Quick Wear: The first person to love the host

“I understand.” Su Ziyu grasped his hand in return. “I’m not one to travel around much. It just so happens that I need some time to sort out some accounts and future business plans in the Northern Frontier.”

He thought for a moment, then added, "I might be able to secretly take over and manage the Shen family's shops in the capital. This would allow me to stay informed about what's going on in the city, and also..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Qi Jinyu already understood—it could also prepare an economic escape route or assistance for possible future changes.

"Alright, just tell me what you need, or go directly to Qin Wujiu. He is currently the commander of the guards of the Prince's Palace in the capital, but secretly he manages some communication channels for me."

Qi Jinyu's eyes were full of admiration and trust.

His desire for his children was never for delicate flowers that needed to be protected under his wings, but for tall trees that could fight alongside him.

After lunch, the two moved to the study.

Qi Jinyu did have a backlog of documents to process, while Su Ziyu found the account books of a shop in the capital and sat on the soft couch by the window to look through them.

Sunlight streamed through the glass windowpanes, warmly enveloping him. The occasional soft rustling of pages turning mingled with the rustling of Qi Jinyu's red annotations, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

No extra words are needed; simply being in the same room, each doing their own thing, creates a sense of home and completeness that permeates the air.

After an unknown amount of time, Qi Jinyu finished dealing with several urgent matters, rubbed his temples, and looked up.

Su Ziyu had fallen asleep on the soft pillow at some point, the account book slipped to her side, her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow under her eyelids, and her breathing was shallow and even.

He slept soundly, completely unsuspecting, with a faint smile on his lips.

Qi Jinyu's heart softened. She got up and went over, carefully removed the account book, and took a thin blanket folded next to her, gently covering him with it.

As she moved, Su Ziyu seemed to sense something; her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she mumbled indistinctly, "Ayu?"

"Go to sleep, I'm here," Qi Jinyu replied softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed and gently placing her hand on his body.

Su Ziyu then fell into a deep sleep again.

Qi Jinyu gazed at his sleeping face quietly, as if she could never get enough of looking at him.

Only at this moment, watching his beloved sleep peacefully within his reach, can he truly feel that all his scheming, struggles, and walking on the edge of a knife have real meaning.

He would protect this peace and this person at all costs.

Su Ziyu only slowly woke up when the sun was setting in the west.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with Qi Jinyu's gentle gaze.

"Awake?" Qi Jinyu brushed his fingertips across his slightly flushed cheeks. "Are you hungry? Dinner won't be ready for a while."

Su Zi shook her head and grasped his fingers: "You've been here the whole time?"

"Hmm, you're sleeping soundly," Qi Jinyu said. "It's more effective than taking medicine."

Su Ziyu chuckled and sat up: "You smooth talker." He looked out the window at the sky, "Oh, right, there's something I forgot to mention. Among the goods I brought to the capital this time, besides the soap and wool, I also smuggled in some special medicinal herbs from the northern frontier, including several snow ginseng and ice lotus of excellent quality."

"I was thinking, perhaps... I could use the pretext of a visit to send it to the Emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Jinyu's eyes flickered slightly.

Ziyu was trying to be considerate of him, proactively offering a way to ease tensions.

“You’ve thought this through very well.” Qi Jinyu nodded. “I will make arrangements tomorrow to send the invitation to the palace. Even if Father is unhappy, he won’t refuse this ‘filial piety’ on the surface. Sending the gift will also shut some people up, saying that I ‘only care about seizing power and don’t care about my sovereign and father.’”

The two discussed some more details, and Qin Wujiu also came over for dinner. The three of them ate together and exchanged information in hushed tones about the latest developments of various forces in the capital.

Qin Wujiu was also happy to see Su Ziyu. During their conversation, he showed great concern for the affairs of the Northern Frontier, especially Shen Qianlan's recent situation. Although he asked in a subtle way, Su Ziyu and Qi Jinyu could both tell that he was worried about her.

“My cousin is doing well, and his business in Jiangnan is going smoothly. He asked me to pass on a message, saying… that Military Advisor Qin must take good care of himself in the capital, and that he can return to Jiangnan at any time.” Su Ziyu carefully conveyed Shen Qianlan’s message.

Qin Wujiu's hand holding the chopsticks paused almost imperceptibly for a moment, then resumed as usual, only letting out a soft "hmm," though his ears turned slightly red.

Qi Jinyu and Su Ziyu exchanged a smile and said no more.

After dinner, Qin Wujiu took his leave to inspect the manor's defenses. Qi Jinyu and Su Zi took a short walk in the courtyard to aid digestion.

The winter night was cold, but the starry sky was exceptionally clear and bright.

"Do you remember the starry sky in the northern frontier?" Qi Jinyu looked up at the sky. "It seemed to be more vast and lower than here."

“I remember.” Su Ziyu also looked up. “The stars there looked like you could reach out and pluck them.”

He paused, then said softly, "But actually, wherever you are, the starry sky is the same."

Qi Jinyu's heart warmed, and she put her arm around his shoulder, pulling him into her embrace. In the quiet, deserted courtyard, they exchanged a kiss that carried the crisp scent of the cold night, yet was incredibly tender.

"Go back inside, don't get cold," Qi Jinyu said in a hoarse voice.

The red candles and warm curtains herald another night of tender intimacy.

In the days that followed, Su Ziyu settled down in the main courtyard of the Prince's Mansion.

He lived a secluded life.

He spent most of his time in his study organizing the accounts of the shops in the capital, planning new business ventures, or contacting the managers of the Shen family's shops in the capital through reliable people arranged by Liu Ye and Qi Jinyu, gradually understanding the commercial network of the capital.

Occasionally, Su Miaomiao would come over for a visit, and the two siblings would have some private conversations, making their days peaceful and fulfilling.

Qi Jinyu continued to leave early and return late, busy with court affairs.

But no matter how late it was, he would always return to the main courtyard and hold Su Ziyu in his arms as they fell asleep together.

The medicinal herbs from the northern frontier that Qi Jinyu presented were indeed sent to the palace. Although the emperor did not give a clear indication, in the following days, the opposition to some of Qi Jinyu's less important proposals seemed to have weakened a little, which can be considered a small positive sign.

However, beneath the calm surface, the undercurrents never cease to surge.

The emperor's absence from court due to illness grew longer and longer, but the messages conveyed through his eunuchs and a few loyal old ministers became increasingly elusive.

The maternal families of several young princes began to make some restless moves, seemingly testing the waters. Meanwhile, some previously neutral court officials, after observing for a long time, appeared to be secretly realigning themselves.

Qi Jinyu became even busier, sometimes returning late at night with a lingering sense of gravity on his brow.

Su Ziyu never asked any questions, but simply prepared a late-night snack in silence.

Massage his tense temples, or simply stay by his side, letting him know that no matter how fierce the storm outside, there is always a light and a person waiting for him here.

That night, Qi Jinyu returned exceptionally late, still carrying the lingering chill of the night.

Su Ziyu went to greet him as usual, but she keenly sensed an unusual coldness in his expression.

"What's wrong?" Su Zi asked, trying to take off his cloak.

Qi Jinyu grasped his hand, her palm slightly cool, and said in a very low voice, "News has come from the palace that Father Emperor... privately summoned the Emperor's father-in-law and the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards."

The emperor's father-in-law is the empress's father, and the deputy commander of the imperial guards... Su Ziyu's heart sank.

With the emperor's political power almost completely usurped, his secret summons of generals and relatives of the empress who controlled part of the palace's armed forces speaks volumes about his intentions.