Sorrow

Si Yunqi entered Anyuan Courtyard beneath the moonlight. Seeing the bright candlelight in the room, he felt warmth fill his heart, as though a fire were burning there, fierce and scorching.

He quickened his steps and pushed open the door, only to see the woman sitting on the soft couch, flustered and fumbling. She was hiding something behind her back.

His heart warmed, and he strode over and swept her into his arms. Yan Wanning was delighted to see him return, and when he came close, she threw herself into his embrace.

Si Yunqi held her contentedly, but just as he was about to make a move, she suddenly pushed him away. He looked at her in confusion, only to see her eyes rimmed red and her face full of grievance as she turned away, refusing to look at him.

Si Yunqi frowned slightly, thinking the smell of alcohol all over him had bothered her. He moved farther away before asking gently, "Does the smell bother you?"

She said nothing. Holding back the frustration filling his heart, Si Yunqi went to the Bathing Room for a quick wash. He changed into a fresh set of white inner robes before coming out.

When Yan Wanning saw him enter the Bathing Room, she buried herself in the bedding, holding back the bitterness in her heart. Great tears rolled down, wetting her entire face.

She had smelled it clearly: the scent on Si Yunqi was unmistakably the powder women used. Had he gone to a pleasure house to seek out a courtesan?

Otherwise, how could a man like him have gotten the scent of powder on him?

Yan Wanning suddenly remembered what An Yingying had told her, and the ache in her heart grew unbearable.

He had come to embrace her with the scent of powder all over him. Presumably, he was hinting that he wanted to bring another woman into the manor.

Perhaps the woman whose powder he smelled of was not a courtesan, but a woman he kept outside the manor.

"A Ning, what's wrong?"

Si Yunqi lifted the bedding, only to find her little face covered in tears. He was startled, and his heart ached terribly for her.

He reached out to hold her, but she slapped his hands away. Though he was the one who had been hit, she cried even more pitifully, wrapping her small body in the bedding and retreating into the corner.

Si Yunqi moved closer, only to be struck squarely by a soft pillow she threw at him. He caught the pillow and forcibly pulled her into his arms, his large hand gripping her little hands as she struggled. "A Ning, what's wrong? Did your husband do something wrong?"

Si Yunqi could see now that his little princess consort was upset because of him, but try as he might, he could not think how he had hurt her.

"Go away. Don't touch me with the hands you used to hold another woman."

Yan Wanning glared at him with reddened eyes as she cried, looking both adorable and pitiful. Her cheeks were puffed out as though she had a ball in her mouth.

Her words stunned him. Then he frowned and said in a low voice, "What are you saying, A Ning? When has your husband ever held another woman?"

"Boo-hoo~" Seeing that he would not admit it, Yan Wanning cried even harder. Her lovely little face flushed red as she sobbed, "You... you smell of a woman's scented powder. If you hadn't held another woman, how would you have gotten her powder on you?"

"And you... you came to hold me... smelling of another woman." Yan Wanning managed to stop crying, though disappointment still crept into her voice. "Are you thinking of taking a concubine?"

She should have known long ago that, as a prince of great power and rank, he could not possibly have only her. Many more women were bound to enter the manor in the future.

Even though she understood this, and it was perfectly normal for him to have one or two women outside the manor—at least he had not brought them home to upset her—she still felt terribly sad whenever she thought of him having other women.

She was so wicked, not wanting to share him with any other woman.

She simply wanted him all to herself.

Jealousy was the greatest taboo for a married woman. Even if she had such thoughts, she could only bury them in her heart forever. Otherwise, alone and far away in the Northern Borderlands, she feared life would be difficult if he found out.

"I'm sorry. Please don't take what I said just now to heart." Yan Wanning forced a smile. "I'll start making arrangements tomorrow. I'll be sure to find a woman from a respectable family..."

"What concubine?" Si Yunqi gave a cold smile. "My lady is certainly generous."

Seeing her close her mouth, looking aggrieved, Si Yunqi regretted it. He held her and said, "A Ning, you've misunderstood. I don't have another woman outside the manor, and I have no intention of taking a concubine."

"As for the powder on me, I picked up the scent at the banquet. Several officials accompanying me arranged for some dancers to perform for our entertainment, and I accidentally got a little on me. I never meant to make you sad. It was my fault."

"The Prince needn't explain it to me. I'm not angry."

Si Yunqi felt like laughing. She had cried so hard just now, and now she would not even call him husband. Was that not anger?

"I do need to explain. Nothing should come between us as husband and wife." Si Yunqi kissed her rosy red lips. "From beginning to end, my lady is the only woman your husband has ever touched."

Si Yunqi let her go and coaxed her gently. "My lady, don't speak of taking concubines again. The two of us are living happily together; why let someone else stick a foot in? Besides, my lady is lovely and alluring, soft and sweet. No one can compare to you."

"There's something your husband wants to say. It isn't quite proper, but it's the truth in my heart."

Yan Wanning asked in confusion, "What is it?"

"Just now, seeing my lady cry so sadly because of me made your husband very happy."

"Huh? You don't mind that I'm jealous and have committed one of the seven grounds for divorce?"

Si Yunqi's expression was gentle and doting. "How could I mind? If my lady had been indifferent, that's when your husband should have been angry."

At last, a smile appeared on Yan Wanning's face. She buried her head in his chest and rubbed against him, saying indistinctly, "Husband, A Ning likes you."