Chapter 109

Chapter 109

The night before the wedding, Yao Huang's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, such as whether Prince Hui could still have children, and whether he would kiss her on the lips.

A man she had only briefly met during the selection process, hugging and holding hands were one thing, but suddenly kissing was something Yao Huang found rather off-putting at the time.

After they were truly married, Yao Huang discovered that Prince Hui was a very aloof person. Except for the duties expected of a newlywed couple at night, during the day, Prince Hui was very particular about decorum. Even a peck on his cheek would earn her a scolding for being "improper."

When they became familiar enough to be intimate day and night, Prince Hui still didn't kiss her on the lips. Yao Huang finally understood then that Prince Hui probably disliked her saliva, just as she would dislike others'. From then on, Yao Huang never thought about kissing again, as it wouldn't interfere with their true joy.

But today, Prince Hui had personally said he didn't dislike her, ate the leftover hawthorn fruit, and even showed such a restrained yet captivating demeanor!

Thinking of this, Yao Huang turned over to prevent Prince Hui from noticing she was thinking about something improper.

Prince Hui, holding the book, glanced at Yao Huang's turned back, realizing she had no hidden intentions. She was just tired and ready to sleep.

The osmanthus candy in his mouth had only begun to melt on the outside. Since Yao Huang was asleep, Zhao Sui no longer had to worry about eating it quickly or slowly. He continued to hold it motionless, quickly scanning the book in front of him.

Yao Huang was actually awake and could hear the faint sound of Prince Hui turning the pages.

Suddenly, Yao Huang felt a twinge of irritation. Earlier in the carriage, especially before getting off, she had felt Prince Hui staring at her lips, his breathing uneven. Her invitation to rest after lunch was laden with hints, and he had agreed with a suggestive glance, clearly understanding her intentions. So why was he lingering over such a small piece of candy?

Such a small piece of candy, just chew it a few times and swallow it, right?

First feeling warm, then restless, Yao Huang became thirsty.

She sat up, glared at Prince Hui when he looked over, moved to the edge of the bed and bent down to slip on her shoes.

Zhao Sui put down the book and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping?"

Yao Huang didn't deign to answer him. She walked to the table, turned her back to Prince Hui, and poured herself a cup of warm water. The water rinsed away the sweetness of the osmanthus candy, leaving her feeling refreshed and slightly soothing the restlessness in her heart.

Yao Huang took another sip.

After drinking, she glanced at the osmanthus candy on the table, smiled, picked up the plate, and returned to the bed. She deliberately placed the plate on Prince Hui's wheelchair and said gently, "Prince, take your time savoring it. There's more here when you're done."

Zhao Sui: "..."

As a prince who had been very perceptive since the age of three or four, Zhao Sui clearly saw that Yao Huang was annoyed at him for wasting too much time on the osmanthus candy.

So, Yao Huang indeed had something in mind.

Zhao Sui put down the book in his hand, stopped Yao Huang from climbing onto the bed, and said, "Pour me a bowl of water."

The osmanthus candy in Prince Hui's mouth was still the size of a peanut, which slightly affected his speech.

Yao Huang glared at him again, then obediently went to pour water for Prince Hui, who had difficulty moving.

Standing by the bed, she watched Prince Hui lower his head to drink, his Adam's apple noticeably bobbing. But since drinking water was like this, Yao Huang didn't pay much attention. She turned around, placed the tea bowl on the low cabinet by the floor, climbed onto the bed, deliberately lay on the innermost side, and covered herself tightly with the blankets.

Just as she finished covering herself, the blanket was pulled open, and Prince Hui hugged her from behind.

Yao Huang turned her head and looked at him curiously, "Prince, have you finished the candy?"

Prince Hui simply hummed in agreement.

Yao Huang's gaze involuntarily fell on his lips.

Yao Huang's gaze further confirmed the suspicion Zhao Sui had when he saw the osmanthus candy upon entering the room. His heartbeat quickened, and his gaze also swept over Yao Huang's lips.

Being this close, how could they not notice each other's glances?

After all, it was a new and exciting experience. Yao Huang's whole body grew warm, her eyelashes lowered, and she softly expressed her confusion: "How come I didn’t hear you chewing?"

Prince Hui didn’t feel like explaining.

Yao Huang figured it out on her own, and when she looked at Prince Hui again, her eyes were full of laughter: "Did you swallow it when you took a drink?"

Prince Hui didn’t respond and closed his eyes.

Yao Huang turned fully and shifted closer, looking at Prince Hui’s return to his reserved demeanor. She slipped her right hand between his neck and the pillow, her left arm encircling from above, pressing against his face, she asked: "If you don’t mind my saliva, why haven’t you kissed me before?"

Zhao Sui had no explanation.

Yao Huang wasn’t too concerned about the answer, she pressed her whole body against him, her face almost burning: "Would you like to kiss me?"

Zhao Sui’s eyes opened.

Yao Huang nervously shut hers, continuing to hug his neck, her face still pressed against Prince Hui’s face.

Zhao Sui tightened his grip around her waist, his voice hoarse: "I’ve never done this before, so I’m not sure if you’ll be okay with it."

Intimacy comes naturally to most men, no need to be taught, but kissing is different—seemingly meaningless, so there’s no specific method to follow.

Yao Huang snorted: "Like I’ve done this before, it’s just that your lips look good, that’s why I had this thought."

Zhao Sui: "...I didn’t mean to doubt you."

Yao Huang covered his mouth.

Zhao Sui gently took her wrist, letting the princess’s slender fingers get accustomed to his lips and tongue.

Yao Huang had already been through this once, both shy and annoyed, unable to bear it, she wanted to burrow into Prince Hui’s arms, but Prince Hui suddenly half-pressed down, starting to kiss from her neck, forcing her to tilt her chin up, then all the 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 propped himself up on her with his elbows, even when she tightly hooked his neck and Prince Hui restrainedly panted by her ear or forehead, the two had never been as close as they were now, like another form of intimacy.

Sleeping and sleeping, Yao Huang woke up thirsty, turned over and found no one beside her, the room was also dim.

For a moment, Yao Huang couldn’t tell whether it was evening or early morning, until she saw the osmanthus candy that had been placed back on the table outside the tent at some point.

Her body felt weak, and Yao Huang was too lazy to move, calling A Ji in to pour her some water.

A Ji lit a lamp first, then carried a tea bowl into the tent. The warm tent, draped with two layers of curtains, floated with a faint sweet osmanthus fragrance, mixed with another scent that the four maids were not unfamiliar with.

As the princess drank, A Ji casually lifted the two layers of curtains.

After moistening her throat, Yao Huang lay back on the pillow, asking: "When did the prince leave?"

A Ji said: "About half an hour ago? The prince slept in a bit today."

After being on duty for over two months, it was a rare holiday, the four maids could understand Prince Hui’s occasional indulgence in sleep, as for the princess, no matter how late she slept, they were used to it.

Yao Huang gritted her teeth. Prince Hui, though usually reserved, becomes a different person once he starts, throwing all reserve and consideration to the wind, determined to squeeze out her last tear.

She touched her lips, which still seemed a bit swollen, the tea bowl pressing down felt strange.

A Ji noticed the princess’s movement, leaned in to take a closer look, and exclaimed in shock: "Why are the princess’s lips so red, like she just ate something spicy?"

Yao Huang heard this, her stomach growled twice.

A Ji hurried to help the princess get up and dress.

A cold wind whistled outside. Just as Yao Huang was about to don her cloak, Prince Hui arrived, wheeled in by Qing Ai. Yao Huang, standing in the inner chamber, overheard Prince Hui instruct Qing Ai, "Have the kitchen send dinner here."

A Ji overheard and whispered with a smile, "His Highness must know the princess just woke up and fears she might catch a chill if she steps out."

With the prince's arrival, A Ji neatly folded the princess's cloak and left with Chun Yan.

Yao Huang waited until they exited the main hall before stepping out. She saw Prince Hui seated upright in his wheelchair at the northern end of the hall. He wore a jade-white brocade robe, his handsome face lit by the lamplight, resembling fine jade, exuding an ethereal, otherworldly aura.

Yao Huang paused at the secondary room's doorway, recalling when Prince Hui had cupped her chin and kissed her. She finally understood why Prince Hui had been reluctant to kiss her earlier. During their marital relations, she often couldn't see Prince Hui's face clearly, no matter how hard he tried, she couldn't picture his expression. Prince Hui could maintain his divine demeanor, but once he kissed her, even with her eyes closed, the fervor of his kiss shattered his usual gentlemanly composure.

Yao Huang smiled, leaning against the doorframe, waiting for Prince Hui to glance her way.

Prince Hui, catching the princess's movements from the corner of his eye, stayed silent.

He poured himself a bowl of warm water. Tea might refresh, but it wasn't fit for nighttime.

Yao Huang had no choice but to walk over, set a chair beside him, and pout at Prince Hui.

Zhao Sui set down the half-raised teacup, "What's the matter?"

Yao Huang gestured to her lips.

Zhao Sui glanced quickly; her lips seemed more flushed than usual.

Yao Huang murmured, "It hurts. Next time, Your Highness mustn't kiss me so long."

Zhao Sui stayed silent.

Yao Huang smiled, stepped back, and called the maids to serve the meal.

After eating and drinking, and having napped too long in the afternoon, Yao Huang wasn't sleepy at all. She asked Qing Ai to fetch the red paper they'd bought earlier. She arranged a small table on the warm couch in the secondary room. Prince Hui sat at one end, grinding ink and writing 'fortune' characters, while Yao Huang sat at the other end, scissors in hand, cutting window decorations. The red paper for the window decorations had patterns outlined on it. Yao Huang chose two designs, "Bountiful Harvest" and "Abundant Fish Year After Year," for the front and back courtyards of their residence, planning to finish cutting them all tonight.

After writing a character for 'fortune,' Zhao Sui looked up and saw the princess sitting cross-legged opposite him, wearing a red satin-lined jacket. The red window decorations in her hands matched her rosy cheeks, her bright eyes full of the festive spirit of the upcoming New Year.

By the time the princess finished cutting the window decorations, Zhao Sui had written a thick stack of 'fortune' characters.

On New Year's Eve, after breakfast, Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui, accompanied by Qing Ai and Fei Quan, to paste couplets around the prince's residence.

Yao Huang remembered that Prince Hui had once painted a picture of Qing Ai and Fei Quan pasting couplets. After finishing, she said to Prince Hui, "This afternoon, while I make dumplings, Your Highness should paint a New Year's picture for me."

Zhao Sui naturally agreed.

Yao Huang added, "Since I'm spending the New Year with Your Highness, the painting should not only have me but also include you."

Zhao Sui replied, "I've never painted myself before."

Yao Huang laughed, "In any case, I want both of us in the painting. If Your Highness can't paint yourself, don't blame me for taking the brush and painting you next to me."

Prince Hui immediately thought of the snowman prince the princess had made in the frozen lake in the back garden.

"I'll try," he said.