Chapter 294 Niuniu

That night, Shen Yuan and Xie Hui planned to go back to Xie's house for dinner, because they both felt that their parents would be leaving Beijing soon, and they should spend more time with them while they were still in the capital.

In the afternoon, Shen Yuan went to the clinic first. It happened that the husband of Doctor Qiu from Nanjing also passed the imperial examination. Although he was only a fellow Jinshi, the couple were very satisfied with the result. Shen Yuan went there as the owner of the clinic to congratulate Doctor Qiu. She also wrapped a red envelope with her own hands.

Qiu Lingxin stayed in the clinic every day these days, wishing to teach Xiaoxiao and Taozi all her skills, because if her husband was awarded an official position this time, she would have to go with him. Although it was unknown when it would be her turn to be awarded an official position, Qiu Lingxin still wanted to bring her apprentice out as soon as possible just in case.

Originally Qiu Lingxin felt embarrassed about having to leave the clinic, and she felt even more embarrassed to accept the red envelope that Shen Yuan handed over.

"The boss and the old lady have taken great care of my husband and me, how can I still want this?"

"Doctor Qiu, you have done so much for the clinic, treating patients, training apprentices, and being busy in the clinic every day. I don't know how to thank you. This is what you deserve, don't be embarrassed." Shen Yuan forcefully stuffed the red seal into his hand.

"Boss, I..." Qiu Lingxin didn't know how to explain that she might leave the clinic in the future, but Shen Yuan immediately understood what she wanted to say.

"I know what you are going to say. Just tell me when you are leaving. I will give you a farewell party and invite everyone in the clinic to attend."

When Qiu Lingxin heard Shen Yuan say this, she smiled and said, "Maybe I don't know how long I have to wait."

"Just tell me anytime."

"Thank you, Mr. Dong."

On weekdays when the clinic was not busy, Xiaoxiao and Taozi would read medical books and recite prescriptions together in the backyard. Today was no exception, so Shen Yuan did not go to disturb them. After talking to Doctor Qiu, he left the clinic and went to the princess's mansion. Originally, when the emperor issued an edict to confer the title of princess on Princess Kangle, he also bestowed a princess's mansion on her. However, the princess felt that she was used to her original home and did not want to move to a new place, so she asked the emperor to take it back and only replaced the plaque at the original princess's mansion.

Shen Yuan didn't wait for Xie to come back, but went there first.

"Manman is here?! Come, come and see with mom."

The princess took Shen Yuan to her private vault and said, "I was packing up my things today and was planning to send these to you. Come and see if you like them."

Shen Yuan casually picked up a box from the shelf, opened it, took a look and closed it. It turned out to be a box full of various gems.

"Mom, these are too expensive, aren't they?"

"If you don't use something and leave it in the house, what's the point of it, no matter how valuable it is? If not to your mother, who else can I give it to? If I give it to her in a certain period of time, she won't be able to use it, so isn't that a waste of natural resources? As I keep collecting it, I want to give it to you."

As the princess spoke, she opened a few more boxes from the shelf, picked out a few pieces of jewellery and put them on Shen Yuan's head. "You are a little girl, and you dress too plainly. Change one piece a day in the future. Anyway, most of these things were sent from the palace, so don't waste them."

"Okay, then thank you, mother." Shen Yuan took the princess' arm affectionately.

"What are you thanking me for? You are so beautifully dressed that I am happy to see you. I have been thinking about having a daughter-in-law for many years, but I didn't dare to have another child after I gave birth to one. So I thought that my future daughter-in-law would be my daughter-in-law, even if she was not my own. Look, I now have a beautiful and lovely daughter-in-law like you."

Shen Yuan smiled and said, "Mom, I'll be jealous soon if you say that."

"It's okay." The princess told Shen Yuan softly, "Youqi is just like his father, very easy to coax. This is the most similar thing between them."

"I've never seen one get angry."

"It's interesting to see him angry sometimes. When he was little..."

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law held hands and talked in whispers. The princess even told Shen Yuan all the things that happened when Xie was a child. One talked and the other listened. Xie Yuan went out to meet a friend today. After returning home, he heard what the two were talking about. He drank a cup of tea to moisten his throat and joined in. Shen Yuan wished he had four ears and could listen to what the two were saying.

When Xie Hui went back to his room to sleep at night, he finally realized something was wrong. He asked Shen Yuan in confusion, "What happened today? You smiled whenever you saw me all night."

"Hey! Nothing?" Shen Yuan shook his head to deny it, but the way he tried to hold back his laughter was not convincing at all.

Xie Hui placed his hand on Shen Yuan's waist. He knew that this was the place she was most afraid of itching. "Is it really nothing?"

Shen Yuan wanted to hide, but she was held in Xie Hui's arms and there was nowhere to hide. Her itchy flesh was still in Xie Hui's hands. She laughed so hard that tears came out, so she had to call for a stop.

"I said, move that hand away first..." Shen Yuan held back his laughter and called out, "Niuniu, hahaha."

When Xie Hui heard these two words, he knew it must be his parents, who told him all his affairs.

"What else did Dad and Mom say?"

When Xie Hui was a child, she looked like her mother, pretty and delicate. When she was four or five years old, an old lady who had just come to Beijing saw Xie Hui and said, "What a pretty girl." Why does Xie Hui still remember it so clearly now? Because since he was a child, he would mention this whenever his parents made a joke.

"You said you didn't want to write, so you pretended your hand was broken, but it was fine again when you were eating. You told your mother that your hand would break if it touched the brush."

Shen Yuan laughed alone for a long time. Xie Hui didn't say anything, so she came closer and asked, "Are you angry? Niuniu."

"Don't be angry, Niuniu. I won't tell anyone."

"Niuniu, it's getting late, go to sleep... um."

After a long time, Shen Yuan was finally released.

"Are you still screaming?"

"Niuniu."

"I'll help you take leave tomorrow."

"Oh, no, if I ask for leave, my father won't let you go. My father is the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple, and I'll let him arrest you." Shen Yuan shook off Xie Hui's hand and rolled to the foot of the bed.

"Really? Then lock me up with Manman."

The kitten that rolled to the foot of the bed was caught in a trap. It had nowhere to escape and was eaten...

The next day, Shen Yuan still got up with her willpower. When she got up, she couldn't help but kick Xie Hui three times. Shen Yuan was very angry. Why was she the only one who was sleepy and tired in the end, while Xie Hui looked fine.

"I want to learn martial arts, too!"

——Small Theater

Shen Yuan: I want to learn martial arts too!

Xie Hui: Okay, after learning martial arts you shouldn’t feel tired so quickly.