Chi Yan, not understanding why, stopped in his tracks.
Xueqing was holding a bunch of branches in her hand, and walked towards him with a smile: "This was specially prepared by Miss."
Chi Yan's eyelids twitched. Could this... mean they want to slap him?
It was indeed a smoking session, but it wasn't quite what he had imagined.
Xueqing patted the mugwort on Chi Yan's body.
Shen Tangning's voice rang out, gentle and melodious: "Sweeping with mugwort leaves will ward off evil and bad luck. After this ordeal, I wish my husband peace and good fortune from now on."
Chi Yan's eyelids twitched slightly, somewhat surprised, and he stared at her blankly.
Those unspoken frustrations and anxieties seemed to be soothed by her unintentional action.
He slowly curved his lips into a smile: "Thank you."
Madam Chi and Master Chi exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming mischievously: "Look at them, the young couple are being so polite!"
...
After taking a bath, Chi Yan looked at the table of dishes specially prepared for him and his mouth watered.
He ate without any decorum, and when he saw Shen Tangning sitting upright to the side, he belatedly felt embarrassed and slowed down his eating: "It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet? You don't need to watch over me, I'm not a three-year-old!"
Shen Tangning has already told the two elders to go to rest, so they should be able to get a good night's sleep in the latter half of the night.
"It will be dawn in another hour, and I can't sleep anyway, so I'll keep my husband company and talk for a while."
Chi Yan: "...Oh."
So he was just being delusional.
Thinking of something, Chi Yan paused: "I heard from Lord Liu that it was you who accompanied him to Chunfeng Tower and found the clue, which is why I was released so quickly?"
His throat tightened slightly, and he said dryly, "You've had a hard time these past two days."
The flickering candlelight traced across Shen Tangning's brows and eyes. She lowered her gaze and chuckled softly, "It wasn't hardship at all; it was my husband who suffered more in prison."
If the Third Prince was truly seeking revenge against her, then Chi Yan was the one who suffered an undeserved misfortune.
If he knew the truth, he probably wouldn't be thanking her so eagerly right now.
Chi Yan said nonchalantly, "A real man should consider suffering a little as a way to temper himself! Besides... I don't think I've really suffered much."
He had expected to face severe torture to extract a confession, but to his surprise, Lord Liu's interrogation methods were unexpectedly gentle.
Could it be that they gave him special treatment because he's a member of the Chi family?
Well, it seems this title isn't entirely useless after all.
"That Lord Liu is quite good! He seems like a good official, the kind of upright and just magistrate the people admire!" He nodded affirmatively when Liu Yifu was mentioned.
Shen Tangning smiled slightly: "Lord Liu is indeed a good person."
Now that this evidence is in his hands, it's uncertain whether Liu Yifu will be targeted.
Chi Yan glanced at her with some surprise, as it was rare for her to praise anyone.
Shen Tangning quickly changed the subject: "Husband, you should rest and recuperate first. Paying respects to Grandmother tomorrow will probably not be so easy."
Her eyes held a meaningful look, and Chi Yan, being no fool, instantly understood.
Given his grandmother's temper, he's probably going to get a beating!
Chi Yan sighed worriedly, "It seems a beating is inevitable! I just hope she'll nag less then..."
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