Her words struck a chord with Li Shuchen. After letting out a soft "hmm", his gaze lingered on her lovely face, a hint of struggle flickering in his heart.
He yearned to be happy with Huan, yet he didn't want to engage in an illicit affair.
He loved Huan and desired her; his desire stemmed from his love, but his love transcended mere desire.
Since he loved her, he wouldn't take possession of her at a time when it would be improper and unjustified, driven solely by lust.
Li Shuchen's heart waged an internal battle, and ultimately he averted his gaze, admonishing himself to wait until after the three letters and six rites, the proper matchmaking and marriage, before sharing the intimate pleasures of the nuptial chamber with Huan.
As he pondered, the virtual assistant struck up a conversation with Qi Huan.
"Host, the Goddess says it's already getting cold in Mo County in early September. Wouldn't Li Shuchen catch a chill if he takes a cold water bath?"
"So I was planning to make him some ginger soup."
The virtual assistant paused, realizing why the host had just asked Li Shuchen if he was going to take a cold water bath.
Apparently, she wanted to confirm whether she needed to make ginger soup.
But after checking the hidden mission panel, it reminded her truthfully, "Host, maintaining Li Shuchen's physical and mental harmony will double your score, earning you an additional one thousand points!"
After a moment's contemplation, Qi Huan resisted its temptation, "I love Shuchen, and I respect him. If we ever share the intimacy of the bedchamber, it will be because I truly love him, not for points or personal gain."
"So I'll just make him some ginger soup."
After Li Shuchen went into the bathroom, Qi Huan headed to the kitchen.
She started a fire, heated a pot, and directly added sliced ginger to sauté and release the aroma. Then, she added water and rock sugar, bringing it to a boil to ward off the chill and warm the stomach.
When Li Shuchen emerged from his bath, she smiled and served him the ginger soup, encouraging him to drink it while it was hot.
"How is it? Sweet enough? I added rock sugar this time."
Gazing at her radiant smile, Li Shuchen nodded slightly, "Sweet."
Patting his damp, ink-black hair, Qi Huan went to fetch a clean cotton towel and handed it to him, "Dry yourself off."
Having wet hair could lead to illness.
However, Li Shuchen didn't take it, keeping both hands holding the soup bowl as he reasoned, "I haven't finished drinking yet, so I don't have a free hand to dry myself."
...
Seeing his smoldering gaze fixed on her hands, Qi Huan conceded, "Alright, I'll dry you off."
Li Shuchen curved his lips in satisfaction.
After he sat down, Qi Huan first dried his long hair in the back, and when he finished drinking, she dried the sides. Li Shuchen embraced her waist, nestling his face against her, "Huan is so good."
Little did he expect, Qi Huan swiftly pushed him away.
"The weather's cool now, so you should avoid getting carried away. Constantly taking cold baths isn't good for your health. To help you stay calm and composed, let's reduce our intimate interactions."
His embrace now empty, Li Shuchen's gaze dimmed as he pursed his lips, then said, "It's alright, I'm healthy."
"But I'll worry about you."
"...Alright, as you wish."
Seeing him finally nod in agreement, Qi Huan stroked his smooth, jet-black hair, inwardly musing, This feels even better than petting Heizi.
Thinking of Heizi, she glanced outside.
Spotting Heizi frolicking and chasing Yan Qing and Zhao Man, Qi Huan relaxed a little. Heizi's leg, previously injured by the gang of thieves, had finally healed!
Suddenly, she recalled that the corpses of those thieves were still in another one of her spatial dimensions.
After lunch.
Qi Huan brought up the matter to Li Shuchen, "Shuchen, let's go dig a pit and bury the bodies together."
"They don't deserve a proper burial."
Recalling Qi Huan's swollen face from being slapped, a dark glint flickered in Li Shuchen's eyes, "We should burn them instead."
After determining a secluded location to dispose of the bodies, the two rode their horses to a remote valley.
Qi Huan tossed out the seven corpses from her spatial dimension. Within the dimension, time was frozen, so they still looked as they did when they died. Spending ten points for the virtual assistant to purify the space, it quickly returned to pristine condition.
At that moment, the sound of hoofbeats approached. Yan Jiu soon arrived with two carts of firewood, skillfully dousing them with several jars of wine before lighting the pyre.
With him keeping watch, Qi Huan and Li Shuchen returned first. On their way back, they passed by Qi's parents' graves.
Although Qi Huan had never visited before, the original host's memories of this place were deeply ingrained.
An inconspicuous little mound of earth, where this body's birth parents were buried. Along with her father's honorific title, it had brought her many conveniences, so she should be grateful.
Qi Huan dismounted and kowtowed twice before their graves, deciding to renovate the tombs. She had enough money for this small gesture, the least she could do for them.
After hearing her intentions, Li Shuchen immediately took charge, "I'll instruct Yan Jiu to handle it. Once it's done, we'll come together with offerings to pay our respects to your parents."
"...My parents?"
"Your parents are also my parents." Li Shuchen knelt beside her, solemnly addressing the grave mounds, "Father-in-law, mother-in-law, please accept this humble kowtow from your son-in-law. Although Huan and I are not yet married, she is already my wife in my heart."
"Please rest assured, once her mourning period is over, I will honor her with a grand wedding ceremony. In this life and the next, I will love and protect her, through life and death, never to part."
Qi Huan gazed at his profile, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Seeming to sense her thoughts, Li Shuchen explained calmly, "They gave birth to the mortal body of my little immortal fairy, so they deserve to be treated with proper rites."
Seeing his unwavering belief that she was an immortal fairy, Qi Huan's eyes curved into crescent moons.
However, possessing 'magic' didn't necessarily make one an immortal fairy; it could also mean being a demonic fox spirit.
So she asked, "Shuchen, have you ever suspected that I might be a demonic fox spirit instead?"
"Indeed."
Li Shuchen glanced at her, "A mischievous little fox spirit who steals hearts."
"Hehehe." Qi Huan let out a mischievous giggle before recounting the stories of the ill-fated love between the human Xu Xian and the fox spirit Bai Suzhen, as well as the star-crossed romance between the mortal Dong Yong and the Seven Fairies.
After hearing these tales, Li Shuchen fell silent, his unfathomable gaze fixed on her.
If Huan was indeed an immortal fairy, then he would strive to climb to the position of emperor, making himself worthy of her.
Noticing his cold expression, Qi Huan switched to narrating stories of happy, fulfilled love. With her by his side, Li Shuchen patiently listened as they rode back home together.
The next day.
Chen Jinyou came to see Qi Huan.
"Huan, my father asked me to summon you. He said he has something to discuss with you."
"What is it about?"
"I think it's regarding the academy." Chen Jinyou scratched his head. His father had mentioned it while he was pondering what to have for lunch, so he didn't catch the specifics.
Seeing that he could not explain the reason, Qi Huan did not ask further and led Yan Qing to walk with him towards the county office.
With Chen Jinyou by his side, there was naturally no need for an interpreter. They proceeded smoothly and arrived at Chen the county magistrate's study, where he was seen laughing continuously while looking at a sheet of paper.
"Little Qi, these few lines are written quite well. I plan to have someone carve them on a stone tablet to be placed at the main gate of the Hengqu Academy, warning the students who come and go to establish their hearts for Heaven and Earth, establish their lives for the people, carry on the learning of the ancient sages, and open the way to peace for all generations."
"This is the responsibility of us scholars!"
"This line is good, but the calligraphy is not written very neatly."
"Little Qi, please rewrite it neatly. Uncle wants the craftsmen to carve the inscription based on your handwriting."
Most of the silver taels for building the academy were provided by Qi Huan, so Chen the county magistrate was grateful for her kindness and wished to glorify her name as a form of repayment.
He had already made plans – first would be the stone tablet outside the academy. The front would be carved with the four lines about Hengqu, and the back would praise Qi Huan for donating silver... as well as his own great achievements in coordinating the efforts.
To do good deeds without leaving a name is like walking in brocade at night.
He and Little Qi had spent money and effort (Little Qi spent money, he exerted effort), so shouldn't they leave some traces and gain a good reputation?
It was absolutely appropriate!
