In truth, Mingtan hadn’t expected her husband to sweep her into his arms so directly.
As they left Shoukang Palace, Qu Nianzi persisted in following them, making snide remarks. Mingtan, growing increasingly irritated, caught sight of her husband approaching from afar and suddenly devised a plan.
Interrupting Qu Nianzi, she said softly, “County Princess, you seem to know little about men. Why don’t you observe carefully and see what kind of woman His Highness truly prefers?” She then feigned twisting her ankle, wincing and gasping in pain.
Mingtan had anticipated that her husband would first pay respects to the Empress, then approach her and ask, “What’s wrong?”
She would then respond pitifully, holding back tears, “It’s nothing,” before biting her lip and adding, “This servant just carelessly twisted her ankle.”
This ploy, she thought, would at least ensure her husband’s intimate support as they left, if not win his sympathy.
However, her husband’s actions had far exceeded her expectations, leaving Mingtan momentarily stunned, forgetting even to flash a gentle smile at Qu Nianzi.
This was happening in the palace!
She recalled last year’s Lantern Festival palace banquet, where she had been on her utmost guard, not daring to make a single misstep. Now, her husband was carrying her through the imperial grounds—wasn’t this a bit too ostentatious?
“My lord,” Mingtan asked cautiously, arms around Jiang Xu’s neck, “shouldn’t you go pay respects to the Empress Dowager? And the Empress… you haven’t greeted her either. Is this proper?”
“It’s fine,” Jiang Xu dismissed her concerns.
After walking for a while, Mingtan inquired again, “By the way, are you acquainted with County Princess Yongle? She’s quite spirited and even joined her father on the northern campaign. From her words, it seems you two might have some history.”
“We’re not acquainted,” Jiang Xu replied, glancing down at her.
Feeling as if her thoughts had been seen through, Mingtan let out a small “Oh,” and obediently refrained from further questions.
Jiang Xu’s claim of unfamiliarity was not mere dismissal. His impression of County Princess Yongle came solely from the Empress Dowager and her relatively competent warrior father.
As for the County Princess’s admiration for him, her disguised entry into the military camp, her accompanying her father on the northern campaign for his sake, and her private tantrums about wanting to become the Princess Consort of Beiding—he knew nothing of these. His princess consort could have been anyone, but never a close relative of the Empress Dowager.
As they reached Yeyang Gate, Jiang Xu suddenly asked, “How’s your foot?”
Mingtan shook her head, “I just twisted it slightly. It’s nothing.”
Jiang Xu paused.
Realizing her mistake, Mingtan quickly tightened her hold on his neck and said coyly, “But it still hurts a little. I can’t walk on my own.”
“…”
Troublesome.
He continued walking.
Mingtan couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile. Since they were already being ostentatious, why not go all out? Wouldn’t it be a waste if the censors didn’t file a few complaints?
—
Mingtan was quite self-aware, knowing that such a display would likely draw criticism from the imperial censors.
Sure enough, at the next morning’s court session, after discussing important matters, a censor stepped forward to criticize Prince Beiding for his improper behavior in the palace. He also pointed out that since returning from his military expedition, the prince had never attended court sessions, hinting at potential negligence.
The censor’s critique was mostly routine, fulfilling his monthly duty without expecting any real punishment. After all, Prince Beiding rarely behaved properly or showed respect for others when in the capital.
However, his newly minted father-in-law wouldn’t stand for it.
Ming Tingyan stepped forward and retorted, “In this official’s opinion, it’s only natural for the Prince to be concerned and protective when his princess consort is injured. How can this be called improper behavior?
“Moreover, the censor’s accusation of negligence is utterly absurd. Civil and military officials have different duties. When the Prince was risking his life on the battlefield, I didn’t see Censor Yang being criticized for not serving the country, only wagging his tongue in court and nitpicking about others’ personal affairs!”
Duke Changguo, Bai Jingyuan, also stepped forward to support him: “This official agrees wholeheartedly with the Marquis of Jing’an. If Prince Beiding can be called negligent, then there are few diligent and loyal servants in this court. If there are any, they certainly aren’t the likes of Censor Yang, who only focuses on trivial matters!”
Censor Yang: “…”
Emperor Chengkang: “…”
The court fell silent for a moment, with no one stepping forward to mediate.
The fact was, Prince Beiding’s behavior in the palace had indeed been somewhat disrespectful.
But the Prince had always been this way—if he wasn’t afraid of disrupting palace banquets, why would he fear this? Moreover, Duke Changguo and the Marquis of Jing’an were right. For newlyweds, if even the Emperor didn’t mind, why make unnecessary trouble?
As for attending court sessions, Prince Beiding had done so in the past. But when he did, he either stood in silence or directly mocked the Empress Dowager. It was better for him not to attend.
After a long silence, Emperor Chengkang had to clear his throat and mediate himself: “There’s no need to argue, ministers. The Prince of Beiding is young and newly married. This… excessive love for his wife is understandable.”
He paused, feeling his words sounded odd, but continued nonetheless, “Moreover, Prince Beiding is wholeheartedly devoted to the country. His military achievements are evident to all. His absence from court sessions is with my special permission and needs no criticism.”
He then glanced at the Right Chancellor.
Understanding the Emperor’s intent, the Right Chancellor quickly stepped forward to report on other matters, changing the subject and smoothing over the incident.
Emperor Chengkang hadn’t given much thought to his casual remark about “excessive love for his wife,” unaware that these imperial words would spread rapidly after the court session.
With no pressing matters in court recently, the officials were eager to gossip. Returning to their mansions, they didn’t forget to chat with their wives about it. Thus, the rumor of Prince Beiding’s “excessive love for his wife” spread throughout the capital’s nobility in just half a day.
On the third day after the wedding, as Ming Tingyan was angrily rebutting Censor Yang in court, Jiang Xu had just finished his martial practice and returned to Qi’an Hall, preparing to accompany Mingtan back to the Marquis of Jing’an’s mansion.
Jiang Xu usually wore all black, but as Mingtan was doing her makeup, she kept glancing at him in the bronze mirror, hinting that the pine-green casual outfit he wore last year at the Great Xiangguo Temple looked quite good on him.
“That outfit is torn,” Jiang Xu stated.
“Does my lord not have any other clothes that aren’t black?” Mingtan persisted, rising to rummage through the wardrobe herself. She pulled out a moon-white robe and held it up against Jiang Xu. “How about this? I think it looks quite nice.”
Jiang Xu disliked moon-white.
But before he could speak, Mingtan looked at him expectantly and said, “I also have a moon-white brocade dress. Since we’re visiting my family today, wouldn’t it be nice if we wore matching colors?”
“…” Jiang Xu averted his gaze awkwardly. “As you wish.”
So the couple set off for the Marquis of Jing’an’s mansion wearing matching moon-white brocade outfits, accompanied by several carriages of gifts prepared by Uncle Fu.
By the time they arrived, Ming Tingyan had already returned from court and had greatly expanded on Emperor Chengkang’s comment about “excessive love for his wife.” He was beaming with pride as he recounted the story, though Lady Pei listened with skepticism, finding it hard to reconcile this “excessive love” with the Prince of Beiding she had seen on the wedding day.
A princess consort’s return visit was no small matter. Though not extravagantly celebrated, the Marquis of Jing’an had invited all their clan relatives to the capital for a family banquet.
Shen Hua and Bai Minmin were naturally present.
After exchanging pleasantries with various aunts and relatives, Mingtan found an opportunity to retreat to the Zhaoshui Courtyard with Shen Hua and Bai Minmin.
Though only a few days had passed since she left, the courtyard remained unchanged. Yet Mingtan felt that her dozen years of maiden life here were already distant, and would only grow more so as time passed.
“How is it? How is it? Has His Highness treated you well these first few days of marriage?” Bai Minmin asked excitedly. “I heard from my father on our way here that your prince carried you in the palace yesterday, which Censor Yang criticized in a memorial. Then my father and yours berated that censor in court. It seems your prince is quite fond of you!”
Mingtan cupped her face, nodding with a hint of shyness. “His Highness treats me very well. I think… he might be quite fond of me?”
She had always been a proper young lady from a good family. Apart from reading a few romance novels with Bai Minmin, she had barely even seen men outside her family and didn’t understand concepts like “liking” or “fondness.”
But her husband was handsome, and she was willing to spend her life with him, so she must be fond of him, right? Her husband complimented her looks and treated her well, so he must be fond of her too.
Mingtan was quite satisfied with her logic, nodding to herself in affirmation.
Shen Hua gently fanned herself, smiling in agreement. “Looking at Fourth Sister’s radiant complexion and tender gaze, it’s clear that His Highness must be treating you exceptionally well.”
Bai Minmin, still unmarried, didn’t catch the implication in Shen Hua’s words about “radiant complexion and tender gaze.” She naively pressed on: “If Prince Beiding treats you so well, have you and His Highness… consummated the marriage?”
Shen Hua’s teasing had already made Mingtan’s ears turn red, and Bai Minmin’s blunt question only deepened her blush, spreading to her neck.
“Did you or didn’t you?” Bai Minmin persisted.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Mingtan finally burst out, unable to bear the questioning.
Bai Minmin’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“…”
Mingtan didn’t want to respond.
“So, how was Prince Beiding… you know?” Bai Minmin asked, fidgeting with her fingers and looking gossipy.
Now it was Mingtan’s turn to be confused. “How was what?”
“Well—” Bai Minmin scratched her head, unsure how to phrase it delicately. She had recently become curious and read some risqué novels that suggested newlywed women often discussed such matters with close friends, so she was trying to follow suit.
Shen Hua, being married, had some experience in this area. She smiled and asked in a low voice, “How many times in one night?”
Mingtan finally understood. Without thinking, she swatted Bai Minmin with her fan, glaring at her. “You’re an unmarried girl! Have you no shame?”
“Not as shameless as you,” Bai Minmin retorted, recounting Mingtan’s past escapades like sneaking into the military camp and peeking at certain private illustrations.
The conversation went in circles, with Bai Minmin and Shen Hua refusing to let the topic drop, always circling back to intimate matters.
Mingtan cupped her face with both hands, embarrassedly tugging at her earlobes as she recalled. Shyly, she answered, “His Highness seems… quite impressive? Twice in one night, which is quite tiring.” She had no basis for comparison, so how could she know what was impressive and what wasn’t?
Bai Minmin looked puzzled. “Is twice impressive? The novels I’ve read always mention seven times.”
Mingtan: “…?”
Is that so?
By Bai Minmin’s standards, did that mean her husband wasn’t very capable?
Just then, Jiang Xu, who had approached the boudoir door intending to call Mingtan for dinner, paused in his steps.