“My Lady?” Fuling blinked. “Would you like to bathe?”
Qin Wan suddenly came back to her senses, her cheeks flushing slightly. Looking down at her elaborate wedding attire, she nodded, “Yes, let’s prepare the bath.”
If nothing else, she was exhausted from wearing this ceremonial outfit all day.
Fuling’s face lit up with joy as she immediately went to prepare the water. Qin Wan finally had a chance to properly examine the room. Every corner of this courtyard had been thoughtfully arranged. Looking at the exquisite furniture and decorations, Qin Wan felt a twinge of regret – even though Yan Chi had planned to leave the capital, he still spared no effort in these details.
While guards stood ready for service outside the courtyard, only Bai Ying and Fuling remained inside. Soon, Fuling came to escort Qin Wan to her bath.
Qin Wan sat before the dressing mirror as Fuling carefully removed the ornaments from her hair. “My Lady, His Highness couldn’t take his eyes off you today. If you weren’t so tired, it would have been perfect to wait for his return like this. But the guards outside said His Highness got held up – the Prince of Yu who just returned from Yu Province and Prince Gong insisted on making him drink. His Highness still needs to send off the guests, so he probably won’t return until after the Hour of Zi. That’s why you should bathe first.”
Fuling continued speaking while working, “The prince’s mansion is wonderful, and your courtyard with His Highness is so elegant… Oh! I can’t call you ‘My Lady’ anymore – you’re the Princess Consort now…”
Bai Ying, who was helping nearby, also smiled. “Yes, she’s the Princess Consort now.”
“Right, Princess Consort,” Fuling went on, “Why aren’t there any female servants in the prince’s mansion?”
Qin Wan glanced at Bai Ying, who explained, “Prince Rui and the Old Prince were stationed in Northwest Shuo for many years, leaving the mansion vacant. In earlier years when the former Princess Consort was here, there were female servants and matrons. After the Princess Consort passed away and the father and son went to Northwest Shuo, they dismissed many of the staff. When His Highness returned, he never hired new female servants.”
Fuling nodded, “I see. But now that we have our Princess Consort, we should add more staff. The guards outside can only do heavy work. Even in the Marquis Mansion, the Princess Consort had four little maids in her courtyard. Now in such a large prince’s mansion, we’ll need more hands. What does the Princess Consort think?”
If not for what was to come, they would certainly need to hire more staff to bring life to the mansion. However, they would be leaving for Northwest Shuo in two days – something Fuling didn’t yet know. Qin Wan caught Fuling’s eye in the mirror and said, “There’s no rush for that. We have plenty of time ahead.”
“Yes!” Fuling quickly responded, “I’m just too excited! Before, the Princess Consort was staying at the Marquis Mansion, but now you’re the mistress of the prince’s mansion. I can’t wait to see the mansion come alive, to watch you manage the household, to see you bear little princes – this mansion will become more and more lively…”
Qin Wan’s lips curved in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. When arranging marriages for Ban Xia and the others, she had considered finding a match for Fuling too. But in the end, she couldn’t bear to part with her. Fuling’s vivacious and warm nature would have made her a good match for a kind husband – someone who could give her a bustling, happy life. But Fuling would never want to be separated from her, and Qin Wan wouldn’t feel at ease leaving her in the capital. With a sigh, Qin Wan let Fuling help her with her bath.
Steam rose from the bathtub, where Fuling had scattered prepared rose petals. As soon as Qin Wan stepped in, she was enveloped in their fragrance. After the bath, Fuling insisted on applying fragrant cream to Qin Wan’s skin, saying, “The Princess Consort’s skin is already so delicate, with this fragrant cream it’ll be as soft as jade. His Highness will surely love it.”
Qin Wan’s cheeks reddened as she glared at Fuling, who giggled with a blush, “Hehe, Matron Yu taught me all this…”
While such instruction was necessary, others might not have been so direct about it. Qin Wan couldn’t stand feeling so sticky and quickly changed clothes before heading to the warm chamber. Though it was deep winter outside, the floor heating made the room comfortably warm. Earlier, Qin Wan couldn’t eat properly in her formal wedding attire, but now she was more comfortable. Bai Ying brought her a fresh bowl of white lotus seed porridge. Even after all this time had passed, they could still hear the festivities coming from the main courtyard. Qin Wan sighed inwardly, wondering how long the celebration would last. She was already feeling drowsy, and while normally she could simply go to sleep, tonight was different.
Qin Wan leaned back on the long couch against the pillow, gazing at the double happiness characters pasted on the window. From today onward, she was the wife of Prince Rui.
This thought filled her heart with contentment, and she suddenly asked, “Where’s my chestnut cake?”
The question made Fuling laugh helplessly, “Princess Consort, really… it melted completely. I left it outside earlier… it’s cold now and can’t be eaten anymore.”
Qin Wan thought for a moment and smiled, not insisting further. Looking around the room, she said, “Prince Rui must have drunk a lot outside. Prepare some sobering soup, and some light porridge and squab soup – I suspect he hasn’t had time to eat. Oh, and prepare some chestnut cake too.”
In this cold winter, the hot chestnut cake would be sweet, warm, and melting in the mouth – just thinking about it made Qin Wan’s mouth water.
Fuling smiled, her eyes crinkling, “Don’t worry, I’ve already arranged everything. Though there aren’t many female servants in the mansion, I asked the guards outside earlier, and there are two very skilled cooks in the kitchen. They won’t let the Princess Consort and His Highness go hungry.”
Reassured, Qin Wan rested her chin on the pillow, lost in thought.
She was now Yan Chi’s wife, but she still didn’t know how to be a wife.
Thinking this, Qin Wan remembered how her father and mother had interacted. Her father was naturally upright and stern, maintaining an iron-faced, uncompromising demeanor outside, but at home, he was always gentle and kind. Upon careful reflection, Qin Wan felt it was her mother’s gentleness that had melted her father’s stern facade. Her mother was a woman from Jiangnan, of humble origins – her maternal grandparents were silk merchants from the Two Lakes region. They had only one daughter whom they treasured dearly, teaching her literature, calligraphy, and the four arts. Thus, although her mother came from a merchant family, she was highly accomplished and possessed the characteristic grace and gentleness of Jiangnan women. In Qin Wan’s memory, her mother had never lost her temper, and even during disagreements with her father, she could persuade him with the gentleness of spring wind and rain. For instance, when her mother wanted her to study medicine at the Valley of the Medicine King, despite being a sheltered woman who rarely left home, her mother never felt bored. She had excellent embroidery skills, enjoyed reading medical texts, and was naturally talented in the four arts. In her leisure time, she tended to flowers and plants, giving Qin Wan the impression that her mother maintained a relaxed yet busy lifestyle.
When her father was away on official duties, sometimes in remote areas handling cases for three or more months, her mother never complained. Her mother feared thunderstorms, and only on such rainy nights would she show any vulnerability, holding young Qin Wan close. After returning to the capital, though her merchant-born mother wasn’t initially accepted by the capital’s noble circles, she never missed the social gatherings she was expected to attend. Her gentle and composed demeanor showed no timidity, and gradually she made several close friends. Qin Wan recalled the few banquets she had attended with her mother shortly after returning to the capital – facing the unfamiliar social circles of the capital, she had felt uncertain, but her mother remained completely calm and composed. Watching her mother then, Qin Wan realized for the first time that beneath her mother’s gentle, poetic Jiangnan demeanor lay an innate resilience and tranquility. Looking back now, although she had idolized her father as a child and had almost resolved to follow him in learning the coroner’s craft, she had unconsciously absorbed everything from her mother. Most precious of all, her mother never forced her to conform to worldly conventions.
Thinking of her mother and father, then looking at the red double happiness characters all around, Qin Wan’s heart grew soft and warm. In her mind, her mother exemplified the perfect way to be a wife, and she wondered if her parents’ spirits in heaven would find comfort in seeing her wedding today.
Qin Wan was truly exhausted, and in the warm room, she unconsciously fell asleep while lying against the pillow. Seeing this, Fuling and Bai Ying naturally didn’t dare wake her, quickly closing the half-open window that had been left ajar for ventilation. Qin Wan was half-reclining on the couch, her upper body supported by the large pillow. The warmth had brought a rosy flush to her cheeks, and in her water-red wide-sleeved inner clothes, even Bai Ying and Fuling found the sight stirring. Fuling thought to herself that it was no wonder they said heroes couldn’t resist beautiful women – if she were a man, she would surely love such a Princess Consort. Just as this thought crossed her mind, Fuling suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Turning around, she saw Yan Chi had already entered through the curtain.
Remembering her previous thought, Fuling felt inexplicably guilty and hurried forward to bow, but Yan Chi waved her off, having already spotted Qin Wan asleep on the couch.
Yan Chi made a gesture of silence and waved for Fuling and Bai Ying to withdraw. Fuling glanced back at Qin Wan, hesitated for a moment, but still walked out.
Only after they had both left did Yan Chi slowly walk toward the low couch.
The room was very warm, almost hot, but this allowed Qin Wan to dress very lightly.
She had just bathed, and the hair falling around her shoulders still held some moisture. Her skin was as white as snow, her features as delicate as if painted. Reclining against the pillow, her waist formed a slender and alluring curve, her lower legs slightly curled. Yan Chi felt he could almost see the smooth, delicate skin through the thin gauze of her skirt.
His gaze falling lower, Yan Chi saw Qin Wan’s slender ankles. Her small, jade-like feet were brazenly exposed at the edge of the gauze skirt, her round, pink toes slightly curled, inexplicably making one want to reach out and hold them. Yan Chi’s throat bobbed sharply.
It was very late now. After seeing off Yan Zhi, Yan Qi, and the others, and driving away Yan Li and his group, he had no patience left to entertain the remaining guests, leaving them all to Bai Feng and the others. He had endured all evening and finally could return to this small courtyard. This was the Prince Rui Mansion – in the past, even knowing this was his home, he could dismiss the servants and leave the capital for Northwest Shuo at any time. But now, on just the first day of their marriage, he felt an inexplicable attachment in his heart.
In a daze, he remembered that his father, Prince Yan Lin, had only left for Northwest Shuo never to return after his mother’s death.
Deep, insoluble tenderness seeped into Yan Chi’s eyes as he quietly stepped forward. Just as he was about to lean down, Qin Wan’s eyelids suddenly fluttered and she woke up. Seeing Yan Chi, she started, “Oh, you’re back…”
Qin Wan supported herself to sit up, about to call Fuling to bring the sobering soup but saw the room was empty.
Yan Chi sat beside her, “I’ve already dismissed them.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan’s face grew warm, “I had sobering soup prepared for you. Have you eaten? We kept dinner for you too.”
Yan Chi waved his hand, instinctively wanting to pull her into his embrace, but as soon as he moved, he froze, “I smell of alcohol. Wait a moment.”
With these words, Yan Chi stood up and headed straight for the bathroom. Watching his hurried steps, Qin Wan couldn’t help but smile. She stood up to call Fuling back in, and while Fuling went to fetch the sobering soup and dinner, Qin Wan stood outside the bathroom, hesitating whether to go in. By rights, as Yan Chi’s wife, it wouldn’t be improper to go in and attend to him, but… thinking of the scene inside the bathroom, Qin Wan still couldn’t make herself step forward.
While she was hesitating, voices suddenly sounded outside. Qin Wan thought Fuling had returned and turned toward the door, but it was Bai Ying who came in. “Where’s Fuling? Who was just speaking?”
Bai Ying frowned, “Princess Consort, someone has come from the palace.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan’s expression changed slightly, “From the palace?”
Bai Ying nodded, “Yes, from Shoukang Palace, bearing its token. They say the Empress Dowager has taken a turn for the worse. The messenger is waiting outside right now.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan’s expression immediately changed, and she turned to get her outer robe. Bai Ying quickly helped her dress. In these moments, Yan Chi had already changed and emerged from the bathroom, saying gravely, “Who has come?”
Bai Ying frowned, “It’s not Matron Chen – it’s someone I don’t recognize, but the Shoukang Palace token is genuine.”
Qin Wan, now wearing her outer robe, said urgently, “Let’s go meet them first.”
The Empress Dowager had already been seriously ill, and Yan Chi was also very concerned. Thinking that the Empress Dowager might be critically ill, Yan Chi’s earlier amorous thoughts disappeared. He quickly nodded, grabbed another cloak to wrap around Qin Wan, and took her hand as they walked out together.
The matron from Shoukang Palace was waiting at the courtyard gate. Seeing Qin Wan emerge, the matron immediately came forward and said, “Princess, please hurry to the palace to save the Empress Dowager!”