Volume One, Chapter 34: A Husband Can Only Prove Himself Through His Actions

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Upon seeing his face, a surge of helplessness and bitterness welled up uncontrollably in Xie Mingyue's heart. She didn’t even understand what she was thinking and simply buried herself in the quilt, quietly shedding tears.

“You don’t see me as your wife…”

Otherwise, why would he constantly suspect her of being involved with Qi Xiuyu?

Otherwise, why would he say those infuriating words when she had taken the initiative to embrace him, sacrificing her pride?

At that moment, they were clearly both happily watching Qi Xiuyu being punished!

Xie Mingyue lay drowsily with her back to Qi Jinshan.

Her mother’s words were indeed true: feeling pity for a man leads to no good outcome. Being the legitimate wife is like managing a business—you oversee your subordinates and maintain the household. The husband is just the owner; no need to get emotionally attached.

Her drunkenness soon evened out her breathing.

Qi Jinshan, however, would not let her go. Holding her in his arms, he soothed gently, “I do.”

Speaking to a fellow drunk is pointless; he simply repeated firmly, “I always do.”

“No, you don’t.”

Xie Mingyue was still muddled but remembered arguing with him.

“No one treats their wife like that.”

“Is the madam dissatisfied?”

Qi Jinshan, having served as an official for many years, prided himself on his calm temperament, yet she easily stirred ripples within him.

“In that case, your husband can only prove it with his actions.”

Pressing down on the soft, yielding body in his arms, the long-restrained impulse within him quickly broke free from its chains.

Layer upon layer of kisses deepened, drawing soft moans from Xie Mingyue.

Half asleep and half awake, her heart fluttered intensely.

Their breaths intertwined, the temperature inside the canopy rising steadily, almost transforming into tangible flames.

Qi Jinshan struggled to restrain himself, repeatedly seizing her but ultimately letting her go, not advancing further.

Xie Mingyue closed her eyes in his arms, like a dewdrop born from a flower’s stamen, radiating a captivating glow.

His eyes, dark as lacquer, held her close, coaxing her gently back to sleep.

If she were fully awake, she surely wouldn’t want this.

She might even slap him.

After all, the last time he showed up at court bearing the mark of a slap, his reputation for “being afraid of his wife” stemmed from just such an incident.

Qi Jinshan was self-aware.

Capturing the bright moon fallen to the mortal world was already a great fortune.

He must not ask for more, lest this deep and beautiful dream shatter in an instant.

Immersed in this rare tranquility, he took out the jade hairpin from her embrace and was about to place it by her pillow when a voice suddenly called from outside.

“Master! Madam!”

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Occasionally, the low reprimands of Wutong could be heard.

“Who’s there? So late, don’t you know Master and Madam have already gone to rest?”

The voice hurriedly replied, “Please forgive me, sister. I’m from the Second Master’s household. My master is beating Third Master, and the madam can’t stop him. Third Master is about to be beaten to death!”

The person outside was Lv Xia, a maid of the Jin family, now distraught and crying loudly beyond the courtyard gate.

Unable to find the Second Madam and unwilling to disturb Marquis Shunqing and Lady Luo, she recalled that today Xie Mingyue had been granted charge of managing the inner household, so she came here.

Qi Haosong is about to be beaten to death?

Startled, Wutong instinctively looked toward the door.

Qi Jinshan placed a calming hand on the frightened woman and spoke in a low voice, “Tell her to be quiet.”

He did not want to disturb Xie Mingyue, but she was already half awake, sitting up.

“Wutong, what’s wrong?”

Her voice was hoarse, and when she saw Qi Jinshan beside her, she felt as if she had seen a ghost.

“What are you doing here?”

Qi Jinshan bent his head and smiled softly, “I came to offer apologies for your sake, but unexpectedly, I met a clingy pest.”

“You’re the clingy pest!”

Memories flooded her mind, and Xie Mingyue’s face flushed to the point of bursting.

What had she done? Had she been the one clinging to him, refusing to let him go?

And this loose inner garment, where that large palm had just passed, now burned like fire.

“What’s happening outside?” She pressed her lips together, trying to divert her attention.

Qi Jinshan’s lips curved slightly, “Nothing serious. You sleep, I’ll go have a look.”

He was just as restless as a fire, unable to sleep!

Xie Mingyue came to her senses, recalling the cries she had heard.

Since Qi Haosong was being beaten, she must go see for herself.

Why was he being beaten? How did it come to this?

Maybe it was a good opportunity after all.

“I’m going too,” she shook her head, swallowing her embarrassment as she pushed Qi Jinshan toward the door, “Move aside.”

Qi Jinshan looked at Xie Mingyue deeply before rising to straighten his clothes.

Only after receiving his command did Wutong dare to come in. Seeing the enchanting and radiant expression on Xie Mingyue’s face, she immediately lowered her eyes.

Even as a woman, she found it difficult to resist such charm.

Master is really well taken care of!

“Help me change clothes quickly.”

With Wutong’s help, Xie Mingyue felt more at ease. She swiftly arranged her hair into a simple bun and hurried toward the Western Garden.

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Qi Jinshan followed behind, striding at a measured pace.

“Walk slower. It won’t kill him in a moment.”

He said casually.

“If you fall, Qi Haosong will really die.”

Xie Mingyue looked at him as he spoke such chilling words calmly and couldn’t help but laugh.

“You say these things all the time. No wonder everyone fears you.”

She herself had only learned recently that Qi Jinshan had a nickname outside: “Qi the King of Hell.”

Does that make her a she-devil?

“Are you afraid?”

Qi Jinshan suddenly lowered his eyes. Xie Mingyue, caught in his deep gaze, felt somewhat uneasy.

Naturally, she wasn’t afraid.

He had never even pinched her hard; she was more afraid of the goose kept behind the big kitchen.

That goose once bit her foot while she was inspecting the area.

“We’re here.”

At the Western Garden gate, they heard wailing and scolding in the night air. Xie Mingyue hurried inside, lifting her skirt.

Qi Jinshan followed leisurely, a smile in his eyes.

He had been mistaken earlier. At this point, some things were indeed different.

This beautiful dream might still continue, allowing him to fulfill the things he longed for day and night.

At the doorway, a collapsed screen lay shattered with tea utensils and porcelain pieces scattered on the ground. Qi Haosong was tied to a pear blossom chair, relentlessly whipped with a rattan cane by the Second Master.

Nearby, Lady Jin leaned on the cabinet, nearly weeping unconscious.

“Tell me, where have you been wandering off to?”

Second Master Qi Yongxiang pointed angrily at Qi Haosong’s nose.

“Where did the 8,000 taels of silver your mother saved for you go?”

Today, Qi Haosong disappeared after ditching his servant. The servant immediately reported to Lady Jin, but by the time Lady Jin returned from Xie Wanqing’s courtyard, some time had passed, and no one knew where Qi Haosong had gone.

Lady Jin’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. After searching through boxes and chests, she discovered the silver she had secretly stored in her son’s room was missing.

For a moment, she thought Qi Haosong had just left, terrified and trembling, she collapsed to the ground.

When Qi Yongxiang returned, Qi Haosong had somehow wandered back. Facing his father’s furious interrogation, he insisted he only took a stroll around the garden.

“Strolling around the garden, and you managed to lose 8,000 taels?” Qi Yongxiang’s beard trembled with anger. Raising his arm, he struck again. “Tell me honestly, where did you go?”