Chapter Nine, the initial formation of the Three Layers of the Heart of the Zither.

Han Chen turned his face away and said, "I can come alone. Do you think everyone is as petty as you?" His tone had warmed considerably.

Every afternoon, she always brought a large jar of ginseng soup to the Xiuzhu Building, having the guards take it inside. The quantity was always too much for Han Chen to finish alone, so naturally, everyone who saw it would get a share. Those who were fed would feel a bit awkward, as Han Chen was known for his ruthlessness. Shen Qi silently praised his own cleverness

Today, Gu is going out. When Ri Hanchen saw Shen Qi at the usual place, he couldn't help but say.

Upon hearing that he wanted her to rest and not worry about anything else, Shen Qi said, "No, that room is so dark and scary, please let me follow you, okay? I promise I won't listen or look, I'll just sit quietly, alright?" Shen Qi probably knew that her request was quite excessive, as Han Chen always acted mysteriously, likely always on guard against her.

The next morning, Shen Qi no longer dared to act spoiled and cling to Han Chen, knowing that he had many matters to attend to and did not like to linger in bed. She thought of how she, Shen Qi, used to be fearless, but now found herself constrained in every way, which could be seen as a form of retribution. Early in the morning, since Shen Qi was excused from paying her respects to Luo and Zhao due to the poor health of the Zhao family, her appetite was quite good.

Shen Qi's walking posture had also become somewhat deformed, and the bumpy journey caused her considerable pain. They arrived at a place called Shitou Town, with the river serving as a boundary, and on the opposite side was Donghua. Shen Qi did not know what Han Chen had come here for, but she did not dare to ask too much or inquire further. Sometimes, not knowing certain things is a blessing.

Shen Qi pouted, always thinking that one day she would make him see her in a new light

When Shen Qi came out after changing into casual clothes, she happened to encounter Qian Er bringing in the meal. Han Chen straightened up, preparing to get up to eat, but was pressed down by Shen Qi, who took the bowl and chopsticks from Qian Er's hands and brought the Eight Immortals Duck, which Han Chen liked, to his mouth.

Han Chan helplessly smiled at Luo Shi beside him, signaling her to go back. Shen Qi glared at her from behind Luo Shi, finding her presence in front of him truly annoying.

Shen Qixin smiled sheepishly, seeing the clothes he had specially bought, and the little bit of unpleasantness in her heart dissipated like smoke. It wasn't that she had forgotten, but rather that she felt it was truly not worth it to waste such beautiful moments on quarrels. "Haven't you eaten?"

Shen Qi walked into the room feeling wronged, the sky was pitch black, and the dim yellow light inside made it feel far less comfortable than the bedroom in the Wang residence. It was yet another unfamiliar place, so quiet that even the sound of a falling needle could be heard. Shen Qi forced herself to suppress the unease in her heart, lying stiffly on the bed with her neck rigid, ready to spring up at the slightest unusual sound.

What did you find?" Han Chen smiled at Shen Qi

As soon as she entered the room, Shen Qi noticed several unfamiliar men engaged in conversation, glancing at her from the corners of their eyes but not daring to look at her directly. During Han Chen's brief introduction, she graciously returned the greeting, exuding an air of dignity and nobility, completely unlike a woman who had just been lying on the ground outside like a rogue.

"Is it possible for me to ride a horse with the prince?" Shen Qi tugged at Han Chen's sleeve, playfully shaking it, making it impossible for anyone to shake her off.

Shen Qi noticed a small room separated by bamboo curtains next to the house, and she automatically walked in. She instructed the servant to add more candles in the room; after the fright she had just experienced, she yearned for light even more, always feeling that the place where Han Chen was seemed brighter. She also asked the servants to move a small couch in the partitioned room to the entrance of the curtain, as if she could borrow some light from the outer room.

"Qian'er, go heat up the dishes and bring them in." Upon hearing Han Chen say the word "madam," Shen Qi felt a sweetness in her heart, which was truly worlds apart from the term "beloved consort."

Late at night, a breeze began to blow outside, and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind resembled the footsteps of someone approaching. Shen Qi exclaimed "Wow" in surprise, feeling that she could never again dare to be alone. In a panic, she grabbed a blanket and hurried to Han Chen's study where he was in discussion.

"And what about me?" Shen Qi felt that this was a profound lack of trust in herself

"I am afraid of ghosts. At any moment, someone might float into that room, and I would be scared to death," Shen Qi said, already with tears in her eyes.

"How did it suddenly come to pass that Sister Luo is in charge of the household finances?" Shen Qi was still brooding over this matter.

"I will be back in two or three days." Han Chen walked out, and Shen Qi followed him, thinking that she was just seeing him off, as she was accustomed to being clingy. It was only when he saw Shen Qi also requesting a horse that he realized this girl intended to follow him.

No matter how hard Han Chan's heart is, he truly has no way to deal with someone so shameless. "Come in."

"I am afraid." Shen Qi, already feeling wronged, was further startled and distressed. The tears were trapped within the frame of her eyes, stubbornly refusing to fall, making her pair of watery, delicate eyes appear even more shimmering and captivating, truly tugging at one's heartstrings

Han Chan stood up to leave, but Shen Qi did not let go of his hand. "Ah, the early spring weather is truly delightful, perfect for a morning stroll," she said, looking at Han Chan with a charming gaze, leaving him at a loss for words. Shen Qi had managed to catch Han Chan; as long as her behavior was not excessively inappropriate, he generally tolerated her.

Once she finished these tasks, she became quiet. She casually pulled a book from the bookshelf in the room, which turned out to be a military treatise. Although she had no interest in reading it, she flipped through the pages as if she were reading. Only when she heard the calmness outside did she begin to engage in low conversations. Although she could not clearly make out what was being said, she immediately recognized Han Chen's deep voice, and upon hearing it, she felt no fear.

This residence does not even have a single maid to attend to them, only a uniform group of young servants. As far as the eye can see, there are gray walls and black tiles, and the courtyard, apart from a few ancient trees, does not even have a single pot of flowers. Shen Qi walked to the room where Han Chen used to stay, which was also exceedingly simple. She had a young servant bring a basin of water, tidied up haphazardly, and then heard Bian Zhuo come to invite her to dine.

Shen Qi was startled for no reason, and her temper flared up. She had always been spoiled by her parents, fearless of heaven and earth. At this moment, instead of seeking out Han Chen to plead again, she directly spread her bedding at the entrance where Han Chen was holding a meeting, sitting alone on the bedding with a pitiful expression. This made those coming and going feel hesitant to enter, awkwardly standing at the corner.

The carriage is not ready yet. Han Chan looked at Shen Qi with a sense of helplessness

Han Chan was both angry and amused, yet he did not refuse. Shen Qi attended to him comfortably, even personally holding the water for rinsing his mouth.

Aren't you unable to ride a horse

Shen Qi considered herself to be one of the smartest among her group of sisters, yet she could not fathom Han Chen's thoughts. He would always give her a slap and then reward her with a piece of candy, coaxing her in this manner. If one were to say he had no feelings for her, his daily warmth and consideration would suggest otherwise, portraying him as a deeply affectionate husband. However, if one were to claim he had feelings, there always seemed to be something separating them, like the shadow of someone else. Shen Qi bit her lip, unsure of what she had done wrong, or what she lacked compared to Mei Ruohan. In terms of appearance and family background, she was not inferior to her in any way.

What are you doing?" Han Chan stepped out of the conference hall, and he was also taken aback when he heard the servant report that Shen Qi was sleeping on the ground at the door

In recent days, Shen Qi has been very quiet, not causing any trouble for anyone. Every morning, he waits punctually in the inner courtyard on the path to the Xiuzhu Building to see Han Chen off to the study. In the end, he also engages in a few conversations with the two guards, getting a rough understanding of the people who frequently visit this study.

Han Chen pushed Shen Qi's hand away and said coldly, "I won't buy it for you, so you won't go buy it yourself?"

It was as if his heart had once thought it was open; he could look at you and maintain a smile, yet that smile never reached his eyes, which only held detachment and impatience. This was also the reason why Shen Qi dared to act so out of line; after all, she obediently listened, and he was already impatient. Why not make this matter truly representative and thoroughly annoy him? With this thought, Shen Qi glared fiercely at Han Chen from behind the curtain, thinking that he would eventually have to face the consequences.

"Madam has not returned home at midnight, which man would be in the mood to eat?" Han Chan did not even glance at Shen Qi.

Shen Qihuan held Han Chan's arm and said, "Have you finished eating, sir? Hurry up and go to the study."

Among those who were watching in the shadows, her captivating and pitiful demeanor had already softened their hearts; they no longer viewed her as a source of amusement, but rather began to share in the grievances against Han Chen's callousness. Speaking of this pitiful charm, while those women who often exuded such allure may seem enchanting, there inevitably comes a day when they become tiresome. In contrast, Shen Qi, with her unparalleled beauty, usually exudes an air of confidence and superiority, and in this moment of vulnerability, she evokes a myriad of emotions, presenting an exquisite beauty that is rich in nuance and depth.

Shen Qi was taken aback by the contempt in his eyes, as if he had long since concluded that she had committed a guilty act. She carefully recalled that there was indeed nothing that would warrant a ghost coming to find her, yet she still felt afraid

Han Chen ruffled Shen Qi's hair, sighed, and said, "There is no need for that; such a beautiful face naturally deserves clothes of good color to complement it."

"Quickly go back." Han Chen's face hardened, and his voice turned cold. Those who had stayed in the residence for a long time would recognize this as a sign of his anger, and they would be frightened. However, Shen Qi completely ignored him. Instead, she intensified her actions by holding onto the door frame, presenting a stance as if she would not leave even if he dragged her away. Her face bore a pitiful expression, and the sorrow in her eyes seemed to blame others for their hard-heartedness, questioning how one could bear to let such a delicate person endure such fright.

If it were left to you to manage, this household would probably be unable to pay wages in just a few days. Han Chen smiled as he pinched Shen Qi's nose.

"Is it that I serve you, or you serve me?" Han Chen wanted to pry open Shen Qi's hand

I am here to attend to serious matters" Han Chan's expression turned cold

The gatekeepers Wang Wei and Guan Lifei both looked on with a sense of reluctance, secretly admiring the prince's resolve. Faced with such a delicate and charming beauty, he was still able to turn and walk away.

Shen Qi sat down awkwardly, burying his head in his meal, fortunately, the food was still quite tasty

Oh, the previous accountant resigned due to personal matters, so I let Huijuan take care of it, as she was accustomed to managing things when she was in Anyang

However, when Han Chan truly brought Shen Qi along, she regretted it. The place they were heading to was not far; they would arrive in a day at a swift pace. Shen Qi felt as if the dust was about to clog her eyes, mouth, nose, and ears, while Han Chan remained fresh and clean. She could not tell if it was her illusion or if he really did not attract dust.

Thus, Shen Qi accompanied Han Chen to the door of the study, and even the doorkeeper had become somewhat familiar with her. Shen Qi bit her lip, forcing a smile as she waved goodbye to Han Chen. Anyone could see in her watery eyes that, with just a gust of wind, tears would surely fall.

Han Chen ultimately did not agree, his heart was hard enough, and Shen Qi's tears truly fell, yet he showed no signs of softening.

Shen Qi let out an embarrassed laugh, but she pressed even closer to Han Chen, drawing a round of muffled laughter from those around them. "Do you have someone outside?" Shen Qi asked softly, rubbing her face against Han Chen's chest.

Han Chen indeed did not respond

How many days does the prince intend to be away? Upon hearing this, Shen Qi became anxious and stepped forward to cling to Han Chen's arm, refusing to let go

Shen Qi pouted, tears welling in her eyes. She now understood that any flattering expression was futile in front of Han Chen; she could only perform for those around her, exerting an invisible pressure on Han Chen. "Sir, it is certainly inconvenient for you to be without someone to attend to you, so I might as well accompany you and serve you."

This is my wife

Shen Qi was not intimidated by Han Chen's somewhat mocking words; she actually wandered around to see if she could discover any clues. However, the facts proved that Han Chen really did not have much interest in women. Shen Qi recalled her fifth brother, who often frequented brothels during her youthful and aloof days, and the image of Han Chen's face resurfaced in her mind, deep in thought

"Let me feed you, it's quite interesting. No wonder the prince enjoys feeding me so much." Shen Qi smiled, her face flushed. She knew that this statement was rather shameless; Han Chen did not actually like feeding her, but was completely compelled by her.

What wrongdoing have you committed that makes you fear ghosts? Han Chen said with a hint of sarcasm

"Go and see if I have a hidden beauty in my golden house, will you?" Han Chen instructed Bian Zhuo to stay behind and take care of things before leaving

Ah, you haven't packed your luggage, and I'm still in a hurry to get on the road" Han Chen propped up Shen Qi's shoulder and pushed her away

After Shen Qi saw Han Chan turn around and go inside, she finally left, pouting. Despite her acting so dramatically, he showed no signs of compassion. However, since the gentleman was afraid of being pursued by a woman, Shen Qi was determined to pursue him.

Manager Lu quickly bent down and performed a bow, allowing their group to enter

Shen Qiru, as if granted a great pardon, jumped up and gave Han Chan a peck on the cheek, leaving those around them dumbfounded, awkwardly turning their heads away. The delicate charm she had just displayed instantly vanished, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun, radiating a brilliance that was almost blinding. In this stillness and movement, in her frowns and smiles, one could experience the extremes of winter and summer, a richness of sensation that would be enough for any onlooker to savor for two days and nights.

"Sir." The person who came to open the door was a middle-aged man with a slight beard, who looked like a shopkeeper with many years of experience. From his obsequious demeanor, Shen Qi felt certain that he must be the innkeeper. Shen Qi had entered this residence through the back door with Han Chen, and from this, she understood that Han Chen's identity here was concealed.

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, just buy it in the past." Shen Qi then clung to Han Chen's arm again, her expression so resolute that one could foresee that if Han Chen were to shake her off and leave, she would definitely cling to his thigh.

Shen Qi was unsure whether to be pleased that Han Chen praised her beauty or to feel disheartened by the other implications in his words. His words seemed to suggest that she was merely a superficial woman who only knew how to buy things to adorn herself, which made Shen Qi unhappy

"After finishing your meal, you should return to your room and rest early, as I still have matters to attend to." Han Chen brushed aside Shen Qiluo's fallen hair, "Why haven't you tidied it up?"

"What are you doing today..." Han Chen was somewhat surprised by Shen Qi's compliance

I will no longer buy such expensive clothes in the future, " Shen Qi assured, why bother arguing over a dress she would only wear once? What she cared about the most was merely Han Chen's favoritism.

The military book was simply too dull; after flipping through two pages, she began to drift off in thought. She sighed inwardly, recalling how she had once been a proud and ambitious woman. Unfortunately, after meeting him, she became indifferent to everything, even resorting to sleeping on the ground, which was truly embarrassing. If this were to get out, she would surely be the subject of ridicule among her friends for a long time. However, she had no regrets, as the thought of Han Chen's helpless expression made her want to laugh; at least she could say she had won this round.

It was only then that Shen Qi remembered that matter, and he quickly smiled foolishly, "I got so anxious that I forgot."

"This is ... ..." The shopkeeper Lu was at a loss as to how to address Shen Qi, as Han Chen had never brought a woman here, and they did not dare to inquire about their master's affairs.