CH 110

Once they got down the mountain, horses were ready to take them the rest of the way back. Tan Lingyin didn’t know how to ride a horse, so Tang Tianyuan took her on his horse. Afraid that the horse would run too fast and make her uncomfortable, Tang Tianyuan kept the horse at a leisurely pace. With the soft little beauty in his arms, Tang Tianyuan was not in a hurry to go back. 

He found that the scenery in winter was also quite beautiful. Although it was desolate, the layers of desolation were also quite classy.

In fact, the scenery depended on who you enjoyed it with.

Zheng Shaofeng didn't want to hear these two people talk about love anymore; it was too irritating. So he took the army back first. Since it was too ostentatious to enter the county government office with so many soldiers, he planned to set up camp in the outskirts of Tongling County. This way, his fellow brothers could rest and recover their strength without any disturbance. And then after he gets a meal from Tang Tianyuan, then they will go  back to their garrison.

When Tang Tianyuan returned to the county government office, it was already past meal time. The soldiers outside had just woken up from their nap and were waiting for food. So Tang Tianyuan generously paid out of his own pocket. He gathered cooks from several big restaurants in the county, and cooked a luxurious lunch for these soldiers. His private money was managed by the Xianggua. When it was time to pay, Xianggua suffered from mental pain from all the money used.

Looking at all the banknotes, Tan Lingyin wanted to burst into tears. "This is my money!" She made money from making duplicate fans, but he cheated her out of most of it. She stared at Tang Tianyuan. She hoped to find a trace of guilt in his expression, to show that his conscience could still be saved.

However, Tang Tianyuan replied confidently, "Even you are mine."

"..." He was the one who should be ashamed, but she was the one who blushed. Tan Lingyin was a little unconvinced as she whispered back, "Then you are also mine."

Tan Lingyin thought he wouldn't hear it, but Tang Tianyuan replied with a calm smile, "Yes, I’m yours, so please be responsible for me."

Tan Lingyin was a little confused. When did their relationship become so shameless? Obviously, they had maintained a proper and reserved distance before; the change was too sudden, she needed time to slowly digest this.

She needed to calm down.

Tang Tianyuan also wanted her to calm down, mainly because he couldn't calm down himself. Ever since he saw Tan Lingyin today, he had been in a strange state of excitement. She was the only one left in the range of his attention, as if all his senses were born for her. He couldn't help teasing her with his ‘cheap’ words. When he saw her blushing, he thought she looked very delicious, and had some trouble holding back...

Such torture left him bewildered and fascinated.

Tan Lingyin returned to the Southern Study. Tang Tianyuan asked the kitchen to make his meal, but did not forget to send a portion to Tan Lingyin.

After having his fill, Zheng Shaofeng was going to say goodbye to Tang Tianyuan. He was a little reluctant to go back to the barracks. There, he had to face a naggy and picky superior, there was no excitement to watch as there was here.

Tang Tianyuan thought for a while and said, "Then you might as well stay here as a guest for a while. There is no need to rush back."

"That’s not too good." Zheng Shaofeng was worried that the bearded old man would tattle on him.

"Have you forgotten who I am?"

Zheng Shaofeng slapped his head. That's right, this kid had already revealed the seal of the imperial envoy yesterday! It would definitely be fine for him to be borrowed by the imperial envoy for a few days. Zheng Shaofeng touched his chin, he was worried about another matter, "That big-mouthed old man wouldn’t rat you out, right?"

"He wouldn’t dare."

"What if he couldn’t control his own mouth?"

"We'll talk about it when the time comes. When the boat gets to the pier-head, it will go straight with the current[1]."

Zheng Shaofeng nodded his head and tsked, "I think it's because you’re just less worried because you are on cloud nine!" The brat found a wife, so other things were nothing to worry about! Shameless!

So Zheng Shaofeng asked the deputy general to take the army back. He stayed to play in Tongling County.

After successfully fooling him to stay behind, Tang Tianyuan mentioned his real purpose. "Since you ate my food, you have to do me a favor."

Zheng Shaofeng rolled his eyes. "I knew you were not that easy to deal with. Say it"

"I’ve recently encountered a problem."

Zheng Shaofeng exploded immediately, "Your father is the Chief Minister of the Royal Government, and you are the imperial envoy. What kind of problem can you encounter? Whatever you encounter shouldn’t be a problem! Are you afraid of sh*t?" He had stayed in the barracks for very long, so whenever impatient, Zheng Shaofeng would swear out of habit.

Tang Tianyuan shook his head. He frowned and said, "I'm not afraid for myself, but for Lingyin."

Zheng Shaofeng exclaimed in shock, "You mean that the kidnapping was premeditated and was aimed at you?"

"Not this time, but who can guarantee the future? I’ve been assigned some important business, so sometimes I may not be able to take care of her. Just in case..."

Zheng Shaofeng understood his concerns. "I'll help you! Who made me the best in martial arts!  Moreover, she’s my sis-in-law."

"Many thanks."

"’Many thanks’-my great uncle! I’ll punch you if you are polite with me again!"

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Footnote:

[1] When the boat gets to the pier-head, it will go straight with the current (船到桥头自然直) - is a common saying meaning everything will turn out for the best/ Let's worry about it when it happens.