The Princess Consort Would Have to Pay Him Back Sooner or Later

It was midsummer, and rain fell in abundance.

It had rained for several days straight. Su Luoqian had been due to go out and inspect her shops, but with the rain pouring down these past few days, she had put the idea aside.

But tomorrow was the first day of the lunar month. According to Great Jin's rites, Prince Cheng'an and his wife were to pay their respects at the Grand Princess's Residence before entering the palace to pay their respects to the empress.

If the rain remained this heavy, it would indeed be rather inconvenient.

Fortunately, heaven smiled upon them, and by the previous evening, the rain had begun to let up.

By the time Lu Jingsi returned to the residence from the Prison Administration, it was already dark, and the rain had stopped completely.

Shortly after five in the evening, Lu Jingsi stood beneath the eaves at the entrance and brushed the water from his cuffs and the hem of his robe. "Where is the princess consort?" he asked casually.

Fulin closed the umbrella. "The princess consort has just finished dinner. She is in the main house now."

Hearing this, Lu Jingsi drew his sword-shaped brows together slightly and said coldly, "Didn't I send someone back to let her know?"

He had had some time to spare today, and despite the heavy rain, he had planned to return and dine with Su Luoqian. Who would have thought she would go ahead and eat by herself?

Fulin carefully glanced at his expression and chose his words before speaking. "When the servant came back with the message, the princess consort had already ordered the meal to be served."

"Perhaps... perhaps she didn't want to waste the food."

In fact, by the time the servant returned to the residence, the meal had already been laid out on the round table in the outer room of the main house.

When Su Luoqian ate alone, she instructed the kitchen to prepare only a small portion of each dish, all seasoned to her own taste.

But if Lu Jingsi returned to eat with her, naturally, more of the prince's favorite dishes would have to be prepared.

With all that back and forth, some waste would be unavoidable.

So after Su Luoqian heard the servant's message, she said nothing and continued to focus on her meal.

By now, she might even have finished bathing.

Lu Jingsi's expression was grave as he made his way through the winding corridors toward the main courtyard.

The rain had just stopped, and servants could be seen sweeping and tidying throughout the courtyard. At the sight of Lu Jingsi, they all stopped to bow.

As soon as he rounded the corner, he heard clear, melodious laughter coming from the main house.

It was mixed with snatches of conversation.

"...Zelan... this prince is so funny..."

"...Why is he so silly..."

Lu Jingsi's brow twitched, and his expression darkened further.

Only when he reached the door of the main house did he hear Su Luoqian speak again. "The young prince in this storybook is so cute."

Lu Jingsi stopped in his tracks, the crease between his brows easing slightly, then strode inside.

In the room, Su Luoqian held a book in one fair hand, while the other now and then picked up a few pieces of preserved fruit from beside her and popped them into her mouth.

When she saw Lu Jingsi, she calmly put down the book, wiped her fingertips with a handkerchief, and said indifferently, "Your Highness, you're back."

Lu Jingsi lowered his eyes, fixing his gaze on the storybook's cover.

"A Few Tales of the Jade-Faced, Innocent Young Prince and the Woman Bandit"

Lu Jingsi: "..."

He said nothing, turning around and leaving the main house again, leaving her with only the sight of his tall, aloof figure.

After that interruption, Su Luoqian no longer felt like reading these "few tales."

But tomorrow was the first day of the month, and she had to enter the palace. She might run into Qin Shuning, who had sent someone to deliver the storybook to her. It would be wonderful if they could share and discuss it together.

With that thought, Su Luoqian told Zelan to prepare water for her to wash her hands.

After the dangling ornaments and jeweled pins had been removed from her hair one by one, Su Luoqian raised a hand to cover a small yawn, took off her shoes, and climbed into bed.

"Put out all the lamps. Just leave one."

Zelan paused. "Aren't you leaving a lamp for His Highness?"

Su Luoqian slipped under the brocade quilt, strands of hair falling across her delicate, porcelain-white cheek. "Today is the last day of the lunar month, when the sun and moon meet. It's better for husband and wife to sleep in separate rooms."

"Yes."

Zelan answered, then slowly withdrew, putting out the lamps as she went.

In the dim light, Su Luoqian's eyelids began to droop.

She did not know how much time had passed when, just as she was drifting off, a pair of large hands suddenly lifted the bed curtains.

A man's presence enveloped her, and Su Luoqian started in alarm. She was about to push him away when his lips sealed hers.

"...Mm..."

A moment later, she recognized Lu Jingsi's presence. She pressed both hands against his chest and pushed him.

"...Mm, Lu... Jingsi..."

Lu Jingsi pinned her beneath him and kissed her, his large hand slipping into her satin underrobe and roaming farther in with practiced ease.

Anger flared in Su Luoqian. "Lu Jingsi! You... mm... get up..."

She was about to curse him when he gave her a hard bite.

Lu Jingsi did not stop, though the kisses he planted on the side of her neck grew gentler. "I'll take a look. Your injury should be almost healed."

The medicine the residence physician had sent was extremely effective. In less than two days, Su Luoqian had been up and about again, full of life.

But she also understood that if she really let him examine her, she would certainly get no peace tonight.

Not only was it the last day of the lunar month, an unsuitable day to share a bed, but she also had to go to the Grand Princess's Residence to pay her respects early tomorrow morning.

With him being the way he was, she feared she would be unable to get up tomorrow morning.

Su Luoqian flailed beneath him. "It's the last day of the month! It's not suitable... not suitable to share a bed."

At that, Lu Jingsi finally raised his head, his dark eyes fixed intently on her. "Who said so?"

"Our ancestors did."

Lu Jingsi's body was scorching hot against hers, but his voice was somewhat cold. "There is no such rule in Prince Cheng'an's Residence."

"No."

There had to be. There absolutely had to be.

Even if only for the sake of her poor little waist, that rule had to exist.

"The rites handed down by our ancestors cannot be broken. Besides... besides, we have to pay our respects tomorrow. Carrying on like this, aren't you deliberately trying to make me unable to get out of bed?"

At that, Lu Jingsi said nothing more, only fixing his deep gaze on her face.

The man took a moment to savor the smooth, fair, tender skin beneath his palm.

After that night, he had become familiar with a few of Su Luoqian's sensitive spots.

The place where his index finger now rested was one he only had to rub and press lightly to make her body go completely limp.

After a moment's thought, he rolled off her and lay down beside her.

His breathing was still heavy, but his voice seemed to carry a smile through gritted teeth.

"Fine."

"Either way, you'll have to pay me back sooner or later, Princess Consort."

At his words, Su Luoqian's lashes trembled uncontrollably. She did not dare answer, silently hugging the brocade quilt and edging farther inward.

The Grand Princess's Residence was also located on Ankang Street, though it was a considerable distance from Prince Cheng'an's Residence.

The Grand Princess, Zhou Anyun, was very close to her younger brother, the reigning emperor. When her residence had first been established outside the palace, the emperor had granted her this estate, which occupied extensive grounds and boasted fine scenery.

Prince Consort Lu had originally been a military general. When the emperor had just ascended the throne, his position had not yet been secure, and because of Prince Consort Lu's relationship with the Grand Princess, the emperor had placed particular trust in him.

Prince Consort Lu had fought campaigns north and south, rendering great military service to Great Jin, but he had also suffered many injuries and ailments as a result.

Lu Jingsi had formally entered the military camp at fifteen, gaining experience at his father's side. He later became a great general capable of commanding in his own right, one whose very name struck terror into his enemies.

Five years ago, father and son had returned victorious to the capital. His Majesty had bestowed the title of Prince Cheng'an on Lu Jingsi and given him a separate residence.

They had thought the Grand Princess and her husband could finally remain together, inseparable, but unexpectedly, Prince Consort Lu's years of campaigning had taken their toll. Less than a year after his return to Yujing, his old injuries and ailments had flared up again, and he had passed away.

From then on, an eternal lamp had burned through the night in the Grand Princess's Residence. Zhou Anyun lived in seclusion, rarely going out, keeping quiet company with the ancient Buddha.

Su Luoqian had seen her only on her wedding day and on the first day of each lunar month.

The Grand Princess, however, was quiet by nature, gentle and courteous, and a mother-in-law who was very easy to get along with.