Chapter 40 : This kiss was very domineering

Cui Yunzhao had never thought of Huo Tan as a particularly meticulous person before. On the contrary, given that they were often apart and their conversations seldom aligned, she had always considered him careless and a bit of a brash soldier, lacking in gentleness and consideration.

But now, as he held her securely in his arms, feeling his heartbeat and hearing his laughter, she suddenly realized that Huo Tan was comforting her in his own way. He was comforting her heart, wounded by past grievances and difficulties with her uncle.

Cui Yunzhao was held in his embrace for a while before she shyly pushed him away. “What are you doing! You’re so dirty and still coming to hug me.”

When Huo Tan heard her lively and energetic voice, he knew she had already regained her spirits. He smiled and released her but kept his hands resting on her back.

Huo Tan looked down at his wife, whom he hadn’t seen for a few days, and felt an indescribable joy and comfort rise in his heart.

It was just so good.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on what was so good about it, but it felt very pleasant and satisfying.

Huo Tan smiled at her, leaned down, and gently tapped her forehead, playfully saying, “I’ve changed my clothes. I’m not dirty.”

Cui Yunzhao glared at him reproachfully. “Why are you acting so strange?”

“I’m not acting strange. I just missed you a bit,” Huo Tan replied straightforwardly.

Cui Yunzhao’s face warmed, and she pushed him gently. Yet, a sweet feeling blossomed in her heart.

It wasn’t the rich, honeyed sweetness or the thick, caramelized sugar syrup, but rather the natural sweetness from fruit subtle, not strong, almost imperceptible.

But it was still delightful.

It made one want to savor it forever.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t remember when Huo Tan had become so smooth-talking.

After speaking, Huo Tan seemed a bit embarrassed. He cleared his throat and let go of her.

“Have the maid prepare hot water. I need to bathe.”

Cui Yunzhao, blushing, went to handle it.

Once the bathwater was ready and Huo Tan had entered the warm room, Cui Yunzhao sat outside, lost in thought.

Mother Xia was nowhere to be seen, and the maids had also disappeared, leaving only the two of them in the main room.

Cui Yunzhao sat for a while, absentmindedly drank two cups of tea, and then heard Huo Tan’s voice from inside “My lady, My lady.”

It was rare for Huo Tan to call her while bathing.

Cui Yunzhao’s eyes flickered with anticipation. After all, she hadn’t seen him in years and wondered if his well-built physique was still as impressive as before.

Clearing her throat, she asked, “What is it?”

Inside the warm room, Huo Tan’s voice was faint.

“Could you bring me something? I’m sorry to trouble you.”

Without attendants to serve him and not wanting the maids to assist him, it seemed he could only ask his wife for help.

Cui Yunzhao blinked, and suddenly all her past grievances and complaints, including the frustration from her uncle’s rebuke, seemed to fade away.

She began to recall how Huo Tan looked covered in water in her previous life.

She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress her excitement, and with a serious face, opened the door to the warm room.

The warm room was small, located on one side of the partition, and could only fit a single-person bath tub.

As Cui Yunzhao entered, her view was immediately blocked by a green gauze curtain. Behind the curtain, mist swirled and steam rose.

Just imagining it, Cui Yunzhao could visualize the vibrant scene.

In these times, beautiful women were rare, and handsome men were equally so.

As she moved around the gauze curtain, she immediately saw Huo Tan’s long black hair spread out.

 He had already washed his hair. His long hair hung down behind his shoulders, wet and reaching to the ground.

Huo Tan was probably so focused on washing that he didn’t hear Cui Yunzhao’s footsteps. He was carefully untying the bandage on his arm.

Cui Yunzhao waited quietly for a moment before speaking, “My lord?”

“Ah!” Huo Tan was startled.

 He subconsciously sat up from the bathtub and put his hand directly into the water, covering his vital parts as if he was being teased by a pervert.

“Wife…”

Whether it was the warmth of the room or the rare embarrassment, Huo Tan’s face turned red.

Huo Tan didn’t even dare to look at Cui Yunzhao.

“Why did you come in without announcing yourself?”

Although he kept his eyes down, his lips curved slightly, and his long lashes formed an alluring arc.

Even though he was a man, the sight of a beautiful person emerging from the bath was still very pleasing.

Cui Yunzhao gave a soft humph. “You called me over, yet you didn’t prepare yourself?”

She and Huo Tan had been married for some time, and his awkwardness seemed deliberate. His current embarrassed demeanor only made his intentions more obvious.

Huo Tan’s embarrassment quickly faded as he heard Cui Yunzhao’s words. He looked up at her with his handsome face, misty with water.

A drop of water slid down his chiseled profile, falling onto his prominent Adam’s apple.

Although he had some stubble now, it did not hide his handsome features, only adding a rugged, carefree quality.

It was a different kind of attractiveness from usual.

Honestly, seeing this scene after many years was still striking.

Though she was reluctant to admit it, Huo Tan’s broad shoulders and firm chest stirred a deep, secret emotion within Cui Yunzhao.

Cui Yunzhao really liked Huo Tan’s well-built physique. At this moment, she even wanted to reach into the water to touch the muscles she had been longing for.

But she only thought about it.

Taking a deep breath, Cui Yunzhao closed her eyes, trying to keep Huo Tan’s attractive appearance from disturbing her thoughts. This man was really shameless. As a high-ranking military official, he was using such a way to seduce her.

Cui Yunzhao adjusted her thoughts and reopened her eyes, regaining her composure.

“What is it that you need, My lord?”

Huo Tan’s eyes showed a flicker of disappointment, but it quickly vanished, and he soon perked up, pointing to a nearby shelf.

“Could you please bring me the razor?”

Cui Yunzhao glanced at the shelf, then went over to pick up the tray holding the soap and razor and brought it to the edge of the bath.

She focused on her task, avoiding looking at the man’s long, exposed body in the bath.

Huo Tan relaxed, resting his hands casually on the edge of the tub, looking up at Cui Yunzhao. He wasn’t lying or just trying to make her happy,he genuinely missed her.

Despite their recent marriage and the fact that they were still getting to know each other, every night when he closed his eyes, he thought of her calling him “husband.”

Cui Yunzhao was very beautiful, but Huo Tan remembered more than just her beauty.

Perhaps Huo Tan’s gaze was too profound, and Cui Yunzhao’s face heated up. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave.”

Suddenly, Huo Tan grasped Cui Yunzhao’s slender wrist. His hand, still wet from the warm water, made her skin tingle with goosebumps.

It wasn’t out of fear.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her gaze, her eyes steady, fixed on Huo Tan’s handsome face.

Huo Tan smiled at her, his grin mischievous. “My lady, would you help me shave?”

Cui Yunzhao narrowed her eyes.

She didn’t resist or scold him for being shameless, she simply gave a half-smile and asked, “Aren’t you afraid?”

Huo Tan looked puzzled. “Afraid of what?”

Cui Yunzhao lightly picked up the razor with her other hand and slowly brought it to his vulnerable neck. The blade glinted with a cold light, clearly very sharp.

Cui Yunzhao smiled and said, “Aren’t you afraid I might take this opportunity to kill you?”

Huo Tan suddenly burst into laughter.

He stretched his neck forward, seemingly fearless. “How could I be afraid of my wife?”

Cui Yunzhao was only teasing him, but his sudden action startled her, making her instinctively pull her hand back. She never intended to harm Huo Tan.

The next moment, she saw the smile flickering in Huo Tan’s eyes.

Huo Tan’s hand, still holding her wrist, gently squeezed, acting charmingly. “My lady, I’m quite tired. Will you help me shave?”

“You’re the best, my wife.”

It was undeniable that Cui Yunzhao felt a bit pleased by Huo Tan’s coaxing. She glared at him, freed her hand, and scolded him. “Smooth-talker.”

But she still put down the razor, fetched a stool, and sat down next to Huo Tan.

“Show me how to do it.”

In her previous life, Huo Tan had never required Cui Yunzhao to serve him in this way, so she wasn’t familiar with it.

Huo Tan pointed to the soap. “Help me lather up the soap on my beard, then shave it off little by little, close to the skin.”

Huo Tan smiled. “My lady is so clever, she’ll probably get the hang of it quickly.”

Cui Yunzhao shot him another glare but then took the soap and began to lather it on his chin.

Her hands were soft, delicate, and gentle.

Huo Tan closed his eyes in contentment.

He murmured, “It’s good to have you.”

Cui Yunzhao replied grumpily, “Don’t talk.”

Huo Tan made a gesture of obedience and remained quiet for a while, but couldn’t help asking, “Wife, do you miss me?”

This time, the response was not a cold snort but the cold edge of the razor.

“General Huo, be careful with your words. My hand isn’t steady. If the razor slips, I might just have to remarry.”

Huo Tan immediately fell silent.

He closed his eyes and relaxed completely, exposing his vulnerable neck to Cui Yunzhao’s razor.

Cui Yunzhao watched his neck carefully for a moment before she began to shave.

Huo Tan’s beard was a bit tough, having grown out over the past few days, forming a stubbly layer. The razor was very sharp, and with the soap’s lubrication, Cui Yunzhao quickly shaved off a small patch.

It was indeed a skill perfected by practice.

In no time, just a cup of tea later, Cui Yunzhao had cleaned up his beard.

She didn’t touch the water in the bath instead, she stood up and wet a cotton towel in the basin next to her. She returned to the edge of the bath and began to gently wipe away the stubble and foam from Huo Tan’s face.

Huo Tan kept his eyes closed, seemingly so comfortable he might fall asleep.

When Cui Yunzhao finished, Huo Tan’s young, handsome face reappeared before her. He tilted his head slightly, opened his eyes, and looked at her. Their gazes met, creating an intimate atmosphere.

Huo Tan reached out and gently held Cui Yunzhao’s delicate chin. With a bit of pressure, he made her unconsciously lean over the edge of the bath.

The steam from the bath surrounded Cui Yunzhao, enveloping her heart.

Huo Tan gazed deeply at her, silent and without a smile. In his profound eyes, Cui Yunzhao could clearly see desire and fiery passion.

Perhaps, since their wedding night, he had wanted to possess her completely.

Cui Yunzhao’s eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly’s wings, stirring emotions.

She tried to turn her head to avoid meeting Huo Tan’s gaze, but the next moment, his scorching lips were upon hers.

This kiss was forceful.

In an instant, the only sound in the room was the quiet splashing of water.

The gentle flow seemed to seep into her heart, nourishing the flowers within. The sound was not loud, but Cui Yunzhao broke into a sweat, overwhelmed by Huo Tan’s embrace and that shook her spirit.

The heat was like a wildfire, igniting the atmosphere in the room.

Cui Yunzhao’s thoughts were disrupted by this sudden kiss.

When she felt a painful tightness in her chest, she softly murmured, “Hmm.”

Huo Tan let out a low chuckle and slightly loosened his hold, whispering near her lips, “Why haven’t you learned yet?”

“It’s happened so many times.”

Cui Yunzhao’s face flushed bright red. She wanted to push Huo Tan away but suddenly remembered he was still in the bath, his chest exposed and covered in droplets of water. She wasn’t sure how to escape.

Huo Tan seemed to notice her hesitation and intensified his actions. His right hand firmly held the back of her head, drawing her back into his domain.

Another forceful kiss made Cui Yunzhao’s heartbeat race.

It felt like an eternity, yet also just a moment before Huo Tan suddenly released her.

Cui Yunzhao sat on the edge, panting heavily.

“Shameless,” she said in a hoarse voice.

Huo Tan’s voice was even softer than before, a mix of suppressed emotions and unspoken satisfaction.

“Thank you for the compliment, my wife.”

Cui Yunzhao closed her eyes briefly. When she composed herself, she looked at Huo Tan’s already damp arm.

There was a piece of medicinal cloth still wrapped around his forearm, which had been soaked and stained with blood, making it look rather alarming.

Cui Yunzhao was not easily frightened by blood. She frowned but didn’t show fear.

“You really don’t pay any attention,” she said, getting up as she walked toward the nearby cabinet. “Where’s the medicine?”

Huo Tan watched her graceful back with undisguised pleasure in his eyes.

“In the drawer below, there’s wound medicine and bandages.”

Cui Yunzhao bent down to retrieve the items and returned to Huo Tan’s side, setting a stool next to him and sitting down.

She carefully unwrapped the medicinal cloth from Huo Tan’s arm and saw a finger-long wound. Although it looked a bit alarming from being wet, it wasn’t very deep and hadn’t reached the bone, so it should be fine.

Cui Yunzhao’s frown remained, but she didn’t show any fear, which reassured Huo Tan as he watched her apply the medicine.

“I didn’t expect you to know how to treat wounds,” Huo Tan said casually.

Cui Yunzhao paused slightly. Her ability to handle wounds came from her previous life, where she had learned military medicine and treated wounds for Huo Tan.

“In the past, when Tingtang was mischievous and fell from a tree, I helped him change the bandages,” she said.

Huo Tan responded, “I didn’t know Tingtang could be so unruly. He’s much more sensible than Yunlang.”

The topic ended there, and Huo Tan quickly changed the subject, asking, “Aren’t you curious about Wu Ping?”

After Cui Yunzhao finished treating the wound, she used a cloth to gently wipe away the water, giving him a casual glance. “Can you talk about it?”

Huo Tan nonchalantly replied, “Why not?”

He continued, “Li Fengnian is truly despicable. Ever since the current emperor took the throne, he’s been convinced that the emperor wouldn’t keep him around. So, in Wu Ping, he has been tyrannical, not only forcibly taking over fifty young women but also letting his soldiers rob nearby villages, gathering wealth to protect himself in case of a crackdown.”

“Do you remember Mr. Zhu mentioning that those bandits were actually soldiers from Wu Ping?”

Cui Yunzhao understood, “So that’s how it is.”

Huo Tan’s tone remained calm, even though Cui Yunzhao was treating his wound, his brows didn’t furrow.

“If it weren’t for the political turmoil in recent years, and the rebellion of soldiers and vassal states in various places, otherwise Your Majesty would have dealt with him long ago.”

This was the reality.

In these times, as long as one had soldiers, everyone felt they could become emperor. With the current emperor overthrowing the former and establishing himself as emperor, other warlords were also tempted to act. Even if they couldn’t conquer large territories, being a king or a lord in their own little realm was quite appealing.

Therefore, in recent years, the court had been in constant turmoil, leaving Li Fengnian, who hadn’t declared himself emperor or king, unchallenged.

“This year, with the wars easing, Li Fengnian’s problems have become more prominent.”

“He’s gone too far. In recent years, Wu Ping has suffered constant disasters. Not only does he fail to provide relief, but he also drives the victims away, allowing soldiers and bandits to seize large tracts of fertile land. In just a few years, Wu Ping’s people have been living in misery.”

Cui Yunzhiao finished applying the medicine to Huo Tan’s wound, then carefully bandaged it with a medicinal cloth.

“So this time, the court is determined to capture him,” Cui Yunzhiao said.

Huo Tan nodded and replied quietly, “Li Fengnian has less than 50,000 men under his command. Most of them only bully the weak and are not a significant threat. In just three days, the Boling Army breached the city. I only got a minor injury because I was leading the vanguard, it’s nothing serious.”

Huo Tan glanced at Cui Yunzhiao and saw that her expression had softened, so he finally relaxed.

He smiled and said, “Although I don’t know why they suddenly reassigned me, it turned out to be a good thing. After all, I’ve earned the first merit.”

Huo Tan waved his right hand and pulled out a wooden box from somewhere.

Cui Yunzhiao instinctively looked over at him.

Huo Tan’s eyes sparkled with a smile, and he was quite focused on Cui Yunzhiao as he spoke.

“I haven’t bought a gift for you since you married me,” Huo Tan said as he presented the box to Cui Yunzhiao. “This time, I managed to bring back a gift for you. See if you like it.”

Cui Yunzhiao was surprised to see this meticulous side of Huo Tan. Even though he was away fighting, he remembered to bring back a gift for her. This thoughtfulness and attentiveness had not been apparent before.

Reflecting on this, Cui Yunzhiao suddenly paused.

Perhaps, it wasn’t that he was never like this.

She recalled that during those years when Huo Tan returned from battle, she always received new jewelry hairpins, earrings, pouches, and sachets. At the time, she hadn’t paid much attention, assuming they were just new stock from the family’s shop. Now she realized that each time she received new jewelry, it was because Huo Tan had returned from war.

Yet, Huo Tan had never mentioned this to her.

Cui Yunzhiao lowered her gaze to Huo Tan’s expectant eyes.

Perhaps, back then, Huo Tan could not tell her.

She had always been indifferent to him, and they hardly spoke. He might have wanted to be kind to her but was afraid of her cold rejection.

That was Huo Tan’s temperament.

He wanted to be kind to someone, and he did so without needing to say it or emphasize it repeatedly.

As long as Cui Yunzhiao wore the hairpins he bought, it seemed to be enough for him.

Such a person.

Cui Yunzhiao sighed inwardly, lost in her memories.

Huo Tan’s eyes showed no signs of disappointment. He continued to hold the simple wooden box, watching Cui Yunzhiao earnestly.

“My lady, what’s wrong? Did you get so happy that you’re speechless?”

Huo Tan even managed a smile.

Cui Yunzhiao came back to her senses, accepted the wooden box, and gave him a faint smile.

“My lord, you truly are unstoppable.”

Huo Tan chuckled softly.

After Cui Yunzhiao finished bandaging his wound, she opened the wooden box.

Inside was an exquisite silver hairpin.

The hairpin was adorned with small pearls arranged in floral patterns, with a touch of red in the center, giving it a wintry plum blossom aesthetic.

The design of the hairpin was very antique and obviously not made with ordinary craftsmanship,it was likely crafted with great care by a master artisan.

Undeniably, Cui Yunzhiao felt a surge of sweetness in her heart.

She gently touched the hairpin, her lips curling into a smile, her voice tinged with a hint of coquettishness, “Why did you suddenly think of buying me a gift?”

Huo Tan saw that her gaze never left the hairpin and finally felt reassured. He said, “Is there a need for a reason to give you a gift? If I see something good, I naturally want to bring it back for you.”

Cui Yunzhiao glanced at him and immediately placed the hairpin in her hair.

“It seems you’ve gained a lot this time.”

Huo Tan smiled and said nothing more.

The water room was stuffy, and Cui Yunzhiao had worked up a sweat. She stood up, pointed to his wound, and said, “Don’t let it get wet. Be careful. I’ll go out first.”

Huo Tan nodded, his gaze following her until she left the water room. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief.

Once outside, Cui Yunzhiao cooled down for a while before sitting at the vanity mirror to carefully examine the hairpin Huo Tan had bought for her.

She had to admit that Huo Tan had a great eye for quality.

The hairpin was meticulously crafted with solid materials, and the dozen or so pearls were round and full, clearly not cheap.

This hairpin must be worth several dozen taels, and it’s the kind of thing hard to find even with money.

The long sea white pearls were rare.

Cui Yunzhiao sat for a while, and soon after, Huo Tan emerged from the water room.

He had already dried his hair but hadn’t tied it up, leaving his dark locks casually flowing behind him, giving him a disheveled and carefree appearance.

Huo Tan, dressed only in his inner garment, immediately downed a large cup of warm tea and sighed in relief. “Finally made it through.”

Cui Yunzhiao then asked, “Have you seen your mother and grandmother?”

Huo Tan nodded, “I informed them when I returned. I’ll go over for dinner tonight and talk more personally then.”

Cui Yunzhiao inquired further, “Do you have any other matters this afternoon?”

Huo Tan shook his head, “Nothing these days. The general gave me some time off, so I can rest for a day.”

Cui Yunzhiao then took a seat at the table and began to explain about Huo Xinzhi. She spoke directly and concisely, recounting everything from start to finish without embellishment. Huo Tan, though, did not react with anger as one might have expected. Instead, his brow furrowed deeper, indicating hidden fury.

After Cui Yunzhiao finished speaking, Huo Tan said, “Thank you.”

“If it weren’t for you, the Wanyan family would have extorted us again.”

Cui Yunzhiao responded, “The Wanyan family is so greedy and malicious. Since they’ve already tricked the family once, they even dared to try for a second time. Their audacity is beyond measure.”

Huo Tan lowered his gaze and poured himself another bowl of tea.

Cui Yunzhiao noticed that in just a few words, Huo Tan had calmed down.

Truly impressive.

Huo Tan’s strong mindset and self-control were remarkable, explaining why he could rise above the ranks of countless military leaders and reach the highest position.

“What do you plan to do, my lord?” Cui Yunzhiao asked.

Huo Tan put down his teacup, clasped his hands together, and looked determined.

At that moment, Cui Yunzhiao even felt as if he had mastered the world.

Huo Tan spoke slowly and firmly, “Those who have done wrong must be punished. Since they’ve repeatedly bullied me, no matter who tries to protect them, it will be impossible.”

Huo Tan declared, “I want the Wanyan family to beg for an apology from my eldest sister.”