I was pampered like a treasure after being married off to the young marshal, but my father and broth

Upon hearing this, the man frowned slightly.

He did hope she wouldn't be so concerned about the rules.

Lieutenant Lin, with a notebook tucked under his arm, hurried up to Quan Tuo, saluted, and asked in a low voice, "Sir, shall we unload this shipment now?"

He took the list from Lieutenant Lin, flipped through a couple of pages at random, and glanced at the densely packed list of medicinal herbs.

He nodded slightly: "Yes, move them all to the pharmacy. Be careful not to break them."

Listening to their conversation, Shang Sheyu curiously glanced at the main entrance of the Quan Mansion.

A dark green military loading vehicle was parked at the entrance; its massive size almost occupied half the street.

"This is?"

A dozen strong soldiers jumped onto the wagon bed and unloaded heavy wooden crates. As they passed by her, a rich and complex herbal scent wafted through the air.

It has the pungent aroma of angelica and the sweetness of astragalus.

It was all mixed together and went straight into my nose.

Remembering Xi'er's words, her heart skipped a beat, and she turned to look at Quan Tuo: "Third Master, what are you doing?"

Did he really bring her back medicinal herbs?

Quan Tuo turned to the side, his gaze falling on her face.

"For you."

The man's voice was deep and his tone was flat.

Shang Sheyu paused, a look of surprise flashing across her usually calm eyes.

Quan Tuo looked away from the busy soldiers, his hand unconsciously rubbing the holster at his waist, and told a lie.

"What Mother means."

"She said that since you want to study medicine, you need a proper medicine storehouse at home. I had someone collect commonly used medicinal herbs on the market. I don't know much about these things, so you can arrange them yourself. If you need anything in the future, just go to the pharmacy to get it."

Actually, that wasn't Si Nan's idea.

A few days ago, he heard that when Shang Sheyu went to participate in the medical skills competition, the medicinal materials she used were given by her mother. He then remembered that when she married into the Quan family, her dowry did not include any medicinal materials.

She should need these.

As she watched the boxes being carried into the yard one after another, Shang Sheyu's eyes suddenly reddened.

In her previous life, she truly loved medicine.

But after marrying into the Chi family, the sharp and mean face of Old Madam Chi was still vivid in her mind.

"Why study medicine? That's a lowly, menial job!"

"Now that you're married into the family, go to the shop and do the accounting. Don't keep smelling like medicine all day; it's bad luck!"

She was forced to put away her silver needles and discard her medical books, wasting her life in the clatter of abacus beads and becoming a merchant reeking of money.

That was a regret in her heart that she could never heal.

Now, this regret has been easily resolved in this lifetime.

"What? You don't like it?"

Seeing the girl remain silent for a long time, her eyes reddening, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest and frowned slightly: "If the quality isn't good, I'll have someone exchange it."

No, it's not.

Shang Sheyu sniffed, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and gave a genuine smile.

"I like it very much. Thank you, Third Master. Please also thank my mother-in-law for me."

Quan Tuo looked at her smiling face, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He paused, then added, "Nothing major has happened at the military region lately, so I'll be staying home for ten days."

Shang Sheyu's smile froze slightly.

Stay for ten days?

Previously, to avoid suspicion or because he was busy with official duties, he would not be home for ten days or half a month.

This sudden decision to stay for an extended period is undoubtedly due to pressure from my mother-in-law.

After all, the two have been married for over a month and have not yet consummated their marriage. The old lady is eager to have a grandson.

She lowered her eyes to hide the panic in them, and replied softly, "I understand. I will have Xi'er tidy up the West Garden."

Quan Tuo took in her subtle expressions, his eyes darkening. Without saying anything more, he turned and strode into the mansion.

That night, the moonlight was cold and clear.

Xi'er made the bed, blushed, and left. Before leaving, she made sure to light the red candles with the dragon and phoenix motif a little brighter.

Shang Sheyu sat on the edge of the carved bed, his heart pounding with anxiety.

Although they are husband and wife, they don't have a real relationship.

She didn't know if Quan Tuo would... tonight.

Time passed second by second, and the drumbeats outside continued to sound.

"Miss, the young master has been summoned to the North Garden by the old lady. She said he has not been home for a long time and has some private matters to discuss with her."

Xi'er announced from outside the door.

Shang Sheyu's tense back finally relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

It seems the old lady is really anxious; she's still giving her son a lesson right now.

She told Xi'er to go to sleep, then picked up a medical book and leaned against the headboard to read it, hoping to calm her mind with the prescriptions in the book.

In the stillness of the night, the candlelight flickered.

Quan Tuo pushed the door open and entered very quietly.

He spotted the person sleeping against the headboard at a glance.

Shang Sheyu still held the scroll loosely in his hand, his head tilted to one side, his breathing long and even.

The soft candlelight shone on her face, casting a small, faint shadow under her eyelids. Gone was the dignified and aloof demeanor of the day; she was now a charmingly innocent girl he had never seen before.

Quan Tuo slowed his pace and walked to the bedside.

He looked down at her, and the frustration he felt at being forced to return by his mother miraculously vanished at that moment.

Actually, even if his mother didn't force him, he would come back as long as he received a letter from home.

When he was in the military region, he would occasionally think of her sharpness when facing outsiders and her gentleness when facing her family.

only...

She seemed very afraid of him.

Quan Tuo sighed, bent down, carefully took the book from her hand, and placed it on the bedside table.

Then, Heyi lay down on the outside, with his back to her, and closed his eyes.

Since she wasn't prepared, why should he force her to do something she wasn't ready for?

The next day.

The sky was clear and the air was fresh.

The afternoon sun shone on the streets, dispelling the winter chill.

A black Packard sedan came to a smooth stop in front of the Grand Theatre.

Quan Tuo wasn't wearing his military uniform today; instead, he was dressed in a dark gray suit with a cashmere overcoat. His hair was neatly combed back, revealing a handsome face with sharp features.

Gone is his decisive military uniform; he now exudes the air of a noble young master.

This attracted frequent glances from female students passing by.

Shang Sheyu wore a purplish-red velvet cheongsam with white rabbit fur trim on the collar and cuffs, which made her skin appear even whiter than snow.

The two stood side by side at the theater entrance, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a perfect match.

This was specially arranged by Si Nan, who said that the newly staged "The Drunken Beauty" was excellent and that the two of them should definitely come and listen to it to cultivate their relationship.

Quan Tuo didn't bring any guards, and Shang Sheyu didn't bring any maids either. Just like an ordinary couple, they entered the theater with their tickets.

The hall was bustling with noise, the aroma of melon seeds and tea mingling together, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

As soon as he entered the gate, Shang Sheyu stopped in his tracks.

A screen painted with landscapes stood on one side of the hall, and a noisy sound came from behind the screen.

One moment it's the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs, the next it's the weeping of women, and then it's the sound of thousands of horses galloping.

It is so lifelike that it seems as if a vast world is hidden behind the screen.

It's ventriloquism.

Shang Sheyu's eyes lit up, and he walked over involuntarily, standing in front of the screen and listening intently.

Seeing that she had stopped, Quan Tuo also stopped beside her.

He didn't like joining in these kinds of commotions, but seeing that she was listening with great interest and a slight smile on her lips, he patiently listened along with her.

It wasn't until a gavel struck from behind the screen, plunging everything into silence, that Shang Sheyu snapped back to reality.

On the stage, the sound of the erhu had already begun to fill the air.

"Oh no, this is bad."

Shang Sheyu turned to Quan Tuo, looking apologetic: "Third Master, I was so engrossed in the performance that the play had already started."

Seeing her somewhat annoyed expression, Quan Tuo smiled faintly: "It's alright, this play has only just begun, the best is yet to come."

The two found seats and sat down.

This is the best seat in the front row, with a wide view.

On stage, the gorgeously dressed Yang Guifei was drunkenly reclining on a fish, smelling flowers, and singing a melodious and poignant song, which drew cheers from the audience.

Shang Sheyu quickly became immersed in the play and clapped along with everyone else.

Just as the performance reached its climax, the "Imperial Concubine" was raising her cup to invite the moon when suddenly there was a loud bang!

The two heavy, ornately carved doors of the theater were kicked open violently.

The audience, who were originally immersed in the opera, were startled. The musician's hand trembled and the note cracked.

A group of men dressed in black clothes and carrying machetes and clubs swaggered in.

The leader had striking yellow hair, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, and a menacing face.