"Miss?" Fuling blinked, "Would Miss like to bathe?"
Qin Guan suddenly snapped out of her reverie, her cheeks growing slightly warmer. She glanced down at the intricate wedding apparel she wore and nodded, "Yes, let's bathe."
If nothing else, she was utterly exhausted from wearing this elaborate outfit all day.
Fuling's face lit up with delight, and she immediately went to prepare the bathwater for Qin Guan. Only then did Qin Guan sit down to properly take in the room. The courtyard, both inside and out, had been meticulously arranged with great care. As she observed the exquisite furniture and decorations, a pang of regret tugged at her heart. Even though Yan Chi had made plans to leave the capital, he had still spared no effort in these details.
Outside the courtyard, guards were stationed, ready to be summoned at any moment, but inside the room, only Baiying and Fuling were present. Before long, Fuling returned to escort Qin Guan to bathe and change.
Qin Guan seated herself before the dressing mirror, and Fuling carefully began removing the hair ornaments from her intricate updo. "Miss, today His Highness was utterly captivated by the sight of you. If you weren't so tired, it would have been best to wait for His Highness's return like this. But the guards outside just mentioned that His Highness has been held up—the heir apparent of Prince Yu, who has returned from Yuzhou, and Prince Gong are determined to get him drunk. His Highness still has to see the guests off, so he likely won't return until after midnight. That's why it's better for you to bathe first."
Fuling spoke unhurriedly, then couldn't resist adding, "The royal residence is truly wonderful, and the courtyard for you and His Highness is so elegant... Ah, no, I shouldn't call you 'Miss' anymore. I must call you 'princess consort'..."
Baiying, who was assisting nearby, chuckled at this. "Yes, you must call her princess consort."
Fuling continued, "Right, princess consort. Princess consort, why are there no maidservants in this royal residence?"
Qin Guan glanced at Baiying, who explained, "Prince Rui and the Old Prince were stationed in Shuoxi for many years, so the royal residence was left vacant for a long time. In earlier years, when the late princess consort was alive, there were maidservants and mommas. But after the princess consort passed away and the prince and his son went to Shuoxi, a large number of servants were dismissed. Later, when His Highness returned, he didn't bring in any new maidservants."
Fuling nodded in understanding. "I see. But now that the royal residence has you, princess consort, we should still add some staff. The guards outside can only handle rough tasks, after all. Back in the marquis's residence, you had four young maidservants in your courtyard alone. With the royal residence being so large, we'll need many more hands. What do you think, princess consort?"
If not for what was to come, it would indeed be necessary to add staff to bring more life to the royal residence. However, they were set to leave the capital for Shuoxi the day after tomorrow—a fact Fuling was still unaware of. Qin Guan met Fuling's gaze in the mirror and said, "Let's not rush this matter. There will be plenty of time."
Fuling quickly replied, "Of course! It's just that I'm so overjoyed! Before, when you were living in the marquis's residence, you were merely a guest. But now you are the mistress of this royal residence. I can't wait to see the royal residence come alive, to watch you manage the household, to see you bear a little heir apparent... This royal residence will grow more and more vibrant..."
Qin Guan's lips curved into a smile, though the warmth did not reach her eyes. When she had arranged marriages for Ban Xia and the others, she had also considered finding a match for Fuling. But in the end, she couldn't bring herself to part with her. Fuling's lively and warm-hearted nature meant she could truly build a bustling and joyful life with a good husband. Yet, Fuling would never willingly leave her side, and Qin Guan couldn't bear to leave her behind in the capital with a clear conscience. With a soft sigh, Qin Guan allowed Fuling to attend to her as she prepared for her bath.Steam curled above the bathtub as Fuling scattered prepared rose petals into the water. The moment Qin Guan stepped in, her skin became imbued with floral fragrance. After her bath, Fuling insisted on applying scented ointment to her mistress's body, chattering as she worked, "The princess consort's skin is already exquisitely delicate. With this balm, it'll become like polished jade - surely the prince will adore it."
A blush crept across Qin Guan's cheeks as she shot Fuling a reproachful glance. The maid giggled sheepishly, "Hehe... Granny Yu taught me all these things..."
While such instruction was necessary, others probably wouldn't phrase it so bluntly. Qin Guan, uncomfortable with the sticky sensation, hurriedly dressed and retreated to the Warm Chamber. Though deep winter raged outside, the Earth Dragon heating system kept the room comfortably warm. Earlier, her elaborate wedding attire had made dining inconvenient, but now she could eat properly. Baiying brought her a fresh bowl of Japonica rice and lotus seed porridge.
Much time had passed during these preparations, yet faint sounds of revelry still drifted from the main courtyard. Qin Guan sighed inwardly, wondering how late the celebrations would continue. Weariness tugged at her, though normally she would have already retired. But tonight was different.
Leaning against the long couch's bolster, she gazed at the double happiness character pasted on the window. From this day onward, she was Prince Rui's wife.
This thought filled her with profound contentment. Suddenly she turned, "Where's my chestnut cake?"
Fuling responded with amused exasperation, "Oh Princess! It's completely crumbled - I left it outside earlier... Now it's gone cold and inedible."
Qin Guan considered this, then smiled without pressing further. Scanning the room, she instructed, "Prince Rui must have drunk too much outside. Prepare some hangover soup, along with light porridge and pigeon broth. I suspect he hasn't eaten properly. Oh, and some fresh chestnut cakes too."
In this bitter winter, she imagined how delightful warm chestnut cakes would taste - sweet and comforting, melting in the mouth with fragrant aftertaste.
Fuling's eyes curved into crescents, "Rest assured, everything's already arranged. Though there aren't many maids in this residence, I've asked the guards - the kitchen has two highly skilled cooks. They won't let Our Highnesses go hungry."
Reassured, Qin Guan rested her chin on the bolster, lost in thought.
She was Yan Chi's wife now, yet she still didn't know how to be a proper wife.Lost in these thoughts, Qin Guan recalled the interactions between her father and mother. Her father was inherently upright and unyielding, presenting an iron-faced, law-abiding demeanor in public. Yet, upon returning home, he was always gentle and amiable. Reflecting carefully, Qin Guan felt it was her mother's tenderness that melted her father's stern exterior. Her mother, a woman from Jiangnan, came from a humble background. Her maternal grandparents were silk merchants from the Lianghu region, who had only one daughter and cherished her dearly. They taught her to read, write, play musical instruments, chess, and appreciate art. Thus, despite her merchant origins, her mother possessed remarkable talent and intellect, along with the delicate, gentle temperament typical of Jiangnan women. In Qin Guan's memory, her mother never lost her temper; even during disagreements with her father, she could persuade him with a soothing, rain-like grace. For instance, when her mother wanted her to study medicine at Medicine King Valley, she—though a woman confined to the inner quarters, seldom stepping beyond the courtyard—never found life dull. She excelled at embroidery, enjoyed reading medical texts, and was adept at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In her leisure, she tended to flowers and plants, giving Qin Guan the impression that her mother led a life of serene, composed busyness.
When her father was assigned to remote posts to handle cases and could not return home for months, her mother never complained. Though afraid of thunderstorms, it was only on such nights that she would hold the young Qin Guan, revealing a hint of vulnerability. After returning to the capital, her merchant-born mother was not readily accepted by the aristocratic circles. Yet, her mother attended every social gathering she was expected to, graceful and unflustered, gradually forming a few close friendships. Qin Guan remembered the few banquets she accompanied her mother to shortly after their return. Facing the unfamiliar elite circles, Qin Guan felt uncertain, but her mother remained utterly composed. Watching her, Qin Guan realized for the first time that beneath her mother's poetic, Jiangnan elegance lay a deep-rooted resilience and calm. Looking back, though she had idolized her father as a child and nearly resolved to follow in his footsteps learning forensic techniques, she had unconsciously emulated her mother in every way. More remarkably, her mother never pressured her to conform to societal norms.
Thinking of her parents and gazing at the vibrant red wedding decorations everywhere, Qin Guan felt a warm, tender ache in her heart. To her, her mother embodied the ideal wife. She wondered if her parents, watching from beyond, would find comfort in seeing her wed today.
Exhausted, Qin Guan lay on the cushion in the warm room and drifted into sleep without realizing it. Fuling and Baiying, noticing this, dared not wake her and quickly closed the slightly ajar window for ventilation. Qin Guan reclined on the couch, her upper body resting against the large cushion. The warmth flushed her cheeks rosy, and clad in a water-red, wide-sleeved undergarment, even Fuling and Baiying felt a slight stir in their hearts. Fuling thought to herself, "No wonder they say heroes find it hard to pass the beauty test. If I were a man, I would surely adore such a princess consort." No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than she felt a chill behind her. Turning, she saw Yan Chi had lifted the curtain and entered.
Recalling her earlier notion, Fuling felt inexplicably guilty and hurried forward to greet him. Yan Chi waved her off, his eyes already on the sleeping Qin Guan on the couch.
He raised a finger to his lips in a silent gesture, then motioned for Fuling and Baiying to withdraw. Fuling glanced back at Qin Guan, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately left.After the two of them had withdrawn, Yan Chi slowly walked toward the low couch.
The room was warm, even somewhat hot, but this allowed Qin Guan to dress very lightly.
She had just bathed, and the hair draped over her shoulders still carried a hint of dampness. Her skin was fairer than snow, her features exquisitely delicate as if painted. She reclined against the pillow, her waist forming a slender and alluring curve, her calves slightly curled. Through the thin gauze of her skirt, Yan Chi could almost glimpse the tender, smooth skin beneath.
His gaze drifted downward, settling on Qin Guan’s slender ankles. Her delicate, jade-like feet were boldly exposed at the edge of the gauze skirt, her rounded, pink toes slightly curled, evoking an inexplicable urge to step forward and cradle them. Yan Chi’s throat tightened with a sudden swallow.
It was already very late. After seeing off Yan Zhi, Yan Qi, and the others, and having dismissed Yan Li and his companions, he had no mind to entertain those who remained, leaving them all to Bai Feng and the rest. He had endured the entire evening and could finally return to this small courtyard. This was the residence of Prince Rui. In the past, even though he knew this was his home, he could always dismiss the servants and leave the capital for Shuoxi at any time. But now, on the very first day of their marriage, he felt an indescribable, lingering attachment.
In a daze, he recalled how his father, Yan Lin, had left for Shuoxi after his mother’s death and never returned.
A profound tenderness welled up in Yan Chi’s eyes. He stepped forward gently, about to lean down, when Qin Guan’s eyelids fluttered and she woke. Seeing Yan Chi, she exclaimed in surprise, “Oh, you’re back…”
Qin Guan pushed herself up to sit and was about to call for Fuling to bring the hangover soup when she noticed no one else was in the room.
Yan Chi sat beside her. “I’ve already asked them to withdraw.”
Hearing this, Qin Guan’s face warmed slightly. “I prepared hangover soup for you. Have you eaten? I saved some dinner for you as well.”
Yan Chi waved his hand, instinctively wanting to pull her into his embrace, but he paused mid-motion. “I reek of alcohol. Wait a moment.”
With that, Yan Chi stood up and headed straight for the bathing room. Qin Guan watched his hurried steps and couldn’t help but smile. She then rose to call Fuling inside. While Fuling went to fetch the hangover soup and dinner, Qin Guan hesitated outside the bathing room, wondering whether to enter. In principle, as Yan Chi’s wife, entering to assist him was not improper, but… the thought of the scene inside made her hesitate to take that step.
As she wavered, voices suddenly sounded from outside. Thinking it was Fuling returning, Qin Guan turned toward the door, but it was Baiying who approached. “Where is Fuling? Who was speaking just now?”
Baiying frowned. “Princess Consort, someone has come from the palace.”
Qin Guan’s expression shifted immediately. “From the palace?”
Baiying nodded. “Yes, from the Longevity and Health Palace. They brought the palace token and said the Empress Dowager is unwell. The messenger is waiting outside.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Guan’s expression changed at once. She quickly retrieved her outer robe to put on, and Baiying hurriedly helped her dress. In that brief moment, Yan Chi emerged from the bathing room, having changed his clothes, and asked sternly, “Who is the messenger?”
Baiying frowned. “It’s not Mammy Chen, but someone this servant doesn’t recognize. However, the Longevity and Health Palace token is genuine.”
Qin Guan, now in her outer robe, urged anxiously, “Let’s go meet them first.”The Empress Dowager was already gravely ill, and Yan Chi was deeply concerned. Thinking she might be critically ill, his wandering thoughts vanished. He quickly nodded, draped another cloak over Qin Guan, and led her out by the hand.
The Momma from the Longevity and Health Palace was waiting at the courtyard gate. Seeing Qin Guan emerge, she hurried forward and said, "My Lady, please hurry to the palace and save the Empress Dowager!"
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