Ji Yanche’s hand gently caressed Meng Qing’s face, his voice deep and hoarse as if he were enduring something to the absolute limit.
Expecting him to be frightened, Meng Qing instead smiled sweetly upon hearing this: “Alright, as long as I can be with Husband, I am willing no matter what.”
Ji Yanche’s free hand suddenly tightened, veins bulging on the back of his hand, while the other hand resting against Meng Qing’s cheek continued to stroke him tenderly.
The world saw only his facade of gentleness and courtesy, remaining unaware of how well he had hidden the ugliness and darkness within his heart. Yet now, this desire buried deep in the abyss of his soul was poured entirely onto Meng Qing. Even when this dark side was placed nakedly before Meng Qing, the other accepted it gladly and responded with a smile, as if kissing scars that could never be shown to others.
Such a pure Meng Qing was his beloved, his wife, and the person who would walk hand in hand with him through a lifetime.
He would never let go, even if it meant using the most extreme methods to bind Meng Qing firmly by his side.
As night just fell and the brilliant lanterns were lit, the imperial palace instantly illuminated with a resplendent glow. Above the palace walls, red lanterns hung high, complementing the fluttering silk and satin, filled with an air of celebration and royal grandeur.
Outside the palace gates, carriages parked in an orderly fashion as imperial relatives and court officials arrived successively. Everyone exchanged pleasantries while casting casual, discreet glances about, seemingly all waiting for the appearance of the Prince of Ning and the Prince Consort.
They were all intensely curious about what this destined, bad-luck-dispelling “Prince Consort of Ning” actually looked like.
“I imagine his looks should be decent, but I doubt they’ll be exceptionally stunning. After all, he comes from the countryside, so that earthy aura on him is probably hard to eradicate,” an official lowered his voice, speaking with a slightly disdainful expression to the person beside him.
“Hush, keep your voice down, this is the palace.” His wife hurriedly reminded him out loud, before she too couldn’t help joining in the gossip: “Yet His Highness the Prince of Ning seems extremely attentive toward him. When he was kidnapped back then, the Prince of Ning practically turned Beijing upside down.”
“Hmph, I doubt it, maybe it’s just a fleeting novelty,” the official curled his lip, looking entirely unconvinced.
Curiosity and suspicion ran endless, mostly consisting of groundless speculations about Meng Qing’s mediocre appearance and boorish character, as if they had truly witnessed them with their own eyes.
Right at that moment, a carriage with the grand character “Ning” engraved on its body drove up slowly and stopped steadily, it was the carriage of the Prince of Ning’s estate!
In an instant, everyone unconsciously slowed their pace, turning their heads sideways with derisive and mocking expressions on their faces, preparing to see whether this Prince Consort of Ning was truly as unbearable as they had guessed.
The first to step down from the carriage was the Prince of Ning, clad in an ink-blue brocade robe with his hair bound high in a crown, possessing sword-like brows and starry eyes, scanning his surroundings with a completely expressionless face that radiated the supreme majesty and cold detachment of those in power.
The carriage curtain was lifted once again, and everyone present held their breath; many even stopped walking entirely to turn and watch.
They saw that the previously ice-cold Prince of Ning instantly softened his expression, his gaze turning tender and focused while a subtle, faint smile hung at the corners of his lips. He raised his hand slightly to gesture toward the person about to step down.
A fair, slender hand rested gently upon the Prince of Ning’s palm, clear-knuckled and white as jade with fingertips flushed a faint pink, attached to a slender wrist where an ice-blue jade bracelet was completely eclipsed in comparison. This single hand alone was enough to set people’s imaginations running wild.
The figure slowly stepped down from the carriage, and upon seeing his face, everyone gasped in unison as their breath hitched instantly.
A palm-sized delicate face with vividly stunning features, looking so alluring yet blessed with a pair of lively, spirited eyes that naturally drew affection at a glance.
“So beautiful.” It was the same official from earlier, who was now staring with fixed eyes, muttering involuntarily to himself while subconsciously taking a step toward Meng Qing.
Suddenly, Ji Yanche’s gaze shot toward him like a sharp blade, icy and vicious, filled with a silent warning.
The man shuddered violently, only then realizing in a panic that he had actually harbored improper thoughts toward the Prince of Ning’s person. Seized by a sudden sense of impending doom, cold sweat instantly drenched his back as he hurriedly dragged his wife away in hasty retreat.
Ji Yanche was filled with surging irritation at this moment; ever since Meng Qing stepped out of the carriage, he had noticed almost everyone’s gazes landing uninhibitedly upon Meng Qing.
Naked, filthy, and brimming with desire.
The dark emotions that Meng Qing had just pacified a moment earlier surged back to the surface of his heart, and he wished he could carve out those people’s eyes, anyone who dared to covet Meng Qing deserved to die.
“It hurts… Wenjin, what’s wrong with you?” Meng Qing looked at Ji Yanche with worry, his brows still carrying a trace of pain.
As it turned out, Ji Yanche had been too furious and unconsciously tightened his grip, squeezing Meng Qing’s wrist until it ached. Hearing the voice, Ji Yanche snapped out of it abruptly and released his hand immediately. Sure enough, obvious red finger marks had already been left on Meng Qing’s tender white wrist, looking startling enough that an uninformed observer would think the Prince of Ning privately abused his wife.
“I’m sorry Qingqing, does it hurt a lot?” Ji Yanche frowned, his eyes filled with self-reproach and heartache. “Chenbi, fetch the medicine.”
“It’s fine, it just looks serious, Husband you.”
Something felt off. Ji Yanche was acting so bizarrely tonight; he could clearly sense the man was in a foul mood, yet without knowing why, he couldn’t help feeling a measure of worry.
“Wenjin, don’t be unhappy.” Meng Qing clasped Ji Yanche’s hand in return, speaking each word with earnest sincerity: “I will stay with you.”
A restless, agitated heart was instantly placated, and Ji Yanche smiled softly.
“Alright, Qingqing will stay with me always.”
Everyone took their seats successively, and the palace banquet officially commenced. Inside the grand hall, music and dance proceeded in peace, the sounds of string and wind instruments interweaving and echoing in a lively, jubilant celebration.
The civil and military officials along with the imperial relatives all attended in strict accordance with protocol, competing to present gifts to the imperial family, all hoping to win a measure of favor from the Emperor and Empress during this New Year festival.
“Husband, this soup is delicious.”
Under the cover of the table, Meng Qing tugged gently at Ji Yanche’s sleeve and whispered.
Ji Yanche’s hand resting on his knee naturally pinched Meng Qing’s fingers with a familiar and intimate motion, while his other hand quietly pushed his own bowl of soup across toward Meng Qing, lowering his voice: “If Qingqing likes it, whenever you want to drink it in the future, just tell the imperial chefs to come to the Prince of Ning’s estate and make it for you.”
Hearing this, Meng Qing couldn’t help letting out a soft chuckle, poking Ji Yanche’s palm and chiding coquettishly: “Why are you so domineering?”
“Who made my wife like it?” The corners of Ji Yanche’s lips curled upward into a doting smile as he proceeded to pin down Meng Qing’s restless hand.
While the front of the hall remained solemn and dignified, the two of them whispering and rubbing temples so intimately below the dais was caught entirely in the eyes of someone sitting opposite them. A flash of jealousy and hatred crossed that person’s eyes, and he clenched his fists tightly, wishing he could tear Meng Qing limb from limb.