Li Hua's fingers twitched slightly, some words stuck in her throat from excitement, unable to come out, she was really choked up.

Every word he just said was a slip of the tongue. He should have pretended not to know anything tonight, instead of acting like a husband catching his wife in the act and trying to silence her.

However, he had difficulty controlling himself.

He couldn't imagine, nor could he accept, the way she treated her male lovers with such tenderness and indulgence, chatting and laughing with them.

Will she also show the same expression she has when she's been clinging to him these past few days, and snuggle into the arms of those male concubines?

What's worse, he kept wondering if she, for the sake of romance, would also call her male lovers "husband" or "gentleman".

Just thinking about it for a moment, even if Li Hua didn't actually see the scene of the secret rendezvous, just watching her walk towards that courtyard, he still felt as if his heart was burning with rage.

So he couldn't help but say those things, and he already regretted what he said.

But he did not expect Gan Qiongying to react this way.

"Full moon celebration, go and summon the royal physician..."

"Never mind, let's go to the physician and get some bandage medicine."

Full Moon stood outside the door, and immediately went out after hearing the instructions.

Gan Qiongying held Li Hua's hand as if it were a rare treasure, carefully peeling off the bit of green bark from the twig that had pierced her palm.

Isn't it a rare treasure?

This guy is a living god of wealth.

Essential items for running around from home!

She poured all the tenderness and affection she had shown to people in her life into this project, and finally managed to bring him home. Counting the time, the countdown to next month's 200,000 taels of silver has begun.

Gan Qiongying felt exceptionally happy just thinking about it.

Especially after she learned all the secrets and decided to run away with the emperor, Li Hua became her only source of capital.

“My husband,” Gan Qiongying held him, her face full of genuine heartache, “If you continue to hurt yourself like this, I will have all the trees in the entire princess’s mansion cut down tomorrow.”

She spoke with a serious expression, saying that the palace was built against the mountains and by the water, and featured real mountain waterfalls, hot springs, and a lake, making it a magnificent sight.

The palace grounds were filled with countless trees. If they were all cut down, it would be like emptying a mountain. While it might not be as outrageous as King You of Zhou's beacon fire prank, it would still be a ridiculous and unique affair.

Li Hua looked at Gan Qiongying, who then said, "I went to burn paper money. Today is the fifteenth of July. Didn't you smell the strange odor on me?"

"I was afraid of disturbing your rest, so I went there secretly in the middle of the night. I didn't meet anyone in secret. I just went to a rather desolate courtyard in the mansion, which happened to be near the courtyards where those young masters lived."

Gan Qiongying comes from the modern era and knows that communication is key between husband and wife.

Although their marriage was a sham and they were estranged, they certainly couldn't afford to have any disagreements with the God of Wealth.

So she decided to tell the truth, and confess everything she could.

“As you know, this princess’s residence used to be an imperial palace. The courtyard I’m going to today is the courtyard where the emperor and I lived together for many years when we were children.”

Gan Qiongying rubbed Li Hua's hand with her thumb and said, "I was thinking of Emperor Huicheng, and also of my mother who died young."

"I've been having nightmares these past few days, dreaming about many things from my childhood, don't you know that?"

As Gan Qiongying finished speaking, she looked at Li Hua with a hint of reproach and said, "I don't want to keep having nightmares. I was indeed unfilial when they were alive. I'm burning some paper money to put my mind at ease."

"Why would it be worth getting up in the middle of the night to catch someone cheating, and even puncturing your own hand?"

As soon as Gan Qiongying finished speaking, Li Hua recoiled as if electrocuted, pulling his hand back and hiding it in his sleeve.

His expression was also very unnatural, and he had no idea how to deal with the situation.

"You weren't asleep. You saw me get up in the middle of the night and suspected I was having a secret rendezvous with a man. Why didn't you wake me?"

Gan Qiongying laughed and said, "You are my husband, the imperial son-in-law bestowed upon me by imperial decree. Even if I were to commit adultery, you could simply grab me, pull me back, and then go and kill the adulterer."

Gan Qiongying leaned forward, propping herself up on the table, and said, "Are you taking your anger out on yourself so I'll feel sorry for you...?"

Her tone was full of sarcasm.

Li Hua had no idea how to respond. His eyes and heart were filled with complex emotions. He wanted to bring up her past misdeeds, which even the emperor couldn't control. The imperial family and nobles were doing outrageous things. He was just a lowly merchant. What could he do but endure it?

But he pursed his lips tightly, not wanting to bring up the past.

Although her transformation left him utterly bewildered and terrified, and filled him with constant anxiety, it made Li Hua increasingly irresistible.

Just then, Manyue returned carrying the physician's medicine chest.

Gan Qiongying personally took off her outer garment, rolled up her sleeves, washed her hands, and treated Li Hua's wounds.

Fortunately, the wound wasn't deep this time. I don't know how much force I used, but a branch from the tree got stuck in my palm and squeezed out a lot of sap, which I had to clean carefully.

She worked diligently, her hands, which had never been exposed to the elements, were delicately moistened with rose milk, and her fingertips tickled her palms.

It's so itchy I can't stand it.

Li Hua did not dodge.

Gan Qiongying then showered her with kind words: "Husband, please don't do this anymore. It really breaks my heart to see you like this. If there's anything, we can talk it out and resolve it peacefully."

"I'll do whatever you say," Gan Qiongying said softly.

She's like a completely different person compared to a few days ago.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was a miraculous transformation. Something was definitely amiss, and Li Hua knew she shouldn't indulge in this illusion that was like a mirage.

But her gentle smile, so tender and lingering, made him feel as if he had stepped into a swamp; the harder he struggled, the faster he sank.

No one could understand how much he longed for this.

This way, you can get along with someone normally, peacefully, and be touched anytime, anywhere.

Li Hua was like a cat that could be soothed by a few words from Gan Qiongying, spreading out her palms and letting her do as she pleased.

Little did they know that Gan Qiongying had completely given up on herself. When she first transmigrated, she felt surrounded by enemies and was afraid of everything.

They dare not break their public persona, and dare not reveal their true selves.

Treat Li Hua well, bring the God of Wealth home, and then find reasons to act reserved.

Even when trying to make money, they are timid and hesitant, using romantic feelings to mask the truth.

But now she's not afraid anymore. The emperor is on her side. No matter what, she's now the domineering princess.

Besides the emperor, who else would she need to care about?

Who else?

She can finally let loose and be herself.

Therefore, Gan Qiongying's dependence on and subservience towards Li Hua these days, including her current fawning and flattery like a lackey, are all genuine.

She truly felt sorry for Li Hua.

That's fucking Midas touch!

During her illness, she clung to Li Hua, who stayed by her bedside handling the accounts.

She secretly peeked at some of them.

Good heavens, this guy can make hundreds of thousands of taels of silver with just a flick of his finger.

In modern terms, that's a classic domineering CEO!

A few taps and hundreds of millions!

Her hands were injured in anger because she got up in the middle of the night to burn some paper. She is so sinful! It is an outrage against humanity!

“Don’t let it leave a scar,” Gan Qiongying said. “Your hand is only just getting better, and your tongue isn’t fully healed yet. No, I have to have the imperial physician come tomorrow to take a good look at you and get some scar-removing medicine.”

"The rainy season is almost here, and you'll need to apply herbal compresses to your legs starting tomorrow. I'm watching you..."

As Li Hua listened to her rambling on and on, and looked at her gentle expression, he couldn't utter another word.

After bandaging her wound, Gan Qiongying washed up briefly and then took Li Hua to bed.

Li Hua is tall and has long legs. He and the male protagonist Zhong Li are indeed twins, so their physical conditions are naturally top-notch. Even though he wears a mask to cover his true face, his figure alone exudes elegance and grace.

He just has a slight limp in his left leg when he walks.

Gan Qiongying always matched his pace and never made him feel awkward, but no matter how she tried to hide it or how slowly she walked, she was still somewhat different from ordinary people.

Li Hua walked behind her, bowing slightly, watching the whorl of hair on her head revealed after she removed her hair ornaments. Her heart felt as if it were being gently brushed by a feather because of her considerate waiting for her with every step.

Neither of them spoke, and they quickly washed up and went to bed.

It was already very late. Gan Qiongying yawned, then neatly tucked her arms under the covers and fell asleep in a standard position.

Of course, what position she falls asleep in is not something she can control.

She's sleeping with Li Hua now, and she's sleeping very naturally.

The bed was large, and the two of them kept to themselves. However, given her habit of sleeping with something in her arms, Gan Qiongying felt that adding a blanket between them should be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

That's all for tonight...

Li Hua turned around and lay down inside, her body perfectly still.

He kept his eyes open, waiting for Gan Qiongying to fall asleep.

But at this moment, he was not sleepy at all.

He looked at his bandaged hands, his gaze fixed on the cloth for a long time without moving.

Then, for the first time, he turned around.

Facing Gan Qiongying.

His lips moved several times before he asked in a low voice, "Are you asleep?"

Gan Qiongying was in a daze. Upon hearing this, she uttered a soft "Hmm?" and wearily opened her eyes.

But she was incredibly patient; even in this state, she could still give Li Hua a gentle smile.

There's no way around it; anyone who sleeps with a giant gold ingot in their arms will wake up laughing.

Li Hua looked at her smile, pursed her lips, and then said, "Are you really entrusting General Qu's matter to me?"

Li Hua's voice was tense and low, "Do you still like him?"

He asked too softly, and Gan Qiongying was too sleepy to hear him clearly, so she didn't answer.

Li Hua waited a moment, but received no clear response. She took a deep breath.

After holding back for a moment, she raised her voice and said, "If you like General Qu, I will cut off all his cunning schemes and make him accept his fate and stay in the inner quarters to serve the princess!"

Gan Qiongying was startled awake, her limbs twitching. Hearing Li Hua's words, she was both amused and confused. She reached out and touched something randomly, patting it.

"Whatever, whatever you want. I don't like it, ......"

"I don't like anyone..."

Gan Qiongying touched Li Hua's face, closed her eyes, and scratched her with her fingers as if she were gently stroking a small animal's chin to soothe it, saying, "You only like your husband's money..."

She was telling the truth.

People say that being half asleep and half awake is most like being drunk, and that what you say unconsciously when you're drunk is the truth.

Li Hua listened to her words, his eyes fixed on her profile, his emotions churning within him.

Contrary to what Gan Qiongying thought, Li Hua's previous docile, obedient, timid, and cowardly behavior was not present.

It's filled with nothing but chilling obsession.

What would happen if a person who spends his life walking in wind and snow, thinking that he would continue to walk naked until he freezes to death in the wilderness, suddenly came across a fire that was growing bigger and bigger?

He will first feel fear, doubt, and apprehension.

But as soon as he gets even a little bit of heat, he will be like a moth drawn to light, and even if he perishes in the flames and his flesh is charred, he cannot bear to return to the wind and snow.