33
Ming Tan felt slightly dizzy. Though the wine was neither spicy nor strong, swallowing it made her feel as if she were already drunk. A blush had indeed risen to her cheeks, though she couldn’t tell whether it came from the nuptial wine or from some other cause.
Inside the room, red candles flickered brightly. For a long while, neither spoke. Ming Tan, nervously recalling the erotic illustrations she had once seen at Biyu Tower, wondered: now that the wine had been drunk, was it time to undress and retire for the night?
She lifted her eyes to steal a glance at Jiang Xu, then slowly extended her small hand toward him.
Jiang Xu’s elaborate crimson wedding robe was exceedingly complex, with countless layers inside and out. Trembling, Ming Tan fumbled for quite some time before finally managing to undo the outer fastenings, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Seeing her determinedly continue despite her obvious discomfort, Jiang Xu suddenly remembered the advice given by Shu Jingran and Zhang Huaiyu: do not remain silent; do not let the young lady feel awkward; remember to find something to talk about. Thus, after a prolonged silence, he abruptly and stiffly asked, “Are you skilled at playing the zither?”
Ming Tan paused, then hesitantly nodded.
He added, “I heard that at the Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet two years ago, you played a piece composed by yourself.”
Ming Tan nodded again. “Does my husband wish to hear it?”
Jiang Xu hadn’t yet decided how to respond, but Ming Tan had already drawn her own conclusion—he had even discovered that she once composed and played a piece herself at the Golden Chrysanthemum Banquet. Could it be that her husband had been captivated by her zither music ever since their encounter at the Great Xiangguo Temple?
At this thought, Ming Tan felt a surge of joy, yet her nervousness intensified all the more. She stepped back half a pace, feigning composure as she bowed gracefully, then ventured tentatively, “In that case… this humble wife, lacking in talent, shall… presume to embarrass myself?”
Oh no! The moment the words left her lips, she recalled how, during last year’s Lantern Festival palace banquet, Gu Jiurou had offered to “embarrass herself,” only for her husband to swiftly interject that there was no need for such a display. His single remark had nearly ruined the entire imperial gathering. Could her wedding night now meet the same fate because of those very words?
Jiang Xu had not given it much thought initially, but upon seeing Ming Tan’s expression change so abruptly after her statement, he suddenly remembered: during last year’s Lantern Festival palace banquet, he seemed to have said something to the young lady from the House of Cheng’en who had offered to “embarrass herself.”
It was precisely because of “what he had said” that his wife had initially held such deep prejudices against him, even gossiping about him with friends at Tingyu Pavilion, labeling him as a reckless, vulgar brute devoid of manners.
Ming Tan cautiously lifted her eyes to steal a glance, only to unfortunately meet Jiang Xu’s gaze, which for once held a trace of emotion. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly said, “Not ugly at all; this prince merely finds his wife exceedingly beautiful.”
—This, too, was something Shu Jingran and Zhang Huaiyu had taught him: how to praise her.
Ming Tan was utterly bewildered.
Just now, did my husband praise my beauty?
Before she could react, she suddenly felt herself being lifted horizontally into his arms. By the time she regained her senses, she was already lying on the couch. The intricate red garments she had struggled to untie fell one by one to the floor before the red candles flickered out…
Ming Tan’s little heart began pounding uncontrollably again. She folded her hands neatly over her lower abdomen, sensing a tall figure settling down beside her, carrying a faint lingering scent of wine and sandalwood.
But there were no further actions as depicted in the spring manual.
Ming Tan calmed her nerves slightly, tilting her head to glance at the man lying beside her, and whispered softly, “Husband?”
“Mm.”
He wasn’t asleep yet.
Then did he not intend to do anything?
Of course, Ming Tan felt too shy to voice such a question aloud; she could only ponder it silently in her heart. After lying awake with her eyes open for a long while, her restless hand crept inch by inch beneath the covers toward Jiang Xu. She reasoned that even if she did nothing else, surely holding his small hand would be acceptable.
When her fingers first brushed against his large palm, there was no reaction; it still felt cool to the touch. Only after she grasped it and gave a gentle squeeze did his palm sluggishly envelop her tiny hand, resting it beside him.
Unconsciously, the corners of Ming Tan’s lips curled upward.
Outside, moonlight flowed like water, faintly revealing the rosy glow cast by the lanterns. Unable to sleep, Ming Tan suddenly asked in a soft voice, “Husband, when His Majesty bestowed this marriage upon us, was it truly your own wish?”
Jiang Xu closed his eyes and gave a soft “Mm.”
“Then, at last year’s Lantern Festival palace banquet, when His Majesty and Her Majesty showed intentions of selecting a princess consort for you, did you ever consider marrying a daughter from another family?”
“I did not.” He had never even thought about taking a wife.
“Mm… Everyone in the capital knows that Second Young Master Shu, Commander Lu, and the heir of Duke Ping are close friends. Husband, why are you also acquainted with them? I’ve never heard of this before. Then you and Second Young Master Shu… mmph mmph mmph!”
Ming Tan was about to ask something more when the person beside her suddenly leaned over without warning, silencing her unspoken questions.
The two thin layers of her crimson nightgown were gently pulled apart at the waist, and the rough, large hand that had just held hers now rested upon her tender skin.
Jiang Xu’s eyes darkened, desire stirring within them.
Perhaps because his reputation as a killer preceded him, everyone assumed he was devoid of desire or emotion, forgetting that he was merely in his early twenties, full of youthful vigor.
Having taken a wife, he had never intended to abstain from her bed, regardless of the reasons; he simply believed there was ample time ahead and saw no need for haste. Yet, while he felt no urgency, his lady wife proved quite eager indeed.
..
Suxin and Lü’e, who were keeping watch outside the room, had heard no sound for most of the night, their hearts growing increasingly cold. They had long heard that if a husband felt no affection, even on the wedding night, the marriage might remain unconsummated.
Just as drowsiness was setting in, a heavy, unmasked panting suddenly echoed from within the room, accompanied by soft, sobbing whimpers from their young mistress. Those broken, delicate sounds made Su Xin and Lü’e, both unmarried maidens still innocent in matters of love, blush and their hearts race.
This commotion continued without rest for half the night.
By the third watch, water was requested from inside.
Su Xin led a young maid to deliver it; merely the intoxicating scent emanating from within was so shameful that one dared not even glance toward the bed.
Su Xin kept her eyes lowered, focusing on her nose and her heart, yet with the corner of her eye she caught sight of their young master pulling the brocade quilt over their young lady, lifting her horizontally in his arms, and carrying her off to the bathing chamber.
In less than half an hour, a request came from within for fresh water. Only when Su Xin led the maids back inside did they realize that the water from the bathtub had earlier splashed out, soaking the entire floor.
Without needing much thought, they understood what had transpired, thinking to themselves: Though the young master appears cold and stern, he truly showed no restraint in this matter.
It was not until nearly the fourth watch that the sounds from this wedding night finally ceased altogether.
Ming Tan, overwhelmed with shame, burrowed deeper under the covers, unable to face Jiang Xu. She dared not even think of holding his hand again; she wished they could each have their own quilt and not so much as brush against one another!
Moreover, those illustrated guides on avoiding fire were all falsehoods! When it actually came to such intimate matters, one could recall nothing at all; it was entirely her husband taking the lead!
–
Silence reigned until the fifth watch, when Jiang Xu rose from the bed.
He glanced at Ming Tan, still curled into a tight ball and fast asleep. His gaze softened slightly as he casually tucked the corner of the blanket more firmly around her.
According to protocol, she was supposed to enter the palace today to express her gratitude for the imperial favor, which inevitably involved a great deal of tedious formalities.
When Ming Tan awoke and remembered this matter, the soreness throughout her body became even more pronounced. Blushing deeply, she watched as the elderly maid collected the blood-stained handkerchief proving her virginity, while tugging gently at the corner of her quilt and asking in a soft, delicate voice, “Where is His Highness? Wasn’t he meant to enter the palace today to offer thanks?”
“His Highness, mindful of Miss’s well-being, has already sent word to the palace stating that it would not be too late to go tomorrow,” replied Lve’e deftly, her eyes sparkling with delight, clearly rejoicing that her young mistress was so cherished by her husband.
Suxin was equally overjoyed; picking up where Lve’e left off, she added, “His Highness went out to practice martial arts before dawn and specifically instructed that Miss should not be woken. He said we should wait until Miss awakens so that you may share breakfast together.”
The old woman teased from the side, “Why do you two young ladies still call her ‘Miss’? You should be calling her ‘Princess Consort’ now!”
Su Xin and Lü E exchanged a glance, pressed their lips together in a smile, and curtsied, saying, “Yes, we pay our respects to the Princess.”
Ming Tan’s face flushed crimson once more. She tugged the bedcovers up slightly and, with a mix of reserve and eagerness, instructed, “Then hurry and prepare my toilet and serve breakfast. His Highness must be hungry after his martial practice.”
Su Xin and Lü E replied in unison, “Yes.”
The day before the wedding, Su Xin and Lü E had accompanied the matrons from the Jing’an Marquis’s household to the princely residence to arrange the nuptial chambers, taking the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the palace kitchens. Fu Shu, the steward in charge, seemed genuinely welcoming toward the arrival of the new mistress of the house. Displaying not the slightest intention of usurping authority, he had issued orders early on that whatever the Princess required should be prioritized above all else. Naturally, the kitchen staff followed their instructions without question.
Before long, Lü’e had styled Mingtan’s hair into an exquisite bridal coiffure and selected for her a finely wrought, intricately detailed gown; after all, on one’s wedding day, attire ought not be too plain. Only two light strokes adorned her delicate eyebrows, rendering her look somewhat understated.
Just as Jiang Xu entered the room, the morning meal that Suxin had ordered prepared early that day was being served course after course, flowing onto the table like a stream.
He stood at the doorway of the central hall, watching the line of maids entering the room, and paused for a moment.
Soft jade congee, golden milk pastries, crab-roe pearl buns, white jade balls, sweet cheese with green pears… This breakfast amounted to no fewer than ten dishes.
Seeing him, Ming Tan’s fair face flushed with shyness, her eyelashes fluttering like wings. She rose and performed a proper curtsy, speaking softly and gently, “My husband must be tired from martial practice; please, have your morning meal.”
Jiang Xu had clearly not yet grown accustomed to the sudden appearance of a delicate, beautiful young princess in his household; after a moment of silence, he nodded and took his seat.
As soon as he sat down, four or five maidservants rushed forward one after another, carrying an array of items, some inviting him to wash his hands while others offered towels to wipe his face.
Although born into royalty, well-versed in etiquette, and raised with all the luxuries befitting a crown prince, ever since his father’s passing, Jiang Xu had ceased to care about such elaborate rituals. Moreover, having lived life on the edge of danger, he could hardly afford to be particular about such refinements.
Jiang Xu disliked extravagance, yet considering that his young princess had just entered the household and was accustomed to a life of luxury, he said nothing further. Instead, he patiently washed his hands, wiped his face, and began his meal.
While Jiang Xu dined, Ming Tan delicately sipped her congee in small mouthfuls, occasionally stealing glances at him.
Noticing that Jiang Xu’s bowl was empty, she promptly signaled the maid to refill it. Seeing that he seemed to desire some soft pastry, she quickly placed a piece into his bowl.
After dining for a while, Jiang Xu finally remembered the principle of reciprocity and placed a dessert piece into Ming Tan’s bowl as well.
Overjoyed, Ming Tan set down her porcelain spoon once she saw that Jiang Xu had nearly finished eating, then suddenly asked with reserved grace, “Husband, do you think my makeup today looks acceptable?”
Jiang Xu lifted his gaze.
“…”
If she hadn’t said so, he would never have guessed she was wearing makeup.
Seeing his princess consort still waiting for him to elaborate, he pondered for a moment and, recalling the principle of “praising her” mentioned by Shu Jingran and Zhang Huaiyu the previous night, replied simply, “Very good.”
Yet Ming Tan was not entirely satisfied with this answer. Cradling her face in her hands, she tilted her head slightly. “Husband, take another careful look.”
Jiang Xu: “…”
Ming Tan leaned closer and reminded him, “Your eyebrows?”
Enlightened in an instant, Jiang Xu replied, “They are a bit too faint.”
No sooner had he spoken than Lü’e approached with a smile, holding up the eyebrow pigment. “Why doesn’t Your Highness draw the Princess Consort’s eyebrows?”
Ming Tan, slightly embarrassed, said, “I wonder if my husband has a moment? Today, as I was doing my makeup, I felt something was amiss. In your opinion, to match today’s妆容 and attire, would water-curved brows or distant-mountain brows be more suitable?”
Jiang Xu picked up the eyebrow pigment from the tray, examined it for a long while, then suddenly looked up and asked, “How is this used? What are water-curved brows, and what are distant-mountain brows? How do they differ?”