Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 473 Will You Marry Me? (10,000 words)
Early morning.

Slightly cool.

The eastern sky was just beginning to lighten, and a milky mist enveloped the ancient city.

Today should be another beautiful day.

The sound of rushing water came from Gao Yang's bedroom. Her usually tied-up black hair was now spread out, and ripples spread across the surface of the bathtub.

With her slender, pale fingers, she picked up a strand of hair, moistened it with warm water, and cleaned away the remaining stains.

With a soft sigh, Gao Yang picked up a soft towel and wiped his chest. His eyes were slightly vacant, his thoughts wandering elsewhere, and he didn't even notice that the water had gotten cold.

Wow.

A snow-white jade leg slowly rose.

Water droplets slid down the smooth, silky skin, creating ripples that collided, merged, and disappeared.

Gao Yang's legs are not slender; on the contrary, they are somewhat fleshy and alluring.

The curves of her legs were exquisite, and her rounded toes resembled freshly peeled grapes, plump and smooth. Under the candlelight, each toe seemed to shimmer with light, perhaps due to the water stains.

Toenails are trimmed daily, so they don't look rough.

The chubby little toes give off a playful vibe.

Suddenly, a strange thought popped into Gao Yang's mind: Does Song Yan have some kind of special fetish for her feet?

Then, suddenly, Gao Yang's face turned even redder. She shook her head frantically, trying to suppress the chaotic images that were flashing through her mind... For a pure young woman, such memories were ultimately somewhat shameful.

Ah ah ah ah ah……

Crazy, must be crazy.

Gao Yang was on the verge of a breakdown.

Even though some time had passed, she still couldn't calm down. She couldn't understand why she, who had received the most orthodox etiquette education since childhood and was always well-behaved, and who had not consummated her marriage for several years and was celibate, would do such a thing yesterday.

Song Yan held her wrist.

Is it truly impossible to break free?

Or perhaps, they are also hoping for something in their hearts?
The more Gao Yang thought about it, the hotter his body felt.

Unable to bear it any longer, Gao Yang simply submerged his entire body underwater with a gurgling sound.

Glug glug glug...

Bubbles began to rise from the water.

Holding her knees with both hands, she let her body float and sink in the water.

He only emerged from underwater when he was almost suffocating.

call.

A cool breeze blew in through the cracks in the doors and windows.

Gao Yang shuddered, and a layer of tiny goosebumps appeared on her fair skin. Only then did she realize that the water had already cooled down.

Eh!
With another sigh, Gao Yang stood up, her fair feet stepping over the edge of the bathtub and onto the floor again. She dried herself with a towel, picked up a gauze dress, the thin fabric clinging tightly to her fair skin and outlining her exquisite figure.

Her hair was wet, with water droplets clinging to the ends and slowly falling down.

Put on white socks and embroidered shoes.

Pushing open the door, the cool breeze of the early morning rushed in, and Gao Yang felt much more awake.

The sky was still overcast.

Footsteps echoed in the wind. Looking up, Gao Yang saw Song Yan slowly emerging from the morning mist. He tensed slightly, then relaxed, trying to appear as if nothing had happened.

Song Yan felt a little embarrassed. She looked up and saw Gao Yang, who had just bathed, looking like a lotus emerging from the water, beautiful and elegant. Usually, her black hair was always tied up, which was dignified and graceful, but now her dark hair was hanging down like a waterfall to her waist, which made her look even more beautiful.

Occasionally, a morning breeze would blow by, ruffling Gao Yang's damp hair and causing his eyelashes to flutter rapidly, betraying his flustered state of mind.

Song Yan knew what had happened the night before, which was extremely shameful for a woman, especially since this woman was a widow. Even though he felt embarrassed, he was a man.

Taking a deep breath, Song Yan finally spoke slowly: "Last night... I'm sorry."

"And thank you."

"If it weren't for you, I would probably be dead."

The sound spread in the wind.

For some reason, upon hearing Song Yan's words, Gao Yang's face paled slightly for a moment, and her slender fingers unconsciously clenched... What did he mean? Did he only feel gratitude for saving her life? A slight smile played on her lips, and the expression on Gao Yang's face was indescribable, as if carrying a broken beauty:
"...It's alright. You've saved me twice before, so saving your life is just repaying a debt. Cousin, don't worry about it..."

"Will you marry me?"

Suddenly, Song Yan spoke up.

crunch.

Gao Yang, who hadn't even finished speaking, was startled by Song Yan's abrupt remark, his voice catching in his throat. The composure he had been maintaining crumbled instantly, his eyes filled with panic, darting around erratically.
"What are you talking about? Are you trying to take responsibility for what happened yesterday?"

Song Yan smiled and shrugged: "Take responsibility? After something like this happened, we should naturally take responsibility."

Gao Yang's face turned even paler, and she bit her lower lip hard with her pearly teeth, her expression looking somewhat sad: "Is it just because of this? I thought... perhaps you liked me a little too."

She was a woman who had been married once before; she knew better than anyone how tragic a marriage without love was. If Song Yan was only proposing to her out of a sense of responsibility, Gao Yang would rather live a lonely life forever.

But why did hearing Song Yan's words make me feel so depressed? Perhaps, deep down, I do have some feelings for this cousin-in-law?
It's really painful when your feelings for someone aren't reciprocated.

But when exactly did I fall in love with this man?
Gao Yang felt somewhat confused. She couldn't quite remember whether it was to save her from the bandits or to risk offending the Fang family and bring her to Pingyang, away from the vortex of Songzhou.
Was it because she was betrayed by her mother and about to be kidnapped by those wolf cubs of the Xiongnu, but Song Yan suddenly appeared and nipped all the danger in the bud? Or was it because she heard the words: "If I want to marry Gao Yang, who can stop me?"
Sure enough, no matter the time, a hero rescuing a damsel in distress is always the easiest way to win a woman's heart.

Gao Yang knew that she had probably fallen in love with this man a long, long time ago, but because of their respective statuses, she carefully hid these feelings in her heart until Luo Tianxuan ruthlessly tore off her disguise, and only then did she begin to face the emotions in her heart.

But the first time she truly fell in love with a man in her life, she lost so miserably.

My vision is a little blurry.

Only then did Gao Yang suddenly realize that his eyes had become moist without him noticing.

Song Yan was deep in thought, each breath seeming to drag on endlessly. Just when Gao Yang felt his mind was reaching its limit, Song Yan finally spoke slowly:

Before this, I just thought you were very beautiful.

"I had no other thoughts in my mind."

"But now... I've really started to like you."

I've fallen for you.

It seems to be a woman's nature to always find the sentence she most wants to hear in a long passage.

In an instant, Gao Yang's tense body relaxed abruptly, and two lines of clear tears rolled uncontrollably down the corners of her eyes. She didn't understand why this was happening. Her feelings had been reciprocated, which was clearly something to be happy about, so why couldn't she control the tears in her eyes?

Perhaps it's because this is the first time in twenty years that someone has told her they like her?
Her father never said it.

Mother, she never said that.

Even her previous husband had never said that.

The gray sky, thick fog, and surrounding silence gave Gao Yang courage, allowing her to do things she would never have dared to do before. She opened her arms and, like a swallow nestling in someone's arms, threw herself into Song Yan's embrace. Her lotus-root-like arms tightly hugged Song Yan's waist, as if afraid that this was just a dream... When she let go, the dream would end.

Song Yan's body stiffened slightly, and after a few breaths he raised his arm and embraced Gao Yang's soft, full, and elastic waist.

This woman is truly a vixen.

My whole body felt soft and limp.

"In a couple of days, after I've settled things in Pingyang City, I need to go back to Dongling," Song Yan's voice rang in Gao Yang's ears.

The hot breath fell on my ears, tickling them.

"Then you can come back with me."

"Although Princess Fu has done some bad things, she is still your mother after all."

"We still need to go through the motions in front of Princess Fu, so that people won't say you're unfilial or that we don't know the rules."

Gao Yang felt a warmth in his heart.

I never expected that Song Yan had considered things so thoroughly, and even traveled thousands of miles back to Dongling for my sake.

The little head buried in Song Yan's chest nodded gently and hummed in agreement: "I'll leave everything to my cousin."

Song Yan blinked: "Still calling me cousin?"

Gao Yang, somewhat bewildered, lifted her head from Song Yan's embrace and tilted her little head: "Then what's called... husband?"

hiss.

Song Yan's body trembled violently. She had to admit that Gao Yang's current appearance was incredibly cute.

Despite Gao Yang's long hours of work last night, Song Yan felt a burning sensation in her chest and abdomen at this moment.

This restorative ability is simply unparalleled. I wonder if it's due to the Golden Kidney Elixir or the effects of the "Hundred Flowers Precious Mirror."

Gao Yang's face was also flushed, clearly feeling the abnormality in his lower abdomen. The mist in his eyes became even thicker, and his heart was pounding in his chest. Didn't the old woman say that ordinary men usually need to rest for a while after one time, and after two or three times they might be a gentleman all day long? But what's wrong with my husband?
How come he's still so energetic?

Is that human being?
Her full body shifted slightly in Song Yan's arms, as if struggling: "Husband, I...I want to wait until our wedding night..."

"If my husband is in pain, I will... I will use other methods."

The sound was like that of mosquitoes.

Gao Yang had a premonition that if Song Yan persisted a little more forcefully at this moment, she might give up resisting and let Song Yan do whatever he wanted.

He looked down at the woman in his arms—she was a vixen!

Song Yan took a deep breath, circulated his inner energy, and suppressed the restlessness in his heart. Even without being actually whipped, Song Yan knew that Gao Yang was exhausted last night, and to still demand more at this time would be too beastly.

With a smile, Song Yan's fingers slid down Gao Yang's soft hair: "It's alright, I like it too if you have this idea."

Gao Yang nodded obediently.

In the morning mist, soft sounds drifted on the wind.

On a rooftop, two people were also whispering to each other.

There were two women: one tall and slender, wearing a white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), exuding an ethereal beauty; the other voluptuous and graceful, wearing a long black dress, captivating all who beheld her.

"You drugged them yesterday?" Hua Lianyue stretched lazily, yawned, and was still a little sleepy despite waking up early. Her life used to be very regular, but ever since she started following Song Yan, she had become increasingly lazy.

Luo Tianxuan smiled and shook her head: "How could I give my husband such a thing?"

"I originally just wanted to create some opportunities for my husband and cousin to spend time together, but I never expected it to turn out like this. My cousin has really come to her senses."

"Good."

"There's no need to trouble you with arranging the rest."

Hua Lianyue looked at Luo Tianxuan with a strange expression: "You are such a strange person. This is the first time I have ever seen someone like you, constantly trying to matchmake her husband with other women."

"Having you as Song Yan's legal wife is probably the luckiest thing in his life."

This wasn't Hua Lianyue's flattery.

With Luo Tianxuan as the matriarch, no matter how many women Song Yan has in his harem in the future, they will likely live in harmony and happiness.

For some reason, Hua Lianyue could vaguely see a hint of imperial grace in Luo Tianxuan.

Luo Tianxuan just smiled. Was her husband lucky? She didn't think so. On the contrary, in Luo Tianxuan's heart, meeting her husband was the greatest luck of her life.

He looked a little further away and said, "Someone's coming."

Song Yan and Gao Yang had already sat down in the pavilion. After a few moments, Song Yan heard footsteps and looked up to see a figure appearing and disappearing in the gradually dissipating morning mist.

The distance has decreased again.

It was Liang Qiaofeng.

Perhaps because of Song Yan's previous reminder, Granny Liang was no longer as slovenly and filthy as before. She had changed into a silk dress, and even her messy white hair was neatly combed. Her face was clean and free of grime.

The only thing that remained unchanged was his gloomy aura.

It was even more sinister than before. The gorgeous clothes paired with the wrinkled face always reminded Song Yan of those old women in Qing Dynasty dramas who would prick people with needles.

His eyes were deeply sunken, perhaps because he hadn't rested all night, and his face showed a slight fatigue.

But their eyes were filled with excitement, and an almost uncontrollable madness. The two of them were still alive and well, without any missing limbs, and still pretty young girls. The deepest impulse in their hearts to destroy beauty was satisfied like never before.

In short... it looks even more perverted.

"I've met the Marquis."

"I've met the princess."

Granny Liang first bowed respectfully.

His voice was hoarse, as if his vocal cords had dried up.

Song Yan felt a chill run down his spine. He cleared his throat and asked, "What did you find out?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, those two little vixens have confessed honestly after this old servant's interrogation. They did indeed come here with a mission," Granny Liang said with a smile. "Their mission is to do everything in their power to get into Your Excellency's bed, and if the opportunity arises, to subtly sow discord between Your Excellency and Princess Tianxuan."

"At the same time, we must also record who the Marquis met and what he said."

Song Yan was overjoyed. Sure enough, as long as Granny Liang took action, there was no mouth that couldn't be pried open.

But, climbing into your own bed?
Just how much does Kong Nianhan despise himself?

Does he really think he can be interested in just any woman?

Those two women, though somewhat attractive, were far inferior to someone like Gao Yang.

"Is that all?"

Granny Liang nodded slightly: "That's all for now. The most important task for those two women is to gain the Marquis's trust and favor. As for the subsequent tasks, someone will convey them when the time is right."

"However, Granny Gui once told me that Prince Fu and Princess Fu both envied the black-armored soldiers under the Marquis's command, and envied the armor and weapons forged from refined steel. So if this old servant's guess is correct, Kong Nianhan should want to use these two women to obtain the formula for refined steel."

Song Yan nodded.

Luo Yuheng once said that the Prince of Fu wanted the military power in his hands.

It's likely that after failing to seize military power, he turned his attention to the steelmaking method, preparing to secretly build his own Black Armored Warriors.

Moreover, with the end of the war between Pingyang and the Xiongnu, the news of the thunderclap will surely spread.

Among the things that Prince Fu and Princess Fu want, there may also be the recipe for the Heaven-Shaking Thunder.

Gao Yang's expression turned somber, and a hint of apology flashed in his eyes.

She had just confirmed her relationship with Song Yan when her father and mother tried to use her to undermine Song Yan's foundation, which made her feel very uncomfortable.

Song Yan didn't say anything, but patted Gao Yang's hand to comfort him.

Meanwhile, they awaited further reports from Granny Liang.

Sure enough, after a brief pause, Granny Liang spoke again: "Granny Gui is seeking death."

Gao Yang's eyes flickered, but she ultimately didn't say anything more. The moment Granny Gui tried to take her away, the feelings between the two of them ceased to exist.

"However, Granny Gui is the most formidable person I have ever dealt with. She endured for two whole months before finally breaking down and offering to exchange a message for her death."

Song Yan raised an eyebrow: "What news?"

Granny Liang turned her gaze to Gao Yang and slowly said, "Princess, you are not the only daughter of Prince Fu."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, his expression changed drastically, and his dark eyes widened suddenly.

Granny Liang nodded: "Princess, you heard me right. Besides you, Prince Fu has other children. According to Granny Gui, there should be quite a few."

"in addition……"

As she spoke, Granny Liang's expression suddenly turned extremely strange: "Prince Fu doesn't only have Princess Fu as his woman."

“And Princess Fu is not actually your... real mother.”

hum!
In an instant, Gao Yang felt as if a thunderbolt had struck him, and his mind was buzzing.

The expression on Gao Yang's face could no longer be described as shock or fear.

He was completely frozen in place, unable to move.

This...how is this possible?

The "mother" I've called for twenty years turns out to be not my real mother?

Then who is her real mother?

Not to mention Gao Yang, even Song Yan was somewhat surprised.

"Is the news accurate?"

Granny Liang shook her head: "I'm sorry, my lord, I cannot guarantee anything about this news."

"Granny Gui used this message as payment in exchange for me giving her a chance to die. I promised her I would consult with the Marquis. If I couldn't kill her, Granny Gui said that all the information she provided from now on would be lies."

Song Yan let out a heavy sigh: "I agree to her request."

Just then, Gao Yang trembled, as if she had finally come to her senses. She suddenly raised her head and stared straight at Granny Liang with her large eyes: "Then who is my real mother?"

"Where are you?"

"Is he dead or alive?"

(End of this chapter)