Looking at Qing Chen's face, so close at hand, and feeling the proximity, so close that she could even hear their breaths alternating, Han Qingyue's already flushed face grew even redder.
She raised her hands, pressed them against Qing Chen's chest, and gently pushed him away.
Then, she turned her head away, not daring to meet Qing Chen's eyes, and said nervously, "I'm fine, it's just that seeing blood earlier made me a little unsettled."
['Wife petting successful! Congratulations to the host for receiving a random reward: Grade 3 Refinement Pill + 20!']
After getting what he wanted, Qing Chen replied, "It was my husband's oversight; I will definitely not do anything to startle my wife like this again."
"Mm." Han Qingyue softly agreed. Qing Chen's meticulous care and tenderness were like a quagmire, slowly pulling her into an abyss, deeply ensnared.
Afterward, the carriage slowly rolled, heading towards the Qing family mansion...
By the time the carriage arrived at the gates of the Qing family mansion, it was already noon.
Feeling the jolt, Han Qingyue slowly opened her eyes, only to realize that she had fallen asleep at some point.
As soon as she opened her eyes, Qing Chen's handsome face came into view.
Words like 'chiseled face' and'sword-like brows and starry eyes' unconsciously surfaced in Han Qingyue's mind after seeing that face.
She quickly averted her gaze, afraid of again having the misconception of 'love is blind.'
But the next moment, what made Han Qingyue blush even more was her sudden realization that she was currently being held in Qing Chen's arms.
There were also many glances from the Qing family's servants around them.
"You, you put me down, I can walk by myself." Han Qingyue buried her head in Qing Chen's embrace, speaking in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.
"It's fine, it's only a few steps. I, your husband, still have that much strength." Qing Chen told Han Qingyue not to worry.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade Qing Chen, Han Qingyue stopped speaking and let him hold her.
Gossip?
Han Qingyue hadn't forgotten the fact that she had already married Qing Chen. What was there to gossip about a husband holding his wife?
After witnessing Qing Chen's powerful side, Han Qingyue no longer held much hope for her fate with Xiao Feng.
Even if Xiao Feng appeared before her now, for the sake of the Xia Clan and the peace and stability of the entire Great Han Dynasty, Han Qingyue would absolutely not agree to leave with him and betray Qing Chen.
It was just that she couldn't yet let go of the feelings in her heart...
To put it more bluntly, her body already belonged to Qing Chen, but her heart still belonged to Xiao Feng.
Yet, what even she herself hadn't noticed was that Xiao Feng's importance in her heart was slowly shifting.
Afterward, Qing Chen carried Han Qingyue all the way to the bedroom, carefully placing her on the bed as if she were a delicate piece of porcelain, and covered her with the quilt.
Qing Chen knew that imperial nobles had a habit of taking afternoon naps, so he didn't disturb Han Qingyue much and exited the room.
Han Qingyue clutched the quilt with both hands, her eyes unfocused.
In her mind, the scene of Qing Chen's forehead pressed against hers in the sedan earlier, or the moment he held her in his arms just now, involuntarily surfaced.
The more she thought, the hotter her cheeks became, and her heartbeat pounded like a drum in her ears.
"No! What on earth am I thinking about!"
Shaking her head vigorously, Han Qingyue forced herself to close her eyes and clear her mind, wanting to fall asleep to prevent any more chaotic thoughts from arising.
Han Qingyue had no idea that even if she truly entered dreamland, some things were still inescapable.
Perfectly illustrating the saying, 'what one thinks of by day, one dreams of by night.'
Meanwhile, outside the door, Qing Chen was summoning the System panel to check the rewards for petting his wife that he had gained from the previous series of operations.
['Wife petting successful! Congratulations to the host for gaining a Cultivation Experience Pack + 1!']
'Cultivation Experience Pack?'
With only these five short words, Qing Chen found it difficult to know how much cultivation the Cultivation Experience Pack would increase after use.
"Who cares, I'll use it first and see how much it increases!"
With this thought, Qing Chen mentally controlled the System, selected the Cultivation Experience Pack, and used it.
['Using Cultivation Experience Pack...']
['Usage successful! Host's current Cultivation Realm has broken through to Nascent Soul Realm Layer 2!']
"Before it was Golden Core Realm Layer 2, now it's Nascent Soul Realm Layer 2, which means an entire major Realm has been raised." Qing Chen's face showed wild joy.
Cultivation Realm and Comprehension Ability were, without a doubt, the rewards he most urgently needed at the moment.
Closing the System panel and leaving the courtyard, Qing Chen felt refreshed and invigorated.
However, as soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he noticed the butler waiting outside.
"What is it?" Qing Chen asked.
"Young Master, the Master has asked to see you." The butler reported truthfully.
"Lead the way."
"Yes."
Afterward, Qing Chen followed the butler to his father Qing Xiong's study, while the butler stood guard outside the door.
"Father, you were looking for me?" Qing Chen asked.
"Regarding the two groups of people who tried to assassinate you earlier, I have already found out who was behind them." Qing Xiong said, continuing to wield his brush.
"Who?" Qing Chen asked directly.
"The Second Prince." Qing Xiong looked up at Qing Chen, revealing the correct answer.
"The Second Prince? Could it be that he wants to contend for the position of Crown Prince in this way?"
Upon hearing this, Qing Xiong was overjoyed, "As expected of my son, Qing Xiong, you have a mind and saw through the crux of the problem at a glance."
"That's right, he wants to establish merits and achievements in this way, using you, using the bad reputation of my entire Qing family, as a stepping stone for his future ascension."
"The Second Prince has been a disciple of the Heaven Feather Sect since childhood. The Cultivator who tried to assassinate you in the palace came from the inner Sect of the Heaven Feather Sect."
Hearing Qing Xiong's words, Qing Chen again saw through the key point, "The Heaven Feather Sect wants to support the Second Prince's succession."
"Smart!" Qing Xiong truly admired his precious son more and more the more he looked at him.
Talent, unrivaled talent!
Mind, unrivaled mind!
How could he not achieve great dominance in the future?
"This will definitely not be their last action. In the future, assassinations targeting us, father and son, will only increase." Qing Xiong's words were indirectly asking Qing Chen if he wanted to take the initiative.
After learning that his son had been hiding his brilliance and pretending to be a profligate, he realized that he could no longer be as autocratic as before and had to seriously consider his opinions.
"The Second Prince? The Heaven Feather Sect?" Qing Chen chuckled, "They're nothing but a bunch of pathetic nobodies, not worth mentioning."
Even if Qing Chen was not yet a match for an entire Sect, with his Undying and Imperishable Body, the other party wouldn't be able to kill him. Qing Chen could wear them down and kill them.
Hearing Qing Chen say this, Qing Xiong not only didn't think he was arrogant or conceited, but instead firmly believed that his son must have his own confidence to speak like that.
However, Qing Xiong didn't ask too many questions. Some things were simply understood.
"Father, let's not talk about the Second Prince and the Heaven Feather Sect for now. There's something I want to discuss with you."
Qing Chen's expression was serious, as he decided to get a big haul from the System.