Before his wedding, Zhen Heng revisited the forest where he first met Jiang Si.
It was late autumn, and the once-verdant mountains had transformed into a brilliant tapestry of gold and light red.
Zhen Heng walked step by step on the thick carpet of fallen leaves, approaching that particular tree.
This was where he had met that girl.
It was the summer solstice that day, he remembered clearly. Not because the summer solstice was special, but because on that day he met someone special.
He had thought the young woman who jumped down from the treetop was a forest spirit, bringing to life all those tales of supernatural beings he had read. It left him sleepless, filled with anticipation.
Later, he learned she was the Fourth Miss of the East Ping Earl’s family, treated by his father as a niece.
He believed it was fate bestowed by heaven.
They had an encounter that transcended worldly norms, yet were connected by worldly ties.
But later, she became engaged to the Seventh Prince, became a princess consort, then the Crown Princess, and now the Empress.
He had long since let go of his feelings for her, but he couldn’t let go of the feeling of his first love.
However, now that he was to be married, even such sentiments should be put aside.
On this day, Zhen Heng filled a flask with wine in the forest and then threw the empty flask into the mountain stream.
The tin flask bobbed up and down in the water, quickly disappearing.
On his wedding day, the weather was clear and crisp, and many guests attended.
He couldn’t remember how many people congratulated the groom.
Zhen Heng listened to all this with a calm heart.
Gifted from a young age, he had heard plenty of praise. After achieving the rare feat of passing all three imperial examinations, he had lived under constant public attention and adulation, becoming accustomed to it all.
Marrying a princess might seem glorious to others, but to him, it was no different from marrying any young lady from a good family.
After the ceremony, they entered the bridal chamber. At the urging of the wedding attendant, Zhen Heng lifted the bridal veil.
A face of exquisite beauty appeared before him.
Princess Fuqing raised her eyes, boldly meeting Zhen Heng’s gaze.
She was still a bit nervous.
This nervousness wasn’t due to leaving her maiden home, or even leaving the familiar imperial palace, but because the bridal veil had plunged her into darkness while fully awake.
She feared the dark.
This fear, ingrained in her very bones, would likely never fade in this lifetime.
Because of this, Princess Fuqing felt an immediate fondness for the man who lifted her veil.
As their eyes met, she smiled instinctively.
Zhen Heng was momentarily stunned.
He wasn’t surprised that the only legitimate princess of the Great Zhou was a beauty, but he had imagined she might be either nobly arrogant, looking at her husband with barely concealed disdain; or demurely gentle, shy, and nervous on her wedding night.
But he hadn’t expected to see a clean, bright smile. Especially those eyes, as bright and pure as gemstones, untainted by worldly dust.
Zhen Heng thought a woman with such eyes must surely be a good person.
He hadn’t hoped for a wife who would be his soulmate, but having a pure-hearted woman as his wife meant life wouldn’t be too bad.
Zhen Heng couldn’t help but smile back.
After a series of complex rituals, Zhen Heng left the bridal chamber to toast the guests.
Given Zhen Heng’s status as the Imperial Son-in-law, the guests didn’t dare to force him to drink too much. He returned to the bridal chamber slightly tipsy.
On the bed covered with a large red brocade quilt, Princess Fuqing was quietly waiting.
She had removed her ornate hairpins wore a simple bun, and had changed from her heavy wedding attire into a red silk dress.
The sense of distance in Zhen Heng’s heart suddenly lessened, causing him to quicken his pace.
“You’re back. Would you like some tea to sober up?” Princess Fuqing asked proactively.
Her voice was as clear as her eyes, without much of a new bride’s shyness.
Zhen Heng chuckled silently.
He hadn’t developed romantic feelings for the princess he had never met before, and it seemed the princess felt the same about her unfamiliar new husband.
This realization made him feel relaxed.
Starting as friends might be a good beginning.
Zhen Heng smiled and said, “I didn’t drink much, no need to sober up. Is the Princess hungry?”
It was customary for new brides to be hungry.
Princess Fuqing shook her head, “I’m not hungry, I’ve eaten.”
Zhen Heng’s mouth twitched slightly.
The princess was quite honest, admitting to him that she had sneaked some food.
“Then let’s rest. The Princess must be tired after a long day,” Zhen Heng said without any ulterior motive, only realizing its impropriety after speaking.
He had just thought about starting as friends, and now the princess might think he was an impatient, lustful man—
Thinking this, Zhen Heng’s ears reddened with embarrassment.
Princess Fuqing seemed not to notice Zhen Heng’s awkwardness and asked innocently, “Should I help you change?”
She had heard that wives should help their husbands change, but she had never done such things and feared she might be clumsy…
Princess Fuqing, who hadn’t felt shy before, blushed as she thought about helping a man undress. What if she couldn’t undo his buttons? That would be so embarrassing.
Seeing Princess Fuqing blush, Zhen Heng became even more embarrassed. He quickly waved his hands, “I wouldn’t dare trouble the Princess. I’ll do it myself.”
Worried that moving slowly might make Princess Fuqing think he was waiting for her help, Zhen Heng hastened his movements, but in his fluster, he couldn’t undo his sash.
Princess Fuqing laughed softly at this, her heart suddenly feeling at ease.
If they were both like this, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
They lay down side by side. The red bed curtains were lowered, with the dragon and phoenix candles occasionally crackling outside, while inside, Zhen Heng’s slightly uneven breathing could be heard.
He was, after all, a normal man. Sharing a bed with a young and beautiful woman, who was now his wife, how could he not feel a hint of desire?
“Princess—” Zhen Heng softly began.
He had intended to say he would sleep on the outer couch, but there was no response.
Zhen Heng turned his head slightly and realized Princess Fuqing had already fallen asleep.
Zhen Heng was taken aback, then smiled, his heart gradually calming down.
The next day, they went to the palace to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress, as well as the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager.
Princess Fuqing, worried that Zhen Heng might be nervous, reassured him, “My Imperial Father, Mother, Imperial Brother, and Sister-in-law are all very kind people.”
Zhen Heng nodded with a smile, only to encounter Emperor Jingming and Yu Jin with stern faces in Ningshou Palace.
After drinking the tea offered by the newlyweds, Emperor Jingming, now the Emperor Emeritus, warned with a straight face, “In the past, I was too busy with state affairs to pay much attention to Fuqing. Now it’s different. If I hear that you’ve mistreated Fuqing, hmph…”
Emperor Jingming thought of Princess Rongyang.
Rongyang had made many mistakes, but if Cui Xu had been a bit kinder to her after their marriage, perhaps she wouldn’t have continued to err.
Men were all untrustworthy. What if this young man had someone else in his heart and neglected Fuqing?
Thinking this, Emperor Jingming gave Yu Jin a meaningful look.
Yu Jin picked up the cue and said, “Father Emperor need not worry. I believe my brother-in-law will certainly treat Thirteenth Sister well. What kind of fool would a man be if he didn’t treat his wife well?”
Not treating Fuqing well would mean he still had feelings for Ah Si. That didn’t even need a deduction.
Daring to think of Ah Si, hah!
Bearing the murderous aura of the two men, Zhen Heng felt like he had escaped with his life when he left the palace.
Princess Fuqing was very apologetic: “Father Emperor and Imperial Brother aren’t usually this fierce…”
Zhen Heng’s mouth twitched.
Fierce or not depended on who they were dealing with.
Princess Fuqing thought seriously and suggested, “Why don’t you be a bit nicer to me in the future?”
Fearing Zhen Heng might refuse, she quickly added, “I’ll be nicer to you too.”
If the Imperial Son-in-law was nicer to her, and she was nicer to him, no one would lose out, and the Imperial Son-in-law wouldn’t be intimidated by her father and brother.
Because they weren’t yet familiar with each other, she didn’t dare explain her thoughts to Zhen Heng.
But Zhen Heng was quick-witted and immediately understood Princess Fuqing’s meaning.
Gazing into those eyes as clear as water, Zhen Heng couldn’t help but smile.
Indeed, what mattered between people was how they treated each other. If he was a bit nicer to her, and she was a bit nicer to him, these little kindnesses would accumulate. He believed that one day, it would turn into mutual affection.
No one would lose out.
The carriage jolted over something, causing her soft body to fall towards him.
Zhen Heng gently steadied Princess Fuqing by her shoulders and said earnestly, “Thank you for the reminder, Princess. From now on, let’s both be a bit nicer to each other.”