Jiang Hanyuan waited in place. After a moment, she saw Shu Shenhui return alone, stopping before her and smiling as he said, “His Majesty has returned to the palace. Thank you for your trouble tonight. Let’s go back to the chamber.”

The two returned to the bridal chamber, walking side by side but maintaining some distance between them. They passed through one courtyard, through a gate, through another courtyard, then another gate. Throughout the entire journey, they remained silent. Finally, when passing through the area with water, he turned his face slightly and quietly glanced at her. Seeing her eyes looking straight ahead, he suddenly spoke, pointing as he introduced: “This pond garden has nothing much to see at present. When the weather warms, by the sixth or seventh month, when lotus flowers are in season with their fragrance wafting, there will be some semblance of Jiangnan’s beautiful scenery. If you like it, you could also take boat rides on it…”

Jiang Hanyuan turned her head to look at the dark mass of water he pointed to, where nothing could be seen, and made a sound of acknowledgment.

He had seemed about to continue speaking, but seeing her apparent lack of interest, he closed his mouth. Thus, the two continued silently through the pond garden, along a covered corridor, and back to the bridal chamber. They closed the door, passed through the outer room, entered the inner chamber, and finally returned to where they had begun.

However, perhaps because of that earlier back-and-forth journey, the initial sense of strangeness seemed to have somewhat faded. His expression had returned to naturalness, and with a somewhat apologetic tone, he smiled at her: “Tonight is our wedding night, yet we’ve had all this commotion—quite unexpected. You’ve been troubled. It’s getting late, let’s rest.” He came again to the clothing stand, and for the third time tonight, began unfastening his sash.

This time it went smoothly. He quickly removed the sash and took off his outer robe. When only his middle garment remained, he turned his head slightly to glance at her, seeing that she still stood there as before, seemingly looking at him, yet upon closer inspection, her gaze didn’t seem to be on him, as if her mind had wandered. After thinking a moment, he turned and walked toward her, stopping before her so they faced each other with less than an arm’s length between them.

This was likely the closest they had been since meeting tonight.

As he stopped, the sound of footsteps disappeared, and the inner chamber became utterly quiet again. Even their breathing and the struggling, hissing sounds of candle wicks being burned by flames could be heard. The two opposing shadows in the depths of the red curtains now seemed to take on a more intimate appearance.

“Lady Jiang.”

He called to her tentatively in a soft voice.

Her previously lowered eyelashes moved. She raised her eyes in response.

“If His Majesty hadn’t come earlier, I had something I wanted you to know…” He gazed into her eyes and continued speaking.

She still showed no intention of speaking, only looking at him.

He seemed to have figured out her temperament—she wouldn’t speak unless necessary. Not waiting for her reply, he continued: “Regardless of how it came about, since you and I have become husband and wife today, this is a matter for life. Henceforth, I will certainly respect you. Whatever you wish, as long as I am able, I will certainly fulfill your desires.”

He used the word “certainly” twice in his statement to her, his tone very solemn.

The room was brilliantly lit by candlelight. After speaking, he watched her, his face wearing his usual smile. Seeing her continue to stand silently, he hesitated, his hand moved slightly, then slowly rose, tentatively reaching until his fingers finally settled on the golden hairpin securing her hair knot.

He wished to undo her hair.

As the hairpin was slowly withdrawn inch by inch, her full hair knot gradually became loose. He didn’t stop, continuing bit by bit, slowly helping the new bride remove the hairpin.

In the depths of the red curtains, the pair of figures in the candlelit shadows appeared increasingly intimate, beyond description.

Just as he was about to fully withdraw the golden hairpin, and her hair knot was about to lose its support and collapse, she suddenly reacted, shaking her head to escape his hand and stepping back slightly.

“Your Highness, were your earlier words sincere?” she asked.

Shu Shenhui looked at her, slowly withdrawing his hand that had been left suspended in mid-air, and nodded.

“Then this is perfect. I have a matter to discuss.”

“Please speak.”

“I wish to return to Yanmen as soon as possible.”

Her direct manner immediately dissipated whatever slight awkwardness had resulted from her avoiding his hand moments before.

He didn’t seem surprised by her request. His face still bore a smile as he considered briefly, then nodded readily: “How about after one year? We’ll discuss it again next year. You know that our marriage has drawn attention from throughout the court.”

“One month!” Jiang Hanyuan replied.

The smile disappeared from his lips. He stared at her.

Her expression remained composed.

“Half a year then! After half a year, we’ll arrange this matter.” He hesitated, then yielded a step.

“Two months!”

At this, he seemed suddenly amused by her, shaking his head lightly, saying nothing more, just looking at her.

She also looked at him, her gaze showing not the slightest retreat or hesitation: “Your Highness, since the marriage is accomplished, if Your Highness also trusts my father and me, I believe this is not impossible. I am but one person—what does it matter where I am? Moreover, I am originally a border general. Why should leaving the capital require concern about public opinion?”

Whether convinced by her words or by the determination in her tone, he pondered and finally raised his eyes: “My birth mother is currently recuperating in her homeland. How about this—you remain here peacefully for now. After some time, when I can spare time from affairs in the capital, I’ll accompany you to visit her. Afterward, using military matters as the reason, you can return directly to Yanmen. How does this sound?”

“Rest assured, I’ll arrange this as quickly as possible. At the latest within three months, as early as possible, and won’t delay you too long.” He added another statement.

This result, honestly speaking, exceeded Jiang Hanyuan’s expectations. Before even entering this room tonight, while still in the ceremonial carriage, she had been thinking about this most important question of the evening.

She had prepared herself to be trapped here for at least half a year. Now, with the time halved, her mood suddenly became cheerful, and looking at the person before her, he seemed somewhat more agreeable too.

As long as she could return, and so quickly, nothing else mattered by comparison.

She nodded: “Acceptable.”

With her words concluded, the two fell silent again. The earlier scene of removing the hairpin could not be repeated. After standing opposite each other for another moment, as night deepened, they inevitably faced the unavoidable matter of sleeping arrangements that no wedding night could escape.

His gaze swept over the hairpin at her temple—the one she had shaken her head to avoid his hand from touching. His shoulders moved slightly, still hesitating, when he saw Jiang Hanyuan suddenly raise her hand and pull out the hairpin in one motion. Her already loosened hair knot completely collapsed, her abundant hair falling in disorder over her shoulders.

Without even looking, she casually threw it. With a “ding” sound, the object in her hand flew to a side table more than ten steps away.

Then she bent down, lifted her skirt hem, and drew a dagger that had been inserted sideways from what appeared to be shin guards—a circle of bandages around one of her long legs. She threw this to the table as well in the same manner, explaining: “Your Highness needn’t worry, I harbor absolutely no ill intent toward you. I’m simply accustomed to this. If entering the palace, I would naturally know better.”

Having said this, she efficiently removed the sash at her waist, took off her outer robe, and finally, like him, stood opposite him wearing only a light, thin silk undergarment. She slowly spread her arms, revealing her arms marked with fearsome scars, completely opening her hands that were full of rough calluses, displaying her entire person completely before his gaze.

Initially, he had watched silently as she removed her hairpin and let down her hair. When he saw her draw the dagger from her body, he seemed only slightly surprised. But as she continued to remove her clothing and then spread her arms and body before him with such uninhibited behavior, his expression became somewhat unnatural.

“Ugly as I am, Your Highness has seen clearly. I’ve grown up in border military camps since childhood. Except for this female body, everything else has long been no different from a man. If Your Highness truly wishes to share the bed, I have no objection.”

After speaking, she waited for his answer. He remained silent.

She nodded: “It’s getting late, let’s rest then!”

She ended up saying his words for him as well. Turning to the bed, she lay down and closed her eyes. After waiting a moment with no movement, she opened her eyes to see him still standing in the same place, looking at her, motionless as if in a daze.

She hadn’t expected this person to have such a character in private—indecisive and dawdling. She found it quite surprising.

Such a person wouldn’t even be efficient enough to serve as a cook in her Qingmu Camp.

“If Your Highness has no such intention, I don’t mind. I’ll sleep in the outer room.”

This was exactly what Jiang Hanyuan hoped for.

She sat up with one turn.

In the outer room by the window was a beauty couch, though narrow and low, intended for daytime rest, it was more than adequate for one person to sleep.

“No, no, you misunderstand! Since we’re husband and wife, this is the proper way of human relations. Moreover, I was the one who sought to marry you—why would I be unwilling? Let’s rest now!”

He seemed to awaken as if from a dream, immediately speaking to stop her. As he spoke, he came to the bed, but seeing the bright candlelight behind him shining directly on the bed, illuminating every detail of skin and hair, he paused, turned back, and lowered the final two curtains hanging before the bed.

The heavy curtains fell and closed, immediately blocking out all the light. The remaining narrow space became dim.

“Lady Jiang, please move inward to make room for me on the bed…”

He stopped before the bed and spoke in a low voice.

It wasn’t that the bed wasn’t large enough for two people, but that she was lying on the outer side.

This was also a habit formed from years of military camp life. Rushing out of tents for emergency night watches was commonplace—sleeping on the outer side made it convenient to get out of bed.

She glanced at him and moved inward. He slowly removed his shoes, got on the bed, sat properly, spread the covers, first covering her completely and securely up to her neck, then tucked in his side, and slowly lay down.

Initially, both seemed to fall asleep. Jiang Hanyuan closed her eyes, truly wanting to sleep like this. After a moment, however, she felt a hand slowly reaching toward her under the covers, beginning to fumble about, trying to untie the fastenings of her undergarment. She remained motionless, waiting, but felt his hand lingering at her waist and abdomen for quite some time. For a long while, he couldn’t even manage to untie a simple garment tie efficiently. When she finally grew impatient, she pushed his hand away and undid it herself in a few quick motions.

The man beside her was silent for a moment, then covered her with his body.

Jiang Hanyuan felt extremely uncomfortable, suppressing the urge to kick him off the bed. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander.

She first recalled the private words the old nanny from Yunluo City had earnestly whispered to her the night before departure. She hadn’t listened carefully, catching only one key point: endure a bit, and once it’s over, you’ll know the pleasure of marital relations.

Then she suddenly remembered a horse breeding scene she had inadvertently witnessed at a stable near the military camp when she was a teenager. She remembered being inexplicably shocked at the time. She had never imagined that a stallion in heat could differ so greatly from normal—hideous and grotesque to the extreme. But later, it no longer caused any ripples. During times when there were no conflicts or battles on the border lines, at night, those men who hadn’t exhausted their energy in the day’s training would gather together and speak all manner of crude words. The way of heaven brings forth all life; all things are similar. What essential difference was there between humans and horses?

Forget it, how boring. She stopped thinking about it and instead considered an urgent matter she needed to handle in the next few days. Thus, she didn’t know how much time passed—it seemed long, yet also seemed only a moment—when she noticed he had no next move. Covering her, he had moved a few times at first, then gradually, until finally he seemed dead, motionless. Not only was there no pleasure in marital relations, but even the anticipated “endure a bit, and it’s over” never came. Puzzled, she opened her eyes and pushed his shoulder.

“Hurry up!” she urged.

He stirred and came back to life: “I… I’m somewhat… truly sorry to you…”

His voice sounded like people in the military camp who hadn’t eaten enough before drill—weak, and his voice grew lower and lower until it disappeared. Perhaps truly unable to speak of it, he paused: “Perhaps… next time…”

That voice was filled with heavy shame: “Tonight I truly don’t know why… perhaps I’m too tired…”

After saying this, he began making excuses for his inadequacy: “In the next few days, the court is giving me leave for the wedding, so there were more affairs in the preceding days, plus preparing for the wedding ceremony. I haven’t slept well for several nights in a row.”

Jiang Hanyuan understood.

This was like a soldier on the battlefield unable to raise his spear when needed.

She had been so forthright and proactive to this extent, yet he still couldn’t manage it.

She believed him—it certainly wasn’t intentional. So ultimately, it was indeed because she had failed to arouse his interest.

Her mind conjured the scene she had witnessed at Huguo Temple that day, Miss Wen’s captivating beauty. She understood now and felt even more relieved, even somewhat pitying him.

People living in this world each have their own sufferings. Peddlers and laborers have their misfortunes; princes and royalty have theirs.

This person’s sacrifice truly earned her sympathy. Not only had he married her, but he had to force himself to perform like this.

Though the light was dim, it was sufficient to see clearly. She saw him looking down at her, his face full of shame, his expression dejected, his forehead seemingly covered with a layer of perspiration.

“It’s fine, I’m also tired. Let’s rest.” She responded, not forgetting to offer comfort.

Seeing her say this, he seemed to regret it again, hesitating: “Could you wait a moment? Perhaps I could try again—”

“Your Highness!”

Jiang Hanyuan could no longer bear it and directly stopped him.

“Your Highness truly needn’t force yourself like this! I know Your Highness harbors not the slightest disrespect toward me. As long as you allow me to return quickly, I’ll be endlessly grateful.”

Her tone was sincere. Indeed, these were her true feelings.

The man silently withdrew from her body.

Jiang Hanyuan felt at peace, straightened her disheveled clothing, and turned to face inward.

There were no more words that night. She didn’t know how well her bedmate slept, but for her, with the greatest worry from this journey resolved, she rarely enjoyed a full night’s sleep. She was awakened by movement from the person beside her.

She could sleep anywhere, but was always a light sleeper. If she could avoid nightmares, that counted as sleeping well. Opening her eyes suddenly, she saw the person beside her slowly rising from the pillow, sitting up, lifting the covers as if trying to quietly get out of bed. Suddenly seeing her awake, he paused, then said: “We need to be at the ancestral temple before the Chen hour. It’s still early—you can sleep a bit longer. I have another matter to attend to, so I’ll get up first.”

Due to the dim light, Jiang Hanyuan couldn’t see his complexion clearly, but his voice sounded dry and somewhat hoarse. She saw him finish speaking, get out of bed, turn his back to her, quickly dress, and without staying a moment longer, lift the hanging curtains and leave.