About a quarter of an hour passed.
The rocking sound gradually subsided.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, it stopped.
Xiao Chengyan, staring at the bed canopy: “…”
Lin Nong was a modern woman who had been in relationships, read books, raised puppies, and trained hounds. How could she not understand his reactions and thoughts?
She turned over lightly, her back facing him.
Such a pretentious man.
Heh!
“Wangye, please rest early.”
Xiao Chengyan gave a deep “en.”
The two fell silent.
In no more than a dozen breaths, he heard the woman beside him breathing evenly.
She had actually fallen asleep!
He had thought she would make some small moves, more or less, but he never expected her to fall asleep so peacefully.
Although he wanted her to be well-behaved, he was a grand Qinwang, with handsome looks and an extraordinary air. How could she just ignore him?
Xiao Chengyan was vexed. “…”
The night was very still.
Unconsciously, Xiao Chengyan drifted off to sleep.
In a hazy state, he felt a source of heat press against his body.
He was incredibly annoyed.
He wanted to push it away.
But he couldn’t open his eyes, and his body wouldn’t obey him. He couldn’t muster any strength, as if he were experiencing sleep paralysis, his limbs pinned down.
The sensation under his palm was soft and smooth, and a delicate fragrance vied to drill into his nostrils…
He felt his body react.
His mind’s desperate struggle finally allowed him to open his eyes.
Anger flared in his heart.
Just as he was about to erupt, he found that there was no one on top of him, nor even beside him.
Someone was speaking outside the brocade curtains, their voice very soft.
“Why are you up?”
He recognized the voice of the maidservant who had been “whimpering and whining” earlier.
Lin Nong’s reply followed, weary and troubled.
“I can’t sleep. He keeps squeezing over, and there’s nowhere for me to move! If he suddenly wakes up and sees me pressed up against him, he’ll probably think I’m trying to seduce him on purpose!”
The maidservant snorted coldly. “One look at where you’re lying would show that he’s the one crowding you. How could he have any reason to blame you!”
Xiao Chengyan silently turned his head.
He saw that he had indeed slept almost exactly where she was supposed to be.
If she hadn’t left, the two of them would have been pressed tightly together.
So, was he just dreaming earlier?
“…”
Lin Nong gave a bitter smile. “With his status and looks, countless women must have thrown themselves at him in the past. He probably has a poor impression of any woman other than the Wangfei. And of all people, the Empress had to choose me to enter the manor…”
“He must have secretly labeled me as a woman full of schemes, skilled in the art of seduction. That’s why he didn’t give me a pleasant look the moment he entered the bridal chamber.”
“He already said such harsh things. How could I not keep my distance from him?”
Her voice was soft and gentle, yet held a considerable amount of pride.
It was likely a confidence born from being cherished like a pearl by the Lin family.
Xiao Chengyan hadn’t expected this seemingly gentle and weak little woman to have such a proud temperament!
He also found her words somewhat grating.
She made him sound like someone who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong!
This little woman was infuriating!
Lin Nong’s gaze swept coolly over the large red brocade curtains. In the light of the red candles, she lazily raised an eyebrow.
She was deliberately saying this for that dog of a man to hear!
Putting on an act.
Who didn’t know how!
…
Early the next morning.
Xiao Chengyan’s head was a bit fuzzy.
He hadn’t slept soundly at all during the latter half of the night!
He lifted the brocade curtains and got out of bed.
Unfortunately, he happened to see Lin Nong changing her clothes.
The conservative nightgown slipped from her shoulders, revealing a large expanse of smooth skin. Her figure was exquisite, and there were pinch marks on her wrist, likely from when he had pinched her in his dream last night… For a moment, a wave of heat surged in his throat.
He went to the table and poured a cup.
Only after downing a cup of cold water on a winter morning did he feel better.
Just then, the dowry maid, Song Momo, hurried in to report, “A head palace maid from Her Majesty the Empress’s side has come to collect the Xi Pa.”
They hadn’t consummated the marriage, so where would the Xi Pa come from!
Lin Nong approached him, apologized, and took his hand. A sharp blade sliced across the pad of his finger.
Blood seeped out, dripping onto a snow-white handkerchief.
“This drop of blood is Wangye’s consideration for your servant, and naturally, it is also a sign of your deep love for the Wangfei.”
Xiao Chengyan understood and did not blame her. “This Wang knows.”
Song Momo went to the table, poured a few drops of water into her palm, then returned to the window and dripped the water onto the bloodstain.
The bright red blood diffused, its color fading considerably.
Lin Nong was puzzled. “Momo, what are you doing?”
Song Momo looked at her clear, cool eyes and coughed lightly. “A lady’s blood on her first night is diluted by the bodily fluids during intimacy. It won’t be bright red!”
She glanced at Xiao Chengyan, her expression quite displeased.
Their master was such a fine lady, yet she was scorned on her wedding night. It was simply detestable!
But her master had instructed her beforehand to make sure everything looked right for the Empress, so she had no choice but to cooperate.
Xiao Chengyan: “…”
A blush flew across Lin Nong’s snow-white face.
She gently turned away.
As they were speaking, the head palace maid entered with a smile to offer her greetings. “Congratulations to Your Highness and Lin Niangniang! This servant has come on Her Majesty the Empress’s order to collect the Xi Pa.”
Lin Nong stood beside Xiao Chengyan, the blush on her face yet to fade, looking exceedingly shy.
It was a perfect portrayal of a newlywed woman.
The head palace maid glanced at the Xi Pa, her face beaming with joy. She immediately placed the handkerchief into a brocade box and said to Xiao Chengyan, “Her Majesty the Empress will be very pleased.”
Xiao Chengyan breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Nong gave a look.
Song Momo immediately handed over a heavy purse. “Thank you for your trouble in making this trip.”
The head palace maid happily accepted it, took her leave, and departed.
Xiao Chengyan seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to leave.
Lin Nong watched his departing back, the corner of her lips curling up.
Let’s see just how long the two of you can remain so deeply in love!
After tidying up, she went to the main courtyard.
She had clearly gained nothing, yet she still had to pay respects as a concubine. What a loss!
When the maidservants of the main courtyard saw her arrive, every one of them had a long face, as if she were some vixen who had stolen their mistress’s husband.
Lin Nong remained unaffected and entered the main hall.
The Zhengfei, Zi Sangli, sat in the main seat, putting on the arrogant air of a principal wife.
Lin Nong offered the tea.
The teacup brought by the maid was like it had been boiled in scalding water.
It was scorching hot.
Lin Nong accepted it steadily.
“Wangfei, please have some tea.”
Zi Sangli naturally wouldn’t take the scalding cup. She just left her hanging there, sizing her up from head to toe.
Her waist was cinched so tightly it looked like it could be encircled in one hand. The light gauze of her outer robe flowed gracefully with her movements. The long tassels hanging from the hairpin at her temple were adorned with pomegranate-seed rubies, symbolizing fertility, casting a thin pink mist on her beautiful little face, making her ethereally beautiful.
Her own looks were far inferior to hers!
And her husband, who had clearly promised he would never do that kind of thing with another woman, had actually broken his promise last night and stayed elsewhere!
The more Zi Sangli looked at her, the more furious she became.
She wished she could smash everything around her and drive Lin Nong out of the princely manor!
But she also knew that without an heir, even if she drove one away, a second and a third would follow.
Lin Nong was in no hurry, holding the cup in a perfectly proper manner.
As she had expected.
The cup wasn’t filled with boiling water; only the cup itself had been boiled in it.
It cooled down after a short while.
If she had dropped the teacup just now, with so many eyes watching from inside and out, and the water showing no steam, they would only think she was deliberately putting on a show to frame the matriarch!
Lin Nong was slightly surprised.
She hadn’t expected the other party to reveal her viciousness so early in the plot.
But she was quite clever, at least.
Zi Sangli suppressed her temper with all her might, took the tea, and took a perfunctory sip.
She called for a reward to be given.
Lin Nong saw that the reward was extremely valuable.
It was a show for Xiao Chengyan.
It was also a show for the Empress.
Therefore, she was certain that as long as she could endure and not fall for her schemes, Zi Sangli wouldn’t dare to do anything to her openly, unless she wanted to make her relationship with the Empress even more strained.
Zi Sangli waved her hand. “You may rise!”
A maidservant came forward to help Lin Nong up.
Lin Nong clutched her abdomen and frowned slightly.
Zi Sangli’s personal maidservant said snidely, “We know the Wangye stayed with you last night, but there’s no need to put on such a weary act! If you offend the Wangfei, the Wangye will not be pleased!”