During this period, Shen Zhixiu went out early and came back late. Sometimes he would finish his work in the study at night, and he would get up before dawn to attend court.
Su Qingyu asked twice about the battle situation in the northern border, and Shen Zhixiu always said that everything was under control, so she didn't think much about it.
She couldn't help him, so she could only wait for him to come back every day and watch him drink the ginseng soup that soothed his nerves. Although she felt distressed, she also knew that this was his responsibility as a cabinet minister.
On February 2, Shen Zhixiu came back earlier than usual and said that the emperor had gone to Fengxian Hall to worship his ancestors, so he let them leave the palace.
Seeing him return, Su Qingyu hurriedly ordered the staff to prepare dinner. Shen Zhixiu said he had already eaten and took her hand into the small study.
He didn't leave anyone to serve him, and only asked Zhenzhu and a few others to guard the door.
Su Qingyu was confused, "Third Master, do you have something to tell me?"
She felt inexplicably panicked. Could something have happened to her brother?
Shen Zhixiu took out a scroll from his arms and spread it out on the desk.
Seeing that it was the painting that was presented at the palace banquet on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Su Qingyu hurriedly asked, "You took this painting out? Does the emperor know? Did you take it secretly?"
Shen Zhixiu shook his head and said, "This is a copy I made. How could I dare to take that painting out of the palace?"
Only then did Su Qingyu realize that the scroll was new, unlike the one that Marquis Zhongyi had sent to the palace before, which already had mottled marks on it.
She leaned forward slightly, carefully examining the details on the painting, and couldn't help but say, "Third Master, your copying skills are incredible."
She touched her finger to the painting, tracing the child's eyebrows and eyes.
He sighed, "I don't know what's happening with my brother."
Shen Zhixiu stood behind her and suddenly put his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"When I'm no longer an official in the court, I'll go out and set up a stall to sell calligraphy and paintings."
He spoke in a very light tone, and Su Qingyu could tell that he was very tired, the kind of tiredness that exhausted both physically and mentally.
Su Qingyu grabbed his hand and said casually, "How can I use Third Master to sell calligraphy and paintings? I can support Third Master by doing any business."
A faint smile appeared on Shen Zhixiu's face. "Okay, then I'll wait for Qingqing to support me."
After thinking for a while, he said, "I can't bear to let Qingqing go out and work, so why don't we have a son? When he grows up, I'll teach him how to make a living and let him support us."
Su Qingyu rolled her eyes at him with a smile, "We don't have a son yet, Third Master is counting on you."
Then he asked him, "What if it's a daughter?"
Shen Zhixiu hugged her tighter, "If it's a daughter, then I won't be able to retire for a while."
"I have to build her a family business. There are many playboys in the capital, and I have to support her."
Su Qingyu thought of Zhao Rui's wife, Yan, and said jokingly, "Don't be like your cousins from the Zhao family, who gave birth to four sons but haven't even seen the shadow of a daughter."
When Shen Zhixiu thought of that situation, he shuddered subconsciously, "No, we won't."
He must work hard to have a daughter first. As for how to work hard, he hasn't figured it out yet.
When the two were lying in bed at night, Su Qingyu asked about Li Yunzhou again.
"Is it news of defeat? The Emperor must be very angry, right?"
Shen Zhixiu put his arm around Su Qingyu's shoulders and comforted her, "Don't overthink it. Victory and defeat are common in the military."
"No one can tell who will win or lose until the very end. Before Yunzhou left, we discussed the battle strategy. The current defeat should still be under his control."
Su Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief, but she still felt a little panicked in her heart, an inexplicable panic for no reason.
So she didn't sleep well that night. When she woke up again, it was still dark and there was no noise outside, but Shen Zhixiu was not in bed.
Su Qingyu was startled, stood up, put on her clothes and left the inner room.
Feicui, who was on night watch, heard Su Qingyu stand up and came forward to meet her.
"Where is the Third Master?" Su Qingyu asked softly.
Feicui pointed to the study in the east room and whispered, "The Third Master got up an hour ago and has been sitting in the small study ever since."
Su Qingyu walked to the door of the small study and gently pushed it open.
Shen Zhixiu sat behind the desk, looking at the map on the desk with a serious expression.
She rarely saw him look like this, and perhaps he was used to hiding himself on a daily basis, and only at this moment did his emotions dare to show on his face.
With a creak, the door of the small study was pushed open.
Shen Zhixiu raised his head to see who was coming, and sure enough, the solemnity on his face instantly disappeared. He returned to his usual calm demeanor.
Su Qingyu walked to the desk, and the place covered by Shen Zhixiu's fingers happened to be the border town of the Tartars.
"Third Master, are you hiding something from me?"
She blurted out.
After asking, she regretted it. She had just asked based on her intuition. In fact, since they got married, Shen Zhixiu had never hidden anything from her.
Shen Zhixiu stepped forward and placed his hands on her shoulders, smiling and comforting her, "What could I possibly be hiding from you? I just couldn't sleep at night, tossing and turning, and I was afraid I'd disturb you."
"I won't watch it anymore, let's go back to bed."
He put his arm around Su Qingyu's shoulders and they went back to the inner room together. After lying on the bed, Shen Zhixiu hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead lightly.
"Sleep a little longer, it's still early before dawn."
Su Qingyu was drowsy and thought she was overthinking it, so she fell asleep in his arms.
Shen Zhixiu kept his eyes open until dawn, but the way he hugged her never changed.
The next day, when Su Qingyu woke up, Shen Zhixiu had already gone to court.
As usual, she went to Qingyuan Residence to pay her respects. When she entered, she saw Shen Yue sewing beside the old lady. It looked like it was a man's clothes.
Although the marriage between Shen Yue and Li Yunzhou has not been officially decided, the two have become close, and the elders of both families have also agreed, so the marriage is essentially settled.
The old lady had been watching her sew these days, and Shen Yue suggested that she make some clothes for Brother Yunzhou. How could the old lady not understand her little daughter's thoughts? Even if it was a little against the rules, she turned a blind eye and said nothing.
Su Qingyu joked as she entered the room, "Is this made for Li Yunzhou? When he comes back and sees it, won't he be grinning like an idiot?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Li Chaoyun, who came in after her, say sadly.
"I don't know if Fourth Brother will ever have the chance to wear it. He's been missing for four or five days, and we still haven't found him. His life or death is uncertain."
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