Lihoumen

Chapter 21 Living Together
This was the first time for the couple to sleep together. Shen Han was the son of a marquisate, and Qingqing thought that someone should serve him when he took a bath. However, she was not sure about his preferences. She was hesitating whether she should call the little maid in to serve him, but after hearing the sound of water splashing in the bathroom, Shen Han had already walked out.

He was wearing a loose, moon-white robe. Although the collar was tied neatly, his sturdy, wheat-colored skin could still be vaguely seen.

Qingqing hurriedly looked away and asked awkwardly, "Do you want to call a maid to help you twist your hair?"

"No need, I can do it myself."

As he spoke, Shen Han picked up a sheep-horn comb from her dressing table. He did not sit down, but stood in front of the bronze mirror and carefully twisted her hair with a dry towel.

"I have changed the water for you, please go in." He said to Qingqing while twisting her hair.

Qingqing nodded and went into the bathroom with her pajamas.

He had indeed refilled the bath water for her. Qingqing reached out to test the water temperature; it was neither too hot nor too cold, just right.

Qingqing took off her clothes, stepped into the bathtub and soaked in the warm water.

Her mind was a little confused. It all seemed to happen too fast, and she seemed not to be ready yet.

She didn't know how to get along with him, how to be a good wife to him, and even less how to be the mistress of this mansion.

After Qingqing took a bath with complicated thoughts, she dried herself with a towel. After hesitating for a moment, she picked up the bra binder and tightened her body tightly. Then she put on her undershirt and pushed the door open to leave the bathroom.

Shen Han had already gone to bed. He considerately left a light on for her on the table beside the bed.

Qingqing walked to the bedside with light steps, carefully lifted the quilt and got on the bed. As soon as she touched the pillow, she heard Shen Han's voice: "Did you take the medicine just now?"

Qingqing thought he was asleep, and was slightly surprised to hear him ask this. She was stunned for a moment before she replied, "I've already eaten."

Shen Han added, "I asked you to soak in cold water in the palace that day. Although it is summer, you can't be careless. You should take good care of yourself and take more medicine for a few days."

Qingqing replied: "Don't worry, I am a doctor."

Shen Han heard this with a hint of laughter in his tone: "I forgot about this."

Qingqing didn't know what to say. After the two of them exchanged a few simple words, they fell into silence again. Fortunately, there was darkness to cover them. Although it was awkward, since they couldn't see each other clearly, they didn't have to be as embarrassed as they would be in the daytime.

"Tomorrow is a double-day. You have to go and offer tea to your mother. I will accompany you." After a long time, Shen Han said this.

The old lady was very particular about rules, and on every double-year day, each daughter-in-law had to go and pay her respects without fail.

The old lady is mean.

It was naturally great to have Shen Han accompany her.

"Thank you." Qingqing was happy and turned her head to say to the person beside her pillow.

Shen Han, who was lying on his back, turned his head slightly and said to her slowly, "My mother has a bad temper and is a little prejudiced against you. I hope you can be more understanding. Anyway, I have returned. I will slowly persuade her in the future."

There is a huge gap between their statuses, so it is naturally not an easy thing to live a peaceful life in this marquis's mansion. The fact that Shen Han can have such an attitude between his mother and his wife is enough to show his sincerity towards her.

Qingqing is not an ungrateful person.

She felt warm at the words, so she replied sincerely: "I am your wife. If mother-in-law can accept me from the bottom of her heart, I am willing to fulfill my filial duties with you in the future."

Shen Han was very satisfied that his wife was virtuous and polite. He raised his hand and gently patted Qingqing's hand, saying, "Go to bed early."

Qingqing was a little nervous at first, but gradually she heard the man's even breathing beside her pillow, and she fell asleep.

Although she had always had a good sleep, this was the first time in the three years since she entered the Marquis' Mansion that she slept so soundly and peacefully, almost without any dreams all night.

She didn't open her eyes until she heard a gentle call in her ear.

It was Shen Han calling her.

When Qingqing opened her eyes, Shen Han was standing beside her bed. He was already dressed neatly, wearing a golden crown on his head, a dark blue brocade robe embroidered with bamboo patterns, and a jade pendant on his slender waist.

She is still dressed meticulously.

Qingqing didn't care about being confused. She immediately sat up and asked, "What time is it? Did I oversleep?"

Shen Han replied: "It's not too late, but I have to go to pay my respects to my mother today, so I woke you up."

Qingqing always has the habit of getting up early, but today, for some reason, she overslept.

She nodded to Shen Han and said, "My husband, please go to the outer room and wait for a while while I get dressed."

After Shen Han left the room, Qingqing did not call for help, but picked out clothes to change by herself. When she took off her undershirt and untied her bra, she found that a large red rash had appeared on her chest because she had tied it up for a whole night. It was sandwiched between the two white spots, like a cluster of red plums blooming under the snow-capped peaks.

Qingqing quickly took out the homemade powder from the bedside, dipped a cotton ball in it, and applied it on her chest little by little. In less than a while, the rash subsided and the itching stopped.

Today she had to pay her respects to the old lady, so she couldn't be careless at all. Qingqing tied her chest binder tightly again, changed her clothes, and dressed neatly before leaving the inner room.

Shen Han was sitting in an armchair in front of the window, flipping through the books on the bookshelf. He looked up and saw Qingqing coming out, so he casually put the book he was flipping through back on the bookshelf and said, "Are all these medical books left by your benefactor?"

Qingqing nodded and said, "Most of them were left by my father and mother, and some I bought myself."

The couple sat down in front of the dining table, and Shen Han said, "My benefactor is a famous doctor in Shuzhong. You have inherited his true teachings, so I believe your medical skills must be very sophisticated."

Qingqing replied: "Compared with my father's medical skills, my medical skills are nothing but a small witch compared to a big witch."

Shen Han said: "In this world, it is rare for a woman to be proficient in medicine. It is already remarkable that you are lucky enough to learn it."

Qingqing has been very interested in medicine since she was young. Like her father, she once had the ideal of practicing medicine to save the world. However, now that she has become a marquis' wife, this dream has become a bubble.

She smiled bitterly, her tone showing regret that she couldn't hide: "These medical books are just to help me pass the time, and they are of no practical use."

After Shen Han heard this, he pondered for a moment and said, "The most important thing for a woman from a rich family is her morality, speech, appearance and skills. As for learning medicine, I'm afraid it's not suitable for her."

Halfway through his words, he glanced at the desolate look on Qingqing's face, and then said in a slow tone: "Of course, if you like, you can read some medical books on weekdays. If nothing else, it is also very beneficial to know some health-preserving techniques."

As the daughter-in-law of a powerful family, she naturally had to show her dignity everywhere. If she couldn't give up studying medicine, she would be constantly announcing her humble origins to outsiders.

Qingqing was also clear about this.

She said, “I understand.

(End of this chapter)