CHAPTER 7

As soon as Lian Sheng returned to the City Lord’s residence, she immediately took off her wedding gown. Yi Qiancheng happened to walk in and saw her hurriedly removing it.

“Lian girl, you’re quite impatient,” he said in a flat tone, his gaze sweeping over her snow-white undergarments. Though loose, they still revealed her slender waist and graceful figure.

Lian Sheng’s hands paused for a moment as she felt someone watching her from behind, which made her feel a bit shy.

Although she could deceive Yi Qiancheng with a straight face, being genuinely open with him was something she couldn’t do. She pursed her lips to hide her shyness.

After taking off her wedding dress, Lian Sheng didn’t put on another outer garment but turned to look at Yi Qiancheng. He stood leaning against a golden silk screen, arms crossed, looking at her with an ambiguous expression.

The flickering candlelight made the atmosphere between them grow strange.

Since returning from the ancestral hall, Yi Qiancheng hadn’t spoken a word to Lian Sheng. Now, the first thing he said was a sarcastic remark about her licentious nature. His gaze remained calm, yet Lian Sheng inexplicably felt pressured.

This feeling was different from facing the Western Qiang army in her dreams; it made her ears redden. Deep down, Lian Sheng didn’t like this man much. During their first encounter, she had nearly lost her life at his hands.

Somehow, they ended up married, but she had already been tormented by him three times.

Her words of admiration for him seemed not to be believed either. Yi Qiancheng was unyielding, vicious in nature, and his mouth seemed to spew venom.

An involuntary shiver ran through Lian Sheng. Luckily, she was only pretending to be close to him. If she were to fall in love with such a pervert, she would surely go mad.

Lian Sheng’s forehead was swollen and throbbing with pain, almost numbing her. Ignoring Yi Qiancheng’s venomous words, she softly asked, “Husband, do you have any medicine? My forehead hurts.”

“No, endure it,” Yi Qiancheng replied. His eyes swept over her blood-stained forehead, showing a hint of disdain.

“Then blow on it for me. Husband, you are the best medicine.” Lian Sheng’s heart tightened, and she blinked her eyes, walking closer to him in her undergarments, looking up at Yi Qiancheng. His expression froze strangely for a second as he looked into her watery eyes, then suddenly smiled at her.

“Alright.”

Lian Sheng felt a chill run down her spine from his smile. Instinctively sensing something was wrong, she wanted to retreat. But Yi Qiancheng didn’t intend to let her off so easily. He flicked her forehead with his finger, causing Lian Sheng to yelp in pain. It felt as if countless needles were piercing her forehead, making her want to tear the flesh away.

Yi Qiancheng, you damn pervert!

Her watery eyes filled with tears. This excruciating pain was unbearable, and tears welled up in her eyes. She glared at Yi Qiancheng’s amused expression, cursing him silently in her heart, but forced herself to hold back the tears.

Yi Qiancheng thought her reaction—jumping in pain—was much more endearing than her usual nonsense.

“Do you want this general to treat you again?” he said mischievously.

“No need, husband. Once is enough to show your strength,” Lian Sheng gritted her teeth. If she could, she would pounce on him and bite him.

Yi Qiancheng’s gaze darkened, and Lian Sheng let out a humph. After all, she was now the City Lord’s wife, and he couldn’t kill her. Though she didn’t know why Yi Qiancheng had married her, one thing was clear: no city lord would marry an orphan girl with no background.

In other words, by marrying her, Yi Qiancheng must have intended to help save Yingdong.

Marriage alliances had always been about interests, rarely emotions.

Lian Sheng wouldn’t bring up Yingdong tonight. First, the timing wasn’t right. She would be staying in Shaji for a long time, and Yi Qiancheng held the power over both Yingdong and her life. No matter what, she couldn’t afford to make him dislike her. In fact, she needed to make him like her to survive well in Shaji. Bringing up Yingdong’s siege tonight would only anger Yi Qiancheng, so she decided to suppress the issue for now.

Secondly, Lian Sheng herself hadn’t prepared mentally for consummating the marriage with Yi Qiancheng. Besides being afraid of him, she also disliked him. Yes, she disliked him.

Though her life in Yingdong wasn’t great, she was at least the daughter of the Yingdong City Lord, protected by her brother. At least she didn’t have to live every moment with her life hanging by a thread.

Yi Qiancheng watched her calm down, her delicate face marred by the wound on her forehead. Lian Sheng, who had earlier recoiled in pain, now looked at him with a sticky gaze. He inexplicably felt a shiver down his spine and an urge to cover those eyes of hers.

No, not cover—more like gouge them out.

“Husband,” she hesitated, her voice tinged with just the right amount of shyness. “It’s late.”

Lian Sheng’s long lashes quivered slightly, her voice trembling. A hint of nervousness appeared on her face, but her eyes sparkled brightly under the candlelight.

Yi Qiancheng naturally understood her implication, and the urge to gouge her eyes out grew stronger.

“Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself. Women of the Lian family are too filthy for me to touch,” he said coldly. The mention of the Lian family always carried a chilling undertone when spoken by Yi Qiancheng.

Lian Sheng pursed her lips, a fleeting look of embarrassment and humiliation flashing across her face. She lowered her head to hide her disappointment.

Yi Qiancheng expressed his disgust towards women of the Lian family through his actions. Without a second glance, he turned and left the room.

Lian Sheng... secretly rejoiced! She knew that the more she tried to throw herself at him, the more disdainful Yi Qiancheng became towards her! She hoped Yi Qiancheng was an upright man who stuck to his word—a good man who wouldn’t touch her if he said he wouldn’t.

As soon as his footsteps faded, Lian Sheng wiped away her embarrassment and humiliation, picked up some pastries from the table to fill her stomach, and noticed a wine jug and two cups.

This was their wedding toast.

Lian Sheng sighed, tilted the wine jug, and poured some onto her handkerchief, carefully cleaning the wound on her forehead. It might not be very effective, but it was better than nothing.

The alcohol stung the wound, but Lian Sheng bit her lip and didn’t make a sound. Tomorrow, she’d have to find some medicine; she didn’t want scars on her face. She actually wanted to take a bath, but she knew the servants in the City Lord’s residence didn’t like her. Even if she ordered it, they would likely brush her off.

Suppressing her discomfort, Lian Sheng tidied herself up briefly and curled up on the bed to sleep.

...

Yi Qiancheng had spent the night in the side room. Thinking about the pressure and difficulties Lian Sheng would face in the future, he narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling an inexplicable excitement bubbling within him.

He suppressed the corners of his mouth, trying not to reveal his emotions too obviously. The news that he hadn’t slept in Lian Sheng’s room last night would soon spread throughout the City Lord’s residence. His attitude determined the servants’ attitudes, and Yi Qiancheng was curious to see how that lying woman would survive in the invisible traps ahead.

Yesterday was his wedding day, so he had seven days off from training and only needed to handle affairs in the residence.

Fu Yi came to the study to see Yi Qiancheng, noticing his seemingly good mood.

“Is the general in a good mood today?” Fu Yi casually asked.

“No, you’re mistaken,” Yi Qiancheng forced a frown, his eyes downturned, pretending to be in a bad mood.

“That’s perfect. Fu Yi has some good news for the general to cheer him up. Chengyu is coming back.”

“Chengyu is coming back?” Yi Qiancheng put down his pen, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

“Yes, Chengyu has accomplished all the tasks you assigned to him without fail,” Fu Yi said proudly. Chengyu was his only son, and as a father, he was deeply proud of his son’s achievements.

“Good! Good! Thank you, military advisor and Chengyu!” Yi Qiancheng exclaimed twice, his spirits high.

“It’s what Fu Yi and Chengyu should do. The general’s great success is just around the corner,” Fu Yi bowed respectfully.

Yi Qiancheng raised a finger, his expression returning to its usual calm as he warily glanced toward the study door. Seeing this, Fu Yi quickly fell silent, his gaze shifting toward the doorway with a hint of confusion.

After a moment, three rhythmic knocks sounded at the door. The person outside waited politely for a while before speaking in a soft voice: “Husband, may I come in?”

Fu Yi suddenly realized—it was the new lady, the young woman from the Lian family who had just married into the household. He instinctively looked at his general. Yi Qiancheng’s expression was unreadable, but then he raised his voice and barked, “Wait outside! Don’t come in!”

“Alright,” came the girl’s obedient reply.

Fu Yi couldn’t help but feel that his general seemed unusually harsh, and there was something very strange about the situation. By making the lady wait outside, it was clear that Yi Qiancheng wouldn’t be discussing any serious matters with him anymore. Yet, he didn’t let her in either, which made it seem like he was deliberately tormenting her.

Could it be that the general… was acting a bit childish?

Yi Qiancheng sat there absentmindedly for a moment. When he noticed Fu Yi still standing respectfully by the side, his gaze flickered toward the door before he finally drawled, “That’s all for today’s discussion. Military advisor, you may leave.”

Faced with his pretentious general, the loyal military advisor could only respond with a quiet, “…Yes.”

As Fu Yi stepped out of the door, he saw Lian Sheng standing by the entrance with her head bowed. Hearing someone approach, she lifted her gaze, her clear black-and-white eyes studying him.

“I’ve greeted the lady,” Fu Yi said with a polite bow, somewhat surprised to see the red, swollen mark on her forehead.

“Military... advisor, right? There’s no need for formalities,” Lian Sheng replied, bending her knees slightly in a courteous gesture.

Lian Sheng stepped aside to let Fu Yi pass.

Suddenly, the name “Mr. Fu Yi” flashed through her mind, and she turned back abruptly to look at the elegant gentleman. However, he had already walked away. Lian Sheng had a premonition that he might be the “Mr. Fu Yi” she wanted to meet.

She thought to herself that the next time she saw him, she must ask him properly.

Just then, a shadow loomed over her. She turned around and saw Yi Qiancheng staring at her. “What are you here for?” he demanded.