Chapter 41 "He shouldn't have coveted those he shouldn't have..."
Chapter 41: The Carriage ==
There was a moment of silence in the carriage, then the man gave a soft "hmm".
Inside the carriage, a man with superior bone structure and sharp features was closing his eyes, seemingly asleep.
He reached an agreement with her cousin because he didn't want her to suffer unnecessary harm, but he didn't care about her so-called fiancé and hoped that he would back down.
He shouldn't covet those he shouldn't covet.
The carriage came to a smooth stop at the entrance of Prince Cheng's residence. The man did not go to the study, but went directly to the Zixia Palace. The maids guarding outside the Zixia Palace hurriedly bowed to him. The inner palace was eerily quiet. Xiao Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Where is your princess?"
"Your Highness, the Princess is still resting inside," the maids exchanged glances and whispered.
"When did she go to bed last night?" Xiao Yu's voice was somewhat deep, and his gaze was sharp.
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort slept quite a long time yesterday, so she went to bed a little late last night."
Xiao Yu returned to the palace very late last night and went to rest in the study without inquiring about the situation in Zixia Palace.
Su Wanyue woke up feeling a tightness in her nose. She opened her eyes groggily and met a jade-like face and deep, dark eyes. Seeing her open her eyes, Xiao Yu took a few inches back and slowly stroked her cheek with his fingertips. "Your Highness is awake."
Su Wanyue had slept for too long and was still a little dazed. After a moment, she realized that it was already daylight outside and that he had just returned from court.
Su Wanyue subconsciously reached out to tug at the cuff of his official robe, her gesture carrying a dependence she hadn't yet realized, "Your Highness."
Her intimate gesture made Xiao Yu narrow his eyes, and his previously unyielding mood instantly turned into pleasure. He responded gently.
His gentle demeanor, as if nothing had happened, made Su Wanyue unable to utter a question. She clutched his collar, and for a moment, she doubted her own judgment. But who else but him would so brazenly take her things?
The two looked into each other's eyes, their initial indifference gone.
"Your Highness, I brought a brocade box from Nanqiong. Inside are my precious belongings. Last night, when I opened the box, I found that something was missing." Su Wanyue gently raised her eyelashes, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with tears, as she observed his expression.
The siblings were quite observant, and Xiao Yu had no intention of hiding anything from her. He confessed without hesitation, "It was I who took it."
Su Wanyue pursed her lips, looking at him as if she didn't know what to say. His reaction was different from what she had expected. Did he not know what the pill was for?
Xiao Yu noticed her conflicted expression and immediately understood what she was thinking. He chuckled and said, "Your Highness, I have some knowledge of medicine."
His tone was tender and murmured, mercilessly shattering the woman's last vestige of fantasy.
Su Wanyue: "..."
She lowered her head and pursed her lips, as if searching for an excuse to brush him off.
Having already known her identity, how could a man not guess what she was planning? He cupped her cheeks in his hands, making her look at him. "I don't mind if my princess keeps something from me, but we've been married for almost a year now, and it's time to have a child. After the child is born, I will patiently teach it. If my princess still has concerns, she might as well speak up."
He had already made a concession, simply because he didn't want to hurt his wife. He didn't care about his wife's identity; as long as he let go of Lu Qingchen, the past would be wiped clean.
The other party has already made things so clear. If she still has reservations, it will definitely arouse his suspicion again. She can't afford to cause any more trouble.
This time, Su Wanyue's attitude was less resistant. She stepped onto the bed, relaxed, and looked at Xiao Yu earnestly, saying softly, "I have no concerns, but I am really not ready to be a mother. Can Your Highness give me a little more time?"
She made a concession, and Xiao Yu was willing to take another step back. He held his wife's fingertips and gently kissed her slender, soft fingers. "Don't keep me waiting too long."
Su Wanyue gave a vague reply.
Within a few days, everyone noticed that His Highness Prince Cheng seemed to be in a much better mood. Not only was his expression gentle, but he also nodded slightly when courtiers greeted him, unlike before when he looked at people like a vengeful Yama.
Su Wanyue could sense the changes in the man, and so could the people in the Prince Cheng's mansion.
Logically, Su Wanyue should have been happy that his emotions weren't as unpredictable as before, but after that day, his desire in that area became exceptionally strong, and it was true that he told her to stay in the manor for the next few days. The Seventh Princess had invited her to go shopping together several times, but the man had always made excuses to avoid it.
Su Wanyue really couldn't figure out what he meant by doing this.
"Is Your Highness daydreaming again?" Noticing her distraction, Xiao Yu's eyes flashed with displeasure. He bit her lip, and the slight pain brought Su Wanyue back to her senses.
The man's actions were reckless, and after two hours, Su Wanyue's throat was hoarse, and her eyes were red when she spoke, "Your Highness."
"I'm listening." Little did she know that her actions only aroused more desire. Xiao Yu's hand tensed, the veins clearly visible, and his voice was hoarse, "What does the Princess wish to say?"
His entire aura enveloped her, as if trying to crush her. Su Wanyue was trapped within it, finding it difficult to even breathe. "Didn't Your Highness send two people to guard me earlier? If so, why didn't Your Highness let me go out with the princess?"
"When the princess gives me an answer, I will naturally release her."
Upon hearing this, Su Wanyue immediately looked up at him. Perhaps because of nervousness, she held him very tightly. Xiao Yu's temples throbbed, and he almost lost control. He closed his eyes slightly and gave her an answer in a deep voice, "Wait a little longer."
Once that person left the capital, he would give her absolute freedom and not restrict her.
Hearing the last sentence, Su Wanyue's tense back relaxed. She lowered her eyes slightly and gently pushed Xiao Yu away, saying, "I'm tired and want to rest."
The man, who was usually indifferent to women, pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Then Your Highness, please rest. I will take over."
He spoke with utmost seriousness, but Su Wanyue dared not listen. She hugged his neck and bit him hard on the neck. Their lovemaking didn't end until the third watch of the night.
The maids guarding outside the palace lowered their heads shyly. These past few days, His Highness had been spending his evenings and days with the Princess. In the mornings, when they helped the Princess get up, her legs were so weak that she could barely stand. But since their masters were so affectionate, they, as servants, couldn't say anything.
The next day was a day off. When they opened their eyes, it was already bright outside. The maids filed in and helped their mistresses get up. Su Wanyue's collarbone and neck were covered with hickeys. When Qin'er was combing her hair, she quickly covered them with rouge.
Even Su Wanyue blushed, and she played with the begonia hairpin with some annoyance.
Xiao Yu, on the other hand, was impeccably dressed, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes. When he saw his wife looking over, he pretended to walk over and put a hairpin in her hair, appearing to be very considerate towards her.
After breakfast, Xiao Yu was handling memorials in the inner room, while Su Wanyue was looking at the palace's account books in the outer room. The couple worked well together until Qin'er walked in from outside, saying, "Your Highness, Your Highness, Imperial Physician Zhang has arrived."
"Why is Imperial Physician Zhang here?" Su Wanyue asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Let Imperial Physician Zhang in." Xiao Yu, who was in the inner room, stood up and gave Qin'er an order.
Xiao Yu stopped in front of his wife and explained gently, "The princess is in poor health. From now on, Imperial Physician Zhang will come every few days to check on the princess's pulse."
Having received the signal, Imperial Physician Zhang quickly entered. He respectfully bowed to Xiao Yu and Su Wanyue. Xiao Yu embraced Su Wanyue and then asked Imperial Physician Zhang to take her pulse. Seeing this, Imperial Physician Zhang lowered his head and took Su Wanyue's pulse. After a moment, Imperial Physician Zhang stood up. "The Princess Consort has a constitution that is cold and needs proper care. I have a prescription here that will benefit the Princess Consort's health..."
At this moment, Su Wanyue understood that regardless of whether she agreed or not, he would not give her a chance to back down.
His actions were both out of genuine concern for her health and a warning to her.
Xiao Yu waved for everyone to leave, his handsome features slightly lowered. "Physician Zhang's prescription is only for conditioning the Princess's body; it has no other effects."
Su Wanyue: "I understand."
Meanwhile, Qin Jue had already submitted a memorial to the Emperor, proposing to leave the capital. The Emperor quickly agreed and ordered Mu Ziyi and Duke Xie to escort him away.
The day before Qin Jue left the capital, Xiao Yu arrived at Zixia Palace early. At this moment, the Zixia Palace was filled with tenderness. The woman was held in his arms, her forehead covered with fragrant sweat, as if she had been pulled out of the water. Xiao Yu held her and calmed her somewhat rapid breathing. "Your brother is leaving the capital tomorrow. Are you going to see him off?"
Su Wanyue's mind suddenly cleared. These days, because of him, she had been immersed in "love and romance" and had forgotten that her cousin was still in the capital. Tomorrow was the beginning of February, and according to the time, her cousin was going back to Nanqiong.
Back in Nanqiong, Qin Jue always doted on his cousin Su Wanyue. When he left the capital, Su Wanyue would definitely see him off.
"Since my brother is leaving the capital, I must go," Su Wanyue said softly, her lips slightly pursed.
"Then I will accompany you tomorrow." He nodded in a very good mood and picked up Su Wanyue in his arms.
He's been excessively agreeable lately; aside from in bed, he'll agree to anything Su Wanyue says.
That night, just as Su Wanyue was about to fall asleep, she felt this person place a kiss on her lips and say that it was time.
When Crown Prince Qin left the capital, the Emperor sent Duke Xie and Mu Ziyi to see him off at the city gate. Duke Xie had a very good impression of this Crown Prince from Nanqiong and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Crown Prince Qin, may you have a safe journey."
"Thank you very much, Duke." Apart from the Crown Prince of Beili's faction, Qin Jue had a good impression of the others, and he said with a warm smile.
Qin Jue glanced at the vast city gate. Last time, Prince Cheng had already made everything clear to him and knew that Lu Qingchen had come to the capital. He guessed that he would definitely not let Wanwan come today.
Qin Jue smiled. Prince Cheng was indeed very protective of his people. Just as he was about to leave, the sound of horses' hooves came from the direction of the horse. Qin Jue and Duke Xie both looked up and saw that the riders were none other than Xiao Yu and Su Wanyue. Qin Jue stepped forward and Duke Xie also hurriedly bowed, "Your humble servant greets Prince Cheng and Princess Cheng."
"The princess insisted on coming to see my elder brother off, so I brought her along." Only Xiao Yu and Su Wanyue were present. Xiao Yu helped his wife down from her horse and said with a smile.
This made Qin Jue's face look a little strange. Could it be that the Prince of Cheng was deliberately saying this to someone else? He wasn't saying how much he doted on Wanwan, but rather that Wanwan was very clingy to him and he was enjoying it.
Qin Jue walked up to Su Wanyue in a few steps, his smile gentle and refined. "Sister, please take good care of yourself in the capital. If you miss me, Father, and Mother, just send a message."
Su Wanyue nodded slightly and said softly, "Your sister knows. I wish you a safe and smooth journey, brother."
Qin Jue resisted the urge to touch her head. He turned his gaze to Xiao Yu and smiled, "Then I'll leave my little sister in Your Highness's care. I hope Your Highness won't bully her."
He knew that the Prince Cheng would not harm his sister, but he was afraid that the Prince Cheng would bully her out of jealousy, especially now that he understood Wanwan's true identity, while Wanwan did not.
Qin Jue wanted to remind Wanwan, but this person wouldn't give him a chance to see Wanwan at all, so Qin Jue could only sigh helplessly.
"Please rest assured, elder brother, I will definitely take good care of the princess." Xiao Yu's voice was deep, and his expression was serious.
Qin Jue naturally believed King Cheng's promise. He glanced at his little sister again and saw that her eyes were like autumn water and her cheeks were rosy. He was completely relieved and smiled, "Then, take care."
There were other people around. Qin Jue got into the middle carriage cleanly and efficiently. Duke Xie and Mu Ziyi knelt down and said, "Your humble servants respectfully see off Crown Prince Qin."
Su Wanyue subconsciously took a step forward, and Xiao Yu immediately put his arm around her waist, watching the long line leave with her. When no one could see, a cold glint flashed in Xiao Yu's eyes.
Qin Jue wasn't the only one who left the group; the Second Young Master Lu also left.
The mission of Duke Xie and Mu Ziyi was to escort Qin Jue away from the capital. Now that Qin Jue has disappeared, Duke Xie and Mu Ziyi naturally have to return to the palace to report to the Emperor. "Then Your Highness Prince Cheng, Princess Cheng, your humble servant will return to the capital first."
Xiao Yu nodded.
Prince Cheng and Princess Cheng were of noble status, so the soldiers on the city wall could not urge them to leave. They simply kept watch with their eyes down. Just as Xiao Yu was about to leave with his wife, another voice came from above, "Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness, this old servant has been looking for you for a long time. His Majesty requests your presence."
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