Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Just as the morning sun climbed onto the windowpane, a scream echoed from the small house in the backyard of Zuixianju.

"Su Qing! You...you're murdering your husband!"

Gu Xiang was wrapped up in the blanket like a giant spring roll, with only his head showing, his face turning a deep purplish-red.

A furry thing was wrapped around his waist, indistinct, like a belt or some kind of living creature, so tight it almost made him faint.

Su Qing sat in front of the dressing table, holding a peach wood comb in her hand, slowly combing her hair.

The woman in the mirror had a languid look in her eyes and a mischievous smile on her lips.

"What did Lord Gu just say? The wind was too strong, I didn't hear you clearly."

Su Qing turned around and gently hooked her finger.

The "belt" wrapped around Gu Xiang's waist tightened instantly.

Gu Xiang immediately chickened out, shaking his head like a rattle-drum.

"No! It's nothing! I mean... my wife's skills are really good, this quilt is folded... so tightly."

He didn't know what got into him just now, but he actually wanted to revive the "husband's authority" and insisted that Su Qing serve him while he put on his official robes, and even shamelessly said that this was the rites and laws of the sages.

As a result, the etiquette and rules were not explained, and he almost suffered internal injuries from being strangled.

Su Qing gave a light snort and flicked her finger.

The restraints on Gu Xiang's body disappeared instantly, and the fluffy tail phantom also dissipated.

He gasped for breath, frantically scrambling out of bed and grabbing the scarlet official robe beside him to put it on.

Su Qing walked over and slapped his hand away in disgust.

"You're so clumsy, you even buttoned the buttons crooked."

She lowered her head, her slender fingers deftly moving through her clothes, the movements as practiced as if she had done it a thousand times.

Gu Xiang looked down at her.

Su Qing had just woken up. She didn't have that sharp, demonic aura on her body, only a faint scent of soapberry mixed with a hint of the warm fragrance unique to foxes.

The little flame of desire in his heart to regain his husbandly authority was instantly extinguished by this gentle water.

"alright."

Su Qing helped him straighten his official hat, then grabbed a steaming hot meat bun from the steamer on the table and stuffed it into his arms.

"Get out of here and go to court. If you dare to doze off in court, I'll break your legs when you get back."

Gu Xiang held the steamed buns, chuckled foolishly twice, and then turned and ran away.

He ran to the door, then turned back, quickly pecked Su Qing on the cheek, and then darted out like a startled rabbit.

Su Qing touched her cheek and chuckled, "What a character."

……

No sooner had Gu Xiang left than Zuixianju became bustling with activity.

Several ornately decorated carriages stopped at the back gate, and all those who alighted were prominent ladies of high rank in the capital.

The wife of the Minister of Revenue, the concubine of the Minister of Justice, and several housekeepers from the marquis's mansion.

They entered the courtyard carrying large and small bags, their faces beaming with smiles.

Su Qing sat in the main seat of the main hall, holding a teacup in her hand, without even lifting her eyelids.

"Oh, isn't this Madam Liu? What brings you here today?"

With a forced smile, Madam Liu, the Minister of Revenue, pushed a sandalwood box in front of Su Qing.

"Miss Su... oh no, Madam Gu, these are a pair of jade ruyi that my husband acquired from the south a few days ago. They are of excellent quality, and I brought them here especially for you to admire."

Su Qing glanced at the box.

The jade is of high quality, with excellent translucency; it would cost several thousand taels of silver to acquire.

"Madam Liu, you're too kind." Su Qing put down her teacup, not bothering to refuse, and simply had the maid beside her put it away. "Speak, what is it?"

Madam Liu rubbed her hands together and lowered her voice: "It's just... my master's nephew works in the Ministry of Works. A few days ago, he was impeached by Lord Gu because of the river embankment repair... Do you think you could..."

Su Qing smiled.

She pulled a small notebook out of her sleeve.

This was the intelligence she had the rats in the city gather overnight.

"That nephew of Lord Liu..." Su Qing opened the notebook and read aloud, "He withheld 30,000 taels of silver from the river embankment, causing the downstream dike to breach and flooding three villages. Lord Liu must have taken quite a bit of that money, right?"

Madam Liu's face turned deathly pale instantly.

"This...this is all baseless..."

"Whether there's any truth to it or not, we'll find out by asking Lord Gu in court tomorrow."

Su Qing closed the notebook and looked at her with a smile.

"You know Lord Gu's temper; he's like a rock in a latrine—stinky and hard. But..."

Madam Liu grasped at a straw: "But what?"

Su Qing took out a list that she had already written and slammed it on the table.

"Have Lord Liu make up the difference on this document and donate it to the refugee camp outside the city. If it's even a penny short, Lord Gu's memorial will be submitted to the Emperor... oh no, the Crown Prince Regent's desk tomorrow."

When Mrs. Liu picked up the list and looked at it, her hands were trembling.

The numbers on this page are exactly the sum of her husband's embezzlement over the past few years, down to the last penny.

This is an attempt to confiscate their property!

"What? You can't bear to part with it?" Su Qing raised an eyebrow. "Is money more important, or your official position?"

Mrs. Liu gritted her teeth: "We'll make up for it! We'll make up for it!"

After seeing off the group of mournful-looking noblewomen, Su Qing looked at the room full of rare treasures and stretched with satisfaction.

This gigolo is really enjoying himself.

……

When the court session ended, the sun was already setting in the west.

Gu Xiang rubbed his sore neck and was stopped by several colleagues as soon as he stepped out of the palace gate.

"Lord Gu, how about going for a drink today? I heard the Imperial Music Bureau has a few new courtesans..."

The speaker was Minister Wang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, with a lewd smile on his face.

Gu Xiang waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, my family is very strict."

Lord Wang scoffed, "Lord Gu, no offense, but how can we men let a woman ride on our heads? You're way too henpecked."

Several officials nearby also joined in the commotion.

"Exactly! Lord Gu is so full of righteous spirit, how come he becomes such a coward at home?"

Gu Xiang stopped, straightened his clothes, and looked serious.

"You are all mistaken."

"That wasn't fear, it was respect, it was love."

"My wife works so hard for this family, I cherish her so much, how could I be afraid of her? You people who frequent brothels all day, what do you know about love and affection?"

After saying that, Gu Xiang flicked his sleeves and strode away.

The officials were left looking at each other in bewilderment.

In the carriage not far away, Su Qing lowered the curtain, a slight smile curving her lips.

"You're smart to know what's good for you."

She flicked her finger lightly.

Several invisible talismans flew out and stuck to the backs of the officials.

A bad luck charm.

It's not very useful; it's just like getting a toothache from drinking cold water, stepping in dog poop while walking, and getting your wife scratching your face when you get home.

Gu Xiang climbed onto the carriage, and upon seeing Su Qing, his expression immediately changed.

He pulled a heavy money bag from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"My lady, this is this month's salary. It's just been paid and it's still warm."

Su Qing took the money pouch and weighed it in her hand.

That little bit of money wasn't even enough for her to buy a box of rouge.

But she still tucked it into her arms.

"Nothing hidden?" Su Qing glanced at him sideways.

Gu Xiang quickly took out ten copper coins from his pocket and spread them out in his palm.

"I only kept ten coins... I wanted to buy a skewer of candied hawthorns."

Su Qing looked at the ten polished copper coins, then at Gu Xiang's pitiful appearance, and felt both annoyed and amused.

It's unbelievable that a high-ranking official of the fourth rank has fallen to such a state.

She picked a grape from the plate next to her, peeled it, and held it to Gu Xiang's lips.

Open your mouth.

Gu Xiang obediently opened his mouth.

Cool fingertips brushed against his lips, carrying a hint of sweet juice.

Gu Xiang's face flushed red instantly, and she swallowed it whole without even chewing.

"Is it sweet?" Su Qing asked.

"Sweet...so sweet." Gu Xiang nodded foolishly.

The carriage passed by a bookstore in the west of the city.

Gu Xiang's eyes widened instantly, and he peered out the window.

A sign hung at the entrance of the bookstore, saying that a new batch of rare books from the previous dynasty had arrived.

Gu Xiang is a bookworm; he can't resist a book.

But he touched his empty sleeve, looked at the ten copper coins in his hand, sighed, and pulled his head back.

"What? You want to buy it?" Su Qing asked knowingly.

"I don't want to." Gu Xiang shook her head against her will. "Those books... are too expensive, it's not worth it. It's better to buy two roast chickens."

Su Qing didn't say anything, but just gave him a deep look.

Back home, Gu Xiang went to the kitchen to cook.

Su Qing waved.

A black crow landed on the windowsill.

"Go, buy that bookstore in the west of the city." Su Qing casually tossed out a silver note. "Take the land and the books too."

The crow flew away with the silver note in its beak.

Dinner was braised fish.

Gu Xiang cooked herself, wearing a floral apron, and came out carrying plates like a treasure.

"My wife, try this! It's a new recipe I learned!"

The fish was dark and looked like it had been dug out of a coal pile, emitting a strange, burnt smell.

Su Qing picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

salty.

It was so salty it felt like the top of my head was going to fly off.

This idiot probably knocked over the salt shaker inside.

"How was it?" Gu Xiang looked at her expectantly.

Su Qing swallowed the tea without changing her expression and took a big gulp.

"It's alright," Su Qing said against her will. "It's just...has the price of salt dropped recently? You're being a bit too generous with your purchases."

Gu Xiang scratched his head: "It tastes alright to me...maybe it's just my taste that's too strong."

Su Qing sighed and picked up another piece.

She had to swallow the poison made by the husband she chose, even if it meant swallowing it with tears in her eyes.

into the night.

The light in the study flickered.

Gu Xiang was bent over his desk reviewing official documents, his brows furrowed.

Su Qing transformed into a little white fox, curled up on his knees, her tail idly brushing against his wrist.

Gu Xiang got tired of writing, lowered his head, and gently stroked the soft fur on the fox's back with his palm.

The little white fox squinted its eyes comfortably, making a purring sound in its throat.

The moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the man and the fox.

Life is so peaceful and serene it's almost unbelievable.

Looking at the little white fox on her lap, Gu Xiang felt her heart melt.

He picked up his pen and wrote two lines on a sheet of Xuan paper.

"In life and in death, we made a vow."

"Holding your hand, we will grow old together."

After finishing writing, he chuckled to himself for a while, then carefully folded the paper and tucked it into the book.

The little white fox twitched its ears.

She murmured in her dream, "Fool..."

The fluffy tail unconsciously wrapped around Gu Xiang's wrist, tightly, as if afraid he would run away.

Gu Xiang was stunned for a moment, and then her eyes became a little hot.

He put down his pen, buried his face in the fox's soft fur, and took a deep breath.

very nice.

Just then, that annoying voice suddenly rang in Su Qing's mind.

[Ding! Target Gu Xiang's favorability rating has exceeded 70%.]

[System suggestion: Host, please complete the wedding mission as soon as possible to raise the favorability rating to 100% and unlock the final reward.]

Su Qing rolled her eyes and immediately blocked the system.

Why are you rushing me?

These things are more interesting when you take it slow.

outside the window.

A blue bird perched on a treetop, quietly watching the scene unfold in the study.

A complex emotion flickered in its eyes, a mixture of pity and envy.

After a long while, the bluebird flapped its wings and flew high, heading towards the dark Star-Picking Tower deep within the palace.

The night wind swirled up the fallen leaves on the ground.

The night in the capital city seems to be less peaceful than it appears on the surface.