It was unavoidable.
Although Chang Wanqing was the host, the invitations were extended to almost all the highly respected scholars participating in the imperial examinations.
He needed to step onto the imperial court, and he would inevitably interact with them in the future.
But thinking about it now, it seemed those things were not that significant compared to Xiao Qi.
Moreover, even if he had gone, he shouldn't have followed the crowd and accepted the service of the courtesans.
Although he had been careful, trying his best to prevent the courtesan from touching him.
But in the end, that courtesan had bumped into him, drawing laughter from everyone.
He had thought that since he hadn't done anything, Xiao Qi wouldn't mind.
But he never expected that just by smelling a hint of fragrance, Xiao Qi would become angry with him.
Of course, her anger was not the most terrifying part; it was her current demeanor, as if nothing had happened, that made him feel the most distressed.
It was as if something precious had abandoned him and left.
His heart felt heavy, like a water-carrying bamboo basket. He wanted to fill it, but the water was disobedient and overflowed.
When the bamboo basket was submerged in water, it appeared full.
But when he took it out, he found water spilled all over the ground, with not a single drop left in the basket.
This feeling of emptiness left him bewildered.
But it was truly unbearable.
"Wife, even if you don't want to listen, I must tell you." After trying several times and realizing that Su Xiao Qi truly didn't want to hear about that day's events, he finally decided to muster his courage and speak.
The matter was simple: Chang Wanqing had invited him to a poetry gathering.
The attendees were basically the most renowned scholars in the Daliang Dynasty.
Talented scholars and beautiful ladies, the romantic tales of scholars – these were all essential elements.
"Wife, I truly didn't touch that courtesan with even a single finger," Shen Yun said seriously after thinking hard.
He then went on to say that at the end of the banquet, Chang Wanqing and the others had taken the courtesans to the Misty Rain Pavilion, and he had intended to return.
As that courtesan stood up, she accidentally stumbled and fell onto him, thus brushing against him and leaving a trace of scent.
Su Xiao Qi listened with her head lowered and her eyes downcast. She was somewhat surprised, thinking that Shen Yun would actually choose to explain himself to her.
Moreover, his posture was extremely humble, as if he were a child who had made a mistake.
Her heart skipped a beat. She calmed herself and thought carefully. From the perspective of Shen Yun, an ancient man, what he had done was not unreasonable.
She had been in the capital for more than a day or two.
She had also seen the elaborately decorated pleasure boats on the Yuan River, which were used by various brothels to entertain guests who wished to cruise the river.
Generally, when someone booked a pleasure boat, they would also invite girls from the establishment, gathering in groups to drink and chat merrily.
Later on, there were even additional overnight stay options.
Because in this era, it was not problematic for officials to frequent pleasure houses.
As long as they did not go during their duty hours.
Therefore, to people of this era, such matters were completely acceptable.
Perhaps even if it caused a scene, others would only say that she was not virtuous or generous enough.
Men always had to socialize and play along.
After Shen Yun went in to bathe and groom himself, Su Xiao Qi had thought about these matters, which was why she decided not to say anything further.
But she also did not want to invest too much emotion in Shen Yun.
Although she had unconsciously developed feelings for him, she thought it was best to control herself and not fall too deeply.
But Shen Yun had explained, and in such a manner.
Su Xiao Qi suddenly found it difficult to remain angry.
He had already stated that while he hadn't refused the courtesan's company, he hadn't actually done anything with her.
Su Xiao Qi had never thought that Shen Yun would lie to her.
She knew Shen Yun was not that kind of person; he dared to act and stand by his actions.
Moreover, from her understanding of him, he truly had no interest in those courtesans.
His ambitions lay elsewhere, completely unlike Chang Wanqing, who, despite his rough appearance, frequented pleasure houses.
This was due to Su Xiao Qi having read descriptions of Shen Yun in books, detailing how he refused beautiful women sent by his subordinates after becoming a high-ranking official.
He was not attached to money or beauty, only to power!
"It's all in the past, let it go." Su Xiao Qi's thoughts raced. She decided to simply acknowledge that she knew about it and let it be.
"Wife, you're still angry," Shen Yun stated with certainty.
Just as Su Xiao Qi understood him, he understood her equally well.
When she was angry, unlike other women who would have a loud argument, she would only become exceptionally cold and silent.
It was as if she had donned a layer of protective coloring, closing her heart so that no one could hurt her.
But this was not what Shen Yun wanted to see.
Thanks to his ability to see through Su Xiao Qi's thoughts, he knew that her feelings for him had actually gone through some ups and downs.
Xiao Qi was not like him, quickly clarifying her feelings and knowing that he wanted to be with her.
She was not.
In the past, she had mostly considered him merely a companion, or a partner.
Much like He Qiulei, Chen Jinniang, and Du Yiyi.
No, it wasn't that he looked down on himself, but she likely didn't have as deep feelings for him as she did for Chen Jinniang and Du Yiyi back then.
And even less so compared to Madam Yu, whom she later recognized as her godmother.
After arriving in the capital, it was only when he had risked his life to save her that she was finally moved by him and harbored a slight desire to spend the rest of her life with him.
But this desire had not yet blossomed, nor had it even settled, when it was once again met with an obstacle.
Shen Yun sighed. His relationship with Xiao Qi was truly a series of twists and turns. Sometimes he truly didn't know if heaven had been kind to him or unkind.
It had given him such a good woman as Xiao Qi, making him love her deeply and sincerely, yet it had also made her indifferent and distant towards him.
This left him constantly insecure, fearing that one day he would leave home and return to find her gone.
A sense of panic welled up in his heart, and for the first time, he felt the urge to possess her.
Chang Wanqing was a bit crude, often speaking without a filter, but one thing he said was quite accurate.
To truly hold a woman's heart, one must have a child with her.
Women who have children are different.
But was this truly the way?
Shen Yun was still hesitating in his mind, but his hands had already begun to move.
He actually began to undress Su Xiao Qi.
"You scoundrel..." Then he enjoyed Su Xiao Qi's curses and struggles.
His hands and feet throbbing with pain, Shen Yun came back to his senses. He quickly withdrew his hands from her chest, flashing them lightly in mid-air, a little flustered: "Wife, I, I was wrong."
How could he dare? How could he do that?
Had his brain been kicked by a donkey?
At that moment, Su Xiao Qi was thinking the same thing.
The Shen Yun just now had a peculiar expression and a dark glint in his eyes, much like the Shen Yun who, at the end of the story, held immense power and controlled the imperial court as the chief minister.
Before she could even figure out how Shen Yun had undergone such a change, he had stopped his actions.
And sincerely apologized.
What else could Su Xiao Qi do? Shen Yun was still the same Shen Yun.
He hadn't changed; he had merely hidden those things that could not be revealed publicly.
Once someone provoked him, he would not hesitate to reveal his true nature and bare his fangs, delivering a fatal blow.
Shen Yun did not expect that his momentary impulse had caused Su Xiao Qi to drift further away from him.
His heart grew more depressed. That night, as they slept together, they were both lost in their own thoughts, feeling a distinct sense of sleeping side by side but dreaming apart.
The next day, before leaving, Shen Yun said to Su Xiao Qi, "Wife, rest assured, the events of yesterday will not happen again."
"Yesterday, what events?" Su Xiao Qi asked back, feigning ignorance.
Shen Yun didn't say more, but simply hugged her.
"Now, your husband is filled with your scent, and there is no need to be tainted by anyone else."
These words successfully broke through Su Xiao Qi's composure. Her face involuntarily twitched, and her expression became somewhat peculiar.