She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Zhao Jue frowned deeply: "Your dowry is nothing more than a drop in the ocean."

The second wife couldn't hide it any longer and confessed the truth: "Shen Qingtan is not the daughter of the Marquis's family, so the Marquis's family's dowry cannot be given to her for nothing. I changed the dowry, and her portion is a fake."

Zhao Jue disdained the second wife's dishonorable methods. Desperate for money, he did not object, but coldly said, "Give me your dowry, and I will pawn it."

“Jue’er, we don’t know when we’ll be able to come up with 50,000 taels of silver. If we pawn it for a year or two, the monthly interest will be three percent. If we encounter a heartless pawnbroker, they might charge you five percent.” The second madam’s eyes flashed, and she had other plans in mind: “You happen to be short of silver, so we’ll just pawn it and get more silver in return.”

Zhao Jue acquiesced.

As he came out of Mingde Hall, he immediately saw Liuyue standing outside the courtyard, holding a wooden box in her hands.

"Third Master." Liu Yue walked towards Zhao Jue and curtsied, "Second Madam instructed me to return the items to you."

She handed the wooden box to Zhao Jue.

Zhao Jue's face instantly turned ashen. He glanced at the wooden box and said with a double meaning, "There's no reason to take back something that's been given away."

“Our Second Mistress doesn’t accept personal items from men outside the family. The things she needs are prepared by Second Master.” Liu Yue said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “If Third Master had any regard for our friendship of more than ten years, he would not have allowed Second Mistress to tarnish her reputation.”

Having said that, Zhao Jue had no choice but to accept the wooden box.

Liu Yue then took out a list from her sleeve: "Third Master, please collect all the things that Second Madam gave you and take them back to me to report."

Zhao Jue craved power and did not indulge in beauty. Women were merely appendages to him, so he was able to quickly distance himself after learning that Shen Qingtan was not the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family.

But when Shen Qingtan wanted to distance herself from him, a nameless rage rose in her heart.

His jaw tightened: "How could I possibly keep everything she gave me from childhood to adulthood?"

"Second Madam said that if the items that don't match the numbers are harmless, then let it go." Seeing that Zhao Jue's expression had softened slightly, Liu Yue changed her tone: "If it would affect her reputation, then we should go to the Old Madam and report to the elders in the mansion, and make things clear. You know that Second Master is in poor health and cannot be overjoyed or sad. Second Madam does not want the absurd things of the past to cause Second Master any more heartache."

Absurd?

very good!

Zhao Jue laughed in anger; this woman was even more ruthless than him.

"Wait."

Zhao Jue exuded a chilling aura as he strode back to his study, comparing the list with a large pile of items.

From small items like sachets and handkerchiefs she embroidered herself, to silk sashes for waist cinching, to folding fans with paintings and inscriptions she personally designed.

From large items like hand warmers, seals, and rare books.

In the past, I didn't feel much when I received these gifts, but now that I've gathered them all out and piled them up on my bed like a small mountain, I feel a surge of indescribable emotion.

His gaze lingered on a certain spot, and he reached out to pick up a sachet embroidered with a pattern of a galloping horse treading on auspicious clouds. It was a gift from her during the Dragon Boat Festival in the first year of their engagement.

At that time, she said that it was the first sachet she made after learning needlework. Although it was not very beautiful, she believed that her needlework would get better and better in the future.

Every year after that, she would give him a sachet for the Dragon Boat Festival, and the embroidery became better and better each year.

But this first sachet held a different place in his heart.

Zhao Jue composed himself and packed the items into the box one by one. When his fingers touched a stack of rare ancient books, his emotions inevitably stirred.

Shen Qingtan loved all things elegant and Zen-like, and especially loved reading. She could spend half a day engrossed in a book, oblivious to everyone else. To get closer to her, he said he loved reading and asked to borrow some books from her.

But he didn't like reading; he only liked practicing martial arts. He would borrow books and show them to Zhao Yi, then ask him what the books were about and what his insights were.

When returning the book later, take the opportunity to talk to Shen Qingtan a few more times.

This method worked, and Shen Qingtan became increasingly warm towards him, taking the initiative to strike up a conversation with him when she saw him, discussing insights from ancient books.

Later, I learned that he loved the works of some ancient sages and scholars, so I would give him a copy every year on his birthday.

He only knows which famous generals there are, but how could he know about the great sages and scholars of the past?

These are all books that Zhao Yi likes.

Zhao Jue was unwilling to return the books to Zhao Yi, but he wanted to save face. With a tense expression, he packed a stack of ancient books into a box, slammed the lid shut, and carried it out to throw it at Liu Yue's feet.

"They're all here, take them and get out of here."

Liu Yue wasn't annoyed, and didn't want to say another word to him.

The box was heavy, but despite her slender arms and legs, she lifted it up effortlessly and left with the speed of the wind.

A shadow fell over Zhao Jue's eyes, and as Liu Yue disappeared from sight with the box in her arms, he felt a void in his heart.

He told himself: I will not regret my choice.

You will never regret it!

-

When Zhao Yi returned to his residence after finishing his business outside, it was already 7 PM. The palace lanterns were lit in the residence.

Jiang Mu was carrying a lantern when he heard Zhao Yi cough a few times. He turned around and saw that Zhao Yi's face was pale and his eyes were tired. "Second Master, would you like to go back to the study or the bridal chamber?"

"Cough cough...cough..." Zhao Yi felt slightly unwell: "I'll stay in the study tonight."

Jiang Chao happened to come over to pick up Zhao Yi and casually mentioned, "Second Master, Second Madam instructed Liu Yue to go to the Second Household Department and then bring back a large trunk."

Zhao Yi paused slightly, recalling that Shen Qingtan had mentioned that she had asked Liu Yue to ask for something.

His eyes were cold and indifferent as he said calmly, "You don't need to inquire about Second Grandmother's affairs, nor do you need to tell me."

Jiang Chao opened his mouth to explain, but Jiang Mu nudged him with his elbow, making him shut up.

The real reason is that the second branch of the family has been secretly targeting the first branch of the family, and Shen Qingtan has an unusual relationship with Zhao Jue. Now that she has married Zhao Yi, she still has contact with Zhao Jue. Jiang Chao is worried that Shen Qingtan is siding with the second branch of the family and will help the second branch of the family to deal with the first branch of the family.

"Jiang Chao, prepare hot water in the study," Zhao Yi instructed expressionlessly.

Today, I returned to the Chengen Marquis's residence with Shen Qingtan and sat in the Bicheng Pavilion for a while. Last night, Boss Qin sent a message to discuss the matter of military rations. I was already exhausted and just wanted to rest as soon as possible.

His mind was unusually clear. He had received news at noon that Zhao Jue had gone to Boss Qin to buy military rations.

The fact that Boss Qin refused to cooperate with Zhao Jue and instead sought cooperation with him suggests there's more to the story.

Zhao Yi walked at the fork in the road, stepping onto the bluestone path leading to the study, but in the next moment, he changed direction and went to Lanxue Garden.

Qiu Chan and Chun Jiao, who were guarding the door, bowed respectfully and said, "Second Master."

Zhao Yi nodded slightly. The door was not closed. He stepped into the house but did not see Shen Qingtan. Hearing the noise coming from the inner room, he slowly walked towards the inner room.

Shen Qingtan was wearing an apricot-red undergarment, lying supple and boneless on the short couch. The hem of her garment was folded up, revealing a section of her fair and delicate waist.

She was engrossed in reading an ancient book, completely unaware that her private parts were exposed.

Even his arrival did not disturb her.

She casually turned a page of the book and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Besides these ancient books, burn the rest somewhere."

"Okay." Liu Yue checked the list and found that a sachet with a horse and auspicious clouds was missing. Just as she was about to reply, she saw Zhao Yi standing at the door of the inner room. Her expression changed slightly: "Second Master, you're back."

Shen Qingtan was startled, realizing that she had lost her composure. She quickly put down the ancient book, sat gracefully on the short couch, and straightened her clothes.

Zhao Yi looked away and saw Liu Yue and Ting Xue squatting in front of a box. The box was filled with a bunch of odds and ends, which he could tell at a glance were some personal items used by men.

As if waking from a dream, Liu Yue hurriedly closed the trunk and left the inner room with it in her arms.

Tingxue followed closely behind and tactfully closed the door to the outer room.

Only the couple remained in the house.

Shen Qingtan was only wearing a thin undergarment and felt extremely uncomfortable under Zhao Yi's gaze. She pulled a thin blanket over herself before looking up at Zhao Yi.

He wore a dark blue robe embroidered with auspicious patterns, and a thin, moon-white cloak, which made him look elegant, refined, and handsome.

"Second Master, have you had dinner yet?" Shen Qingtan got off the couch, took an outer robe and draped it over his shoulders, adjusting the collar: "I'll tell the servants to prepare some food for you?"

“No need, I’ve already had dinner.” Zhao Yi stood at the door without coming in, his gaze sweeping over the ancient book lying face down on the couch. He recognized it as Meng An’s work, the very rare copy he had been searching for for so long: “I have some business to attend to these few days, so I’ll be staying in the study for now.”

Shen Qingtan was taken aback, and couldn't help but overthink things.

The two of them agreed to treat each other with respect from now on.

Therefore, inviting him to go with her to Zhao Jue's invitation was also a way of telling him that she had no further connection with Zhao Jue.

But now he suddenly suggested sleeping in the study. Could it be that he is very concerned about her involvement with Zhao Jue?

Shen Qingtan felt increasingly that her actions were inappropriate: "Second Master..."

Zhao Yi saw through her thoughts and explained, "You're a light sleeper. I leave early and come back late, which will wake you up." He coughed a few times, his clear voice becoming hoarse, "I'm also feeling a bit unwell. If we sleep in the same room, I'll pass on my illness to you."

His face was pale, his thin lips were bloodless, and he coughed intermittently.

Shen Qingtan could see the weariness in his eyes. Despite his frail health, he was busy with official duties but also took good care of her.

She rarely seemed to care about him, always focusing on her own affairs.

Thinking of Zhao Yi's indulgence towards her these past few days, Shen Qingtan felt a warm current flow through her heart, but also felt a bit guilty.

“You’re not feeling well, so you should sleep here. There’s no one to take care of you in the study.” Shen Qingtan walked to the octagonal table and poured him a glass of warm water. “I’m in good health. In the past, when my mother was sick, I took care of her personally, and I was fine. I only get a few days of minor illness during the transition from spring to summer.”

Zhao Yi remained silent for a moment, then reached out and took the teacup.

His fingers touched the back of her hand, the temperature of his fingertips as cold as ice. Shen Qingtan subconsciously wanted to grasp his fingers and test his body temperature.

But knowing that he disliked close physical contact, the hand that had just been raised fell back to its side.

Zhao Yi noticed her movement, pursed his thin lips slightly, took a few sips of water, and suppressed the itch in his throat.

Shen Qingtan tried to persuade him from a different angle: "If I get sick, you won't abandon me and make me sleep in the study."

Zhao Yi: "I will."

Shen Qingtan: "...?"

Zhao Yi looked at her stunned expression and found it rather endearing. He turned around, placed the teacup on the table, and a faint smile played on his lips.

Shen Qingtan thought that his health was not good to begin with, and if he took care of her when she was sick, he might get sicker than her. Who knows who would take care of whom?

She said understandingly, "If I were you, I would have done the same."

A low chuckle escaped Zhao Yi's throat.

Extremely pleasant.

Shen Qingtan belatedly realized that he was deliberately teasing her?

She glared at him with her watery eyes, then took off her outer clothes, lifted the quilt, and went to sleep with her back to Zhao Yi.

-

The next morning, when Shen Qingtan woke up, Zhao Yi was already up.

After their wedding night, they each had their own quilt.

She turned her head to look at the neatly folded bedding beside her, and memories of last night flooded back. He didn't say a word as he went to the study to wash up, lying down beside her with a faint medicinal scent, his deep voice particularly melodious in the night.

"Then I'll trouble you to take care of me, Madam."

Shen Qingtan just recalled the scene from last night, her face flushed red, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, and she pulled the blanket up to cover her head.

"Second Madam, it's time to get up." Liuyue brought in hot water, lifted the delicate wedding curtains hanging on the hooks, and pulled back the quilt: "You can't cover your head with the quilt when you sleep... Hmm, why is your face so red? Are you sick?"

As Liu Yue spoke, she touched Shen Qingtan's forehead with her hand.

Shen Qingtan blocked her hand and said in a muffled voice, "Warm it up."

"Why are you acting like a little girl?" Liu Yue teased, then, seeing her listless expression, said worriedly, "Should I fetch the family physician to check your pulse?"

Shen Qingtan naturally refused, as she didn't know how Zhao Yi would laugh at her if he found out.

She threw back the covers and got out of bed: "It's getting late, don't dawdle, I have to go pay my respects."

While helping Shen Qingtan change her clothes, Liu Yue whispered in her ear, "The second branch sent a message to Qiu Chan, but Qiu Chan did not go to the second branch."

Shen Qingtan nodded slightly: "Continue to keep watch."

"Yes."

After Zhao Yi left the mansion, Shen Qingtan skipped breakfast and went to the First Madam's courtyard to pay her respects.

The old lady stipulated that we should go to her courtyard to pay our respects on the first and fifteenth of each month, and the family would sit together for breakfast. We would skip this at other times.

Shen Qingtan went to Jingde Hall, and the maid waiting at the door invited her in: "Second Madam, the Madam is in the inner room. Please sit on the stool and wait for a while."

As soon as Shen Qingtan entered the room, she saw the First Madam coming out of the inner room, looking unwell: "Mother, did you not sleep well last night?"

"I didn't sleep a wink last night." The First Madam sat in a rosewood armchair, her brow furrowed with worry. "Luo Lingzhi was gloating in front of me yesterday. Zhao Jue has gathered 100,000 jin of military provisions. If Zhao Jue is to escort the provisions, I'm worried that my father and brothers will be in trouble."