In the middle of the night, Liang Zhe, deep in sleep, touched Qin Shuying’s soft body.

Liang Zhe startled awake.

He stared with wide eyes, gathering his wits for a moment, then remembered that he had fallen asleep after accomplishing the deed. This… he had originally thought he would surely be very capable, but unexpectedly had surrendered after just one battle.

How embarrassing!

This was quite different from what those scoundrels in the military camp had said!

Could it be that the dignified Assistant Prefect couldn’t even compare to those loose-tongued scoundrels?

While thinking this, Liang Zhe reached toward Qin Shuying’s body.

With this touch, it was extraordinary—no need to think about what those scoundrels had said anymore, as he himself couldn’t control himself first.

Liang Zhe turned over and mounted, giving Qin Shuying another thorough handling.

Qin Shuying had been sleeping soundly, but when she sensed Liang Zhe entering her, she felt extremely embarrassed. Qin Shuying was not inexperienced in such matters, and her heart cried out in alarm—Liang Zhe had awakened, and she was about to suffer.

Indeed, the next morning when Qin Shuying got up, both her legs were trembling.

Liang Zhe at least knew moderation and said to Hong Juan outside the door: “Have Nanny Fu come!”

Hong Juan immediately understood and ran to find Nanny Fu with a flushed face.

Nanny Fu came in to tidy the bed. Seeing the bloodstains on the bed, she was extremely pleased and repeatedly congratulated the couple: “Congratulations to Master and Madam! May you have precious children soon and grow old together!”

Nanny Fu was very natural about it, which made both Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe unable to lift their heads.

Qin Shuying mumbled “Thank you for your trouble, Nanny,” then fled to the washroom like a bird.

Only after Nanny Fu left did Qin Shuying slowly emerge from the washroom, seeing Liang Zhe sitting boldly in his chair, smiling at her: “Shuying, come here a bit.”

Qin Shuying’s ears burned as she trembled on both legs: “Ziyu, what, what do you want to do?”

Liang Zhe laughed heartily, stood up and strode over, then lifted her horizontally: “Shuying was tired last night, let me hold you.”

Qin Shuying buried her head in Liang Zhe’s embrace and chided: “Ziyu…”

The trailing tone trembled, tickling Liang Zhe’s heart to a crisp itch. Qin Shuying felt that Liang Zhe was acting up again. Her face grew hot as she said: “Linglong is still waiting for us.”

Liang Zhe kissed her face all over while mumbling: “Don’t worry… it won’t delay us.”

Only when he saw that time could no longer wait did Liang Zhe release Qin Shuying.

Seeing the various light and dark marks on her neck in the mirror, Qin Shuying covered her face: “Ziyu, look what you’ve done…”

Liang Zhe laughed heartily and said: “Don’t worry, Madam, your husband will find you some clothes.”

Qin Shuying had extremely many clothes—how would he know where her garments were kept?

Qin Shuying gave him a reproachful look and together they found a garment with a slightly higher collar. Fortunately, the weather wasn’t too hot yet, so wearing this didn’t look too strange.

Then Hong Juan and the others entered to serve her toilette.

As soon as Qin Shuying saw the expressions on their faces—wanting to smile but not smiling—she knew what these girls were thinking. She glared at them several times, but none of them feared her and still wore those strange smiles.

Qin Shuying said: “You’re all of age now, and I should start planning for your lifelong affairs.”

Hong Juan was the first to object: “Madam, this servant wants to stay by your side to serve forever. I don’t want to leave.”

Qin Shuying pointed at her and said: “Look how clever she is, already planning for the position of head maid by my side.”

Hong Juan stamped her foot: “Madam, you’re just bullying me.”

Lu Ye stared with round eyes, looking bewildered: “Madam, this servant will listen to you regarding her lifelong affairs. Whoever Madam says I should marry, I’ll marry.”

Hong Juan and Ziteng couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Hong Juan said: “Madam, Lu Ye really knows her place.”

Qin Shuying then looked at Ziteng, who seemed rather gloomy but smiled without speaking.

Ziteng had once told Qin Shuying that after her revenge was complete, she would comb her own hair and never marry.

Sigh…

After breakfast, the Liang Zhe couple took Qu Linglong out with Liang Zhen.

This was Liang Zhen’s first outing for pleasure since arriving in the capital, and she was obviously very happy, maintaining a gentle smile throughout.

Qu Linglong was overjoyed to have her mother’s company for an outing, chattering away—where was the dignified restraint of a noble young lady she showed before other distinguished madams?

After all, she was just a child.

At the City God Temple.

They toured the temple fair, bought many delicious treats, and purchased many small trinkets, playing with great enthusiasm.

Qin Shuying had just taken a bite of silk candy when she turned and caught Liang Zhe’s burning gaze that seemed about to melt her, immediately lowering her head shyly.

“Ziyu…”

Liang Zhe smiled foolishly, as if he could never look at her enough.

“Ziyu, Elder Sister has noticed something’s wrong and deliberately took Linglong over there. Don’t…”

Liang Zhe held her hand—soft and small, he was absolutely delighted with it: “But I just can’t help myself.”

Qin Shuying looked at him with complex feelings in her heart.

Liang Zhen was pulling Qu Linglong to buy shuttlecocks at a small stall, lowering her head with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Would she soon be able to hold a lovely nephew or niece?

Mother, if you know this in the afterlife, you would surely be happy for Ziyu.

It’s just a pity that her own life… was ruined.

Liang Zhe held Qin Shuying’s hand and carefully wiped her face with his other hand, where some sugar residue had stuck.

Not far away, a woman stood there, watching Liang Zhe’s tenderness and Qin Shuying’s shyness, her eyes almost breathing fire.

Qin Shuying, you deserve to die!

Finally, she couldn’t restrain herself and walked over, saying mockingly: “Qin Shuying, what kind of status do you have? How do you condescend to come to this kind of place?”

Both Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe looked at Lu Changju.

Then Qin Shuying’s eyes moved past Lu Changju’s shoulder to look at a woman in old clothes behind her. The woman was holding a child and looked at Qin Shuying with hesitation.

“Third Sister?”

Was the woman before her really Qin Feifei?

Her complexion was dull and lifeless, her face full of sorrow, her eyes carrying traces of terror, hesitation, and fear. She stood there stupidly staring at Qin Shuying, her eyeballs not moving even once.

Was this still the Qin Feifei who had worn fresh clothes just a few months ago?

In just a few months, Qin Feifei seemed to have aged more than ten years.

The child in her arms saw the silk candy in Qin Shuying’s hand and drooled, stretching fingers into his mouth to chew: “Eat, eat…”

The little child was dirty, looking like he often crawled and rolled on the ground.

Qin Feifei just stared blankly at the Qin Shuying couple.

The woman was beautiful and noble, the man like a deity—what a fine pair, what a high-status couple.

Lu Changju tugged at Qin Feifei’s clothes: “Sister-in-law, your Seventh Sister is calling you, didn’t you hear?”

Only then did Qin Feifei seem to wake from a dream, shrinking her shoulders with some fear: “Yes, yes, Changju. Oh, Seventh Sister…”