Making Amends

As Yan Wanning sat there, uneasy and anxious, Si Yunqi put down the book in his hand. A complicated look flashed in his eyes before he slowly climbed onto the bed. His large hands wrapped around her from behind, his hot breath brushing the back of her ear.

His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "Why didn't you tell your husband what you wanted, wife? You'd best read fewer books like that."

Yan Wanning wanted to cry, but no tears came. "I... I didn't."

Feeling his hands move, Yan Wanning shuddered violently and whimpered, her eyes misting over. Her thin robe slipped down, leaving her delicate body entirely in his hands.

She slowly turned to look at the man behind her, and he seized the chance to seal her lovely lips with his. Suddenly, Yan Wanning arched, tears falling like pearls from a broken string. Her lips were sealed, and his movements were fierce and rough; in her distress, she could only cling to him.

After a long while, Si Yunqi released her lips. "Tonight, your husband will be sure to satisfy you."

The next day, Xiao He came in to find the princess consort, usually so gentle and soft, uncharacteristically venting her temper on a book—the very one Xiao He had brought back from the bookshop not long ago.

Her eyes red with anger, the princess consort flung the book away and said petulantly, "Take it away, quickly! I never want to see it again."

Though Xiao He didn't know how the book had offended the princess consort, she saw how angry she was and asked no more. She picked up the book and immediately told someone to find a place to throw it away.

"Have a cup of tea and calm down, princess consort," Xiao He said, an ingratiating smile on her round face.

When Si Yunqi returned from his morning training and saw his little princess consort, she turned her head away and refused to look at him. He sighed inwardly. His little princess consort was angry. How was he to coax her?

He wanted to reach out and draw her into his arms, but then he remembered he reeked of sweat. With no other choice, he turned and went to the bathing room.

Yan Wanning's cheeks puffed up with anger. Stinking man, wicked man.

After the way he treated me, what's wrong with me having a little temper? Hmph.

Si Yunqi came out in a casual moon-white robe and swept the angry little woman straight into his arms. Once Yan Wanning's temper flared, she couldn't hold it back. She struggled to get down, but moved so much that she accidentally twisted her slender waist, which was already limp and weak.

"Wah... it hurts..." Yan Wanning stopped struggling and nestled into his arms. Gazing at him with tearful eyes, she complained in a soft voice, "It's all your fault. I'm hurting so much now."

Si Yunqi was both exasperated and concerned. His large hand gently kneaded her slender waist as he coaxed her, "Yes, it's all my fault. Wife, be magnanimous and forgive me, all right?"

"Then... you have to show more restraint from now on, or... or I'll make you sleep in the study." Sitting on his thigh, Yan Wanning looked rather pleased with herself. "Grandmother said that if you bullied me, I should tell her, and she'd stand up for me."

Hearing this, Si Yunqi automatically ignored the first half of what she said. "You're wrong, wife. That sort of thing isn't bullying; it's one of the pleasures between husband and wife. When Grandmother sees how dearly your husband dotes on you, she won't have anything to say about it."

"To make amends, how about I take you out for some fun tonight?"

"Really?" Yan Wanning hugged him tightly in delight. "Husband, you have to keep your word."

Her beaming face amused Si Yunqi. He had also been surprised that his little princess consort had been angry with him that morning, though her soft little temper had hardly any power to wound. His little wife making a fuss with him meant she was no longer so afraid of him and was treating him as her husband.

"Your husband has to go to the military camp. Later, I'll send someone back to the residence to fetch you."

He bent to kiss her forehead, set her down on the couch, then turned and strode out. Once he was gone, Xiao He smiled and said, "Princess consort, are you no longer afraid of the prince?"

Yan Wanning knew her own behavior was strange today, but for no reason at all, she had wanted to make a little fuss with him. Still, he had been willing to coax her, and a sweet feeling welled up in her heart.

After lying on the couch for half a shichen, she took Xiao He to Cian Court to keep the Old Princess Dowager company. The Old Princess Dowager was delighted to see her and pinched her tender cheeks.

"Look how fair and soft you are. How adorable."

Just then, a servant came in and said, "Old Princess Dowager, Princess Consort, Steward Mu says the Lin family and the Wang family have sent their stewards over with gifts."

"Why would those two families send gifts out of the blue?" The Old Princess Dowager was puzzled. The Prince of Anbei's residence had never had much dealings with either family.

"They said the young ladies of both families unintentionally offended the princess consort at yesterday's flower-viewing banquet, so they sent people with gifts to make amends to her."

The Old Princess Dowager frowned at this. Drawing Yan Wanning close, she looked her over carefully and asked, "Did they hurt you?"

The women of the Northern Borderlands were fierce-tempered and strong. Her A Ning was gentle and soft, and looked delicate too. She was afraid some blind fool might have hurt her.

"No, Grandmother, don't worry." Knowing what concerned her, Yan Wanning cuddled up to the Old Princess Dowager's arm. "With Grandmother and my husband protecting me, no one would dare hurt me."

"That's good, then. If anyone bullies you, you mustn't swallow your anger. You have us to protect you." The Old Princess Dowager patted her hand. "A Ning, do you want to accept their gifts?"

"Have Steward Mu accept the gifts and send them back," Yan Wanning said.

If she didn't accept them, they would surely let their imaginations run wild.

The servant acknowledged the order and withdrew with a bow.