Outside the tent, red candles flickered, making Li Zhiwei’s face look as delicate as peach blossoms. She lifted her eyes, meeting Xu Heming’s teasing gaze, and for a moment, she forgot how to answer his question.
Seeing Li Zhiwei’s dazed expression, Xu Heming didn’t hesitate. He leaned in and kissed her.
“Mm...” Li Zhiwei hadn’t expected him to suddenly kiss her, and a soft gasp escaped her lips.
She wanted to push him away, but no matter how many times she tried, he remained unmoved.
“My princess, tonight, you belong to me,” Xu Heming whispered into her ear. Then, as if handling a rare treasure, he gently cupped the back of her neck and kissed her tenderly.
Li Zhiwei’s mind went blank, her heart pounding like a drum against her chest.
After what felt like an eternity, Xu Heming finally stopped. Yet he still rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling.
Even though she had lived two lifetimes, Li Zhiwei had never been this close to a man before.
This delicate feeling left her flustered, yet also faintly excited.
“Weiwei,” Xu Heming called her name in a husky voice, then added with a hint of guilt, “What happened today has put you through a lot.”
Li Zhiwei paused, then realized he was referring to the matter with Zhou Yuxin.
“Your Highness...” she began, wanting to tell him about Xu Qingshi’s visit that day, but Xu Heming cut her off.
“Call me Heming, or perhaps, husband?”
Li Zhiwei pursed her lips and softly called out, “Husband.”
Xu Heming was very pleased with her response and planted a light kiss on her cheek.
Then, noticing the peanuts still clutched in her hand, he smiled.
“Do you know, Weiwei, what these peanuts mean in folk weddings?”
Li Zhiwei knew very well, but at that moment, she was too embarrassed to say it.
Seeing her blushing, Xu Heming knew she was too shy to answer.
He grinned even more boldly, leaned close to her ear, and whispered seductively, “It means we need to bear...”
“Your Highness!” Li Zhiwei, flustered and annoyed, quickly reached out to cover his mouth.
But Xu Heming caught her hand and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss.
Their eyes met. Red candles flickered. The room was silent.
Outside the window, a breeze had risen, causing tree shadows to sway against the paper window—like someone peeping.
Inside, Xu Heming raised his hand and used his inner energy to draw the bed curtains closed.
The red silk tent was warm, and the night of passion was just right.
The next morning, Li Zhiwei was awakened by soft sounds.
As she tried to sit up, her whole body ached. Remembering Xu Heming’s wildness last night, she blushed again and silently cursed him for being shameless.
Last night, she had been coaxed and teased with him until late.
“Miss, are you awake?” Cuiguo asked cautiously.
“Mm, what time is it?” Li Zhiwei’s mind was still hazy, but she remembered she needed to get up early to serve tea to her mother-in-law.
“Miss, it’s already nine. His Highness said you can sleep in a little longer,” Cuiguo said cheerfully as she hurried in.
But when Cuiguo went to help Li Zhiwei sit up and saw the dense marks on her body, she gasped.
She silently cursed the prince for his lack of tenderness toward her lady.
Li Zhiwei’s skin was fair—the marks would probably take days to fade.
Cuiguo’s stare confused Li Zhiwei. Following her gaze, Li Zhiwei looked down.
Good heavens.
The marks were nothing but the hickeys Xu Heming had left last night.
Her face flushed again, and she said uneasily, “You go out first. I’ll dress myself.”
At that moment, Li Zhiwei simply couldn’t bear to have Cuiguo help her change.
“Miss—” Cuiguo’s eyes reddened, worrying that her lady might not want her anymore.
She knew that the Prince’s residence had maids far more skilled than her. Having grown up with her mistress as a dowry maid, she was still afraid of being outshone.
“What’s wrong?” Li Zhiwei asked, puzzled.
“Does Miss no longer need me?” Cuiguo asked timidly.
Li Zhiwei said to Cuiguo, “Help me dress.”
She quickly realized Cuiguo might be feeling insecure in the new residence, which was understandable.
She just hadn’t wanted Cuiguo to see those marks.
But now, seeing how anxious the little maid was, she felt sorry for her.
Still, she had no time for lengthy explanations.
Hearing this, Cuiguo hastened to help Li Zhiwei change. Yet when she saw the marks covering her lady’s body, her heart ached even more.
This Prince truly didn’t know how to cherish his bride.
“Has the Princess woken?” Just as Cuiguo finished dressing Li Zhiwei, Nanny Luo from The Old Princess’s courtyard arrived with a smile.
“Nanny Luo, the Princess just woke. His Highness dotes on her and told us not to disturb her sleep,” Qinghua said with a smile, stepping forward.
“No matter. The Old Princess said I should come to tell you there’s no rush—she’s not young anymore,” Nanny Luo replied, smiling.
Inside, she was delighted that the prince and princess were so close.
That meant the Prince’s residence would soon have a little heir.
“This servant greets the Princess!” Qinghua led Nanny Luo into the inner courtyard, and Nanny Luo quickly curtsied.
“Nanny Luo,” Li Zhiwei said, returning a half bow with a smile.
Although Nanny Luo was a servant in the residence, she served The Old Princess and was not to be slighted.
“Princess, I have come on The Old Princess’s orders to collect the bridal cloth,” Nanny Luo said with a knowing smile.
Word had already spread that the prince had asked for bathwater several times last night.
Collecting the cloth was just a formality.
Li Zhiwei blushed but still had Cuiguo hand over the cloth she had just put away.
Nanny Luo took it and withdrew with a smile.
As she left, she added, “The Old Princess said His Highness need not hurry.”
Li Zhiwei smiled and nodded, knowing it was just a courtesy—it was already too late to visit.
“Miss, His Highness and The Old Princess are so good to you,” Cuiguo said. Despite thinking the prince was a bit rough on her lady, she could see he was quite considerate.
“Enough, let’s finish up and head to Cian Hall,” Li Zhiwei said, her face reddening.
If not for Xu Heming clinging to her all night, she wouldn’t have woken so late.
Thinking of that, she was a little annoyed.
“Has the Princess woken?” A deep male voice came from outside.
Chapter 502
6 min read