He took her glass lamp and invited her to sit inside. There was a special place on the door for inserting the lamp pole. He raised his arm to fit it in, his soft sleeves brushing across the back of her hand, vaguely reminding her of the scattered petals that day at Xihua Gate.
He smiled with great elegance. “What’s wrong? Why are you standing there in a daze?”
She made an “oh” sound. “I won’t sit. Just a few words and I’ll leave.”
He tilted his head slightly with an expression that said “just as I expected.” “Is Your Highness afraid of me? A man and woman alone – improper to be together?”
Even though they were already married, not having reached that step, she was ultimately still a young lady. But this young lady was stubborn and didn’t like to admit defeat. “What’s there to fear about you? Your subordinates might be intimidated by you, but I’m not…”
“Then come in and sit. Whether we have things to say or not, accompany me for a cup of tea. Tonight’s moonlight is so beautiful – I have no desire to sleep.”
He turned and went inside with an unquestionable, resolute attitude. Wanwan had no choice. Seeing him standing at the table fiddling with tea implements, the room’s doors and windows wide open, it really wasn’t as awkward as she had imagined. She hesitated slightly but still stepped inside.
This person was truly strange – completely different during day and night. During the day he was a regional overlord, but at night he had his own little pleasures. He moved around the table preparing tea, a complete set of white porcelain tea implements alternating between his fingertips. Wanwan observed for a long while, and suddenly the phrase “delicate hands holding lotus flowers, empty steps treading the clear sky” popped into her mind. He was like an enlightened sage – at this moment having no ambition or sharp edges, contentedly enjoying his spring flowers and autumn moon.
Seeing she wouldn’t come over, he turned and beckoned to her. “I have excellent Da Hong Pao tea, with half a cup of almond milk added – drinking it won’t keep you awake at night.”
She shuffled over and stood beside him to observe. “In the middle of the night, how do you have the mood for this?”
He spoke helplessly. “The long night stretches endlessly – idle and bored.” He glanced at her meaningfully. “Probably only I in this world am like this – staying as a guest at the princess consort’s residence, and the princess consort won’t see me. Those two walls are like an insurmountable chasm I can’t cross. Now the princess consort has come, and I’m overwhelmed with favor. I’m serving the princess consort my tea to thank her for the grace of her nighttime visit.”
Smooth-talking, yet not open to criticism. Wanwan picked up the teacup and took a sip, feeling for the first time that coming to Nanyuan was quite good – there were occasional surprises, like his flute and his tea-making skills.
“That day when I played the qin, it was the Prince harmonizing with me, wasn’t it?” She lightly licked her lips. “Your flute playing is truly excellent. I didn’t know you had such refined interests.”
“Prince Nanyuan – does that sound like a rough military man who only loves practicing martial arts and shooting at practice targets?” His gaze quickly moved away from that nimble tongue tip, suppressing himself before self-deprecatingly joking, “My skills are imprecise – I only roughly understand music. Making a fool of myself before you is truly embarrassing. Actually, besides the flute, I really can’t do anything else. If we’re talking about things related to refinement, probably only buku dancing counts.” As he spoke, he began to laugh. “But you Xianbei people might not consider that refined – threading needles and arranging water, exploring seas to retrieve pearls, stretching arms and legs like uncivilized savages.”
When he spoke to her, he always used that soft tone, so much so that when she suddenly heard him curse Rong Bao that day with “think about your mother’s nonsense,” she thought she had misheard. Men have steel and fire, all used in appropriate places – not seeming too rash, nor too soft. Indeed, for people to become familiar with each other, they need more interaction. One glance can’t penetrate to the bone – besides appearance, there are always other aspects to discover.
She didn’t sit either, holding the small peach-blossom cup while pacing. “Better to be simple and proficient than diverse but loose. Listening to your flute, I hear Li Mo’s character.” She suddenly turned back with a smile. “Deep yellow grass and smoke, wanting to speak but hesitating – that’s exactly the flavor.”
Her single glance back under the lamplight actually left him mesmerized. “Countenance like lightning” probably described her appearance. Such a person should be born into an imperial family – small households couldn’t bear such grace, and even aristocratic families would struggle to support her.
Seeing him dazed, she smiled again. “What? Did my praise strike too deep, making you flustered?”
He nodded self-deprecatingly. “Indeed, Your Highness praises so profoundly. What virtue and ability do I have to dare be compared with Li Mo?”
“I’m the listener – if I say you can, then you can.” She playfully raised her cup toward him. “And this tea is also well-prepared. If there’s a chance in the future, I’d like to learn buku from the Prince. Before I only heard of ‘fighting’ it, never ‘dancing’ it. What is dancing like? Like dancing?”
“Fighting and dancing are different. Fighting is bare-handed combat, while dancing has footwork and routines. Buku isn’t only for men – women can dance it too.” He put down his teacup and demonstrated. “Men like eagles, women like swallows. When there are banquets in military camps, this is the highlight of entertainment.”
He demonstrated for her – just a few rough moves that greatly interested Wanwan. She knew about Qi people’s buku – wearing short wrestling clothes, exposing both arms, legs spread wide in a hunting stance with no beauty whatsoever. But his was different. He wore loose robes, and as the wind moved, clothes moved, and he moved too. That sky-blue robe looked abrupt on him but actually appeared more distinctive. His movements were bold yet not rough at all, controlled and relaxed yet full of power, reminding her of jiaodi after the Song Dynasty – lacking competitive color but more performative in nature.
She watched entranced. When she saw him turn his wrist, she followed along. He noticed and came forward to guide her, teaching her how to raise her hands and how to step. The lamplight danced, the world flickered, his jianan fragrance swirled around, becoming more intense when his wide sleeves shook. Wanwan formed a new assessment of him – “a man like a demon” – couldn’t be more fitting.
She spun in the hazy confusion, light as a feather, needing no effort from her as he watched over everything. This buku eventually evolved into Huteng dance. He led her swaying gracefully while everything around them moved, yet he remained solid as a rock. A few scattered strands of long hair blocked her vision, and she saw his bright eyes with those strange golden rings that seemed capable of stealing souls.
Suddenly she stumbled, and the candle went out. Just as she panicked about falling, he pulled her, and she lurched forward, tumbling straight into his embrace.
The moonlight was truly beautiful, shining in from the window and falling on that tea set. The pristine porcelain was dyed with a layer of ethereal blue, and the entire room was dreamy and hazy. Her heart still racing from shock, she gripped his chest clothes tightly. He leaned back against the table, pressed tightly against her in an intimate yet natural position.
Wanwan broke into a cold sweat and made a soft sound, trying to ease the atmosphere, but her face flushed red first.
His breath was right at her lips, so close it made her heart skip. She forgot why she had come, confused into this state. Feeling ashamed and wanting to get up, he pressed her back into his embrace.
“Wanwan,” he whispered with a bewitching quality, “we’re husband and wife, don’t forget…”
Her heart beat frantically. “Your Highness…”
His fingers caressed her lips. “Call me Liangshi – it should have been this way long ago.”
The candlelight in the room had extinguished, leaving only a silk lantern under the eaves illuminating the large area from threshold to steps. With his back to the light, she couldn’t see his eyes clearly, only a hazy outline, as if they had been familiar for many years.
“Like being in a dream?” he said softly. “I can’t even dream of such scenes…”
Wanwan’s mind was hazy, not knowing what to say. He supported himself and kissed her lips.
He had wanted to do this for a very long time. Having a devastatingly beautiful wife beside him yet never daring to be presumptuous. Last time was thanks to that incense – she was confused and let him take what he wanted. Today she was clear-headed, neither drunk nor dazed. He wanted it to be real and true, with both of them acknowledging it, to establish this relationship.
His lips were clean and refreshing, not disgusting at all. Wanwan trembled with nervousness but didn’t think to push him away. He wasn’t aggressive – when kissing her, he wasn’t forceful, fearing her dislike. He would touch and withdraw, then come again, withdraw again, come again… At first she stared with wide eyes stupidly, then slowly closed them. His chest drummed loudly, and he thought the bitter times were nearly over – she did like him somewhat.
He spoke of dreams – it really felt like falling into a dream. Kissing brought fear, but when he leaned close, she felt full of joy. Wanwan sadly realized that the factory minister might no longer be her greatest longing – she was falling in love with her husband. Tonight’s Prince Nanyuan was indeed more charming than the factory minister.
Both were somewhat panicked, breathing erratically. He cupped her face, kissing her forehead and nose tip, her brow corners and eye corners. “Wanwan, my darling…”
Hmm, she rarely heard this term – only with deep love would someone use such an endearment! Wanwan felt shy yet glad. Even if the marriage began with conspiracy, he still had some genuine feelings for her.
Intimate whispers – once started, it couldn’t be stopped. He wanted many things, but she might not be able to fully commit immediately. He couldn’t be too hasty or risk frightening her. He could only restrain himself with effort, stopping voluntarily when reaching the breaking point. Sixth Brother had told him that seducing women was like fishing with bait – you couldn’t feed them full at once but had to leave room for them to savor, so they’d take the hook again next time. Being rash like this – afterward when she thought about it and felt she’d suffered a loss, hating you would be too late. How could she pay attention to you in the future?
Mastering this technique truly required tremendous willpower. Fortunately, she wasn’t clingy. If she had kissed back even once, his self-control would have completely collapsed. Releasing her, both stood in the dim light somewhat dazed. He found her hand along her shoulder and interlocked their fingers. Wanting to say something but unable to speak, they smiled simultaneously – wanting nothing more in this life.
“It’s late – I’ll escort you back.”
She hummed agreement, letting him lead her to the door. He took the glass lamp down from the wall and saw her standing gracefully in the corridor, her color even more charming than before.
The earlier confusion left both somewhat embarrassed afterward. He shifted his gaze to steady his mind. “Did you come to see me about something?”
Only then did Wanwan remember, feeling extremely awkward. “That… they’re worried about me going to Huaining alone. I came to ask you – when you say traveling light, how light exactly? Just two or three people?”
So it wasn’t anything major after all. He smiled. “It’s not that sparse – there will be about ten people traveling together. Pick someone to bring along. If I can’t attend to you, at least you won’t be lonely. Don’t worry about other things – I’ll handle everything.” He stepped down first, holding the lamp in one hand and reaching out with the other to assist her.
Thinking more about what had just happened made Wanwan more embarrassed. She just said, “I’ll go back by myself – you needn’t escort me.”
He mischievously replied that wouldn’t do. “I’ll escort you to the hall entrance. I won’t enter your bedchamber tonight – you can rest assured.”
She stood on the steps, face completely red. He looked up at her, remembering years ago when the Embroidered Uniform Guard had forced him to bow, and she sat in the sedan chair – that moment when their eyes met.
No amount of love felt sufficient, as if he hadn’t used his full strength yet and was failing her. She puffed out her cheeks – so pretty, with baby-soft tender cheeks, looking somewhat resentful. When she wouldn’t come down, he lifted her by the waist. Once holding her, he didn’t want to let go – how wonderful it would be to cling together like this forever!
Wanwan feared Tonghuan and Xiao You were still waiting and would be embarrassed if seen. She stammered, “In broad daylight…”
“Right now there’s no sun, only the moon.” His chin rested on top of her head as he murmured, “We’re husband and wife to begin with – it doesn’t matter if people see. I have no regrets at all. Other couples worry about gains and losses after falling in love, fearing insufficient marriage fate and inability to be together. As for us, we married first, then slowly got to know each other. Having fallen in love, we need fear nothing – you’re mine, I’m yours.”
Wanwan listened quietly, her nose stinging. “But what if we can’t fall in love? A lifetime of resentful spouses – wouldn’t the risk be too great?”
He bent down to look in her eyes, his tone very proud. “I’m so wonderful – you’ll definitely fall in love with me. As for myself, I’ve been infatuated with you for a long time, but you turned a blind eye, breaking my heart until today.”
Wanwan laughed at his conceit but felt quite guilty about the latter half of his statement. Lowering her head to fidget with her dress sash, she said softly, “I’m not like you – I didn’t understand so early…”
His face darkened. “Are you referring to those concubines? I had no choice… Without children I couldn’t become a feudal prince. If I couldn’t even produce this title, wanting to marry a princess would be even more wishful thinking. The Dowager Consort stuffed three people into my room. Tala Shi and Zhou Shi each bore a son. I felt my worries were over, but Chen Shi… I’ve never even touched her.” He clenched one hand into a fist anxiously. “My body isn’t clean, but my heart is clean. This is the first time I’ve treated feelings so seriously – only with you.”
He must rarely pledge loyalty, so when speaking he had a reckless momentum. Wanwan thought calmly – what he said should be true. She remembered Great-Aunt Princess Ronghui, who had unwillingly married a prince consort initially. The consort was a high-ranking border official who took her to Minzhou after marriage. Their marital discord was well-known. At first it was just mutual dislike, then it developed into quarrels, and finally they actually took up clubs. That poor golden branch and jade leaf was beaten beyond recognition. When her father discovered it and wanted to punish the consort, it was too late – Great-Aunt had died. What good did executing the consort do? The person couldn’t come back to life anyway. So after a woman marries, whether things are good or bad is like drinking water – knowing the temperature yourself. That title can’t help you; you’re a woman, forever in a weak position. Princess Ronghui’s case made a big stir, becoming known throughout the streets. How many more princess couples from previous generations had lived their whole lives in apparent harmony but actual estrangement? Prince consorts weren’t officially permitted to take concubines but privately maintained houses with mistresses. As long as they weren’t impeached, basically no one cared. That he could now spend such effort on her wasn’t due to any pressure but genuine sincerity. She couldn’t keep putting on airs, throwing his passionate devotion into cold water. When in Rome, do as Romans do – she should wake up too.
She said, “Don’t be oversensitive. I wasn’t referring to those three secondary consorts. I understand your intentions – otherwise you wouldn’t send them away. It’s just that Chen Shi is quite pitiful. You’ve claimed her but she has no children. In the future when the others all have children and grandchildren around their knees, what will she do?”
He led her slowly along the small path, thinking before saying, “Tala Shi and Zhou Shi will go to Songjiang Prefecture, but she needn’t go. We’ll announce that she died of illness, then let her remarry and live her own life.”
Hearing this, she felt this person was quite enlightened – not like other men who cared about face, insisting that once his, always his, unwilling to let go even if things rotted away.
She smiled slightly. “Won’t you regret it?”
He blinked at her. “I have you – what’s to regret?”
Her face reddened again. She just said, “Let’s hear her own thoughts. If she’s willing, then let her find rebirth. I’ve noticed she’s quite lonely in the residence. The few times I’ve seen her, she barely speaks.”
He was slow to respond because he never paid attention and didn’t know the situation. The person before him was enough to worry about – where would he find time to care about that one? Tomorrow they would depart. He’d have someone send word back asking the old lady to handle it, taking advantage of her youth so as not to delay her.
Tonight’s bright moon was pure and lovely – truly clear radiance filling heaven and earth. Even without lanterns, the path was visible. The two walked side by side with peace in their hearts. Having always walked alone, suddenly having a companion gave a feeling of mutual dependence that those who don’t understand love couldn’t comprehend. He kept looking at her, fearing everything before his eyes wasn’t real. “Wanwan, tomorrow will still be like this – you won’t change your mind, will you?”
She bit her lips and said nothing. When he asked repeatedly, she became annoyed. “So nagging! I’m not confused – one way today, another way tomorrow!”
He felt relieved and joyfully clasped her hand in his palm.
Unfortunately, the path was too short and they arrived quickly. Tonghuan and Xiao You waited under the eaves. Seeing shadows reach the hanging flower gate, they hurried out to meet them.
He couldn’t say much and released her hand. “Let Yu Qixia follow along. He can ride horses – I’ll accompany you in the carriage.”
She looked up, her face still showing shyness. “For washing clothes and such later, it won’t be convenient.”
“I’m here.” He lowered his voice. “I’ll wash your clothes – won’t let others touch them.”
Sweetness welled up in Wanwan’s heart. Good heavens, this situation would really drown a person. He waited for her agreement. She nodded. “You said it – don’t renege later.”
The two maids had arrived and both curtsied to him. As they withdrew respectfully, he quickly hugged her. “Won’t renege.” Stepping back two paces, he waved at her.
They naturally saw these small gestures. Tonghuan and Xiao You looked at each other while Wanwan felt mortified. He was quite generous, seriously instructing, “Serve Your Highness and settle her early – we travel tomorrow.”
Tonghuan and Xiao You responded affirmatively and came forward to escort her back to the bedchamber. After walking a distance, “Partridge Flying” sounded again from behind. Before Wanwan’s eyes floated that sky-blue color, rippling and merging with the firmament.