Chapter 46: Into a Political Intrigue Novel, Day 24

Chapter 46: The Twenty-Fourth Day of Transmigrating into a Political Intrigue Novel

The old emperor's withered fingers twitched convulsively on the armrest of the dragon throne, his murky eyes darting back and forth between the two newly risen luminaries below the steps.

Ge Lian......

An Yi......

Looking at Ge Lian, then at An Yi, the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily. A powerful, suffocating sense of being pushed aside, and fear, gnawed at what little sanity he had left.

Guttural sounds rattled in his throat, struggling to say something, but it only turned into a fit of hacking coughs. Two eunuchs rushed over to support him; a flurry of activity ensued.

The old emperor waved a hand.

The head eunuch nodded in fear: "Court is dismissed——!"

The old emperor departed, and the court officials came forward to congratulate An Yi and Ge Lian.

They thanked the officials.

Ge Lian turned and strode over to An Yi.

Seeing the two had matters to discuss, the officials took the hint and filed out.

"Grand Secretary An."

Ge Lian spoke, his voice was low but carried a strange penetrating force that made An Yi's heart pound.

An Yi lifted his eyes, calmly returning his gaze.

Ge Lian let out a low chuckle. His gaze was almost palpable, and he enunciated each word clearly:

"Jiangnan has been pacified, the great corrupt official executed. Yet state affairs are still arduous, and much needs to be rebuilt. From now on, in court and camp, in all military and civil matters, I, General Ge... and Grand Secretary An must work together with one mind to uphold the state."

He stressed the phrase "with one mind and one strength." Leaning slightly closer to An Yi, his stance had a subtle intimacy, his hot breath nearly brushed An Yi's ear as his voice grew lower, yet became clearer, boring into An Yi's ears:

"Grand Secretary An... don't you agree?"

An Yi stood silently, his deep crimson robe accentuating his jade-like features. He could plainly feel Ge Lian's unrestrained possessiveness, like a wildfire blazing.

An Yi slightly lifted his chin, meeting Ge Lian's burning, aggressive gaze. His thin lips parted; his voice, clear and cold, fell like ice pearls on a jade plate, calm and unruffled: "General Ge is quite right."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the departing backs of the officials, then landing back on Ge Lian's face: "The altars of the state are paramount. I, An… will naturally work with the general, united in purpose."

Ge Lian gave a low chuckle: "Junheng, I'll come to you tonight."

An Yi: "..."

He sighed: "Don't."

Ge Lian leaned in, ignoring his refusal: "Open the door for me? Or should I climb through the window again?"

His face lit up with anticipation: "If I'm caught climbing your window at night, I'll go to the Dalisi and cry, saying..."

"That the esteemed Grand Secretary An Yi, Lord An, toyed with me, took my body, and refused to give me a title."

"Only letting me sneak in through the window for secret trysts."

"The chief of the Dalisi is always fair and just. Once he knows, he'll definitely make you marry me!"

Ge Lian grinned: "That wouldn't be so bad."

An Yi: ......

He gave Ge Lian a complicated look, and couldn't help himself: "You're such a slut!"

"Cough!" Ge Lian was so startled he nearly choked: "Wh...what?"

"I'm what?" He never expected those four words from An Yi.

Shouldn't that be something he says to An Yi in bed?

Seeing his face fall, An Yi smiled: "Wait here. I'll go steal some clothes from Pinru's wardrobe for you."

Ge Lian's face went dark: "Pinru?"

"Sounds like a woman's name, doesn't it? Where did you meet a Pinru?"

An Yi ignored him and walked away.

Ge Lian dogged his steps, still pressing: "Junheng! Who is Pinru?!"

An Yi, hearing the comment section in his ear, no longer felt embarrassed. Compared to Ge Lian, the real person had way more impact than the words.

Comments:

"????????"

"Huh? Pinru?"

"An Yi is a time traveler? Or is it a plot hole?"

"An Yi is actually a time traveler, I thought he was a native like Ge Lian!"

"The main POV is Ge Lian, so they use indirect showing for An Yi being a time traveler?"

"What's the point of this setting?"

"Is the person above stupid? By setting An Yi as a time traveler, later he can propose policies and technologies that don't fit the era, right?"

"Oh, oh!"

"But... hehe!"

"Was An Yi serious when he said 'united in purpose'? Ge Lian's gaze is practically stripping the jade belt off his waist!"

"Ge Lian: Wife is so hot (licking screen)"

"How do you know An Yi is the wife?"

"What else would he be? I ask you!"

"Check the new fic 'Ripples – The Duty Room After Court' on Laofentou: The newly promoted General of Swift Cavalry kicks open the Grand Secretary's duty room door, pins the man in deep crimson robes hard against a stack of memorials, 'Lord An, quite the show of power in court today, huh?' Golden saber and jade belt scattered on the floor... [Link]"

"The author is a goddess!! Just saw it! So spicy I'm ascending!! The description of the General tearing off the official robe is amazing!"

"Where's the author? Keep up this pace! Step it up!"

----------

That night.

The candles in An Yi's room flickered unsteadily all night, and creaking sounds drifted through the gaps in the window into the courtyard.

Faintly, one could hear a hoarse, muffled groan.

The guards had all been sent to stand guard outside the courtyard, unaware of what was happening inside.

A drop of sweat slowly slid down pale, bony fingers, leaving a dark spot on the floor.

A hand, slick with sweat, reached out from within the bed curtains and hung down to the scattered robes by the bedside.

It was then pulled back by a bronze hand, and only a faint voice could be heard calling softly, "Junheng..."

It was late morning.

Maids and pages stood outside the room holding basins of water and face cloths, waiting for An Yi's summons.

Peng Yan looked troubled. He didn’t understand why the master hadn’t risen yet; usually, he would have been up by now.

Could he be unwell?

After hesitating for a moment, he stepped forward and asked, "Master, would you like to wash?"

After a long wait, there was still no sound from inside. Peng Yan raised his voice, "Master?"

A hoarse voice came from the room, flatly: "Prepare hot water. I want to bathe."

Peng Yan didn’t think twice: "Yes."

Then he ordered the others behind him, "Hurry up! What are you waiting for?!"

He led the remaining servants into An Yi’s room, ready to help him get up, only to find more than one silhouette behind the bed curtains.

Peng Yan: !!!!!!

Huh?

Who is it?

He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again, only vaguely catching sight of a burly figure.

Was it some maid from the household?

What a sturdy maid!