After finishing discussions with two ministers from the Ministry of Personnel, the Emperor finally remembered to take his breakfast.
Chief Eunuch Gu Guangliang stepped forward: “Your Majesty, Prince Qin said that since you are busy today, he will not bring the Princess Consort into the palace to pay respects. They will come in a few days instead.”
“Nonsense!” Emperor Jianxing slapped the table. “Is he ignoring the girl? Refusing to bring her out?”
Gu Guangliang smiled: “Not at all… The attendants at Prince Qin’s residence said His Highness went to the Princess Consort’s chamber last night and did not leave until morning. Today, he said she was unwell and ordered the matrons to care for her.”
Emperor Jianxing was startled: “They consummated the marriage? Is Prince Qin’s body fine?”
“Absolutely true!” Gu Guangliang lowered his voice. “Prince Qin’s household even summoned an imperial physician to check the Princess Consort’s pulse. Our Prince is not only healthy—he is vigorous!”
This had been the Emperor’s worry for years.
Since Xiao Chengji’s birth, the Empress Dowager had disliked him intensely. The Emperor had feared Xiao Chengji might die young like the First Prince, and so he paid him extra attention. But the Empress Dowager could not tolerate him. At fourteen, she schemed to send him to the battlefield. When he returned, he was granted the title of Prince Qin, and his temperament changed drastically. As he grew older, palace rules required that maids instruct him in intimacy. He drove them out. Later, women were sent from outside, but he never touched any of them.
Afterward, rumors spread within the palace walls, claiming that Xiao Chengji had been too gravely injured on the battlefield, damaging a vital part of his body, and that he would never be able to perform as a man.
When Emperor Jianxing heard these whispers, he flew into a rage. Overnight, he executed more than a hundred people to silence the gossip.
Later, the Emperor wanted imperial physicians to examine Xiao Chengji, but his violent temper made it impossible for them to approach.
From then on, Xiao Chengji’s health became a constant worry for the Emperor.
If Xiao Chengji had truly consummated his marriage with the Princess Consort, then the Emperor could finally set his mind at ease.
Still doubtful, he pressed further: “Could it be that Prince Qin is faking it, trying to deceive everyone? He—”
Gu Guangliang smiled: “Your Majesty, rest assured! The physician checked the Princess Consort’s pulse. And besides, do you think our Prince Qin is the type to put on an act? Normally, if he dislikes someone, he won’t even look at them, no matter whose face is at stake.”
“That’s true.”
One pleasant surprise after another lifted Emperor Jianxing’s spirits, even improving his appetite.
He gave orders: “Prince Qin is reckless, and the Princess Consort is frail. Let them come to the palace in a few days to pay respects; there’s no need to fuss over empty ceremony. Speaking of which, the daughter of Duke Zhen is truly fortunate—send her the tribute blood-swallow’s nest.”
Meanwhile, in the Shoukang Palace of the Empress Dowager Zheng, Empress Zheng sat with a dark expression, clearly displeased.
Below her, Wei Ruxuan wore a dazzling outfit, her hair neatly styled, dressed like a peach blossom bud in March—bright enough to draw every eye. She had risen before dawn, and though her face looked fresh and clean, it had taken great effort to apply makeup. From hair to cosmetics to clothing, every detail had been carefully perfected.
Wei Ruxuan intended to outshine the Princess Consort Qin, to give that sickly girl a humiliating blow. Naturally, she had prepared herself thoroughly.
And the result? Princess Consort Qin—did not come at all!
It was as if she had seen a ghost!
Empress Zheng could not bear the humiliation and, in front of the Empress Dowager, exaggerated: “Prince Qin usually ignores etiquette and does not come to pay respects—that’s one thing. But now he has a Princess Consort, and still no manners! Today, both of them should have come to greet the Empress Dowager and me, yet neither appeared. Fortunately, our Shan’er did not marry her. If he had, would the Fifth Prince’s household ever know peace?”
The Empress Dowager had already sent people to investigate the Prince Qin’s residence. She had planted spies there, but Xiao Chengji was too cautious, and none had succeeded in infiltrating.
Soon, a palace maid entered and whispered a few words into the Empress Dowager’s ear. Her face darkened: “Is this certain?”
The maid nodded: “Absolutely certain. It was difficult to confirm, but even an imperial physician was summoned.”
For years, the Empress Dowager had believed Prince Qin suffered from some hidden ailment. But now—unexpectedly—he had saved his first time for the wedding night!
That such a man could guard his body so strictly, while someone else sitting below had already dallied with her fiancé’s younger brother before marriage!
The Empress Dowager grew angrier the more she thought, disgusted into silence, sipping tea to steady herself.
Empress Zheng quickly asked with a smile: “Mother, what is it?”
“Last night, Prince Qin consummated the marriage with his Princess Consort. She is unwell, so they will come to pay respects another day.” The Empress Dowager’s face was grim. “Dismissed.”
Empress Zheng froze: “He has no hidden illness?”
“He is perfectly fine!” the Empress Dowager snapped. “Watch over the Fifth Prince. Don’t let him cause any more disgraceful scandals!”
Empress Zheng rose quickly: “Yes, as you say. I will take my leave.”
Wei Ruxuan could hardly believe her ears. Her mind was filled with the words “consummated,” stumbling out with Empress Zheng, dazed until she saw the sun outside. Only then did she begin to comprehend.
Consummated? Consummated? How could that be? In her dream, Prince Qin had never even looked at her, let alone touched her! Could that Wen girl be some kind of enchantress?
She had dressed brightly today, but Empress Zheng hated women who sought attention through appearance. She looked Wei Ruxuan up and down: “Do not wear such flashy clothes again.”
Wei Ruxuan quickly agreed: “Yes.”
At Prince Qin’s residence—
Xiao Chengji returned at noon. Yanyu, exhausted from the previous night, was still asleep, unaware that the physician had checked her pulse.
Hearing she was still asleep, Xiao Chengji sneered: “She can really sleep.”
He had married a little ancestor.
Nanny Deng said with a smile: “The Emperor has gifted some blood-swallow’s nest.”
“Cook it for her,” Xiao Chengji said coldly, with a hint of sarcasm. “Let this little ancestor wake to bird’s nest.”
Yanyu did not wake until after midday, still sore.
The night before, Xiao Chengji had noticed her injury and bleeding, applying medicine. She remembered only fragments, blushing at the thought. She did not know the time, thinking it was still morning. She forced herself upright and lifted the bed curtain.
Xiao Chengji’s voice was cold: “Finally awake?”
Yanyu nodded softly: “Are we to enter the palace to pay respects?”
Xiao Chengji’s gaze swept her face, then down to her delicate collarbone, before slowly shifting away: “Tomorrow.”