Serving Tea

After getting up and washing, Yan Wanning ate breakfast. Before long, Si Yunqi, who had been nowhere to be seen since early morning, returned. Yan Wanning was embroidering a handkerchief at the time, and when she noticed a shadow falling over her, she instinctively looked up. The tall man was gazing at the handkerchief in her hands.

His black brocade robe and her peach-pink dress differed in color, but their embroidered patterns were so similar that they looked like a matching pair.

Yan Wanning rose and curtsied to him. "Husband," she called softly.

Si Yunqi answered indifferently, his face cold and solemn, but her soft "husband" had actually left him momentarily dazed.

He came forward and drew her back into her seat, then sat on a round stool beside her. "There's no need for such elaborate formalities from now on. We're husband and wife; we needn't stand so much on ceremony."

Hearing this, Yan Wanning stole a glance at him. Seeing his solemn expression, which did not look as though he was lying, she nodded gently.

"Get ready. We'll go to Grandmother's courtyard in a little while." Si Yunqi noticed that she seemed to be sitting very unnaturally, her fair, slender little hand discreetly resting on her waist.

Something occurred to Si Yunqi, and he frowned. He placed his large hand on her soft waist, and even when he felt her body stiffen slightly, he did not take it away. He rubbed her slender waist with a pressure that was neither too light nor too heavy.

At that moment, he recalled, quite inappropriately, how it had felt to hold that slender waist in both hands last night. It really was so slender and soft that he could not bear to let go. Her little waist had been covered in bruises last night; he wondered whether the swelling had gone down after the medicine was applied.

Sensing his scorching gaze, as though it might burn her, Yan Wanning looked up and met his eyes. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and her hand stopped moving with the needle and thread.

Last night, he had worn that same look, as though he wanted to devour her, as he tormented her again and again.

Her fair little hand trembled as she placed it over his large one. "I... I'm all right now," she said in a soft, delicate voice.

"Mm." Though he answered, he did not take his hand away. When she turned to look, his other large hand cupped the back of her head, and his lips covered her cherry lips. The man's cool, sharp scent enveloped her.

He was so strong that her struggles were in vain. Her lips were easily pried apart, and his agile tongue swept through her mouth, conquering city after city as it entwined with her little tongue.

The sudden kiss caught her off guard like a storm. Their tongues rubbed together amid the fragrant, slick wetness, and her mind went blank. She simply closed her eyes obediently, as though it were all only natural.

Her body went soft against his, and both hands clutched tightly at his lapels. The man shifted his position, and their kiss grew even more impossible to break.

After an unknown length of time, they finally stopped, both breathing hard. Yan Wanning lay in his arms with her shoulders half bare, her beautiful eyes red and a layer of mist clouding them.

Si Yunqi was no better off. Though his handsome face remained expressionless, his hurried breathing and the faint flush at the corners of his eyes betrayed him.

He looked down at the woman in his arms, annoyed with himself. He had never lost control like this before.

He reached out to straighten her clothes, wiped the wetness from her cherry lips with his rough fingers, and then adjusted his own clothes. Taking her hand, he led her out of her courtyard, Anyuan Courtyard, and straight to the Old Princess Dowager's Cian Court.

On the way to Cian Court, Yan Wanning was nervous and walked slowly. Si Yunqi matched her pace, and knowing that she was uneasy, he reassured her as gently as he could. "Don't be afraid. Grandmother is easy to get along with. She won't make things difficult for you."

"Mm."

Yan Wanning nodded obediently, but her nerves did not entirely settle.

When they reached Cian Court, the Old Princess Dowager was already sitting there. Seeing the beautiful couple arrive hand in hand, she nodded to herself in satisfaction.

The young couple bowed to the Old Princess Dowager from their place below her. "Your grandson and granddaughter-in-law pay their respects to you, Grandmother."

The matron beside the Old Princess Dowager placed the prepared tea in Yan Wanning's hands.

"Please have some tea, Grandmother," Yan Wanning said softly.

The Old Princess Dowager accepted the tea and took a sip, then had Yan Wanning rise and sit beside her. She studied her carefully for a moment.

The young woman looked fair and clean, delicate and gentle, and she was exceedingly beautiful. Her manners seemed good as well. Her gentle nature was just the match for A Qi's aloof temperament. The emperor did have an eye for people.

She had heard that the girl's parents were both dead and that she had lived cautiously under her aunt's care since childhood. She had not expected her to have grown up so well-mannered; it surely could not have been easy.

The Old Princess Dowager felt even more tender toward her.

Yan Wanning knew the elder was appraising her, which made her even more nervous and uneasy. Her body also grew slightly stiff.

Seeing this, the Old Princess Dowager smiled kindly. "What a lovely girl. Don't be afraid."

She waved for the matron to hand Yan Wanning an exquisite sandalwood box, then motioned for her to open it.

Inside the opened box lay a purple jade bangle. Yan Wanning was a little surprised. "This is?"

"Good child, be good and keep it." The Old Princess Dowager picked up the purple jade bangle and slipped it onto her wrist. "This is a gift passed down to daughters-in-law through generations of the Si Household," she said slowly. "Grandmother has no great expectations. Before, I hoped A Qi would marry and live a good life. Now that the two of you are married, I hope you'll love each other and live well together."

"But A Qi is aloof by nature. If he dares to bully you, tell Grandmother, and I'll teach him a lesson for you."

Yan Wanning turned to look at Si Yunqi beside her. He nodded and said, "Listen to Grandmother and keep it safe."

"Mm." Her little face red with shyness, Yan Wanning accepted the bangle with an easy mind. "Thank you, Grandmother. A Ning will take good care of it," she said softly.

As a new wife, she was, after all, very easily embarrassed.

The Old Princess Dowager found her obedient and soft manner utterly endearing. "Our A Ning is such a good girl."

After they had chatted with the Old Princess Dowager, it was nearly time for lunch. The servants brought the food to the table in an orderly fashion.

Looking at the dishes on the table, appealing in color, aroma, and taste, the Old Princess Dowager said, "I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I had the kitchen prepare a few capital dishes. If they don't suit your taste, you must say so. Don't put yourself out."

Yan Wanning answered softly and helped the Old Princess Dowager to her seat. Seeing several dishes on the table that she usually loved to eat, Yan Wanning felt a wave of warmth in her heart.

"Quick, have a taste. Do you like it?"

After lunch with the Old Princess Dowager, Yan Wanning left Cian Court with Si Yunqi. When they were almost at Anyuan Courtyard, the man walking ahead of her said, "There's something to attend to in the army. I'm going there."

Yan Wanning nodded and watched him turn in another direction. Only when his figure gradually disappeared from sight did she set off for Anyuan Courtyard.

At that moment, Xiao He was coming out of the small kitchen in Anyuan Courtyard with a plate of chestnut cakes. Seeing Yan Wanning return, she said, "Oh! Your Highness, you're back."

She happily brought the chestnut cakes over. "I just made these, Princess Consort. Please have a taste."