It was because of this gesture that Shen Yueshan fully entrusted Shen Xihe to Xiao Huayong, leading to Shen Yun’an’s wordless gesture earlier – the intimacy of family.

However, neither Shen Yun’an nor Shen Yueshan knew that Xiao Huayong had revealed the palace’s secret passages to Shen Xihe. He had become completely honest with her from then on.

The shock in Shen Xihe’s heart had not subsided even after returning to the Eastern Palace with Xiao Huayong.

Among her servants was Ziyu, who loved reading romance novels and couldn’t help sharing them with others. The maids would gather around, often telling passionate love stories.

She had heard many such tales and had encountered loving couples in the Northwest. Thus, she had always thought love couldn’t last long, though she never questioned whether true feelings existed in this world.

However, everything Xiao Huayong gave her was profound beyond her imagination.

“Don’t look at me with such moved eyes.” Xiao Huayong lowered his head to kiss her eyelids, his warm, husky voice sounding in her ear. His gaze was burning as if a fire blazed within.

Like a fierce beast in his eyes struggling to break free, it frightened her somewhat, yet she wanted to yield to him. Unconsciously, she raised both hands to circle his neck as he bent to kiss her…

Cyan light, night’s glow cold, most enchanting viewed upon the pillow;

Tender strength, curves welcoming, necks entwined with dark silk flowing.

Silent song, strings hushed low, deep tenderness in slow notes showing;

Lotus curtains, the moon lies low, spring night too brief through rain clouds going.

On the second day after the wedding, even the Crown Prince and his wife had to follow common customs and pay respects to their elders. Shen Xihe accompanied Xiao Huayong to the Empress Dowager’s palace, first offering tea. The Empress Dowager happily prepared many gifts for Shen Xihe.

After sitting briefly with the Empress Dowager, calculating that Emperor Youning would be finishing court, they rose to go to Mingzheng Hall.

“Take the sedan.” The carriage stopped at the Empress Dowager’s palace gate. Xiao Huayong carried Shen Xihe into the sedan and sat with her.

“Let go of me,” she said. With so many people watching, he showed no restraint. “I can walk. Riding like this, who knows what rumors they’ll spread.”

Just thinking about it made her face burn with embarrassment.

“What rumors?” Xiao Huayong teased, looking her over.

Shen Xihe glared at him – this shameless man!

Amused by her expression, Xiao Huayong caught her hand and kissed her fingertips: “Just sit. Everyone knows I’m frail – I’m the one who needs the sedan. What does it have to do with you? I can’t ride while making the Crown Princess walk to Mingzheng Hall. If that reached your father’s ears, how could I dare accompany you home in a few days?”

Shen Yueshan would stay until Shen Xihe’s visit home before returning to the Northwest.

Only then did Shen Xihe realize that people saw him as delicate as porcelain. She hadn’t thought of this angle, only thinking of…

Xiao Huayong couldn’t help laughing again. Shen Xihe tugged at his sleeve: “Control yourself – aren’t you supposed to be ‘frail and sickly’?”

Laughing so heartily, weren’t they afraid others would grow suspicious?

“These are all trusted people. When strangers approach, I naturally show restraint.” Xiao Huayong deliberately lowered his voice, leaning close to Shen Xihe’s ear, then couldn’t resist kissing her earlobe.

This made Shen Xihe glare at him again, while Xiao Huayong smiled like a cat satisfied after stealing cream.

When Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong arrived at Mingzheng Hall, Emperor Youning had just finished his morning meal. With the grand court session, His Majesty had to attend court hungry, only eating afterward.

Emperor Youning didn’t make things difficult for them, showing just the right amount of fatherly affection. He presented them with generous gifts before letting them return to rest.

She was married now, living in the Eastern Palace – this familiar place. Perhaps because she had frequented it before marriage, or because of the man beside her who was now her husband, she felt neither discomfort nor uncertainty and anxiety.

However, while organizing her dowry and taking inventory of the Eastern Palace, she came across a painting.

This painting was quite familiar – it was the portrait she had painted of Xiao Huayong at his request, showing him sitting under a tree with one leg bent and the other extended. But now a lady was resting her head on that extended leg – herself! When had she painted herself there?

She took down the painting and went to find Xiao Huayong: “Xiao Beichen, how do you explain this painting?”

Xiao Huayong was reading through his assigned memorials. Looking up at the painting, guilt flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by grievance. He sighed deeply: “One night I had such a dream. I dreamed of being intimate with Youyou, but since you never gave me the chance for closeness, I had to add a few brushstrokes to comfort my longing.”

Shen Xihe: …

Having done something so shameless, yet making himself sound so pitiful as if she had forced him into it.

Had she discovered this before the wedding, Shen Xihe would certainly have destroyed it, since any day before marriage could bring changes. Imagine if she hadn’t married Xiao Huayong, yet such a painting existed – it would have been impossible to explain.

But now they were married and had consummated their union, the painting didn’t seem improper anymore. Shen Xihe had to accept it.

Then she discovered a knotted cord – the one Xiao Huayong had begged from her during New Year’s Eve two years ago. But now it had a strand of dark hair entwined in it. She remembered when her cousin married in Linchuan County, Xiao Huayong sent daily letters, each containing a strand of hair. She knew without looking whose hair it was.

Shen Xihe looked at it for a moment, about to turn away, when Xiao Huayong embraced her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder: “Husband and wife should exchange hair, Youyou still owes me a strand.”

This wasn’t a fixed custom – only couples in love before marriage would exchange and entwine hair after the wedding. Since Xiao Huayong mentioned it, Shen Xihe didn’t want to refuse: “How can I cut my hair if you won’t let go?”

Xiao Huayong fetched scissors himself, lifted a strand of Shen Xihe’s hair and cut it, then cut one of his own. He divided each into two parts and wove one-half of each together, making two braids.

Understanding, Shen Xihe turned to get two sachets she had sewn, giving one to him.

Xiao Huayong looked up at her with a gentle smile, handing her one of the braided strands of their combined hair.

They exchanged them, each placing their strand in a sachet. Xiao Huayong hung him at his waist: “I shall wear it every day from now on.”

Touching the sachet, Xiao Huayong’s eyes flickered, and he added: “But this sachet’s color won’t match all my clothes. I’ll have to trouble Youyou to make more in different styles.”

How could Shen Xihe not understand his little scheme? She smiled slightly in agreement. While looking for the sachets, she found the handkerchief embroidered with immortal sashes that Xiao Huayong had stolen from her. The edges weren’t hemmed, so she took it out, threaded a needle, and began to hem it.