Chapter 16: Enjoying Life to the Fullest

  Only heaven knows how amusing Yun Xie’s reaction was when he found out she had her period. He looked like he hated her to the core but had no way to do anything about it.

  “Your Highness, you should rest early,” Wei Yuanwei said sweetly as she walked up to him, pying the part of the considerate consort.

  The burning heat in Yun Xie’s eyes was instantly reignited but was soon forcibly suppressed again.

  “Mm,” he replied ftly, his voice still cold and elegant—as if that intense fire of desire just moments ago had all been a hallucination.

  Lying in the clean, soft bed, Wei Yuanwei mused that her period had come at just the right time. No wonder her lower back had been aching the past few days. But compared to the pain elsewhere on her body, it hadn’t really bothered her. It seemed this was the first time this body had menstruated!

  She didn’t know how many days it would st, but judging by Yun Xie’s face earlier, it looked like he’d just lost a delicious piece of meat right in front of him.

  Wei Yuanwei was honestly worried Yun Xie might not be able to wait it out.

  “How long does a woman’s period usually st?” Yun Xie suddenly asked zily while she was lying there pretending to sleep.

  There we go—he wasn’t just a wolf on the battlefield but also a lustful wolf in bed. He couldn’t even wait!

  “Three to seven days,” Wei Yuanwei answered honestly. As long as she was the Evil Prince’s consort, there was no dodging the wedding chamber forever.

  “Sleep,” Yun Xie said as he rolled over and pulled her into his arms.

  Wei Yuanwei could clearly feel the heat still radiating from him—it hadn’t gone away at all.

  “Your Highness…”

  “Mm?”

  “Maybe go outside for a breath of fresh air? Or take a cold bath?” She was worried bottling it up like that might hurt him.

  “No need,” Yun Xie declined ftly. His nose was filled with her subtle and alluring scent.

  Wei Yuanwei sighed softly. She was genuinely afraid this lustful wolf beside her might not be able to control himself and pounce on her in the middle of the night.

  “Princess…” Just as Wei Yuanwei was drifting off to sleep, she felt an uninvited hand wandering over her body.

  “Mm…” she let out a small hum, not even needing to guess who it was.

  “Don’t turn your back on this prince when sleeping,” a husky, deep voice murmured in her ear.

  So annoying.

  With impatience, Wei Yuanwei turned over, only to be pulled directly into Yun Xie’s embrace. Her head rested on his chest as his hands roamed and kneaded her gently before finally calming down.

  She was so tired that she just let him be. She thought she vaguely felt him kiss her before she drifted off to sleep.

  When Wei Yuanwei woke up early the next morning, the bed was empty. Yinqing had been waiting outside the room for some time, and only entered when she heard movement.

  “Princess, the Prime Minister has already prepared breakfast in the Zhongxin Hall. The main and second wives are already there,” Yinqing said as she helped Wei Yuanwei dress.

  At this time, Yun Xie and the Prime Minister had gone to court. The only people left in the estate were the wives, concubines, and young dies. Without Yun Xie there to support her, those women likely wouldn’t even give her a second gnce.

  But she was going anyway!

  Wei Yuanwei gnced at the vanity table, where all sorts of gifts and jewelry sat. They had been offered by those very same wives and concubines—and they were clearly valuable items they cherished.

  Her lips curled into a deep, meaningful smile.

  “Princess, the steward wishes to know if you’ll be dining in the Zhongxin Hall,” came Xuan Li’s clear voice from outside the door.

  Strange. Xuan Li usually followed the Evil Prince. Why was he here today?

  After dressing, Wei Yuanwei headed to the Zhongxin Hall. The round dining table was already full of people, all in bright and formal dress.

  Upon her arrival, everyone zily stood to offer a half-hearted greeting, then seated her at the main seat at the table.

  Only the legal wives and principal family members were allowed to dine in the Zhongxin Hall. Concubines and illegitimate daughters had no pce there.

  So this table was filled with main household women—those of high status and formal standing.

  Wei Yuanwei couldn’t help but find it amusing. She, who used to be considered less than a dog, now sat at the head of the table, dining with those who once prided themselves on their noble identity. She wondered if they could even swallow their food properly.

  Madam Shen, the head wife from the main branch, was the first to speak. Wearing a warm and motherly smile, she said, “His Highness went to court at yin hour. You must have worked hard attending to him, Princess. But after the Emperor’s birthday, His Highness will return to Fengba, and won’t need to attend court anymore. You’ll be able to rest as well.”

  Yin hour was between 3 to 5 a.m. She had still been deep in sleep then—she had no idea when Yun Xie had left.

  By the time she woke up, it was chen hour—around 9 a.m.

  What was Madam Shen getting at? Was she really concerned about her serving Yun Xie?

  Before she could respond, Madam Song from the second branch chimed in: “When I sent my husband to court, I didn’t see the Princess around.”

  Ugh. Ancient customs were ridiculous. When a man went to court, his wife was expected to rise even earlier to help him dress, wash, prepare breakfast, and personally send him to the gate!

  Wei Yuanwei sipped her porridge, considering the meaning behind their words.

  “Maybe the Second Madam didn’t see me clearly because it was dark?” she replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

  She knew exactly what they were implying—that she was a negligent wife who didn’t fulfill her duties, letting her husband go to court without attending to him.

  Trying to scold her? Not a chance.

  Madam Shen and Madam Song froze slightly, clearly not expecting that response. They thought she’d say Yun Xie cherished her and let her sleep. Instead, she turned it right back on them.

  It was clearly well-lit with nterns—how could they not see her?

  Yun Xie had clearly left alone from Taozhi Courtyard, and she never stepped out.

  The two women had hoped to py the seniority card and scold her, but were swiftly shut down with a single sentence.

  “Princess, you’re newly married, so you may not know all the proper customs yet,” Madam Shen said again, seizing another opportunity. “I heard from the maids yesterday that you got your period. When a woman’s on her period, she mustn’t share a room with her husband, lest it bring him misfortune!”

  Hmph. You little hussy. Don’t think just because you’re a princess now we can’t teach you a lesson. We’re your elders—we can still trip you up.

  Wei Yuanwei replied with the same fake smile: “No wonder my uncle only visits Auntie’s room a few times a month. Turns out it’s because Auntie is on her period—afraid of bringing bad luck and harming his official career. I was beginning to think it was because Auntie wasn’t favored at all!”

  Trying to scold her? Who did they think they were?

  Madam Shen’s kind smile vanished instantly.

  She wanted to argue, but couldn’t. A woman’s period only sts a few days—if she tried to deny it, wouldn’t that just confirm what Wei Yuanwei said about her not being favored?