But Yanzhao knew that Shen Tinghe must be missing her family, so he summoned Madam Shen to the palace.
After breakfast, Xie Yanzhao went to the study to handle government affairs.
Not long afterward, Madam Shen was invited into the Eastern Palace.
The mother and daughter affectionately held hands as they sat together on the luohan couch by the window, which was covered with thick brocade cushions.
“Yuanyuan, how have you been these past few days in the palace?”
Madam Shen held her daughter’s hand and carefully examined her. Seeing that her complexion was rosy and that there was an unmistakable smile between her brows, the worry that had been weighing on her heart finally disappeared completely.
Shen Tinghe comfortably leaned against the soft cushions, one hand resting casually on the small table between them. Her tone was lazy and relaxed.
“Don’t worry, Mother. His Highness has been taking very good care of me.”
Hearing this, Madam Shen couldn’t help laughing. She tapped her daughter’s forehead.
“Only you would dare say something like that. Clearly, you should be the one taking care of His Highness the Crown Prince, yet somehow it has become him taking such good care of you.”
Shen Tinghe stuck out her tongue, completely unconcerned.
Madam Shen then asked worriedly, “And what about your wedding night? Did everything go smoothly? His Highness… has he treated you well?”
At the mention of this, a flush spread across Shen Tinghe’s cheeks. She lowered her head shyly.
“Mother, how can you even ask about this?”
“Silly girl, what are you embarrassed about in front of your mother?” Madam Shen held her hand and spoke earnestly.
“This concerns the future imperial heirs. Yuanyuan, only by giving birth to a prince as soon as possible can you truly establish your position and silence everyone’s mouths.”
Shen Tinghe knew that her mother was only concerned for her sake. Blushing furiously, she stammered softly,
“It was… it was quite good.”
“How good?” Madam Shen refused to let the matter go and pressed her for details.
“How many times did it happen?”
Shen Tinghe replied, “I don’t know… Anyway…”
“What?!” Madam Shen’s voice rose several notches in shock.
She really hadn’t expected that the Crown Prince, who usually appeared as gentle and refined as jade, would be so… enthusiastic in this regard.
It seemed that her previous worries had been unnecessary. Instead, there was another matter she needed to worry about.
Madam Shen’s expression turned serious. She leaned closer to her daughter and warned her,
“A-Yuan, listen to your mother. Although this is a good thing, there must also be moderation. Don’t agree to everything the Crown Prince wants. Your body belongs to you, so you must take better care of yourself.”
Shen Tinghe pouted aggrievedly and muttered softly,
“He wouldn’t listen. What could I do…”
Madam Shen felt both heartache and amusement. She patted the back of her daughter’s hand.
“All right, all right. Being able to conceive an imperial heir soon will be good for you as well. But remember, you must know when to stop.”
The mother and daughter continued chatting about family matters for quite some time. It was nearly noon before Madam Shen finally rose reluctantly to leave.
The candlelight swayed red, and the brocade bed curtains hung low.
Xie Yanzhao had originally wanted to carry Shen Tinghe into the bath with him, but she stopped him.
By the time she finished washing and returned to the bedside, Xie Yanzhao had already loosened his black hair and was leaning against the headboard.
When he saw her, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
“Yuanyuan…” His voice carried a restrained undercurrent of desire.
Shen Tinghe sat up and straddled his waist.
Her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, brushing across his chest.
“Mother said we need to know when to stop.”
Xie Yanzhao’s eyes darkened slightly. Concealing the desire surging within them, he let out a low laugh.
“But the way things are now, it seems more like Yuanyuan wants to do something to me.”
Shen Tinghe looked at his handsome face. Feeling the firm, warm muscles beneath her fingertips, she too found her thoughts beginning to wander.
She leaned down and kissed his lips, imitating the way he usually kissed her, tentatively licking and lightly nibbling.
But just as his breathing grew heavier, she suddenly pulled away, leaving him with nothing but her retreating back.
“That’s enough. Go to sleep.”
Xie Yanzhao moved closer from behind.
“Knowing when to stop doesn’t mean you have to become completely chaste, darling.”
…
“Mm~ Liar… Xie Yanzhao, you’re such a liar.”
Her sobbing mixed with soft, breathless sounds.
She tried to crawl away with both hands and feet, but he easily pulled her back into his arms.
Feeling his advances, she completely lost her strength and could only weakly cling to his shoulders.
“Calling the Crown Prince by his given name…” His voice was terribly hoarse. “I’m afraid my darling won’t be getting any sleep tonight.”
The sounds, sometimes hurried and sometimes drawn-out, slipped through the heavy curtains. Outside, the palace maids keeping watch at night all lowered their heads, their ears turning red.
After the storm had finally passed, Shen Tinghe couldn’t even be bothered to move her fingertips.
Xie Yanzhao pulled her onto his body and gently stroked her sweat-dampened back from time to time.
“Bad person…” she mumbled incoherently, her cheek pressed against his chest.
He chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head.
“Will you dare tease me like that next time?”
The only response was her steady, long breathing.
Shen Tinghe had already fallen deeply asleep from exhaustion.
Xie Yanzhao pulled the brocade quilt over the two of them, his fingertips idly twining around a strand of her long hair.
Outside the window, the moon shone brightly, its gentle, clear radiance spilling across the floor through the gauze curtains.
His Majesty’s birthday banquet, the Qianqiu Grand Banquet.
The golden hall was as bright as daylight, and the nine layers of palace halls were all enveloped in the magnificent celebration of His Majesty’s birthday.
Below the vermilion steps, the assembled officials stood solemnly in neat ceremonial attire according to their ranks.
The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments arose, the chimes rang with clear, melodious tones, and the musical performances of the Imperial Music Bureau were as ethereal as the forms of celestial beings.
Yet the gazes of most people lingered around the side of the imperial steps.
The Crown Prince, Xie Yanzhao, and Crown Princess Shen Tinghe sat side by side beneath His Majesty.
Xie Yanzhao wore a black ceremonial robe embroidered with golden coiling dragons, his bearing dignified and composed.
Shen Tinghe, meanwhile, wore a red palace gown embroidered with golden phoenixes. Her cloud-like hair was swept into a high coiffure, and the pearl-adorned phoenix hairpin shimmered with a warm, lustrous glow beneath the candlelight.
Someone couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. No wonder the Shen family’s young lady was known as the pearl of the capital.
Shen Tinghe possessed a beauty that could captivate the soul with just one glance, yet was so dazzling that people almost dared not look at her for too long.
Her skin was smooth and radiant, her figure slender and well-proportioned. Her bearing possessed both the ethereal delicacy of a young woman and, tempered by her status, a noble elegance that seemed beyond anyone’s reach.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her posture dignified and graceful. The only sign of intimacy, imperceptible to outsiders, was the hand she had quietly clasped with Xie Yanzhao’s beneath their wide sleeves.
As the banquet reached its liveliest point, Shen Tinghe had just lifted the jade cup in front of her when a well-defined hand gently pressed down on her wrist.
“You’ve already had three cups.”
Xie Yanzhao’s voice was deep, audible only to the two of them.
“Another one and you’ll have a headache tomorrow.”
Shen Tinghe parted her red lips, wanting to argue, but ultimately remembered where they were. She merely pouted slightly and placed the wine cup back on the table.
She then picked up her silver chopsticks and reached toward a delicate plate of Qiutang pastries, only to be stopped once again.
“Yuanyuan, you shouldn’t eat too many sweets at night. Otherwise, you’ll have trouble sleeping again.”
The fake smile on Shen Tinghe’s face was almost impossible to maintain.
She secretly slipped her hand beneath the table, accurately locating Xie Yanzhao’s thigh, and ruthlessly pinched it.
He wouldn’t let her drink this, and he wouldn’t let her eat that. What fun was there left in this banquet?
Xie Yanzhao’s expression didn’t change, but a trace of amusement flashed through his eyes. He caught her mischievous hand and interlocked their fingers.
“Be good, darling.”
His lips were almost touching her earlobe.
“If you eat too much and feel uncomfortable at night, you’ll just end up bullying me again.”
Shen Tinghe secretly glared at him.
Who was bullying whom?
Although their gestures were subtle, the two of them were unLady Doubtedly the most eye-catching couple at the banquet.
Quite a few officials noticed the scene, secretly astonished.