As dusk fell over the capital, the setting sun painted the sky in hues of red and gold. The imposing silhouette of the Northern Pacification Prince’s mansion stood out against the fading light, its usual grandeur now shrouded in twilight’s embrace.
In Qi’an Hall, slanted rays of golden sunlight filtered through the latticed windows. Servants moved about quietly, some carrying water, others delivering soup. The courtyard hummed with orderly activity, yet maintained an air of tranquility.
Ming Tan, freshly bathed, had changed into light-colored sleeping attire. Without her usual makeup, her face appeared even softer and cleaner. Her features were exquisitely delicate—fine eyebrows, a small nose, and eyes like clear springs. Tiny droplets of water clung to her eyelashes. Perhaps due to the contentment of married life, her cheeks had a slight fullness to them, giving her a more girlish charm than when she wore makeup.
Emerging from the washroom, Ming Tan peered around, searching for Jiang Xu. Not seeing him, she allowed Lvè to attend to her as she climbed into bed.
The imperial physician had been waiting in the flower hall for a short while. Only after the bed curtains were drawn and everything was prepared did a young maid go to inform him.
Jiang Xu raised his eyes slightly upon hearing this. “Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Feng.”
Feng hurriedly stood and bowed. “It is my duty, Your Highness.”
Without further words, Jiang Xu rose and followed Feng into the inner chamber.
From behind the bed curtains, Feng paid his respects to Ming Tan. He then sat on a stool, took out his pulse pillow, and placed a silk cloth over the jade-like hand extended to him before respectfully taking her pulse.
After a moment, Feng paused, carefully choosing his words. “The Princess has suffered a shock, but there’s no major concern. I’ll prescribe a calming decoction to be taken before bed.”
Noticing the marks on Ming Tan’s wrist where she had been bound, and having heard about the blow to her head, he added, “For the external injuries, if the skin isn’t broken, an ointment to dispel bruising will suffice. Apply it for a few days, and the marks should fade.”
“Thank you, Imperial Physician,” Ming Tan replied politely from behind the curtains. “Please forgive me for not receiving you properly in my current state.”
Feng bowed respectfully again. “The Princess is too kind. I’ll go prepare the prescription for the calming medicine now. Please rest well, Your Highness.”
A maid stepped forward to escort him to write the prescription, but Jiang Xu raised his hand slightly. The maid, understanding the gesture, quietly withdrew. Jiang Xu glanced at the bed, exchanged a brief look with Feng, and walked outside.
Once in the outer chamber, Jiang Xu stopped and asked in a low voice, “Is the Princess truly alright?”
Feng quickly replied, “The Princess is indeed fine, Your Highness need not worry. However, it seems she may have inhaled some… aphrodisiac incense earlier. Fortunately, the amount was small and won’t cause harm.”
Jiang Xu remained silent for a moment before giving a slight “Mm” in acknowledgment.
Feng continued, “From today’s examination, the Princess’s health has improved somewhat since last month. I’ll adjust the dosage of that medicine accordingly. The Princess is still young; with proper care for another year or two, there should be no concerns.”
“Very well, thank you for your efforts.”
Feng was Jiang Xu’s man. He had come to the mansion a few days after the wedding to check on Ming Tan’s health.
His examination revealed that while the young Princess had no major ailments, she was delicate and weak from lack of exercise. Given her young age and small frame, pregnancy would be risky and difficult to maintain.
He had reported this to Jiang Xu, who then decided to postpone any attempts at pregnancy for the time being. Agreeing with this decision, Feng had prepared a contraceptive prescription tailored to Ming Tan’s constitution, which wouldn’t harm her health. The Princess had been taking it regularly as a tonic.
After Feng’s departure, twilight deepened. Ming Tan, who had been resting, awoke and leaned against the headboard, asking softly, “Where is His Highness?”
“His Highness is in the study. Shall this servant go inform him?” Lvè responded promptly upon seeing her mistress awake.
Ming Tan shook her head. “No need.”
She felt conflicted. Now that she had time to think clearly after returning to the mansion, she felt quite uneasy. While her explanation at Ping Guo Gong’s residence might have fooled most people, her husband… By now, Yun Yi would have surely told him everything.
In reality, given the short time, nothing substantial should have happened between the Marquis of Jiangyang and Qu Niancihu in that room. However, regardless of the truth or whether it was a setup, Qu Niancihu’s reputation was ruined by being alone with him in public view.
And she too had been alone in a room with the Marquis of Jiangyang… Although nothing had happened, she wasn’t sure if her husband would mind.
Thinking of this, she drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on top, a melancholic expression crossing her face.
When Jiang Xu returned to the room, he found his beautiful wife curled up on the bed, her long black hair cascading down, her jade-like face tinged with worry.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and asked in a deep voice, “How are you feeling?”
“My lord? Ah Tan is fine,” she replied, shaking her head slightly. Her voice was small, and her eyes seemed to avoid his gaze.
Jiang Xu, already unskilled in dealing with women, found himself at a loss. Usually, it was Ming Tan who chattered away and initiated affection. Today, with her quiet and seemingly avoiding him, he didn’t know what to say.
Perhaps his direct handling of the Marquis of Jiangyang in front of her had been too much, frightening her.
Thinking this, Jiang Xu sat quietly for a moment before standing up and saying, “You need not worry about Feng Zhao. With me here, she won’t leave the Imperial Clan Court again.” He paused briefly. “Since you’re well, rest properly.”
With that, he made to leave.
Seeing this, Ming Tan quickly tugged at the hem of his robe. “My lord, where are you going?”
“I have some military matters to attend to.”
Ming Tan bit her lip, hesitating before asking, “Does it have to be now?”
“…”
Of course not.
He had only intended to retreat to his study upon seeing her avoidance.
Seeing Jiang Xu’s silence, Ming Tan felt even more uneasy. Had her husband already grown to dislike her? Would he from now on only maintain a superficial marital relationship, no longer willing to share her bed or touch her?
She felt a pang of hurt.
In truth, she had been holding back her emotions all day, enduring and enduring. Now, it seemed she could no longer contain them.
“Why are you crying?”
Jiang Xu was momentarily stunned to see tears suddenly fall from Ming Tan’s eyes.
Ming Tan said nothing, only turning her back to Jiang Xu, sobbing quietly, her thin shoulders shaking.
“Do you think confining Feng Zhao to the Imperial Clan Court is too lenient? By law, crimes committed by imperial clan members must be handled by the Imperial Clan Court. As for how to handle it, I will oversee it personally. If you feel it’s too light, I can also—”
Before he could finish, Ming Tan shook her head.
The Imperial Clan Court was no pleasant place. Those confined there for years, if not driven to death, lived miserable lives. It was said that a prince who had offended the Emperor during a past succession struggle had been locked up there and had long since gone mad.
Jiang Xu stood by the bed, instinctively reaching out his hand, but unsure how to comfort her.
Fortunately, after shedding tears for a while, Ming Tan felt that she should clarify things. If her husband is truly minded, she should at least know the truth.
Wiping her tears with the corner of the quilt, she turned back, head lowered, and asked chokingly, “Does my lord no longer wish to share a bed with Ah Tan?”
Jiang Xu: “…”
She continued, unprompted: “It’s alright, Ah Tan can bear it. My lord need only say so directly. You needn’t force yourself to sleep in the study. If my lord minds, Ah Tan can claim illness and request to live separately. I won’t appear before you to offend your eyes anymore.”
Jiang Xu was silent for a moment before he couldn’t help but ask, “What makes you say this?”
Ming Tan looked up, her eyes still red and brimming with tears that threatened to fall at any moment.
“Isn’t my lord upset that Ah Tan was also alone in a room with the Marquis of Jiangyang?”
“I’m not.”
Seeing him respond so decisively, Ming Tan hesitated, carefully asking, “Really?” As she spoke, she hiccupped from crying.
Jiang Xu, for some reason, found her upturned face with its tear-stained, inexplicably endearing expression stirring unfamiliar emotions within him.
“Even if it had been you in that room today, I wouldn’t mind. It wasn’t your fault.”
His voice was calm and steady, like cold jade, pleasing to the ear.
Ming Tan stared blankly. When she came to her senses, she instinctively knelt on the bed and threw her arms around his waist, tears falling like golden beans: “Wuwuwuwu my lord—”
Her emotions, which had been fluctuating all day, finally found release at this moment.
Jiang Xu’s brow twitched.
Why was she crying even harder now?
He raised his hand, awkwardly patting her head.
Her long, thick black hair was very soft. Jiang Xu stroked it once, then again, gradually finding the sensation quite pleasant. He instinctively ran his fingers through her hair, gently massaging her scalp.
When she had cried enough, Ming Tan, hiccupping and red-eyed, pulled away slightly from Jiang Xu’s chest.
“Does my lord still need to handle military affairs?” Her voice was slightly muffled from crying, with a hint of reluctance.
“It can wait until tomorrow.”
“Then why did my lord insist on going to the study earlier?”
Jiang Xu faltered: “I thought you were frightened and didn’t want to share a bed with me.”
Ming Tan understood. When he had killed that man, with his black clothes and ink-black hair, looking calm and indifferent, he had indeed been a bit scary. But he had killed the Marquis of Jiangyang for her sake, so she wasn’t so ungrateful as to be frightened of him.
“Ah Tan wants to,” she blurted out.
“Hmm?” Jiang Xu looked down at her, and for some reason, let out a low chuckle.
The laugh was very faint, and Jiang Xu himself didn’t notice it. Ming Tan, face flushed and head bowed as she helped him undress, also missed this rare moment.
A breeze blew in, causing the candles in the room to flicker and the bed curtains to sway gently.
Jiang Xu’s hand was propped beside Ming Tan’s ear, his presence enveloping her as he loomed over her.
Their eyes met.
Ming Tan thought her husband’s eyes were beautiful, especially when they were focused solely on her. Shy but gathering her courage, she reached up to wrap her arms around his neck and softly requested, “My lord, kiss me.”