The anti-Qing movement began with the looting of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

"My lady, you are so beautiful!" Shen Lian's heart fluttered. Nie Xiaoqian glanced at Shen Lian with a slight upward gaze, then quickly looked down again.

Shen Lian handed the scale rod to the maid, then gently took Nie Xiaoqian's soft hand and helped her up from the bed.

The two approached the table, where a maidservant had already poured them two cups of wine. They picked up their cups, exchanged a glance, then crossed their arms and drank the wine down their throats.

"The night is long, my wife, would you like something to eat?" Shen Lian smiled as he looked at Nie Xiaoqian's shy and timid face.

"Thank you, my lord!" Nie Xiaoqian hadn't eaten anything all day, and her stomach was growling with hunger. She nodded gently.

Shen Lian drank alcohol that evening and didn't eat much. He simply ate a little with his wife. After they finished eating, the maidservant who was waiting nearby quickly stepped forward to clear away the bowls and chopsticks.

"My wife, it's late! Let's rest!" Shen Lian took Nie Xiaoqian's hand and led her to the bedside.

Nie Xiaoqian's personal maid, Ruyi, hurriedly stepped forward to help her remove her wedding dress. After removing the thick layers of wedding attire, Nie Xiaoqian was left only in a snow-white undergarment and trousers. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, her beautiful eyes closed, and she swayed precariously.

"Ruyi, you don't need to serve me here anymore, go and rest!" Shen Lian said. The little maid nodded, left, and closed the door behind her.

Shen Lian stepped forward and gently unbuttoned Nie Xiaoqian's clothes, revealing a bright red bodice embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water, stretched taut. Shen Lian couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Husband, wait a moment!" Just as Shen Lian was about to make a move, Nie Xiaoqian suddenly opened her eyes, picked up a piece of white silk from the bedside table, and spread it on the bed. Then she lay down on it herself.

Shen Lian impatiently stripped off his clothes in a few quick movements and gently covered her body.

Her skin, smooth as jade, gleamed; a clear song sang from a golden goblet. Familiar faces, like leaves and branches, all pure and innocent. The cardamom buds bloom in early February. Youth is fleeting. Stealing moments of intoxication in this fragrant season. Silken curtains hang low, the silver candles flicker, and joy fills the air. All the youthful vigor of my life is lost.

They indulged in pleasure for several nights, their soft moans and gasps echoing through the night...

The next morning, Shen Lian, accompanied by a still flushed Nie Xiaoqian, paid her respects to Shen Hu. Shen Hu was very pleased with this talented and beautiful daughter-in-law and immediately had Uncle Fu bring out the household account books and hand them to Nie Xiaoqian, indicating that she would be in charge of the household affairs from now on.

Although they were newlyweds, Shen Lian only stayed home and indulged in romance for five days. After Nie Xiaoqian settled into life there, he got busy again.

First, there were various administrative matters, but thankfully, with three advisors present, nothing too chaotic occurred. Shen Lian simply reviewed some documents and that was it.

He then spent a few more days inspecting the military camp. After the soldiers were assigned to their posts, each battalion intensified its training. Everywhere, the sounds of gunfire and artillery boomed.

He'd already fired hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition during this period, but Shen Lian wasn't bothered at all. His army was too young to be effective; he could only use large quantities of shells and bullets to intensify training, hoping to improve the soldiers' combat effectiveness as quickly as possible.

He has at most five months left, but thankfully the food is good. Although the soldiers are somewhat mentally exhausted, their physical condition is still relatively good.

After the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the various camps began to take turns on leave. Shen Lian gave each of them a seven-day leave so that they could go back and have a short reunion with their families.

While the military and government offices were on leave, Shen Lian's two factories couldn't stop. Cigarettes and lighters were in high demand, and Jason would be taking a large batch when he returned next year. Both factories had to work overtime.

Despite this, the workers didn't complain at all. They could earn at least two taels a month working in the factory, and some could earn as much as three taels. Where could they find such a good job? They were all very happy! Not to mention, Shen Lian even promised to pay them overtime.

Shen Lian patted the snow off his clothes and went inside. The weather is getting colder and colder, and it snows every few days. Fortunately, he has almost finished all the things he needed to do.

"My husband is back!" Nie Xiaoqian stood up quickly when she saw Shen Lian enter. She took Shen Lian's coat, handed it to a maid to hang up, and personally poured Shen Lian a cup of hot tea.

"My wife, I can handle these things myself!" Shen Lian nodded, took the tea, and took a sip.

"My lord, you're still working hard outside in this heavy snow. It's nothing for me to serve you tea and water!" Nie Xiaoqian smiled sweetly.

She is living a very comfortable life now. Her father-in-law doesn't interfere in family matters, her husband dotes on her, and the servants respect her. The atmosphere at home is also very harmonious, and she cherishes her current life very much.

Shen Lian drank a couple of sips of hot tea and felt a little better. He sat down by the charcoal brazier and warmed his hands. The charcoal they used at home was made of high-quality oak wood, which not only produced a strong fire but also emitted no smoke.

"Husband, there's something I'd like to discuss with you!" Nie Xiaoqian sat down next to Shen Lian and said in a low voice.

"What is it? Tell me!" Shen Lian picked up a piece of red-hot charcoal and lit a cigarette with it.

"Husband, why don't you take Yue'er as your concubine before the New Year? She's all alone and looks so pitiful. I'll have another helper to manage the household."

Shen Lian looked up at Nie Xiaoqian and saw that she didn't seem to be joking. "Aren't you jealous?"

Nie Xiaoqian has been married into the family for over half a month, so it's normal for her to know about Shen Lian and Xiao Yue'er's relationship. But is this wife really that magnanimous?

"Why would I be jealous! I'd love to have someone else wait on you! You're like an ox all day long!" Nie Xiaoqian said, her face turning red.

Shen Lian's body continued to strengthen, and his abilities in that area also improved significantly. Nie Xiaoqian felt that she could no longer resist.

"Hahaha, so you wanted to call for reinforcements?" Shen Lian laughed triumphantly, making Nie Xiaoqian blush with embarrassment.

"Are you sure you want this? Why don't you take Ruyi too!" Nie Xiaoqian said, punching Shen Lian. Ruyi, who was serving nearby, blushed instantly but didn't dare to leave. She could only stand there dumbfounded.

"My wife can arrange it. It's my blessing to have such a generous wife like you. What more could a husband ask for than such a wife!"

“But let’s forget about Ruyi! She’s too young!” Shen Lian shook his head and said.

Upon hearing this, Ruyi's face, which had just been flushed, turned deathly pale. For a girl like her, marrying the young master alongside her mistress was the best outcome. Especially since this young master was so young and caring.

If the son-in-law doesn't take her in, her fate will likely be to be randomly assigned to marry a servant, and she'll be a servant for life. Her children will also be destined to be servants.

"She's not young anymore. Ruyi will be fifteen after the New Year. In common society, daughters usually get married at this age. Do you look down on her? Ruyi has been with me for seven or eight years. She can read and write, and she knows a little about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Although she is my maid, I have always treated her like a younger sister."

"Wife, listen to me! I really don't mean to look down on her. Girls are too young, it will be difficult for them to have children. Let's wait until she grows up!" Shen Lian shook his head. His wife was really something, insisting on putting another woman in his life.