After the arranged marriage, she farms and survives under the tutelage of the villainous boss.

“If we have children in the future, I hope they will have a clean slate; you come from an innocent family, and marrying me is a loss for you. No matter how much I try to persuade you, I won’t let you regret marrying me.”

"Therefore, if I join the army, my status will be different. This is the only way to clear our family's name. Of course, I will also protect myself, and you will do the same at home."

Jiang Zhiyun was at a loss for words.

After all, she had no intention of having children with Xie Shuheng. Not to mention having children, she had never even thought about living together as husband and wife.

But now that we're leaving, it's not the time to argue about these things. Jiang Zhiyun nodded: "Then please be careful."

"Okay." He leaned his head over and gently rested it on Jiang Zhiyun's shoulder. "I have already felt my wife's concern."

Jiang Zhiyun's cheeks flushed instantly.

She cleared her throat, pointed to Xie Shuheng's chest, touched his warm skin, and moved a little further apart: "Xie Shuheng, calm down. Between you and me, we are not an ordinary couple."

"Mm." Xie Shuheng nodded, looking at her with a smile, "I'll listen to my wife."

Jiang Zhiyun felt a little flustered for a moment: "Well, it's quite chilly tonight. I won't sleep on the floor. You're going out tomorrow too, so don't sleep on the floor for the last night either. We'll just make do tonight."

"Use a pillow to block the way in the middle, don't cross the line." As she said this, Jiang Zhiyun's eyes were full of vigilance.

Xie Shuheng is unreliable tonight.

If he weren't leaving tomorrow morning, Jiang Zhiyun wouldn't have let him stay here.

"Okay." Xie Shuheng lay there obediently, without moving.

Seeing that he was tall and strong, Jiang Zhiyun realized he was incapable, and her fear lessened. Besides, she had lived a lifetime.

This kind of thing is based on mutual affection, so there's not much to be afraid of.

Furthermore, just as men have needs, so do women.

So, it would be normal if things naturally progressed to this point someday. She never shied away from these fierce and uncompromising things.

My mind reacts quickly; only after thinking about these things did I realize I was overthinking it.

He coughed softly to cover up his embarrassment.

Xie Shuheng looked at her and said, "Wife, go to sleep. Get some rest early."

"Mm." Jiang Zhiyun nodded.

The candles then went out, and the two remained silent, Xie Shuheng feeling surrounded by Jiang Zhiyun's scent.

He gazed at her with great satisfaction in the night: "Yunniang."

"Hmm?" Jiang Zhiyun asked, somewhat puzzled. "What's wrong?"

"Yunniang." Xie Shuheng called out again, his tone filled with satisfaction: "It's alright."

"I just wanted to call out to you."

Jiang Zhiyun smiled easily: "Xie Shuheng?"

"Um?"

Xie Shuheng looked at her. "What is it?"

"I didn't have anything else to do, so I just called you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Zhiyun was about to suggest going to bed early. But to her surprise, Xie Shuheng suddenly leaned down.

He precisely matched the corner of her lips.

Then it gradually deepens.

His hand rested on Yunniang's waist, gently stroking her robe as if she were a precious jewel.

It's so delicate that you're afraid it will melt if you hold it in your mouth, and so fragile that you're afraid it will break if you hold it in your hand.

Then Jiang Zhiyun mustered all her strength and pushed his chest open with both hands.

"No..."

Xie Shuheng stopped abruptly: "I know."

His breathing was still a little uneven, and when he looked at Yunniang, his heart and eyes were full of love.

Unfortunately, it was late at night, and Yunniang couldn't see it.

All one could sense was that his voice seemed to be becoming increasingly seductive.

Xie Shuheng's voice was a little hoarse, and he seemed a bit out of sorts. He was breathing heavily when he said to Yunniang, "Don't worry."

I won't touch you.

Then he stood up and said, "It's a bit hot, I'm going out."

He left the room with Jiang Zhiyun, and as soon as he left, Jiang Zhiyun immediately locked the door.

Despite having reassured herself countless times before, she was still somewhat scared. It was an instinctive reaction; after locking the door, she felt safe and fell asleep.

Xie Shuheng had no intention of going in, but when he found the door locked, he smiled.

She increasingly longed for that day when they could simply be husband and wife, without any worries, just living their lives together. There would be no family feuds or national hatred, her father would still be alive, and he had never even been a member of the royal family; he was just an ordinary person, and Jiang Zhiyun could continue doing what she wanted…

Thinking about it, I realized it was wishful thinking.

However, the discomfort in my heart has lessened considerably.

Xie Shuheng's things had been packed beforehand, and he left with Xu Yao before dawn the next day.

He didn't say goodbye to Jiang Zhiyun, perhaps because he didn't want to see the young lady's expression. Maybe he was reluctant to leave?

Jiang Zhiyun had already gotten up early; her mother-in-law was still asleep. She was planning to prepare something nice for Xie Shuheng before going to the temple. Unexpectedly, Ye Qi simply climbed down from the tree, hanging upside down.

"The Crown Prince has left."

"He told you to take good care of yourself. If anything happens at home, write to me. I have carrier pigeons, so I'll help you send them out." After saying what he needed to say, Ye Qi lay back down on the tree.

Jiang Zhiyun: "..."

Looking at the half-closed door, I knew that from now on, only my mother and Yang-ge would be living in this house.

It wasn't as relaxed and free as I had imagined; instead, I felt somewhat empty.

The ten days spent with Xie Shuheng were not long, but putting aside the experiences of the previous life, judging him purely from this life, there should be no problem with him.

At least in Jiang Zhiyun's eyes, he was a true man.

After Xie Shuheng left, Jiang Zhiyun fed the chickens and ducks a handful of corn.

Then he cooked porridge and called Zhang Shi and Yang Ge'er out for breakfast. When Zhang Shi heard that Xie Shuheng had left, she just sighed, "Oh well, there's nothing we can do about what that child does."

"I feel at ease with Yunniang here."

"With you by my side, I have a pillar of support."

Jiang Zhiyun knew that Zhang was dependent on her, but she never imagined that Zhang would now rely on her for everything.

Jiang Zhiyun was both amused and exasperated: "Mother, if you need to write a letter to Shuheng in the future, just give it to Ye Qi."

"Well, I have nothing to say to him."

"Whatever you want to say, just write it down along with what I said."

Jiang Zhiyun thought that she didn't have anywhere to write to, and since the distance wasn't far, she could just go to Teng County to see him later.

But I'm quite comfortable here.

The house was repaired yesterday, and it feels much warmer tonight; at least it's not drafty anymore.

I also expanded the room, thinking that I would set up a stall today and also buy some things for the house.

We still have mushrooms at home, so we won't go up the mountain for now. We'll ask Dr. Su Shaoye if there are any medicinal herbs we need to find, and then we'll go up the mountain to pick mushrooms tomorrow morning.

Jiang Zhiyun brought all the items she needed for her stall, as well as the noodles she had asked Xie Shuheng to pull the night before, and headed to the market.