Chapter 154 - Returning to Maiden Home

Shen Ziqiao couldn’t catch her breath and smacked Qi Zheng’s shoulders hard as a result.

Qi Zheng let her go and glanced brightly at her face.

“Quickly get up. The others are still outside.” Shen Ziqiao exclaimed moodily. Although they were married and he had seen her entire body, she still felt a bit embarrassed.

Wait no. But his body...she only saw his top half of his body and she didn’t get the chance to look at his bottom half yet.

In order to prevent herself from looking somewhere she shouldn’t, Shen Ziqiao kept her gaze ahead.

Qi Zheng held in a smile but he exclaimed properly, “Have the maids come in and help you get dressed.”

By the time it was dinner, it was already snowing outside.

“I haven’t seen snow in the past two years.” Shen Ziqiao lamented. In the past two years in Minyue, though the winter was cold, it was mostly in the south. It never snowed at their place.

But there was a lot of rain.

“When we return to your maiden home tomorrow, I’ll take you to admire snow.” Qi Zheng fed her a piece of fish. It seemed like whatever she wanted to do, he’d do his best to satisfy her.

Shen Ziqiao nodded happily. “Okay? Okay.”

Qi Zheng enjoyed seeing her happy face. This made him feel really happy too.

“Drink some soup.” He ladled a bowl of chicken soup for her. He specially had someone cook it. With what happened last night...she definitely needed to take tonics.

“I’m really full.” Shen Ziqiao patted her round stomach, unable to eat anything else.

“Be good, drink this soup.” Qi Zheng exclaimed in a deep magnetic voice. He already brought the bowl to her mouth, coaxing her to drink the chicken soup.

Shen Ziqiao reluctantly drank it. “I can’t. I’m going to be so full if I finish it.”

Seeing that she looked like she was indeed full, Qi Zheng didn’t force her anymore. “Let’s walk outside today.”

The maids walked in to clean the table. Hong Yu draped the cape over Shen Ziqiao, saying, “First Madam, it’s cold outside.”

It was snowing outside already. Qi Zheng held Shen Ziqiao’s hands as they walked in the corridor. Although a certain person really wanted to be romantic in the yard, they were hugged tightly by another person. They had no choice to play in the snow at all.

“Qi Zheng, why don’t we go outside? Look at how beautiful the snow is. While people walk romantically in the rain, why don’t we do this in the snow?” Shen Ziqiao held onto his hands and kissed up.

“No.” Qi Zheng rejected without even thinking. It was already nice of him to let her walk outside. But she wants to play in the snow? Don’t even think about it.

Shne Ziqiao sighed. “Look. I wore a lot and my palms feel really warm. I’m not cold at all. Walking around can aid in digestion.”

“If you have such great stamina...why don’t we do something else?” Qi Zheng said purposely in her ears in an ambiguous tone.

Do what to consume energy? Shen Ziqiao thought back to last night and then she tilted her head, glaring at him.

Qi Zheng laughed out loud and lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

They were still outside and the maids were not far from them. This is really… Shen Ziqiao pushed him firmly away. She suddenly thought back to when they were serving tea. It seemed like two people were missing.

“Right. Doesn’t Xiao Gu have two sons and a daughter? How come I’ve only seen Qi Feng?” In front of Qi Zheng, she didn’t address Xiao Gu as mother tactfully. After all, it wasn’t like she was his actual mother. She even wanted to poison Qi Zheng. She had to call her mother in front of everyone but since they were together privately, nevermind that.

She wasn’t a natural masochist. One could tell that Xiao Gu wanted to bully her and even wanted her to respectfully serve upon her. Nevermind that.

Qi Zheng’s smile faded when Xiao Gu was mentioned. He said faintly, “Qi Rui and Qi Yun returned to their family in Weishui City. I heard that Old Madam Gu was sick so they went to visit their grandmother on behalf of Xiao Gu.”

“Xiao Gu’s mother and grandmother...are sisters-in-laws?” Shen Ziqiao asked. She heard that Xiao Gu was Old Madam Qi’s niece.

Qi Zheng glanced at the snow. Under the night and the faint light, there was a layer of snow. He exclaimed in a low voice, “Xiao Gu is grandmother’s niece. Back then… grandmother brought there to find her a marriage.”

Who knew that Xiao Gu wasn’t interested in anyone but actually her cousin.

If it weren’t for Xiao Gu’s ambition back then, even if Qi Silin had a mistress, mother wouldn’t have been angered to death. At that time, Qi Silin had already thought about sending the mistress away.

Shen Ziqiao didn’t need to ask to know why Xiao Gu married Duke An in the end. “No wonder grandmother doesn’t like her.”

“Grandmother likes you.” Qi Zheng smiled.

“Of course, who doesn’t like me? I’m like a flower. Don’t you like me a lot too?” Shen Ziqiao wanted to tease him so she purposely lifted her chin arrogantly.

Qi Zheng’s gloomy expression was replaced by a smile. Glancing at her conceited expression, his heart softened. He couldn’t help but pull her closer in his arms, lowering his head to capture her chattering words.

Hong Yu and Hong Ying lowered their heads and quietly left.

Shen Ziqiao struggled but the more she did, the tighter he hugged her. She ended up stopping moving in the end. After all...everyone in Qianlin Courtyard was his people. They probably wouldn’t say any nonsense.

Qi Zheng sucked on her tender lips and his tongue slipped into her mouth, playing with hers. He gently but domineeringly captured her sweetness.

Up until the two couldn’t breathe anymore did he finally let her go.

“Does...it still hurt?” Qi Zheng bit her earlobes and asked.

“A bit.” Shen Ziqiao exclaimed with a red face. When he had applied ointment for her this morning, she didn’t feel any pain anymore. It was just a bit uncomfortable when she was walking.

Qi Zheng’s gaze dimmed and he softly sighed. He carried her back into his room. “It’s getting colder. Let’s go back.”

They needed to return to her maiden home tomorrow so they needed to wake up early to go to the Shen Family.

The couple washed up and then got in bed.

Shen Ziqiao laid in bed with her back against his. Qi Zheng reached over to hug her, his warm palm slipping into her clothes and pinching her tender skin.

A strange numb feeling flashed by as if she was shocked by electricity.

“Don’t…” Shen Ziqiao said in a small voice.

Qi Zheng’s sturdy figure was pressed tightly against his back so she could clearly feel his change.

She was a bit afraid. Would she be injured like last night again?

“Sleep.” Qi Zheng didn’t continue. He just hugged her in his arms and stopped.

A smile floated on Shen Ziqiao’s face.

The next day, they set off to the Shen Family.

With Old Madam Qi’s protection, Xiao Gu didn’t have a chance to make things difficult for Shen Ziqiao. She planned on talking to her about the rules after she came back.

They arrived at the Shen Family and Shen Xiao already led everyone to wait in the lounge.

Besides Shen Xiao and Shen Ziki, no one else had seen Qi Zheng before. Although Qi Zheng was Dazhou's common people’s hero, they didn’t expect him to be so handsome.

The moment Madam Zhou saw Qi Zheng, her face turned green.

Shen Ziqiao lowered her head and stood behind Madam Zhou but her fisted hands gave away her emotions.

“Father, elder brother.” Although it has only been three days, Shen Ziqiao felt as if it had been for a long time. She felt like she had left Shen Family for a really long time. Standing in front of her family now, she lamented with feelings.

It had only been a few days. She could only address the Shen Family as her maiden family now. She was already married and belonged to her husband’s family.

She thought that she could care less about the Shen Family but seeing Shen Xiao and Shen Zikai right now, she subconsciously felt like she relied on them too much.

Shen Zikai smiled at Shen Ziqiao. Seeing her rosy cheeks, she looked much more charming. He knew that Qi Zheng treated Shen Zikai well so he felt at ease.

“Father-in-law.” Qi Zheng respectfully greeted Shen Xiao.

“Haha, brother-in-law?” Shen Zikai placed his arm over Qi Zheng’s shoulders and exclaimed happily.

The two had gone through fire and water. They were like brothers and used to the unrestrained lifestyle in the military. Shen Zikai and Qi Zheng had always got along with each other carefreely.

Qi Zheng faintly smiled.

“Hete, for you.” Shen Zikai immediately shoved an embroidered pouch at him. You really…”

“Kai’er, you...you really…” Second Master Shen shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Shen Xiao didn’t even say anything.

Shen Xiao waved his hands and smiled. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

“Second uncle, second aunt.” Qi Zheng greeted Second Master Shen and Madam Zhou, wearing an elegant smile on his handsome face.

Madam Zhou hated this situation so much. Why wasn’t this handsome and outstanding man her son-in-law? Shen Ziqiao wasn’t worthy of standing next to him at all.

She was jealous no matter what. Madam Zhou’s expression grew more unwell.

Qi Zheng was a bit puzzled, thinking that Shen Family’s second household had something against him.

After greeting them, Shen Ziqiao and Qi Zheng went to kowtow Old Madam Shen.

Old Madam Shen could barely recognize anyone. She laid in bed, with a last breath left. Even if they were kowtowing at her, she didn’t react.

“Elder brother, this…” Shen Ziqiao was extremely shocked. It had only been a few days and she had already gone to this point?

She probably won’t get to live for long.

Shen Zikai sighed.

She didn’t stay long in the De’an Courtyard, afraid of disturbing Old Madam Shen’s rest. Shen Ziqiao followed the women in the family to chat. Meanwhile, Qi Zheng followed Shen Xiao and the others to talk. Shen Ziqiao could vaguely hear them laugh.

“I don’t feel too well. You guys can talk to Jiao Jiao.” Madam Zhou was unwilling to see Shen Ziqiao’s proud expression. She stood up and faintly exclaimed this before leaving.

Shen Ziqiao smiled, unconcerned. She chatted with everyone and answered everyone’s questions.

Besides Shen Ziwen and Shen Zifen, a few women from different branches of the Shen Family had come and accompanied her too. They were all really close to her, making some jokes to keep the atmosphere lively.

Shen Zixin sat there quietly and stared at Shen Ziqiao.

How was she any worse than Jiao Jiao?