The three-day summer hunt concluded, and on the third day, the grand procession made its return under the resplendent evening glow. Accompanying Song Yao’s carriage on horseback was not Ru Shuang this time, but Nangong Yi.
By convention, this was improper, but as the couple was newlywed and deeply enamored, the etiquette officials turned a blind eye, pretending not to notice.
Though the journey was neither too long nor too short, Song Yao grew somewhat bored from merely sitting. She idly twirled a small round fan embroidered with lotus flowers, her thoughts swirling in countless directions.
Suddenly, a mischievous idea sparked in her mind.
She beckoned Nangong Yi to lean closer. When he bent down, she leaned out and used the small fan as a cover to whisper to him.
“Will Your Highness consummate the marriage with this humble servant tonight?” Though spoken softly, the words were brazenly bold.
Nangong Yi:…
He glanced around discreetly, ensuring no one had noticed their exchange, then straightened up and gently patted the head of the little vixen who dared say such things in public just to tease him.
“We shall discuss this upon returning to the residence,” he replied sternly, his tone so grave that an uninformed observer might assume the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were secretly discussing matters of great importance.
But Song Yao, intent on amusing herself by teasing the Crown Prince, was not about to let the matter rest so easily.
With a sigh of regret, she leaned back against the cool jade pillow, clasping her chest as if heartbroken—a pitiful, sorrowful beauty spurned by her husband.
“So that means no. Your Highness is so cruel. This humble servant’s heart aches, alas~”
Having said this, she let down the carriage curtain that had been drawn open throughout the journey, as if shutting out the sight would ease her pain.
The Crown Prince, though teased and shut out, showed no anger. He gazed at the gently swaying curtain, occasionally jostled by the carriage’s movement, and sighed—seemingly helpless, yet undeniably doting.
That night, the full moon hung high, and stars shimmered brightly.
Behind the bed curtains, passion was at its peak, fiery and tender. Nangong Yi lay half-reclined on the bed, nearly naked.
His physique, honed by years of martial training, was almost too captivating, leaving Song Yao both dazzled and flustered, unsure where to lay her hands first.
His narrow, profound phoenix eyes watched her intently—a gaze that held the certainty of a hunter eyeing his prize, yet softened with affection.
He had no desire to take by force; instead, he sought to entice his beloved wife to join him in the throes of passion.
Thus, his large hands gripped her slender waist, shifting their positions as he reclaimed control. Meeting her gaze, he tenderly kissed her lush, inviting lips and murmured, “It may hurt if we continue, Furen. Are you certain?”
Song Yao, her robes half undone, her enchanting figure alluring under the faint moonlight, looked utterly mesmerizing. Her stunning face, flushed with desire, carried a seductive gleam at the corners of her eyes.
She twirled a strand of his dark hair, entwined with her own, around her finger, her gaze sultry and teasing. Even in the midst of intimacy, she could not resist provoking him. Biting his lip lightly, she purred, “This humble servant is certain. But I wonder if Your Highness is up to the task?”
A low, sensual chuckle was his only reply before Song Yao gasped softly. From then on, she had no energy left for mischief.
Her usually feigned delicate voice turned genuine that night. Their lovemaking lasted until the early hours, with calls for bathwater made twice.
Nangong Yi was exceedingly skilled. Perhaps mindful of her discomfort, he remained gentle throughout, yet his tenderness alone was enough to send her to heights of ecstasy.
By the time they finished, the night had grown profoundly deep.
The maids in pink gently closed the door, keeping their eyes downcast from start to finish, too afraid to glimpse anything they shouldn’t.
Turning around, she saw Granny Rong arriving in haste under the moonlight at the corridor corner. Granny Rong glanced at the recently darkened room and made an inquiring look with her eyes.
The maids in pink were all Song Yao’s people and wouldn’t easily disclose their mistress’s affairs, so they pretended not to understand what Granny Rong wanted to ask. After paying their respects, they hurried away with lowered heads and flushed faces.
Although the maids said nothing, Granny Rong, being advanced in years, understood everything from their reactions.
She happily slapped her thigh, then belatedly realized this might disturb the two masters inside. After glancing at the carved palace door, she didn’t linger longer, straightened her outer shawl, and left with the two young maids following her.
Throughout the return journey, she chuckled joyfully, feeling immensely pleased in her heart:
Good heavens, these two masters have finally consummated their marriage! Now everything is fine – she can finally give a proper account to Her Majesty the Empress.
These past few days had worried her terribly, leaving her unable to sleep soundly night after night. Tomorrow morning she would personally supervise the kitchen to have the cooks prepare some nourishing dishes to replenish the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
The next day, the sky was clear for miles.
Golden sunlight brightly illuminated the glazed tiles of the Eastern Palace buildings. Tree shadows swayed while cicadas chirped noisily.
Song Yao was awakened by the noise. Without even opening her eyes, she frowned in displeasure, turned over intending to continue sleeping, and issued an order.
“Ru Shuang, have someone eliminate all the cicadas nearby.”
Ru Shuang outside the door: “Yes.”
She summoned several people, and soon all the cicadas hiding in the flowerbeds and trees creating the noise were disposed of by the pink-clad maids.
With the world quiet again, Song Yao continued sleeping.
Today was the day the Mobei delegation was departing, coinciding with numerous state affairs, making the court session end later than usual.
After court adjourned, just as Nangong Yi was about to leave, he was summoned by the Empress who had learned about their consummation. When he finally left the palace, two little followers trailed behind him.
It was Ninth Princess Nangong Yan and Seventh Prince Nangong Jin. Having both been at the Empress’s palace earlier, the siblings naturally learned about their elder brother and sister-in-law’s previous night.
Nangong Jin had a somewhat mature personality for his youth and, being male, naturally needed to avoid such topics – he pretended not to hear even when he did.
Nangong Yan was different. At sixteen, she was at an age where she had some tact but not much, combined with her inherently lively nature.
Walking beside her elder brother with shining eyes, she clasped her hands over her chest, her not yet fully matured face filled with sincerity, anticipation, and curiosity.
“So Royal Brother, you’re about to become a father, I’m about to become an aunt, and Seventh Brother is about to become an uncle, right?”
Fortunately, her question was relatively restrained, not reaching the point of being indiscreet.
Even so, Nangong Jin averted his eyes, unable to bear watching, and stepped away to avoid walking alongside Nangong Yan, unwilling to acknowledge this tactless silly girl as his own sister.
Nangong Yi: “It’s still early.”
Glancing at his sister tugging his sleeve then at his brother silently distancing himself, his handsome, well-defined face showed traces of a smile as he instructed.
“A Jin, later escort Yan’er back to the princess residence before returning yourself.”
Although Nangong Jin showed every sign of disdain for his unruly sister in his actions, brotherly affection still existed. He agreed.
“Understood.”
Nangong Yan’s face instantly fell as she attempted to protest: “Royal Brother, I want to visit your residence to see sister-in-law! Seventh Brother wants to go too!”
Nangong Yan turned to look at Nangong Jin, her expression shifting as swiftly as flipping a page. With a sweet voice but fierce eyes, she cooed, “Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother, you want to go too, right?”
Unfortunately, Nangong Jin was neither intimidated nor swayed by her act. Showing no regard for his sister’s dignity, he maintained a stern, handsome face and coldly tossed out two words: “Not true.”
Nangong Yan was so furious her mouth twisted. Forcing herself to uphold her princess decorum, she swallowed her anger for the moment, let out a heavy, disdainful snort, and issued a threat.
“You scoundrel, just you wait, this princess will settle this with you!”