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墨書 Inktalez
The Shangguan Residence was much quieter at night than during the day.
Cheng Mo Su spread a pile of paints on the table, her clear eyes focused intently on the canvas. Shangguan Shaoyi quietly approached her, watching her beautiful face illuminated by the soft yellow light. Cheng Mo Su paused her brush, a smile appearing at the corners of her lips as she looked up at him and said softly, “You’re back? Have you been away for days? Are you hungry? I can have the kitchen prepare something.”
“No need.” Shangguan Shaoyi wrapped his arms around her from behind, inhaling the fragrance of her dark hair, teasing her earlobe. “It’s not easy to come back; I just want to see you.”
She felt a rush of warmth from his touch, causing her hand to tremble and the brush to draw a long curve on the canvas. Flushing, she quickly pulled away from him and said in a gentle tone, “I’m still painting; look what you’ve made me do.” He chuckled and turned his gaze to the painting. Indeed, what was once a beautiful landscape now had an awkward long curve added to it.
“You still have the nerve to laugh,” Cheng Mo Su glared at him playfully as she prepared to put away the painting. However, Shangguan Shaoyi held her hand, stopping her movement with a raised brow and a smile. “Don’t rush; there’s still a way.” He casually dipped his brush in ink and lightly sketched on the rice paper. In an effortless stroke, that long curve transformed into a winding stream, adding a unique charm.
Cheng Mo Su's eyes widened slightly; what was once a mistake had instantly become the highlight of the painting. Her heart fluttered as she picked up the brush again, mixing colors and applying strokes. With a few delicate touches, she added the glow of sunset to the mountains and rivers depicted on the canvas. The two exchanged satisfied smiles over their work.
“Tomorrow night is the engagement banquet,” Shangguan Shaoyi said affectionately as he looked at her. “I have to return to headquarters tonight and will be inspecting troops early tomorrow morning. I won’t be back until afternoon. If you’re too busy, go find your sister; I’ve already spoken to her, and she’ll help you.” Cheng Mo Su smiled back, surprised to see Shaoyi so talkative. Shangguan Shaoyi seemed to understand what she was thinking; he turned around and hugged her, lovingly ruffling her hair.
After a while, the beauty in his arms softly replied, “Okay.”
Shangguan Shaoyi returned to headquarters for a short nap before dawn broke and went out to review the troops. He was busy until noon when he finally had some time to eat and rest.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached rapidly. Shen Mingliang was so flustered that he forgot to salute, tightly clutching a newspaper in his hand. Shangguan Shaoyi frowned, sensing an ominous premonition in his heart as he asked, “What’s got you so panicked?”
“Major General, I can’t read but I heard today that women and children in the streets have been discussing this matter endlessly. There’s even a humorous poem that seems to have spread throughout Feng Province overnight; even children can recite it.” Shen Mingliang handed over the newspaper with an anxious expression.
The newspaper featured a photo of Mu Su smiling gracefully and elegantly while he appeared stern and resolute beside her. The photo was well taken; it seemed that Wu Jing hadn’t been exaggerating. However… his brows furrowed tighter as his lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze fixated on that humorous poem.
The beauty of the national colors captivates the city, and the charm and grace intoxicate with laughter. The young heroes are idle, while the lives of the common people are at stake.
His pitch-black eyes were filled with chilling coldness, his fingers cracking as he read on. The following content was even more absurd, claiming that he was bewitched by Cheng Mo, and that Commander Jiang intended to arrange a marriage with him. Yet he insisted on fighting, disregarding the lives of the people.
"Hmph!" He scoffed disdainfully, tossing the newspaper aside, his eyes blazing with anger. "Nonsense." A few days ago, Commander Jiang from the south had indeed sent someone to propose a marriage; he had refused, and Commander Jiang had not brought it up again. He thought it was over, but unexpectedly, there was such a huge pit waiting for him to jump into.
"Young Marshal, what is going on?" Shen Mingliang was baffled.
Shangguan Shaoyi clenched his fists tightly, his body tense, his cold gaze fixed on the mangled newspaper. "That old fox Jiang Shaohao deliberately staged this. I am now in a dilemma; if I marry Mo Su, it will surely incite public outrage. If I do not marry her, she will inevitably be heartbroken, and over time, a rift will form between us."
Shen Mingliang's eyes widened in anxiety. "What should we do? It's neither advancing nor retreating. But what exactly does Jiang Shaohao want?"
"His goal is to make me marry his daughter. Upon reflection, if I do not marry her, he suffers no loss; after all, he has already tarnished my reputation through this matter. If I marry her, I will inevitably be criticized for it later on, allowing him to control me better." A fierce light flashed in Shangguan Shaoyi's eyes. "Well then, Jiang Shaohao, you are the first one to dare to scheme against me, Shangguan Shaoyi!"
"Young Marshal, what should we do now?"
Shangguan Shaoyi's expression darkened as he glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. Closing his eyes briefly, he said in a deep voice, "Everything remains as usual; time is running out. I cannot let Mo Su wait anxiously. Prepare the car; we are going home."
"Understood!" Shen Mingliang complied and left. Shangguan Shaoyi adjusted his mood; these matters should not be disclosed to Mo Su just yet. He feared she would not be able to bear it. The anger within him was about to erupt; Jiang Shaohao had crossed his bottom line, and he must make Jiang Shaohao pay a heavy price!
Shangguan Shaoyi stepped forward and boarded the military vehicle. The moment he grasped the steering wheel, he suddenly felt another invisible force at play. Things... were far from simple...
If only...
The veins on his temples throbbed, and his rough hands seemed ready to crush the steering wheel. Jiang Shaohao had navigated the world for many years, relying not only on his own intelligence but also on the full support of his wife from the Jiao Family. With both a think tank and financial backing, he was able to use this as leverage to rise to prominence. Therefore, it was impossible for Jiang Shaohao to simply publish these gossip articles in the newspaper without a purpose; what he sought to leverage was...
He coldly squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth, "Deputy Officer Shen, do the citizens in the city have any actions?"
"Huh?" Shen Mingliang scratched his head in confusion and said, "I don't know either."
Shangguan Shaoyi's gaze fixed straight ahead. If students, women, and merchants all began to protest against his marriage, he would indeed be at a loss. In other words, he had become a fish on the chopping block, left to be slaughtered?
Shangguan Shaoyi pressed down on the accelerator, and the military vehicle sped away. His eyes were sharp; he believed he could come up with a countermeasure to resolve this issue. As long as he was given a little time to think and breathe, he could prevent this situation from escalating before it erupted.
As soon as the vehicle left the command center and entered the main street, he saw the scene he least wanted to witness.
Groups of citizens dressed in various colors held up large banners and marched forward, speaking passionately. Leading them was none other than the cheerful Xia Yixiang.
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