Shen Yun looked at Su Xiaoqi for a long time, with such intensity that he didn't hear a single word she said, nor did his hands move.
"Hey, Shen Yun, what are you doing? Hurry up and write, I was just talking about the layout of the backyard, quick, quick, write it down."
Su Xiaoqi spoke as she looked up at Shen Yun, and her eyes met his, staring intently at her.
His eyes were deep and dark, like a deep pool in the mountains, clear and distant.
The moment Su Xiaoqi met his gaze, her heart trembled involuntarily.
Shen Yun's eyes held a deep, lingering affection, so intense that she dared not meet his gaze.
She immediately lowered her head, her cheeks flushing all the way to her ears.
Her heart pounded erratically.
Lowering her head, she saw the illustrations Shen Yun had drawn for her proposal. The lines were fluid, clean, and clear.
The drawings were so vibrant that they seemed ready to come alive if only given life.
"Hey, you, you draw so well. No wonder your paintings will be worth a fortune in the future, priceless!" Su Xiaoqi said, trying to fill the silence. In her nervousness, she accidentally said something she shouldn't have.
"Oh, why does my wife know about future events? Do you have precognition?"
Su Xiaoqi said anxiously, "I, I, I was just saying that. After all, your drawings are so good, even His Majesty likes them..."
Unbeknownst to her, the more Su Xiaoqi spoke, the more Shen Yun's doubts grew.
When he had written for He Qiulei, he had intended to use his preferred calligraphy styles, Pavilion Official Script or Cursive Script. But Su Xiaoqi had advised him that the Emperor favored the Slender Gold style.
He knew the Emperor's preferences; anyone interested in court matters would know with a little inquiry.
But how could Xiaoqi know?
She was a woman, destined to have no connection with court affairs.
Moreover, she seemed so certain that the Emperor would like his calligraphy and paintings.
At the time, he hadn't thought much of it, believing he was just doing his best.
And indeed, things turned out exactly as Su Xiaoqi had predicted.
The news from He Qiulei was that Shen Yun's calligraphy and paintings had been presented and received high praise.
This led to the confirmation of He Qiumiao's promotion.
Initially, Shen Yun had considered it a coincidence, but hearing Su Xiaoqi speak like this now, and recalling how she used to pester him to draw for her when they were in Zhaojia Village,
He had thought then that it was simply because Xiaoqi liked his artwork.
Now, it felt as though she had been collecting his paintings to sell them at a premium later.
However, even so, Shen Yun had no complaints.
He was merely curious as to how she knew things she shouldn't possibly know.
Meeting Shen Yun's probing gaze, Su Xiaoqi felt a pang of guilt, but she quickly regained her composure.
Without a word, she leaned into Shen Yun's embrace, her arms around his neck, and stood on tiptoe to lightly kiss his chin.
"My husband's calligraphy and paintings are universally acclaimed. Even Mr. Gu could not help but praise them highly.
So, I heard from Mr. Gu that your calligraphy and paintings are in the style that the Emperor favors."
Su Xiaoqi attributed it to Mr. Gu, who was not in the capital, and felt no guilt.
Shen Yun would never write to Mr. Gu to inquire about this matter.
This topic would undoubtedly remain unresolved.
In fact, Shen Yun didn't have much of a desire to investigate, especially with Su Xiaoqi nestled in his arms.
Her thoughts were all laid bare in his heart, and with her warm, soft presence in his arms, the delicate fragrance of her body wafting into his nose, he was unable to focus on anything else.
He lowered his head and gently kissed Su Xiaoqi's forehead, then her nose, her cheeks, and finally her lips.
His hot breath fell upon them little by little, making Su Xiaoqi tremble all over.
"Mmm..." She had initiated the teasing, and she was the first to be unable to bear it.
"Why are you so sensitive?" Shen Yun sighed softly. Did she not know that her gentle trembling made his heart even more chaotic, making him even more unable to control himself?
Seeing her innocent expression, Shen Yun sighed, thinking she must not know how alluring she was at that moment.
"My wife..." Shen Yun sighed, releasing her full, luscious lips, and holding her tightly in his arms, wishing he could embed her delicate body into his very bones.
Su Xiaoqi, however, was oblivious to his inner turmoil. She felt she had found what she wanted and didn't want to control herself any longer.
They were husband and wife, and perhaps it was time for them to do what husband and wife were supposed to do.
Su Xiaoqi gasped and lifted her head, her lips brushing against Shen Yun's sculpted chin, nuzzling against his perfect facial features, filled with his pleasant scent.
There was a faint aroma of medicine mixed with a hint of ink.
Su Xiaoqi felt a touch of intoxication as her slender fingers traced his Adam's apple, undoing his clothes.
Through the soft fabric, she gently reached for his chest. She had seen his physique before; he looked slender, but he was the typical type who looked good in clothes and had a well-built frame when undressed.
In short, the kind of person that would make one's mouth water.
Su Xiaoqi's heart surged, and she could barely control her hands.
She moved slowly, inch by inch, down to his narrow, slender waist...
"My wife..." Shen Yun enjoyed the caress of her delicate fingers, but he didn't expect her to continue further, which was slightly beyond his anticipation.
He was surprised and delighted, but more so, resigned.
He desired her, ever since he had truly fallen in love with her, he had thought of nothing else.
But he didn't want it to be so simple; he wanted to wait until the provincial examinations, until the imperial examinations.
He wanted to wait until he had the ability to stand before her before consummating their union.
But those slender hands were like little troublemakers, igniting fires everywhere, making Shen Yun's breathing grow heavier; he was on the verge of losing control.
"My wife..." he uttered again, trying to stop her.
However, Su Xiaoqi was not one to follow conventions.
What she wanted to do, she would strive to achieve.
She felt she had come to terms with the issues that had been bothering her since her arrival.
She no longer solely thought of leaving Shen Yun, but only of cherishing what she had. By not constantly thinking of escape, she might be able to live well in the present.
And there was one last thing missing in her marital relationship with Shen Yun, and perhaps they should do it.
She tried to push forward, but Shen Yun was a man of great principle. He wanted to give Su Xiaoqi dignity and would not simply consummate their marriage so casually.
That would be too unfair to her!
"I want... you," Su Xiaoqi whispered.
Her voice was filled with passion, carrying an alluring scent that Shen Yun found irresistible.
A wild horse seemed to be galloping frantically within Shen Yun's body, his desire roaring, wanting to break free.
"My wife, wait for me until I achieve success?" Shen Yun saw the thoughts in Su Xiaoqi's heart.
He was very surprised, and even more so, delighted.
Persistence opens the way, and genuine affection moves mountains. Had he finally moved his wife with his true heart?
His excitement overwhelmed the impulse brought on by desire.
He swept Su Xiaoqi into his arms, took her mischievous little hands that were igniting fires everywhere, and whispered into her ear, "My wife, wait for me. This matter is of great importance, and I cannot wrong you."
Su Xiaoqi was stunned. Well, she was thinking of dedicating herself to him, and here he was, thinking of giving her a sense of ceremony.
Fine, she hadn't experienced intimacy yet. The feelings came fast and receded just as quickly, and her mind was still a bit hazy.
Carried by Shen Yun onto the bed, he then brought hot water for her to wash her face and hands, washed her feet, removed her outer clothes, and tucked her in, pulling the quilt up to her chin.
He then tidied himself up, got into bed, and drew her into his embrace.
Su Xiaoqi was completely bewildered throughout the entire process.
What, what, what? What had Shen Yun just done?
Washed her face, hands, and feet?
Su Xiaoqi's mind was blank. She stared blankly as Shen Yun's handsome face magnified before her, so much so that her eyes could only contain him and no one else.