Cherished and Spoiled

In the fifteenth year of the Zhaoqi era, Prince Pei Xuan returned victorious. The emperor wanted to arrange a marriage for him, declaring that he could choose any noble lady present.

Pei Xuan was completely uninterested. His gaze swept the room before landing on a young woman nearby who had bitten her tongue while eating lychees and now had tears in her eyes. Frowning in disapproval, he said, “Are all the noble ladies in the capital so delicate and pampered?”

A month later, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree arranging his marriage.

On their wedding night, the woman across from him sat elegantly on the bridal bed, graceful and more beautiful than a flower.

Pei Xuan’s eyes darkened. As he climbed into bed, his little wife’s eyes filled with tears, and she retreated to the far side. “Since Your Highness doesn’t like women like me, why don’t you sleep in the study?”

Pei Xuan: ...

At first, when he saw her reddened eyes, Pei Xuan would get up in a bad mood, feeling that the moment had been spoiled.

Three months later, Pei Xuan brushed his long fingers over her eyes. “Cry a little more.”

Lu Xi laughed angrily. “I thought you hated it when people cried?”

Pei Xuan bit her earlobe and murmured, “Now that I’m without the Princess Consort’s tears, I... can’t sleep at night.”

Six months later, Lu Xin returned to her family home for a visit. Her stepmother said she missed the spring tea Lu Xin used to brew.

Before Lu Xi could reply, Pei Xuan spoke up. “The Princess Consort’s hands are nourished with milk twice a day. I can’t bear to let her lift a finger, so how could I let her do such menial work as serving tea?”

Lu Xi lowered her eyes, her expression complicated. “If Mother wants spring tea, ask my younger sister.”

Theme: Live well