Because it was so late, Shangqing didn't even have breakfast the next day. He had been keeping watch outside all night, waiting for the young master, but he didn't come back. He was so tired late at night that he only managed to doze off for a while.

He didn't even know when the young master returned.

The next day, when his wife called him for dinner, he tried to come up with an excuse, only to find that his son had returned. He couldn't get up even when called, and slept until the sun was high in the sky.

Lunchtime has already passed.

This has caused Shangqing a lot of worry.

I wonder what's wrong with you, young master.

Could it be that General Shen drugged his young master?

I really wanted to see a doctor, but I was afraid my wife would find out.

Shangqing waited anxiously, the sunlight streaming through the dappled windowpanes, illuminating the entire room. The lamp wick was finally 'awakened' by the sun, but his throat ached, and he couldn't utter a sound.

He poked his head out of the tent, saw that no one was there, and could only shake his arms and try to get off the bed. As soon as he touched the ground, he put a little effort into it and fell to his knees.

The pain brought tears streaming down his face.

Clenching his fists, Shang Qing heard a noise coming from the room. He paused for two seconds, then realized it might be the young master and quickly knocked on the door to ask, "Young master?"

Deng Xin's voice was hoarse; when he spoke, it sounded like he had a razor blade in his throat.

Feeling unwell, unable to speak, he could only pat the bed. Upon hearing the sound, Shang Qing, as expected, stopped asking and opened the door. He saw his young master lying on the ground and gasped in shock.

He ran over to help.

Nan Yu's legs trembled, and she was helped to a chair, but the hard stool was uncomfortable to sit on.

They even wanted to hang themselves from the beam with a rope.

"Young Master, what happened to you?" Shang Qing asked worriedly, his eyes catching a red mark on the young master's neck. He had never experienced anything like this before, nor had he ever seen a palace painting, so he didn't understand and asked anxiously, "Did General Chen hit you?"

Nan Yu regretted it; she regretted kissing him yesterday.

Things went wrong while they were kissing.

He shook his head: "What time is it?"

Shangqing: "One quarter past the hour of Wei".

Everyone had finished lunch by now. Nan Yu couldn't remember how he got home last night, but he felt unwell, hungry, and had a hoarse voice. Damn Shen Qichuan, he just did it and ran away, ignoring all after-sales service.

"General, this way please."

The steward bowed slightly, his posture respectful, and led Shen Qichuan forward. In addition to the servants of the Qi family, the man also brought four guards. The group passed through the garden, arrived at the archway, and went inside.

The young master's courtyard is quiet and elegant. From a distance, a row of bamboos extends out from the wall, the bamboo branches stretching lightly and the bamboo leaves layered. When the breeze blows, the ancient courtyard is given a touch of liveliness and poetry.

The sound of their footsteps startled the people inside the house.

Nan Yu rubbed her head and asked Shang Qing, "Why is it so noisy?"

Shang Qing: "I'll go take a look."

Just as he was about to step out the door, he bumped into the steward leading General Shen. Shang Qing paused, and for a moment, he almost forgot to bow and wanted to turn around and go find his young master.

In the end, reason prevailed.

He bowed and called out loudly, deliberately so that the young master inside the room would hear him and not be caught off guard, "General Shen, are you here to see our young master?"

Nan Yu was thinking about crickets a second ago.

The person arrived in the next second.

It's no use coming here; they can't share my pain. I'm still cursing in my heart, but the corners of my mouth are turned up.

The steward was afraid that the sixth young master would be presumptuous. This General Shen was now a very popular figure in front of the emperor. He had returned to the capital after making great contributions and was riding high.

Although my master and General Shen are of the same rank, General Shen has real military achievements, a far-reaching reputation, and the ability to command troops. My master has to show him some respect.

The sixth young master is not usually very steady, and the butler is really afraid that he will act recklessly. He doesn't know how the two of them met.

The people in the backyard of the Minister's residence were waiting for news after hearing that Shen Qichuan had arrived.

When he arrived at the Qi family, he naturally had to pay his respects to Qi's father first. The two chatted for a while before Shen Qichuan came to the Dengxin Courtyard.

Nan Yu sat on a stool wearing an undergarment, her legs wide open, her arms propped on the table, supporting her head, her brows furrowed, looking as if she were very uncomfortable.

Shen Qichuan was no longer calm. He quickly came to the young master's side and was about to hug him when the steward was there. Not sure if Nan Yu wanted to go public, the man restrained himself and turned around to say, "Thank you. I have something to say to Young Master Qi."

The housekeeper is also quite perceptive.

Seeing this, he dismissed the servants in the room.

Only Shang Qing and a few guards brought by Shen Qichuan remained.

The guards were all carrying something in their hands. The steward didn't understand, but judging from their manner, it was probably a gift for the Sixth Young Master. Others would give gold and silver jewelry as gifts, but these guards were carrying cotton. He didn't know what it meant.

Shangqing feared that Shenqichuan would be detrimental to Nanyu.

Even though they were afraid, they still loyally stood in front of their young master.

Shen Qichuan instructed his subordinates to spread everything in the lampwick room, including a soft couch, chairs, and even two extra mattresses on the bed.

Shang Qing looked completely bewildered.

The man walked past him, helped the young master up, took out a box of ointment from his waist, opened it, and said to Nan Yu, "This is a moisturizing ointment prepared by the Imperial Hospital. Apply it to that area, and it will heal quickly."

Starting with zero frames, there's no way to avoid it.

He didn't even have time to cover his mouth before Shang Qing heard everything.

However, Shangqing is a bit naive. He doesn't understand this and that. In his ears, "run ointment" means medicine ointment, which should be applied to the wound on the young master's neck. It's good that General Shen still has some conscience!

The guards were quick and efficient.

After the cotton quilts were laid out, Shen Qichuan let them leave.

Shang Qing just watched, seeing the person off all the way, and finally his gaze fell on the man, clearly expressing: Why aren't you leaving yet?

Shen Qichuan didn't even look at him.

Nan Yu said, "Shang Qing, you can go down first."

Shang Qing stared wide-eyed. "Young Master."

They're being bullied, and they still have to share a room with their bullies?

Nan Yu: "My throat hurts, let's brew a new pot of tea."

Shangqing could only leave, looking back every few steps.

As soon as he left, Shen Qichuan picked him up, carried him to the soft couch, and carefully placed him on it. His hand moved down, touching the waistband as if to pull, but Nan Yu quickly grabbed him, her tone slightly stern:

"That's all you know how to do?!"

Shen Qichuan: "I'll apply the medicine for you."

Nan Yu realized she had misunderstood, her face flushed slightly, and she stammered, still clutching her waistband, "No, no need, I'll do it myself."

Shen Qichuan: "Can you see it?"

Nan Yu: "..."

Shen Qichuan: "We're an old married couple, what's there to be shy about?"

Nan Yu: "What if someone sees me like this? Don't I have any shame?"

Shen Qichuan smiled, went to close the door, and returned: "Now it's okay."

She was definitely shy, but everyone remembered it, so it wasn't that awkward. If she didn't let him apply the medicine, she might even be forced to. Dengxin convinced herself not to let him stay on the soft couch.

It would be too embarrassing if Shang Qing saw them.

On the tatami mat.

The curtains were also lowered.

Shen Qichuan wanted to touch it again, but Dengxin turned her head and glared at him, "If you're not going to apply the medicine properly, I'll do it myself!"

Shen Qichuan handed him the ointment, leaned down and pressed it against the young master's cheek, teasing him softly, "Baby, do it yourself, I'll watch."

The wick immediately sat up, gritting his teeth and enduring the pain.

Shen Qichuan was also afraid that he would suffer for too long.

I'm not kidding anymore.

He scooped out a little ointment with his finger and applied it to the young master's wound. The cool touch made him want to pull away, but Chen Qichuan held him down, kissed his little mouth, and coaxed him:

"Okay, that's enough."

Pulling up her pants, her legs ached, she ordered Shen Qichuan, "Give me a leg massage. It's all your fault for forcing me yesterday. I told you my body isn't up to it, you're just blinded by lust!"

Shen Qichuan apologized with a smile, showing no impatience whatsoever.

The water boiled, and a pot of fresh tea was brewed. Shang Qing immediately ran back to the courtyard, fearing that his young master would be bullied. However, no sooner had he entered than several young ladies of the house came running over.

There is also the Fifth Prince.

As soon as they came in, they started chattering away, asking about the lamp wick.

Shangqing was both surprised and speechless. He usually only came to the temple when there was a reason, maybe for a meal or a chance encounter in the garden. But today, it seemed like the sun had risen in the west, and so many people had come.

Even a fool could see that Sima Zhao had ulterior motives.

Knowing that General Shen was coming.

She's probably after him.

After all, Shen Qichuan is a young man who holds the rank of second grade official. He is very likely to be enfeoffed as a prince of a different surname in the future, and will have his own fiefdom. Tsk.

Shangqing was still holding a cup of tea.

On one hand, she was thinking that the young master had just woken up and hadn't dressed yet, and on the other hand, she was wondering if Shen Qichuan would be too afraid to act recklessly if there were many people around.

After some hesitation, he calmed down the young ladies and gentlemen in the courtyard.

Knock on the door.

"Young Master, Fifth Young Master, Third Miss, Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, and Little Miss have arrived."

Nan Yu didn't want to see guests, and he couldn't be seen like this, so he lay on the bed and shouted, "No!"

Shangqing ran down the steps from the door and came to the young masters and ladies, saying, "Our young master stayed up late studying yesterday and is not feeling well today. Fifth Young Master, ladies, why don't you come again in a few days?"

Anyone who looks without suspicion knows that everyone has their own agenda.

Fifth Young Master: "I heard General Shen came to the manor, why did you and Buyi close the door?"

Shang Qing was inwardly scratching his head, but he still had to lie to the young master: "General Shen has something to discuss with you, young master."

Fifth Prince: "Is it urgent?"

Shang Qing shook his head: "I don't know."

Fifth Prince: "In that case, let's wait here."

There was no side hall in the courtyard, only a small pavilion. Shang Qing could only invite a few people to sit there. He only had a teapot in his hand, no cups, and besides, this pot of tea was for his young master.

Shangqing is very protective of his own, and he's also protective of his food; what belongs to the young master belongs to the young master.

Shang Qing bowed slightly: "Please wait a moment."

After saying that, he went back and knocked on the door, but Shen Qichuan had locked it from the inside, so he couldn't open it.

Nan Yu: "Open the door and let him in."

The man used his internal force to pry open the door latch, and Shang Qing came in. He placed the teapot on the tea set and walked inside. He saw that the young master was asleep again, with General Shen guarding him. He was a real menace. Although Shang Qing cursed him in his heart, he was terrified, and his calves were trembling.

"General Shen, several young masters and ladies in my household wish to see you."

Shen Xichuan: "I won't see you."

"These young ladies and gentlemen won't leave until they see you!"

Shang Qing spoke in a rather harsh tone, clearly angry. Yesterday, he took his young master away without a word and returned sometime in the middle of the night, beating him so badly that he can't even get out of bed during the day. The culprit even dared to pretend to come and see him, probably trying to threaten the young master and prevent him from telling anyone!

The more Shang Qing thought about it, the more convinced he became that he was right.

He was so angry he ground his teeth and rubbed his hands together.

Shen Qichuan glanced at Shang Qing, his expression slightly cold: "I won't see him."

Shang Qing was afraid, but even more annoyed. The young master was lying half-dead on the bed. He had been indebted to the young master since childhood and could not let anything happen to him, even if it cost him his life!

A surge of resentment welled up inside him, and under the influence of hormones, his brain was out of control, and the words that had been bottled up for so long burst out.

"General Shen, you are the General of the Cavalry, personally appointed by the Emperor! Why are you making things difficult for my young master like this? If he has any grievances against my master in court, he can argue with him openly and honestly. My young master has no grudge against you. If he wants revenge, my master has many descendants, why not choose someone else to beat and scold?"

The more he spoke, the more violently his chest heaved. Shang Qing straightened his slightly hunched body. Even though he was thin, his resolute heart in protecting his master moved Deng Xin, who was listening from inside the curtain.

"I know I am just a servant, and you are a high-ranking official with thousands of troops under your command, but I will never allow you to harm my young master! If you want to hit, scold, or do anything else, you can come at me! Spare my young master!"

Military generals are different from civil officials; they prefer people who are absolutely loyal.

Shen Qichuan didn't understand why Shang Qing made such a statement, but he was still comforted by Shang Qing's defense of the young master.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression unchanged, and simply replied with a faint "Oh."

Shang Qing: "My young master..." She was about to cry as she spoke, feeling heartbroken, "Since you took him away yesterday and brought him back last night, he has been sleeping all morning and hasn't eaten a meal yet. His body is covered in bruises. General Shen, your reputation is so great, why would you do such a despicable thing?"

He knew he shouldn't have said it.

If I say it, I might not see the sun rise tomorrow.

I endured it again and again.

Upon seeing the young master's outstretched forearm covered in bruises, he immediately exploded.

This General Shen is nothing like the righteous and awe-inspiring figure outside. He privately tortured the young master, and for this alone, he is unforgivable!

After all, it wasn't the strictly regulated imperial palace, so the Minister's mansion was relatively lax in its control over the original owner. In this relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, the maids and servants didn't have many rules about their behavior and speech.

Moreover, Shangqing is still quite young and is at a stage of naivety and impulsiveness.

When their master was bullied for no reason, they no longer cared about the principle of "a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan." All they could think about was how to avenge their master.

Shen Qichuan frowned slightly, his slender fingers parting the curtains. He turned to the side, peered inside, and looked at Deng Xin with concern in his voice, "Haven't you eaten?"

Nan Yu shook her head: "I overslept."

She reached out and pulled back the curtain, looked at Shang Qing whose eyes were red, forced a smile, and said, "It's alright, Shang Qing, it's not what you think. Go get some food, I'm hungry."

Shang Qing had no idea what kind of bewitching potion the other party had given his young master.

Despite being covered in injuries, she still had to speak up for him.

They must have been threatened.

But he was too insignificant to speak up, so he had to find a way to tell the master about it. He wiped away the tears welling up in his eyes and ran to the kitchen to ask them to cook something.

Shen Qichuan held his wife's small white hand and rubbed it: "The Emperor has bestowed upon the General's Mansion, why don't you come with me to the General's Mansion to recuperate?"

He could be kept in the general's mansion and be served good food and drink, but... the social customs of this era are too open. Even if men go in and out together, they might be rumored to be having an affair.

The original owner's father was extremely concerned about his reputation.

They would rather marry their children off to someone else than let them become concubines.

Especially for sons, they can only marry wives. Although male concubines have become a fashionable trend nowadays, the Minister's mansion does not keep male concubines, nor will it allow its sons to become someone else's 'concubine' who cannot be seen in public.

"Oh no, if rumors spread, my cheap old man will beat me to death."