Chapter 10, yet fear that the night is deep and the flowers will fall asleep

Han Chen was also at a loss with her, "You are something else, having bought so many things, yet you didn't even buy any clothes for yourself to change into"

Shen Qi was so embarrassed by his question that she felt like burying her head in her neck, and she could only give him a sulky glance.

You ... ... '' Shen Qi originally intended to scold Han Chen a few words, but unexpectedly, he turned over and pinned her down, his breathing becoming rapid. Shen Qi did not expect that at such a late hour, he still had the energy to socialize.

Shen Qishui glanced at Han Chen with her big, watery eyes and said, "If the prince can tie it, then it will be done."

"Let me see if you're hurt?" Han Chen inserted his hand between Shen Qi's legs, startling her into quickly closing her legs

Shen Qi blinked her eyes, surprised that Han Chen would still care about her lunch. A sweetness filled her heart as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Han Chen's neck, saying: "It's so much fun here, there’s everything! Will you bring me here again next time?" This was also a test for her, gauging Han Chen's attitude. She was worried that if he resisted her this time due to unforeseen circumstances, it would be troublesome if he tried to avoid her next time.

What about the lonely thing?" Han Chan extended his hand

After this bout of teasing, Shen Qi naturally refused to follow Han Chen any longer. In fact, she did not enjoy staying in the dull and tedious conference room, so she took Bian Zhuo to explore this Stone Town properly.

Han Chen felt that Shen Qi had been unusually quiet for too long, which was not like her usual self. Therefore, he specifically came over to check on her. As he lifted the curtain and was about to step in, he found a couch blocking his way. Shen Qi was curled up on the couch, sleeping soundly. He reached out to touch her, and she felt icy all over. Han Chen's brows furrowed even tighter, and he let out a helpless sigh

As Han Chen got out of bed, Shen Qi woke up, struggling to get up, but unfortunately, her legs were weak and she could not support herself.

Shen Qi was initially taken aback by his nonsensical words, but she quickly regained her composure, "You, it's all your fault, and yet you say such things..." Although Shen Qi had been married to Han Chen for a few months, her demeanor remained that of a young lady, unable to withstand Han Chen's teasing with such words. Shen Qi pushed Han Chen away, suppressing her discomfort as she got up to wash and dress herself.

This visit has indeed yielded rich rewards. I did not expect that although this Stone Town is a remote small town, it serves as a transportation hub between Xihua, Donghua, and the Jiangnan region. Approximately 30% to 40% of the goods from the three areas must pass through here, and the flow of merchants and travelers is incessant. The wealth here is comparable to that of Lanling.

It is late at night, is it not the perfect time for bright candles to illuminate the red makeup?" Han Chen whispered softly in Shen Qi's ear, taking the opportunity to gently nibble on her earlobe

"If you bring more people, wouldn't that put us at risk of losing all our wealth?" Han Chen remained unmoved

"Sleep a little longer." Han Chen was fastening his belt

For Shen Qi, this is indeed not an easy task. She has never been fond of the Luo family and the Zhao family, and now she has gone out of her way to buy something, naturally to please Han Chen. She also has her own little calculations; since they are a tightly-knit family, she cannot show a good face on the surface, so she can only use gifts to appease them. The Luo family comes from humble beginnings and lacks a family fortune, which cannot compare to her and the Zhao family. The precious shawl she bought is sure to bring her joy. She also has her own little calculations; since they are a tightly-knit family, she cannot show a good face on the surface, so she can only use gifts to appease them. The Luo family comes from humble beginnings and lacks a family fortune, which cannot compare to her and the Zhao family. The precious shawl she bought is sure to bring her joy.

"No, I am afraid." This house has a faded color, is sparsely populated and empty, and Shen Qi always feels uneasy as if it is not her territory.

As a result, Shen Qi did not return for lunch and chose a restaurant called Honghui Building with a golden sign, where he tried the dishes of Donghua, which offered a unique flavor. What was particularly valuable was the presence of cuisine from the Northern Hu (a collective term for the Western Wusun, Yuezhi, Northern Rouran, and Eastern Hu in Jiangnan), which was simple and crude, yet very fresh and distinctive. Consequently, Shen Qi developed a special fondness for this Stone Town and resolved to accompany Han Chan every time in the future.

Han Chen's hands are indeed not as dexterous as Qian Er's, but he managed to tie up a hair bun reasonably well. He selected a white jade plum blossom hairpin for Shen Qi and inserted it properly

"That's not true." Shen Qijiao wrinkled her nose and said, "Sister Luo is broader than I am. Look at this vest; don't I look like I'm wearing a lantern?"

Han Chan saw that he could only step forward to help, "I have never seen a woman who doesn't even know how to tie her hair up."

"Why not? If you get hurt, you must apply some medicine; otherwise, you won't be comfortable walking, and won't you be seen through by others?" Han Chen spoke with a tone that was both mocking and teasing, leaving Shen Qi with no way out. He forcibly pried open Shen Qi's legs to take a look, and she could do nothing but turn her face away, not daring to look at him.

Now it is Han Chan who serves Shen Qi in undressing for sleep, which is quite like a young lady entering a bridal sedan chair for the first time; Shen Qi can hardly avoid waking up this time.

Han Chen had already been lying down for half a cup of tea's worth of time when Shen Qi finally emerged from inside, moving slowly. Unable to find any clean clothes, she took Han Chen's white silk robe with dark plum patterns from the wardrobe and put it on, tying it haphazardly at the waist. She climbed onto the bed quietly, intending not to disturb Han Chen's sleep, but to her surprise, he was propped up on one elbow, flipping through a book on the bed. Upon seeing her get into bed, he set the book aside.

Shen Qi noticed that Han Chan's expression was unfriendly. With only the two of them present, she feared that Han Chan might seek revenge later, which would not be advantageous for her. Therefore, she quickly said, "I would like to take a bath; this day has been dusty." She glanced at Han Chan, and seeing that he did not respond, she went out to call a servant to prepare hot water.

Shen Qi remained silent about Han Chen's comments, only smiling increasingly in a flattering manner

Looking at the small mountain-like object before him, Han Chen's expression was indeed somewhat unpleasant

These are all trivial matters; it is merely that she harbors resentment towards Han Chen for his frivolity this morning, so while combing her hair, she played a few tricks, as if she could not manage to style her hair properly.

Shen Qi only understood that Han Chen meant he would definitely protect her, so she asked "why," wanting Han Chen to admit it in person

She suddenly understood; this meant that she had a thick skin. "You..." Shen Qi was so angry that she stomped her feet

Although she had her doubts and was lost in thought, Shen Qi was not the type to dwell on things. After a long day, she was already tired, and as she pondered, her eyelids grew heavy

Shen Qi felt a sudden realization, "Oh dear, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten all about it." Shen Qi then turned and smiled gently, "I am the kind of person who is always anxious for others, often forgetting about myself."

"How did you think of buying it for her?" Han Chen said with a look of disbelief, though his tone was much better. "Isn't it just a last-minute change of plan?" This implied that Shen Qi originally intended to buy it for herself but suddenly claimed it was a gift for Luo Shi.

Shen Qi always felt that something was amiss, as Han Chen looked at her with a gaze that was markedly different from usual, staring at her as if he did not recognize her. She noticed Han Chen's Adam's apple move, as if he were swallowing, "Is the prince thirsty?"

It is like this, those items are all for gifting, and this social obligation cannot be neglected. As for us, in these difficult times, amidst chaos and turmoil, naturally, we should save wherever we can, so..." Shen Qi felt quite pleased, truly experiencing an indescribable sense of satisfaction, as today it was her turn to reason with Han Chen.

Shen Qi quietly stuck out her tongue behind him, completely preoccupied with her purchases, and was truly unaware of how many items she had bought. Judging by the situation, it was clear that it was not good, so she hurriedly stepped forward to pull one item out.

"You really know how to depend on others," Han Chen said, tapping Shen Qi's nose, and helplessly began to carefully outline her eyebrows.

These are all ready, as they are familiar with the routine. The water has been kept boiling on the stove. With this instruction from Shen Qi, preparations were quickly made over there. Han Chen took his clothes and went next door to bathe, while Shen Qi used water in the partition of the bedroom

When everyone saw Han Chen suddenly stand up, they all thought that a major blunder had occurred, and they stood up as well, ready for battle. However, Han Chen merely walked up to the bamboo curtain and had no intention of questioning anyone.

Han Chan replied, "I am indeed a bit thirsty"

Although Shen Qi noticed that he was responding, his eyes did not meet hers. Following his gaze downward, she discovered that he was staring at her chest. The robe she wore fit her like a child wearing an adult's clothing, excessively loose, and the view beneath the collar was fully exposed due to her leaning forward. Shen Qi blushed and quickly covered the neckline. Han Chen did not express anything, but his gaze shifted elsewhere. Shen Qi followed his line of sight and found it was directed at her legs. Due to the crawling motion, her entire thigh was revealed from the robe, white and tender, as exquisite as jade, making even her hesitant to look.

A young servant had long prepared strong tea and brought it in. Everyone took a hearty sip, shook their heads to clear their minds, and continued to carefully handle the matters at hand. The owner of the Jingde Hall pharmacy suddenly frowned when he saw Han Chen flipping through the account book he had presented, his heart tightening.

Night, it is late at night. For some reason, Shen Qi feels a bit afraid of him at this moment, always sensing that he is different from his usual self

"No." Shen Qi widened her eyes and shook her head with a pout.

You certainly have a knack for spending money" Han Chen said with a hint of sarcasm. Although those items were small, each one was a fine product. Shen Qi was accustomed to using good things and naturally looked down upon ordinary items, so the gifts she presented were certainly of high quality. For instance, when she wanted to give honey to a scribe serving Han Chen, she specifically chose the snow lotus honey from the high mountains, which is quite valuable. If even someone like this is given such gifts, one can imagine what others receive.

When Shen Qi returned to Han Chen's residence, the moon had already risen above the treetops, and she was still lingering in her thoughts.

Shen Qi hurriedly counted many items, including several novel objects from the Northern Hu region that she bought for the Zhao family. Since the Zhao family is wealthy, she naturally looked down on ordinary items. Additionally, she purchased a few specialty products from her hometown in Donghua. Shen Qi's thoughtfulness was quite commendable. She knew that Han Chen was determined to maintain balance in the backyard, and although he did not express it, he was unhappy with her usual cold treatment towards those two. Therefore, Shen Qi had been contemplating how to change this situation. Now, it was quite convenient, as she only needed to spend money without having to invest emotions, which was rather straightforward.

The line "Burning high candles to illuminate the red makeup" is a famous verse by Scholar Su praising the begonia, "I fear that the flowers will fall asleep deep in the night, so I burn high candles to illuminate the red makeup." At this moment, being taken out of context by Han Chen added a hint of ambiguity, leaving Shen Qi both shy and startled. She struggled modestly for a moment, but little did she know that it only piqued Han Chen's interest further, as he firmly held her hand with a somewhat overbearing insistence.

"Because there is a part of you that is impervious to blades and bullets, it can serve as a shield." Han Chen smiled again as he pinched Shen Qi's cheek.

Let us conclude here for today

Shen Qi recalled the words he had just said, and when she combined the two sentences, her face turned red. "Han Chen." Shen Qi stamped her foot, unable to endure his repeated teasing any longer, and even dropped the honorific title, directly calling him by his name.

Shen Qi did not expect him to主动伸手要东西, but she really did not buy it. This was a backup plan, so that in the future she could take Han Chen out shopping together, although this was merely wishful thinking, just a casual thought. The most genuine reason was that Han Chen was always frugal, and he not only practiced thrift himself but also imposed it on others. Shen Qi knew her own situation and did not dare to buy anything for Han Chen, fearing that if she did, not only would he not use it, but he would also see that item every day and be reminded of her extravagant ways, which would truly be a loss rather than a gain.

"How can it be so fun that you don't even come back for lunch?" Han Chen asked while sitting at the dining table

In addition, something happened with Liu Momo, who is close to Han Chan. Zhang Xinzhi, who often meets in the study, is also involved; these are all favored individuals around Han Chan. Even the guards serving around the study, including Shen Qi, have expressed their sentiments, and gifts have been given to all those who are somewhat important, both inside and outside.

Then it has truly weathered the storms like the begonia

"Since they arrived, the prince hasn't drawn my eyebrows for a long time." Shen Qi pouted, her lips a bright red. Han Chen did not respond, but instead ravaged her lips fiercely until she was in considerable pain before he finally stopped

The flowers tremble chaotically, the petals overflow, the spring breeze blows fiercely past the Yumen Pass, and several waists are sent to their breaking point

"Look at this, this white fox fur vest is made from the finest fox underfur. Sometimes it is hard to find even one piece in the market for an entire year. I noticed that Sister Luo is sensitive to the cold, so I specially bought it for her." Shen Qi blinked her eyes, looking at Han Chen with a hint of pleading and flattery.

Shen Qi was also well-behaved, knowing that Han Chen did not particularly like matters of jealousy and rivalry, so she did not mention it much and followed Han Chen out the door. It was only upon exiting that she realized it had rained last night, leaving the garden strewn with fallen petals.

The next morning, when Han Chan got up, Shen Qi was still in a daze. Last night, he did not know where he found such enthusiasm; even on their wedding night, he did not show such interest. He did not know how many times he had played with her, and it was only when the rooster crowed that he finally let her go

Shen Qi handed the spiral hairpin to Han Chen.

"Truly, the flowers are tender and cannot withstand a touch; the spring breeze has yet to feel ashamed." Han Chan lamented over the fallen petals, yet his gaze was fixed on Shen Qi.

However, Han Chan here recognized the merits of Shen Qi and her character. Usually carefree and unconcerned about how others perceive her, she nonetheless keeps a mental ledger. That attendant merely mentioned once, in passing, that she had a poor digestive system, and Shen Qi remembered it.

Han Chen turned around and sat on the edge of the bed, "Aren't you tired?"

When Han Chen spoke these words, everyone present was taken aback. Upon seeing him lift Shen Qi, they suddenly realized what was happening, turned their heads away in embarrassment, yet exchanged knowing smiles with one another

It is rather too tender.

Shen Qi was in a deep sleep. When Han Chen picked her up, she merely stirred slightly, seeking a comfortable position in his embrace, rubbing against his chest, and unconsciously sniffing the air. Perhaps sensing a familiar scent, she settled back into a peaceful slumber.

Han Chen could not help but laugh; such shameless words could only be uttered by Shen Qi. "You dare to say that?"

Shen Qi, with a proud and upturned chin, pecked quickly at Han Chen's lips, blushing as she pulled away. The implication was clear: she intended to silence Han Chen, regardless of his willingness or reluctance. In any case, he had to acknowledge that Shen Qi was a selfless and altruistic person

At the hour of the first watch, some of the people in the room had already begun to yawn, yet Han Chen remained spirited, diligently flipping through the account books of recent days. Occasionally, he would pose a question, always incisive and quite formidable, prompting those below to quickly muster their spirits to respond. They had grown accustomed to this, for Han Chen was involved in numerous matters, and his time in Shitou Town was limited; he always wished to make a day feel like two, and he would not rest until after the third watch.

Han Chen pinched Shen Qi's cheek, "You really..." He seemed angry at first, but suddenly his expression changed, and his tone became calm, "No matter how chaotic things get, you don't need to be afraid"

Shen Qi noticed that he did not categorically refuse, so she thought of the possibility, "No, no, although I bought many things today, not a single one belongs to me." She was deeply afraid that Han Chen would not believe her, so she specifically had the servant bring the items in.