Chapter 36 I love His Highness very much
"Your Highness is of noble status, and it is your blessing that you are treated this way, as is the blessing of the Su family," Zhou said earnestly.
"I know, Mother." Su Jingyu's voice softened, filled with utmost seriousness. "So I secretly vowed to take good care of His Highness, along with the baby, and not let him worry about us. Mother, being able to marry His Highness is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me in my life."
These last words, like the sweetest honey, poured straight into Xiao Jingzhan's heart, making him feel completely relaxed and almost floating. His Yu'er always managed to touch his heartstrings so easily.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to immediately go in and embrace her tenderly. He turned and quietly left, instructing He Yong: "Prepare the horses and go to the camp outside the capital."
The royal martial arts training ground on the outskirts of Beijing.
Today, the generals of various units happened to be practicing new formations here. His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly arrived, and the generals hurriedly bowed to greet him. It was noticed that His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to be in a very good mood today; his brows were less cold and stern than usual, and more spirited.
"All generals, rise." Xiao Jingzhan raised his hand, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers in the arena, and said loudly, "I am in a particularly good mood today. Who would like to spar with me and stretch their muscles?"
The generals exchanged bewildered glances. His Highness the Crown Prince possessed extraordinary martial arts skills; who would dare to "spar" with him? But seeing the prince's intense gaze, it was clear he wasn't just being polite. A young general renowned for his strength stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "This humble general humbly requests Your Highness's guidance!"
"Good!" Xiao Jingzhan laughed loudly, took off his dragon-patterned cloak and threw it to Lu Chen, then leaped onto the martial arts stage. He was not wearing armor, only a black outfit, which made his figure appear even more upright and his heroic spirit even more imposing.
As the sparring began, Xiao Jingzhan did not use his internal energy. Relying solely on his exquisite moves and powerful physique, he forced the young general into a series of defeats.
His figure was as fast as lightning, and his moves were as swift as the wind. Sometimes he was like a crane spreading its wings, and sometimes he was like a tiger descending the mountain. He performed a set of boxing techniques commonly used in the military with unparalleled skill, which drew cheers from the soldiers below the stage!
After sparring with several generals, Xiao Jingzhan easily won each time, stopping short of defeat and displaying both the demeanor of a crown prince and extraordinary martial arts skills. He felt as if he had inexhaustible strength, and Su Jingyu's soft and sweet words, "The luckiest thing," kept echoing in his mind. Every move he made was filled with exhilarating pleasure!
It wasn't until the sun was setting that Xiao Jingzhan finally stopped, still somewhat unsatisfied, a light sweat on his forehead, yet his spirits were high. He surveyed the soldiers below the platform, their eyes filled with reverence, and said in a deep voice, "Generals, you have diligently trained to protect our country; you are the pillars of our Great Sheng! I hope you will strive for excellence and live up to the Emperor's grace!"
"We will heed Your Highness's teachings! Long live Your Highness!" A thunderous roar of responses echoed across the training ground.
On the way back to the palace, we passed through the East Market.
Xiao Jingzhan recalled that Su Jingyu had mentioned a few days ago that she missed the candied hawthorns she ate as a child. A thought struck him, and he ordered the carriage to stop. He got out and walked to a well-known old shop in the eastern suburbs. The old man selling candied hawthorns had never seen such a distinguished figure before and was utterly bewildered.
Xiao Jingzhan didn't care. He picked out several of the largest and reddest hawthorn skewers, coated with glistening sugar, and ordered He Yong to pay far more than their value before leaving satisfied.
Inside the Glazed Tile Pavilion, the lanterns were just beginning to illuminate the night.
As Xiao Jingzhan stepped into the hall, he saw Su Jingyu talking with Madam Zhou. Upon seeing him return, both mother and daughter rose. Su Jingyu's eyes lit up when she saw the candied hawthorn in his hand: "Your Highness!"
Xiao Jingzhan handed her the candied hawthorns, his gaze softening: "I was passing by Dongshi and saw they looked nice, so I brought a few for you and your mother-in-law."
Madam Zhou quickly expressed her gratitude, feeling deeply moved that His Highness the Crown Prince would personally go to buy such humble street food; such thoughtfulness was truly rare. Seeing her daughter's delight and the Crown Prince's gaze almost glued to her, she knew exactly what was going on, so she smiled and found an excuse to tactfully withdraw.
Only the two of them remained in the hall. Su Jingyu took a bite of the candied hawthorn, savoring its sweet and sour, crisp texture, and happily squinted her eyes: "Thank you, Your Highness, it's delicious!"
Looking at her satisfied and charming expression, and recalling the sweet words he had heard during the day, Xiao Jingzhan felt a surge of love in his heart, which he could no longer suppress. He stepped forward, gently pulled her into his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her lips, which were now even more alluring and stained with a little sugar.
The kiss, though weary from its journey, was incredibly passionate and lingering. He savored her sweetness, as if he wanted to devour her whole. Su Jingyu's body went limp from his kiss; she almost dropped the candied hawthorn in her hand and could only helplessly cling to his shoulder, letting out soft sobs.
After a long while, Xiao Jingzhan finally released her, panting. His forehead was pressed against hers, his eyes as dark as night, and his voice was terribly hoarse: "My dear...do you love me?"
Su Jingyu's cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling with allure. She gave a soft "Mmm," her voice barely audible yet crystal clear: "I love Your Highness very much."
Xiao Jingzhan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt a surge of heat rush to his lower abdomen. He looked at her lips, swollen and moist from being kissed, glistening and captivating, and then down to her high, rounded belly... He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging desire, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and mumbled, "...Little vixen, I can't do anything with you right now..."
Su Jingyu felt the tension and restraint in his body, and her heart softened with sweetness. She took the initiative to wrap her arms around his waist, stood on tiptoe, and breathed sweetly into his ear, with a hint of mischievousness in her smile: "Then... we'll owe it to Your Highness for now. After the baby is born, Yu'er... will make it up to Your Highness properly, okay?"
Xiao Jingzhan stiffened, then chuckled softly, his chest heaving with immense pleasure and anticipation. He tightened his arms, pulling her closer into his embrace, and said in a hoarse voice, "Alright, you said it yourself... I'll remember it."
That day, Su Jingyu was obediently watching her mother do needlework when the head palace maid, Yun Shu, walked in carrying a letter from home.
"My lady, the letter from the young lady in Jiangnan has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Su Jingyu's face immediately lit up with joy, and she quickly took the letter. She and her older sister, Su Jingrou, had a deep bond since childhood. Her sister was gentle and quiet, and married a scholar named Lin from Jiangnan. Although their family was not of high social standing, her brother-in-law, Lin Wenxuan, was honest, hardworking, and considerate towards her sister, and their married life was quite harmonious.
However, as Su Jingyu unfolded the letter, the smile on her face gradually faded, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
In the letter, the elder sister, Su Jingrou, spoke gently, but a hint of sorrow was revealed between the lines. It turned out that her brother-in-law, Lin Wenxuan, had studied diligently for years and finally passed the imperial examination, becoming a county magistrate in a distant county—a promising future indeed. This should have been a joyous occasion, but her brother-in-law's widowed mother, Old Madam Lin, had become restless. She felt that her son, now an official, and his wife, Su Jingrou, having only given birth to one child, were constantly nagging her son to take a concubine to continue the family line. She also frequently criticized her sister, even uttering vulgar remarks such as, "An official's wife should have the decorum of an official's wife; she shouldn't be jealous." The elder sister, gentle by nature, felt stifled and had no one to confide in, so she wrote to her closest sister to offer some solace.
After reading the letter, Su Jingyu sighed softly.
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