Ming Tan felt slightly dizzy. Though the wine wasn’t particularly strong or spicy, she felt intoxicated after swallowing it. Her face flushed red, though it was unclear whether from the ceremonial wine or something else.
The room glowed with red candles. After a moment of silence, Ming Tan nervously recalled the intimate guidebooks she had seen at Bie Yu Tower. They had finished the wine, so wasn’t it time to undress and retire?
She glanced furtively at Jiang Xu, her small hand slowly reaching out.
Jiang Xu’s auspicious red wedding attire was quite complex, with countless layers. Ming Tan’s trembling fingers fumbled for a while, a thin layer of sweat forming on her brow before she managed to undo the outer robe’s clasp.
As she steeled herself to continue, Jiang Xu recalled Shu Jingran and Zhang Huaiyu’s advice—don’t stay silent, don’t let the young lady feel awkward, remember to make conversation. After a long silence, he abruptly asked, “Are you skilled at the zither?”
Ming Tan hesitated, then nodded.
He continued, “I heard you played a piece of your composition at the Chrysanthemum Banquet two years ago.”
Ming Tan nodded again, “Would my husband like to hear it?”
Before Jiang Xu could respond, Ming Tan wondered—he even knew about her performance at the Chrysanthemum Banquet. Could it be that her husband had been captivated by her music at Daxiangguo Temple?
This thought filled her with joy but also intensified her nervousness. She stepped back, feigning composure with a slight curtsy, and tentatively asked, “Then… may this humble wife offer an unworthy performance?”
Immediately after speaking, she remembered how at the Lantern Festival Palace Banquet, when Gu Jiurou offered to perform, her husband had quickly stopped her. His words had nearly ruined the entire palace banquet. Surely their wedding night wouldn’t be ruined by the same phrase?
Jiang Xu hadn’t given it much thought initially, but Ming Tan’s sudden change in expression reminded him of last year’s Lantern Festival Palace Banquet, where he had said something to the young lady from the Cheng’en Marquis’s household who wanted to perform.
It was precisely because of “what he had said” that his wife had initially held such a strong prejudice against him, even gossiping with her friend at Tingyu Tower, calling him an arrogant, uncouth, and ill-mannered brute.
Ming Tan cautiously raised her eyes, accidentally meeting Jiang Xu’s gaze, which for once held a hint of emotion. After a moment’s contemplation, he suddenly said, “Not unworthy. This prince finds his wife most beautiful.”
—This was also taught by Shu Jingran and Zhang Huaiyu: compliment her.
Ming Tan was stunned.
Had her husband just called her beautiful?
Before she could react, she suddenly felt herself being lifted. When she came to her senses, she was already lying on the bed. The complex red garments she had struggled to undo fell away piece by piece before the red candles were extinguished…
Ming Tan’s heart began to race uncontrollably once more. She folded her hands properly over her stomach, feeling a tall figure lie down beside her, surrounded by a lingering scent of alcohol and sandalwood.
However, there were no further actions as depicted in the intimate guidebooks.
Ming Tan’s nervousness subsided somewhat. She couldn’t help but turn her head slightly to look at the man lying beside her, her voice small: “Husband?”
“Mm.”
He wasn’t asleep yet.
Did he not intend to do anything?
Of course, Ming Tan was too embarrassed to ask this aloud, so she could only wonder silently. After lying still for a while with her eyes open, her hand restlessly inched towards Jiang Xu under the covers, thinking that even if they didn’t do anything else, surely holding hands would be alright.
When she first touched his large palm, there was no reaction, and it felt cool. As she grasped it, giving a gentle squeeze, the large hand finally responded, enveloping her small hand and resting it at his side.
Ming Tan’s lips curled into an involuntary smile.
Outside, moonlight poured like water, with a faint red glow from the lanterns visible. Unable to sleep, Ming Tan softly asked, “Husband, when the Emperor arranged our marriage, were you willing?”
Jiang Xu, eyes closed, responded with an “Mm.”
“Then at last year’s Lantern Festival Palace Banquet, when Their Majesties intended to choose a princess consort for you, did you consider marrying any other young lady?”
“Never.” He hadn’t even thought about taking a wife.
“Hmm… Everyone in the capital knows that the Second Young Master Shu, Commander Lu, and the heir of the Pingguo Duke are close friends. Why are you also close to them? I’d never heard of this before. So, you and the Second Young Master Shu… mmph!”
As Ming Tan was about to ask more questions, the man beside her suddenly and unexpectedly pressed himself against her, silencing her intended inquiries.
The two thin layers of her red nightgown easily fell open at the waist with a gentle tug. The rough, large hand that had been holding hers now caressed her delicate skin.
Jiang Xu’s eyes darkened with desire.
Perhaps because of his reputation as a killer, others said he was without desire or emotion, forgetting that he was, in fact, only in his early twenties, at the peak of his virility.
Having taken a wife, regardless of the circumstances, he had never intended not to touch her. He had only been mindful that they had plenty of time ahead, so there was no need to rush. However, while he wasn’t in a hurry, his wife seemed quite eager.
…
Outside the room, Suxin and Lü’e, who were keeping watch, hadn’t heard any sounds for most of the night. They had been feeling somewhat disheartened, having heard that if a husband was displeased, he might not consummate the marriage on the wedding night.
But just as they were dozing off, suddenly heavy, unrestrained breathing could be heard from inside, along with their young mistress’s whimpers and moans. Those sounds were intermittent and fragile, causing Suxin and Lü’e, both unmarried maidens, to blush and their hearts to race.
This commotion continued for half the night without pause.
At the third watch, they called for more water.
Suxin led a young maid to bring it in, and the mere scent of intimacy in the air was enough to make them too embarrassed to look towards the bed.
Suxin kept her eyes lowered, only catching a glimpse of their young master wrapping their mistress in a brocade quilt and carrying her to the bath chamber.
…
After just half an hour, they called for more water again. When Suxin led the maid in this time, they realized that the water from the bath had spilled all over the floor.
They didn’t need to think too hard to understand what had happened, thinking to themselves: The young master may look cold, but he certainly seems to lack restraint in this matter.
It wasn’t until nearly the fourth watch that the sounds from the bridal chamber finally subsided completely.
Ming Tan, too embarrassed to face Jiang Xu, hid under the covers. She didn’t dare to hold hands anymore, wishing they could use separate blankets and not touch them at all!
Moreover, the intimate guidebooks were all lies! When doing such things, she couldn’t remember anything from them. It was all led by her husband!
–
As dawn approached, Jiang Xu rose.
He glanced at Ming Tan, still curled up in deep sleep, his gaze lingering for a moment before he absently tucked the quilt more securely around her.
According to custom, they were supposed to go to the palace today to express their gratitude, which involved a series of tedious formalities.
When Ming Tan awoke and remembered this, her body felt even more sore and aching. Blushing furiously, she watched the matron remove the bloodstained wedding sheet and asked in a tiny voice, “Where is His Highness? Aren’t we supposed to go to the palace today to express our gratitude?”
“His Highness was considerate of the young mistress and has already sent word to the palace, saying that going tomorrow would not be too late,” Lü’e answered brightly, her eyes shining with joy at her mistress being so cherished by her husband.
Suxin was equally delighted and added, “His Highness went out to practice martial arts before dawn. He specifically instructed not to wake the young mistress and said to have breakfast together when she awakes.”
The matron teased, “Why are you two still calling her ‘young mistress’? You should be addressing her as ‘Princess Consort’ now!”
Suxin and Lü’e exchanged glances, suppressing smiles as they curtsied and said, “Yes, this servant pays respects to the Princess Consort.”
Ming Tan blushed even more deeply, pulling the quilt up higher. Half demurely and half eagerly, she instructed, “Then hurry and help me wash up and have breakfast. His Highness must be hungry after practicing martial arts.”
Suxin and Lü’e both responded affirmatively.
The day before the wedding, Suxin and Lü’e had come to the prince’s mansion with the matrons from the Jingan Marquis’s household to prepare the bridal chamber and had taken the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the kitchen. The mansion’s steward, Uncle Fu, seemed very welcoming to the arrival of the new mistress of the house. He showed no intention of holding onto power and had given instructions early on that whatever the Princess Consort wanted should be given priority, so the kitchen naturally obeyed their orders.
Soon, Lü’e had styled Ming Tan’s hair into a beautiful newlywed’s updo. She chose an intricate and elaborate outfit, as it was appropriate for a new bride to dress ornately rather than too simply. Only her eyebrows were lightly drawn, appearing somewhat faint.
When Jiang Xu entered the room, the breakfast that Suxin had ordered earlier was being served in a steady stream.
He paused at the entrance to the main hall, watching the line of maids entering the room.
Soft jade porridge, golden milk pastries, crab roe pearl buns, white jade dumplings, candied pears… This breakfast consisted of a full ten dishes.
Seeing him, Ming Tan’s face flushed pink, her eyelashes fluttering. She stood up and curtsied properly, saying softly, “My husband must be tired from practicing martial arts. Please, have breakfast.”
Jiang Xu hadn’t yet grown accustomed to the sudden appearance of a beautiful and gentle little princess consort in his household. After a moment’s silence, he nodded and sat down.
As soon as he sat, four or five maids approached one after another, carrying various items, offering to wash his hands and wipe his face.
Although he was of royal birth, knowledgeable in etiquette, and raised with all the honors befitting the Crown Prince’s grandson, after his father’s passing, he had stopped caring about these cumbersome rituals. Moreover, living on the edge of danger left no room for such refinements.
Jiang Xu disliked extravagance, but considering that his little princess consort had just entered the household and was accustomed to a life of luxury, he didn’t say much. He patiently allowed his hands to be washed and his face wiped before starting to eat.
As Jiang Xu ate, Ming Tan also ate her porridge in small, graceful spoonfuls, occasionally stealing glances at him.
Seeing that Jiang Xu’s bowl of porridge was empty, she quickly signaled for a maid to refill it. Noticing that Jiang Xu seemed to want some soft pastries, she hurriedly picked one up for him.
After a while, Jiang Xu remembered to reciprocate and picked up a pastry for Ming Tan as well.
Ming Tan was overjoyed. Seeing that Jiang Xu had nearly finished eating, she put down her porcelain spoon and demurely asked, “Husband, what do you think of my makeup today?”
Jiang Xu looked up.
“…”
If she hadn’t mentioned it, he wouldn’t have noticed she was wearing makeup at all.
Seeing that his princess consort was still waiting for him to say something, he thought for a moment and, following Shu Jingran and Zhang Huaiyu’s principle of “complimenting her,” replied, “It’s very nice.”
But Ming Tan wasn’t entirely satisfied with this answer. She cupped her face and tilted her head slightly: “Husband, please look more carefully.”
Jiang Xu: “…”
Ming Tan leaned in closer, prompting, “My eyebrows?”
Jiang Xu had a sudden inspiration: “They seem a bit light.”
As soon as he spoke, Lü’e approached with a smile, carrying an eyebrow pencil: “Would Your Highness like to draw the Princess Consort’s eyebrows?”
Ming Tan also said shyly, “I wonder if it’s convenient for my husband? I feel something isn’t quite right with how I’ve done them today. Does my husband think water-curved brows or distant mountain brows would better suit today’s makeup and outfit?”
Jiang Xu picked up the eyebrow pencil from the tray and examined it for a while, then looked up and suddenly asked, “How is this used? What are water-curved brows, and what are distant mountain brows? What’s the difference?”