, I must take this risk.’
After a strenuous climb to the top of the wall, Shen Lang opened his book and cast a casual glance toward Mulan’s room. He saw his wife through the window, and in that instant, Shen Lang forgot everything else.
‘My wife... is so beautiful.’
And Shen Lang became lost in the beautiful scenery. Just then, a shrill, urgent voice pierced the air.
“The King has issued an edict! Shen Lang is to receive it! The King has issued an edict! Shen Lang is to receive it!”
The sharp cry instantly shattered the silence of the pitch-black night. In an instant, Shen Lang, perched on the wall, trembled. Mulan, bathing inside, also shivered slightly, her beautiful eyes suddenly darting toward the window. In that moment, her gaze met the eyes of Shen Lang, who was peeping from the wall!
But Mulan acted as if she hadn't noticed Shen Lang's presence, behaving normally. Had she perhaps not seen him? For a moment, it seemed their eyes met, but she looked as if she were staring into empty space. She glanced at the pitch-black darkness outside, then averted her gaze. Shen Lang remained motionless on the wall. He was fortunate to be wearing black night clothes and a black mask. Dressed like that and hidden in the darkness, it was natural that he wouldn't be easily spotted.
Mulan seemed reluctant to finish her bath, hesitating to get out of the wooden tub. After about seven seconds, she stepped out of the tub and went into a small room to change. Shen Lang quickly scrambled down the ladder and returned to his room as fast as he could, immediately shedding the night clothes and mask. After a few deep breaths, he adopted a calm and leisurely demeanor and stepped outside.
Soon, Shen Lang met his wife in the courtyard outside his room. For some reason, her face seemed a little red.
‘She just finished a hot bath, so that’s probably why. But I, the great Shen Lang, read a book on the wall for a full half-hour, and my face isn't red at all.’
“My lord, let's go receive the edict quickly.”
Mulan wore a slightly worried expression.
* * *
In the main hall of the Count's estate.
Shen Lang met the eunuch from the capital. He didn't know the eunuch’s rank, but Shen Lang felt no respect for him. The man held his chin high in the air, his attitude cold and aloof.
‘What’s a castrated man got to be so stiff about? It’s not like you even have it.’
The eunuch shot Shen Lang a cold glare. Whenever he delivered an edict, the recipient would tremble in fear. But this scrawny fellow before him was acting nonchalant, constantly staring at his body—specifically, at the place where something was missing.
“Young Master Shen, what is the meaning of this? The King has issued an edict, yet you dawdle and make me wait for so long. Are you looking down on me?”
The eunuch said icily. Shen Lang quickly stepped forward and handed him a money pouch, trying to placate him.
“Your Excellency, please calm down. This is just a small token of sincerity for you to have some tea.”
The eunuch discreetly weighed the pouch Shen Lang offered. It was heavy, suggesting it contained at least several hundred gold coins.
‘The Count of Xuanwu's estate is spending this much? I never expected such a windfall.’
The eunuch was delighted but inwardly sneered.
‘What an ignorant fool. Did you think I wouldn't slight you just because I took your money? How naive and ridiculous!’
The eunuch's attitude softened slightly. He glanced at Shen Lang and said.
“The King has issued an edict. Kneel and receive it! The King has spoken. 'For his merit in exposing the rebellion of Su Nan, Shen Lang is hereby granted the status of an Imperial Scholar at the Grand Academy!'”
‘That's it? It's so short, and there's not even the closing phrase, "Thus it is decreed"?’
Shen Lang knew that some edicts from ancient Chinese emperors lacked the two characters for “Thus it is decreed,” which signified an unfavorable attitude. Upon hearing the edict, the Count’s face hardened, and Mulan’s expression instantly turned cold.
‘On what grounds is he treated this way? My lord possesses outstanding talent; on what grounds does the King treat him with such contempt? The book my lord wrote has taken the entire Tiannan Province by storm and is gaining sensational popularity throughout the State of Yue. Everyone praises it as brilliant, so why does the King inflict such a humiliation?’
“Receive the edict.”
Shen Lang stepped forward and accepted the King’s edict. The eunuch then left the estate without a moment's delay, eager to see exactly how much money Shen Lang had given him. As a result, once he was away from the estate, the eunuch opened the pouch and was instantly enraged. Inside were only copper coins. A hundred copper coins was what you'd give to shoo away a beggar.
‘He told me to buy some tea, and it's literally just enough for one cup. Shen Lang, that bastard!’