Su Xiaoqi's purity was like flower petals dipped in honey; Shen Yun was like a bee collecting nectar, and once he tasted it, he could never be separated from her.
Shen Yun's passion infected Su Xiaoqi.
Though this was her first taste of love, she wasn't entirely naive. Shen Yun's kissing skills were superb, and in just a few moments, he had her defenses crumbling.
If not for their self-control, they might have truly made the heavens their canopy and the earth their bed.
However, Shen Yun couldn't hold back in the end.
After they returned to their room, Shen Yun shamelessly pounced on Su Xiaoqi and devoured her completely.
Initially, Su Xiaoqi was worried about his wounds and dared not struggle, fearing she might hurt him.
Later, however, she was led into a deep, passionate immersion by him.
At the hour of Wei (1 pm-3 pm), Zhang Yu reported that the Old Madam and Madam Zhao had returned from visiting the neighboring estate.
Su Xiaoqi immediately got up and told Shen Yun to get dressed and go pay his respects.
Shen Yun quickly rose. One was his birth mother, and the other was his maternal grandmother, who, though not his birth mother, was more cherished than one. Both were his closest kin, and he dared not be disrespectful.
With Su Xiaoqi's help, he dressed and tidied his appearance. Hand in hand, they went to the main hall.
Upon hearing that her son had returned, Madam Zhao could no longer sit still and stood by the door, eagerly awaiting him.
The Old Madam also had many questions for Shen Yun regarding Madam Wen's situation, making her somewhat anxious as well.
After Shen Yun entered and paid his respects, the Old Madam patiently waited for Madam Zhao and Shen Yun to finish their mother-son reunion before inquiring about Madam Wen.
Earlier, Su Xiaoqi had sent her a letter stating that Madam Wen was unharmed and on her way back.
The Princess of Zhuang from the neighboring estate was her childhood confidante.
They had endless topics to discuss.
She had intended to stay for another day.
However, this news prompted her to decide to return early.
Chatting and talking could wait.
Her daughter-in-law's matters were important, and Shen Yun was returning to the capital tomorrow, so any further inquiries would have to be postponed.
"My aunt is healthy and has no further ailments," Shen Yun said, having received permission from the Old Madam to address her this way along with Su Xiaoqi.
"Good, good, you have worked hard, worked hard. I have read the letters Madam Wen sent back. This time, we owe a great debt to the son-in-law, Xiaoqi."
The Old Madam was in high spirits, and the gloom that had clouded her face in the past few days had significantly diminished.
Now that Madam Wen was fine, she could at least provide an account to her son and grandsons stationed at the border.
After asking her questions, the Old Madam returned to her room to rest, giving the family their space and time.
Su Xiaoqi escorted her back and invited her to join them for dinner that evening.
"Ah, rest assured, I will come," the Old Madam readily agreed.
She held Su Xiaoqi's hand for a long time, reluctant to let go.
In that moment, she felt as if her third daughter, who had been away from home for a long time, had returned.
Her appearance suddenly overlapped with Su Xiaoqi's current appearance.
"Jing'er..." The Old Madam's heart was filled with a resurgence of dark clouds.
She knew that as long as that person was alive, Jing'er could never return.
"Old Madam?" Su Xiaoqi leaned down to look at the aged woman, feeling genuine heartache for her.
She was a good person, so kind to her. From now on, she would be as filial as ever and accompany her to the best of her ability.
After settling the Old Madam, Su Xiaoqi went to the kitchen and asked Ziling and her daughter to prepare some delicious food.
Today, they would have a reunion dinner, which also served as a welcome feast for Shen Yun's return.
Leaving the kitchen, Su Xiaoqi went to the hall where Shen Yun was talking with Madam Zhao, Shen Xiaomei, and Shen Erdan.
Madam Zhao's voice was kept very low. As Su Xiaoqi drew closer to listen, she heard the Old Madam asking if there was any news regarding her pregnancy.
"Mother, please don't be anxious. Xiaoqi and I are still young," Shen Yun replied.
Madam Zhao raised her hand and gently patted Shen Yun's shoulder with a "snap..."
"Xiaoqi is sixteen, not yet seventeen, while you are twenty-four. You are seven years older, and you say you are still young? How can you compare yourself to Xiaoqi? When your father was your age, you were already five years old."
"Mother, I will speed things up. Please don't rush me. We are in front of Xiao mei and Erdan." Shen Yun heard Su Xiaoqi's footsteps and quickly interrupted Madam Zhao.
His mother had a heart of pure maternal love, but she didn't know that he and his wife had only recently consummated their marriage.
This was only the third time...
It wouldn't be that fast. Although he greatly hoped Xiaoqi would have his child, this was not something that could be rushed.
"Hahaha... Big Brother, you're so old and still shy," Shen Mingzhu laughed at Shen Yun.
"Mingzhu... Have you changed your temperament along with your name?" Shen Yun deliberately glared at Shen Mingzhu, pretending to be displeased.
Shen Mingzhu flinched. Her elder brother was still as formidable as ever.
In front of her, besides her mother and sister-in-law, no one else dared to speak up, and she certainly wouldn't dare to speak carelessly again.
When Su Xiaoqi entered, she saw Shen Yun scolding Shen Mingzhu and immediately glared at her, shielding Shen Mingzhu behind her.
"How can you, as an elder brother, speak ill of your sister?"
Well, every dog has its day. Shen Yun, who could render Shen Mingzhu speechless, dared not argue with Su Xiaoqi. He then shifted to discussing arrangements for Shen Erdan.
He was now eight years old and had been studying for over a year. He had finished the Great Learning from the Four Books.
This progress was considered quite rapid.
"Instead of finding a private tutor, it's better to enroll in Qingchuan Academy in the capital."
This statement made Madam Zhao hesitate. "Er dan is so young, and you want him to study at the academy? Is that appropriate?"
After all, Madam Zhao was worried about him.
Shen Yun, however, argued that Erdan was a good student, and a private tutor at home couldn't teach him much now. It would be better to enroll him in an academy, where much of the teaching focused on essay writing.
He could learn things that he couldn't learn elsewhere.
"That's true. Perhaps in addition to my husband, the Zhuangyuan, our family will have another one," Su Xiaoqi said with a smile, encouraging Shen Erdan.
He was truly the most studious person she had ever met, bar none.
Although he wasn't as gifted as Shen Yun in having a photographic memory, he understood the meaning behind what he read.
As long as he understood the meaning, even if he couldn't recite it perfectly, he could recall the original text with about eighty to ninety percent accuracy.
Shen Erdan himself expressed his strong desire to study at the renowned elite academy.
He had heard about it from his sixth uncle before coming to the capital.
The matter was thus settled. They would wait until Shen Yun was done with his current affairs and then, during the next recess, he would take Erdan to Qing Song Academy to pay respects to the teachers.
Su Xiaoqi then chimed in, saying she would prepare the customary gift of six precious items and tuition fees for the teachers.
As night fell, the reception hall for guests was as bright as day.
Everyone gathered for dinner. Since they were all family and friends, and with the Old Madam and Madam Zhao present, there were no separate seating arrangements for men and women.
They raised their cups and clinked glasses, the atmosphere exceptionally convivial.
The next day, Shen Yun, accompanied by Zhang Lei, left the estate and returned to the capital.
Mei Xin also left with him.
"Master, I've been inquiring with Zhang Lei these past two days. They say Mei Xin was originally the legitimate daughter of the Mei family, a renowned scholar family in the capital. However, she was later implicated in the affairs of the former Crown Prince, now Prince Duan. All the male members of her family were exiled, and the women were made government slaves and sold. Somehow, she ended up in the Jia family and became a maidservant to the eldest young master of the Jia family. It is said that she knows many of the misdeeds committed by the Jia family in collusion with the Prefect of Jiangning Prefecture. Therefore, the master brought her back as a witness."
Zhang Yu, in essence, was explaining to Shen Yun why Mei Xin was being taken to the capital and leaving with him.
Su Xiaoqi nodded, indicating she understood.
Since it was related to the Jiangning Prefecture case, she would not pursue it for the time being. After all, she had always been a rational person.
However, the current Su Xiaoqi did not know that while she was rational now, one day, she would lose her composure because of Mei Xin.