Chapter Thirty-Two Chen Yuanyuan

  Ming army's large camp, Wang Pu's marching tent.

  Xiao Qi, Dāo Bā Liǎn and Cháng Yán Líng, Lǐ Zǔ Shù all retreated tactfully, leaving only Wáng Pú and Chén Yuán Yuán in the tent. Chén Yuán Yuán fluttered into Wáng Pú's arms like a light butterfly, lifted her pretty face and whispered: "General, I was really afraid, really afraid you wouldn't come back."

  Wang Pu gently lifted Chen Yuanyuan's soft and delicate chin with his hand, and sincerely praised: "Yuanyuan, you are really beautiful."

  Chen Yuanyuan didn't dare to look straight into Wang Pu's fiery eyes, and with a shy tone, she lowered her head and softly said: "Being able to serve a great hero like the general is a blessing for me."

  "Wang Pu lifted Chen Yuanyuan's chin a bit, forcing her to look into his eyes and asked, 'There's something I want to ask you.'"

  "Please ask, General," Chen Yuanyuan said softly.

  "Are you really willing to marry me?"

  "Uh-huh."

  Chen Yuanyuan softly murmured in agreement.

  "Did Magistrate Wang coerce you?"

  "No." Chen Yuanyuan hastily shook her head and said, "Magistrate Wang did not coerce me, I am willing to do so with a happy heart."

  Wang Pu smiled and remained silent.

  Chen Yuanyuan's face showed a hint of sadness and resentment, and she said in a low voice: "General, I really am willing."

  "Wang Pu used force to hold Chen Yuanyuan in his arms and said softly, 'I don't know how many wooden fish I broke in my previous life, but this life I finally get to marry you as my wife.'"

  "General." Chen Yuanyuan softly called out and reached out to hold onto Wang Pu's shoulder, gently saying, "Although I was born into a life of dust and wind, I have always only sold my art and not my body. My body is still clean, whether as a wife or concubine, I don't care, as long as the general doesn't despise me, I will take good care of the general, love the general, serve the general, pour tea and water for the general, wash clothes and cook meals, and even give birth to sons for the general."

  Chen Yuanyuan's gentle and affectionate words were like a aphrodisiac that ignited Wang Pu's passion, his breathing quickly became urgent, his left hand wrapped around Chen Yuanyuan's slender waist and lifted her up, his right hand had already slipped into the curve of her legs and carried her horizontally.

  "General." Chen Yuanyuan's beautiful eyes were almost brimming with tears, gazing at Wang Pu with deep affection, and said softly, "This is the first time for me, you must cherish it."

  Wang Pu's eyes were about to spew fire, Chen Yuanyuan's gaze, her soft voice and gentle words, weren't they intentionally making people commit a crime? He swallowed hard, Wang Pu forcefully pressed Chen Yuanyuan's delicate body onto the soft couch, then hastily untied her silk skirt, silk clothes, and undergarments...

  In less than a moment, a perfect body was stark naked in front of Wang Pu.

  Chen Yuanyuan curled up her long, slender legs, hugging her arms to try to cover her full breasts, the more she tried to hide, the more alluring she became. The dim light cast on her reclining figure accentuated the slenderness of her waist and the plumpness of her buttocks. Wang Pu felt as if he had been hit hard on the head, starting to feel dizzy and disoriented.

  Wang Pu let out a beast-like roar from the depths of his throat and pounced on Chen Yuanyuan's naked body, Chen Yuanyuan moaned softly and opened her jade arms to tightly wrap around Wang Pu's neck, those charming eyes, like spring breeze rippling over the water, stirred up layer upon layer of ripples.

  ■■■

  Outside the account.

  It was already midnight, but Chang Yanling and Li Zushu, these two dandies, didn't have a bit of sleepiness. They were surrounding the fire pit telling jokes and from time to time turning their heads to glance at Wang Pu's tent, bursting into a very lewd laughter.

  "Look, the lamp in Wang's room is still on."

  "Hey, still busy with work, Brother Wang is really something."

  "It's been two hours already, Wang is quite skilled at fighting and also very persistent in doing things. I hope that delicate little beauty won't be worn out by him?"

  "You don't understand this, do you? As the old saying goes, men are oxen and women are fields. The more an ox is worked, the thinner it becomes; the more a field is cultivated, the richer it becomes. Since ancient times, there have only been oxen that die from exhaustion, never fields that are ruined by cultivation! Ah, this saying really hits the mark. I reckon that in these few days, our Brother Wang has lost at least ten years of his life."

  "Well, if anyone's to blame, it's just that our new sister-in-law is too beautiful."

  "It's true, and only a heroic figure like Wang Dage can deserve such an extraordinary beauty as the new sister-in-law."

  After finishing this sentence, Chang Yanling and Li Zushu both fell silent, and the two of them tilted their heads to gaze at the moon in the sky, lost in thought.

  ■■■

  In the account book.

  The soft couch is covered with red silk, Wang Pu and Chen Yuanyuan have already finished their love-making.

  Chen Yuanyuan, naked as a cat, curled up in Wang Pu's arms, her skin like condensed milk already beading with fine sweat, reflecting a crystal clear color under the lamp light. The intense exercise left Wang Pu still panting non-stop, but his hands kept rubbing the woman's plump buttocks, reluctant to move away.

  "Right, husband almost forgot something."

  Wang Pu suddenly thought of something, and nakedly crawled up from the edge of the bed, magically finding a gold necklace from the large box, with a heart-shaped jade pendant hanging on it. This thing was made by Wang Pu himself in the afternoon after returning to the camp for Chen Yuanyuan, intending to use it as a token of love.

  "Wow, so beautiful."

  Chen Yuanyuan gazed at the necklace in Wang Pu's hand, her eyes revealing a look of surprise and delight. Women are always particularly interested in gold and silver jewelry after all.

  "Is this gift for you? Do you like it?"

  "I like it."

  "Come, let me put it on you."

  Wang Pu gently wrapped his arms around Chen Yuanyuan and put the necklace on her slender, white jade neck. The luster of the jade pendant matched Chen Yuanyuan's smooth skin, making her look even more noble and elegant. Wang Pu's eyes widened in admiration. Chen Yuanyuan got up and twirled twice in the room, asking Wang Pu: "Husband, does it look good?"

  "It's beautiful." Wang Pu nodded vigorously and said, "Really beautiful."

  Chen Yuanyuan smiled and said in a charming voice: "That servant's family has been wearing it all along."

  ■■■

  A night without words.

  The next morning, Wang Pu led a large team to take the waterway, along the Grand Canal to Nanjing, Suzhou Prefecture Wang Shicheng accompanied him all the way, and saw him off at Hushu Pass before bidding farewell.

  ■■■

  Forbidden City, Palace of Heavenly Purity.

  The Chongzhen Emperor frowned and asked: "Still no news from Lianyun Island?"

  The Minister of War, Chen Xinjia, hastily stepped forward and knelt down on the steps, holding his memorial tablet and said: "I report to Your Majesty, there is still no news from Lianyun Island, however..."

  "But how?" Emperor Chongzhen hastily asked, "Speak quickly."

  "Long live the Emperor, my spies sent to Mongolia and Korea have returned. The news that General Sheng has defeated the Chongzhen Emperor and captured the Tartar chief Huang Taiji has been confirmed."

  The Chongzhen Emperor was overjoyed and said: "I have always said that Hong would never deceive me!"

  "Yes, yes." Chen Xingjia repeatedly responded with a flattering tone, "Lord Hong is the pillar of the emperor's reign, naturally he wouldn't deceive his lord."

  "Haha." Chongzhen laughed and said, "You and Hong are like my left and right arms, I couldn't do without either of you."

  "Hmm." Chongzhen continued to ask, "Have the spies sent to Mongolia and Korea brought back any news about General Wang?"

  Chen Xingjia said: "The spies sent to Mongolia did not bring back any news of General Wang, but one thing is certain, General Wang has not fallen into the hands of Jian Nu, and the captured slave leader Huang Taiji is still under General Wang's control!"

  Chongzhen asked: "How can you be sure?"

  Chen Xingjia said: "Because the spies reported that Jian Nu has a new slave leader."

  "Really?" Chongzhen said with a smile, "So Wang Zuobing has not fallen into Jian Nu's hands after all, and the old slave Taizong is still in Wang Zuobing's hands."

  "...Report..." The voice of Chongzhen had just fallen when a small eunuch rushed into the great hall, panting and saying, "Nanjing has been breached."

  Eunuch Wang Cheng'en hastily stepped forward to receive the letter and presented it to Chongzhen. Chongzhen opened the letter, read it, and burst out laughing: "Haha! Good, great! My ministers, a letter from Shi Kefa, Minister of War in Nanjing, reports that the naval forces of Jinshan Garrison in Songshan Prefecture have escorted General Wang back by sea!"

  "Really?"

  "Oh dear, this is just too good."

  "Long live and great fortune reach the sky, General Wang turns disaster into blessing, truly a joyous and congratulatory occasion."

  All the officials congratulated him one after another, and their flattering words never left his ears.

  Chongzhen happily said: "Thank you."

  Wang Chengen bowed his waist and took two steps forward, responding in a soft voice: "The slave is here."

  "Draft the edict at once." Chongzhen waved his hand and said loudly, "Order the Nanjing Ministry of Rites to welcome General Wang with grand ceremony as a special envoy on his triumphant return. The captured Japanese slaves will be paraded in shackles in Nanjing for three days to demonstrate national prestige. Three days later, the Nanjing Ministry of War will dispatch troops to escort General Wang and the Japanese captives back to the capital. Along the way, all provinces and prefectures shall treat them with the ceremony due to a special envoy, and must not be negligent."

  Wang Chengen responded in a respectful tone: "Your humble servant obeys your orders."