Chen Song realized he’d misspoken and quickly said, "Listen to me ramble. What am I even saying? I’m no good with words, so just forget I said anything. Qing’er, go open the door for Dad."

Chen Song placed the hot water in the room and turned to leave.

After he left, Chen Wanqing had Zhao Jing sit down and brought him a basin of hot water to soak his feet.

Zhao Jing was taken aback. "Wanqing, put that down. I can do it myself."

"You’ve had a long day. Just sit and relax. I’m only bringing the water to you. Don’t worry, I’m not going to wash your feet, just carry the basin for you."

"What have I done to deserve this! Wanqing, you shouldn’t be carrying this. The water is hot—put it down, I’ll get it."

But Chen Wanqing brought the basin to him anyway. Only after watching him put his feet in to soak did she go out to wash up.

By the time Chen Wanqing returned from washing up, Zhao Jing had finished soaking his feet and had even emptied the basin.

"Why didn’t you soak a little longer? There was still plenty of hot water. It feels good if you soak longer."

"No more soaking. I need to write out my exam essays from memory while my mind is still clear. Otherwise, once I start getting sleepy, I’m afraid I won’t remember a thing I wrote on the paper."

Chen Wanqing laughed. "Oh, stop it. You have a ridiculously good memory."

Years ago, she had promised De’an that when he took the Child Examination, she would make him a set of clothes with her own hands. That was so many years ago that even De’an himself had forgotten, but somehow, he remembered.

He was so sly about it, too. He deliberately avoided mentioning it in front of De’an. Only later, as they were lying in bed one night, did he bring it up with a feigned nonchalance. "I was so envious of De’an back then," he’d said. "I went home feeling quite crestfallen, wondering if anyone would be willing to make a set of clothes for me if I were to take the Child Examination."

At this point, his meaning was very clear: he was asking her for a set of clothes made by her own hands.

At the time, Chen Wanqing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and her hands itched to give him a little smack.

She had specially made him a set of clothes before their wedding, but he couldn’t bear to wear them, saving them only for the New Year.

The outfit was gorgeous, made from top-quality silk durable enough to last for three to five years without showing any wear. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

’The new outfit has barely been washed three times, and he’s already tired of it? Now he’s got his eye on another one?’

Of course, she understood his underlying meaning perfectly. She had privately told herself not to fall for his trap, that he was just playing the victim. But helplessly, her heart was too soft. She truly couldn’t bear to refuse him, so she had been tearfully duped into making him a whole new set of clothes.

Remembering it now, Chen Wanqing couldn’t help but smile.

She didn’t want to say too much to Zhao Jing, afraid he’d try to wheedle something else out of her. Time was what he needed most right now; instead of making small talk with her, he’d be better off getting a little more sleep.

So Chen Wanqing said, "You should get to the study and transcribe your essays. I’m going to make incense. We’ll both be busy with our own things. Just go to bed when you’re finished."

"Are you going to be working late again today, Wanqing?"

Chen Wanqing thought for a moment and nodded. "Business has been very good lately. I can’t make Moonlight Fragrance fast enough to keep up with demand."

Besides, she also wanted to stockpile some inventory.

She wanted to take a gamble—a bet that Jing wouldn’t just pass the county examination, but that he would place first.

When that time comes, the fact that they are husband and wife will surely spread like wildfire.

Although she had no intention of using Jing’s name to market Moonlight Fragrance, other scholars would certainly make the connection. When that happened, the number of people coming to her door asking for Moonlight Fragrance would be immense. She needed to build up a large inventory before then.

Chen Wanqing felt that while her plan wasn’t exactly despicable, it was, at its core, taking advantage of Jing. Therefore, it was best to tell him about it beforehand.

After hearing Wanqing’s reason for making so much incense, Zhao Jing was silent for a moment before he couldn’t help but laugh.

"You have that much confidence in me, Wanqing?"

Chen Wanqing nodded without the slightest hesitation. "It’s not as if I’m uneducated. While I can’t take the exams myself or write the kind of essays found in the classic anthologies, I can certainly tell good writing when I see it. Your essays aren’t just as good as the ones in those collections from past years—they’re far better. If you can’t pass the county examination, then who can?"

’Besides, if he weren’t likely to pass, why would Mr. Zheng go to such lengths to sabotage him?’

’Anyone with eyes could see Jing’s literary talent.’

’She was sure his efforts would pay off this time.’

The dim yellow light flickered erratically in the wind, stretching their shadows long across the room.

The room fell silent for a time, with only the sound of the cold wind howling outside.

It was now the second month, and the weather was getting warmer, but the mornings and evenings were still painfully cold. The wind, in particular, was even more wild than in the dead of winter, worming its way through every crack and chilling people to the bone.