Chapter 294 Once you've tasted the marrow, you'll know its flavor.
Shen Qingci felt a little calmer, and nestled into Chu Jichen's arms like a lazy cat, her eyes crinkling and her tone light: "I just went to the Huo residence."
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen raised an eyebrow in surprise: "What are you going to the Huo residence for? Do you still miss those miserable days there?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Shen Qingci rolled her eyes in annoyance, then chuckled, a sly glint in her eyes. "I'm going, of course, to plunder some things from the Huo mansion and, incidentally, to give Old Madam Huo a heads-up and urge her to go find Huo Yunting."
"Huo Yunting is always causing trouble for us and making us unhappy. Naturally, I can't let him be too idle. I have to find something for him to do and make his backyard burn."
Shen Qingci said with a hint of pride, "I looted a lot of good things from the Huo family's warehouse, all of them priceless treasures."
Her slender fingers casually traced circles on Chu Jichen's chest as she continued, "Perfect timing. The war in Beiyou Kingdom will have to be resolved sooner or later. The current conscription is so lively, with many people volunteering, and the military expenditure is a huge sum."
"Although the imperial treasury is not empty, there are always more opportunities to contribute to the country. I will sell all the silver and treasures I have plundered from the Huo family and put them into military expenditures. That will be my way of being loyal to the country."
Chu Jichen reached out and grasped Shen Qingci's hand that was wreaking havoc on his chest. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes darkened, but he remained silent.
Shen Qingci tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't. She couldn't help but raise her head, looking at Chu Jichen with some confusion: "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Chu Jichen's voice became somewhat hoarse as he looked intently at her: "If you can't put out the fire now, then don't start it."
What?
Shen Qingci looked bewildered and blinked, "When did I light a fire?"
She recalled her actions just now. She was simply leaning against Chu Jichen's chest and talking to him. How did that ignite a fire? Why is this person so inexplicable?
Looking at Shen Qingci's seductive yet oblivious appearance, Chu Jichen couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
He grabbed Shen Qingci's hand and mimicked her earlier action, drawing circles on his chest, his voice low and deep: "Isn't this... considered igniting the fire?"
Shen Qingci's eyes widened in astonishment: "You call this lighting a fire?"
This was just an unconscious action she took while thinking.
When she's thinking, her hands are always busy; she might be touching the armrest of the chair, the cup, or stroking the pattern on her sleeve. She hadn't even realized it just now…
Chu Jichen nodded, looking as if it were a matter of course, but his eyes grew even deeper: "Of course it counts."
He paused, his gaze falling on her luscious red lips, his voice growing even hoarser: "Even if you just stand there and do nothing, it's like setting a fire for me."
"..." Shen Qingci's face flushed, and she immediately stood up, took a few steps back, and looked at Chu Jichen with a wary expression.
What the hell? What do you mean she's setting someone on fire even if she's just standing there doing nothing? Is this person in heat all the time?
Looking at her anxious expression, Chu Jichen sighed again, his tone wistful: "I always hoped you would get pregnant, thinking that having a child with you and me, no matter who it looks like, would be a very happy thing."
"Only now do I realize the torment involved."
Looking at Shen Qingci's flat stomach, he earnestly discussed, "Shall we have this child?"
He'd had enough of this ascetic life once; he didn't want to go through it again. He was afraid he'd go mad if he did.
Shen Qingci chuckled: "You didn't get married before, and things just went on like this..."
Chu Jichen lifted his eyelids and said matter-of-factly, "You said it yourself, I wasn't married before. Back then, I didn't know how happy it was to be with Qingqing."
"After you've tasted the sweetness of it, you suddenly tell me not to do anything reckless, that I can only look but not touch. Isn't that... too much to ask?"
Shen Qingci glanced at him, her face burning, and remained silent.
Does one find true enjoyment in the marrow...?
Actually, she seems to have some of those things too.
But she could never bring herself to say such a thing.
And she couldn't say it out loud. If she did, Chu Jichen would probably get even more cocky and might come up with some embarrassing ways to torment her.
Shen Qingci coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment: "You continue with your official duties. I'll go back to my residence first to pack my things before moving."
After saying that, Shen Qingci turned and left, running very fast, as if there were some raging flood or ferocious beast behind her.
Chu Jichen watched her fleeing figure, and couldn't help but lower his eyes and chuckle softly, his eyes full of doting affection.
But the thought that Shen Qingci would be leaving tonight and moving to a villa outside the city made the smile on his lips vanish instantly.
The estate he prepared was located some distance from the capital to avoid attracting attention.
He is now in the palace, and although he is the emperor, there are still countless eyes watching him. It would be difficult to sneak over and visit him.
The more Chu Jichen thought about it, the more intense the murderous look in his eyes became.
If it weren't for the need to lure out those rats hiding in the shadows and thoroughly purge the court, he wouldn't have had to separate from Shen Qingci.
Once he catches them, he will definitely... make them wish they were dead, and make them regret ever being born!
As soon as Shen Qingci returned to the Regent's Palace, he immediately and decisively ordered the servants to start packing.
"I usually pack everything I eat, wear, and use, try to make it as complete as possible," she said, pacing around the room.
Since the purpose is to put on a show for outsiders, and on the surface, she is moving into the palace to become empress in a glamorous manner, then the pomp and circumstance should naturally be grand, the grander the better, and it would be best if the whole capital knew about it.
She secretly calculated in her heart that she had only been married for a short time and didn't seem to have many things to use on a daily basis.
If the trunks are not full and look shabby, we might have to find some other rarely used items to stuff in to make up the numbers and put on a good show.
As Shen Qingci was thinking, her gaze fell on the servants who were busy going back and forth in the mansion.
They went in and out, carrying out boxes and baskets one after another, which quickly piled up into a small mountain in the yard.
The more Shen Qingci looked, the more astonished she became.
She's only been married into the Regent's household for a short time, so how come... she has so many things?
This display was several times larger than the wealth she had accumulated during her year-long stay at the Huo residence.
She walked forward with some curiosity, casually opened a few boxes, and carefully examined the contents that had been packed out.
Upon seeing this, a warm feeling welled up in my heart.
Most of these things were prepared for her by Chu Jichen.
From the sandalwood recliner she liked to use to sunbathe in the courtyard during her leisure time, to the exquisite makeup box and mirror cabinet that Chu Jichen specially commissioned a master craftsman to make for her, as well as the dazzling array of clothes and jewelry that she never wore the same in any season.
From the rare and precious books she occasionally browses, to the cups, bowls, plates, and dishes she uses regularly, even the incense she is used to, everything is neatly categorized and packed away.
He even carefully collected some of the little trinkets she had casually mentioned liking and arranged them neatly there.
There were a total of twenty or thirty boxes, of all sizes and kinds.
Shen Qingci slowly lowered her eyes, her fingertips gently stroking the familiar objects, and couldn't help but chuckle softly.
No wonder, ever since she married into the Regent's Palace, she has always felt that life is going smoothly and comfortably.
It turns out that behind the seemingly simple word "comfortable" lies Chu Jichen's painstaking efforts.
Although he usually appears aloof and even a bit frivolous, he actually cherishes every detail about her in his heart.
"Your Highness, should we bring all of these?" Wanqing asked, interrupting Shen Qingci's thoughts as she came over with a brocade box in her arms.
Shen Qingci looked up at the chests and boxes filling the courtyard, a gentle light flashing in her eyes. She nodded and said, "Take them all. Since he prepared them, don't forget anything."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com