Four Seasons Brocade – CH 203

Chapter 203 ☆、

Ah Wu did not think she was lying. Although there were not many women in the mansion, there were a few. Chu Mao occasionally went to sit in You Yi-niang’s room, but he certainly was not enthusiastic. Looking at You Yi-niang’s demeanor, she did not seem to act like the haughty woman a favored concubine should be; instead, she seemed increasingly listless. Therefore, Ah Wu concluded that Chu Mao must have wanted something from You Yi-niang, but she just could not guess what it was.

Lady Cui stared dumbfounded at Ah Wu. In some ways, her understanding of men far surpassed Ah Wu’s. From her father to her husband, even the sage said, “Food and sex are human nature.” Ah Wu’s words terrified Lady Cui, leaving her at a loss for words. From the time princes were old enough to understand human affairs, they had been served by servants. The Fifth Prince had a large family, while the older Fourth Prince had so few children.

Lady Cui was terrified, and her thoughts immediately went astray. Although Chu Mao had inquired about Ah Wu, Lady Cui now only saw it as leverage against Ah Wu. Lady Cui was both angry and regretful.

“Heavens! How could the imperial family treat people like this…”

Seeing that Lady Cui was about to burst into tears again, Ah Wu quickly stopped her. She knew that if she did not clarify things with someone as muddle-headed as Lady Cui, who knew what trouble might arise later? Ah Wu herself was not sure about Chu Mao’s feelings, but considering he later had children, she was not worried. Whether he was interested in male concubines or female concubines, she said, “His Highness has no time for women right now. Madam, just enjoy your grandchildren. My sister-in-law’s belly is so big. As for me, would he, a man, not worry about having children but instead trouble you, his mother-in-law?”

Lady Cui was also caught up in Ah Wu’s words, thinking that she really had not done anything about the Prince Qi’s mansion. She had the right to speak, but she was worried about Ah Wu. “You silly girl,” she said, “His Highness’s mind is not on this. You are so smart; do you not know how to redirect his attention? If you had a son by your side, would His Highness just send you away like that? He’d at least consider his son’s dignity. Besides, two people without blood ties can only truly be close after consummating their marriage. You silly girl…”

Although Lady Cui was not very bright, she was very perceptive about marital matters. Although she had not seen Ah Wu and Chu Mao interact much, from the few times she had, she had already sensed the distance between the couple. She could not quite describe it, but they just did not seem like a couple.

Ah Wu initially thought Lady Cui was going to repeat her usual platitudes, but when she heard the phrase, “Only by consummating their marriage can two people without blood ties truly become close,” she unconsciously nodded. She then realized that although she had married Chu Mao, there was indeed no connection between them. While Yuan Rongmeng’s father had indeed been a father, it was because of her bloodline that not only did Nanny Hao look at her with more respect, but Chu Mao also tacitly agreed to take care of her.

As the memory of consummating their marriage echoed in Ah Wu’s mind, her aversion was much less than before; at least she no longer felt nauseous so easily. She could not help but recall Chu Mao’s tanned, bronze-colored skin, sweating profusely, in Luobei, and a stirring she herself did not understand rose in her heart. But then that awful image popped into her mind again—grotesquely ugly, and worst of all, the very thought of consummating their marriage meant Chu Mao would put that ugly thing inside her. Ah Wu shuddered at the thought, and hearing there would be bleeding, would that not be a brush with death?

Thinking about it, Ah Wu felt terrified and could only politely and hastily send Lady Cui away, then have someone pack some tonics for Dong Cangyue. Before leaving, Tang Yin took Ah Wu’s hand and said, “Next time you come back to Willow Alley, let’s have a good talk.”

Tang Yin and Ah Wu were close friends. As her sister-in-law, she was naturally worried about Ah Wu being sent to the villa, and as her close friend, she was even more concerned. Now that she had returned, she planned to properly teach her some husband-taming techniques—these were all secrets kept by Madam Tang. Before Tang Yin married into the family, she had heard that only Lady Cui lived in the Rong family’s quarters. She assumed Lady Cui must be incredibly capable, but after spending time with her, she realized she was simply blessed with good fortune. Seeing that Ah Wu had not won Prince Qi’s heart, Tang Yin simply thought that Lady Cui could not manage Ah Wu and that she, as her sister-in-law, naturally bore the responsibility.

After Lady Cui and her entourage left, Zi-Shan and Zi-Yi led Zi-Jin to unpack the birthday gifts that Lady Cui had brought for Ah Wu. “Madam still cares most for her daughter. It seems she’s going to empty the Rong family’s private coffers. The Eldest and Second Young Madams also dote on you, their younger sister-in-law,” Zi-Shan said, pointing to the gifts.

Ah Wu remained silent but then noticed a set of writing implements inside, which was Master Rong’s prized possession. He himself was reluctant to use it, yet Master Rong had given it to her. Ah Wu’s anger towards her father subsided somewhat; perhaps this was the charm of blood ties.

“It’s the mistress’s birthday tomorrow; let’s celebrate properly! We can invite a female priest or something, or if that’s not possible, we can ask Eunuch Lu to pick out two talented singers and dancers from the other courtyard,” Zi-Yi chimed in.

Zi-Jin had never seen such a luxurious and extravagant place as the Prince’s Mansion. Hearing about the female priest and dancers, she became interested. Although she had not been with Ah Wu for long, she knew that her mistress was not difficult, and the other sisters were all easy to get along with, so she no longer suppressed her nature; after all, she was only a fourteen-year-old girl.

“Nanny Hao is ill, so it’s better for me to celebrate my birthday quietly,” Ah Wu said indifferently. Her mind was full of worries; she had no mood for celebrating.

Zi-Shan and Zi-Yi exchanged a glance, recalling the lavish celebrations of Ah Wu’s birthday last year, the thousands of lotus lanterns released into Fanghe Stream, and the lanterns adorning the houses along the riverbanks like a celestial palace—such was the care and attention they had put into it! The contrast with this year’s quiet and unassuming celebration only served to highlight the desolation.

Ah Wu herself seemed to grasp the melancholy and changed her mind, saying, “Alright, let Lu Ruoxing bring a few singers and dancers, and invite Lady Tao and the others too. I will personally invite Nanny Hao. Let’s have some fun.”

This arrangement was already made, but when it came to Lu Ruoxing, who always treated Ah Wu’s words as gospel, he surprisingly hesitated and politely declined Zi-Shan’s offer. He explained that Li Yanguang was now in charge of the villa, and since Lu Ruoxing had seized power, the two had become outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds. Lu Ruoxing only offered to speak to Li Yanguang but could not guarantee success.

Li Yanguang was a member of Nanny Hao’s faction. Having offended Yulan Hall to the bitter end, he had completely sided with Hongyao Villa. For Ah Wu’s sake, he even lost his position as Chu Mao’s chief eunuch. It was entirely predictable that he would refuse.

Zi-Shan stormed into the room and said to Zi-Yi, “That Eunuch Lu, he used to smile like a flower whenever he saw our Princess. He even described her breath as ethereal. Now he dares to refuse; he must be sucking up to Hongyao Villa.”

Zi-Yi quickly exchanged a glance with Zi-Shan. The people inside were probably still awake. Zi-Shan quickly covered her mouth.

Ah Wu’s afternoon nap was naturally ruined. Her heart felt like it was pickled in salt water. Her only consolation was that neither Tao Siyao nor Hongyao Villa had sent anyone to invite her.

Zi-Shan, Zi-Yi, and even Zi-Jin, who dared not make a sound all day, secretly met and pooled their money to send someone out to find some inexpensive yet interesting trinkets to give to Ah Wu as birthday gifts the next day. Zi-Zhui, on the other hand, drew up a long menu of all of Ah Wu’s favorite dishes, some of which were time-consuming to prepare, and they had to start preparing them today.

That evening, Chu Mao, who had not been seen for several days, entered Yulan Hall but did not go inside. He only stood on the veranda, speaking to Ah Wu through the window, “Tomorrow is your birthday, and I cannot come here. How about having Bing-Shuang escort you back to Willow Alley?”

Yes, why not? It was so good that Ah Wu wanted to smash the teapot on the small table. She mumbled, “I was just thinking of going back to see her.” But what was there to see? Madam had just come by today. Ah Wu had been hoping for a surprise from Chu Mao, but there was none. It turned out he remembered her birthday but simply did not have the time or inclination to celebrate it.

On the twenty-fifth day of the fourth month, Ah Wu returned to Willow Alley early in the morning, much to Lady Cui’s delight. Lady Cui personally cooked longevity noodles for her. The contrast between the lively scene and the desolate atmosphere made Ah Wu want to cry.

When Master Rong heard that his daughter had returned, he also left his office early and summoned Ah Wu to his study.

“Ah Wu, do not blame your father. I am a man, and I understand men’s minds best. If I used my position as the Fourth Prince’s teacher to pressure him, it would only make you two more estranged. That’s why I refrained from going. Do not worry; if the Fourth Prince ever tries to depose you, I will protect you with my life.”

Ah Wu nodded, wiping away the tears that had welled up in her eyes. “I understand, Father. You still have a whole family to protect.” Because she had not demanded perfection, she would not blame him.

That was just how people were. If you did not have high expectations of someone, you were more likely to forgive them. It was only those you cared about most that were the hardest to forgive.

Tang Yin pulled Ah Wu into her room, and the two whispered, “You are usually so insightful; how come you cannot even hold onto a man?” Tang Yin tapped Ah Wu’s forehead in exasperation.

Ah Wu frowned and flinched. She was already in a bad mood, so her words were less tactful. “Just talk. Why are you getting handsy?”

“Oh, with that awful habit of yours, would you flinch if the Fourth Prince touched you? How pathetic!” Tang Yin said, hands on her hips.

When Prince Qi touched her before, Ah Wu naturally flinched and felt disgusted. Now, imprisoned and forced to beg, although she no longer flinched, she still did not like it.

Seeing Ah Wu’s expression, Tang Yin knew things were bad. “No wonder the Fourth Prince does not come to your room. What man could stand that?”

Ah Wu’s eyes widened. “What did Madam say to you?” Ah Wu hated Lady Cui’s loose tongue; she always blurted things out.

“Mother-in-law did not say anything. I just guessed.” Lady Cui was not one to keep her word. She often lamented that Ah Wu had been married for two years and still was not pregnant. If asked, she’d only give partial answers; if pressed, she’d say that neither of them…

At this point, Tang Yin, being so intelligent, understood perfectly well.

“I sent all my maids away just to talk to you. Do not give me those princess-like airs. Let me tell you, no matter how beautiful a woman is, even the most beautiful women in paintings are stunning, but why do men not like them? It shows that what’s important for a woman is not just her looks, but also how she captures a man’s heart…” Tang Yin whispered in Ah Wu’s ear, her face growing redder with each word.

Ah Wu was utterly mortified, wishing she could disappear into the ground. She begged, “My dear sister, please stop!”

“No,” Tang Yin said domineeringly. “Since I’ve said such embarrassing things, they have to have an effect; otherwise, I will have made a fool of myself for nothing. Even your second brother said that men like going to brothels. Do you think they do not find it dirty? But the women there are more open than we are, alluring and charming, serving men to their liking. They are much more interesting than those dead-fish-like women in the house.”

“Second Brother told you this?” Ah Wu asked in surprise. “Why not tear his mouth apart?”

Tang Yin glanced at Ah Wu sideways. “What do you know? Your second brother only told me this because he trusts me. Between us, we talk about everything.”

The words “talk about everything” truly struck a chord with Ah Wu.

Tang Yin covered her mouth and laughed, “Even if he has something he’s not saying, I can get it out of him here.” Tang Yin’s gaze swept over the canopy bed where she and Ah Wu were sitting, making Ah Wu too embarrassed to speak.

Seeing Ah Wu’s dazed expression, Tang Yin knew she did not understand the intricacies of the situation; otherwise, with a face like that, would she not be able to bewitch any man?

Ah Wu watched as Tang Yin laboriously pulled a small booklet from the canopy of her bed.

“Here, take a look. Those paintings bought outside, and the ones we keep hidden away, are all for men. The artistry is poor, and they are terribly ugly. They are of no use to us. This one is a closely guarded secret of my mother’s family. If it were not for our good relationship, I would not show it to you. If you understand it, you will benefit immensely and suffer less.”

Ah Wu did not understand what “immense benefit” or “less suffering” meant. Seeing Tang Yin’s cryptic explanation, she could not help but be curious. She opened the first page. Inside was a stunningly beautiful woman, wearing only a thin, half-length gauze dress. Even just seeing her made one blush and their heart race, captivated by her alluring beauty.

“Truly…” Ah Wu did not know what words to use to express her amazement.

“Are they not naturally beautiful?” Tang Yin pointed at the painting. “The women of the Jing family are all incredibly skilled. Any man who meets them is utterly submissive. This book, it’s said, only scratches the surface; the knowledge within is vast. Otherwise, the Jing family would not have produced so many empresses.”

Ah Wu continued flipping through the pages, blushing more and more. This was not some secret; it was downright humiliating. “I will not learn it! This is not something someone of our status should learn. I advise you not to learn it either, lest you ruin your character.” Ah Wu, standing up, said, “The women of the Jing family are remarkable, but that’s because those good-for-nothing men in the Jing family forced them into it. We are not that kind of family; we do not need to demean ourselves like that.”

Tang Yin put away the booklet, looked at Ah Wu with a cold smile, and said, “You think you are so noble? You deserve to be aloof. Is this demeaning yourself? This is teaching us women to enjoy ourselves! Humph, you do not appreciate kindness.”

Seeing Tang Yin was angry, Ah Wu wanted to go and coax her, but then felt she had not done anything wrong. After a slight pause, she walked around the screen and left, making Tang Yin stomp her feet in anger. She thought to herself, “Who am I doing this for? I even exposed my private secrets to try and enlighten her, and she still does not appreciate it!”

After lunch, Ah Wu was about to return to the Prince Qi’s Mansion when the coachman reported that the carriage had broken down. He then asked the Rong Mansion to send a carriage instead. It was quite a coincidence that the carriages carrying the Rong Mansion’s masters all broke down that day. Ah Wu knew something was amiss and suspected it might be a tactic by Lady Cui to keep her there. She had been insisting that she have dinner before leaving, as it was Ah Wu’s birthday.

Ah Wu stayed, asking Zi-Yi to go back to the Prince’s Mansion and fetch another carriage.

That evening, when Zi-Yi returned, Lu Ruoxing was still with her, shamelessly trying to curry favor with Ah Wu. Ah Wu ignored him, leaving Lu Ruoxing swallowing his bitterness.

“What day is it today? Why are there red lanterns?” Ah Wu asked, stopping in front of Yulan Hall.

“Is today not the Princess’s birthday? The Prince specially ordered Yulan Hall to be decorated festively. The Prince started decorating when she left this morning,” Lu Ruoxing said with a bow and a smile.

Ah Wu raised an eyebrow and entered Yulan Hall. Inside, it was even more extravagant than outside, practically a scene of lanterns and decorations, with happy couplets everywhere. An uninformed person would think it was a wedding. Just as Ah Wu was about to ask, Zi-Yi said, “When I came back earlier, I also found it strange. I asked around and found out that it’s the mistress’s birthday today. We should have put up longevity characters, but the mistress is too young. Nanny Gong said that putting up longevity characters might not be enough to suppress bad luck, so they simply put up happiness characters instead. Anyway, it’s a happy occasion.”

Although Ah Wu thought Zi-Yi’s explanation did not make sense—it was understandable that a young person would not have longevity characters—she did not suspect anything since Zi-Yi and Nanny Gong had said it.

Just then, Chu Mao walked in, dressed in purple, which reassured Ah Wu. Otherwise, she would have thought they were redecorating the bridal chamber. Ah Wu inwardly mocked herself; her suspicions were running high. It was probably because Lady Cui and Tang Yin had talked so much about consummating the marriage today that she kept thinking about it.

“Has Your Highness had dinner?” Ah Wu asked, rising to ask.

“Yes, I have. How about you?”

Ah Wu nodded. “Your Highness was busy today. Why are you back at Yulan Hall so soon? Did something happen?”

Chu Mao smiled. “No, even if I am busy, should I not show my face for the Princess’s birthday? It’s getting chilly now; let’s go for a walk in the garden.”

Ah Wu had no reason to refuse Chu Mao, so she nodded. The two left Nine Lion Mountain and headed left towards Hua’e Pond.

“Are you scared? If you are, I will carry you across,” Chu Mao said, turning back to Ah Wu, who was half a step behind him.

Ah Wu blushed and quickly shook her head. “I am not scared.”

“Really not scared? Who was it that trembled with fear on the boat last time, hiding in my arms and refusing to look up?” Chu Mao laughed.

He really knew how to rub salt in the wound. Ah Wu was already afraid of water, and his words only served to jog her senses. “It’s because the boat was too small. It bobbed and swayed. When I went to Jiangnan with my father, we also went by boat. Those boats were bigger, so it was much better.” Actually, she was terrified, hiding in the house with her head covered, too scared to go anywhere.

Chu Mao nodded, turned around, and swept Ah Wu up in his arms, startling her into a soft gasp. “Hey! Did I not say I was not afraid?” Ah Wu’s feet left the ground, and she reflexively clung to Chu Mao’s neck.

“Let’s go to Buhe Shoal,” Chu Mao said with a smile.

Ah Wu’s anger immediately deflated upon hearing this. Buhe Shoal was a small island between Hua’e Pond and Jinjiang River. To avoid obstructing the view, the path leading to Buhe Shoal was paved with stone drums, just up to the water level. During the high-water season, the stone drums would be submerged, and Ah Wu had never been there before.

“Where are we going? It’s surrounded by water. I am not going,” Ah Wu stubbornly insisted. Unfortunately, she was in someone else’s hands, and her destination was not her own. Ah Wu’s legs were trembling even as Chu Mao put her down; she had not dared to open her eyes at all when they arrived.

“You can open your eyes now,” Chu Mao said, helping Ah Wu to her feet.

“Huh?” Ah Wu opened her eyes to see a field of Kongming lanterns on the ground, at least a thousand of them.

“Come write your wish down, and we will put it up together.” Chu Mao pulled Ah Wu’s hand and led her to a small table.

Kongming lanterns, also called sky lanterns in the Great Xia Dynasty, were homophones for “adding a son” and also carried the meaning of praying for blessings. Writing wishes on the lanterns before releasing them was believed to bring them closer to the gods as they rose into the heavens, making them more easily seen by the immortals.

Ah Wu bent down to look at the Kongming lanterns on the ground. Wishes were already written on them, such as “growing old together” and “having a son soon.” The handwriting resembled Chu Mao’s handwriting, which Ah Wu had seen in Bingxue Forest—flowing and natural, like a dragon in flight.

“Your Highness wrote all of these?” Ah Wu asked in surprise. This must have taken at least half a day. Ah Wu felt a sweet warmth in her heart; these personally written Kongming lanterns were far more sincere than the river lanterns the maids had folded last year.

Chu Mao nodded. “I got up early this morning to write. Writing itself is not difficult; it’s thinking about these things that’s exhausting.” Chu Mao held the “May You Have a Son Soon” lantern close to Ah Wu’s face, saying, “Not angry anymore?”

Ah Wu pouted, “Who’s angry?” The shy blush that crossed her face was truly captivating.

“You dare say you were not angry last night?” Chu Mao’s nose almost touched Ah Wu’s neck, a delicate fragrance wafting through the air, neither flower nor fruit, yet alluring.

Ah Wu took a step forward to avoid Chu Mao. “I want to write too.”

“I’ve saved a few for you; you can write here.” Chu Mao handed Ah Wu a blank lantern.

After Ah Wu finished writing, Chu Mao took her hand, and together they lit the lanterns. Standing in the middle of the water, they looked up at the rising Kongming lanterns, almost illuminating the sky, like a lake of lights. Looking down, the lake reflected the lights in the sky, the two worlds above and below the water seemingly merging into one, becoming a crystal palace in one’s dreams.

Ah Wu involuntarily leaned into Chu Mao’s arms. He held her arm tighter, and Chu Mao whispered, “Shall we be a real husband and wife, Ah Wu?”

Ah Wu stiffened, not daring to look at Chu Mao, but not immediately refusing. Her mind involuntarily recalled Lady Cui’s words: how could two people without blood ties be close? And Tang Yin’s words, implying that in bed, she and Rong Yin could talk about anything.

Ah Wu’s mind was in turmoil. Thinking of the auspicious characters at Yulan Hall, she felt a tightness in her chest. Ah Wu did not know how to answer, but thankfully, Chu Mao did not pressure her. He took her to Nine Lions Mountain and then turned back to Bingxue Forest.

Ah Wu entered Yulan Hall and first went to the bathing room to bathe. When she came out, Zi-Shan brought her a set of bright red brocade robes. Ah Wu shook her head and said, “I am planning to rest now.”

Zi-Shan said, “We have not even celebrated the Princess’s birthday yet. Please do us the honor of joining us.”

“Alright,” Ah Wu replied happily, realizing she would not be able to sleep anytime soon.

As Zi-Shan helped Ah Wu put on the robes, Ah Wu said, “When was this outfit made? I do not remember.”

The bright red brocade robes were made of gold-embroidered peony and floral patterns, trimmed with dark blue gold-embroidered lotus and three-colored gold trim. They were very luxurious, and Ah Wu did not remember having such a garment made.

“It was sent from the Prince’s side,” Zi-Shan said with a smile.

Ah Wu’s heart tightened, but seeing that Chu Mao was not in Yulan Hall, she relaxed again, letting Zi-Shan adorn her with jewelry. A five-tailed gold filigree phoenix hairpin, with pearls inlaid on the phoenix’s tail, and a pearl the size of a longan seed hanging from her forehead, made her as beautiful as the clouds over Wushan Mountain and as radiant as the moon over Tianshan Mountain.

Ah Wu lightly outlined her eyebrows with snail-shell ink, leaving her face without powder, only applying a touch of lip rouge, instantly making her radiant and dazzling.

Just as she finished dressing, she heard footsteps approaching; it was Chu Mao returning.

“Your Highness, why have you come again?” Ah Wu nervously adjusted her clothes.

Chu Mao stared intently at Ah Wu, his eyes revealing amazement. Zi-Shan and the others, having already discerned the situation, quickly withdrew.

“You are truly beautiful,” Chu Mao sighed after a long while.

Ah Wu blushed crimson at Chu Mao’s praise, lowering her head, unsure what to say. Her mouth, however, blurted out before she could think, “Am I more beautiful, or is Consort Yuan more beautiful?”

Chu Mao chuckled and pulled Ah Wu to a nearby couch. “Consort Yuan is stunningly beautiful, like a peony.”

Ah Wu’s expression changed. What peony was Yuan Rongmeng? At most, she was a peony blossom.

“Peony may be beautiful, but one eventually tires of it. But Ah Wu is like a sea of ​​peonies—Yao Huang, Wei Zi, Zhao Fen, Ou Bi—every step reveals a new scene, a constant source of surprise.”

Ah Wu now realized that when Prince Qi spoke sweet words, even the most notorious philanderers in the world of women could not compare. However, Prince Qi was indeed eloquent; he neither belittled Yuan Rongmeng nor failed to elevate Ah Wu to a high status. This flattery was incredibly pleasing to her.

Ah Wu glanced at Chu Mao, a smile involuntarily creeping onto her lips. Then, she noticed with alarm that Chu Mao had changed into a red robe. Aside from official attire, men in the Great Xia Dynasty only wore red robes on their wedding day or the day a top scholar paraded through the streets; otherwise, they rarely wore red.

Even if Ah Wu was naive, she understood the meaning. The “double happiness” character in the hall stung her eyes. She rose to see him off, but Chu Mao stopped her, saying, “Ah Wu, do you remember we still have an unfinished game of Weiqi?”

Ah Wu was startled. How could she forget? The bet was quite unfair. “I do not remember,” she quickly replied.

Chu Mao called out, “Lu Ruoxing.”

Lu Ruoxing brought out the Weiqi board that had been sealed away that day, the black and white pieces still intact.

Chu Mao gestured for Ah Wu to proceed.

Ah Wu quickly rubbed her head and said, “Ouch, my head suddenly hurts so much.”

“Oh, then I will take that as a voluntary surrender,” Chu Mao said unmoved.

How could that be acceptable? Ah Wu had no choice but to lower her hand and plead, “Your Highness’s Weiqi skills far surpass mine. If you win, it would not be a fair victory; this bet is not fair.”

Chu Mao seemed quite pleased. “Oh, so what do you mean?”

Ah Wu’s eyes darted around. She had always kept the Shuangjian Tower in her heart, so she said, “Let’s switch pieces.” Ah Wu was originally playing black and already at a disadvantage; this meant she wanted to switch to white and steal Chu Mao’s “empire.”

His Highness Prince Qi nodded generously. “Alright, it’s your birthday today, so I will let you, you little rascal, have a go.”

Ah Wu was not bothered by being called a little rascal; as long as her goal was achieved, that was fine.

Unfortunately, her skills were inferior. Despite holding the advantage, Chu Mao gradually eroded her chances, forcing her into a corner. In a fit of anger, Ah Wu, lacking any sportsmanship, flipped the Weiqi board over, scattering the pieces everywhere. She pouted and said, “I am not playing anymore.”

Chu Mao, with his good temper, did not get angry. The maids outside, hearing the commotion, quickly came in to help, picking up all the pieces. Chu Mao sat down at the Weiqi board again and set up the game exactly as before. Ah Wu watched, inwardly cursing, “His memory is really good.”

Seeing Chu Mao’s stance, Ah Wu knew she could not renege and finally had to admit defeat.

“It’s getting late; Your Highness does not need to keep me company any longer. Your Highness has already done enough for me today,” Ah Wu said, using a feigned retreat as a tactic to advance.

“Hmm, it is indeed getting late.” Chu Mao glanced at the water clock. “I will not go back to Bingxue Forest.” He then turned and went into the inner room, turning back to Ah Wu and saying, “Are you not coming in? Are you not sleepy?”

Ah Wu followed him in, only to find that the inner room had completely changed.

The bed curtains and bedding had all been changed to red, and a pair of large dragon and phoenix candles were lit on the long table against the wall. This was clearly the setup for a wedding night, only lacking a wedding officiant to offer auspicious words.

Ah Wu tried to run away upon seeing this, but Chu Mao grabbed her waist and forcefully pulled her to sit down on the bedside.

“Your Highness!” Ah Wu stammered nervously again.

“Ah Wu, I have few regrets in my life. Now, thinking back, the only thing I regret is that we have not drunk the nuptial wine yet,” Chu Mao said softly.

The red robe and golden crown accentuated Chu Mao’s handsome face, making him appear like jade. A rosy glow settled on his usually refined features. Tang Yin’s words that the Fourth Prince was the most handsome man in the Great Xia Dynasty were no exaggeration. Ah Wu was truly unaccustomed to being so close to Chu Mao, face-to-face, eye-to-eye. She felt his warm breath on her skin, making it hard to breathe.