The carriage carried Liang Muchen to the entrance of the Wang residence.

Entering through the side gate, she made her way inside the estate.

Prince Qing and Princess Qing were seated in the main hall of the residence.

All of the Prince’s brothers, except for the Crown Prince, were present for the ceremony.

Rong Rong, holding Yuanbao, was among the crowd.

The matchmaker led Liang Muchen forward to present her respects and tea to the Prince and Princess.

Prince Qing gave her the side consort’s gold plaque presented by the Ministry of Rites and assigned her to Han Shuang Courtyard.

After the ceremony, the matchmaker helped Liang Muchen return to Han Shuang Courtyard.

As a side consort rather than a main wife, the ceremony was much simpler.

Liang Muchen allowed her maid to change her clothes, let down her hair, and remove the heavy headwear.

She relaxed and enjoyed some snacks brought from home.

Surrounded by the Prince’s servants inside and outside the courtyard, there was nothing much to do.

She waited until a little after the hour of You (around 7 p.m.) when a eunuch announced sharply, “The Prince has arrived.”

Liang Muchen tensed up, quickly adjusting her makeup and hair in front of the mirror. She went to the door to greet him.

“Your servant pays her respects to the Prince.”

“Please, no need for formalities.”

The servants outside closed the door, leaving only the two of them inside.

Prince Qing stood very close to Liang Muchen.

He was dressed in a simple, elegant blue robe, rather than the formal court attire he had worn earlier.

The jade belt around his waist made him look upright and spirited.

This was Liang Muchen’s first time being so close to him.

Prince Qing had just turned twenty this year.

Compared to his older brother Liu Zhen, he seemed much more lively and youthful.

“Are you hungry?” Prince Qing asked with a gentle smile and a warm tone.

Liang Muchen was momentarily stunned.

Noticing Prince Qing’s gaze on her face, she realized something was on her lips.

She quickly covered her face and discovered that some bean cake she had sneaked earlier was smeared on her.

“Your Highness, forgive me,” Liang Muchen said, her face reddening.

Prince Qing chuckled.

His facial features were softer than Liu Zhen’s, and his smile, with a slight curve at the corners, was like a gentle spring rain, very comforting.

Liang Muchen felt a moment of daze.

She felt more at ease with Prince Qing than she did with the Crown Prince.

“If you’re hungry, don’t hold back. I’ll have the kitchen send something over. It’s late, so you should rest early.”

Liang Muchen blushed when she heard Prince Qing’s considerate words, but then she saw him turn to leave.

“Your Highness!” she exclaimed in surprise.

Prince Qing stopped and turned back, still smiling warmly. “Is there something else? If you need anything, just tell the steward. Don’t keep things to yourself.”

Liang Muchen’s mind raced with the thought: Prince Qing indeed cares about her relationship with the Crown Prince and doesn’t want to be around her!

What should she do?

What should she do?

What would Rong Rong do?

Rong Rong said that to establish herself in the Wang residence, she needed to win the Prince’s favor.

But how could she win the Prince’s favor if he didn’t even want to spend more time with her?

What Should I Do?

Prince Qing looked at Liang Muchen, whose expression was subtly shifting, and though his feelings were complicated, he maintained a smile on his face: “Settle in early.”

Seeing Prince Qing open the door, Liang Muchen finally called out, “Wait a moment.”

Prince Qing’s patience seemed to have worn thin; he kept his hand on the door and turned to Liang Muchen: “What is it?”

“Your Highness… aren’t you staying at Han Shuang Courtyard tonight?”

Prince Qing’s shoulders shook as he laughed: “Do you wish for me to stay?”

“Of course.” Liang Muchen replied without hesitation.

“Such words! Aren’t you afraid of damaging the reputation of the Wei Yuan Marquis’s residence?”

Prince Qing’s smile faded, and his tone became stern.

At this moment, he showed a resemblance to his full-blooded brother, Liu Zhen.

If it had been the old Liang Muchen encountering such a situation, she would have immediately sent him away for the sake of reputation.

But once the bow was drawn, there was no going back.

Since she had already spoken to retain him, she couldn’t afford to lose at this point.

Determined, she replied: “Today, Your Highness conferred upon me the side consort’s golden certificate. I implore you to stay here; how could this damage the Wei Yuan Marquis’s reputation?”

“Liang Muchen, you…”

“What does Your Highness want to say? Please speak frankly.”

Prince Qing scrutinized her beautiful face.

Last time he had pulled her out of the water in the East Palace, she was covered in water plants and dirt, looking quite disheveled.

Now, under the light, she looked undeniably beautiful, clean, and untainted.

Especially her pair of black eyes, which were foggy yet stubbornly looking at him.

Prince Qing’s heart ached suddenly.

The Emperor and Empress had chosen the best for his elder brother.

“I have nothing more to say.”

Prince Qing said expressionlessly and took a step towards the door.

Liang Muchen grabbed his sleeve, trying to hold him back.

However, Prince Qing was much taller than her, and her pull was insufficient.

Instead, she was dragged along and fell down in the corridor.

“Side consort!” One of the accompanying maidservants couldn’t help but call out, but quickly realized they were in the royal residence, not the marquis’s house, and bit her tongue to silence herself.

The palace maids and eunuchs in the courtyard didn’t dare to move.

Seeing her fall, Prince Qing bent down to help her up.

As he approached, Liang Muchen said, “Come back to my room, let me finish what I have to say, alright? I only ask this of you once.”

Prince Qing frowned deeply, helped her up, and, brushing his sleeves, returned to the room.

Liang Muchen sighed slightly in relief and closed the door again.

“Does Your Highness not wish to stay because you find me repugnant?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why is Your Highness unwilling to look at me for a bit longer?”

Because if I look at you longer, I…

Prince Qing smiled, “I don’t want to make things difficult for you; I just don’t want to disgust myself.”

Disgusting?

He actually said disgusting?

After deciding to join Prince Qing’s residence, Liang Muchen had imagined countless scenarios in her mind and how she would handle them.

She hadn’t expected to encounter such a difficult situation.

But, in a way, it was better this way—there was no need to beat around the bush.

Taking a deep breath, Liang Muchen looked up at Prince Qing and asked, “Is Your Highness speaking thus because of the rumors that I am to marry into the Eastern Palace?”

Prince Qing hadn’t expected Liang Muchen to be so direct and looked at her with newfound respect. “As long as you understand, it will be easier for both of us in the future.”

“Does Your Highness think that my marriage into the royal residence is unwilling?”

“Isn’t it? You might even resent me; if I hadn’t saved you, you wouldn’t have to marry me. If my elder brother had saved you, you might have achieved your wish and married into the Eastern…”

“If it weren’t for you saving me, I would have been dead long ago,” Liang Muchen exclaimed.

Prince Qing was momentarily stunned and said nothing further.

Liang Muchen took a deep breath and continued, “The prince is right. I am indeed unwilling and discontented, but my unwillingness is not because of marrying you. It’s because… because I am only a side concubine to the prince. I come from a marquis family, and being a side concubine makes me feel aggrieved. But I… I am willing to follow you.”

Prince Qing simply gazed deeply at her.

“Whether the prince believes it or not, in my heart, you are my savior. Marrying you, I have no complaints. When I was sick at home, my sister told me that after you saved me from the Eastern Palace, no one approached me. Everyone avoided me like a plague, but you took me to see the imperial physician. I…”

“It was just a small effort. If it were anyone who fell into the water, I would have saved them too.”

“But…” Liang Muchen lowered her head. “But in my heart, you are different from others.”

Prince Qing tilted his head slightly, looking at Liang Muchen with disbelief, then gave a self-deprecating smile. “I’m tired. Let’s talk another day.”

“If the prince is tired, why not rest here?” Liang Muchen, having lost her initial shyness, saw Prince Qing’s reluctance and instead smiled. “Since the prince is so helpful, tonight, why not help me one more time? With so many eyes watching me inside and outside the mansion, if the prince were to leave now, I might not have a peaceful life in the future.”

Prince Qing frowned, hesitating for a moment.

Liang Muchen walked back to the bed. “This bed is spacious. Even if the prince rests here with me, it won’t feel cramped.”

Prince Qing looked at Liang Muchen and remained silent for a long time.

Her reaction tonight was indeed far beyond his expectations.

“Alright.”

Seeing that Prince Qing had finally relented, Liang Muchen immediately felt joyous and hurriedly called for a maid to bring water for washing.

She wasn’t skilled at serving people and accidentally spilled some water on Prince Qing’s clothes.

After washing his face, the maid brought in water for washing feet.

Prince Qing saw Liang Muchen squat down and said：“Call An Zhong to attend to me.”

An Zhong, who served Prince Qing closely, came in at the summons, knelt down to wash Prince Qing’s feet, and helped him change into night clothes.

Once everything was done, he led the maid out.

Liang Muchen changed into her night clothes herself.

This nightdress was sent along with her dowry from the Ministry of Rites, just like her official robes, made by the Imperial Garment Bureau.

The thin, red silk revealed her slender figure.

Liang Muchen wore a light pink bellyband underneath, barely covering a few key areas.

Prince Qing’s gaze fell on Liang Muchen, making her feel a bit painful under his intense stare.

She lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze, and softly explained, “I haven’t had time to unpack my trunk, so this is the only nightdress I have in this room.”

“It’s fine.” Prince Qing withdrew his gaze and lay down on the bed.

Throughout the process, Prince Qing did not look at Liang Muchen again.

After he settled down, Liang Muchen turned off the candles and lay down beside him.

The room was very quiet, with only their breathing audible. Princr Qing’s breathing was calm and steady, while Liang Muchen seemed anxious and nervous, with even her pounding heart audible.

“You don’t need to do so much, and you don’t have to worry about the future. I never intended to make things difficult for you.” Prince Qing’s voice was very flat, but in the darkness, it carried a peculiar gentleness.

Liang Muchen suddenly felt calm.

She turned around to face King Qing.

“Does the prince know what I am worried about now?”

Prince Qing tilted his head slightly. In the darkness, he couldn’t see Liang Muchen’s face clearly, only her dark eyes shining.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I… I want to crawl into your bed, but I’m afraid you’ll kick me out.”

Prince Qing suddenly chuckled, but before he could say anything, a warm body slipped into his bed.

…

At Prince Qing’s residence, in Wenxin Garden.

“Princess, it’s almost midnight. You should rest early. Tomorrow, you have to go to the palace!”

The Emperor and Empress were very concerned about Liang Muchen marrying into the prince’s household.

Although they didn’t make Prince Qing personally greet his bride, they had arranged for Liang Muchen to enter the palace tomorrow morning to pay her respects.

Princess Qing, Chen Jinru, glanced at the calming soup by her side but instead asked the maid to bring her a cup of tea.

The maid, feeling helpless, followed her order and served the tea.

“Princess.” The beaded curtain was lifted, and an elderly, serious-looking woman entered.

“How is it at Hanshuang Courtyard?”

The elderly woman lowered her head, “The Prince is spending the night there.”

Princess Qing’s eyes flickered. “The Prince is a thoughtful man. He knows he has to put on a good show for our wedding night to give an explanation to the Emperor and Empress.” She remembered that on their wedding night, the Prince had also stayed in the room with her.

“Princess, you must not be careless. That concubine doesn’t seem simple.”

“What do you mean?”

The elderly woman gestured, and the maidservants in the room quickly left.

“Princess, I heard from the servants at Hanshuang Courtyard that earlier tonight, the Prince tried to leave the room shortly after entering. But Lady Liang grabbed his sleeve, refusing to let him go, and even rolled onto the floor in the hallway. It was so disgraceful.”

“What was the Prince’s reaction?”

“The Prince is a gentleman. Since she fell, he helped her up. I don’t know what she said, but she managed to bring him back into the room, and then the Prince stayed there for the night.” The elderly woman spoke through gritted teeth. “To think that she, the legitimate daughter of a Marquis, would behave in such a lowly manner!”

“What’s there to fear? If she can make Liu Li happy, it saves me some trouble,” Princess Qing said calmly.

Seeing Princess Qing’s deepening gaze, the elderly woman’s face grew more troubled.

She had watched Princess Qing grow up and knew what was weighing on her mind.

She also knew that it was useless to try to persuade her, so she remained silent.

After a while, Princess Qing asked, “Do you think Liu Li will touch her tonight?”

Touch her?

The servants at Hanshuang Courtyard had mentioned hearing noises from the room, so perhaps…

The elderly woman’s heart skipped a beat.

She had assumed Princess Qing was brooding over the Crown Prince, but she was actually thinking about Prince Qing.

She quickly put aside thoughts of Liang Muchen and said happily, “Princess, have you finally come around?”

Princess Qing smiled faintly, her face full of mockery. “Liu Li is nothing compared to the Crown Prince, yet he refuses to accept it.

When my aunt, the Empress, arranged my marriage to him, I refused to consummate the marriage, and he sulked and ignored me.

Now, this Liang Muchen, who is just like me—someone who wanted to enter the Crown Prince’s household but couldn’t—he won’t touch me, but he went and touched her.”

“The Prince didn’t want to touch that lowly woman; she just lacks shame. If you weren’t so dignified, the Prince would have already…” The elderly woman comforted her, “Princess, there’s no need to rush. As long as you come around, it’s never too late. I remember when you were young, Prince Qing treated you very well, sending wooden carvings to our manor every now and then. If you want to reconcile with the Prince, that lowly woman won’t stand a chance. Princess, it’s truly a joy to see you’ve come around!”

Princess Qing’s eyes grew colder.

Come around?

How could she?

There was no man in this world who could compare to Liu Zhen.