Youthful Glory

Ming Tan couldn't help but feel that her husband's gaze held something peculiar after their homecoming visit today. She couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly was strange about it, only that when their eyes met, his seemed to linger a beat or two longer than usual.

She didn't dwell on it too much.

After the family banquet concluded, both Bai Minmin and Shen Hua prepared to return home.

Recently, Bai Minmin's mother and sister-in-law had been keeping a tight rein on her. As a young lady of marriageable age, it wouldn't do her reputation any good to be known for constantly running wild outside.

Shen Hua, on the other hand, needed to meet with several shopkeepers. Since entering the Li household, her mother-in-law had entrusted her with assisting in household management. Though she was fond of composing poetry and couplets, she was no stranger to domestic affairs. Under her care, the household ran like clockwork, and she had already earned considerable respect within the Li residence.

After their departure, Ming Tan went to Lanxin Courtyard to chat with Madam Pei for a while.

Madam Pei even used Shen Hua as an example: "...She's truly blessed. Now in the Li household, she's like a fish in water—her husband is ambitious, their marital harmony is evident, and she gets along well with her sisters-in-law. Isn't her eldest sister-in-law the elder sister of your close friend, the Zhou family's young lady? Both her temperament and appearance are beyond reproach. Most importantly, her in-laws are open-minded and don't meddle. That's why she was able to assist in household management right after entering the household. You should learn a thing or two from her."

Ming Tan nodded, then after a moment of contemplation, added, "Mother, I understand the reasoning, but I don't have any sisters-in-law or in-laws. On the very first day after the wedding, the Prince's steward handed over all the account books and keys to me."

"..."

"Has no one in the household given you any trouble?"

Ming Tan thought for a moment and shook her head.

"If they've entrusted these matters to you, it means they trust you. You should manage the Prince's estate even more diligently."

Ming Tan murmured an agreement.

Seeing that no one else was around, Madam Pei lowered her voice and asked, "Are there any concubines or maids in the household?"

Unlike other households where one could inquire before marriage, or where one could refuse to marry if unsavory matters arose beforehand, the Dingbei Prince's household was different. This had been a constant source of worry for Madam Pei.

Without hesitation, Ming Tan immediately denied it: "No." But then she paused, her tone turning uncertain. "There shouldn't be, right? In the three days since I entered the household, I haven't heard of any other women."

"Has His Highness been staying in your chambers all three nights?"

Ming Tan blushed and gave a demure "Mm," adding, "It seems the courtyard I live in is the same one my husband has always resided in. His clothes are all in the room."

They were actually sharing the same quarters? Madam Pei was slightly surprised.

But this made the Marquis's earlier remark about "being deeply devoted to his wife" seem somewhat credible after all.

Feeling considerably more at ease, Madam Pei took Ming Tan's hand and spoke earnestly: "It's truly wonderful that the Prince favors only you now. But forgive me for saying this—His Highness is young, accomplished, and holds immense power. Just because he has only you now doesn't mean it will always be so.

"In the inner quarters, heirs are of utmost importance. While your affection is strong and no one else is interfering, you should bear children early to secure your position as Consort. As long as you manage the household and have legitimate children, no one in the Prince's household will ever surpass you."

Madam Pei's words were perfectly reasonable and reflected the common sentiments of women of the time. Yet the mere thought of other women someday sharing intimate moments and bearing children with her husband made Ming Tan's heart inexplicably tighten.

"I know you don't want to hear this now, but you must always think ahead to avoid heartache later."

"I understand, Mother."

"Aren't you getting out of the carriage?"As dusk fell, the carriage stopped in front of Prince Dingbei's residence. Jiang Xu stood outside the carriage, glancing at Ming Tan who remained seated inside, inexplicably lost in thought.

When they had left in the morning, his young Consort had been full of energy, pestering him with endless questions. Yet on the return journey, she had been silent and distracted, perhaps preoccupied with the "seven requests for water" from the storybook her friend had mentioned.

Jiang Xu had intended to verify this with her that very night—to experience what it meant to ask for water seven times. However, urgent matters at the palace had summoned him even after the gates were locked.

Having spent four days of their newlywed life together, Ming Tan found herself unaccustomed to being alone in an empty chamber that night.

A sudden storm raged outside, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling. Wrapped in brocade blankets, she tossed and turned, overwhelmed by an inexplicable sorrow at the thought of new concubines—fresh as flowers—entering the household in the future. Her husband would share his affections equally, spending passionate nights with them, and this notion filled her with an indescribable melancholy.

By dawn, the rain had ceased, and the clouds had cleared. As she pushed open the window, the crisp scent of flowers and greenery greeted her.

Ming Tan sat before her dressing table, dark circles under her eyes, her spirits low.

Just as she consoled herself that there was no need to worry about future troubles prematurely, a young maid entered hesitantly, her head bowed as if struggling to deliver an awkward message: "Consort, Auntie Yun and Auntie Fang have come to pay their respects."

Ming Tan froze, her mind reeling as if struck by thunder, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Lü'e was equally stunned, the jade comb halting mid-stroke in Ming Tan's hair.

"What... what did you say? What aunties?" Lü'e asked in disbelief.

The maid answered cautiously, "Auntie Yun and Auntie Fang. With the Consort's arrival and the household affairs being so busy, the two aunties only came to pay their respects today."

Lü'e: "Why have we never heard of any aunties in the residence before?"

The maid shook her head, stammering, "This servant doesn't know."

Suxin, slightly more composed, dismissed the maid and quickly reassured her, "They must have been the Prince's usual chamber attendants before. It's common in noble households to elevate such women after welcoming the principal wife. The young lady need not dwell on it. Since His Highness never mentioned them, it likely means they held no significance to him."

"Right, right," Lü'e chimed in, seeing Ming Tan's despondent expression. "If they were important, even if His Highness didn’t mention them, Uncle Fu would have, and the other servants would have talked about them.

"Since no one has brought them up all this time, they must be inconsequential. They’ve come now to offer tea as concubines, but since His Highness isn’t here, the young lady needn’t accept it if she doesn’t wish to. Just find an excuse to decline."

Ming Tan remained silent, lost in thought. After a long pause, she finally motioned for Lü'e to continue styling her hair.

Nearly an hour later, Ming Tan emerged gracefully in the flower hall of Qi'an Hall. Seating herself at the head of the room, she lifted her gaze slightly, slowly examining the two new aunties who had appeared as abruptly as a bolt from the blue.

Though neither could rival her in beauty, they were not lacking—one delicate and refined, the other charming and alluring. Both appeared two or three years older than her, exuding a mature grace.

Before she could fully process the turmoil in her heart, the more delicate-looking auntie clasped her hands and knelt on one knee with practiced ease: "This servant Yun Yi greets the Consort."

Something felt off.

Ming Tan hesitated, instinctively asking, "You are... Auntie Yun?"

"Yes."

Then the other must be Auntie Fang.Ming Tan had just shifted her gaze when Madam Fang curtsied gracefully, cooing sweetly, "This humble one is Fang Ruomei, paying respects to the Consort."

Compared to Madam Yun's awkward manner of greeting, this one truly embodied the essence of a concubine. However, referring to herself as "this humble one"—since when did any concubine in the capital address themselves like that? Ming Tan found it jarring and inexplicably reminded her of Shui Ying from the Bie Yu Tower.

"Rise, all of you. Take your seats."

Ming Tan suppressed the turmoil in her heart, unwilling to let her eyes linger on the two any longer. She distractedly fiddled with the teacup lid, utterly unable to force herself to say something like, "From now on, we are sisters and must work together to serve His Highness dutifully, striving to expand the royal lineage soon."

It was too painful. Her heart ached unbearably.

She took a sip of tea, the rising steam stinging her eyes until a mist blurred her vision.

Yun Yi remained oblivious, staring unblinkingly at Ming Tan's slender, jade-like fingers as they toyed with the lid.

Fang Ruomei leaned over and nudged her lightly. "What are you looking at?"

Yun Yi answered instinctively, "The way the Consort moves the teacup lid is so graceful, and her hands are so beautiful. I've never seen such lovely hands before."

With that, she picked up her own teacup and clumsily imitated the motion, only to flick the unsteeped tea leaves right out of the cup.

"..."

What kind of fool was this?

Madam Fang nearly rolled her eyes to the heavens.

Just as the parlor sank into an eerie silence, a maid announced: His Highness had returned.

Ming Tan lifted her eyelids slightly, but she was so upset she didn’t even want to look at the man. Only when the hem of his brocade robe entered her peripheral vision did she lower her gaze and rise, offering a perfunctory curtsey.

Jiang Xu wasn’t particularly observant, but even he could tell that his little Consort—from the strands of her hair to the tassels on her embroidered shoes—was screaming, "I'm unhappy."

Sitting beside Ming Tan, he glanced at Yun Yi and Fang Ruomei and introduced plainly, "These are the guards I’ve chosen for you. Yun Yi excels in swordsmanship, while Fang Ruomei is skilled in poison and medicine. If I’m ever away from the estate, they will protect you."

"...?"

Ming Tan suddenly looked up.

Yun Yi: "Subordinate Yun Yi of the Jin Yun Guard, at your service to protect the Consort."

Fang Ruomei: "Subordinate Fang Ruomei of the Bie Yu Tower, at your service to protect the Consort."

Both saluted formally.

Ming Tan was even more bewildered.

So this Madam Fang really was from the Bie Yu Tower.

After the introductions, Jiang Xu gave the two a glance, and they tactfully bowed their heads before retreating.

Soon, only Ming Tan and Jiang Xu remained in the parlor.

Still reeling from the emotional whiplash, Ming Tan struggled to process it all. "Madam Yun and Madam Fang... they’re guards? So they’re just guards, or...?"

"Just guards."

"Then why make them concubines?" In the stories, female guards usually served as personal maids.

"I dislike having too many people in the estate."

With that, Jiang Xu stood and went to arrange for the meal. He had returned early, expecting a bowl of hot porridge, only to find that his Consort had abandoned her virtuous and dutiful demeanor by the fourth day of their marriage—all because of two female guards.

Unaware of his thoughts, Ming Tan kept pondering his words, "dislike having too many people in the estate." After turning it over in her mind for half the day and considering every possibility, she arrived at a plausible conclusion: Her husband had no intention of taking concubines—for now.A prince's residence could never have just one consort. Even if her husband had no intention of taking concubines, there would always be people finding various excuses to send all sorts of beauties into the prince's household. Rather than waiting for others to send them, it was better to select two herself first—this way, she'd have grounds for refusal later.

That night, as they settled in, Ming Tan sought Jiang Xu's confirmation of this idea between the sheets and received an affirmative response. Overjoyed, she became far more enthusiastic than usual. Though exhausted, she endured until midnight.

After the second round, Ming Tan thought she could rest peacefully as she had in previous nights and closed her eyes in contentment.

But who would have thought that after holding her for just a short while, Jiang Xu suddenly showed signs of stirring again. Soon, Ming Tan was unceremoniously turned over. Her delicate brows furrowed, her fragrant sweat falling like rain. She whimpered, tears welling up as she struck out at him, her accusations coming in broken gasps.

In her daze, she suddenly heard Jiang Xu murmur deeply in her ear, "Didn't those romance books say it should be seven rounds?"

"...?"

"But that... wasn't me who said it, mmph!"