The next day, Tantai Ye returned from the military camp and couldn't find Xiao Chi Zhan. He went to the darkroom and discovered the man lying on the ground, surrounded by wine jars, completely drunk.
He took a deep breath and strode over, kicking him.
"Get up!"
The person on the ground didn't respond, sleeping soundly.
The darkroom was stuffy and pungent with the strong smell of alcohol.
The atmosphere was incredibly eerie. On the bed lay a bloody jade sculpture. Everywhere were cages, torture instruments, branding irons, and wooden frames with chains scattered about, casting a chilling and sinister aura.
Tantai Ye impatiently bent down to pull him up, "Living in a darkroom, you're truly sick. And that jade sculpture, all bloody, what kind of perverted taste is that?"
No one responded to him.
Tantai Ye cursed a few more times under his breath, carrying him out of the darkroom while still grumbling, and dumped him onto the bed in the inner chamber.
"There are envoys from Northern Qi. Is he awake?"
Outside, Li Qiong Yu, dressed in a red robe, strode in.
Tantai Ye casually pulled a quilt over him and said impatiently, "He drank on the floor of the darkroom all night. What good is seeing a ghost?" He paused, then added, "Why would Northern Qi send envoys?"
"I don't understand, you go see for yourselves."
Tantai Ye snorted, "Xie Bei Han, that insidious and cunning fellow. In the Battle of Hongzhou, Mo Bei was the vanguard, and the troops from the other nine prefectures were sent to encircle them. None of the other passes of the nine prefectures were breached."
"Instead, he ordered troops to march on Xingzhou, causing widespread suffering and discontent among the populace. That lunatic is incredibly devious. Sending envoys suddenly, could it be a false offer of peace to scheme against Da Liang?"
Upon hearing this, Li Qiong Yu raised an eyebrow, "I heard General Yang say that the nine prefectures of Northern Qi were attacked by a coalition. The old emperor sent envoys to all the Kyushu nations, and hosted a banquet in Yan Jing to entertain the various states."
"Hah, Northern Qi's military strength is formidable, yet they haven't captured a single pass of the nine prefectures after fighting for so long. The old emperor hosting a banquet for all the nations, isn't that a conspiracy?"
"Anyway, I don't understand. You decide."
Tantai Ye didn't intend to talk further with him. He glanced back at the unconscious person lying on the bed, cursed a few more times, "Damn it."
"The entire area beneath the ice cave has been excavated. The consumption of manpower and resources is immense. This money is enough for me to personally lead two campaigns to Xi Rong."
Li Qiong Yu said softly, "You'd better pray that Ye Luan didn't die in that ice cave. The underwater palace he's building is comparable to our two Da Liang imperial palaces. The cost is enormous, enough for you to fight in Xi Yu five times."
Tantai Ye rolled his eyes upon hearing this, "Hurry up and find someone to make him a sobering soup."
"Fine, I'm destined to worry about you two."
He walked away swaying.
Tantai Ye glanced at the person on the bed, withdrew his gaze, and turned to leave.
As soon as he exited the main courtyard, he saw Lan Mu Rou, dressed in a blue dress, standing in the garden a few steps away. Beside her, a refined and courteous man was speaking to her with his head bowed, his face handsome and elegant, with a gentle smile.
From his direction, he couldn't see Lan Mu Rou's expression, only the image of them conversing pleasantly.
His eyes instantly turned gloomy, and the violence in his heart uncontrollably surged.
"Rou'er."
A familiar voice came from behind. Lan Mu Rou's body stiffened, and she immediately turned around with a gentle smile.
"General."
Tantai Ye strode over, put his arm around her waist, and bent down to kiss her provocatively.
Lan Mu Rou's face instantly turned red. The shame that rose in her heart threatened to drown her.
She instinctively tried to push him away.
Tantai Ye sneered, further tightening his grip on her and deepening the kiss.
"I've long heard that the Great General Who Guards the West is brave and valiant, and acts as he pleases. Seeing you today, it is indeed as rumored."
The man's gentle voice, laced with mockery, echoed through the garden.
Tantai Ye's eyes turned cold. He stopped his actions, held Lan Mu Rou's waist, and looked over with a sneering gaze.
"Someone from Northern Qi?! Which son of Yelü Hong is this? I've never seen you before."
The man cupped his fists and smiled, "I am Yelü Qi. Greetings, General." He paused and explained, "I just came out and got a little lost, so I asked the lady a few questions."
"Lady?!"
Tantai Ye looked at the woman's waist-length dark hair in his arms and smiled insincerely, "This is my wife. People from Northern Qi are truly short-sighted."
Yelü Qi was mocked but did not get angry, smiling faintly, "I didn't know she was your wife, I thought she was some young lady. Please don't mind, General."
"Since you are lost, I will personally escort you back."
Tantai Ye said, releasing Lan Mu Rou, who had lowered her head, and ordered the soldiers behind him, "Send her back."
"Yes, General."
Lan Mu Rou was forcibly sent back to Song Garden. She sat on the soft couch in the inner chamber, thinking about what had just happened. Her eyes turned red, and the tears she had desperately suppressed began to flow uncontrollably.
He had never treated her as a person. In front of others, he could humiliate her at will, do as he pleased, and she didn't even dare to resist.
She was like an animal that could be bullied by him. From the day he brought her back, she had no dignity.
The more Lan Mu Rou thought about it, the more wronged, sad, and helpless she felt.
Her mind suddenly recalled A Luan, who had resolutely jumped into the ice cave. Lately, this insane thought kept circling in her mind, refusing to leave.
"A Yan, what should A Yan do?"
Thinking of her younger brother, she couldn't help but cover her face and cry. How could she be so cowardly, unable to protect herself, and even implicate her family.
She didn't know how long she cried, until her eyes were red and swollen, and she felt a dull ache. She quickly stood up, wanting to find some ice to apply.
But as soon as she stood up, she heard the door open, and a man exuding a chill walked in.
Lan Mu Rou was slightly startled and quickly turned around.
She dared not let him discover that she had been crying.
He was a pervert. The more she cried, the more excited he became. In bed, he often deliberately made her cry.
"Turning your back to me, what? Don't want to see me?"
Tantai Ye walked over with a cold face.
He hadn't even settled accounts with her for the garden incident, and she was throwing a tantrum first.
"Didn't I tell you? You're not allowed to talk to other men, to converse with them. Did you take it all as meaningless chatter?"
He walked up from behind her, grabbed her, turned her around, pinched her chin, and lifted her head.
Seeing her tear-reddened eyes, he was stunned. Then, realizing something, he narrowed his eyes slightly, hugged her gently, and his voice softened a bit.
"What are you crying for?"
Her appearance was too pitiful. He wanted to tear her apart, to make her cry even harder.
He suppressed the stirring within him, gently kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and said softly.
"All men are dirty. They wear the guise of hypocrisy and use the most vulgar thoughts to defile you. You are so good, you will be deceived."