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

"this......"

Now Han Zhi doesn't dare to make decisions on many things himself and can only entrust the power of decision-making to Su Zhen.

Lü Huiqing also stepped forward and advised, "Brother Han, this is a great opportunity. Even if you don't want it, think of us. Your words are wonderful, and we'd like to hear them properly."

Su Zhen naturally refused: "Young Master Lü, before I left, my mother entrusted me to supervise your studies. It's not that I don't care about you, but I just went to check on you a couple of days ago. If I go again, it would be too indulgent."

"If my husband fails the exam in the future, and my parents blame me, I will be responsible."

Having said all that, it would be impolite for Lü Huiqing to insist on going, so she had no choice but to give up.

Chen Shishi didn't insist, and said with a smile, "Since that's the case, let's postpone it for a while. Once my two sisters and I have finished making the complete score, we'll invite you both to come again, how about that?"

Su Zhen nodded, which was taken as agreement.

Zhao Xiangxiang also said, "Since that's the case, I wouldn't dare to bother you any further. The restaurant is about to start welcoming guests, so the three of us will take our leave now."

Just as he was about to leave, Su Zhen called out again, "Ladies, please wait, Madam Chen."

"Does Madam Su have something else to say?" Chen Shishi replied when she was called upon.

Su Zhen reminded her, "My husband borrowed a cloak from Madam Chen a while ago. It's dry today, so I'll have someone fetch it and return it to Madam Chen."

With that, she took the pink cloak from the couch and handed it to Chen Shishi. Chen Shishi nodded slightly to them and then left with her entourage.

After watching the three courtesans leave, Lü Huiqing sighed again. Shen Kuo, however, stepped forward and asked, "Brother Huiqing, why do you sigh?"

As he spoke, he put a hand on Zhou Zhidao's shoulder and replied, "I just missed the chance to hear a new song."

Zhang Huaimin said, "If Brother Huiqing really wants to hear it, then we might as well wait a while. Although we won't be the first to hear it, it's still better than hearing only a partial version."

Lü Huiqing nodded, sighed again, and said, "In that case, let's go first."

Shen Kuo said to Han Zhi, "Brother Han, we'll be going now. There's no need to see us off any further; we wouldn't dare trouble you."

"Walk slowly."

Han Zhi and Su Zhen did not try to keep them, but watched them leave from inside the house.

After confirming that everyone had left, Han Zhi closed the door and let out a long breath. He used all his strength to return to the bedside, lay down immediately, and let out a long moan filled with bliss.

Su Zhen walked over and sat down beside him, asking, "Are you tired, my lord?"

"A little."

At this moment, because of the somewhat large movement when lying down, a corner of a silk handkerchief was exposed at her chest. Su Zhen reached out, pulled it out, and unfolded it in front of her.

Han Zhi noticed some of Su Zhen's movements, looked over, and said, "Is Eighth Sister's poem well written?"

"Is it good? What's so good about it?" Su Zhen folded the silk handkerchief and stuffed it back into Han Zhi's chest, asking, "Who told you, sir, that this poem is just mediocre, affected and pretentious, trying too hard to be sad?"

"Who said that? Everyone has seen these words, and they all say they're good. This sentiment must be because Eighth Sister misses me, which is why she wrote such a poem." Han Zhi's hands started to wander again, and he grabbed Su Zhen directly.

Su Zhen was now both angry and embarrassed. She pulled out the silk handkerchief again, crumpled it into a ball, and casually tossed it aside. Then she said:

"This one is no good! My lord, please forget it quickly. Today I will compose a better one, so that you can always carry it with you." As she spoke, she seemed to be getting unhappy again, saying:

"I put a lot of thought into writing this poem to remind you to study hard. But I never expected that you would see me as a sentimental and complaining woman."

"How could that be?" Han Zhi sat up and said seriously, "I love Ba Niang no matter what she is, that's the truth! Even if Ba Niang is really a resentful woman, I will still love and cherish her."

Without any shame, he planted a big kiss on Su Zhen's face.

"Stop your nonsense. Your husband hasn't finished his homework yet. Stop fooling around here and go study." Su Zhen was amused by him, but still pretended to be serious.

"Yes!"

Han Zhi sprang up from the bed and stood at attention, once again shattering Su Zhen's composure, and a silvery laugh rang out.

"My lord, please go ahead. I will go and brew some refreshing tea and bring it to you later."

"Row."

Han Zhi laughed and ran out, while Su Zhen could only call out from behind, "Slow down, my lord! Just like before, read until two o'clock in the afternoon!"

"Okay! I'll study hard!"

Han Zhi's voice came from outside. Su Zhen looked at the door, which was not closed at all, and could only laugh and curse, "What a troublemaker." She also needed to make tea, so she took Xiao Hei with her and went out, closing the door behind her.

......

When it was past mid-Shenshi (3-5 PM), Han Zhi finished his homework, stretched, and walked out of the study.

Winter was approaching, but the household still had the same thirty-odd servants and maids they had hired when they first arrived. The snowfall made the place seem even more desolate.

He straightened his clothes and walked towards his courtyard. The courtyard was quiet and empty; he wondered if Little Black was hiding in some snowdrift, rolling around.

After glancing around, Han Zhi walked straight through the door. Su Zhen usually liked to lean against the couch, doing things he enjoyed, so after closing the door, he subconsciously looked towards the couch.

Sure enough, Su Zhen was leaning there, holding a scroll and a brush in his hand, his brows furrowed, seemingly doing something.

Han Zhi didn't dare to breathe too loudly and quietly walked to her side. But Su Zhen seemed not to notice, still tapping her temple with her pen, deep in thought.

She was helped to sit up straight by having her hands support her waist.

"Eighth Sister, it's best not to sit like that in the future; it's not good for your back," Han Zhi's voice came.

Su Zhen completely relaxed, nestled comfortably in his arms, and softly called out, "My lord." Judging from her voice, she seemed tired too.

"What's wrong, Eighth Sister? Are you writing lyrics?" Han Zhi gently kissed her temple and asked.

“No,” Su Zhen shook her head and handed the scroll to Han Zhi, “I was revising the lyrics.”

Han Zhi looked at it and saw it was the poem "Southern Wind Lyrics." This volume was only half-written, and then there was no more. He asked, "Eighth Sister, what you wrote back then was good, why did you have to change it?"

“The previous ones were all bad; many of their sentiments and emotions could not compare to your poem, sir. The one hanging on the wall is the revised one, but after hearing what that young master Zhang said, I feel it is even more inappropriate.”

"I've only revised and rewritten it, but it still doesn't quite match your poem. It just doesn't quite capture the essence of the original."

Han Zhi could clearly hear Su Zhen's disappointment and frustration, so he comforted her, "It's alright, it's alright. What Ba Niang wrote is the best. Why should anyone else care?"

Su Zhen shook her head, sighed, and said, "How can I not consider other people's opinions? If someone with ulterior motives reads this, they might say that my love for you is not as great as your love for me."

"This and that makes me feel embarrassed."

Han Zhi smiled and said, "Ba Niang's love for me is Ba Niang's, and my love for Ba Niang is mine. These are two separate things, so why should it be like mine?"

“Every day, Ba Niang says I’m dull-witted and shameless. Does Ba Niang want to become like that too?”

Su Zhen fell silent. Han Zhi continued, "Eighth Sister has also named these two long poems, one 'Dream' and the other 'Wind.' Dreams and wind are inherently formless and can be ever-changing, so why be bound by a single format?"