Chapter 96: with translation of chapter title

Thunder grinds the eaves' corners, clouds hang down like devouring.

But in a flash of lightning, Du Shanü, who had been half-asleep, suddenly lost all desire to sleep—

Indeed, given Chinu's jealousy, it would be strange not to ask about Yu Baobao……!

This person speaks of sovereign and subject in name, but acts like husband and wife.

In other words, treat him well, and favor him exclusively!

If today I cannot return to his satisfaction, I fear not only will I not sleep tonight, but in the future I may never wake again……

But how could she know the answer to such a strange question!

Du Shanü thought and thought, but still steeled herself and did not open her eyes.

But this is clearly not the best answer.

Indeed, it cannot even be considered a good answer.

Chinu waited a few breaths, received no answer, his previously relaxed and dazed eyes slowly opened, and he suddenly gave a cold laugh:

"I said……"

"If it weren't for an affair, I wouldn't be looking for you."

She is simply the most cold-hearted, wicked woman since the creation of heaven and earth.

She wants to use him, yet does not want to bear any responsibility.

It's not even that she wants the bliss of having lovers on both sides; rather, she wants Yu Baobao to take the lead, to have an affair with him outside, and let him play the subordinate!

Chinu suddenly rolled over, pulled away most of the blankets, and turned his back to Du Shanü.

Du Shanü was suddenly exposed to the damp cold air, could no longer pretend to sleep, only sighed, then moved close to his back and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

The familiar warm breath drew near, Chinu's mind eased slightly, and he let out a soft hum.

He was preparing to hear how the wicked woman would coax him, but he never expected that Du Shanü's next words would be:

"Then earlier you yourself said…… that an affair must be with you, right?"

An affair, an affair!

How is it an affair again!

How he says it, must we really believe it just like that!

Such a pure and innocent young man, how is he only fit for an affair!

Chinu exploded, instinctively reaching out to move Du Shanü's hand from his waist, but in the next instant he heard a soft laugh.

Du Shanü, having teased him, could not hold back her laughter for a moment.

She reached out, pressing his wrist placed three inches below his navel inside the blankets, and softly coaxed:

"You clearly know I cannot bear to part with you; what's the point of always saying these things……?"

This, this at least has a semblance of coaxing.

Chinu gradually settled, lay on his side on the pillow, imitating her earlier posture in feigned sleep.

Du Shanü understood perfectly, and merely let her fingers lightly wander over his wrist.

Chinu, having practiced martial arts since youth, also had thin calluses on his wrist, which felt somewhat rough to the touch…… but, the roughness was just right, and when it brushed against her fingertips, it was enough to stir ripples.

Du Shanü's hand wandered for a few breaths, and finally she could not restrain herself, opening her mouth to bite his earlobe.

This bite was neither light nor heavy.

The force happened to break the skin of the earlobe, forming a bead of blood.

Chinu felt the pain, his brows slightly furrowed.

Du Shanü took that gradually enlarging bead of blood into her mouth.

The blood bead entered her mouth, and a fishy taste surged up.

Du Shanü merely laughed and said:

"Nu Nu, your good days are still ahead."

This is what Du Shanü thought about for a long, long time after she returned.

After parting from Chen Weifang that day, Du Shanü frequently dreamed of the three moles on Chinu's face.

However, whether it be jealousy, being a suitable wife, or lust, none of these are what Du Shanü expects of Chinu.

Compared to those three, Du Shanü hopes for Chinu……

Blessed.

The pains of the past have already faded with the distant Taizong; Chinu too should have his own days.

The mark on the earlobe is exactly this intention.

Ordinary people with a mole mark on the earlobe are considered blessed.

Chinu has no mole on his earlobe, and that's fine.

Du Shanü will surely add one for him.

The rain outside showed no sign of abating, but the dampness inside had mostly dissipated.

The two lay in a dry, warm blanket, everything so gentle as to be intoxicating.

"Although Afang is the Chief Clerk, he actually holds supreme power in Cang Cheng; with his help, Cang Cheng will henceforth be our base."

"Leitie has not been seen lately; in fact he has been working day and night to produce the Yuan Chong crossbow. Although Cang Cheng has few troops, once we have the Yuan Chong crossbow, it will be like adding wings to a tiger—one person can fight ten or twenty without difficulty."

Du Shanü patiently explained each point:

"The magistrate of Ju Cheng's confusion is clear to both of us; we will first seize Ju Cheng, then advance toward Dun Cheng, and once we control these three cities, we will have a foothold before the chaotic era arrives……"

"And you, good Nu Nu, I will stand there, and you will stand with me—would that be alright?"

Coaxing words, Du Shanü indeed does not often say.

However, this is not merely empty coaxing; it is indeed sincere.

Du Shanü wanted to tell Chinu——

By then, whatever she has, he will have.

So now, there's really no need to be angry with Yu Baobao.

She cannot bear to part with either of them—this is true.

However, Yu Baobao's temperament is indeed not someone who would go south and north to war with her.

If she truly manages to unify the world, then for a long time afterward, it will ultimately still be just her and Chinu together.

Yu Baobao and Chinu—one stays home to keep the house, the other is destined to wander with her for half a lifetime......

These two were never on the same path to begin with—what is there to fight over?

Du Shanü lightly kissed the ear lobe that was red enough to almost drip blood with the tip of her tongue.

Chinu's thoughts were in turmoil, his eyelashes twitched, and the expression in his eyes grew ever more dazed.

He drew a deep breath, then barely regained a shred of his senses, and murmured:

"You, you're good at coaxing people—I can't argue with you......"

"But if you give it to him first, then it's not allowed."

Not only is it not allowed, but from now on they'd better keep one eye open while sleeping, otherwise he'll surely become a raging flood beast and wreak havoc.

After all......

After all, he can't fall behind Yu Baobao his whole life.

Otherwise, this breath of indignation in his chest could never be quelled.

Du Shanü had been savoring the cool fragrance on Chinu's body with rapt attention; hearing this, she almost laughed in anger:

"Sometimes I really don't know how your brain grew."

"Everyone now knows he's my husband, yet you—despite having no title—still......"

Chinu said nothing; Du Shanü's tongue paused slightly, and then she stopped.

Actually, she could also see that Chinu wasn't strict about meat or vegetarian fare—she was the same way.

But Yu Baobao has clearly become Chinu's emotional knot.

Perhaps he doesn't care about who comes first; he just cares whether that person is Yu Baobao.

Yu Baobao is frank; he can openly speak his love and hate for all things in the world.

But there are people in the world whose love and hate are never clear.

Step back for love, step forward for hate.

He followed Yu Baobao across the land, yet he would also contend with him until death do them part......

Du Shanü sighed inwardly, her lips and teeth pausing slightly, then she kissed Chinu's ear again, pulled open his wrist, and laid her hand upon it:

"All right, all right......."

"Then I'll try another way to coax you."

Outside the house, dark clouds clasped the moon.

That night, in the waning watch, the clouds were seen winding around the moon's waist, the moon dampening the cloud's shadow.

The rain poured like gasps, thunder split, and heaven and earth turned white.

The clouds collapsed, the moon slanted.

The lingering thunder rumbled, unwilling to cease.

"Boom——!"

"Hmph."

Outside the window it was already deep night, and another muffled thunder sounded.

Chinu, forced to endure worsened injuries, also let out a sob.

Du Shanü, tired from a day's exertion, had her heart slightly tugged by that great thunder; she withdrew her hand, lightly wiped it on the dry cloth used to wipe her hair, and then murmured:

"The rain outside is so heavy; I don't know whether Afang has received the letter or not—you say....... uh?"

Chinu raised his hand to cover most of his face; redness flushed his lips, a glimmer of moisture hid there, and the veins on his neck stood out starkly—clearly he could no longer hear a thing.

Du Shanü's words, about to be spoken, paused, and her heart softened again.

In the weary night, before she fell into a deep sleep, she smiled contentedly at Chinu and said:

"Little flood beast, you too should have a sweet dream."

?? Actually, this chapter is 'Clouds Playing with the Moon,' but the previous chapter used that..... so I picked a more proper title.

? Nu Nu is now considered half-subdued; everyone can figure it out themselves.