The night before her wedding, Yao Huang's mind ran wild with a bunch of random thoughts, such as whether Prince Hui could still have children, and whether Prince Hui would kiss her on the lips.
For a man she had only met briefly during the draft selection, hugging and holding might be fine, but suddenly kissing on the lips felt quite off-putting to Yao Huang at the time.
After they actually got married, Yao Huang realized that Prince Hui was a very aloof person. Aside from doing what a newlywed couple should do at night, Prince Hui was extremely strict about rules during the day. Even if she just gave him a quick peck on the cheek, she would be reprimanded with a stern "Do not be insolent."
When the two grew familiar with each other and could be affectionate day and night, Prince Hui still would not kiss her on the lips. Yao Huang truly understood then; Prince Hui was probably disgusted by her saliva, just as she would be disgusted by others'. From then on, Yao Huang never thought about kissing again. After all, not kissing didn't hinder their true pleasure.
But today, Prince Hui had personally said that he didn't find her disgusting. He had even eaten her leftover hawthorn fruit, showing such a reserved yet seductive expression!
Thinking of this, Yao Huang rolled over to avoid letting Prince Hui notice that she was harboring indecent thoughts.
Holding a storybook, Prince Hui glanced at the princess's turned back, realizing that she didn't have any intentions. Now she was sleepy and going to rest.
The osmanthus candy in his mouth had only melted on the outside. Since the princess was asleep, Zhao Sui didn't need to worry about whether to eat it quickly or slowly. He continued to hold it motionless in his mouth, skimming through the storybook in front of him.
Yao Huang's eyes were wide open, and she could hear the faint rustling of Prince Hui turning the pages.
Yao Huang suddenly felt a bit angry. In the carriage that morning, especially right before they got off, she could feel Prince Hui staring at her lips, his breathing growing ragged. After lunch, her invitation for a nap was full of hints, and he had agreed with profound meaning, clearly understanding her intentions. Why was he eating a piece of candy so slowly right now?
It was such a small piece of candy; couldn't he just chew it a couple of times and swallow it?
Feeling both hot and restless, Yao Huang became thirsty.
She sat up, glaring at Prince Hui when he looked over, then moved to the edge of the bed and lowered her head to put on her shoes.
Zhao Sui put down his book and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping?"
Too lazy to deal with him, Yao Huang walked over to the table. With her back to Prince Hui, she poured herself a bowl of warm water. Her moistened lips and tongue were cleansed of the sweet stickiness left by the osmanthus candy, becoming fresh and crisp, which also slightly suppressed the restlessness in her heart.
Yao Huang took another sip.
After drinking, she glanced at the osmanthus candies on the table and smiled. Carrying the small plate back to the bed, she deliberately placed it on Prince Hui's wheelchair and said gently, "Your Highness, take your time eating. There's more here when you're done."
Zhao Sui: "..."
As a prince who had been adept at reading people's expressions since he was three or four years old, Zhao Sui saw very clearly that the princess was blaming him for wasting too much time on the osmanthus candy.
So, the princess indeed had an ulterior motive.
Zhao Sui put down the storybook in his hand, stopped the princess as she prepared to get into bed, and said, "Pour me a bowl of water."
The osmanthus candy in Prince Hui's mouth was only the size of a peanut now, but it still somewhat affected his articulation.
Yao Huang glared at him again, cooperatively going to pour water for the mobility-impaired Prince Hui.
Standing by the bed, she watched Prince Hui lower his head to drink water, watching his Adam's apple bob noticeably. But since drinking water was always like this, Yao Huang didn't pay it much mind. She turned around and placed the teacup on the low cabinet across the floor, climbed into bed, deliberately lay down on the innermost side, and tucked the blankets tightly around herself.
Just as she tucked herself in, the blanket was pulled open, and Prince Hui embraced her from behind.
Yao Huang turned her head, looking at him strangely. "Your Highness has finished the candy?"
Prince Hui simply hummed in agreement.
Yao Huang's gaze involuntarily fell on his lips.
The princess looking there further confirmed the suspicion that had surfaced in Zhao Sui's mind when he saw the osmanthus candy upon entering the room. His heartbeat quickened, and his gaze also swept across the princess's lips.
Being this close, neither could fail to notice the other's gaze.
After all, it was a new experience she hadn't tried before. Yao Huang's entire body heated up. She lowered her eyelashes and softly expressed her doubt, "How come I didn't hear you chew?"
Prince Hui didn't want to explain.
Yao Huang figured it out herself. When she looked at Prince Hui again, her eyes were full of smiles. "Did Your Highness swallow it when you drank the water?"
Prince Hui didn't want to answer and closed his eyes.
Yao Huang turned completely around, scooting up a bit. Looking at Prince Hui's reverting reserved demeanor, she slipped her right hand between his neck and the pillow, looped her left hand over, and pressed against his face, asking, "Since Your Highness isn't disgusted by my saliva, why have you never kissed me before?"
Zhao Sui couldn't explain.
Yao Huang didn't really care about the answer either. Pressing her whole body against his, her face felt like it was burning. "Then does Your Highness want to kiss me?"
Zhao Sui opened his eyes.
Yao Huang nervously closed hers, only continuing to hug his neck, her face still pressed against Prince Hui's.
Zhao Sui tightened his grip on her waist and said hoarsely, "I haven't tried this before. I'm not sure if you can accept it."
Consummating a marriage was almost an instinct for every man, requiring no teaching. Kissing, however, was different; it seemed to lack purpose, so there were no specific rules to follow.
Yao Huang harrumphed. "You say that as if I've tried it. I only had this thought because I saw how nice Your Highness's lips look."
Zhao Sui: "...I didn't mean to doubt you."
Yao Huang covered his mouth.
Zhao Sui then grasped her wrist, letting the princess's slender fingers get used to his lips and tongue first.
Yao Huang had already experienced this once before. Feeling both shy and peculiar, when she couldn't bear it and tried to burrow into Prince Hui's chest, Prince Hui suddenly half-pressed down on her. He started kissing her from her neck, forcing her to tilt her chin up, and kissed his way to the corner of her lips.
Having been married for so long, Yao Huang felt that today was the closest she had ever been to Prince Hui. Even on those nights when Prince Hui supported his weight on his elbows above her, even when she tightly hooked her arms around his neck and Prince Hui panted restrainedly by her ear or against her forehead, the two of them had never been as close as they were at this moment. It was like another kind of consummation.
Sleeping on, Yao Huang woke up thirsty. She turned around to find no one beside her, and the room was completely dark.
For a brief moment, Yao Huang couldn't tell if it was evening or the next morning, until she saw the osmanthus candies that had been placed back on the table outside the bed curtains at some unknown point.
Her body felt soft and limp. Too lazy to move, Yao Huang called Aji to come in and pour her some water.
Aji first lit a lamp, then carried a teacup into the bed curtains. Inside the warm space enveloped by two layers of curtains, a faint sweet scent of osmanthus drifted in the air. Mixed into that sweet fragrance was another scent that none of the four senior maids found unfamiliar.
As the princess drank her water, Aji casually lifted the two layers of bed curtains.
Having moistened her throat, Yao Huang lay back down on the pillow and asked, "When did His Highness leave?"
Aji replied, "About two quarters of an hour ago? His Highness also slept a bit longer today."
Having been on duty continuously for more than two months, it was a rare day off. The four senior maids could all understand Prince Hui occasionally sleeping in. As for the princess, they were used to her sleeping in as late as she pleased.
Yao Huang gritted her teeth. Prince Hui might usually be reserved, but once he started, he was like a completely different person. All his restraint and consideration were thrown out the window; he simply had to squeeze out every last drop of her tears.
She touched her lips. They still felt a bit swollen, and even pressing a teacup against them felt strange.
Aji noticed the princess consort's movements, leaned in for a closer look, and said in shock, Why are your lips so red, Your Highness? It looks like you just ate a spicy hotpot.
Hearing this, Yao Huang's stomach rumbled twice.
Aji quickly helped her get out of bed and dress.
Outside, the cold wind howled. Just as Yao Huang was about to put on her cloak, Prince Hui was pushed over by Qingai. Standing in the inner room, Yao Huang heard Prince Hui say to Qingai, Tell the kitchen to deliver dinner here.
Aji heard it too and whispered with a smile, His Highness must know that you just woke up and is worried you might catch a chill going out.
Since the prince had arrived, Aji put away the princess consort's cloak and retreated outside alongside Chunyan.
Yao Huang waited until she heard them leave the main hall before walking out. In the hall, she saw Prince Hui sitting upright in his wheelchair facing north. He had changed into a jade-white brocade robe. His handsome face was illuminated by the lamplight, making it look like flawless jade, giving him the ethereal, tranquil bearing of an immortal from beyond this world.
Yao Huang froze at the doorway of the side room. Thinking of how Prince Hui had held her chin and kissed her over and over, she belatedly realized why he had taken so long to finally kiss her. If they were merely consummating their marriage, she wouldn't be able to see his face clearly most of the time. No matter how forceful he was, she wouldn't be able to picture his expression, and he could maintain his immortal-like facade. But once they kissed, even if she kept her eyes closed and couldn't see him, he kissed so fiercely that the moment his lips and tongue moved, it was absolutely impossible for him to maintain his daytime gentlemanly detachment.
Yao Huang smiled and leaned against the doorframe, waiting for Prince Hui to look her way on his own.
Prince Hui, who could see the princess consort's movements from the corner of his eye: ...
He poured himself a bowl of warm water. Tea was stimulating and not suitable for drinking at night.
Yao Huang had no choice but to walk over, pull up a chair next to him, and look at Prince Hui with a pout.
Zhao Sui lowered the teacup he had raised halfway. ...What is it?
Yao Huang pointed at her own lips.
Zhao Sui took a quick glance. They did seem redder and fuller than usual.
Yao Huang said resentfully, It hurts. Next time, you are not allowed to kiss me for so long, Your Highness.
Zhao Sui: ...
Yao Huang smiled, pulled away to create some distance, and called the maids to serve the meal.
Well-fed and having slept too long in the afternoon, Yao Huang was not sleepy at all. She asked Qingai to bring over the red paper bought during the day and set up a small table on the heated couch in the side room. Prince Hui sat at one end, grinding ink to write the character Fu for blessing, while Yao Huang sat at the other end with scissors, cutting out window decals. The red paper for the window decals already had pattern lines traced on them. Yao Huang had chosen two designs, Abundant Harvest of All Grains and Surplus Year After Year, for her and the prince's front and back courtyards, respectively. She planned to cut them all out in one breath tonight.
After finishing a Fu character, Zhao Sui looked up and saw the princess consort sitting cross-legged opposite him. She was wearing a bright red satin lined jacket. The window decal in her hands was bright red, and her face was flushed red too. Her eyes were bright, and her whole body exuded the festive joy of the approaching New Year.
By the time the princess consort finished cutting the window decals, Zhao Sui had also written a thick stack of Fu characters.
When New Year's Eve arrived, after breakfast, Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui and took Qingai and Feiquan to paste couplets all over the princely manor.
Yao Huang still remembered that Prince Hui had once painted a picture of Qingai and Feiquan pasting couplets. After they finished their work, she said to Prince Hui, When I make dumplings this afternoon, please paint a New Year picture for me too, Your Highness.
Zhao Sui naturally agreed.
Yao Huang added, We are celebrating the New Year together. The painting should not just have me; it must include you too, Your Highness.
Zhao Sui: ...I have never painted myself.
Yao Huang laughed. Anyway, I want both of us in the painting. If you cannot paint it, Your Highness, do not blame me if I take the brush and draw you next to me.
Prince Hui immediately thought of the snowman prince that the princess consort had built, which was still frozen on the lake in the back garden.
...I will try.
