Сhарtеr 17: Forcеd tо Соnsummаte the Mаrriаge
Aftеr breakfаst, Хiао Lin finаllу left.
Сui Jin instаntlу wilted, уawning bеfore lуing dоwn on thе soft соuсh.
Ru Qiu massаgеd her tеmрlеs аnd аskеd sоftly, “Did thе Prinсеss Consort not slеeр well lаst night?”
“With а strоng, уoung man lуing beside mе, hоw соuld I havе the рeaсе оf mind tо slеeр?” Cui Jin’s voicе wаs tingеd with drоwsinеss.
It had been оvеr hаlf a mоnth, and thе fertility рill wаs slоwlу taking effесt.
On ordinаry daуs, it wаs mаnаgeаblе, but last night, with the darkness and a man bеside hеr, shе hаd tо сonstаntly supprеss the rеstlessnеss within her tо avoid pouncing on Xiao Lin.
Throughout the night, she only managed to sleep intermittently for an hour or two.
Ru Chun whispered, “This servant thinks that even if you had truly pounced on the Prince last night… he might not have refused.”
Who hadn’t noticed the burning look in his eyes when he gazed at Cui Jin last night?
Ru Qiu also smiled. “With our Princess Consort’s peerless beauty, if she were to truly lower herself, the Prince would surely be unable to resist, but that would inevitably seem beneath her.”
Cui Jin’s lips curved slightly. “If it’s gained too easily, or even effortlessly, how would he cherish it?”
“But…” she trailed off.
Ru Chun asked curiously, “But what?”
Cui Jin shook her head and sighed.
Xiao Lin’s physique was truly impressive… well-defined muscles, strong and powerful. She was afraid that the fertility pill would burn away her senses, making her lose control.
With that thought, she yawned again. “I’ll catch up on some sleep.”
Ru Chun carefully covered her with a blanket.
But before long, Cui Jin was awakened.
“Princess Consort, Consort Shu has sent someone,” Ru Chun said in a low voice. “They are waiting outside.”
Cui Jin rubbed her temples, quickly rinsed her mouth, changed clothes, and went to the outer room.
A plainly dressed matron stood in the center, curtsying to her. “This servant, Qiu Hua, pays respects to the Princess Consort.”
“Matron, there’s no need for such formality.” Cui Jin took the seat of honor and lightly scolded Ru Chun. “Why didn’t you invite the matron to sit? You seem to be losing your sense of propriety!”
Qiu Hua smiled in response. “The Princess Consort is the master, and this servant is a subordinate. Distinctions of rank should naturally be observed.”
Cui Jin exchanged pleasantries with her for a few moments before Qiu Hua stated her purpose. “Consort Shu is concerned about the Prince and Princess Consort and has specially sent this servant to check on you both. I’m afraid I’ll be troubling the Princess Consort for the next couple of days.”
Cui Jin looked surprised, appearing both flattered and overwhelmed. “Yesterday… we made a spectacle of ourselves. Her Highness herself has been placed under house arrest, yet she still worries about us…”
Tears welled in her eyes, filled with worry and gratitude.
Qiu Hua’s smile deepened as she gently comforted her before being settled in the Main Courtyard.
After she left, Ru Chun whispered, “Princess Consort, this is…”
“Consort Shu can no longer wait for the Prince and me to consummate our marriage at a slow, simmering pace,” Cui Jin said.
The fact that the marriage had not been consummated on the wedding night had long been reported to the palace. Consort Shu had not acted immediately, likely to preserve some dignity. But after yesterday’s uproar, which greatly embarrassed the Cui and Xie families, she naturally had to make her stance clear.
Moreover—Xiao Lin had no heirs, and recently, Prince Jin’s faction had been relentlessly targeting him. If he were to have a child, even just the news of a pregnancy, it would be enough to give him and his mother some breathing room.
Cui Jin narrowed her eyes.
After Qiu Hua settled in and came to the main room to serve, she proposed visiting the severely injured Lin Zhao on Consort Shu’s behalf.
Cui Jin naturally agreed and personally accompanied her to Pearl Jade Courtyard.
Coincidentally, as soon as they arrived outside Pearl Jade Courtyard, they saw several maids carrying sets of fine teacups and vases inside.
Ru Qiu explained, “Many teacups and vases were broken in Pearl Jade Courtyard last night. They must have gone to the storeroom to fetch new ones to replace them.”Qiu Hua smiled slightly. “From the looks of it, the Secondary Consort’s injuries don’t seem too severe.”
They entered the room, where Lin Zhao’s venomous gaze immediately pierced through Cui Jin.
Cui Jin expressed a few words of concern, and Qiu Hua also offered the customary greetings.
Finally, Qiu Hua stated her purpose: “Since the Secondary Consort has been lax in managing her subordinates, Consort Shu has sent this servant to urge you to thoroughly clean up Pearl Jade Courtyard. If you lack the ability, this servant can take care of it for you. Otherwise, losing face would be a minor matter, but implicating the Prince would be a grave one.”
Lin Zhao’s already pale face grew even paler.
Yesterday, Qing Xi had mocked her for her lax management, calling her incompetent, which had kept her awake half the night in anger. Today, Qiu Hua was trampling her dignity into the ground…
“No need to trouble yourself, Madam,” she said coldly. “I will certainly clean out all the disloyal people under my command.”
Qiu Hua gave a disdainful glance and responded lightly.
Cui Jin had no intention of staying long either. After sitting for a short while, she prepared to leave.
“The Prince stayed in the Main Courtyard last night. The Princess Consort must be very pleased, right?” Lin Zhao suddenly remarked.
“Recently, I haven’t been feeling well, and the Prince, out of concern for me, could only have the Princess Consort attend to him. Although he won’t consummate the marriage with you, for a secluded woman like you, lonely in the inner chambers, this should be considered a great favor.”
She looked at Cui Jin, a flash of coldness and hostility in her eyes. “Princess Consort, cherish this time while you can. After all, once I recover from my injuries, there will be no place for you in the Prince’s eyes.”
Cui Jin’s smile remained unchanged. “Then I wish the Secondary Consort a speedy recovery.”
Lin Zhao’s expression darkened.
The feeling of punching cotton was not pleasant.
Cui Jin had already left, her face beaming with a smile.
The more someone lacks something, the more they emphasize it.
It seemed that last night’s events had provoked Lin Zhao, giving her a sense of crisis, which was why she couldn’t resist asserting her dominance even with Qiu Hua present.
Lin Zhao was already in disarray.
It was time for her next move.
…
Upon returning to the residence, Xiao Lin learned of Qiu Hua’s presence.
But as she was sent by Consort Shu and would only be staying for a few days, he naturally couldn’t refuse.
By evening, Qiu Hua personally prepared their bed, offering a respectful bow. “This servant will be waiting outside. If the Prince or Princess Consort have any orders, feel free to call for me.”
With that, she withdrew.
Though few words were spoken, the underlying meaning—or rather, Consort Shu’s intention—was clear.
Xiao Lin frowned deeply, his expression grim.
No one would be pleased to be pressured like this.
But as his gaze swept over Cui Jin, he saw her sitting on the bed with a troubled expression, looking as if she were about to cry as she stared at the white cloth.
His voice grew low. “Are you so unwilling?”
Cui Jin was momentarily stunned, but her voice grew even more choked. “This concubine… does not wish for the Prince to suffer such humiliation, nor do I want you to regret it later…”
She turned away, wiping the corner of her eye.
The frustration in Xiao Lin’s heart instantly dissipated.
His tone softened considerably. “Enough. Mother Consort is just too anxious. Tonight…”
“Tonight, this concubine will help the Prince deceive Madam Qiu,” Cui Jin whispered, interrupting him.
Then, she tightly furrowed her brows, closed her eyes, and bit her finger.
A few drops of blood fell onto the white cloth, instantly spreading into a stain.
Xiao Lin instinctively grasped her hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
But looking into Cui Jin’s affectionate eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to speak harshly. “If you needed blood, I could have done it. Was it necessary for you to do this?”
Cui Jin remained silent.
Xiao Lin lowered his head—Cui Jin’s fingers were slender and fair, making the bite wound appear particularly conspicuous and somewhat pitiful.
Without thinking, he took her finger into his mouth to stop the bleeding.
Cui Jin looked surprised, but a faint blush spread across her cheeks.After several flickers of the candle flame, the bed curtains slowly fell.
Xiao Lin tightened his grip on her hand, his voice slightly hoarse: “Nanny Qiu is still outside, we need to make some noise…”
Cui Jin responded with a voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum.
The dim candlelight filtered through the bed curtains, illuminating her complexion, radiant as spring blossoms.
Xiao Lin’s breathing grew heavier, and without a second thought, he covered her lips with his own…