Chapter 1 Wedding Night  

On the sixth day of the third lunar month in the fiftieth year of Kangxi’s reign, the Prince Yong’s residence was adorned with silk flowers for the joyous occasion.  

With the arrival of the new side consort, the entire household was bustling with activity. By the time Prince Yong, Yinzhen, finished entertaining his guests, the moon had already risen above the willow branches, and scattered stars dotted the night sky, casting a gentle glow.  

His personal chief steward, Su Peisheng, presented him with a bowl of Hangover Soup. “Your Highness, it’s time to lift the bridal veil.”  

The Fourth Prince responded with a faint, “Mm.”  

The western courtyard, located to the left of the central axis, was the residence of the new side consort, Nian Shi. It was a two-courtyard compound, second in size only to the main courtyard. The entourage moved swiftly, and as they neared the courtyard gate, Su Peisheng stole a glance at his master’s face—  

Despite the festive atmosphere, the prince’s expression remained indifferent, showing no particular enthusiasm.  

—  

The bridal chamber.  

A beauty sat at the edge of the bed, her hands resting quietly on her knees. A light breeze stirred, causing the bridal veil to ripple and reveal a glimpse of a delicate chin and a slender, snow-white neck, exuding a rich peach fragrance.  

After what felt like an eternity, the veil obstructing her vision was lifted, and light flooded in. Nian Jiao was startled, her eyes involuntarily welling up with moisture.  

A collective gasp echoed from somewhere in the room, and the bridal chamber fell into sudden silence.  

The Fourth Prince paused, placing the ceremonial wedding scale back onto the tray.  

He turned slightly and picked out a Fertility Dumpling. Nian Jiao hurriedly accepted it, taking small, delicate bites.  

Only when the dumpling was snatched away did she realize something was amiss—  

This was supposed to be a Fertility Dumpling. Her second brother had told her to take just one bite, but she had mistaken it for a snack and ended up eating most of it.  

Oh no. Nian Jiao wanted to cover her mouth, quickly licking away the crumbs at the corners of her lips in an attempt to erase the evidence.  

“…”  

The matron overseeing the ceremony looked as though she had witnessed something unimaginable, her cheek twitching slightly. Relying on her professionalism, she continued reciting the auspicious blessings: “One bite, and your descendants will flourish…”  

The Fourth Prince glanced at the half-eaten, uneven dumpling, his brow faintly quirking.  

Nian Jiao studied him and concluded: this was the boss she needed to serve—the future Yongzheng Emperor, and the ultimate authority over the Nian family.  

Her boss had a cold demeanor, exuding an unapproachable aura. The little figure in Nian Jiao’s heart instinctively shrank back.  

Thinking of her long-term plan to cozy up to him and live to a hundred, she steeled herself and reached out, tugging lightly at the Fourth Prince’s robe in an attempt to make a good impression.  

Her delicate, jade-like fingers clutched the red fabric, trembling like morning dew on the verge of falling. The Fourth Prince froze, glancing down before meeting Nian Jiao’s gaze—her beautiful eyes staring up at him with unease.  

Su Peisheng was dumbfounded.  

Having served the prince closely for decades, he had never witnessed such a scene. This… on the wedding night… Side Consort Nian…  

Even more shocking was that His Highness didn’t push her away. Su Peisheng’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.  

Seeing that her boss didn’t protest, Nian Jiao brightened, thinking she might have a chance, and secretly tightened her grip.  

Thanks to the cover of their robes, no one noticed the interaction. By the time the elaborate wedding rituals concluded, a loud voice rang out from the doorway:  

“Fourth Brother! Fourth Brother is truly blessed! This younger brother couldn’t resist crashing the bridal chamber to wish you and Fourth Sister-in-law everlasting harmony and many sons!”  

It was the Fourteenth Prince. Behind him trailed a line of brothers—except for the reinstated Crown Prince and the bedridden Eighth Prince, all the imperial princes had attended the wedding banquet at Prince Yong’s residence today.  

The Fourteenth Prince was about to shout something else when his voice abruptly cut off—  

His gaze landed on Nian Jiao, seated gracefully by the bed.

Who didn’t know that marrying Nian Shi would secure the Nian family as powerful in-laws? Though the Nian family belonged to the Han Army Banner, they were exceptionally talented, especially Nian Shi’s second brother, Nian Gengyao. He had passed the imperial examinations at a young age and, before even turning thirty, was appointed as a high-ranking provincial official. The Emperor held him in particularly high regard—those who sought to win him over were far from few!

As for Nian Shi herself, she had become the least significant “bonus.”

Who would have thought she’d be such… a peerless beauty?

The Fourth Prince lifted his gaze and clearly caught the envy and resentment in the Fourteenth Prince’s eyes before he could conceal it. Even the Ninth Prince, who wasn’t particularly fond of such matters, felt a pang of bitterness.

While they were still scheming to win the Nian family over, the Emperor, without consulting anyone, had already assigned the Nians to the Fourth Prince’s Bordered White Banner and bestowed Nian Shi upon him as a secondary consort. Such a rare beauty in the world—just handed to the Fourth Prince on a silver platter.

Sour!

As the imperial brothers wore varying expressions of discontent, the Fourth Prince gave a slight nod and said, “Thank you, Fourteenth Brother.”

It sounded like a polite dismissal. The Fourteenth Prince choked back his words, wanting to say more, but the Thirteenth Prince quickly tugged at his sleeve.

In the end, the Fourteenth Prince held his tongue.

If he really disrupted the wedding banquet, their mother would tear him apart. At the thought, the Fourteenth Prince grew sheepish.

Amid the celebratory atmosphere undercurrents swirled. Nian Jiao pricked up her ears to listen but found she couldn’t understand a thing. So she lowered her head, quietly twisting the hem of her robe into a knot. Finding it unsatisfactory, she untied it, smoothed it out, and tied another.

Su Peisheng’s lips twitched as he watched the side consort tie eight knots in succession.

Until a pair of cool, large hands covered hers—Nian Jiao flinched and pulled back.

“Had enough fun?”

Only then did Nian Jiao realize the bridal chamber had emptied, the guests having dispersed one by one, leaving only Su Peisheng, the Fourth Prince’s attendant.

After a careful assessment, she concluded her “boss” didn’t seem angry. Pressing her lips together, she offered a small smile and nodded.

The Fourth Prince discovered that his newly wedded consort was quite adept at seizing opportunities.

Her delicate, pink-white face tilted up slightly—both alluring and innocent, as tender as peach blossoms, and seemingly no larger than a palm. He raised his other hand and lightly pinched her cheek, finding it as soft as a steamed bun. Once his palm warmed from her skin, he promptly released her.

Nian Jiao: ?

Why did he pinch her cheek?

With a faint glance from the Fourth Prince, Su Peisheng immediately understood and tactfully excused himself, heart in his throat.

……

Nian Jiao peeked up briefly before lowering her gaze again, thinking to herself how impeccable the prince’s bearing was.

The fitted waist belt hinted at a lean, powerful frame, his refined features carved upon a striking bone structure, with a faint crease between his brows.

Clearly a man diligent in governance, utterly devoted to his duties!

Little did she know the Fourth Prince was lost in thought—about something distant. Last year, after the imperial selection, the Emperor had assigned Nian Shi to his household. But during those months, he had been away on official business in the south, so he’d never known what the Nian family’s young lady looked like.

The palace’s description of her as “exquisitely beautiful” and “gifted in both talent and appearance” had been relayed to him by his mother.

He hadn’t paid it much mind. Yet the first part, it seemed, was no exaggeration.

Unconsciously, the Fourth Prince sat down at the edge of the bed.

Nian Jiao’s cheeks flushed pink as she gazed at him with an utterly transparent expression—admiration? Reverence?

This was the first time the Fourth Prince had encountered such an artless little temptress. After a pause, he asked, “What did you usually do in your boudoir?”

His voice, like his appearance, was cool and austere, like the wind over a wintry river.

Nian Jiao’s heart skipped a beat.

The truth was absolutely out of the question.

Having come this far, perseverance was key. After a moment’s thought, she did her best to sell herself: “I can recite poetry. I can also compose it.”

Fourth Master hadn’t anticipated this response. After a moment’s reflection, he nodded.

He turned his gaze back to her.

Nian Jiao understood—her boss wanted her to perform a talent. What else could that look be if not encouragement?

It was said that encountering poetry required improvisation, and only those who could improvise were true masters. However, the poems her elder brother had prepared for her didn’t seem to cover wedding nights.

Nian Jiao racked her brain and suddenly had an idea.

If she couldn’t compose on the spot, she could always recite. Her eyes brightened as she deliberately chose verses depicting scenes of newlywed bliss.

After finishing, she blinked her sparkling eyes, ready to receive praise. Rumors said the prince appreciated elegance, and she had spent four years painstakingly memorizing poetry to craft the persona of a talented woman. Surely this would be enough to impress him?

What answered her was a long, drawn-out silence: “…………”

Warm bedchamber? Hibiscus?

Was she hinting at him?

A faint flame flickered in his chest, burning until his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. His gaze darkened, the icy cracks in his demeanor widening.

After a pause, Fourth Master finally moved.

When Nian Jiao found herself sprawled on the wedding bed, she still didn’t quite grasp what had happened. She let out a small gasp, her eyes wide and unblinking as she stared at the man looming over her. Nervously, she wondered—had she been exposed?

It couldn’t have happened that quickly. That meant Fourth Master must have truly admired her recitation. Nian Jiao relaxed slightly, her mind hazy as she thought about her plan to win him over. She had to make her boss happy and satisfied…

A sudden inspiration struck her, and she leaned forward to nip at his thin lips, now so close to hers.

.

Nian Jiao regretted it.

She whimpered in regret, pressing her fingers to her lips, where a tiny split had formed.

So what if she’d kissed him a little too hard? Why did her boss have to retaliate so fiercely, showing no mercy for a poor sprite!

As the last surviving Peach Blossom Sprite after the founding of the dynasty, Nian Jiao treasured herself dearly. Who could have known that crossing worlds would strip her of her magic, leaving her unable to nourish her delicate skin with spells? Thus, she had been extra cautious, not even daring to scrub her face too hard. And now, after just one day of marriage, she’d been pinched, kneaded, and even bitten until her lip split—

What a raw deal.

Miserable and exhausted, Nian Jiao drifted off to sleep still fuming over her lack of strength to bite him back. Otherwise, she would have given him two splits for sure.

Fourth Master sensed Nian Jiao’s sulking, but the next moment, the beauty had already fallen into a deep slumber, the flush at the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose yet to fade.

He sat up from the sweat-dampened bedding, momentarily dazed, realizing he had gone too far. Assuming Nian Jiao was upset about that, an unfamiliar emotion rose in him—rare hesitation. After a pause, he removed the Buddhist beads from his wrist and set them aside, then took off his thumb ring before clumsily wiping her face and body.

Soon, the emotion vanished without a trace. Glancing at the sleeping Nian Jiao, he lay down beside her and closed his eyes.

A prince’s consort was an identity formally recorded in the imperial genealogy. For instance, Consort Nian’s entry into the Yong Royal Residence counted as an official marriage, though its scale and rituals couldn’t compare to those of the First Wife. Kangxi had specifically granted his fourth son three days of wedding leave, but Fourth Master, accustomed to his internal clock, woke early while the sky was still dark.

Only, his neck felt unusually heavy, as if weighed down by several pounds of stone.

Looking down, he saw an arm draped boldly over him—pale as jade, dotted with scattered red marks.

His newly wedded consort had buried half her face against his chest, her inky hair cascading like a waterfall, her cheeks soft, while the sweet scent of peaches drifted into his nose.

“……”

The entire Royal Residence knew he valued propriety. In the past, no matter which wife or concubine’s chamber he visited, they would obediently sleep under separate covers, none daring to overstep.

He called out, “Nian Shi.”

Nian Shi ignored him.

Fourth Master stared at Nian Jiao for a long while, his brows furrowing.

…Only sixteen years old and newly arrived at the unfamiliar Royal Residence—there was no need to be overly harsh, he thought.

Gently, he moved Nian Jiao’s hand aside and tucked it under the quilt. Then, after some effort, he shifted her sleeping head to rest properly on the soft pillow beside her. Finally, he adjusted the embroidered blanket to ensure she wouldn’t catch a chill.

After finishing these tasks, a dull ache crept up his neck. When he stood, a fine, prickling pain spread across his back—

This was a sensation he had never experienced in his thirty-three years of life.

Fourth Master’s face stiffened. Without calling for Su Peisheng to assist him, he slowly dressed himself and stepped out.