Yan Shixu picked up the last piece of pork knuckle and took a leisurely bite.
The flavor was indeed good, though rather greasy.
He set the pork knuckle aside.
Wen Lier watched as he took one bite and discarded it, feeling a pang of distress.
Her father, being an upright official, had taught her and her brother since childhood not to waste food.
But she naturally understood that this principle could not be applied to the Crown Prince.
As soon as Yan Shixu set down his chopsticks, palace attendants immediately brought water to assist them in washing their faces and rinsing their mouths.
Having bathed earlier at Yaohua Hall, Wen Lier entered the bedchamber first.
The Crown Prince’s bedchamber was warm, heated with charcoal.
Wen Lier had already removed her cloak but still felt somewhat hot.
Combined with the lingering effects of the wine she had drunk earlier, the dizziness began to set in.
She sat dazedly on the bed, her consciousness somewhat muddled.
Before long, Yan Shixu also entered the bedchamber.
He wore only a lined jacket.
Wen Lier stood up, suddenly feeling a bit flustered.
Yan Shixu sat down first on the edge of the bed and patted the spot beside him.
“Sit.”
Wen Lier cautiously moved over, growing even more nervous as she thought about what was to come.
She had previously believed she could remain as steady as an old dog—how false that was.
Yan Shixu looked at her flushed cheeks, free of makeup.
Her youth gave her skin a smooth, delicate quality, like a freshly peeled egg.
“Are you feeling dizzy? The plum wine has quite a strong aftereffect.”
Wen Lier touched her burning face and shook her head.
“Not dizzy, just a bit hot.”
Yan Shixu chuckled softly; her eyes were already glazed over, yet she claimed she wasn’t dizzy.
Captivated by his smile, Wen Lier stared blankly.
The Crown Prince was truly pleasing to the eye—his gentle smile even seemed to dim the moonlight outside the window.
She shook her head, indeed feeling a bit dizzy.
The Crown Prince likely thought that diving straight into the main event might be awkward for two people who were not very familiar with each other.
So, he seemed inclined to chat with Wen Lier first.
“What do you usually do in your daily life?”
“Reading and doing embroidery.”
“What books do you read?”
Wen Lier refrained from mentioning romance novels.
“The Book of Songs and travelogues.”
“Oh? Which travelogues have you read?”
Wen Lier was taken aback; if she mentioned the titles, would he quiz her on their contents?
Seeing her dazed expression, the amusement in Yan Shixu’s eyes deepened.
Wen Lier found it strange—the Crown Prince was much easier to get along with than she had imagined.
Her heart began to race, and she hardly dared to breathe.
Noticing her distracted state, Yan Shixu pulled her into his embrace.
Wen Lier pressed her hands against his chest, instinctively about to push him away.
But she quickly remembered why she was there and withdrew her hands, melting softly into the Crown Prince’s arms.
As she was pressed down onto the bed, Wen Lier’s head still felt somewhat fuzzy.
Her mother had said: just lie still and let your husband take the lead.
As for the eighteen techniques Mama Qin had mentioned, they had long been forgotten.
“Your Highness.”
She called out to him hazily, her vision blurred.
She felt as though she had forgotten something but couldn’t recall what it was.
Yan Shixu reached out to stroke her face and asked in a low voice, “Are you afraid?”
Wen Lier shook her head and said, “N-not afraid.”
Her voice trembled.
With such a gentle and refined face, surely His Highness would be tender and considerate when doing that.
Then she remembered—her mother had said she should act coquettishly during this.
She hadn’t acted coquettishly yet…
Wen Lier clung to Yan Shixu’s arm, swaying gently from side to side.
“Your Highness, I’ll lie still and let you move, but you must be gentle.”
Her voice was deliberately softened into a coquettish murmur, carrying the intimate familiarity she typically reserved for family. Her misty eyes gazed up at him with pleading tenderness.
Yan Shixu froze momentarily. He was no inexperienced youth.
Yet seeing her shy, nervous demeanor stirred an unexpected tension within him. This delicate, vulnerable version of her evoked profound tenderness.
He felt his throat grow dry, all rising heat surging toward one focal point. Stroking her hair, he rasped, “Very well, I shall be gentle.”
With those words, he removed the white jade hairpin from her tresses.
Her dark hair cascaded across the bedding like premium silk, carrying a subtle fragrance in the candlelight.
When Wen Lier looked up at him, her eyes resembled veiled mist behind translucent gauze. Yan Shixu leaned down to first press a kiss against her eyelid.
Her mind went blank, leaving her staring dazedly – truly intoxicated.
“You promised to be gentle. Liars become…” little dogs.
Her unfinished words dissolved between his lips. His kiss, though not forceful, left her breathless.
A flush spread across her face as she forgot how to breathe. Yan Shixu lifted slightly to give her space.
Gasping like a fish out of water, her chest heaved rapidly. He brushed aside the dark strands tangled at her neck, fingertips grazing skin pale as pear flesh. His gaze deepened like ink droplets spreading across parchment.
He descended again, trailing kisses from her cherry lips to the dimple beside her cheek – warm and lingering.
Eventually, his face buried in her neck. Wen Lier whimpered at the tickling sensation.
The seductive sound ignited roaring heat within the man. He sucked harder on her tender neck flesh, exhaling scorching breath.
“Make that sound again,” he commanded.
Bewildered, she asked, “Your Highness?”
Satisfied, his restrained passion erupted as he began conquering his territory with abandon.
Through their entanglement, her crabapple-red garments fell away layer by layer.
Finally, only a peeled Snow Pear remained displayed across the bed.
Her ink-black hair serpentined through brocade covers, luminous skin glowing in candlelight.
Yan Shixu lowered his head to leave faint teeth marks where he pleased.
Through tear-blurred eyes, she thought: You promised gentleness! Why bite? Deceiver!
Crimson waves continued rolling within the bed curtains.
When sharp pain struck, Wen Lier’s face paled drastically.
All remnants of drunkenness vanished.
Why had no one told her this act would hurt so… so intensely?
It continued until the late hours of the night, and Wen Lier felt as if her limbs had fallen apart.
She was so exhausted that she wished she could just close her eyes and fall into a deep sleep.
Not daring to urge him on, she could only silently repeat in her heart: Faster… faster… faster…