The affairs of the world are such that people and events twist and turn, and no one can predict where the person they owe will come back to take their revenge.
Rui Yu had vanished without a trace, and Shen He and Zhai Yu, the couple, finally seemed to have “reconciled,” at least on the surface. However, Ji Cheng knew that Shen He was using her family’s influence to pressure Zhai Yu, and their feelings for each other would only deteriorate further. The subsequent warmth and coldness of their relationship would be known only to her.
Ji Cheng sighed about Shen He, saying, “Sometimes, I really can’t understand you women. She forces us to pressure Zhai Yu and drives away Rui Yu. Does she think she can return to how things were with Zhai Yu?” As a man, Shen Che clearly understood Zhai Yu’s feelings better; Shen He was only pushing Zhai Yu further away.
What Ji Cheng wanted to say was that both Shen He and Shen Cui had been spoiled by the Shen family. They had learned to bully others from a young age and had not changed that habit as they grew up. Of course, Ji Cheng could not speak so bluntly to Shen Che. Instead, she said, “Elder Sister is so clever; how could she not know? She is just out of options, clinging to a glimmer of hope, thinking that as long as Rui Yu is gone, she can win back her Second Brother-in-law’s heart. But once a man’s heart has strayed, how can a woman catch up? If you ask me if she just didn’t care so much, none of these problems would exist.”
As Ji Cheng spoke, she noticed Shen Che’s expression was off and quickly changed her tone, saying, “But when it comes to matters of the heart, no one can control it. What I said about Elder Sister is easy for me to say from the sidelines. If this were happening to me, and I had power to rely on, I would also force Rui Yu away.”
Shen Che looked at Ji Cheng for a long time before he said slowly, “A Cheng, I find that your little mouth is getting better at sweet-talking.” He leaned closer to Ji Cheng, “Are you feeling guilty?”
“By heaven, I speak from the heart,” Ji Cheng said, wrapping her arms around Shen Che and starting to smooth his hair.
Once the New Year was over, it was the perfect time for Liu Ye’er and Yu Qian’er. Ji Cheng arranged for each of them to have a small house and also gifted them three thousand taels of silver as dowry. For daughters of ordinary families, this amount was already quite generous; many did not even receive three thousand taels.
From then on, Liu Ye’er worked alongside her husband in Ji Cheng’s shop, while Yu Qian’er became part of Yuan Yong’s family, still coming to Ji Cheng’s residence daily to assist her as the housekeeper, helping to manage household affairs.
By mid-February, the old lady had recovered from her illness, and Shen Che began to prepare Ji Cheng to go to Sanhaoju.
Ji Cheng did not have a good impression of Sanhaoju; she had nearly been bullied to death there. The place was desolate, truly a spot where calling for help would yield no response.
Moreover, she could see that the plum blossom painting was almost finished. Shen Che had been walking with a spring in his step these past few days, his eyes shining brightly. Just thinking about it made Ji Cheng feel uneasy, and she was even less willing to go to Sanhaoju with Shen Che.
However, Ji Cheng could not resist Shen Che. In the middle of the night, she was packed up and set off. By the time Ji Cheng woke up in the morning, they had already arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Furious, Ji Cheng broke a peach branch and chased after Shen Che, giving him a good thrashing before stopping. Of course, Shen Che had intentionally let her catch up.
Gasping for breath, Ji Cheng held her waist and said, “I want to go back.”
“We’ll return in a few days,” Shen Che said, soothing Ji Cheng with a good-natured tone. “Come on, I’ll carry you.”
“I don’t want you to carry me,” Ji Cheng pouted. “Don’t think I don’t know; you’re like a weasel wishing the chicken a happy new year, with bad intentions.”
“Alright, alright, don’t be angry. Just get on, save your strength for later,” Shen Che said, turning into a patient gentleman.
After crossing the mountain, Ji Cheng saw the village where she and Shen Che had once shared a meal. She wondered if that kind-hearted old woman was still around.
“Let’s go take a look,” Shen Che said, taking Ji Cheng’s hand, clearly recalling the old woman as well.
As they entered the village, they spotted the old woman, still as robust as she had been years ago. Rural life had kept her healthy.
Seeing Ji Cheng and Shen Che, the old woman recognized them immediately and warmly welcomed them into her home.
Shen Che leaned close to Ji Cheng and whispered, “Siblings?”
This was how Ji Cheng had explained their relationship to the old woman last time, and she was surprised that the old woman remembered.
Ji Cheng felt embarrassed and pinched Shen Che’s waist.
The old woman laughed, “I didn’t expect to see you two again after all these years. Why didn’t you bring your child to play with us?”
“You see, last time you didn’t manage to fool anyone,” Shen Che chuckled softly in Ji Cheng’s ear. “The old lady’s eyes are sharp; she can tell at a glance that we are husband and wife.”
Ji Cheng pushed Shen Che away, who was making teasing remarks, and said to the old woman, “We don’t have any children yet.”
“Ah, how many years has it been? I already have two grandsons!” The old woman looked at Ji Cheng and Shen Che with surprise.
Ji Cheng thought to herself that the old woman must be wondering which of them had the problem.
After lunch, when Ji Cheng and Shen Che were about to leave, the old woman kindly pulled Ji Cheng aside and said, “Young Madam, when you sleep at night, use a pillow to prop up your waist; this method is more conducive to conception.”
Ji Cheng’s face turned completely red as she left.
Shen Che mischievously asked Ji Cheng, “What did the old lady say to you?”
“Nothing at all,” Ji Cheng denied vehemently.
Shen Che said, “Didn’t she suggest you prop your waist up at night?”
Ji Cheng’s eyes widened, “You eavesdropped!”
Shen Che laughed, “How could I know if I didn’t eavesdrop? The old lady also advised you to win me over and to be more intimate with me.”
Ji Cheng’s face was so red she could fry an egg on it. “Shen Che!” She angrily tried to slap Shen Che’s mouth, but he caught her and lifted her off the ground, running up the mountain.
“We shouldn’t waste any more time; a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold,” Shen Che said, kissing Ji Cheng on the cheek with a loud “smack.”
Sanhaoju is still quietly nestled among the green mountains and clear waters. However, just before Shen Che swiftly carried Ji Cheng into the house, she noticed that the sign for “Sanhaoju” was missing.
“Wow, the wind and snow in the mountains are too strong; they even blew away the sign for Sanhaoju,” Ji Cheng said, wrapping her arms around Shen Che’s neck. But as soon as she finished speaking, she turned her head and saw the wooden plaque beside the pillar that read “No Anger, No Obsession, No Resentment.”
As soon as Ji Cheng’s feet hit the ground, she picked up the plaque. “When was this carved? No anger, no obsession, no resentment—what kind of sentiment is this?” Ji Cheng smiled at Shen Che.
Shen Che wrapped his arms around Ji Cheng from behind, looking over her shoulder at the plaque. “It was when you conspired with Zhe Li to scheme against me. I felt upset, so I came to Sanhaoju. Seeing that sign made me angry; it felt like a knife stabbing my heart. In a fit of rage, I smashed the sign for Sanhaoju and spent the whole night carving this.”
Oh, this was settling old scores, Ji Cheng thought, trying to make her feel guilty so he could do as he pleased.
Ji Cheng said, “Oh, so you just killed off ‘women’ like that?”
“I’ll carve a new one while you sleep tonight,” Shen Che said, sucking on Ji Cheng’s earlobe while taking the plaque from her hand.
Ji Cheng replied, “No need; I think these three phrases are quite good. They can serve as a warning to others.”
“Mm.” Right now, Shen Che had only one thing on his mind, so whatever Ji Cheng said was fine. He gently pulled, and Ji Cheng’s outer garment tore into two pieces.
Ji Cheng quickly covered her chest with her hand, shrinking away from Shen Che’s relentless kisses. “I haven’t bathed yet.”
“No need; I like the scent of you,” Shen Che said, his lips brushing against Ji Cheng’s collarbone.
“What scent?” Ji Cheng was startled. Did she have a scent? She couldn’t handle that.
“The scent of peaches, sweet and fragrant,” Shen Che’s voice took on a dangerous rasp.
Ji Cheng gently pushed Shen Che away. “I want to bathe, please.” After a week of roughing it in the mountains, Shen Che didn’t mind, but she felt uncomfortable, especially with a foreboding sense that she should delay as long as possible.
Shen Che reluctantly bit Ji Cheng’s neck and said, “Then I’ll help you bathe?”
Dream on!
Ji Cheng strongly protested, but Shen Che didn’t press her, instead thoughtfully preparing her clothes and towels.
After soaking in the hot spring for a while, Ji Cheng diligently washed her hair as well. When she emerged, wet and glistening, Shen Che couldn’t rush her into “resting.”
To be fair, Shen Che didn’t rush her; he even kindly took a towel to dry her hair.
Leaning against the pillow, Ji Cheng enjoyed Shen Che’s attentive service.
Shen Che handed Ji Cheng a booklet from behind. “Here.”
Ji Cheng lifted her eyelids to glance at Shen Che but did not reach for it.
“Weren’t you going to help me heal? You should take a look and learn,” Shen Che said.
Only then did Ji Cheng take the booklet, flipping it open to find it filled with illustrations of dual cultivation, commonly known as spring palace pictures.
This was nothing unusual; dual cultivation was a matter of self-cultivation, as long as one did not view it with lewd or sinister eyes.
So, when Ji Cheng suddenly slammed the booklet shut with a “bang” and turned to hit Shen Che, it wasn’t because it was a dual cultivation manual. After all, they were married now, and she couldn’t be overly shy. It was because the woman in the illustrations was unmistakably Ji Cheng herself.
“Shen Che, you…” Ji Cheng pointed at Shen Che’s nose, ready to explode.
Shen Che quickly explained, “I was afraid you wouldn’t understand the techniques for dual cultivation, so I thought I’d show you the illustrations. But you’re the only one in my mind; how could I draw anyone else?” He snatched the booklet back from Ji Cheng and opened it. “Look, I drew it so carefully, even the folds of your clothes are depicted clearly. Can’t you see my intentions?”
Is there anyone in this world who would use this to seek favor?
Needless to say, the man in the drawing was Shen Che, and his drawing skills were much rougher, just a simple outline.
Ji Cheng glared at Shen Che. “No wonder you had a nosebleed; you deserved it. Have you ever thought about serious matters?”
Shen Che replied, “You’re the one who keeps shouting about wanting to have a son. I just thought about it, and you say I’m not serious.”