In the room, two candles were lit. A canopy bed stood against the wall, and a scholar's desk was placed by the window.
Shen Yun, dressed in simple moon-white inner garments, was engrossed in painting.
He had been working on this painting for over ten days, a depiction of Yuanbao Mountain requested by Su Xiaoqi.
He was about to depart for the prefectural city. Once this painting was finished and mounted, he would have fulfilled his promise to Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi stood behind him, holding a cup of homemade ice jelly.
Unfortunately, ice was hard to come by at this time, and there was nowhere to buy it.
She could only place it in the well water she had dug herself to chill before serving it, which still felt refreshingly cool.
It was a perfect treat for beating the summer heat.
In July, not even a breath of wind stirred the air, making it exceptionally muggy. People felt inclined to do nothing but fan themselves with palm-leaf fans.
Yet, here was Shen Yun, diligently painting at her request.
Su Xiaoqi disliked the smell of oil lamps and had specially purchased many candles.
Under the candlelight, beads of sweat, large and crystal-clear, dotted Shen Yun's forehead.
Su Xiaoqi feared they would roll down and splatter onto the drawing paper.
The ink marks on the paper were not yet dry; wouldn't that ruin the painting?
She quickly stepped forward, drawing out a fine cotton handkerchief embroidered with orchids, to wipe the sweat from Shen Yun's brow.
The soft handkerchief, her gentle touch, interrupted Shen Yun's concentration.
He put down his brush, saw Su Xiaoqi holding food, and took a bite from her hand.
A wave of coolness washed over him, and the heat on his body vanished.
He narrowed his eyes, savoring the coolness, and finished the entire cup in one go.
Seeing his enjoyment, Su Xiaoqi felt a surge of happiness:
"Eat slowly. My younger sister and I made plenty.
We'll chill it in the well tonight, and tomorrow we'll add some watermelon. That will be even more delicious."
Shen Yun blinked, his handsome phoenix eyes widening. His dark pupils reflected Su Xiaoqi's melon-seed face like a frameless camera.
As if looking in a mirror, she smiled at him.
Shen Yun's heart stirred. He put down the bowl and embraced her from behind.
Su Xiaoqi was about to struggle when she saw Shen Yun pick up his brush again, dip it in ink, and then offer it to her.
"Why don't you add a stroke? This is called a husband and wife singing in harmony." Shen Yun's arm circled her waist from behind, one hand holding down the paperweight for her, the other gently guiding her hand.
Su Xiaoqi's body stiffened. For a moment, she didn't know how to hold the brush.
Shen Yun chuckled, parted her fingers to place the brush within them, naturally took her right hand, and guided it to trace on the paper.
Majestic peaks, rolling mountains, vibrant forests, babbling streams, and the rising sun peeking over the horizon... it was a refreshing and soul-stirring sight.
The painting was unlike any other, seeming almost alive.
Looking at it, one felt as if they were there, experiencing the scenery, hearing the sounds.
Such a magnificent painting, Su Xiaoqi dared not to make a clumsy stroke.
She repeatedly shook her head, signaling her refusal to paint.
Shen Yun, without hesitation, guided her hand across the drawing paper.
A cluster of trees emerged on one side, and a craggy rock formation appeared...
As they painted, Su Xiaoqi felt as though she had stepped into the painting. She found herself amidst the mountains, listening to the melodious chirping of birds and quietly admiring the flowers and leaves.
Unknowingly, drawn in by Shen Yun, she painted for a full quarter of an hour.
It was only when her body grew tired and she could no longer hold on that she let go of the brush and slumped into Shen Yun's embrace.
His little wife was too nervous. Shen Yun chuckled softly, gently holding her as he sat on the armchair.
Their position made Su Xiaoqi suddenly clear-headed. Wait, she seemed to have pressed on something.
Su Xiaoqi's heart felt like a wild deer, beating erratically and flustering her.
She tried to stand up, but Shen Yun's arm held her firmly.
He freed one hand and gently stroked her brow bone, murmuring, "Her arched brows are the meaning of the painting, her embroidered robes shared in the incense."
"Ah..." Su Xiaoqi hadn't understood at first, but after some thought.
Seeing the unprecedented emotion in Shen Yun's eyes and brows, she suddenly understood.
She struggled even more fiercely.
However, the more she struggled, the tighter she was held.
She was even overturned and lay half-reclining in Shen Yun's arms.
One of his hands supported her neck, while the other lifted her chin, gazing down at her.
He had been busy with his studies in recent days and hadn't had the chance to look at her closely.
Compared to before, her features had matured.
Her brows were like distant mountains, naturally dark without adornment; her eyes like stars, luminous without embellishment; her lips like cherries, red without coloring; her face like peach blossoms, fair without powder.
She possessed a delicate beauty intertwined with a natural grace, and an elegant charm that was captivating.
One could never tire of looking at her.
The more he looked, the more he wanted to look; the more he looked, the more he liked her.
"Wife, accompany me to the prefectural city," he said deeply.
He suddenly couldn't bear to be apart from her for so long.
The thought of not seeing her for nearly half a month made him feel uneasy.
"Hmm?" Su Xiaoqi's face flushed from Shen Yun's gaze, her mind a chaotic mess.
"Come with me to the prefectural city," Shen Yun leaned down, his lips close to Su Xiaoqi's, uttering each word deliberately.
A rush of heat surged through Su Xiaoqi. Her mouth moved faster than her brain, and she agreed: "Mm, okay."
By the time she realized what had happened, it was too late.
She bit her lip, a look of vexation on her face.
Shen Yun, sensing her thoughts, kissed her lips and chuckled softly.
Shen Yun, when he smiled, had a face like a beautiful painting, as warm as the morning sun in spring.
Su Xiaoqi found herself staring, captivated. She murmured, "I'll accompany you, accompany you to the examination..."
Shen Yun's smile reached his eyes. His entire being softened like flowing water, and his voice carried a captivating allure:
"Wife's affection is noted, my dear."
Misled by his handsome appearance, Su Xiaoqi completely abandoned her resistance, gently rubbing against the thin corners of Shen Yun's lips.
It was a bold, tentative exploration.
Shen Yun's heart was stirred. He longed to shed the layers of clothing on the woman in his arms and embrace her tightly, to cherish her.
But with the imperial examinations imminent, the time for consummation had not yet arrived.
Moreover, he understood Su Xiaoqi best.
Though her heart was surging with emotion under his influence, if he were to actually do something, she would surely refuse.
She was worth savoring slowly, and he was not in a hurry.
The next day, Zhao Village bustled with activity.
Everyone gathered in the fields, some digging, some leading water.
They were eager to plant the potatoes and corn, anxious to verify if they would be as high-yielding as Su Xiaoqi claimed.
Su Xiaoqi also went down to the fields for a look. Seeing their enthusiasm, they wielded their hoes as if mining for gold.
She was infected by their excitement, taking the hoe from Zhao Ye's hand and swinging it a few times in Zhao Liushun's field.
Zhao Ye looked at her, his astonishment never diminishing.
She appeared frail and small, yet her mind was filled with so many peculiar ideas.
She also knew many things that they were unaware of.
Zhao Ye's gaze was too lingering. Su Xiaoqi noticed it and looked up at him:
"Huh? What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?" Su Xiaoqi said, touching her forehead and hair.
But the more she touched, the more she smeared the mud on her hands onto her hair.
Caught in the act of peeking, Zhao Ye lowered his head in a fluster.
But he quickly raised his head again, pointed at the top of her head, and gestured with his hand, indicating there was something there.
Su Xiaoqi spread her hands and saw mud on her palms. Knowing that her hair must be dirty, she patted and pulled at her hair, rummaging through it. Then, with her clear, bright peach-blossom eyes, she looked at Zhao Ye and asked if it had fallen out.
Zhao Ye shook his head, slowly approached her, stopped three steps away, and slowly extended his hand towards her...