“Xiaozhou is in my room, already asleep. The princess consort doesn’t know – this courtyard is quite spacious, and there are few people in the prince’s mansion, so we servants each have our own room.”

At the Qin family’s residence in the capital, which wasn’t large, the several of them shared rooms two to a room, and had grown accustomed to it.

Suddenly arriving at the prince’s mansion where living conditions improved dramatically, they were all still adjusting.

Qin Yining leisurely drank her soup, smiling upon hearing this, “You all have followed me through life and death – in my heart I consider you sisters and friends. The conditions here are good, naturally that’s wonderful, but if anything feels wrong, don’t just think about saving me trouble. Come tell me about everything, understood?”

“Understood! The princess consort is different now from before. The prince dotes on you so much – as long as you speak up, there’s nothing the prince won’t agree to. We servants have certainly benefited from this.” Ji Yun smiled as she teased.

Qin Yining laughed helplessly, “Look at you all – your days have certainly become easier, and you’ve all become increasingly undisciplined.”

The several maids all laughed.

After Qin Yining finished eating, she went to wash up.

Qiu Lu then brought a water-red gauze nightgown to the washing room, “Princess consort, Madam specifically instructed this servant – she wants you to wear this tonight.”

Qin Yining’s face reddened at the sight of that gauze garment.

“What kind of clothing is this? Wearing it is like wearing nothing at all.”

Qiu Lu’s face also reddened, “Princess consort, Madam instructed it. Please change into it – perhaps, perhaps it should be this way.”

Qin Yining took the nightgown, really wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

But thinking about it, the maids who came with her as part of her dowry weren’t married yet – they were all innocent of worldly matters. She and Pang Xiao were husband and wife after all, and they would inevitably encounter some embarrassing situations. This was just the beginning.

Qin Yining couldn’t help covering her face, but had to change into it.

The nightgown wasn’t actually very transparent – a water-red cross-collar narrow-sleeved top in the same colored silk pants. Except for vaguely showing her shoulders, everything else was fairly normal, which put Qin Yining somewhat at ease.

When she came out, Bingtang and the others had left. Qiu Lu also smiled, bowed, and withdrew.

Qin Yining then sat down on the warm kang by the window opposite the step-bed, casually picking up a book to read.

It was a travel journal describing the customs and scenery of the Northwest. Qin Yining had never been to the Northwest, so she read with great interest, becoming absorbed in it.

When Pang Xiao returned, what he saw was a beauty leaning against a large pillow under the lamplight, reading.

Her long hair was draped over her back and shoulders, the gauze clothing thin. Her slender neck, delicate collarbones, and rounded shoulders all had a soft, matte glow. The red bodice could barely contain her curvaceous figure.

Pang Xiao felt that all the wine he’d drunk earlier had turned into streams of lava flowing through his limbs.

Hearing footsteps, Qin Yining came back to her senses from the book. Seeing Pang Xiao standing before her with a slightly flushed face, she couldn’t help smiling, “You’re back? Shall I have them bring water to serve you in washing up?”

But Pang Xiao said nothing, only staring fixedly at her.

Qin Yining worriedly set down the book, kneeling on the warm kang and raising a soft white hand to touch his slightly hot cheek.

“What’s wrong? Did you drink too much wine?”

Pang Xiao immediately swept Qin Yining up in his arms, striding toward the step-bed and gently placing her on the bright red brocade bedding.

Her jet-black hair spread across the pillow embroidered with mandarin ducks at play. The red clothing and red bedding made her skin appear white as freshly fallen snow. From their movements, her collar had opened, and lying there on her back, she was completely unaware of her natural allure.

Pang Xiao could no longer restrain himself. Previously he hadn’t dared go too far, fearing he might hurt her. Now he could finally possess her legitimately – to restrain himself further would be unmanly!

Passionate kisses fell on her forehead, nose tip, and cherry lips.

Qin Yining gradually became lost in his warm, strong embrace. Remembering her mother’s instruction to “let him do whatever he wanted,” she truly endured the pain and let him do whatever he wanted. With this indulgence, it continued until midnight.

The man who had tasted such sweetness was like a never-satisfied wild beast. When his large hand reached over again, Qin Yining finally grabbed a pillow and threw it at his chest.

“We still have to serve tea tomorrow morning! If you keep misbehaving, go sleep on the floor!”

“Alright, alright, I won’t move anymore.”

Pang Xiao held her in his arms, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.

Under his touch, her forehead was covered in sweat, as was her body. Pang Xiao lovingly and contentedly kissed her forehead, helped her clean up with a warm cloth, put away the maiden’s proof, then crawled back under the covers, holding the warm, fragrant, soft jade in his arms and sleeping with satisfaction.

Qin Yining felt like she was hugging a large furnace. In the still somewhat cold May weather of the North, she usually had to curl up in a ball when sleeping, but today she slept with her limbs stretched out. Even her feet were incredibly warm.

When she drowsily opened her eyes, seeing the bright red curtains embroidered with many sons and grandsons, she still couldn’t quite grasp the situation. After a while, she remembered that yesterday was her wedding night.

“Yining, good morning.” The low, husky male voice was right by her ear.

As Qin Yining turned her head, a kiss landed beside her lips.

Pang Xiao was lying on his side next to her, propping up his head. The bright red brocade quilt covered him from the chest down, while his exposed shoulders and arms showed powerful muscle definition. His shoulder still bore the scar from when he had saved her.

Qin Yining’s face instantly turned red. She pulled the quilt over her face.

Pang Xiao was amused by her cute reaction and laughed, pulling her into his arms and asking with concern, “Does your body still hurt badly? I have a particularly effective medicinal balm – shall I help you apply it?”

A small fist mercilessly pounded his chest.

“Get out, I don’t want to talk to you.”

Pang Xiao laughed heartily again. He really didn’t want to tease her, but her reactions were too adorable.

After forcibly placing several kisses on her cheek and forehead, Pang Xiao finally got up and put on his middle clothes, calling for people to enter.

Bingtang, Qiu Lu, Ji Yun, and Xian Yun entered carrying hot water, brocade cloths, and other items, all with red faces. Some went to prepare warm water, others came forward to serve Qin Yining.

Seeing the bruise-like marks on Qin Yining’s body, Bingtang quietly cursed, “Was this eating meat or what?”

She pulled a box of medicinal balm from her sleeve and pressed it into Qin Yining’s hands, lowering her voice even more, “Princess consort, this balm works well. Use this one – guaranteed to heal in one day.”

Qin Yining accepted the box with a red face, nodding, “Thank you.”

Bingtang smiled, “Then let’s get up and dress now.”

Ji Yun and Bingtang served Qin Yining in dressing and washing up.

On Pang Xiao’s side, he dismissed Qiu Lu and Xian Yun, washed his face and dressed himself, then sat on the edge of the warm kang with his hair still loose, watching Qin Yining arrange her hair before the mirror.

In the past, he would certainly have found watching a woman do her hair a waste of time.

But today, watching Qin Yining’s glossy black hair being skillfully arranged by her maid into a married woman’s style, Pang Xiao’s heart felt more satisfied than if he had conquered the world.

“Yining, help me arrange my hair in a moment.” Pang Xiao smiled as he moved closer, nuzzling her cheek with his.

The maids all withdrew to the outer room with red faces.

Qin Yining laughed, “I’m not skilled at arranging hair.”

“It’s fine. I’ll help you draw your eyebrows, and you help me arrange my hair. My skills aren’t good either, so we’ll call it even.”