Emperor's Cunning Wife

Brother Long was the most powerful triad dragonhead that invaded almost all countries. He was originally trained gunman and started building a small local gang notorious for robbing jewelries, kidnapping rich businessmen, and exacting huge ransoms. Eventually the small gang turned into a huge criminal syndicate with an empire worth trillions of dollars. Brother Long's crime network expanded to smuggling, contract murder, illegal gambling, narcotics, arm dealings, extortion and almost every crime you could think of. He ruled the countries behind, directing some influential politicians to do his biddings. He was the yellow dragon that swallowed the heavens, Long Huangtian.

"Brother Long." Ning Lou exclaimed recognizing the familiar voice

The man pressed the blade on his hands deeper and streak of read appeared on her neck. The man whispered in a small voice, "I said don't talk." with his raspy breathings.

Ning Lou remained unfazed by his threat. She noticed his discomfort, felt the small tremble of his hands, and smelled the faint iron scent of blood.

The footsteps outside stopped by the room's door because they must have heard Ning Lou's shout. The man tightened his hold of her and stepped back dragging Ning Lou to a corner where the candle's illumination cannot reach. In the midst, his steps faltered and nearly slip. Ning Lou moved wanting to help him, but the man, issued another warning, "Don't move!"

Ning Lou stopped and raised both of her hands at shoulder level to imply her submission.

Knock-

There was a knock on the door and both Ning Lou and the man were startled and immediately slowed their footsteps and breaths simultaneously. The man spun his sight on the neck of his hostage and furrowed his brows. Ning Lou's reaction was out of his expectation.

When the people outside didn't get any response, they immediately looked at each other, and signaled to open the door by force.

"Mother Shen! There are people bringing weapons!" The ladies stood huddled together and were staring at the group of men that barged rudely in every room. The rooms that were intruded were accompanied by scream and curses for disturbing the client's spring time.

Eventually, the commotion reached Mother Shen's room in the top floor. She immediately went down escorted by some male attendants to see what was going on. By the time she arrived, the people around made way for her.

"Mother Shen, I want some compensation!"

"Some people pointed their swords at me, Mother Shen! You better settle this!"

"Alright. Alright. Fix your pants first."

"Who are you people?" When she saw the perpetuators in front of Xiaohua's rooms, her eyes immediately changed. The attendants following her every step looked warily at the intruders.

"What are you doing? Get out! You're disrupting my business!" The angry shout of the Mother Shen disrupted the group of men clad in black attires. There were numerous ladies and male customers dressed messily around.

"An assassin infiltrated your brothel. We're under orders to capture him. Mother Shen should cooperate." Their leader spoke with his sharp eyes roaming towards the sea of faces.

Some men with small courage didn't linger for the show and left the Brothel with fear. The others were curious and stayed few meters away along with the ladies.

"Nonsense, are you implying that that I'm hiding the assassin?" Mother Shen was infuriated when she detected the slight accusation in the leader's voice.

"I'm sure Mother Shen is smart, obstructing an inspection means going against the imperial order. If you don't want to get involve, you better let us search the place." His tall stature and bulge muscles were intimidating along with his scar in the right eye. Some of the spectators flinched and trembled. The tension rose and sparks ignited between Mother Shen and the leader's sides.

Their conversation was transmitted inside the room. The man upon overhearing it stiffened. His current condition won't able to withstand fighting a group of skilled imperial guards after the ambush. His energy was also drained after the chase, and the wound near his c.h.e.s.t was bleeding nonstop. He hasn't been able to tend to it on the way since those people had been very clear in their intentions to kill him.

Ning Lou sensed the blade threatening her was slightly loosened. The breath on her neck weakened as the seconds passed by.

Finally, Mother Shen bit her lip outside and stayed silent. She raised her hand and indicated her escorts to retreat.

"Mother Shen made the right choice." The leader immediately signaled his subordinated to barge into the lock room.

"Search!"

The subordinates nodded and rammed the door.

Ning Lou's heart leaped out at the first bang. She knew that it would only take a few seconds before the door's lock breaks down and Brother Long would get captured.

When the man felt that his back hit the wall, Ning Lou was unaware and hit the wound causing the man to groan in pain.

"Ugh…"

Judging from the spot, Ning Lou had discovered his serious injury and froze. Her eye hardened and she began to form ways to help Brother Long.

"Keep quiet..." She murmured bringing confusion on the man's mind.

His lips opened wanting to question her, but the iron vile rose from his throat instead. A mouthful of blood stained Ning Lou's clothes. His vision blurred but despite his state, he would not let her off.

Ning Lou fisted both of hands witnessing the cracks on the door getting bigger. This won't do. She needed to think quickly a way to let Brother Long escape and get treated.

Just a slight movement from Ning Lou caused the man threatened her again with his blade. Regardless of the owner's condition, the blade still showed the menacing glow when it's about to take its victims' lives.

"Don't think I'll let you go." His voice sounded so weak but the amount of terror it can cause didn't lessen at all.

"I'll help you." Ning Lou whispered as she slowly pointed at the Kang bed where an unconscious figure was sleeping.

"Don't even think about it." He coughed and spouted another mouthful of blood and this time it landed on the floor.

Ning Lou saw that patch of blood splattered and stretched his shoes to rub it off. It was a good thing that the amount was small so she was able to remove the traces.

"What are you doing?" The man didn't understand his actions that always go beyond the normal script that hostages should follow. He was really obedient and listened to whatever he said. He initially thought that he just didn't want to die and carried his words to prevent him from being displease. But now, that shouldn't be the case…

Bang-

The door was being forcefully opened by the second time.

Both of their eyes widened and s.u.c.k.e.d a breath of cold air.

"There's not much time to explain. I'll help you if you let go." Ning Lou started persuading him.

The man seeing he made no other actions transferred the blade on his neck to his back ready to stab Ning Lou any time. He clearly knew that it would not be long before he lose his strength, and the man he held was the only card he could use, but as to how much his importance, he couldn't bet on that. Therefore his free hand fished out some small porcelain inside his clothes, "Open your mouth." Ning Lou obeyed and let the man tossed a pill down her throat.

"What you took was poison I made, which means beside me no one has the antidote."

"Okay." She said one word without any complain or fear.

Something flashed in his eyes, "Move."

She knew his suspicious and cautious personality and therefore complied with his whims. Ning Lou walked to wards the Kang Bed and with the man tagging along. Her raised hands were brought down as she stripped the man on the bed leaving his upper body b.a.r.e.

"Hide under the bed." She ordered and started loosening her belt.

The man narrowed his eyes but nevertheless followed what she said.

He kneeled and squeezed himself inside that small space triggering his wounds. He immediately clamped his mouth to prevent any sounds from coming out.

At the third attempt of blasting the door, it creaked. Ning Lou's movements became faster. She unabashedly stripped her outer robe and untied the fabric on her c.h.e.s.ts. Without the obstruction, the two silky and smooth mountains sprung.

Ning Lou took the white bindings and removed the blood stains on the floor. Finished she threw them under the bed.

Mother Shen's brothel had been a frequented place for high rank nobles and one of the reasons was that every door was made durable to bring her clients assurance from being interrupted.

Thus, despite the two subordinates' combined efforts it took them three attempts to make a progress. At the fourth attempt, the leader lent a hand and finally knocked the door down.

When the door opened, the spring scene inside was revealed to the men. Their blood began to boil, heat gathered at their lower abdomen, and was further ignited by the alluring voice.

"Brother…Ah…be lighter…pain...lighter…"

The figure under the bed was stunned completely not expecting the hostage was a woman.