In the Northern Song Dynasty, he started by marrying the eighth daughter of the Su family.

"You're so glib!" Su Zhen scolded him. "My lord is now the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and a scholar of the Dragon Pavilion, yet you still speak so improperly. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Han Zhi said matter-of-factly, pulling her hand and rubbing it against her. "It would be ridiculous to put on airs in my own home, in front of my own wife. Besides, I'm afraid my Eighth Madam will yell at me..."

"Thinking back to when we first met in Meishan, your glare made my heart flutter and I panicked, oh my god..."

"Hmph, who glared at my husband? It was clearly you who stood there like a dummy, staring at my wife and getting in my way." Although Su Zhen said this, he didn't make any other effort to break free.

"Okay, okay, it's my fault for being silly and getting in the way." Han Zhi readily agreed and picked her up, carrying her back to the bedside.

"My lord!" she exclaimed softly, her cheeks flushing even more. "Put me down, what kind of behavior is this...?"

“It’s only natural to hold your own wife in your own room. Even if the Emperor himself came, it wouldn’t be your business.” Han Zhi carried her and walked steadily toward the bed. “Besides, what’s wrong with holding her? My Eighth Madam is so fragrant and soft. It’s much more comfortable to hold her. I not only want to hold her, but I also want to watch over her.”

"What are you staring at like an idiot for?" Su Zhen felt embarrassed by his gaze and reached out to pinch his cheek again, this time with a bit of "venting" force.

"Look how beautiful my wife is." Han Zhi grabbed her mischievous fingers, while his other hand quietly went around to her waist and tickled her with a mischievous grin.

"Ouch!" Su Zhen was ticklish the most. Caught off guard by his sneak attack, she curled up in his arms, laughing so hard that her shyness vanished and she was left only with a reproach.

"You rascal! You're such a blockhead! Let go! It's so itchy!"

"Okay, okay, I'm the silly goose, I'm the one who's in the way." Han Zhi repeated obediently, and only stopped when he saw tears welling up in her eyes from laughing.

“We’ve already picked them up, what else can we do? We can’t just throw them away, can we?” She paused, a hint of playfulness in her voice. “At least… at least my husband is now a third-rank official, his salary is enough to support the family, and he can help take care of the kids and be a strong laborer.”

That's a very true statement, but just then—

"Wow—Wow!"

In the cradle, the little watermelon, who had been sleeping soundly, woke up at some point. Perhaps she was hungry, perhaps she had wet herself, or perhaps she was simply awakened by her parents' laughter and chatter. Her little mouth twitched, and a deafening cry instantly shattered the idyllic atmosphere of the room.

Immediately afterwards, Erxigua seemed to be disturbed by her brother's crying. She frowned and also let out a weak, aggrieved whimper, looking as if she was about to join the "chorus".

"Oh my! Little darling!" Han Zhi and Su Zhen released each other almost simultaneously and rushed towards the cradle.

Su Zhen moved even faster, skillfully picking up Little Watermelon, whose face was flushed from crying, and gently patting her to comfort her: "Don't cry, don't cry, little watermelon, be good, Mommy's here..."

She touched the bottom of the swaddling clothes. "Oh dear, he peed. Yueping!"

"Coming, coming!" Yueping responded and pushed open the door, clearly having been waiting in the outer room, carrying warm water and clean diapers.

Han Zhi clumsily picked up the whimpering Er Xigua and gently rocked him, imitating Su Zhen, while murmuring, "Er Xigua, be good, Er Xigua, don't cry, yay, hug me..."

Unfortunately, the effect was minimal, and Erxigua still pouted her little mouth in grievance, looking like she was about to burst into tears.

While efficiently changing Xiao Xigua's diaper, Su Zhen glanced at Han Zhi and couldn't help but laugh at his helpless expression, holding his daughter like a hot potato.

She quickly tidied up Little Watermelon, handed it back to Yueping to breastfeed, and then hurriedly took Second Watermelon from Han Zhi's arms. Strangely enough, as soon as Second Watermelon was in her mother's arms and smelled the familiar scent, her whimpering immediately subsided, and she rubbed her little head against her neck, becoming quiet.

Han Zhi watched Su Zhen take care of the two children with effortless grace, then looked at his own empty hands, scratched his head, and chuckled foolishly, "Eighth Sister is still the best."

As her mother gently patted her back and she smelled the familiar and comforting scent, her aggrieved whimpers subsided. She arched her little head, found a comfortable position, and her eyelids began to droop again.

Han Zhi grinned, leaned closer, and lowered his voice: "It's so cute how Eighth Aunt coaxes the child."

"You're so glib." Su Zhen rolled her eyes at him, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved into a smile.

She gently placed the second watermelon back into the cradle, next to the little watermelon who was already full and sleepy.

Seeing that the two children were settled, Yueping quietly slipped out and gently closed the door behind her.

The room finally fell completely quiet. Su Zhen let out a soft sigh of relief and raised her hand to rub her slightly sore neck and shoulders.

"Tired?" Han Zhi noticed immediately and naturally walked behind her to start massaging her.

Su Zhen squinted her eyes comfortably, leaned against Han Zhi, and said, "My back is a little sore from standing for so long today."

"Let me give you a massage." Han Zhi's hand slid down her shoulders and neck, landing on her slender waist. Through the soft fabric, he gently massaged her sore muscles. His movements were clumsy yet earnest, clearly not those of an experienced servant, but his sincerity was genuine.

Su Zhen closed her eyes, enjoying this moment of comfort. Han Zhi's fingers, calloused, pressed on her lower back. At first, they were a little stiff, but gradually he found the right spot and pressure, and the soreness was slowly massaged away, making her want to sigh with pleasure.

"Hmm, a little to the left...yes, right here," she mumbled the instructions.

Han Zhi adjusted the massage as instructed, carefully controlling the pressure to avoid hurting her. The candlelight cast their intertwined shadows onto the wall, swaying slightly with his massage, creating a tranquil silhouette.

“Eighth Sister,” Han Zhi’s voice sounded above her head, tinged with hesitation, “Today… what Eunuch Zhang said, and His Majesty…”

Su Zhen kept her eyes closed, but shifted slightly in his arms, finding a more comfortable position, and interrupted him, "My lord, there's no need to mention it anymore. My mother-in-law's beauty back then was truly captivating. As for the matter of Fanlou..."

She paused, opened her eyes, and glanced at him sideways with a half-smile: "Since you say you are innocent, I will believe you. But if you ever go to Fanlou to 'exchange ideas on poetry and music' again, remember to bring plenty of money—"

"Don't let it be like last time, with Xiangxiang chasing after you for 'payment,' saying that the lyrics you wrote strained her voice and that she needs extra money."

Han Zhi's hand froze, and he replied awkwardly, "Ahem! That was an accident! She was asking for an exorbitant amount! Besides, didn't we settle it with two jars of good wine later?"

Su Zhen gave a soft hum, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She closed her eyes again, but secretly reached out and pinched Han Zhi's outer thigh precisely—the force wasn't strong, but it was enough to make him shudder.

"Hiss!" Han Zhi gasped, his hand that was rubbing his waist stopping. "Eighth Sister! A gentleman uses words, not fists!"

“I am not a gentleman,” Su Zhen said confidently, her voice carrying a hint of smugness and languor. “I am a woman of the inner quarters. A woman, after all, uses both words and actions.”

As she spoke, she gave his leg a threatening pinch with her fingertips.