They embraced tightly, their hearts pounding so loudly that both felt their strength drain away, their hands and feet going soft.

“Wan’er…”

Shen Qianyu lowered his head, his eyes full of earnest longing as he muttered, “Back then, Qin Rao once threw me into the mastiff fighting arena…”

“The mastiff dogs injured me here.”

He took Song Wan’s hand and placed it on his lower back, gently tracing over the scar that had healed years ago.

Song Wan’s face filled with understanding as she smiled, “Wan’er will blow on it for Your Highness. A gentle blow and it won’t hurt anymore.”

“Hmph.”

Shen Qianyu let out a light snort, as if protesting that she was being too perfunctory.

He buried his head against Song Wan’s neck, his voice tinged with grievance, “She also once tied me up in the stables and left me lying in the snow all night.”

Song Wan touched his ear, gently rubbing it, “Your Highness must have been so cold then?”

“It was manageable. What’s one night in the snow for a real man? I’ve endured even harsher conditions.”

Lifting her arms to embrace the aggrieved Crown Prince, Song Wan’s heart had long since melted into a puddle.

The more she spent time with the Crown Prince, the more her heart ached for him.

She even wished she could constantly keep him warm and hold him in her arms.

No one in the world knew what he had endured. Song Wan thought that if she hadn’t asked today, perhaps he would never speak of these things again in his lifetime.

She couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his neck and lean forward to gently kiss his cheek.

“Wan’er…”

“Wan’er…”

Shen Qianyu held her firmly in his embrace, the grievance in his eyes gradually replaced by ambition. His eyes grew thick with desire as he lowered his head and asked hoarsely by Song Wan’s ear, “Do you… find me distasteful?”

Did she find his body, his experiences, or even his humble and base struggle to survive distasteful?

He wanted to ask but momentarily didn’t know how to begin, ultimately reducing it to just four words.

Though his words were incomplete, Song Wan had already glimpsed his true meaning.

She pinched Shen Qianyu’s ear lobe, which had turned so red it seemed to burn her fingertips, and smiled gently, “I don’t.”

“Then I… then I…”

With trembling hands, Shen Qianyu removed a golden hairpin from Song Wan’s hair.

She neither stopped nor dodged. The man stared into her eyes and removed the temple ornament from her hair as well.

Song Wan still said nothing, only watched Shen Qianyu’s actions with a smile.

The man carefully removed all her hair ornaments and leaned close to her ear, saying, “If you don’t find me distasteful, this prince is about to commit a great transgression.”

Song Wan covered her face, laughing helplessly. Shen Qianyu laughed along with her, his eyes disappearing into crescents.

When she had laughed herself weak, Shen Qianyu reached toward the dark tresses scattered across her fair skin, solemnly taking a lock and twining it with his own hair.

His gaze was serious, his movements gentle as he patiently tied them together again and again.

However, their hair was too smooth and wouldn’t stay intertwined.

Song Wan watched as the man’s expression shifted from reverent to panicked. She smiled and sat up, taking both their strands of hair from his hands and binding them together using the technique for making decorative knots.

“This way it’s very secure. It absolutely won’t come loose.”

The man let out a low, pleased laugh and pulled her back beneath him.

Shen Qianyu gazed at Song Wan, his heart swelling.

After looking for a long while, he finally mustered the courage to lower his head and unfasten the pearl clasp at her neck.

The young woman’s skin was delicate and fair as cream. Shen Qianyu lowered his head and leaned close.

Song Wan shyly closed her eyes.

“…”

Warm liquid dripped onto her face. Song Wan opened her eyes in confusion, only to see blood streaming from Shen Qianyu’s nose.

“Your Highness?”

Startled, she quickly pushed away the dazed man covering his nose and grabbed a handkerchief that had fallen by the bed to wipe it for him.

“Should I summon the imperial physician?”

Shen Qianyu hurriedly shook his head, “No need, no need.”

Wan’er most likely didn’t understand this matter, but he did. If the imperial physician found out, what face would he have left in the future?

“I’m fine, truly fine.”

As he spoke, Song Wan’s handkerchief gradually turned crimson. Her heart filled with alarm and she was about to get out of bed when she was pulled back painfully by their hair bound together.

“Wan’er, don’t rush, don’t rush.”

Hastily wiping his nose, Shen Qianyu looked utterly dejected, though he pulled her back into his arms, his face burning with embarrassment.

“Your Highness is truly all right?”

“Wan’er, please don’t ask.”

He was truly too ashamed to answer.

Song Wan took the handkerchief and gently wiped for him. Only after the bleeding had stopped for quite a while did she feel relieved.

Shen Qianyu carried Song Wan to the washing stand to clean their hands and faces, then carried her back to the canopy bed.

He didn’t want to be separated from Song Wan for even a moment.

“Wan’er, may I stay at Laiyi Pavilion tonight?”

“Your Highness may stay wherever you wish.”

“But are you willing, Wan’er?”

Shen Qianyu said sullenly, “If Wan’er is unwilling, I’ll return…”

“Wan’er is willing.”

She laughed softly, her heart full of tender affection and acceptance.

Tucking her into the bedding, Shen Qianyu nimbly slipped in as well. Holding Song Wan, he couldn’t help but let his thoughts wander again.

The man used his fingertips to carefully trace Song Wan’s features, feeling that nothing was sufficient to express the love in his heart.

The two embraced intimately. Shen Qianyu pulled off her outer robe and was about to go further when a commotion approached from far away in the palace.

Heng Zhi stood outside the door, gently knocking, “Your Highness, Chenghui, something has happened in the palace.”

Shen Qianyu’s brows furrowed tightly. He lay motionless under the covers without making a sound, but Song Wan hurriedly pushed him.

“Your Highness must not delay important matters.”

The man lifted his head dejectedly and obediently got up without daring to show the slightest reluctance.

Taking silver scissors from the sewing basket, Shen Qianyu carefully cut apart their intertwined hair and tucked it carefully into his breast. Only then did he turn to help Song Wan put on her outer robe.

Just as he was doing so, Heng Zhi urgently called from outside, “Crown Prince, Your Highness, the Empress has passed away.”

“The Empress has passed away?”

Song Wan frowned slightly, while Shen Qianyu was as if struck by lightning.

The Empress had passed away!

He had only just gotten intimate with Wan’er, and the Empress died neither sooner nor later, but right now?

As if perceiving his thoughts, Song Wan shook her head slightly.

“With the Empress’s passing, Your Highness as Crown Prince must make offerings at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and hold ceremonies at the mortuary hall.”

“Moreover, for the three days of suspended court, someone must be dispatched to organize the officials’ ceremonies at the Meridian Gate and Zhongshan. There are many matters that will keep you busy. Your Highness should go quickly.”

Song Wan raised her hand and gently stroked the brand marking him as a slave on his shoulder, “It’s only skin and flesh. Your Highness need not mind it.”

Physical pain could be endured, but if it burned into his heart, that would not do.

Before long, Heng Zhi reported that Ji Rong requested an audience. Song Wan pushed the still sullen Shen Qianyu, “Ji Rong must have brought the mourning garments. I’ll help Your Highness change.”

Receiving the mourning clothes from Ji Rong, Song Wan helped him dress while carefully instructing, “The mourning garments must be worn for twenty-seven days. After removing them, plain clothes must still be worn for a hundred days. Your Highness must pay attention to your undergarments and shoes and socks, and not give others grounds for criticism in this matter.”

“Your Highness, remember…”

Song Wan carefully instructed him while Shen Qianyu listened quietly, as if they truly were an ordinary married couple, loving and harmonious, consulting with each other.

After the Crown Prince finished dressing, he quickly departed. Song Wan also had Heng Zhi and Heng Wu replace the red lanterns at Laiyi Pavilion.

The next day at dawn, Shen Qianyu received an imperial edict to make offerings on behalf of Emperor Wenhui at the Meridian Gate, Zhongshan, and other sacred sites.

Having finally finished with the Empress’s funeral, the Nanqing envoy delegation formally submitted a memorial to Emperor Wenhui, saying they wished to visit.

The entire court was shaken, not knowing what Nanqing’s intentions were.

Before Shen Qianyu could even return from Zhongshan, another imperial edict was issued.

The Nanqing envoy delegation had specifically named Shen Qianyu, requesting that he come forth to receive them.