Although the distance was short, Lejur walked slowly, each step clearly striking a chord in her heart, making her feel tormented.

When he approached, Rong Yu did not raise her head, her eyes still half-closed.

Lejur sat down, lifting his robe, and glanced at her sideways. "There are many formalities today, Your Highness must be tired."

This was originally just a very ordinary expression of concern, but Rong Yu had no feelings for him, so she couldn't possibly respond with a shy smile. She thought of herself as a princess and didn't need to worry about his feelings; she would say whatever came to mind.

"It's quite tiring. I'm a bit exhausted and want to rest early. Let's get started! Let's finish this quickly."

Lejur's eyes flashed with confusion, "Start what?"

Shocked, Rong Yu slowly turned her head to look at him, as if he were a strange person. "Tonight is our wedding night, and you're asking me what to start? Didn't your nanny teach you?"

Of course, someone taught him some rules and procedures for the wedding night, but he never expected the princess to be so... straightforward!

“The old woman’s teachings were too general; experience comes from practice,” Lejur said, her gaze fixed on her.

"May I ask, Your Highness, what should be the first step?"

Rong Yu awkwardly pinched her fingers tightly, "I don't have much experience either, don't count on me."

Lejur casually remarked, "The nanny said the first step is a kiss."

“No!” Rong Yu immediately corrected, “I remember the old lady said that the first step is to unbutton the clothes.”

Because the knotted buttons were too difficult to untie, the nanny said that they had to be untied beforehand, as it would be difficult to untie them later.

Lejur didn't argue; whatever she said went. "Then I'll trouble the princess to help me undress."

He sat upright, as if waiting to be served, but Rong Yu leaned back in disgust, "Can't you untie it yourself?"

"No, I'm used to being waited on." He said matter-of-factly. Rong Yu pouted unhappily, "This princess is also used to being waited on. I don't know how to serve others. You'd better give up that idea."

Lejur was not annoyed and readily replied, "Then this humble servant will serve the princess."

"..." So he was waiting for her here! Rong Yu immediately refused, "There's no need for that!"

She planned to unbutton her own clothes, but she forgot that her long fingernails were not suitable for unbuttoning.

After trying for a long time without success, Rong Yu felt embarrassed. Just as she was getting anxious, a pair of hands reached out.

Compared to her fair and delicate face, his fingers appeared even darker, though they were much whiter than in previous years. His long, slender fingers easily reached the buttons on her collar. Rong Yu didn't want to touch his hand and subconsciously withdrew it, while he openly began to unbutton her collar.

It was the first time Rong Yu had been so close to a man, and she felt very uncomfortable. She deliberately turned her head away, unwilling to look him in the eye.

Seeing her furrowed brows and trembling eyelashes, looking impatient, Leju'er deliberately slowed her movements, greatly displeasing Rong Yu.

"Is it done yet? Why are you taking so long?"

Lejur made an excuse with a straight face, "I have no experience, I'm learning."

"..."

The feeling of turning one's head away was really uncomfortable, and Rong Yu felt extremely tormented. She urged him repeatedly, "If you don't know how, I will call a maid in."

Seeing that she was really angry, Lejur began to seriously unbutton her clothes, and soon she had unbuttoned them all.

Just as Rong Yu was about to turn her back, he raised his finger and grabbed her chin, his gaze fixed on her red lips, deep and unfathomable.

What should I do after undressing?

Not again? This time she was too embarrassed to give an answer. "Can you please stop asking? Do whatever you want, there's no escaping it anyway, so whatever!"

Her demeanor clearly indicated that she was trying to get by and showed no shame or anticipation for what was about to happen.

Lejur remained silent for a moment before finally withdrawing his hand.

Rong Yu raised her eyebrows in surprise, but saw that he had already looked away and sat back down. "I've had a bit too much to drink today. We'll consummate our marriage another day. Please forgive me, Princess."

After saying this, he took off his clothes and then took a wedding quilt and went to the bed behind the screen.

Rong Yu was completely bewildered. She thought she couldn't escape tonight, but unexpectedly he didn't bully her.

Uh... what's going on? Is he really drunk? But he was speaking clearly and logically just now, he didn't seem drunk at all!

Rong Yu didn't understand what he meant and didn't know what Lejuer was planning, but she was secretly glad that she didn't have to consummate her marriage with him.

She wasn't picky about beds and could fall asleep anywhere. Coupled with the complicated rules of the day, she was indeed very tired. It was a hot summer day, so after Rong Yu lowered the bed curtains, she only covered herself with a thin blanket, then turned over and lay down facing inwards. She fell asleep almost immediately.

Lejur, lying on the couch, watched through the gauze curtains as the person inside reclined gracefully. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he found it difficult to fall asleep for a long time...

Previously, Su Yushan could see Rong Yu every day, but since her daughter got married, she hadn't seen her for several days and couldn't help feeling a little unaccustomed to it.

Su Tang's wedding preparations have begun, so Su Tang left the palace to return home and await her marriage.

After the princess left the palace, Yan Zhi, who was her companion, should also go home. However, if they all left, Yu Shan would definitely be very lonely. Therefore, Hongli made an exception and allowed Yan Zhi to stay in the palace to accompany her aunt.

The princess returned to her parents' home on the ninth day after the wedding. Su Yushan had been eagerly anticipating the day her daughter would return.

The nanny reported the truth, saying that the princess and her consort had not consummated their marriage. Yu Shan thought that her daughter was rejecting Lezhuer and not allowing him to get close.

Rong Yu cried out that he was wronged, "I didn't refuse. It was he who refused to consummate the marriage. On the night of the wedding, he said he was drunk. In the following days, he did not mention consummating the marriage. So, I certainly wouldn't bring it up on my own!"

Rong Yu believed she had done nothing wrong, but Su Yushan couldn't help but wonder if Lezhuer was in no hurry to consummate the marriage because he saw that Rong Yu had no feelings for him, and planned to wait until they developed feelings for each other.

She couldn't fathom her son-in-law's thoughts, and it wasn't appropriate for her to ask too many questions, so she didn't interfere further. She thought it best to let the young people handle their own affairs. As their mother, she should refrain from meddling.

The eldest daughter got married, and Yonghuang's mansion was completed. He left the palace with his wife. Yongzhang was getting older and was not as clingy as he was when he was a child. At present, only Yanzhi, Yongrong and the youngest daughter accompanied Yushan.

In the spring of the twelfth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, the little princess had turned two years old and was ready for smallpox vaccination.

Yu Shan waited anxiously for more than ten days, when news came from Xi Hua that the little princess had recovered and could be sent back the next day.

Overjoyed, Su Yushan got up early the next day and personally cooked her daughter's favorite dishes.

It was nearly noon, and she was waiting for her daughter's return in the palace when a palace servant reported that someone in Xihua's quarters had noticed something unusual about the little princess's fingers. This had been reported to the Empress Dowager, who was already aware of the situation and ordered the little princess to be taken to Cining Palace.