In a side hall of the Chen Kingdom's imperial palace, Wang Yan dismissed the maids, and the fragrant Xiao Mei pressed herself against him.
"What did Yang Guang want with you, husband?"
"Since when did you start calling me husband?"
"From now on, in life I am my husband's woman, and in death, his ghost."
"Haven't you heard? Husband and wife are birds in the same forest—when disaster strikes, they fly their separate ways."
"My husband is a man among men. He would never be brought down by something like that."
Wang Yan laughed heartily and wrapped an arm around Xiao Mei. "He wanted me to wrestle a meritorious general to entertain the crowd and add to the drinking."
"Did you win?" Though she had already guessed the answer, Xiao Mei still asked the foolish question.
"Not only did I win, I crushed him. Otherwise, my Consort Xiao would be in Yang Guang's bed right now, begging His Majesty to favor her."
"You're awful. Husband always says such strange things to demean people."
Seemingly displeased, she gave him a light punch. Then Xiao Mei pressed her face to Wang Yan's, parted her crimson lips, and breathed out a fragrant sigh. "Then I ask Your Majesty to cherish me~"
Xiao Mei certainly knew how to spice things up. Wang Yan wholeheartedly approved, and rewarded her accordingly...
Early the next morning, an attendant delivered an exquisite, lavish breakfast. It had been prepared by imperial chefs of the Chen Kingdom under the glaring watch of Sui Dynasty soldiers.
Wang Yan knew because he had previously wanted to sneak over there and steal some fine food and drink. But the soldiers on guard stood with hands on their sword hilts, their eyes wider than the next, watching in every direction without a single blind