Youthful Glory

At dusk in Shangjing, the setting sun gradually painted the sky with hues, casting a vast expanse of radiant light. Beneath this glow, the already solemn and imposing Prince Dingbei's residence seemed to be outlined only by a heavy silhouette.

In Qi'an Hall, golden rays of the setting sun slanted in through the latticed windows. Servants bustled about, some carrying water, others delivering soup, all moving in an orderly and silent manner within the courtyard.

After her bath, Ming Tan changed into a light-colored sleeping gown. With the makeup washed off, her face appeared even softer and cleaner.

Her features were exquisitely delicate—her eyebrows elegant, her nose petite, and her eyes like two pools of clear spring water, with tiny droplets still clinging to her lashes. Perhaps the days since her marriage had been nourishing, as her cheeks had plumped up slightly, giving her a more youthful and innocent charm than when she wore makeup.

Emerging from the bathing chamber, she peeked around curiously but didn’t see Jiang Xu. She allowed Lü’e to attend to her and settled into bed.

The imperial physician had been waiting in the flower hall for a short while. Only after the bed curtains were drawn and everything was prepared did a maid go to inform him in the hall.

Hearing this, Jiang Xu lifted his gaze. "Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Feng."

Imperial Physician Feng hurriedly rose and clasped his hands in salute. "It is my duty, Your Highness."

Jiang Xu said nothing more and also stood, following Imperial Physician Feng into the inner chamber.

Through the bed curtains, Imperial Physician Feng paid his respects to Ming Tan, then sat on a small stool. He took out a pulse pillow, placed a brocade cloth over the slender hand extended to him, and respectfully began taking her pulse.

After a while, he paused and carefully replied, "Your Highness has suffered a fright, but there is no serious harm. This humble official will prescribe a calming decoction—one dose before bed should suffice."

Noticing the marks from being bound on Ming Tan’s wrist and hearing she had been struck with a blunt object, he added, "If the skin is unbroken, an external bruise-dispelling ointment will suffice. Apply it for a few days, and the marks will fade."

"Thank you, Physician." Ming Tan withdrew her hand and politely expressed her gratitude from within the bed. "My unkempt appearance is unfit for guests. Please forgive me."

Imperial Physician Feng bowed again respectfully. "Your Highness is too kind. This humble official will now prepare the calming prescription. Please rest well."

As he spoke, a maid came forward to guide him to write the prescription.

But Jiang Xu suddenly raised his hand, and the maid who had come to escort the physician tactfully halted and silently withdrew. Jiang Xu glanced at the bed, exchanged a brief look with Imperial Physician Feng, and then walked out.

Once outside the main chamber, Jiang Xu stopped and asked in a low voice, "Is the princess truly unharmed?"

Imperial Physician Feng quickly replied, "Your Highness need not worry—Her Highness is indeed unharmed. However, it seems she inhaled a small amount of... an aphrodisiac incense. Fortunately, the quantity was minimal and will not harm her body."

Jiang Xu was silent for a moment before responding with a quiet "Hmm."

Imperial Physician Feng continued, "From today’s pulse reading, Her Highness’s health has actually improved slightly compared to last month. I will adjust the dosage of the medicine accordingly. Her Highness is still young—with another year or two of recuperation, she will be perfectly well."

"Good. Thank you."

Imperial Physician Feng was one of Jiang Xu’s trusted men. In the first few days after the wedding, he had come to the residence to examine Ming Tan’s health.

Through his diagnosis, he found that while the young princess had no major ailments, she was inactive, delicate, and somewhat frail. Combined with her youth and petite frame, a pregnancy would likely be difficult to sustain.

He reported this to Jiang Xu, who then ordered that the princess should not conceive for the time being. Imperial Physician Feng agreed and, based on Ming Tan’s constitution, prepared a contraceptive prescription that wouldn’t harm her body. Ming Tan drank it daily as a tonic.

After seeing Imperial Physician Feng off, the twilight deepened further.Ming Tan dozed for a while. When she woke, she leaned against the headboard and asked softly, "Where is His Highness?"

"His Highness is in the study. Shall this servant go and inform him?" Seeing that she was awake, Lü'e hurriedly responded.

Ming Tan shook her head. "No need."

She was somewhat conflicted. How should she put it? After returning to the residence and calming down, she felt extremely uneasy inside. Although her words at the Duke Ping's residence could fool most people, her husband... She supposed Yun Yi must have told him everything by now.

In truth, in such a short time, Marquis Jiangyang and Zhai Nianci probably hadn't actually done anything in that room. But under the public gaze, the two of them being alone together—regardless of the truth or whether they were framed—Zhai Nianci's reputation was already ruined.

And she had also been alone with Marquis Jiangyang... Though nothing had happened, she wasn't sure if her husband would mind.

Thinking of this, she curled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees with a hint of melancholy.

When Jiang Xu returned to the room, he saw the beauty on the couch hugging her knees, her long black hair cascading down, her jade-like face tinged with sorrow.

He approached and sat by the couch, asking in a deep voice, "How are you feeling?"

"Husband? A-Tan is fine."

She shook her head, her voice small, but her gaze couldn't help but flicker away.

Jiang Xu had never been good at dealing with women. Usually, it was Ming Tan who chattered and acted coquettishly. Today, with her quiet and seemingly avoiding him, he found himself at a loss for words.

Perhaps the way he had dealt with Marquis Jiangyang in front of her today had been too direct, frightening her.

Thinking this way, Jiang Xu sat quietly for a while before standing up. "You needn't worry about Feng Zhao. With me here, she won't leave the Imperial Clan Court again." He paused briefly. "Since you're fine, rest well."

With that, he prepared to leave.

Seeing this, Ming Tan quickly tugged at his sleeve. "Husband, where are you going?"

"I still have some military affairs to attend to."

Ming Tan bit her lip and hesitantly asked, "Must you handle them now?"

"..."

Of course not.

He had simply noticed her avoidance and planned to take the initiative to make do in the study.

Seeing Jiang Xu remain silent, Ming Tan grew even more uneasy. Had her husband already begun to dislike her? Would he only maintain a superficial marital relationship with her from now on, never willing to share a bed or touch her again?

She felt aggrieved.

In truth, she had been holding back her grievances all day, but now, she couldn't seem to hold them in any longer.

"Why are you crying?"

Seeing Ming Tan suddenly burst into tears without warning, Jiang Xu was momentarily stunned.

Ming Tan didn't speak, only turned her back to Jiang Xu, sobbing quietly, her slender shoulders trembling.

"Do you think confining Feng Zhao in the Imperial Clan Court is too lenient? When members of the imperial clan commit offenses, it is the duty of the Imperial Clan Court to handle them. As for how, I will naturally oversee it. If you feel it's too light, I can also—"

Before he could finish, Ming Tan shook her head.

The Imperial Clan Court was no pleasant place. Being confined there for years, even if one didn't die, life would be miserable. It was said that a prince who had offended the Emperor during the struggle for the throne in previous years had been locked up there and had long since gone mad.

Jiang Xu stood by the couch, instinctively reaching out but unsure how to comfort her.

Fortunately, after crying for a while, Ming Tan felt that this matter needed to be clarified. If her husband truly minded, she at least deserved to know the truth.She clutched the corner of the quilt to wipe her tears, then turned around with her small head bowed, choking back sobs as she asked, "Does my husband no longer wish to share a bed with A Tan from now on?"

Jiang Xu: "..."

She continued on her own, "It's alright, A Tan can bear it. My husband can speak plainly. There's no need for my husband to force himself to sleep in the study. If my husband is uncomfortable, A Tan can claim illness and request to live separately, so as not to be an eyesore before my husband anymore."

Jiang Xu was silent for a moment before he couldn't help but ask, "Why do you say that?"

Ming Tan looked up, her eyes still red and brimming with tears, as if they would fall with just a blink.

"Is my husband not bothered that A Tan was once alone in a room with Marquis Jiangyang?"

"Not at all."

Seeing how firmly he answered, Ming Tan hesitated, then cautiously asked, "Really?" As she spoke, she hiccuped from crying.

For some reason, Jiang Xu felt an unfamiliar emotion stirring in his chest as he looked at her tearful, upturned face—it was inexplicably endearing.

"Even if it had been you in that room today, this prince wouldn't mind. It wasn't your fault."

His voice was unhurried, like cold jade striking gold, pleasant to the ear.

Ming Tan was stunned. When she came to her senses, she instinctively knelt on the bed and threw herself forward to wrap her arms around his waist, her golden tears falling like they cost nothing. "Wuwuwu, husband—"

The tumultuous emotions she had endured all day finally relaxed completely at this moment.

Jiang Xu's temple twitched.

Why was she crying even harder now?

He raised his hand and awkwardly patted her head.

Her hair was long, thick, and incredibly soft. Jiang Xu stroked it once, then again, slowly finding it quite pleasant to touch. Without realizing it, he threaded his fingers through her locks and gently massaged her scalp.

Once she had cried her fill, Ming Tan hiccuped, her eyes red, and pulled back slightly from Jiang Xu's chest.

"Does my husband still need to attend to military affairs?" Her voice was soft and sticky from crying, carrying a hint of reluctance.

"They can wait until tomorrow."

"Then why did my husband insist on going to the study earlier to handle them?"

Jiang Xu hesitated. "This prince thought you were frightened and didn’t wish to share a bed with me."

Ming Tan understood. When he had killed someone, clad in black with ink-dark hair, his calm demeanor had indeed been somewhat terrifying. But he had killed Marquis Jiangyang for her sake—she wasn’t so ungrateful.

"A Tan wants to."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Hm? Jiang Xu looked down at her and, for some reason, let out a low chuckle.

The smile was faint, so much so that Jiang Xu himself didn’t notice it. Ming Tan, her face burning, buried her head in his chest to help him undress, missing this rare sight.

A breeze drifted in, making the candlelight flicker and the bed curtains sway gently.

Jiang Xu braced a hand beside Ming Tan’s ear, his presence enveloping her as he hovered above her.

Their eyes met.

Ming Tan thought her husband’s eyes were especially beautiful—most of all when they held only her. Shy but emboldened, she reached up to loop her arms around his neck and whispered a small request, "Husband, kiss me."