Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 27.2

Chapter 27.2

Shen Qingqing was so tired that she fell asleep quickly, and she didn’t even realise that Li Zhi was hugging her.

On the other hand, Li Zhi, a martial artist with endless energy and strength, didn’t feel tired. 

Li Zhi’s eyes adjusted to the dim light, allowing him to see his wife’s lovely, round lips. Her breathing was so soft, like a gentle breeze brushing against his face.

He leaned down and lightly pressed his lips against hers.

Shen Qingqing was still in a deep sleep.

Li Zhi swallowed hard, pausing just beside her lips.

Shen Qingqing remained asleep.

Just as he was about to take things further, she suddenly frowned, stirring awake.

Not wanting to get bitten again, Li Zhi quickly pulled back and held his breath.

After a few seconds, Shen Qingqing drifted back into her sweet dreams.

With relief, Li Zhi wrapped his arms around her soft body, feeling content as he recalled the good moments they shared before dozing off himself.

****

The next morning, Shen Qingqing woke up to find herself nestled in Li Zhi’s arms, facing his pale chest.

Shen Qingqing: ‘Ah! Did I end up on Li Zhi’s side again?’

The quilt draped over her was definitely his.

She tried to slip away quietly, but the moment she moved, Li Zhi stirred awake.

It would have been fine if he had stayed asleep. But as soon as he opened his eyes, Shen Qingqing recalled the previous night. It felt like an endless struggle, like a boat tossed in a storm, and she had to plead with him for what felt like ages. Li Zhi, being his usual tricky self, and the more she resisted, the more relentless he became…

Fuming, Shen Qingqing pushed him again!

Li Zhi noticed her movement and applied a little pressure, making her feel like a fly trying to shake a tree.

“What’s that about?” he asked with a grin, holding her little hand down as she tried to pull it back.

Shen Qingqing clenched her teeth, knowing he was good with words. So instead of questioning whether he had held her while she slept, she directly said, “Next time I end up on your side, you either push me out or you leave.”

“What if I also fell asleep when you moved to my side?” Li Zhi paused for a moment and asked.

Shen Qingqing: ‘…This man… Okay, then I’ll put a pillow between us and see how Li Zhi gives his classic excuses!’

“Get up!” Shen Qingqing shot up in frustration, but as soon as she did, she winced in pain and clutched her head.

“What happened?” Li Zhi propped himself up, concerned, noticing her flushed face.

Shen Qingqing glared at him and said, “You pulled up my hair!”

Li Zhi looked taken aback for a second, then chuckled. “Sorry about that.”

There was no real remorse in his eyes, which only fueled Shen Qingqing’s anger. She didn’t say a word to him until breakfast was over.

After they ate, Li Zhi grinned and said, “I remembered that I promised to take my wife to the garden this morning. Should we head out now or take a break first?”

Shen Qingqing replied coldly, “I’m not interested in going.”

Li Zhi said, “So, should I play chess with your wife?”

Shen Qingqing replied, “I’m not really into chess.”

Li Zhi then asked earnestly, “What does your wife enjoy?”

Shen Qingqing thought Li Zhi was being as annoying as a buzzing fly!

So to get him to stop talking, Shen Qingqing decided to join him for a stroll in the garden of the Li Mansion.

Li Zhi was the biological brother of Noble Concubine Chun. The Emperor Qingde was quite fond of him and gifted him a grand mansion, one of the finest in the capital. The garden was beautifully designed. It was split into four sections for each season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Spring was in full bloom, and Li Zhi took Shen Qingqing to Changchun Garden first.

Not wanting to put on a show, Shen Qingqing chose to leave her maids behind.

As Li Zhi started to point out the sights, Shen Qingqing turned to him and said, “I’ll explore on my own. You can take a break, Lord Marquis.”

Li Zhi chuckled and replied to his angry wife, “Alright then.”

Shen Qingqing strolled through the garden, completely ignoring Li Zhi. 

As they walked, a breathtaking view of cherry blossoms came into her vision. 

Rows of cherry blossom trees lined the path, creating a stunning floral corridor. The sun shone warmly, and the pink and white blossoms looked like something out of a dream.

Shen Qingqing paused, clearly taken aback.

Li Zhi noticed that something in his Li Mansion had finally piqued his wife’s interest, which put him in a good mood. Just as he was about to strike up a conversation, he caught sight of a figure darting through the cherry blossom trees. 

Moments later, a girl emerged from the trees. It was fifteen-year-old Jiang Yiyue, with delicate features and a slender frame. Dressed in a white gown, she stood gracefully beneath the cherry blossoms, resembling a fairy come to life.

When Jiang Yiyue spotted Li Zhi, her eyes sparkled like clear spring water. “Brother Zhongchang,” she called out softly.

Her voice was gentle and sweet.

Li Zhi recalled their first meeting when the nine-year-old Jiang Yiyue had been peeking out from behind a tree, watching butterflies flit among the flowers. He had offered to help her catch them, but she had shaken her head vigorously, insisting that butterflies belonged with the flowers and should be free to sip nectar.

“Yiyue, you’re here to enjoy the blossoms too?” Li Zhi said warmly as she approached.

Jiang Yiyue nodded slightly, her big, doe-like eyes curiously studying Shen Qingqing, who was dressed in striking red. “Is this sister-in-law?” she asked, surprised.

‘Sister-in-law…’Shen Qingqing felt a chill run through her. None of Li Zhi’s family members had ever referred to her as sister-in-law, not even when Li He did.

“That’s right,” Li Zhi replied, then turned to introduce Shen Qingqing. “Madam, this is Yiyue. Yiyue has grown up here by my grandmother’s side. She is like our own sibling. You can call her sister.”

Shen Qingqing greeted smiling generously. “Sister Yiyue.”

Shen Qingqing had already taken a good look at Jiang Yiyue before saying anything. The buzz around the Li Mansion had set her expectations sky-high regarding Jiang Yiyue’s beauty. But upon meeting her, Shen Qingqing realised that while Jiang Yiyue was lovely, she wasn’t the kind of breathtaking beauty that people take a second look at. Instead, she had a fragile delicateness that made you want to protect her.

“Sister-in-law is so gorgeous; brother Zhongchang is really lucky,” Jiang Yiyue said shyly, beaming at Li Zhi.

Li Zhi, usually modest, accepted the compliment for his wife with a grin this time.

Shen Qingqing could only respond, “Sister Yiyue is the one who shines like the moon, so don’t tease me.”

Jiang Yiyue blushed, stepping back a bit. “You go enjoy the cherry blossoms; I’ll head back now.”

Shen Qingqing, being polite, invited her. “Let’s enjoy them together; there are so many people around.”

Just as Jiang Yiyue was about to reply, Li Zhi jumped in, explaining, “Yiyue has been frail since childhood and can’t handle bright light. She can’t be out for too long.”

‘Is there really anyone with such a condition?’Shen Qingqing quickly showed her concern for Jiang Yiyue.

Jiang Yiyue smiled sadly, said her goodbyes again, and left with her maid, Du Juan.

Noticing Du Juan’s empty hands, Li Zhi frowned and asked, “Why didn’t you bring an umbrella?”

Du Juan turned pale, and Jiang Yiyue quickly interjected, “Brother Zhongchang, please don’t blame her. I didn’t want to bother her with it.”

Li Zhi shot her a stern look. Du Juan replied coldly, “I won’t let it happen again.”

Du Juan knelt, promising not to repeat the mistake.

Shen Qingqing was taken aback, witnessing Li Zhi reprimanding his servant for the first time. After Jiang Yiyue left, she curiously asked Li Zhi, “Miss Jiang’s illness… If she accidentally exposed herself to the mid-day sun, what would happen to her?”

Li Zhi looked at Jiang Yiyue’s delicate figure and let out a sigh. “When she was twelve, she got sunburned. After she went back inside, her skin broke out in a red rash that was super itchy. It took a solid two weeks of careful treatment for it to clear up completely.”

‘That’s pretty intense, right?  With such health issues, there’s no way I’d let her step outside, even if I had to drag her out.’Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but ask, “She must be aware of her condition. Why would she go out in the sun?” 

Li Zhi heard her but didn’t respond. 

When Jiang Yiyue was twelve, he was twenty-three. He had just returned from the border, and the whole family was there to welcome him, including Jiang Yiyue.

End of chapter 27

Have a nice day!