Enraptured

On the afternoon of the second day of her marriage, Yan Wanning caught up on her sleep. After she rose, Xiao He brought her the dowry inventory to look over, and once she had confirmed that everything was in order, it was all put into storage.

She had the servants show her around the prince's residence, and the short afternoon passed just like that.

By nightfall, it was already past supper time, but Si Yunqi had yet to return. Yan Wanning sat on the daybed, embroidering a handkerchief to pass the time as she waited, with Xiao He keeping watch outside the room.

More than half a shichen later, Si Yunqi finally returned under the moonlight. Hearing the sound, Yan Wanning put down her work and rose to greet him. At the sight of the travel-worn man, she gave him a demure smile and said softly, "Husband, you're back."

Seeing the delicate woman standing before the door, Si Yunqi's eyes flickered with puzzlement. He then quickened his pace almost imperceptibly and naturally took her hand. It was soft and a little cold.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Yan Wanning shook her head shyly and said softly, "I had Xiao He keep watch."

"Mm."

"Husband, have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

Noticing a little fine mud on him, Yan Wanning asked, "Husband, would you like to eat first, or bathe and change first?"

Si Yunqi had mud on him and had also sweated quite a bit. He felt terribly sticky now. Looking at the delicate woman before him, concern in her eyes, he said, "Let's eat first."

Hearing this, Yan Wanning had someone prepare the meal, and the servants who had long been waiting swiftly laid out the dishes.

Seeing this, Si Yunqi knew that his little princess consort had probably waited a long time for him to return and eat supper. A trace of warmth flowed through his heart.

Once the servants had set out the meal, Si Yunqi waved them away. He picked up a bowl and ladled out some black-boned chicken soup for the woman beside him, saying with a rare touch of gentleness, "If I return late in the future, you needn't wait for me. Eat first."

Yan Wanning was naturally very glad to hear this. Judging by his current attitude, it should not be too difficult for them to be a couple who treated each other with the respect due a guest. As long as she behaved herself, he would not make things too difficult for her.

With that thought, Yan Wanning relaxed considerably and ate nearly half a bowl of rice more than usual. Si Yunqi naturally noticed the change in her mood, but paid it little mind.

After supper, Yan Wanning went into the bath chamber to wash. When she came out, Si Yunqi had likewise returned from bathing elsewhere. The two came face-to-face and both froze for a moment.

Yan Wanning looked at the man before her, his robe open at the chest and his hair dripping wet. Her face instantly burned, and she did not know where to look. She stopped drying her hair.

Si Yunqi was a man, after all. He froze for less than a moment before recovering his composure and looking straight at the lovely woman before him.

Her blouse was very thin, revealing her shapely figure and a waist slender enough to encircle with one hand. Its square princess neckline dipped a little low, and beneath her half-veiled collarbones were intimate red marks. His breath abruptly caught, and his heartbeat lost its rhythm.

He strode forward, swept her into his arms, and pressed the startled woman down on the bed. Without a word, he kissed her delicate lips and casually extinguished the candles with a gust from his palm.

His kiss was wild and scorching, and Yan Wanning could not withstand it at all. By the time he released her, all her clothes had been stripped away, she knew not when, and the man's sweat dripped onto her soft, snowy skin.

He gazed at her. Beneath her snow-white skin, smooth as congealed cream, a faint flush of rouge showed through. Her eyes were slightly lowered, and her maidenly shyness made her exquisitely beautiful.

His broad hand gripped her slender, fair thigh. Seeing her shrink back and tremble, he bent down to kiss her lips soothingly and said gently, "I'll be gentler."

As soon as he spoke, Yan Wanning's tears burst forth and she whimpered, her body trembling as she bit her lips. Si Yunqi kissed her tenderly, comforting her in silence.

This would be another sleepless night...

The next day, Yan Wanning could no longer get out of bed. In a daze, she was turned this way and that as someone applied medicine to her.

Yan Wanning opened her eyes slightly, and Si Yunqi's handsome face appeared close before her.

She instinctively drew back. Seeing this, Si Yunqi sighed inwardly. He truly had been too unrestrained the previous night. Now, seeing the woman lying limp on the bed, he was annoyed with himself, but felt no regret.

He had thought to show more restraint and not frighten her, but when he actually touched her, he could not control himself at all.

He held the warm water in his hand to her lips. "Drink some water, then go back to sleep."

After drinking, Yan Wanning sank into a deep sleep again and did not fully wake until lunchtime. She endured the soreness all over her body as she got out of bed and ate lunch, and had little energy to do anything else.

Thankfully, she did not have to pay a bridal visit to her family today, or she would likely have made a spectacle of herself.

"Princess Consort, is this pressure all right?" Xiao He kneaded Yan Wanning's lower back, pressing neither too lightly nor too hard. Seeing that the bruises there were worse than yesterday, she felt a pang of distress.

The prince truly did not know how to cherish a flower.

"Mm."