The pottery making went smoothly.

With such a finished product, if one were to make it again, even someone with a bit of woodworking knowledge could replicate it.

Tomorrow morning, Chu Chengji would be descending the mountain.

To rest well and recharge, he went to bed half an hour earlier than usual.

Before sleeping, he drank the medicine for his injury, which he offered to Qin Zheng.

She also drank a bowl of soothing herbal soup, which surprisingly wasn’t too bitter, perhaps because it was meant for health purposes.

Qin Zheng already had no trouble sleeping, and with this soothing soup, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.

The bedsheet she borrowed from Lin Zhao had gotten dirty last night, and they hadn’t washed it yet.

So, tonight, they still shared a bed, with a clear gap of twenty centimeters between them.

Chu Chengji took a while to fall asleep, and the person beside him rarely slept peacefully.

He thought to himself that the old doctor’s medicine was indeed working.

But the next moment, a foot kicked his chin.

Chu Chengji: “…”

Perhaps it was only the first day of drinking the medicine, so its effects weren’t very noticeable yet?

It had been raining heavily continuously, and the night had indeed cooled down.

After Qin Zheng accidentally kicked her foot over to his side in her sleep, she seemed to find it quite warm there and rolled over to his side entirely.

Chu Chengji was lying flat and hadn’t even had a chance to turn over to sleep when he was pulled over by her like a koala bear.

What hit his nose was the faint but distinct scent emanating from her body, instantly shattering his thoughts about tomorrow’s arrangements.

In that moment, he probably understood why people always used the phrase “gentle fragrance, soft jade” to describe women.

Her whole body did feel boneless, making it hard for him to even know where to start pushing.

Qin Zheng’s hands and feet were draped over him, as if embracing a big heater.

Her head rested on his shoulder, and her faint breath sprayed onto his neck, tickling him as if countless little insects were crawling into his skin, stirring up an unknown restlessness deep within.

Chu Chengji stiffened like a piece of iron, and in the darkness, he quietly waited for a while.

Qin Zheng, holding onto him, continued to breathe steadily, showing no signs of waking up.

After hesitating for a moment, he gently moved her hand off him, intending to help her lie properly.

The sensation of touching her skin at night became even more apparent, smooth like a piece of gelatin.

He furrowed his brows slightly, released her wrist that he was holding, and then grabbed it again through the sleeve, nudging her hand back.

As he pushed her back by her shoulders, she seemed to sense that she was moving away from the heat source and immediately bumped her head back into his arms.

The arrow wound on his chest, which had not yet fully healed, was suddenly bumped without any consideration.

Chu Chengji couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.

Qin Zheng usually slept deeply, but because she had been taking care of him during the days when he had a fever, she had gotten used to his occasional murmurs for water or something else during the night.

Even though she was asleep, she was particularly sensitive to his voice.

As soon as she heard him groan, she drowsily opened her eyes, “What’s wrong? Do you want some water?”

Hearing her asking if he wanted water, Chu Chengji naturally remembered the two days when he was severely injured and unconscious.

During that time, he was almost completely unconscious, but every time he was thirsty, there was always water brought to his lips in time.

It seemed she was always paying attention to his condition.

Looking at Qin Zheng’s sleepy but suddenly awakened look because of his groan, Chu Chengji suddenly felt like he had stepped into a swamp.

The more he struggled, the deeper he seemed to sink into something unconscious.

If that’s the case, then so be it.

He had already given her a choice, hadn’t he?

Chu Chengji looked at her with a cool and profound gaze, his voice soft, “It’s nothing, go back to sleep.”

Qin Zheng was now somewhat awake, noticing a large empty space beside her in the bed.

She finally realized that she had intruded on his space due to her bad sleeping position and quickly shifted back, “Did I push you?

A large hand grabbed her arm, preventing her from moving further into the bed, “It’s cool at night, let’s sleep like this.”

His implication was that she was afraid of the cold, so this would keep them warmer.

Qin Zheng didn’t understand his intentions. Lying like this, almost arm to arm, elbow to elbow, felt a bit too close, but for a married couple, it didn’t seem like a big deal.

She didn’t refuse, nor did she agree, just staring blankly at the canopy above.

It wasn’t that she was being difficult, but in the middle of the night, alone together in the room, almost lying side by side, Chu Chengji had never been so close to her before, and Qin Zheng felt uncomfortable everywhere.

As she stared blankly at the canopy, Chu Chengji suddenly spoke up, “Can’t sleep?”

Qin Zheng stiffened, sneakily turning her head to look at him, only to find that his eyes were closed.

How did he know she wasn’t asleep?

Qin Zheng didn’t understand, so she just softly hummed in response.

Chu Chengji’s palm accurately covered her eyes in the darkness, and his originally cool voice gained a hint of warmth in the night, “Close your eyes.”

Qin Zheng blinked in confusion before obediently closing her eyes.

Her long eyelashes brushed against his palm as she blinked, feeling like soft brushes gently sweeping across his hand, sending a tingling sensation from his palm all the way to his heart.

Qin Zheng felt as if the hand covering her eyes had become a bit heavier.

After covering her eyes, Chu Chengji opened his own.

He turned his head to look at her beautiful face and said, “The doctor said you’ve been overly worried. Let me recite a scripture for you, to calm your mind and help you sleep better.”

The Crown Prince knows how to recite scriptures?

Qin Zheng was a bit puzzled, but she thought that in ancient times, noble families often copied Buddhist scriptures for blessings, repeatedly writing them dozens or even hundreds of times.

It wasn’t surprising if they could memorize them.

She nodded obediently, but realizing it was dark and he might not see, she was about to say “okay” when Chu Chengji began to recite the scripture in a low voice, “Bodhisattva relies on Prajnaparamita…”

Because he deliberately lowered his voice, his originally clear voice gained a husky quality, but it also had a certain rhythm to it.

It was as if he had truly recited these scriptures day and night in a Buddhist temple.

Qin Zheng listened for a while, perhaps because the Buddhist scriptures indeed had a calming effect, or perhaps because the tranquilizing effect of the herbal soup kicked in again, her breathing gradually became longer.

Even after she fell asleep, Chu Chengji continued to recite softly for a long time, from the Heart Sutra to the Diamond Sutra, not knowing whether it was to help her sleep or to calm his own mind.

The first crow of the rooster sounded in the mountain stronghold, and only then did he stop reciting, withdrawing his hand from her eyes.

He had stopped believing in Buddhism a long time ago, but twisting the Bodhi beads on his wrist and reciting scriptures when he couldn’t calm his mind was a habit from the past.

But now, it seemed to have little effect.

---

As soon as it was light, Chu Chengji got up.

Before leaving, he glanced at the empty cage under the eaves—the messenger pigeon hadn’t returned yet.

A trace of darkness flashed in his eyes, disappearing in an instant.

It seems that the Lu family has caught onto something, so the imperial officials should arrive in Qingzhou earlier than he had anticipated.

He glanced back at the closed door of the main house.

His originally tense expression softened slightly when he saw the pottery jar under the eaves.

She wouldn’t leave.

It was an unclear feeling.

Originally, he didn’t care much whether she stayed or left. If she left, he could arrange for her to leave safely.

If she stayed, everything would remain as it was.

But now, he wanted her to stay.

---

Qin Zheng woke up when the sun was already high in the sky.

She usually didn’t sleep so deeply, realizing that it must have been the effect of the soothing herbal soup.

She decided not to drink it again from tonight onwards.

Aunt Lu had left her food on the stove, saying that Chu Chengji had already left with the brothers from the stronghold early in the morning and instructed her not to worry, promising to return by the evening.

Qin Zheng brushed her teeth with a softened yang tree branch, thinking to herself.

The evening would be from five to seven o’clock.

Going out early in the morning and returning only before dark indicated that seizing the weapons from the bandits wouldn’t be easy.

After finishing her meal, she took the pottery jar to find Lin Zhao.

She wanted to ask if there were any skilled woodworkers in the stronghold who could replicate the jar so they could make more quickly.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she arrived at the place where Lin Yao and Lin Zhao lived, she saw He Yunjing coming out of the courtyard, pale and crying.

None of the servants who usually accompanied her were in sight, making her look pitiable.

He Yunjing also noticed Qin Zheng, but she didn’t show the same arrogant demeanor as before.

She quickly lowered her head and hurried away with swollen eyes.

Lin Zhao appeared at the courtyard gate and greeted Qin Zheng, “Did Sister Zheng come over?”

Qin Zheng nodded, watching He Yunjing crying as she ran away, and asked, “What’s wrong with Miss He?”

Lin Zhao sighed, “The Second Master and his men are still locked up in the stronghold’s prison.

She comes every day to plead for her father. When the Second Master planned to take action, she risked her life to come and warn us.

Now, it’s difficult for my brother to handle this situation.”

When Lin Zhao said it was “difficult,” Qin Zheng guessed that after discussing it, Lin Yao and the others might have decided to execute He Laozhi.

After all, with the merger of the East and West strongholds, Lin Yao needed to establish authority to control the people in the West stronghold.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about this.” Lin Zhao took Qin Zheng’s hand and walked into the courtyard.

Seeing the pottery jar in her hand, she asked curiously, “What’s this?”

Qin Zheng handed it to her, saying, “It’s a mold for making roof tiles. Is there a carpenter in the stronghold? I want to make a few more based on this design.”

Lin Zhao readily agreed, “Uncle Wu San is good at woodworking. Besides being a skilled hunter, he’s also good at carpentry. But he went down the mountain with Brother Wang Biao today. I’ll give it to him when he comes back.”

Suddenly, Lin Yao’s voice came from inside the house, “What are you planning to make?”

The door was open, and Lin Yao could be seen half-lying on the bed.

Lin Zhao shook the pottery jar in her hand at him, “Sister Zheng wants to make several of these barrels to burn green tiles for the stronghold.”

Lin Yao was even more surprised to hear this than he was when Lin Zhao mentioned it before, “Burn green tiles?”

“Sister Zheng knows how to do a lot of things,” Lin Zhao’s tone was somewhat proud.

Thinking about how she had previously deceived her brother, she couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty, “Um… Actually, the stack bridge was also taught to me by Sister Zheng.”

Lin Yao’s astonishment grew even more. He smiled, “With Mr. Cheng’s exceptional talent, I should have realized that Mrs. Cheng is also an extraordinary woman.”

“Lord, you overpraise me. I had concealed many things before. Please don’t blame me, Lord.” Qin Zheng knew that if she wanted to show her capabilities in the stronghold later on, it would be better to disclose everything now than to be suspected of her abilities causing controversy later.

Lin Yao had no intention of feeling offended.

In his view, their couple had completely trusted Qi Yun Stronghold, and he was only happier, “How could I blame you? We must burn incense to thank our ancestors for blessing us with the presence of you and Mr. Cheng. I’m just a simple man and won’t talk too much with Mrs. Cheng. These days, I’ve been idle and restless, so I’ll make these barrels myself.”

Lin Zhao hesitated, “What about your injury…”

Lin Yao thought about being able to burn green tiles in the stronghold without having to spend time and effort to transport them from the foot of the mountain.

He couldn’t wait to start now, “It’s not injured on my hands anyway.”

Lin Zhao muttered, “That’s true. Anyway, you’re tough. You’ve been lying down like you’re in confinement for several days. It’s time to find something to do.”