Chapter 42: My Lady, Rui Rui is all grown up; it is time for him to sleep on his own

In truth, it didn't take long for Su Yunjin to hear movement after Chen Jie had begun his training.

For over a year, Su Yunjin's sleep had been very light, driven by the fear that Chen Jie might suddenly burst in to harm her and Ruirui. Although that fear had vanished, the habit remained.

Consequently, as soon as Chen Jie began practicing martial arts in the courtyard today, she heard the rustling sound of footsteps on the ground and the whistling of wind against fabric as he threw punches.

Moreover, Chen Jie was somewhat careless; he stepped on a tile in the courtyard, making a loud noise. Suspecting an intruder, Su Yunjin opened the window to look out.

There, she saw Chen Jie practicing his forms under the moonlight.

Under the moon, the man in linen clothes possessed a resolute expression. Facing the moonlight, he stepped and lunged with punches that carried the sound of rushing wind. His stance was stable, his movements vigorous and powerful as he shifted his weight and advanced with rhythmic steps.

After a while, he was drenched in sweat like falling rain, yet his eyes held only determination; every punch and kick was delivered with full strength.

One punch was the persistence to rise above others; the next was a rebellion against an unjust fate; and another was the protection of the family he loved.

Watching the man practice so diligently, Su Yunjin's eyes grew moist.

She had seen Chen Jie at his lowest—a drunken gambler, a demon of the mortal realm. But looking at him now, he was like a completely different person: a figure filled with longing for life and the future.

A figure worth relying on.

*Is he practicing for this family, or for himself?*

Su Yunjin asked herself. Previously, she would have thought it impossible that he did it for her, but now, his transformation brought a tiny hint of sweetness to her heart. *It must be for me.*

Unconsciously, she drifted into a daze.

Looking at Ruirui, who was sleeping soundly clutching a pillow on the bed, and the man practicing in the courtyard, she felt that life seemed quite beautiful. The setting sun in her heart rose once again.

"It's so late, why aren't you sleeping?"

While Su Yunjin was daydreaming, a low voice suddenly sounded in her ear, accompanied by the intense, masculine scent of post-exercise hormones.

Su Yunjin's body nearly went limp.

"Don't blow in my ear!"

Su Yunjin covered her ear, her face flushing red. Chen Jie chuckled; so her ears were a sensitive spot.

"Why aren't you sleeping so late?" Chen Jie asked.

Su Yunjin retorted, "Why aren't *you* sleeping?"

Chen Jie couldn't tell her he was preparing to kill Ma Liu, so he made an excuse: "Today I was at Physician Bai's house, and Wu Hong—the one who trains with Constable Zhang from the county—was there too. He taught me a set of forms and said I have great talent, telling me to practice hard because I have the potential to become a martial artist."

"A martial artist!"

Su Yunjin was stunned.

Even someone from a scholarly family like her knew that martial artists were the masters of this world. Her scholarly lineage only held value in the previous dynasty. In that era, the imperial family and the scholar-officials shared the world; scholars could suppress warriors, and great sages could suppress martial men. Back then, it was said: *Only those who make their names outside the East Flower Gate are true men.*

But since the fall of the previous dynasty, the status of martial artists had risen sharply. Foreign invasions had even caused the lineage of the previous dynasty's great sages to break. Nowadays, martial artists were the true men, while scholars were of little value. Scholarly families like hers, descended from the great scholars of the previous dynasty, could only hold onto a few acres of meager land and scrape by in the countryside.

Therefore, becoming a martial artist was the only way to change one's destiny against the heavens. Once one became a martial artist, whether in terms of imperial taxes or ways to earn money, opportunities would increase, and even social status would rise. For instance, in all of Xiantao Town, there were only two known martial artists on the surface: Yu Biao of the gambling den and Wu Zhong of the fish market.

If Chen Jie said he had the hope of becoming a martial artist, that truly meant rising above the masses. It was equivalent to passing the imperial examinations as a *Xiucai* in the previous dynasty!

"Mhm, Wu Hong said my aptitude is good. If I practice hard, I will surely achieve something!"

"That's wonderful. Husband, you are truly amazing..."

Su Yunjin looked at Chen Jie, and as their eyes met, an ambiguous atmosphere began to form between them.

"Wife, since your husband is so amazing, won't you give him a reward?"

Su Yunjin said with a red face, "W-what do you want?"

"You tell me, what does your husband want?"

Chen Jie looked at Su Yunjin with an aggressive gaze. The woman instinctively closed her eyes and pursed her lips, as if she already knew what he was about to do.

Chen Jie leaned in, slowly approaching. He could even see her eyelashes trembling nervously. *Women in this world are so good, so pure...*

As their lips drew closer, Su Yunjin could feel Chen Jie's heavy breathing. Her mind went blank, as if it had stalled. Chen Jie was already at her lips, feeling her soft breath.

"Sister... I want to eat pork cracklings."

Suddenly, Ruirui's voice rang out. Su Yunjin shuddered in fright and snapped her eyes open. Seeing the opportunity, Chen Jie leaned in and pecked her lips. Their eyes met.

Su Yunjin's face was burning!

*Wuuu...*

Just as Chen Jie was about to pry her teeth apart, Su Yunjin regained her senses and weakly pushed the man away.

"Don't let Ruirui see, it's so embarrassing."

Seeing her like this, Chen Jie knew he couldn't push too hard, otherwise, it would backfire. He had already kissed her; would the swan still fly away?

But that little bean!

Chen Jie suddenly found this cute little bean to be a bit of an eyesore.

Rubbing his chin, Chen Jie thought: *Does this little one have any relatives? If I sent her back to stay for a couple of days—not many, even just one day—I could get down to business!*

Unfortunately, upon reflection, he gave up the idea. He couldn't do that; the little one had no one to rely on; both her parents were gone!

Chen Jie looked at Su Yunjin with a dark expression. Su Yunjin knew he was unhappy, and she felt a sense of loss herself...

"Wife, let me tell you something."

Su Yunjin looked over.

Chen Jie said very seriously, "Ruirui is five this year. She's a big girl now; she should learn to sleep alone..."

Hearing this, Su Yunjin looked at Ruirui and said, "Actually, she still has a month before her birthday. She's only officially five after her birthday."

Chen Jie: "Actually, four isn't small either. She should sleep alone too, right..."

Hearing this, she couldn't help but laugh. "Why are you picking a fight with a child?"

Chen Jie feigned a cold expression. "This child ruined my good plans. She cannot stay; she must sleep in a separate bed!"

Looking at Chen Jie, who was acting like a child, Su Yunjin comforted him, "Alright, alright, I get it. Just give me some time, okay? I still need to make some preparations."

Chen Jie: "Preparations for what?"

Su Yunjin pursed her lips and fell silent.

Seeing her so conflicted, Chen Jie knew he was pushing a bit too hard, though he was puzzled in his heart—they had been married for a year, so why was it still like this?

However, he still said, "Fine, wife, I won't force you. It's only the Hour of the Ox; go back to sleep for a while."

Chen Jie gently closed the window, leaving Su Yunjin alone...