Chapter 94 (1/2)

Glossary

儿 | er | (lit. child) diminutive marker used as a form of endearment

Xuanyuan Min Zhi took out a bottle of ning xiang lu and spread it over his wife’s scratched cheeks. Ning xiang lu was the panacea of the imperial clan and was very effective in healing any kind of wound without leaving any scarring. He saw her bird’s nest of hair and reached over to let down her coil before combing it again. Unfortunately, he had no experience with waiting on a person and after he had finished with her hair, he might as well have never combed it as on the contrary, it became even more messy than before.

Ruan Zhu could not throw aside his intention and pushed him away to personally brush and put her hair into a long ponytail.

He hugged her, kissing her for a while: “Zhu’er, give birth to a child for me, okay? Zong Zhi and Head Yun all already have children.”

The first time Min Zhi called Yun Shi Yi by his name, Ruan Zhu was unhappy and stubbornly waged a cold war with him for many days. Even when it was his turn in the bedroom, she refused to fulfill her obligations as a wife, making Min Zhi feel incredibly regretful. He then afterwards treated Yun Shi Yi with great respect.

Yun Shi Yi’s position as the principal husband could not be challenged and even the princes could not put on airs towards him. She would ensure the incident with Wei Rong could not occur in her family.

“A woman’s pregnancy is very difficult so let’s wait a few years. One’s life is not limited to just having children; there are many things one can do and I also want to take a break!” Ever since she had stopped breastfeeding, she had them all eat the oral contraceptive. Having another child–she did not have any such intention for the time being.

“Ai, fine then. I really can’t say no to you.”

Min Zhi took this opportunity to take advantage of her and slid his hand inside her lapel to grope about. The Heavens knew how it felt to have such an exquisite woman in the prime of her youth sitting on one’s lap; he was bewitched every time. Ruan Zhu’s breathing became unsteady from his touches and she softly persuaded him after feeling a hardness underneath her butt: “Endure it for a little longer. After a few days, it’ll be your turn. We can’t do it here; the coachman will hear.”

Min Zhi’s eyes were heated from passion and he panted: “I’m just touching and won’t go too far.”

Ruan Zhu understood it was very hard for a young and vigorous man who had just experienced the sweetness between a man and a woman to restrain himself and slid her hand into his trousers, gripping that solid and humongous member as she slowly moved back and forth.

It was hard for Min Zhi to endure his own emotions and he straightened his body in correspondence with her actions. After a moment, his eyes blazed while his face became increasingly redder as he abruptly captured her lips. His left hand wound from behind her back and under her armpit to squeeze her soft breast while his right hand lowered and covered her small hand, rapidly stroking his rod……His body trembled at the climax while a series of stifled groans spilled out from his mouth and into hers. Only then was he considered thoroughly relaxed.

“Is it a little better now?” She had continuously been dearly loved by her husbands so seeing them happy also made her happy.

“Much better, Zhu’er, do you want me to do the same to you? It’ll feel extremely good.” A smile was on Min Zhi’s face. After his body had released, he felt like he was flying.

“No need, Zong Zhi will do it tonight.” Rolling in the sheets was a luxury to them. To her, it was something common as she received intimate pleasure in their arms every time that made her feel incomparably carefree.

She was rather sympathetic to how miserable these men had it in this world where males were the majority and females were the minority. It was nearly a ten to one ratio so how many men were there that couldn’t have wives? And yet homosexuality was also illegal.

After the capital had been moved to Lan Zhou, the emperor sent down a decree, ordering a large-scale anti-vice campaign. Multiple unlicensed whorehouses that focused on male-male dealings were shut down. The ones involved were banished to a distant army post while the ones with serious offenses were sentenced to death.

Those pitiful men!

The carriage traveled for half an hour before it reached Tian Yi Pavilion, where both people got off and headed inside together.

All of the workers recognized their Boss Lady and respectfully invited her to a private room on the second floor, sending in good tea and refreshments.

Ruan Zhu remembered what had occurred in the carriage and called for a waiter to bring in water so the married couple could wash their hands.

Not long after, Yun Shi Yi returned from discussing business outside. He received a shock when he saw the sorry figure his wife cut, and opening the door, called for an assistant to buy a similar outfit from a ready-made clothing store. Finished with his instruction, he closed the door then asked what exactly had happened.

Ruan Zhu spoke of what happened in a simple manner, angering her husbands so that their faces became dark.

“This matter is not considered finished with just that.” Xuanyuan Min Zhi’s indifferent voice radiated with a righteous coldness that would not allow any objection. It was an imposing manner that could only come from one in a high-ranking position and it was unable to be diminished by the tribulations he had gone through before.

Yun Shi Yi got up and opened the door, letting the attendant standing by at attention in front of the door to find Yun Shan. Yun Shan was currently his capable assistant and managed the majority of the Yun clan’s projects. After he entered, he bowed respectfully towards the three people in the room and said–“Greetings to Eldest Young Master, Mistress, Your Highness”–then respectfully retreated to wait for his master’s instruction.

“Xiao Shan, go to each merchant in the city and pass them this message–we will no longer be doing any business with Shun Tian Hall’s Magistrate Liu’s family after today, no exception. Do not sell them foodstuffs, silk, or various daily necessities. Anyone who does business with them will have to answer to me, Yun Shi Yi. Henceforth, the Yun clan will no longer provide them with any goods and will refuse any further dealings with their family.”

Yun Shi Yi’s tone was indifferent yet it carried all of his force. After he had returned to Lan Zhou from the capital, he had fought a resounding battle over foodstuffs, and not only had he earned a considerable sum, he had also gained fame. His reputation in Lan Zhou’s business community had soared and he had even recently partnered with several merchants in building greenhouses. It was unknown how many merchants relied on his enterprise, and the current Yun Shi Yi had enough power to ruin a high-ranking member of the imperial court.

“May Head be at ease, this small one will immediately convey the message.” Yun Shan smiled in response and thought in his heart–Mistress was currently the imperial consort of two princes so unless those merchants had eaten a leopard’s gall, how would they dare to not listen? He retreated after performing the rites, treating Ruan Zhu especially respectfully.

“I invited a pastry master who had retired from working in the palace to Tian Yi Pavilion. Have a taste of his work. Unfortunately, the osmanthus flowers were dried in autumn; if they were fresh, the pastries would be even better.” Yun Shi Yi picked up a small piece of osmanthus cake with his chopsticks and placed it in front of his wife’s mouth. This flower cake had a very rich osmanthus fragrance–moist and spongy, sweet and tasty–and it was a food that she had always loved to eat.

Min Zhi resignedly sat on Ruan Zhu’s other side and drank his wine. He knew that as long as Yun Shi Yi was present, there was nothing for him to do. After he had been sorted out by his wife the first time, he no longer dared to exceed his place.

“It truly is a master’s craftsmanship as it is indeed very tasty.” The cooks in Guan Ju Villa were all master-level, but everyone had their own specialty. In return, Ruan Zhu also picked up a piece of the abalone he loved to eat and placed it into his mouth.

“Zhu Zhu, I also want to eat.” Min Zhi looked on with envy.

Ruan Zhu sent over a soup dumpling filled with lamb over to his lips. Min Zhi yet felt that eating the food his wife personally picked out for him was completely different from the foods he chose himself and especially savored this bite.

At this time, a shop attendant knocked on the door and entered, bringing the newly-purchased clothes with him. It was not too costly yet still simple and elegant, matching very well with her tastes. Raising her eyes to survey her two husbands, she saw that they were also looking her up and down with shining eyes.

Her lips pursing up in a smile, she properly bolted the door then changed in front them. The two husbands came over to help and inevitably gained some small profits in the process.

When Xuanyuan Zong Zhi arrived, Ruan Zhu’s clothes had already been properly put on and her previously-messy hair had also been combed into a neat topknot by Yun Shi Yi.

“Why did you return alone? Where is my younger sister Ruan Yu?” Ruan Zhu took off his large, black wool cloak and used a towel to wipe his hands before pouring a cup of hot tea and handing it over.