Chapter 3 The Simple-Minded Princess
Jiang Fenghua's eyelashes fluttered, her face flushed red, and her slender fingers gathered her already thin outer garment. The more she tried to cover herself, the more it accentuated her graceful waist. Her bare feet were fully exposed in front of him, making her look like an elfin girl, so endearing and lovable.
Xie Shang quickly looked away and said coldly, "Put your clothes on."
Jiang Fenghua glanced down and realized she was completely exposed. She swayed past him, hurriedly pulling at her clothes as she explained in a soft voice, "It's not that I don't know the rules, Your Highness. Please allow me to explain. My outer robe was burned during the day, and I was afraid it would be unsightly. So after returning to my room, I had someone prepare water for me to bathe. I was planning to redo my makeup, but perhaps I was too tired, and I accidentally fell asleep. I forgot the time."
"I don't mind." His voice was distant and cold, and his dark eyes clearly showed displeasure.
He thought: He wouldn't care even if someone took off all their clothes, as they didn't care about him.
Jiang Fenghua's eyes sparkled. She timidly stepped aside, her eyes filled with trepidation. She bit her cherry-red lips and murmured, "The series of wedding rituals taught by Granny Wang..."
Looking at the frail and timid girl in front of him, he realized he had frightened her. The coldness in his eyes softened slightly, and he lowered his tone, "Please sit down."
"Your Highness, please have a seat," Jiang Fenghua said with a smile.
Her smile seemed infectious, causing his heart to tremble.
Xie Shang sat on the edge of the bed with a sullen face, trying his best not to look at her, his face always maintaining a stiff and deliberately cold expression.
Jiang Fenghua pretended not to understand his aloofness and plopped down next to him without any restraint, her cheeks flushed. "Granny Wang said..."
"Don't listen to everything Granny Wang says. I have something to say to you now," Xie Shang interrupted her, a sharp glint in his eyes. Granny Wang was like his mother's eyes, constantly watching him.
"Your Highness, please speak." Jiang Fenghua immediately stopped talking, her bright eyes looking blankly at the man beside her.
Xie Shang was indeed handsome, wearing a jade-inlaid purple-gold crown, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. His eyes were long and narrow, giving him a heroic and imposing appearance. He had a high nose bridge and thin lips that were slightly pursed, exuding a sense of aloofness and coldness.
His features were sculpted, sharp and distinct, exceptionally handsome. No wonder she loved him to death in her previous life. It was just a pity that he already had someone else in his heart and could not tolerate anyone else.
Now, Xie Shang is nothing more than a stepping stone for her to gain power; she no longer has any feelings for him.
However, good-looking people are indeed very attractive, and she unconsciously moved closer to him.
Xie Shang keenly sensed Jiang Fenghua approaching. Her outer robe suddenly opened, revealing only a scarlet gauze dress underneath, her graceful figure faintly visible. He abruptly stood up, convinced that the person he loved was Su Tingwan.
His expression suddenly turned cold, and his voice was ruthless and indifferent. "I have someone I love, and I have promised that I will only love her for the rest of my life. There is no room for a second woman in my heart. Therefore, I will not consummate our marriage. What Granny Wang told you is all wrong. Only two people who truly love each other can be honest with each other and do that kind of thing."
Jiang Fenghua opened her eyes wide, her face calm and expressionless, and said softly, "So Your Highness already has someone you like!"
Men's words are deceitful. After Xie Shang ascends the throne, his harem will be filled with women. The royal family will not allow him to love only one person. Later, he will know how cruel reality is and how insignificant his love with Su Tingwan is.
Her eyes were filled with confusion and naivety as she slowly said, "Ever since the imperial decree of marriage was delivered to the Jiang residence, my mother has told me that I can only like His Highness. But I have never even met His Highness before, so how could I like him? Since His Highness has a woman he admires, he should strive to marry her!"
What she meant was: You have someone you like, but you don't have the ability to marry them, so what does it have to do with me? I don't like you, but I still married you because I couldn't refuse the emperor's will.
She wanted to tell him that she hadn't deliberately intruded between them; she had married into the Heng Prince's mansion as a princess by imperial decree.
She understood Xie Shang; she knew it was best to be a blank slate in front of him, as men's possessiveness was much stronger than she imagined.
Xie Shang was taken aback by her reaction, his eyes filled with inquiry. Did she approach him for no reason just now because she wanted to?
She had clear and open eyes, and her face showed no abnormality. On the contrary, he felt flustered because of her approach.
The thought that Jiang Fenghua was already his princess, and the fact that her husband had a woman he liked, didn't bother her at all. Or perhaps, as she said, she didn't like him, which was why she didn't mind.
He asked again, "You really don't mind her coming into the household?"
"A woman who can win His Highness's favor must be an exceptional woman. Why should I mind? Granny Wang said that since I've become the Prince's consort, I should be more concerned about the prosperity of the Prince's lineage. A consort's duty includes selecting suitable women to serve His Highness. I will certainly put in more effort in the future." So what if you disagree? What good will crying do? You'll still marry her in three days. Why don't I do you a favor? In this life, I want to see with my own eyes how strong your love is with Su Tingwan.
Xie Shang saw that her eyebrows were as beautiful as if they were painted, her voice was soft and gentle, her face was calm and expressionless, her eyes were sincere, and her expression was unpredictable, as if she really didn't care at all that her husband had another woman in his heart.
However, upon learning that he had a woman he liked, she seemed relieved.
Looking at this calm woman, Xie Shang felt inexplicably irritated. Was she really that magnanimous?
"Your Highness, shall we retire for the night?" Jiang Fenghua asked proactively.
Xie Shang's heart skipped a beat. "Now that things are clear, I'll go sleep in the study."
"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. Nothing will happen between us. We're just going to bed. How about we each sleep in our own rooms?" she said, mustering her courage. "Your Highness must have had a long day. Why bother the servants? Why not just rest here? Besides, it's so late. If Your Highness goes to sleep in the study alone from his newlywed wife's room, I'm afraid I'll be nagged by Granny Wang about my wifely duties again tomorrow."
After hearing this, Xie Shang thought things through more carefully. Jiang Fenghua was, after all, a marriage bestowed upon him by the Emperor, so he couldn't treat her too poorly. Since she had agreed to marry Wan'er and also agreed not to consummate the marriage, he had no reason to sleep in the study anymore.
Besides, if he leaves tonight, the young master Jiang's daughter will be neglected by her husband on her wedding night, and if word gets out, he won't be able to explain it.
As long as Jiang Fenghua is sensible, he will not make things difficult for her.
"This humble servant will assist Your Highness in changing your clothes," she said.
"No need." Xie Shang stepped aside to avoid her and walked straight behind the screen. He had been busy all day and had drunk a lot of wine in the evening. He was exhausted and needed to wash up.
Jiang Fenghua remained calm and unsurprised. In any case, she had already washed up, so she didn't care that Xie Shang had climbed into bed, settled into a comfortable position, and gone to sleep alone.
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