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Her incompetent elder brother had offended the esteemed General of State Support, and now this innocent bystander found herself thrust into the role of a newly minted Secondary Concubine. It was already infuriating enough to be used as bait by her husband; now she had to engage in a battle of wits and courage with the Lady and other Concubines. Life in the General's residence was truly unbearable.
However, she was no pushover. As the saying goes, "When you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; when you marry a dog, follow the dog." If she wanted to carve out a place for herself in this General's household, she would have to set an example and take control...
In the fourteenth year of the Qianlong reign, outside Miraculous Pharmacy, General Lian Cheng'an led a large group of men, surrounding the pharmacy tightly like an iron barrel, the atmosphere tense and charged.
Half an hour earlier, one of his subordinates had witnessed his Secondary Concubine alone with the owner of Miraculous Pharmacy in a room at Qingfeng Inn for over an hour. Such a scene left Lian Cheng'an humiliated; what man could bear such a green hat?
Yet, after waiting for so long, the one who emerged to face his wrath was merely a woman. Lian Cheng'an scrutinized the slender-shouldered figure before him. Though her beauty was not breathtaking, her calm demeanor amidst the storm sparked a flicker of admiration within him, like a resilient orchid seen in the midst of a tempest.
"Is your master so cowardly? Sending a woman to confront me? Does he not fear that I might flatten this pathetic pharmacy in my anger?" Lian Cheng'an glared fiercely, his words dripping with authority and fury.
"Having long heard of your bravery and prowess in battle, I see today that you are indeed striking and dignified!" Yan Xinyao stood her ground without fear, boldly taking in Lian Cheng'an's imposing presence. "It’s just a pity that you are merely a soldier who knows nothing of reason despite possessing such fine looks."
"Impudent! How dare you disrespect the General! Someone seize her..." The deputy commander shouted angrily upon hearing her words and moved to apprehend Yan Xinyao.
"Stop!" Lian Cheng'an raised his hand to halt his deputy, frowning as he looked at Yan Xinyao with confusion and curiosity. "Do you know why I have come?"
"Of course," Yan Xinyao replied nonchalantly, standing defiantly at the door. Though her figure appeared slight, there was an undeniable stubbornness about her. "I heard that you believe my brother has seduced your concubine, which is why you've come to seek justice."
"So that surname Yan is your brother? Perfect! Tell him to come out quickly, or else..." Lian Cheng'an's words were cut off by Yan Xinyao.
Yan Xinyao chuckled, her laughter sounding somewhat out of place in the tense atmosphere. "Otherwise, what would it be? As the saying goes, catch a thief with the stolen goods, and catch an adulterer in the act. Has the General seen with his own eyes my elder brother and your concubine together?"
"Are you implying that I am wrongfully accusing your brother?" Lian Cheng'an's expression darkened, his gaze growing colder, like water from a frigid spring.
Yan Xinyao raised an eyebrow, a hint of cunning in her demeanor. "I wouldn't dare suggest that. However, I imagine the General has only heard rumors and may not know the full story. Even if my brother truly has an affair with your concubine, how can you be sure it wasn't your concubine who was infatuated with my brother's good looks and seduced him? If that were the case, then my brother would be the victim, trying to alleviate the loneliness of a neglected wife while being falsely accused..."
A surge of frustration welled up in Lian Cheng'an's chest, like a tide crashing against the shore. He dismounted and strode towards her, towering over her as he coldly said, "Are you insinuating that I cannot manage my own household?"
"Matters of love cannot always be controlled. Perhaps it is simply that the General is willing but unable..." Yan Xinyao realized too late that her words were inappropriate and inwardly cursed herself.
"What did you say?" Lian Cheng'an could hardly believe his ears. Was this woman actually suggesting he was incapable of satisfying his own woman?
In that moment, Yan Xinyao understood that this man, who seemed to be on fire with anger, had misunderstood her intentions. She was merely trying to protect her disappointing elder brother, the sole heir of the the Yan Family.
Moreover, she felt a twinge of sympathy for Lian Cheng'an. As the General of State Support who had fought three battles against Goguryeo and spent years fending off formidable enemies, it was only natural for his concubine to feel lonely. She hadn't intended to hurt his pride or provoke such thoughts... although her choice of words had indeed been unfortunate.
Despite being eloquent, she was still an unmarried young lady; her face flushed with embarrassment, and her confidence wavered slightly as she stammered, "I didn't mean to say you're incapable... I... I..."
Lian Cheng'an observed her suddenly reddened cheeks, and to his surprise, some of his anger dissipated. "I didn't expect you to have such boldness!"
As he spoke, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, his dark eyes glinting with a predatory intensity as he regarded Yan Xinyao like a leopard eyeing its prey.
Yan Xinyao froze for a moment; her heart raced like a startled deer. Yet she forced herself to remain calm under his scrutiny, determined not to show any weakness before him.
Lian Cheng'an seemed to catch the momentary lapse in her composure, and his smile grew even more triumphant. He narrowed his eyes and lifted Yan Xinyao's chin with a teasing yet domineering tone, "Since you believe this matter is my responsibility, I shall marry you and let you experience the happiness of being my woman."
As he spoke, Yan Xinyao held her breath, unwilling to draw too close to him. The unfamiliar masculine aura was overwhelmingly aggressive, especially with the expression on his face, which made her realize that he was far from the simpleton she could easily deceive with a few words. A sense of unease crept into her heart.
Noticing her lowered gaze, Lian Cheng'an felt a surge of satisfaction and couldn't help but ask, "What’s wrong? Are you scared?"
A bitter taste rose in Yan Xinyao's throat. With her parents passing away early and her older brother being unambitious, she had been holding up the Miraculous Pharmacy all by herself, utterly exhausted. For so many years, her brilliance had deterred ordinary men from proposing to her. She never expected that the first man to seek her hand would do so under such circumstances; fate truly played tricks on her.
"Your brother took my concubine, so marrying you off to the General's residence as compensation is only fair, isn't it?" Lian Cheng'an released his grip and noticed Yan Xinyao visibly relax. A strange joy filled his heart. "I won't make things difficult for you. If you refuse, we can continue discussing your brother's affair with my concubine."
"The General repays grievances with kindness by taking in an old maid from Chang'an who can’t find a husband; truly noble of you," Yan Xinyao replied, lifting her face to him and performing a graceful bow. "I am Lowly Concubine Yan Xinyao, pleased to make your acquaintance." Though she had agreed to the marriage proposal, there was an unmistakable hint of resignation and self-mockery in her words.
For Yan Xinyao, marrying into the General's residence felt like stepping into an absurd dream.
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