Chapter 5, Why does the master say there is little money

Shen Qi casually remarked while holding a telescope, "Why haven't I seen your family’s Du San Shao today?" Before Shen Qi got married, she loved to tease the Du family, as she became closest to Du San Shao after their marriage. What Shen Qi initially looked down upon was the Du family's subservience to Du San.

Shen Qi could not help but smile broadly

Shen Qi felt a tickling sensation from the breath exhaled by Han Chen, and she slightly squirmed, but he held her even tighter. Although she felt uncomfortable in her heart, her body was soothed; yet, she still remained silent.

"Let me see that vixen." Du's silver teeth were about to be crushed, and the rims of his eyes began to redden

The Huang and Su families around also began to stir, "Oh, that woman looks so familiar, quite like someone we know."

"After all, they are newlyweds, unable to be apart for even a moment." Du said with a pout, "I never expected you to be in this situation today. Who was it that made a strong statement back then, saying that once married, they wouldn't let a man lead them by the nose?"

Han Chan shook his head, saying, "It is hard to say, I just fear that others might wear this garment and tarnish the intentions of my beloved consort"

The two of them dawdled and finally made it out the door. By the time they arrived at the Mei residence, someone was already there to greet them. "Oh dear, why has my esteemed aunt arrived so late?" The first to approach was the legitimate granddaughter-in-law of the Lanling Du family, also a member of the Flower Society. After speaking, she glanced at Han Chen, covered her mouth with a smile, and bowed slightly.

Shen Qi felt secretly pleased as she saw everyone retreat. She had long anticipated that Han Chen would ultimately be the one to compromise. While she was delighted internally, her expression grew increasingly cold and frosty.

"This is Lin'er. Her brother obtained a treasure from a Persian merchant," Huang said, pursing his lips.

Shen Qi felt both shy and soft, unable to offer even the slightest resistance, and could only be bullied by him in such an embarrassing position. It was only at the end that she was breathlessly carried to the bed by him. Shen Qi thought that Han Chen usually appeared gentle and refined, but when it came to matters of the bed, he was overly domineering, decisive, and left her with no room for resistance or negotiation.

The master can no longer heed Qian'er’s words. Qian'er reflects that, as an observer, the prince's feelings for her master do not compare to her master's feelings for him, not even by half.

"Hurry up, there are new things for you to play with." Du pulled Shen Qi away, disregarding Han Chen. This was simply because male guests did not usually mingle with female guests. Although Han Chen held the esteemed title of prince, the influence of the Xihua family was weak, and even the emperor's name held little sway in this Lanling city. Much less for him, so Du did not genuinely harbor any respect for him.

Oh. Han Chen's tone rose at the end

Hurry up and change, or it will be too late" Han Chen urged

Qian'er glanced at the bed curtain and said, "No, my lord is feeling a bit unwell." Qian'er lowered her head and retreated to the outer room. When she first met Han Chen, she found him warm and amiable, often smiling and without any airs, thinking he was an easy person to get along with. Now she realized that she did not even dare to look into his eyes, feeling a deep-seated fear of him.

Du said proudly: "This is called a telescope. With this, you can see faraway places." As she spoke, she demonstrated to Shen Qi how to use it

Han Chan did not stop his footsteps and directly walked out the door

Isn't it said that there are new and fresh items? The gatherings that used to excite Shen Qi have long lost their former vigor; now, all she desires is to be with Han Chen, never wanting to be apart.

"Who said that? Those who need to go out should go out." Shen Qi quickly released Han Chen's ear

Shen Qi nestled in Han Chan's embrace, recounting the matters of the accounts office to him. During the conversation, she did not hesitate to embellish the story, describing how the accounts office had squandered money and how they had shown her a lack of respect. In any case, she aimed to twist the concept of "reason" to her own advantage.

"You are such a big shot." Shen Qi turned around and shot a glance at Han Chen, "Is the bed in the study comfortable to sleep on"

Shen Qi had long been accustomed to Du's loud and boisterous demeanor. "I felt a bit unwell this morning, so I arrived late." Shen Qi had already prepared her excuse, and as she finished speaking, she cast a sidelong glance at Han Chan, whose eyes held a smile that only she could understand

"Who said that? You go and have the kitchen prepare some dishes and bring them to the room. I don't want to have a meal with him." Shen Qi frowned and pouted.

"I won't eat." As soon as Shen Qi saw this, he knew that Han Chen was indirectly refusing. Anger surged within him, feeling that Han Chen did not care about him. Once the matter escalated, even trivial issues could seem as heavy as a mountain or as deep as the sea.

Shen Qi buried her head back under the quilt, no longer paying any attention to Qian Er. However, Qian Er's words left her with a slight sense of alarm. Shen Qi felt that she indeed could not bear to hear Qian Er speak ill of Han Chen, always thinking that her resentment stemmed from being rejected by him. Yet, she could not help but worry, what if this was Han Chen's deliberate intention? Shen Qi quickly shook her head, believing that Han Chen was certainly not a person of such deep scheming; even if he were, he would never use it against her.

"Why are you blushing so much?" Han Chen suddenly cupped Shen Qi's face

Upon hearing what Du said, Shen Qi understood and felt a slight blush on her face. She had not considered that having a child would come so soon; however, if she could have a child with him, it would indeed be a joyful event. Thus, Shen Qi looked at Han Chen with some anticipation, only to find him lost in thought.

Han Chan showed no reaction upon hearing this, "Do you know that this 1,000 guan is enough to cover the monthly allowances for dozens of people in the entire government for a year"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Women should not enter the study, which is a place of great importance. Today, I have overstepped my bounds," Shen Qi said, propping herself up and frowning.

Shen Qi was somewhat surprised as she lifted her head from Han Chen's embrace. In her view, a garment costing one thousand guan was not a significant matter; she had worn even more expensive items. Back when she wore the latest feather dresses made by Bai Niao, she had not even blinked at the price of ten thousand guan for a single piece. However, it left Shen Qi feeling somewhat uncomfortable that Han Chen, as a prince, placed such importance on one thousand guan. Han Chen's fief comprised twenty-five thousand households, along with several estates, and Shen Qi certainly did not believe he would be short of money. Yet, it still felt strange to her that Han Chen, as a prince, regarded one thousand guan with such weight.

"As long as you smile, I still have a gift for my beloved to express my apologies." Han Chen turned around and called for Bian Zhuo, who appeared with a swoosh, holding a box in his hands

"Have you found out where he went?" Shen Qi felt somewhat anxious, as this was not a good omen

But I just like that piece of clothing Shen Qi began to act spoiled

"Master, are you really not going to the Plum Blossom Society with the prince? If you don't, won't everyone know that you and the prince are not on good terms?" Qian'er was somewhat concerned about Shen Qi's reputation

Qian'er moved her lips, but ultimately did not make a sound. However, she was clear in her heart that family scandals should not be aired in public, and Shen Qi's actions were not necessarily appropriate.

The leaves had already been used by them to stave off hunger

"It is not being led by the nose; I estimate that even if the prince does not lead you by the nose, you would still follow along." Du was rarely able to seize the opportunity to make fun of Shen Qi

"Let's go, Qian'er, what are you dawdling for? The plum blossom banquet is waiting for me to host it." Shen Qi said impatiently

"Where have I been led by the nose?" Shen Qi stubbornly refused to admit it

When Shen Qi saw him turn back, his expression returned to what it used to be. She felt a sense of relief and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Of course it's your fault, all your fault."

Shen Qi took the long iron rod from Du's hands and asked, "How do I use this?"

Are you sure? Shen Qi's voice rose slightly, fearing that someone might take advantage of their quarrel, especially since Han Chen had not been without a reputation for being a flirt in the past

"I can't just pretend to be on good terms with him to avoid being laughed at by those people, can I?" Shen Qi was being a bit petty; this was their first argument since the wedding, and she couldn't be the first to back down, otherwise she would be bullied in the future

A few people were chattering and discussing, which made Shen Qi's heart bloom with joy, and her eyes kept glancing towards the area where the male guests were. Unfortunately, a rockery obstructed her view, and she could see nothing, only longing.

Qian'er stood outside the Bamboo Pavilion, waiting for the prince to return after extinguishing the lights. Qian'er rubbed her hands and stamped her feet, fearing she had become frozen from the cold

"Thank you for your hard work, my dear Qian'er." Shen Qi embraced Qian'er, but soon her mood sank again

"Your Highness, the Prince and Princess are ready to dine," Qian'er’s voice came from the doorway

After finishing the meal, Shen Qi lay on the bed with her neck tilted, waiting, but even when the moon reached its zenith, Han Chen had not returned.

"Let's go to the boat," Shen Qi's voice was intermittent, her words unclear, and by the end, she could hardly articulate them. However, her meaning was evident. Yet, Han Chen seemed to disregard her, finding this situation even more amusing, forcing her to kneel on the beauty couch, his hands roaming up and down her body.

Han Chen stopped in response and turned around. Shen Qi noticed that his face lacked the usual warm smile, appearing cold as if he were a piece of icy jade, strikingly beautiful yet chilling. Shen Qi felt somewhat guilty, biting her lip, tears streaming down her face, looking at Han Chen with watery eyes.

Shen Qi's face turned even redder, primarily because Han Chen's earlier jest had indeed struck a chord with her true feelings. She missed him, longing to see him at all times. However, the situation was too strange; it was clearly her who should have been seeking accountability, yet in the end, it felt as if she was the one at fault, leaving her feeling quite guilty.

Han Chen stood by the bed, arms crossed and silent, coldly gazing at Shen Qi. Shen Qi also remained silent, refusing to concede defeat; she looked at Han Chen, though she was somewhat hesitant to meet his eyes.

A hand reached from behind to take the belt, while the other hand was rather unruly, unexpectedly sliding onto Shen Qi's shoulder. Shen Qi recognized those slender fingers. "Weren't you just urging me that we would be late?" Although she said this, her body leaned back, tilting into the embrace of the newcomer

Shen Qi's face turned pale, and she gritted her teeth, intending to leave, but then she heard Qian Er say: "Master, this ginseng soup..."

Master, it seems that the prince will not be coming. " Qian'er entered from outside.

Shen Qi turned her back to Han Chan and winked at Shen Qian with a smile, praising her for a job well done

Han Chen pushed Shen Qi away from his embrace, gripping her shoulders with a cold expression and said: "My beloved consort should truly go and see the people north of the Hua River. It is no exaggeration to say that, let alone clothing, finding a single leaf to cover their bodies would already be a stroke of good fortune"

Qian'er quickly draped a cloak over her and headed towards the outer courtyard. However, at the corner of the corridor, they ran into Han Chen, who was evidently on his way to the inner courtyard where the women resided, and aside from Shen Qi, there was no one else there.

Originally, I did not agree, but I was curious about what kind of clothes could be worth one thousand guan when I passed by that shop yesterday

"Your Highness, may you live long and prosper." Qian'er bowed and paid her respects

Shen Qi did not pursue the matter further, as the answer appeared automatically in the telescope. "Oh, Du San has taken a concubine?" The Du family hails from a prestigious lineage in Hejian, and for the past two years, the relationship with Du San had been quite good. Shen Qi did not expect to see Du San today, abandoning the Du family and bringing a concubine to this flower society, which clearly undermined the Du family's reputation. This flower society has always had rules; guests are only allowed to bring their legitimate wives. Today, Du San broke this precedent, which not only disrespected the Du family but was also a blatant provocation to the flower society.

"What’s the matter, is your master still angry?" Han Chen took the hot towel from Qian Er's hand and wiped his hands.

"So do you think it's worth it?" Shen Qijiao shot a glance at Han Chen, looking quite pleased with herself as if she had done nothing wrong

"How do you know?" Shen Qi asked with some curiosity, then looked at Shen Qian with suspicion.

"It seems you are determined not to go out, aren't you?" Han Chen raised his leg to pin down Shen Qi

Shen Qi curled up in bed, waiting from the afternoon until sunset and moonrise, when he finally saw Han Chen enter with his usual graceful stride. Shen Qi was so angry that he felt like he could bite his own teeth to pieces; he knew very well that he was unhappy, yet Han Chen did not come to comfort or coax him.

Shen Qi finally withdrew her gaze, yet her mind remained elsewhere. In the past, she adored the Du family in this flower society; both of them had lively personalities and enjoyed being in the spotlight, always gathering together for various events. However, now she found herself somewhat averse to her. Despite knowing that she wanted to follow Han Chen, she insisted on pulling her back here.

"Seventh Miss, you have returned to your senses." Mr. Du waved a handkerchief in front of Shen Qi.

Shen Qi waited for a short while, and indeed someone came out, but it was not Han Chen; it was Bian Zhuo. "Your Highness, the Prince requests that you return first."

Han Chan smiled and said, "To speak frankly is all there is to it"

"Uncomfortable?" Du Shi glanced at Shen Qi's stomach and burst into laughter, "I know, I won't blame you."

Shen Qi let out a "humph" and turned her face away from Han Chen, refusing to look at him.

Shen Qi returned to the room and threw himself onto the bed, burying his head in the quilt

"What a miser." Han Chen scratched Shen Qi's nose

Shen Qi originally intended to respond well, but upon a moment's reflection, she thought that it is often said that in this world, eight or nine out of ten things do not go as one wishes. Yet, everything was going smoothly for her, and she could not help but take this opportunity to show off, especially since she had to put an end to Mei Ruohan's aspirations. Moreover, although on the surface Mei Ruohan was the host of this plum blossom society, it was Shen Qi who was the true protagonist of the society, and there was absolutely no reason for her not to attend.

Shen Qi originally wanted to refute, but then felt that she was in the wrong. With her status, how could she publicly throw a bowl like a shrew? Afterwards, she felt regret, but that did not prevent her from being angry. So she turned over, facing away from Han Chen. Shen Qi was waiting for Han Chen to gently coax her, but to her surprise, she heard his footsteps heading towards the door. She immediately turned over and sat up, trembling with a choked voice, saying: "You..." Tears could no longer be held back and fell down.

In an instant, the irritation that Shen Qi had accumulated over the past two days vanished, and she obediently returned to her room to change her clothes. As long as Han Chen spoke first, she felt victorious, and the victor does not boast. After Shen Qi entered behind the screen, noticing that Shen Qian had not yet come over to attend to her, she called out, "Qian'er, what are you dawdling about?" Hearing footsteps approaching from the door, Shen Qi lowered her head and began to unfasten the jade clasp at her waist.

Shen Qi's face turned red again, but this time it was out of anger. She roughly understood Han Chen's meaning. Hearing this made her feel uncomfortable, but she had never witnessed such a tragic scene and could not imagine it at all. In her subconscious, she regarded it as someone else's affair. However, it was clear that Han Chen was outright rejecting her, and she understood that. "I don't care, I want to buy it anyway," Shen Qi pouted.

Han Chen paused and said, "Let's have a meal first"

The prince has rested in the study

Shen Qi is a clever person; with just a slight hint from Du, she understands. She takes it and plays with it in her hands. Several people are clamoring to go to the Seven Treasures Tower of the Mei residence, which is the tallest building in the Mei residence. Climbing the tower allows one to overlook the surroundings, making it the most suitable place to use this telescope

"There are no leaves?" Shen Qi was drawn to Han Chen's words

It is already late, so it is better not to go. Han Chen played with the strands of hair on Shen Qi's chest

By the next evening, Han Chen still had not returned to his room. Shen Qi was so angry that she didn't even eat dinner, turning to the side and crying alone. The following morning, it was still Qian'er who went to find a piece of ice for her to apply to her eyes, allowing her to finally go out

Han Chen walked up behind Shen Qi, wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder, asking, "Are you still angry?"

Shen Qi took a good while to catch her breath. "This is really late now," she said, as she punched Han Chen's chest.

He... Du's tone was high and sharp, displaying an expression of extreme dissatisfaction that was difficult to articulate

"It is hard to sleep; I have only slept for two nights, and my back is already stiffening up." Han Chen pretended to bend down and rubbed his back.

Han Chen lightly bit Shen Qi's earlobe, "Isn't it too late for this, even after two days?"

Although Shen Qi was surprised by Bian Zhuo's skills, she could not show it, as it would make her appear inexperienced in front of Han Chen. However, in order to prevent Han Chen from feeling too pleased with himself, Shen Qi could only maintain a stern expression and feign indifference to the gift, calmly opening the box. "Oh, didn't you disagree..." Inside the box lay the very clothes that Shen Qi desired.

"Then when others ask why I am not going, how should I respond?" Shen Qibai glared at Han Chan

Master, this prince is truly excessive. Knowing that you are outside, he still insists on having you return. This is simply... I believe the prince has no regard for you at all..." Qian'er began to murmur.

Shen Qian smiled sheepishly. Han Chen said, "Don't blame her; she is indeed loyal to her master." Han Chen was not lying to Shen Qi; Shen Qian was afraid that the two of them would reach a stalemate, causing family disgrace to be exposed at the Plum Blossom Banquet. Therefore, she specifically took the time to inform Han Chen, saying that the garment was designed by Shen Qi herself and sent to the embroidery workshop for production. If payment was not made, it would likely result in a significant loss of face.

You ... ... '' Shen Qi bit down on Han Chen's ear in frustration

Han Chen sighed, returned to the bedside, pinched Shen Qi's chin, and smiled as he said: "It must be that the beloved consort misses me, which is why you feel unwell and spilled the ginseng soup; it is all my fault"

"You all may leave now," Han Chen said gently yet in a manner that brooked no refusal. The servants and Qian'er all withdrew. Only Qian'er understood in her heart that the prince was always mindful of the reputation of the royal residence. Given the circumstances today, it seemed likely that a reconciliation was at hand, but it was not necessarily because the prince felt any particular affection for anyone; it was simply inescapable that it was all about preserving the dignity of the royal house.

Han Chen lifted the bed curtain and sat down at the bedside, "So it turns out that my beloved consort is unwell, which is why you accidentally knocked over the ginseng soup, isn't it?"

Shen Qi turned back to look at Han Chen three times, only to see him walking away on his own. The young masters from the cockfighting and horse-racing scene in Lanling City had already approached him. Shen Qi watched with concern, fearing that those rascals would lead Han Chen to unsavory places

"I don't miss you; I have something to discuss with you." Shen Qi pushed Han Chen away, responding with an answer that did not address the question.

"Master, are you really not going to eat?" Qian'er hurried in after Han Chen left

Indeed, the fifth young master of the Shen family is quite handsome, but I did not expect that the prince is even more so, and his skills in polo are truly remarkable

Shen Qiyi extended her hand and with a "bang" overturned the soup pot onto the ground, the sound of the pot shattering was piercing. "If no one appreciates it, so be it," she said as she quickly left, never having felt as embarrassed as she did today. Qian'er didn't even bother to clean up and hurriedly followed after her

"You ... ..." Shen Qi was rendered completely weak and numb by Han Chen's flirtatious words, leaving her with no power to resist, and she could only let him toy with her

If it were me, I would also be willing to be led by the nose by Prince Lanling, how handsome the prince is. Another member of the flower society, Su, followed up, and since they were all married, there was no need for so many reservations in their conversation