He turned his head and, sure enough, saw that Shen Tinghe was still fast asleep.
She was curled up beside him like a docile little cat, her long black hair spread across the pillow. Xie Yanzhao’s heart instantly softened.
He sat up, his sleeping robe hanging open, revealing his collarbones and well-defined chest, with several ambiguous red marks still visible on his skin.
He lifted the bed curtain, his gaze falling toward the bedside.
The phoenix candle on the right had long since burned out, while the dragon candle on the left was still stubbornly flickering with a faint little flame, its light appearing and disappearing.
Xie Yanzhao waved his hand, and the last glimmer of the dragon candle went out as well.
His gaze fell upon Shen Tinghe’s sleeping face, becoming exceptionally gentle and filled with tenderness.
This was fine too. His darling had fallen asleep first. Otherwise, he would not feel at ease entrusting her to anyone else.
When Shen Tinghe woke up, it was already 2:00 p.m. She felt sore all over.
Especially around her waist and hips, which were terribly achy and weak, making her unable to suppress a soft hiss of pain.
That faint sound immediately alerted the people waiting outside the door.
With a soft creak, the door was gently pushed open. Qingyu, Qingxu, and two other personal maids entered one after another.
Following them were several palace maids carrying a copper basin, towels, soapberries, and other washing supplies, as well as others carrying clean clothes and jewelry boxes.
Qingyu carefully walked to the bedside and lifted the hanging curtain.
“Is the Crown Princess awake?” Qingyu asked in an extremely soft voice.
“Would you like to wash up now?”
Shen Tinghe said nothing. She merely blinked tiredly, her gaze sweeping over the sleeping robe she was wearing.
That beast Xie Yanzhao… At least he had remembered to put clothes on her.
With the palace maids half-supporting her, she sat up and leaned against the soft pillows piled against the headboard, feeling completely weak.
Qingxu brought over warm water and served her while she washed, while Qingyu stood beside her, gently combing through her slightly disheveled long hair.
After washing up, Shen Tinghe asked everyone else to leave, keeping only Qingyu and Qingxu behind.
She took the cup of warm water Qingyu handed her and took a sip before asking hoarsely, “Where is His Highness?”
“After you fell asleep, His Highness stayed here the entire time. He didn’t leave your side for even a moment,” Qingyu replied.
“It wasn’t until a quarter of an hour ago, when Lord Lin came to see him with an urgent matter, that His Highness went to the study.”
“The study…” Shen Tinghe murmured, and then her mind suddenly went blank as she remembered something.
“Oh no! What time is it now? We were supposed to go pay our respects to Father Emperor today.”
Qingxu hurriedly said, “His Highness has already sent someone to report to His Majesty. His Highness said that the Crown Princess should rest peacefully and not worry.”
Shen Tinghe leaned against the headboard. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She grabbed Xie Yanzhao’s pillow and threw it out.
“Hmph!” She turned her face away. “When he comes back, don’t let him in!”
Beast! Hungry wolf!
As soon as she finished speaking, a steady set of footsteps sounded outside. The door was pushed open, and a tall, upright figure walked in.
Today, Xie Yanzhao was dressed in a stone-blue casual robe, his ink-black hair tied up. His handsome features remained as striking as ever, though there seemed to be a little more softness between his brows than usual.
At a glance, he spotted the pillow on the floor, then looked at his puffed-up wife on the bed. The corners of his lips curved into a meaningful smile.
He slowly approached, his deep, pleasant voice carrying a hint of teasing.
“Who is my darling angry with? And whom are you refusing to let in?”
Shen Tinghe ignored him.
Xie Yanzhao wasn’t annoyed either. He walked straight to the bedside and took the bowl from Qingyu’s hands before instructing them, “You two may leave first.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Qingyu and Qingxu exchanged a glance, bowed, and withdrew, gently closing the door behind them.
Only the two of them remained in the room.
Xie Yanzhao wrapped his arms around Shen Tinghe, blankets and all, pulling her into his embrace so that she could comfortably lean against his chest.
He picked up the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of warm porridge, and brought it to her lips.
“Good girl. Have some porridge first to fill your stomach.”
Shen Tinghe squirmed restlessly. “I don’t want you to hold me.”
“Listen to me. After you finish eating, I still need to apply some medicine for you.”
Shen Tinghe had very little strength to begin with. Now that he was holding her firmly, she could only obediently listen and open her mouth to eat the spoonful of porridge.
“You’re a bad person,” she muttered as she ate in small bites, her voice muffled and indistinct.
“Mm, I am a bad person,” Xie Yanzhao readily agreed, feeding her another spoonful. “Come, have another bite.”
“You only know how to bully me,” Shen Tinghe continued to complain, her eyes turning slightly red.
But this time, Xie Yanzhao refused to admit it.
“I’m clearly doting on you. After all these years… I gave everything to my darling, and yet I’m still being accused of wrongdoing. Wasn’t your husband attentive enough last night?”
Shen Tinghe glared at him, both embarrassed and annoyed.
“It wasn’t comfortable afterward! I told you to stop, but you wouldn’t listen. You only know how to… how to…”
Seeing her adorable expression, Xie Yanzhao’s heart softened. He put down the bowl, cupped her face in his hands, and gently kissed her lips.
He softly reassured her, “Tonight, I promise I’ll be gentler. All right?”
“No more tonight!” Shen Tinghe immediately protested like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
After saying that, she pulled the blanket over herself and buried her entire body underneath it, as though there were some terrifying beast outside.
Xie Yanzhao took off his outer robe and climbed onto the bed as well, reaching out to lower the bed curtain.
Hearing him get onto the bed, Shen Tinghe couldn’t help but shrink backward.
“R-right now… it’s still… daytime…”
Xie Yanzhao gently stroked her little face with a pained expression.
“I won’t touch you. Come here. Your husband will apply the medicine for you.”
Last night had been his first time in twenty-four years, and the woman he had married was the one he loved. He really had been unable to restrain himself.
He had gone too far and frightened his darling.
Shen Tinghe awkwardly turned her face away, which counted as tacit consent.
Xie Yanzhao knelt beside her and leisurely untied the sash at her waist.
Shen Tinghe instinctively reached out to stop him.
“Is… is this really necessary? Do you really have to… apply the medicine like this?”
Xie Yanzhao’s eyes were as deep as the night. He took her cool little hand, brought it to his lips, and gently kissed it.
“That’s right. Wherever my darling hurts the most, that’s where the medicine needs to be applied. Be good. I’ll be gentle.”
Shen Tinghe looked at his serious expression and hesitated for a moment. In the end, she released her hand and buried her face in the pillow.
Seeing her lying there so obediently, Xie Yanzhao felt his throat tighten.
He lifted her slender, fair legs and rested them against his waist. The delicate, smooth sensation beneath his hands made him reluctant to let go, and he couldn’t help caressing them for a moment before picking up the medicine box beside him.
He pinched a small amount of the glistening ointment between two fingers and slowly applied it.
“Mm…” Shen Tinghe’s body arched, and she let out a soft, strained moan. “Brother…”
Looking at the sight before him, Xie Yanzhao couldn’t help swallowing. His gaze darkened, with a hint of deep red hidden within his eyes.
“Brother is here… Be good, Yuanyuan.”
His fingers moved forward with difficulty, carefully making sure the medicine reached every painful spot.
Throughout the entire process, Shen Tinghe kept her body tense. From time to time, she let out one or two suppressed little whimpers, tears soaking into the pillow.
After finally finishing, Xie Yanzhao helped her straighten her clothes.
Seeing her red-rimmed eyes and the tears still clinging to the corners of them, his heart ached terribly. He bent down and pulled her into his arms.
Shen Tinghe raised both arms and wrapped them around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck as she murmured coquettishly,
“Hold me”
Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly, letting out a satisfied sigh as he patted her back and whispered soothingly,
“Do you feel a little better now?”
Shen Tinghe murmured, “Mm…”
The medicine was cool and soothing, and it had indeed relieved the discomfort considerably.
Clutching the front of his robe, she asked, “Do we really not have to go pay our respects to Father Emperor today?”
Xie Yanzhao replied, “No. Father Emperor usually keeps to himself, and he doesn’t care about these formalities.”
Ever since the late Empress passed away, Xie Yanzhao’s relationship with His Majesty had grown increasingly distant and cold.
Moreover, the one who currently held the phoenix seal was Consort Ming. In Xie Yanzhao’s eyes, those people were simply unworthy of having his darling go and pay her respects to them.
Hearing him say this, Shen Tinghe didn’t ask any further.
From childhood to adulthood, relying on Xie Yanzhao had become a habit for her. If he said there was nothing to worry about, then there truly was nothing to worry about.
At this moment, physical exhaustion and mental relaxation intertwined, and a heavy wave of sleepiness swept over her once again.
She gave a small yawn and found the most comfortable position in his arms, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier.
“Sleepy?” Xie Yanzhao lowered his head and kissed the crown of her hair.
“Mm…” Shen Tinghe answered vaguely, her consciousness gradually becoming hazy.
Holding the warm, soft body in his arms, Xie Yanzhao wore a satisfied and tender smile.
He closed his eyes as well, savoring this rare moment of peace and warmth.