22: The Yandere Warlord's Substitute Bride 22

Duan Lin still needed some time before he could act, and before that, Wen Yan was willing to give General Fu one last chance.

As long as he was sensible enough to kneel down and say he loved her, and kick Wen Ci out, or even… directly kill her.

Then Wen Yan could ask Duan Lin to be a little lenient when the time came.

Thinking of Duan Lin, she couldn't help but sneer.

She wasn't stupid. That fool actually questioned why she didn't give him all the defense maps. If she gave him everything, what use would she be?

Wouldn't she be kicked aside by him then?

She was no idiot.

So, Wen Yan meticulously planned this 'chance encounter' a few days later.

That evening, she also got General Fu's route from Duan Lin in advance, and then went to stake out the spot.

Wearing an almost transparent gauze dress, she 'accidentally' bumped into his back in the corridor he was sure to pass through.

The man's back was broad and firm.

Wen Yan's heart stirred. Come to think of it, she had never been intimate with General Fu. She wondered how fierce he would be in bed.

It must be amazing to sleep with him.

The moment she bumped into him, a rich scent of powder instantly filled the air. Her fingers, painted with koudan, were about to wrap around the man's lean waist.

"Great Marshal…"

Before she could finish speaking, and before her hand even touched General Fu's waist, she was violently thrown to the ground the next second.

"Ah!"

A sharp pain shot through her, making her forehead seep with cold sweat and her face turn pale.

When she finally managed to see her situation and looked up in horror, she met the man's pair of crimson, icy eyes.

Inside them was astonishing madness and terrifying… killing intent.

"Filthy."

The word was squeezed from between his teeth, carrying a chilling killing intent.

Wen Yan was so scared her scalp tingled. She had never expected General Fu to look at her with such eyes.

This was impossible.

How could this be?

While she was still in disbelief, the military uniform jacket General Fu was wearing, which she had touched, was torn with a "sizzle" and casually thrown to the adjutant who had just arrived. His voice was full of suppressed fury,

"Dispose of it."

The adjutant was stunned. Wasn't this the Great Marshal's favorite jacket?

General Fu's skin felt like it was burning.

He wanted to shoot this disgusting woman, Wen Yan, right now.

But he wanted to get himself clean even more quickly.

Otherwise, he would be unclean.

He would not allow any woman other than his wife to touch him.

Absolutely not.

Absolutely not allow himself to be unclean.

"Prepare water."

When these two words were squeezed from between General Fu's teeth, the adjutant nearly stumbled in fright. The Great Marshal's gaze at that moment was more terrifying than that of a murderer.

*

Steam filled the bathhouse.

General Fu let the running water wash over his body again and again, but that sticky, powdery scent seemed to have seeped into his pores, mixing with Wen Yan's nauseating perfume, screaming in his blood.

"A' Ci…"

He murmured unconsciously, as if this was the only antidote. Only by thinking of Wen Ci's snow-white fingertips, thinking of the cool, clear scent on her body, could he barely suppress the rising nausea in his throat.

After an unknown amount of time, the adjutant reported nervously from outside, "Great Marshal, at this hour, you should be going home. Otherwise, Madam will worry."

"Don't speak."

General Fu suddenly roared, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. He couldn't go see Wen Ci like this, couldn't touch her with another person's traces on him.

That would be sacrilege.

He picked up a towel and scrubbed himself repeatedly, rubbing until his whole body was red and his skin was almost seeping blood beads before he tremblingly stopped.

When he changed into fresh clothes, the fabric rubbed against his wounds, making his eyes twitch with pain.

But this pain reassured him.

Only pain could prove that he was clean again.

He belonged only to Wen Ci.

General Fu returned home somewhat disoriented, and also nervously at a loss.

He didn't know if his wife would despise him.

He stood before the mansion's main gate, uncharacteristically hesitant.

As soon as this thought emerged, the vermilion gate suddenly opened from within.

"Husband."

Wen Ci stood on the steps, holding a Glass lamp. Her long, dark, lustrous hair was loose, as if she had been waiting for a long time. The warm yellow lamplight outlined her smiling eyes, spreading a gentle ripple in the night.

"Welcome home."

Four words, light as a feather.

But General Fu felt like he had been shot in the chest, his breathing stopping for a moment. He had fought battles for half his life, thousands cheered when he returned victorious, but no one had ever stood at the doorstep, specifically to say to him… Welcome home.

In an instant, his heart felt full, a mix of soreness and swelling.

This time, she really waited for him obediently at home.

This was their shared home.

But he… dared not step forward and embrace his wife, who belonged to him.

Seeing General Fu standing still, seemingly unmoved, Wen Ci tilted her head, then actively jumped down the steps and threw herself into his arms.

General Fu startled awake and hastily reached out to catch her. He was afraid his scent wouldn't be pleasant, but his wife, instead, buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath.

In this instant, all the disgust, discomfort, and nausea from being touched by Wen Yan vanished completely.

Holding his wife, he was so happy, so content, feeling as if his entire being was instantly purified.

"Husband smells so good. Did you just take a bath?" Wen Ci lifted her head from his embrace, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

General Fu's eyes welled up, and he was about to confess, but then a bouquet of dewy red roses was placed in his arms.

He immediately froze, unable to utter a single word.

Flowers.

"For me?" His voice was so hoarse it was almost unrecognizable. It took him a long time to speak.

This was the first time he had ever received flowers.

From his wife.

Wen Ci was about to nod, but then she suddenly noticed the glistening in his golden-rimmed glasses.

She gasped and cupped his face, "What's wrong? Who made my husband feel wronged?"

This sentence became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

General Fu suddenly pulled her into his embrace, the roses squeezed between them, their fragrance mixing with his suppressed sobs, "This is the first time I've received flowers, and the first time someone waited for me to come home. I'm truly… so happy."

Seeing him like this, Wen Ci's heart softened. She glanced at the maids who had lowered their heads, then led General Fu towards the room.

Inside the room, candlelight flickered.

Wen Ci was about to speak, but General Fu suddenly knelt before her. The man's tall body lowered like that, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, burying his face in her soft skin.

"Madam," his voice came out muffled, with a rare tremor, "I'm dirty."

Wen Ci froze, her fingertips suspended in mid-air.

General Fu raised his head, his golden-rimmed glasses removed at some point. Those usually sharp phoenix eyes were now red, like a large dog that had made a mistake. His posture, looking up at her, was almost reverent, his Adam's apple slowly bobbing,

"But I've washed myself clean."

He paused, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, "Please don't despise me, okay?"

Wen Ci's heart trembled. She looked down at General Fu, who actually seemed a little wronged and pitiful.

It was truly… endearing.

She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips first touching his prominent Adam's apple, feeling its tension. She traced the line upwards, over his jaw, and finally cupped his chin.

"What happened?" she asked softly, her thumb caressing his tightly pressed lips.

General Fu's breathing clearly grew heavier. He maintained his kneeling posture, "I was bumped by another woman. It was very annoying."

"Very dirty."

He added, then buried his head in her soft abdomen, not continuing to speak.

Wen Ci suddenly smiled.

Wen Ci smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Husband has a Cleanliness?"

He rubbed against her neck, muttering, "Only Madam is allowed to touch me."

Wen Ci's heart softened, and she couldn't resist ruffling his head,

"Okay~"