Ming Tan’s smile suddenly froze, her joy seemingly doused by a bucket of cold water.
Did this man know how to speak at all?
Was his usual reticence due to his inability to converse properly?
Realizing his misstep, Jiang Xu tried to explain, “I didn’t mean… What I meant was—”
“Your feet stink!” Ming Tan’s drowsiness vanished, replaced by anger. She felt so awake she could review ten more account books right now.
Jiang Xu: “…”
Ming Tan sat down abruptly, busying herself with tidying her sewing kit, refusing to look at him.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Xu sat on the other side and put on the new winter boots.
“They’re very comfortable and fit well. The Princess Consort is thoughtful,” he said after trying them on.
Ming Tan ignored him.
He stood up and moved in front of her, bringing the winter boots into her field of vision.
She couldn’t help but glance at them.
They did fit perfectly, just as she had imagined. But despite her efforts and the hidden sentiments she’d sewn into them, this man was so utterly insensitive! She felt even more upset!
She stood up, clutching her sewing box, intending to walk to her dressing table. Jiang Xu blocked her path. She tried to sidestep him, but he reached out, barring her way again.
“Why are you blocking me?” Ming Tan asked irritably.
Jiang Xu didn’t answer. He took the sewing box from her arms, placed it back on the dressing table, and retrieved a medicine box from a drawer.
“Your hands are injured. I’ll…” Jiang Xu paused briefly, “I’ll apply some medicine.”
Ming Tan remained silent, allowing Jiang Xu to lead her back to the couch.
“It might sting a little. Bear with it,” he said in a low voice.
“It can’t hurt more than when I pricked myself!”
Jiang Xu’s movements paused. He looked up at her, “Was it very painful?”
“Of course it was!”
Ming Tan wasn’t the type to suffer silently without seeking recognition or sympathy. Even when she merely supervised someone making a dessert, she would describe it in detail to Jiang Xu for half an hour. She had prepared such a big surprise and had fully intended to seek his appreciation, wanting her husband to understand how much thought she had put into this gift!
Earlier, she had been too angry to talk to him, but now that he asked, she wouldn’t miss this opportunity. She chattered on incessantly, recounting everything from her initial idea to the eleven times she pricked her fingers today.
As she spoke, she felt increasingly wronged. She held out her stinging, medicated fingertips to Jiang Xu, “I’m not exaggerating. Look, eleven pricks in total.”
Jiang Xu fell silent, unsure how to respond.
After a while, he said, “It’s my fault.”
He felt guilty but also sensed something wasn’t quite right.
However, Ming Tan didn’t give him much time to ponder. “Then blow on them,” she said, pushing her hand closer.
Jiang Xu hesitated for a moment but complied, gently blowing on her fingers.
Ming Tan asked, “Do you like the characters I embroidered?”
“…Yes.”
“But it seemed like you didn’t like them very much.”
“I do like them.”
“Do you?”
“Of course. I’ll wear the new boots you made tomorrow. The Princess Consort has been very thoughtful.”
“Why are you always so formal when speaking to me!”
After a long pause, Jiang Xu finally managed to say, “A Tan, you’ve been very thoughtful.”
Hearing him call her “A Tan,” Ming Tan was finally satisfied. She stood up and pulled Jiang Xu, “Husband, you should retire now. You have to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple tomorrow. It will be tiring.”
Jiang Xu nodded, feeling inexplicably relieved.
Jiang Xu had barely rested for two hours before rising for the Winter Solstice ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. As he changed into his princely court robes, it was still dark outside, and the mansion was quiet. Ming Tan was still sleeping soundly.
He gazed at Ming Tan’s peaceful sleeping face for a moment, tucked the blanket around her, and was about to leave. But then, as if remembering something, he bent down and kissed her forehead before silently departing.
The Winter Solstice ceremonies were elaborate, including visits to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, prayers at the suburban altars, and a stay at the fasting palace. It would be three to five days before he could return. With shops closed as usual, there wasn’t much to do outside. Having nothing else to occupy her, Ming Tan decided to receive several groups of visitors.
The first group was Shen Hua and her mother-in-law, Madam Xiang.
Madam Xiang was a kind-natured woman who had been very pleased with Shen Hua from their first meeting. After the marriage, the two had always gotten along well.
This time, Madam Xiang had come to the Prince of Beining’s mansion specifically to look after Shen Hua, worried about her pregnancy.
Shen Hua wasn’t showing yet, but her figure had noticeably filled out, and her eyes sparkled with vitality. Seeing her like this, Ming Tan knew she was living a very comfortable life.
The three women chatted pleasantly about everyday matters, but whether intentionally or not, neither Shen Hua nor Madam Xiang inquired about Ming Tan’s condition.
Ming Tan, curious, gently touched Shen Hua’s slightly protruding belly and sighed, “To think my elder sister is about to become a mother. I wonder when I’ll become one. I still feel like I haven’t grown up myself.”
Hearing this, Madam Xiang quickly said, “The Princess Consort is still young. There’s no need to rush.”
Ming Tan agreed wholeheartedly, “That’s what the Prince says too.”
Seeing that Ming Tan didn’t mind discussing the topic, Madam Xiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Hua seemed lost in thought for a moment. She didn’t say much until a maid led Madam Xiang to the restroom. Then she turned to Ming Tan and said, “I heard from Aunt earlier that she was quite worried about your lack of offspring, but you don’t seem concerned.”
“I was worried at first, but the Prince isn’t concerned. He says I’m young and there’s no need to rush to have children. Thinking about it, he’s right. These things can’t be forced; it’s best to let nature take its course.”
Shen Hua hesitated, then carefully asked, “Have you seen a doctor about it?”
“The imperial physician comes to check on me every month. There’s nothing wrong.”
Shen Hua relaxed, “You’re right. I suppose Aunt is worried you might be like her… But if the Prince isn’t in a hurry, then letting nature take its course is best.”
Ming Tan nodded, but Shen Hua’s words made her decide to ask the imperial physician during the next monthly check-up if there were any ways to increase the chances of conceiving. She also realized that she and her husband hadn’t been intimate for nearly half a month. Without that, a child certainly wouldn’t appear out of thin air.
Three days later, the imperial procession returned. After escorting Emperor Chengkang and Empress Zhang back to the palace, Jiang Xu returned to his mansion early.
The capital was bustling with activity as shops reopened after the three-day closure. Jiang Xu rode his horse at a leisurely pace, seemingly looking for something. At a street corner, he noticed a particularly busy fabric shop with a constant stream of customers.
Remembering Ming Tan’s enthusiasm for browsing clothing shops in Hezhou, Jiang Xu tightened the reins and dismounted.
“Welcome, honored customer. Please come in,” the shop assistant greeted him warmly. “What would you like to see? Winter clothes or silk? We have everything.”
Jiang Xu scanned the shop, his gaze settling on a piece of plain satin with a subtle sheen.
The assistant, quick to notice, said, “Sir, you have excellent taste. This snow satin is of the finest quality, favored by nobles and officials. Look at its luster, and feel its texture. Of course, such fine material is naturally more expensive than—”
“I’ll take two bolts,” Jiang Xu said directly.
“Certainly, certainly! Please wait a moment, I’ll wrap them up for you right away,” the assistant replied eagerly, pleased with such a decisive customer.
Since returning from the south, he hadn’t seen his little Princess Consort add any new clothes. She had given him winter boots a few days ago, so he thought she would be happy to receive fabric today.
However, before he could return to the mansion to see her delighted face, an issue arose at the capital’s military camp that required his attention.
By the time he finished dealing with it and returned home, it was nearly dusk.
He had mentally prepared a speech, but when he arrived at Qian’an Hall, Ming Tan wasn’t there.
“Where is the Princess Consort?” he asked.
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort was waiting in the mansion to have lunch with you, but when you sent word that you needed to go to the military camp first, she dined alone. She rested for half an hour after noon, and then the Bai family’s young lady sent someone to invite her, so she went to the Changguo Duke’s mansion for tea. She also instructed that her evening meal need not be prepared today,” replied Suxin, the maid in charge of Qian’an Hall.
Jiang Xu was silent for a moment. Instead of entering the room, he handed the two bolts of satin to Suxin. “I’ll be in the study. When the Princess Consort returns, tell her these are from me.”
Suxin, initially confused, suddenly understood upon receiving the fabric. She couldn’t help but smile secretly.
Ming Tan had two cups of citrus wine at the Changguo Duke’s mansion today and was feeling slightly flushed. When she returned to the mansion, it was already dark. Seeing the courtyard quiet, she casually asked while heading to her room, “Has the Prince not returned yet?”
Suxin, while helping her undress, replied with a smile, “He has. The Prince is currently in the study attending to matters.”
“He’s back?” Ming Tan was slightly surprised.
Suxin smiled mysteriously, “Not only is he back, but the Prince also specially chose a gift for you.”
“What gift?” Ming Tan sobered up a bit.
Suxin turned and presented the two bolts of satin Jiang Xu had brought back.
Ming Tan looked at them and was speechless for a while.
Snow satin? Wasn’t this at least three months out of fashion? Ordinary wealthy families in the capital might still wear it, but the ladies and young misses she knew had long stopped wearing it.
Seeing the Golden Thread Pavilion’s label on it, she realized this wasn’t a gift from the palace, but something he had personally bought from the shop.
The mighty Prince of Beining had gone to the Golden Thread Pavilion to carefully select two bolts of long-outdated fabric. It was amusing yet somewhat heartbreaking, and within that heartache, there was a touch of warmth.
Her lips curled into a smile as she fondly stroked the fabric, lost in thought. After a while, she suddenly instructed someone to prepare some food. She tidied up her appearance, changed her clothes, and headed towards the study with Suxin.
In the study, Jiang Xu was in a secret room discussing plans with several military leaders who had come in secret about recapturing Rong Province, the last of the thirteen northern provinces to be recovered after the new year. Halfway through their discussion, he heard familiar footsteps approaching outside. Realizing the guards outside didn’t know he was in a secret meeting and wouldn’t stop the Princess Consort, Jiang Xu fell silent, signaling the others to wait a moment. He moved the mechanism and stepped out of the secret room alone.
Just as Ming Tan entered the study, Jiang Xu had seated himself back at his desk.
Before he could ask why she had come, Ming Tan swept in like a gust of wind, set down the food box, and without allowing any refusal, sat sideways on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pouted unreasonably, “Husband, you didn’t put any thought into your gift. Snow satin has been out of fashion for three months. Do you not like A Tan anymore? Don’t you love A Tan?”
“…”
“This Prince…”
“There you go again!” Ming Tan always disliked his formal self-address.
“I—”
Ming Tan leaned in closer, continuing to act coquettishly, “I don’t care, I’m punishing you. You have to kiss A Tan!”
Jiang Xu gave her a look that seemed to say “Are you sure?” Ming Tan, as if impatient, kissed him first. She couldn’t believe that with her being so proactive and affectionate tonight, her husband still couldn’t grasp the intimacy that should exist between a married couple.
As it turned out, he really couldn’t grasp it—
“Stop fooling around. Go back to your room first,” he said, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, his voice husky.
Who’s fooling around? Ming Tan was about to protest when suddenly, there was a noise from behind the antique shelf.