A Letter from the Duke Yan Household

After Yan Wanning had finished her meal, Xiao He came in and said, "Princess Consort, Nanny Cheng, who manages the prince's residence in the capital, requests an audience."

Yan Wanning set down the sour plum in her hand and said with puffed cheeks, "Let her in."

An elderly nanny then stepped inside and knelt three paces away from her, performing a full salute. In a respectful voice, she said, "This old servant pays her respects to the Princess Consort."

"Get up and speak, Nanny."

"Thank you, Princess Consort." Nanny Cheng rose as instructed, though she was somewhat ill at ease and dared not speak out of turn. She simply waited for Yan Wanning to question her.

"Nanny, is there something you need?"

Hearing this, Nanny Cheng took a ring of keys from her sleeve and said respectfully, "These are the keys to the residence's storerooms. This old servant brought them especially to hand over to the Princess Consort."

Yan Wanning smiled and had Xiao He accept the keys. She then listened as Nanny Cheng reported on the various affairs of the residence. Pregnant women were prone to sleepiness to begin with, and listening to words that sounded like a lullaby only made her sleepier. Yan Wanning forced herself to pay attention, but she had only heard half of it before she slumped onto the couch and fell asleep.

Nanny Cheng stopped speaking when she saw this. She had noticed earlier that the Princess Consort would now and then eat a plum sour enough to make her teeth fall out, yet her expression never changed. She had also grown drowsy while listening to the report. Nanny Cheng had intended to stop and continue another day, but the Princess Consort had stopped her, so she had carried on.

Suddenly, Nanny Cheng's eyes lit up, and her face broke into a joyful smile. She was beside herself with excitement and looked at Xiao He as though she wanted to say something, but held her tongue.

Just then, Si Yunqi strode in and waved for them to leave.

Seeing this, Nanny Cheng and Xiao He withdrew.

Si Yunqi sat down beside the couch, his heart softening as he gazed at the sleeping woman. He reached out to brush aside the stray strands of hair that had fallen across her face, then rested his broad hand lightly on her still-flat belly and sighed inwardly.

She's still a child herself, yet she's going to bear me a child.

At that moment, soft footsteps sounded in the room. Si Yunqi looked over in displeasure. "What is it?"

Startled by his icy gaze, Xiao He hurriedly said, "Your... Your Highness, the gatekeeper just brought an envelope. It's... from the Duke Yan Household."

"Bring it here." Si Yunqi took the envelope, then dismissed Xiao He.

Si Yunqi glanced at the envelope in his hand and tossed it onto the table without a care. He took off his outer robe, climbed onto the couch, and closed his eyes to sleep with the woman in his arms.

When night fell, Si Yunqi fed Yan Wanning fragrant, soft rice soaked in chicken broth. After she finished the small bowl of rice, the two went to the bathing room to bathe and wash up, and then Si Yunqi handed Yan Wanning the letter.

Yan Wanning took it in mild surprise. When she saw the words "Duke Yan Household" written in large characters on the envelope, she bit her lip and stared blankly.

"This came from the duke's household?"

"Mm." Si Yunqi watched her as he used a cloth to dry her smooth, jet-black hair. "Read it if you want to. If not, throw it away."

Yan Wanning nodded and tore open the paraffin seal on the envelope with her fair, delicate fingers. The letter read: Wanning, it has been a long time since we last saw you. Your second uncle, second aunt, and younger sister think of you all the time. If you have a moment to spare, bring the prince back to the duke's household to see us, so we may ease our longing.

Yan Wanning smiled mockingly and handed the letter to Xiao He to burn.

They miss me? They probably don't really miss me. They just want to see how miserably I'm living at the Prince of Anbei's residence so they can mock me.

Si Yunqi felt that the black hair in his hands had dried considerably, so he put down the cloth. Seeing her pouting her cherry lips, cheeks puffed with anger, he was moved to lean in and kiss her.

He had seen the contents when she opened the letter earlier. He gently coaxed her, saying, "What is my wife angry about? They're nothing but a bunch of scum. There's no need to waste your thoughts on people like that."

"Hmph! I'm not angry at all."

Yan Wanning wrapped her arms around his neck and said softly, "There are things my father and mother left behind at the duke's household. I didn't have time to take them with me back then. Husband, will you go back with me to get them tomorrow?"

"All right." Si Yunqi smiled and agreed. "We can treat it as making up for the return visit we never made after our wedding."

The next day, after breakfast, Si Yunqi took Yan Wanning by carriage to the Duke Yan Household.

Duke Yan happened to return home from the morning court session just then. His heart jolted when he saw a carriage bearing the insignia of the Prince of Anbei's residence parked outside his gates.

He was even more startled when he saw the handsome couple step out of the carriage. The woman was unmistakably his eldest niece, who had become the Princess Consort of Anbei. Looking at the tall, strikingly handsome man beside her, he saw a face both strange and familiar. Who else could it be but Prince Anbei himself?

Duke Yan straightened his court robes slightly, then said to the young servant behind him, "Quickly, go inside and tell the madam to make ready and come out to welcome Prince Anbei."

The servant had also recognized Yan Wanning. At his order, he hurried into the residence.

Duke Yan was uneasy. He had not expected Prince Anbei and his wife to arrive without any advance notice the very day after he sent the letter. What surprised him even more was that Prince Anbei had actually accompanied his eldest niece back. The words in the letter had merely been written to sound nice.

Wearing a fawning smile, Duke Yan cautiously went forward and bowed to them. "This subject pays his respects to Your Highness and the Princess Consort."

Si Yunqi held Yan Wanning's hand and gave him only a glance without speaking. Yan Wanning saw that he did not want to speak. Although she did not want to either, it would not do to make a scene in public. Copying Si Yunqi's expressionless manner, she said, "Please rise, Second Uncle."

Duke Yan straightened awkwardly, unsure what to say.