Song Yao was now certain that this man was truly not interested in her.
On their wedding night, he had slept fully clothed, saying it wouldn’t be too late to consummate their marriage after they developed feelings for each other. It had been the same for the past half a month; on the surface, they were a husband and wife who treated each other with respect, like strangers who drew water from the same well but never interfered with one another.
Excellent! How utterly bizarre.
Having gotten the result of her test, Song Yao found an opportunity to “wake up” with a soft groan. To make the act complete, her beautiful eyes were still hazy with sleep when they met the man’s gaze.
“Your Highness.”
Propping herself up on her elbows, she made a show of preparing to rise from the table to curtsy, but in the next moment, her arm was held, and she was helped smoothly to her feet.
Due to this series of large movements, the thin blanket covering her waist slipped to the floor. As if belatedly realizing her disheveled state, a blush of embarrassment fittingly crept onto her makeup-free face.
Song Yao said, “This humble servant has lost her composure.”
Nangong Yi replied, “We are husband and wife. There is no need to mind.” As he spoke, he draped his outer robe over her shoulders, his words and actions easing her awkwardness.
What a good man. If Song Yao were any normal woman, she would have fallen in love.
Unfortunately, Song Yao was not quite normal.
She gathered the outer robe around herself and returned to her seat, her posture graceful. In the blink of an eye, she had resumed the image of the impeccable Crown Princess.
Nangong Yi said, “The prince, princess, and envoys from Mobei have come to our Da Yuan with the intention of a marriage alliance. There will be a banquet at the palace tomorrow evening to welcome them. Yao Yao must attend with me.”
Mobei was a small nation beyond Da Yuan’s northern border. Its people were nomadic, martial, and skilled in horsemanship and archery, with a fierce and robust culture.
They had previously sent troops to harass the border repeatedly, but after suffering several years of defeat, they had become much more polite.
“A marriage alliance?” Song Yao’s interest and curiosity were piqued. She asked bluntly, “With Your Highness?”
Nangong Yi gave Song Yao a deep look. “No. There is no definite candidate yet. Father Emperor is not very keen on the idea of an alliance.”
Song Yao merely nodded, offering no opinion on the matter.
They exchanged a few more words on other topics before the conversation died. It couldn’t be helped; this was how it was for a husband and wife with no emotional foundation and no familiarity.
Once their business was concluded, Nangong Yi rose to leave. As the Crown Prince of a nation, he had many official duties to attend to and little leisure for romance.
As he passed the newly created flowerbed in the outer courtyard, which was planted with a vibrant array of colorful blossoms, his tall figure paused. A moment later, he departed with his large retinue of attendants.
Soon, news of this unusual behavior reached Song Yao’s ears.
Song Yao took a sip of iced plum soup, lost in thought. Since she had married into the Eastern Palace, Nangong Yi had given her the greatest degree of respect, privacy, and freedom.
Almost the entire rear courtyard of the Eastern Palace was staffed by people she had brought from the Prime Minister’s Residence. For the past half-month, Nangong Yi had never interfered or questioned anything she did.
But, half a month, living under the same roof.
Song Yao wouldn’t be so arrogant as to think she was the only intelligent person in the world just because she had lived two lives and was a transmigrator.
Nangong Yi must have noticed something, he just wasn’t pointing it out. But wasn’t this a bit too indulgent of him?
What was the reason for such indulgence?
Because she was the Prime Minister’s daughter? As far as she knew, Nangong Yi didn’t hold the Prime Minister’s Residence in high regard.
Romantic affection? Even more impossible. She had just tested him; the man had no interest in her.
Song Yao pondered this from every angle but could not find an answer, finally arriving at one conclusion: Nangong Yi was a good husband.
If that was the case, could she perhaps push her luck a little further? For instance, by gradually revealing her true nature.
She was thoroughly tired of putting on a facade day and night for the past half-month. The sweltering weather only made her more irritable.
Song Yao was a woman of action. Once she had a plan, she executed it.
That night.
The midsummer night was tranquil, with a crescent moon hanging in a sky full of stars. The two masters had already retired, and the entire Eastern Palace was quiet.
In the latter half of the night, in the bedchamber.
Nangong Yi awoke. He had been woken up. The woman was sleeping comfortably, sprawled out like a star, one of her long, fair legs resting on his thigh.
Nangong Yi was surprised but did not move. His magnificent frame remained in a side-lying position, letting Song Yao press down on him.
His long, deep-set phoenix eyes, gazing at the woman’s sleeping face, revealed a hint of a smile, as if he wanted to laugh.
Perhaps finding the position uncomfortable, Song Yao soon shifted again, this time flinging a long leg over his firm waist and hugging Nangong Yi like a blanket.
This time, Nangong Yi’s smile deepened.
But gradually, the mood changed. Although blocks of ice were placed in the four corners of the hall, it was still the height of summer, and sleeping so closely was not comfortable.
Soon, Song Yao abandoned her ‘blanket’ and, on several occasions, tried to kick the ‘blanket’ off the bed to monopolize the entire mattress for herself.
As a martial artist, Song Yao’s movements were agile and her kicks were heavy. After dodging a few times, a sigh was heard from behind the layers of magnificent bed curtains.
A large hand caught the woman’s kicking ankle. Instead of taking advantage of the situation to peek at the vast, beautiful scenery revealed by the open collar of her snowy-white inner garment, he pulled her into his arms and coaxed her softly.
“Be good.”
It was unclear whether his words did the trick or if it was the cool breeze from the fan in Nangong Yi’s hand, but in any case, Song Yao slept soundly in his arms for the rest of the night.
The next day, early in the morning.
Song Yao slept until the sun was high in the sky before rising. The bright sun shone down, making the plantain leaves in the courtyard a vibrant green. Amidst the chirping of insects and birds, several maids in pink entered and exited, attending to their mistress as she dressed and washed.
Song Yao, still sleepy, sat before the priceless Golden Phoebe vanity and let Ru Shuang style her hair. Resting her chin on her hand, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror and asked, “Was the Crown Prince in a good mood this morning?”
Ru Shuang, who cared for no one but her mistress, hadn’t paid any attention. She thought for a moment before nodding. “His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to be in a good mood.”
Song Yao raised an eyebrow, sinking into thought.
Last night, she had completely let herself go. This morning, she hadn’t bothered with the pretense of waking up early like in previous days to virtuously help Nangong Yi dress.
Even with all that, not only did he not question it, but he also seemed to be in a good mood? Could it be that her bad habit of sleeping wildly had been corrected?
Song Yao asked, “Ru Shuang, what do you think of my sleeping posture?”
Ru Shuang, who had recently had the honor of sharing a bed with her mistress, was silent.
Ru Shuang’s silence answered everything.
Song Yao understood. Her bad habit hadn’t changed; it was Nangong Yi who had a very high tolerance for her.
Very good. She could push her luck a little more in the future.
Barring any accidents, she and Nangong Yi would be husband and wife for a lifetime. Who would be willing to live behind a mask forever?
On the night of the palace banquet, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.
The resplendent imperial palace was brightly lit. Carriages arrived one after another at the palace gates and, after being inspected, their occupants proceeded, either alone or in groups.
The vast banquet hall was filled with song and dance. Palace maids and eunuchs bustled about, serving fine wine and delicacies. Ministers and their families, dressed in brocade and finery, raised their cups and exchanged pleasantries.
“The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have arrived!”
At this loud announcement, the entire banquet hall fell silent. Everyone moved to their proper places and bowed in unison.
“This younger brother/younger sister/humble subject/humble subject’s wife/humble subject’s daughter pays respect to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.”
Nangong Yi said, “You may rise.”
The couple was magnificently dressed for the evening. Coupled with their noble status and exceptionally striking looks, they were the center of attention the moment they appeared.
After they were seated, waves of people came over to offer compliments. At such occasions, the content of the conversations was invariably the same few topics, all exceedingly formal.