Chapter 6.3

After bathing and changing into fresh clothes, Yao Huang sat at the edge of the bed, which was covered with a bright red wedding quilt. Her hands nervously twisted and fidgeted.

The female doctor had taught her everything, but the real question was, would Prince Hui be able to perform?

Yao Huang wasn’t particularly curious or expecting much about the matter. Even if Prince Hui couldn’t perform, the lifetime of wealth and glory this marriage would bring her would be enough to satisfy her. What worried her was that if Prince Hui couldn’t perform, and she learned that his condition was a secret even more shameful than his disability, would he see her as an eyesore?

For the sake of marital harmony, Yao Huang truly hoped Prince Hui could perform. If not, she hoped he would give her a hint beforehand. Yao Huang would never recklessly try to test him!

“Princess, the prince is coming!”

Ah Ji quietly rushed in from outside, whispering the reminder.

Yao Huang’s heart skipped a beat, and she took a deep breath, stepping forward to greet him.

The corridors and eaves were adorned with festive lanterns. As Yao Huang reached the door of the main hall, she saw Prince Hui being pushed through the flickering light, his red ceremonial robes contrasting with his slightly pale face. It was hard to tell if he was unwell or simply exhausted from the day’s events. Either way, she hoped it wasn’t due to any inner dissatisfaction.

The wheelchair reached the door, and the maidservants in attendance all knelt in greeting.

Yao Huang, with Ah Ji, also respectfully bowed.

Zhao Sui nodded and introduced the eunuch pushing his wheelchair: “This is Qing Ai, who alternates with Fei Quan to attend to my personal needs.”

A noblewoman might need time to get used to the eunuchs’ close presence, but in Zhao Sui’s case, he could only have these two eunuchs accompany him when entering the princess’s chambers.

Yao Huang nodded, acknowledging the instructions.

Zhao Sui then addressed the maidservants, “This Prince prefers peace and quiet. Unless I give specific orders, you may remain outside and wait.”

Ah Ji and Huamei, along with the others, all responded, “Yes, Your Highness.”

Zhao Sui glanced inside, and Qing Ai, understanding his unspoken intent, pushed him into the room.

Yao Huang followed cautiously behind, observing carefully.

Upon entering the inner room, she didn’t notice Zhao Sui making any small gestures or speaking. However, Qing Ai, almost as if reading his mind, smoothly maneuvered the wheelchair directly to the bedside.

The back of the wheelchair was positioned against the bedside. With a slight movement from Qing Ai, a mechanism was triggered, and the backrest of the chair lowered. Zhao Sui used both hands to steady himself on the bed’s edge, then carefully seated himself.

Yao Huang watched intently, but when Zhao Sui suddenly looked up and met her gaze, she flinched, her heart racing. She quickly averted her eyes.

“Leave,” Zhao Sui ordered quietly.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Qing Ai responded. He then carefully adjusted the wheelchair to the side of the bed before bowing to Yao Huang and stepping out.

The adjustable bed was raised at the head, making the bed higher than the surrounding floor. Yao Huang stood in the outer corridor, nervously awaiting her husband’s next command.

Zhao Sui, who had never been fond of conversation even before the incident, was now even more disinclined to speak unnecessarily. However, standing before him was his newly wed wife, who was six years his junior. He already felt uneasy enough, and he didn’t want to scare her further.

He leaned back against the bed, stretching his legs out with a two-palms’ width between his legs and the edge of the bed.

He glanced at Yao Huang, then patted the bed beside him, calling out, “Come here, sit.”

Yao Huang hesitantly walked over and sat beside him, positioning herself sideways. She sat awkwardly, with one half of her body on the bed and the other half still hovering, doing her best to avoid touching his legs.

The candlelight filtered through the carved floral windows of the adjustable bed, casting soft light into the room. The side of the bride’s face illuminated in the glow appeared flushed with a rosy hue, while the other half was in shadow, her skin smooth and translucent, giving off a lustrous sheen like polished jade.

Yao Huang’s long lashes fluttered ever so slightly, casting delicate shadows on her cheeks.

Her lips, soft and tinted a rosy red, appeared tender and inviting.

Her head slightly bowed, her slender, fair neck was left exposed. The fine silk gown she wore clung to her form, and the warmth radiating from her body, imbued with the faint fragrance of youthful innocence, seemed to reach him.

Zhao Sui finished observing her and refocused on her long, dark lashes. “On the day of the selection, were you simply unaware of the rules, or had you already intended to marry me?”

Yao Huang stole a quick glance at him and answered truthfully, “I intended to marry the prince from the start.”

Zhao Sui asked, “Why?”

Yao Huang had never expected Zhao Sui to ask such a question on their wedding night. Being so close, under his gaze, she couldn’t come up with a clever excuse in time and couldn’t say something unpleasant either. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and her head lowered further. Without thinking about her shyness, she blurted out, “Because the prince is very handsome, and I liked you at first sight.”

Zhao Sui was silent for a moment. He didn’t quite believe it, but her shy demeanor didn’t seem like something she was pretending.

In truth, it didn’t matter much what the real reason was. They were already married, and from now on, they were husband and wife.

“It’s getting late. Go put out the lamps and rest,” Zhao Sui said.

Yao Huang nodded and quietly went to carry out the task.

After extinguishing the row of candles, only a pair of wedding candles remained, burning quietly. When Yao Huang walked back towards the bed, she found that Prince Hui had already pulled the blanket over himself and was lying down, with a pair of red silk shorts draped over the nearby wheelchair.

Yao Huang’s heart skipped a beat. He had already taken off his pants, so it seemed like it was possible?

Despite the nervousness that came with the situation, she couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. If it worked, it would save her from having to do everything herself.

The female doctor’s instructions still echoed in her ears: The prince’s legs were inconvenient, and she shouldn’t be shy. She had to be proactive to avoid causing him trouble.

Seeing that the prince had already removed his pants and was preparing himself, Yao Huang, determined to do her part, crawled to the bed, turning her back to him. She first removed her own red silk pants, followed by the red silk inner garment, leaving only a small pouch on her body that the disabled prince could easily reach to undo.

The light in the bed was dim, but everything that needed to be seen was clear enough.

As soon as Yao Huang silently started removing her pants when she came up, Zhao Sui turned his gaze outward, guessing that, due to his special situation, she must have received some kind of guidance.

Hearing movement beside him, Zhao Sui caught a glimpse with his peripheral vision, seeing her leaning over. He turned his head and immediately stopped her, saying, “Lie down, don’t move around.”

He was disabled, but not to the point where everything had to be done by his wife.

Yao Huang, who had gathered up the courage as if she were facing death, instantly had the fire of her determination extinguished by his low reprimand. Seeing Zhao Sui’s displeased expression, she obediently lay down, though she quietly pulled the extra blanket next to him over herself, covering herself up to her neck.

　Zhao Yan: “Turn around and lie on your side.”
　　
　　The prince is the most important, and Yao Huang obediently turned sideways.
　　
　　An arm was inserted between her neck and the pillow, and a broad chest pressed against her back. With his heavier breathing, a heavy leg was thrown onto her legs.
　　
　　Both of them were not wearing pants, and Yao Huang was surprised by the cool warmth of Prince Hui’s legs.
　　
　　At this moment, a warm big hand came from the front and held her burning face.