Shen Yunjin owns many properties, and he arranged for Nanzhi to live in the suburbs furthest from the Marshal's Mansion.
That evening, he rushed to see Nam Gyi.
Before entering, he tugged at his stray hairs until they covered the wound on his forehead and he could no longer smell the blood on his body. Only then did he straighten his clothes and go inside.
At that time, Nanzhi was reading the newspaper under the lamp. When she heard the knock on the door, she knew that he had come. She quickly put down her book and ran to the door.
As the door opened, Shen Yunjin saw Nanzhi looking happy. "I thought you weren't coming tonight."
Seeing her slightly flushed face, he reached out and pulled her into his arms: "Don't run so fast next time."
He put his arm around Nanzhi and led her into the house. When they reached the table, he saw her reading the latest newspaper.
Newspapers reported that the situation in the entire Chinese-speaking region was tense, and that Beiping might be put in a passive position because it refused some unfair diplomatic rights from certain countries.
Shen Yunjin's brows darkened slightly as he folded the newspaper. "Don't look at these. If you're bored while I'm gone, have them accompany you to listen to a play."
He didn't want her to worry about these things and affect her health.
Nan Zhi laughed and said, "Young Marshal, if I'm not mistaken, there are at least ten people guarding outside, plus the servants here, that makes almost twenty. You're not going to have them all come with me, are you? Wouldn't that be too high-profile?"
Shen Yunjin sat in the chair and carefully hugged her tightly. "Don't worry, they will hide it well and no one will find out."
Nanzhi reached out and brushed a stray hair from his forehead. "So, Young Marshal, you also hid your wound well so I wouldn't find out?"
Shen Yunjin then remembered the injury on his forehead. He didn't know when she had seen it, and feeling guilty, he quickly brushed the stray hairs back. "It's just a small injury."
Compared to his other injuries, this was indeed a minor one.
But looking at the wound, which was about four centimeters long, Nanzhi still pursed her lips.
Of course she knew how she got the injury.
Does it hurt?
Seeing the girl's concerned look, Shen Yunjin didn't want her to worry, so he shook his head and said, "It doesn't hurt."
"Why aren't you taking any medicine? This is making it too slow to heal."
"I forgot." Shen Yunjin certainly didn't want to go up, afraid that she would smell the medicine.
"Let me take care of it for you."
Nanzhi took out a first-aid kit from the drawer and disinfected it with alcohol.
"It hurts a little. Call me if you can't stand it."
She used tweezers to pick up some cotton, dipped it in alcohol, and slowly pressed it on. At first, she didn't control the pressure well, and she could clearly feel his cheek tighten.
She subconsciously softened her movements, and later she controlled the force quite well.
Unexpectedly, he didn't say anything when it hurt, but when she applied the lightest pressure possible, he cried out.
"Wife."
Nan Zhi was startled and pressed down harder than she had expected, causing Shen Yunjin's breathing to quicken.
But at that moment, he didn't say anything. Only his dark, deep eyes stared straight at her, like a whirlpool trying to suck her in.
Later, Nanzhi continued to disinfect and apply medicine.
She would hear him call her name again from time to time.
"Wife."
"Wife."
...
Nanzhi's face turned red from his shouting. After treating her wound, she couldn't help but cover his mouth.
"Stop yelling."
He called out again through her hand, "Wife."
Her voice was gentle to the core.
Nan Zhi felt her ears burning and was about to cover them even tighter when he pulled her hands away and gently kissed her fingers. A tingling sensation ran through her fingertips, and she looked up at him.
"Do you know there's another way to address your husband?"
"What?"
"Call me husband." Shen Yunjin lifted her chin and kissed her sweet lips. "Later I'll call you 'wife,' and you'll call me 'husband,' okay?"
Nan Zhi never expected Shen Yunjin to become so alluring, especially his low, husky voice with a hint of pleading; she simply couldn't resist it.
She was unusually embarrassed and pursed her lips in refusal: "No, you're trying to take advantage of me before we've even registered our marriage."
Shen Yunjin kissed her chubby little face apologetically: "The auspicious day we chose this time was delayed. Next Monday is also an auspicious day. Shall we go and get it done then?"
"Alright then." Nan Zhi's lips curled up slightly.
Shen Yunjin kissed her other cheek again, "Then after we get our marriage certificate, we'll call each other that, okay?"
"We'll see when the time comes."
Nanzhi got out of his arms and walked towards the bed, but before she could lie down, she was grabbed by a hand.
Slow down.
He was always so worried, wishing he could keep her by his side at all times, watching over her and protecting her.
But things in life are rarely as one wishes.
His current status further restricts his freedom.
Nan Zhi had not yet registered her marriage with Shen Yunjin, nor held a wedding ceremony, nor called him "husband," when war suddenly broke out in Beiping.
Although the trajectory of events in the smaller world is not exactly the same as what actually happens, the course of history is similar.
This is an unchangeable fate, a history that even with the system in hand, Nanzhi cannot alter.
Shen Yunjin became visibly busy, holding meetings for several days without sleep and traveling to distant places to guide the war, leaving him no time to visit Nanzhi.
They simply sent more people to protect her.
Occasionally, when he couldn't call Nanzhi, he would write a letter and have it delivered to him urgently.
He started by apologizing for not being able to be with her.
Later, she was reminded not to go out and to take care of herself.
This latest letter caused Nanzhi's eyes to darken slightly.
[Zhizhi, I might have to break my promise again about taking you to register for our marriage the day after tomorrow. Don't be angry or upset. I promise you, I'll definitely take you when I get back. Wait for me.]
Like the rest of him, Shen Yunjin's calligraphy is strong and powerful, with each stroke exuding grandeur.
But in his letters, his words softened considerably, losing their sharpness and revealing unfulfilled affection.
Nanzhi stroked the letter, looked up through the window at the outside world.
Inside Beiping, everything was peaceful and nothing seemed to have happened, but outside, the country was already devastated and ravaged.
She looked down at her belly, which was already showing a clear curve.
I'm almost five months pregnant, and the baby's movements are quite noticeable, but he hasn't felt them yet.
This war is a protracted one. The story doesn't mention what happened to the original owner afterward. Nan Zhi doesn't know how long Shen Yunjin will fight, how long he can fight, or when he will be able to return.
She picked up her pen, remained silent for a long time, and then wrote a reply.
The letter contained only half a line of poetry.
White tea brings simple pleasures, nothing else matters.
When Shen Yunjin received the poem and unfolded it, he was so excited that his eyes almost welled up with tears.
White tea brings simple joy, nothing else matters; I'm waiting for the wind, and I'm waiting for you.
Why? I was really looking forward to her answer, and I was looking forward to her waiting.
But when he actually saw her reply, he felt nothing but heartache.
He promised her that he would respect her and not do things she didn't like, but he broke his promises time and time again, making her wait.
*
This week has been so busy and tiring, I can't write anymore. The next chapter will be updated later.
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