Youthful Glory

The smile on Ming Tan's face froze abruptly, her overflowing joy doused as if by a bucket of cold water, leaving only wisps of residual warmth.

Could this man even speak properly?

Was his usual reticence due to his inability to string words together?

After speaking, Jiang Xu also felt his phrasing was somewhat inappropriate. He explained, "This prince meant no offense. What I intended to say was—"

"Your feet stink!" Ming Tan's drowsiness had completely evaporated from anger, leaving her so alert she could probably review ten account books right then.

Jiang Xu: "..."

Ming Tan plopped down and began tidying her sewing supplies, refusing to even glance at him.

After a silent pause, Jiang Xu also sat down on the opposite side and changed into the new winter boots she had made.

"They're very comfortable and fit perfectly. Consort has put much thought into this," he said after putting them on.

Ming Tan ignored him.

He stood up and moved before her, bringing the winter boots into her line of sight.

She couldn't help stealing a glance.

They did fit perfectly, just as she had imagined they would. Yet despite her meticulous work and the little surprises she'd hidden within, this man remained utterly oblivious to her romantic gestures—making her even angrier!

She stood up, clutching her sewing box, and made to walk toward the dressing table. But Jiang Xu blocked her path. When she tried to go around, he extended his arm to stop her.

"Why are you blocking me?" Ming Tan snapped.

Jiang Xu didn't answer. Instead, he took the sewing box from her arms, placed it back on the dressing table, and retrieved the medicine chest from a drawer.

"Your hand is injured. This prince..." He paused. "Let me tend to it for you."

Ming Tan remained silent as Jiang Xu guided her back to the couch.

"This might hurt a little. Bear with it," he said solemnly.

"Nothing could hurt more than when I got pricked!"

Jiang Xu paused his movements and looked up at her. "Did it hurt that much?"

"Of course it did!"

Ming Tan wasn't some foolish girl who silently sacrificed without expecting acknowledgment or care. Normally, even when supervising someone making pastries, she could spend half an hour detailing her efforts to Jiang Xu. Having prepared such a grand surprise, she had fully intended to claim proper credit and make her husband appreciate just how much thought she'd put into this!

Earlier, she'd been too angry to engage with him. But now that he'd brought it up himself, she wasn't about to let this golden opportunity slip. Her words poured out in an endless stream, recounting everything from her initial inspiration all the way to the eleven needle pricks she'd endured that very day.

The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. She thrust her stinging, medicated fingers toward Jiang Xu. "I'm not exaggerating—look, eleven pricks exactly."

Jiang Xu fell silent, unsure how to respond.

After a long pause, he said, "This prince was at fault."

He knew he was in the wrong, yet something still felt off about the situation.

But Ming Tan didn't give him time to reflect further. "Then blow on it," she said, shoving her fingers even closer.

After a brief hesitation, Jiang Xu complied, gently blowing on her injured fingers.

Ming Tan pressed further, "Did you like the characters I embroidered?"

"...Mn."

"But it didn't seem like Husband liked them very much."

"I did."

"Really?"

"Naturally. This prince will wear the new boots you made tomorrow. Consort has gone to great effort."

"Why must Husband always speak to me with such formality!"

After another long silence, Jiang Xu finally managed with difficulty, "A Tan went to great effort."

Hearing him call her "A Tan," Ming Tan was finally satisfied. She stood and tugged at Jiang Xu. "Husband should rest soon. We have the ancestral temple visit tomorrow—it'll be exhausting."Jiang Xu nodded, inexplicably feeling a sense of relief.

The winter solstice worship at the ancestral temple was an event that could not afford any mishaps. Jiang Xu had barely rested for two hours before rising again.

By the time he changed into his princely court robes, it was still dark outside. The manor was silent, and Ming Tan remained deep in slumber.

He gazed at her peaceful sleeping face for a while, tucking the quilt tighter around her. Just as he was about to leave, something seemed to cross his mind, and he bent down to press a kiss on her forehead before silently exiting the room.

The winter rituals were elaborate—traveling to the ancestral temple, conducting the suburban sacrifices for blessings, and temporarily residing in the fasting palace. It would take at least three to five days before the imperial procession returned. Outside, the shops were closed as per custom, leaving little to explore. With nothing else to do, Ming Tan decided to receive several rounds of guests.

The first visitors were Shen Hua and her mother-in-law, Lady Xiang.

Lady Xiang was a kind-natured woman who had taken an immediate liking to Shen Hua during their first meeting. After the marriage, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had always gotten along exceptionally well.

This time, Lady Xiang had come to Prince Dingbei's Manor specifically to accompany and care for Shen Hua, who was now with child.

Shen Hua had yet to show any visible signs of pregnancy, though her figure had noticeably filled out. Her eyes sparkled, and she radiated a healthy glow. Seeing her like this, Ming Tan could tell she was living a contented life.

The three women chatted idly, enjoying a pleasant conversation. However, whether intentionally avoiding the topic or otherwise, neither Shen Hua nor Lady Xiang brought up Ming Tan's own condition.

Curious, Ming Tan reached out to touch Shen Hua’s slightly rounded belly and sighed, "Cousin, you’re about to become a mother. I wonder when it’ll be my turn. I still feel like I haven’t grown up myself."

Lady Xiang quickly reassured her, "Your Highness is still young. There’s no need to rush."

Ming Tan nodded in agreement. "That’s exactly what my lord says."

Seeing that Ming Tan wasn’t bothered by the topic, Lady Xiang secretly sighed in relief.

Shen Hua seemed lost in thought. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke up when the maids escorted Lady Xiang to freshen up. "Earlier, I overheard Auntie expressing some concern about your… situation. But you don’t seem worried at all."

"I was a little concerned at first," Ming Tan admitted, "but my lord isn’t worried. He says I’m still young and there’s no need to rush for a child. Thinking about it, he’s right—these things can’t be forced. It’s best to let nature take its course."

Shen Hua hesitated, then cautiously asked, "Have you consulted a physician?"

"Imperial Physician Feng comes every month to check my pulse. Everything is fine."

Only then did Shen Hua relax. "You’re right. I suppose Auntie was worried you might face the same difficulties as her… But since His Highness isn’t in a hurry, then it’s best to let things happen naturally."

Ming Tan nodded, though Shen Hua’s words made her resolve to ask Imperial Physician Feng during his next visit if there were any methods to increase the chances of conception. Besides, it had been nearly half a month since she and her husband last shared intimacy—after all, a child wouldn’t just appear out of thin air.

Three days later, the imperial procession returned to the capital. After escorting Emperor Chengkang and Empress Zhang back to the palace, Jiang Xu headed home early.

With the markets reopening after three days of closure, the capital was bustling with activity. Jiang Xu rode his horse leisurely through the streets, seemingly searching for something. At a street corner, his gaze landed on a fabric shop bustling with customers.

Remembering Ming Tan’s enthusiasm for clothing shops back in Hezhou, Jiang Xu tightened the reins and dismounted.

"Welcome, esteemed guest!" A shop attendant greeted him warmly. "What would you like to see? Winter garments or silks? We have everything here."Jiang Xu scanned the room, his gaze settling on a bolt of plain satin with a faint sheen.

The shop assistant was quick-witted and immediately chimed in, "Sir, you have excellent taste! This snow satin is of the finest quality, highly favored by nobles and officials. Just look at its luster and texture—though, being such fine material, it is naturally more expensive than others—"

"Two bolts," Jiang Xu said directly.

"Ah, right away, right away!" The assistant, delighted by such a decisive customer, responded eagerly. "Please wait a moment, I’ll wrap them up for you."

Since returning to the capital from the south, he hadn’t seen his little consort add any new clothes to her wardrobe. A few days ago, she had gifted him winter boots, so today, presenting her with fabric would surely bring her joy.

However, before he could return to the mansion and witness her happiness, an urgent matter arose at the capital garrison, requiring his immediate attention.

By the time he finished handling the matter and returned home, dusk had already fallen.

He had mentally rehearsed his words for a long while, but upon arriving at Qi’an Hall, Ming Tan was nowhere to be found.

"Where is the consort?"

"Your Highness," replied Suxin, the stewardess left in charge of Qi’an Hall, "the consort was waiting in the mansion for your return to have lunch together. But when you sent word that you would first go to the military camp, she dined alone. After resting for a short while at noon, she received an invitation from the Bai family’s young lady and went to Duke Changguo’s residence for tea. She also instructed that dinner need not be prepared for her tonight."

Jiang Xu fell silent for a moment. Without entering the room, he handed the two bolts of satin to Suxin. "I’ll be in the study. When the consort returns, tell her I picked these out for her."

Suxin was momentarily puzzled, but as she took the fabric, realization dawned on her, and she couldn’t help but suppress a knowing smile.

Ming Tan had drunk two cups of green tangerine wine at Duke Changguo’s residence, leaving her cheeks slightly flushed. By the time she returned to the mansion, the sky was pitch black. Noticing the courtyard was quiet, she casually asked as she walked to her room, "Has His Highness not returned yet?"

Suxin, helping her undress, replied with a smile, "He has. His Highness is currently handling affairs in the study."

"He’s back?" Ming Tan was slightly surprised.

Suxin smiled mysteriously. "Not only is he back, but His Highness also specially picked out a gift for you."

"A gift?" Ming Tan’s tipsiness faded instantly.

Suxin turned and presented the two bolts of satin Jiang Xu had brought back.

Ming Tan stared at them, speechless for a long moment.

Snow satin? This had been out of fashion for at least three months! While ordinary wealthy families in the capital still wore it, none of the madams or young ladies she knew would be caught dead in it now.

Noticing the label from Jinlü Pavilion, she realized this wasn’t an imperial gift—he had personally gone to the shop to buy it.

The illustrious Prince Dingbei had gone to Jinlü Pavilion and painstakingly selected two bolts of long-outdated fabric. It was amusing yet pitiable, pitiable yet oddly touching.

Her lips curled upward as she gently stroked the fabric, lost in thought. After a long pause, she suddenly ordered food to be prepared, freshened up her appearance, changed into a new outfit, and led Suxin to the study.

Inside the study, Jiang Xu was in a secret chamber discussing with a few covertly arrived generals the plans for reclaiming Rongzhou—the last of the thirteen northern territories—after the new year. Midway through the discussion, he heard familiar footsteps approaching outside. Realizing the guards wouldn’t know he was in a secret meeting and thus wouldn’t stop the consort, Jiang Xu fell silent, signaling the others to wait. He moved the mechanism aside and stepped out of the chamber alone.

By the time Ming Tan entered the study, Jiang Xu had just returned to his desk.Before he could ask what she was doing here, Ming Tan had already swept over like a gust of wind, placing the food box down before unceremoniously settling onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pouted shamelessly, "Husband, the gifts you sent are so thoughtless! Snow satin went out of fashion three months ago. Do you not like A Tan anymore? Do you not love A Tan anymore?"

"..."

"This prince—"

"There you go again!" Ming Tan had always disliked his formal self-address.

"I—"

Ming Tan leaned in closer, continuing her affectionate whining, "No excuses! As punishment, Husband must kiss A Tan!"

Jiang Xu gave her a look that seemed to say, "Are you sure about this?" But Ming Tan, as if unable to wait, kissed him first. She refused to believe that with her being so proactive and passionate tonight, her husband still wouldn’t grasp the romantic spark that should exist between a married couple.

As it turned out, he really didn’t grasp it—

"Stop fooling around. Go back to your room first." His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his voice low and rough.

Who was fooling around? Just as Ming Tan was about to protest indignantly, a sudden noise came from behind the antique shelf.