Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Shen Qingqing accepted the bracelet that Li Zhi gave her.

She had two reasons for accepting it: one was Li Zhi’s insistence about giving it to her, and the second was that she thought the bracelets were beautiful.

If she refused to accept it, Li Zhi would see through her inner thoughts, and it would show her as a fake person. Moreover, they were married, and Li Zhi had already taken advantage of her plenty. Now he was giving her something, and turning it down felt silly.

After accepting the bracelet, Shen Qingqing had a realization. She wouldn’t ask Li Zhi for gifts anymore, but if he offered, she wouldn’t say no. She knew that his gifts couldn’t change her thoughts about him, so what to be afraid of?

However, she was sure that if Li Zhi had genuinely changed and deserved her affection, she would do so.

Even though Li Zhi had put a lot of effort into having a baby since they got married, Shen Qingqing still got her period on April 10th.

By the time she noticed her middle coat was stained, Li Zhi was already off running errands at the palace.

Sitting alone on the bed, she felt a wave of disappointment wash over her.

She was eager to get pregnant soon and preferred to sleep in separate beds from Li Zhi. Although now she didn’t mind their intimacy as much anymore, Li Zhi’s high energy left Shen Qingqing feeling drained after every encounter. It wasn’t just the physical exhaustion; it was also his playful teasing that made it hard for her to keep up the image of a dignified noblewoman around him during the day.

One evening, after dinner, as Li Zhi relaxed, Shen Qingqing looked down and said, “You might want to sleep in the front yard for a few nights. I’ve got my period.”

Li Zhi noticed her expression and asked with genuine concern, “Are you feeling okay?”

Shen Qingqing braced herself for disappointment, thinking he might be upset about her not being pregnant or losing interest in her, but his question caught her off guard.

After a moment, she shook her head and asked, “How do you know… that women feel uncomfortable during this time?”

Li Zhi chuckled softly and replied, “My parents passed away when I was young, and my only sibling is a sister.”

Understanding that they had a close bond, Shen Qingqing realized that if his sister were ever in discomfort, he would definitely be attentive. This made her think of her own brother, Shen Su, and the thought that Li Zhi could be just as caring and protective of his sister made her see a more human side of him.

She slowly lifted her gaze and spotted Li Zhi with a tea bowl in one hand. His phoenix-like eyes fixed on it as if he were lost in a distant memory.

‘Those memories must have been something special. There is a softness in his eyes.’

But soon enough, that softness shifted into a complexity that Shen Qingqing couldn’t quite grasp.

“What’s on your mind?” Shen Qingqing asked, intrigued.

The odd look in Li Zhi’s eyes vanished quickly, and he flashed her a smile, saying, “I think I’ll just sleep next to you. I won’t  bother you.”

Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow at that. ‘Could he really hold back?’

That night, Li Zhi didn’t show any desire beyond just holding her close.

Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but admire him a bit.

The next morning, Li Zhi headed to the palace before dawn, as usual.

By noon, someone from Yichun Palace came with a message. Noble Concubine Chun wanted her brother to join her for tea.

Upon reaching Yichun Palace, Li Zhi saw that Emperor Qingde and two princesses were also present.  The four of them were smiling and laughing. The only thing that bothered Li Zhi was the deepening wrinkles at the corners of Emperor Qingde’s eyes.

People in the capital often said that Li Zhi could rise to this position because of his sister, but what he regretted most was that day he took her out for fun. It was the day that Emperor Qingde saw his sister.

An old man, nearly thirty years her senior, even if he was an emperor, he didn’t deserve his only sister.

“This minister has met the Emperor and the Noble Concubine.”

Li Zhi stepped forward calmly and saluted respectfully, with a gentle and humble smile on his face.

Emperor Qingde cradled the two-year-old third princess in his arms and grinned. “No need for formality, Zhongchang, just sit down. The second princess has been eager to see you!”

Li Zhi stood tall and met the second princess’s gaze.

The second princess beamed. “Uncle, Dad mentioned that next month we’ll head to the palace outside to escape the summer heat. Can you bring Aunt along?”

Li Zhi glanced at Emperor Qingde, surprised.

Emperor Qingde nodded, and replied, “I’ve been cooped up in the palace for too long. It’s the time to stretch my legs and look at the grassland views.”

Li Zhi understood the meaning of the emperor’s words. He knew that in the last couple of years, several tribes on the grassland had been gearing up for action. The real reason for Emperor Qingde’s trip was to send a message to those tribes.

“The second princess has graciously invited me, so I’ll definitely bring my wife along,” Li Zhi replied with a smile. 

Noble Concubine Chun added. “The grassland winds can be fierce, and it gets chilly in the mornings and evenings, even in summer. I have some great horses here; let my brother take them back for my sister-in-law.”

Li Zhi bowed slightly. “Thank you, Noble Concubine.”

Noble Concubine Chun sighed, and said, “What a pity. Grandma is already old, otherwise…”

Emperor Qingde, sensing her sadness, quickly interjected. “Honestly, the court is stable, and your grandmother is in good health, so it wouldn’t be a problem for her to come along.”

Noble Concubine Chun shook her head, with a simile. “Your kindness means a lot Your Majesty, but I’d rather let my grandmother stay home.”

Emperor Qingde chose not to press the matter further.

End of chapter 34

Have a nice day!