The red candles flickered, adding a warm glow.
Yan Zhao's heart was pounding wildly, but his face remained stoically calm.
Seeing him like this, Ning Yuwan instead calmed down. Raising her slender eyebrows slightly, she asked, "My lord, how are you going to teach me?"
His thin lips gently pressed against hers, like a gentle spring stream rippling open.
Suddenly, a glint appeared in Ning Yuwan's eyes. Her depleted spiritual energy seemed to be slowly recovering.
Yan Zhao was too embarrassed to meet her clear eyes. He reached out and gently covered them. Only when he took a breath did he chuckle softly in her ear, "My lady, close your eyes."
The faint and familiar fragrance wafted from his body. Ning Yuwan took a deep breath. "It smells so good."
What kind of scent was it?
It seemed that something inside her was welcoming the fragrance, even eager to transform into a dragon form.
She was out of control yet filled with joy. She didn't dislike it at all.
Ning Yuwan reached out and tightened her arms around Yan Zhao's neck. "My lord, do it one more time."
How could Yan Zhao refuse his wife's invitation?
His chest seemed to be emitting muffled laughter. "Okay."
Unfortunately, this invitation was once again interrupted by A Si.
"My lord, the imperial edict has arrived," A Si's voice suddenly came from outside the house. His shadow was faintly visible on the window, and his voice carried a hint of grievance.
He still couldn't figure out why the lord had sent him to dig coal in Jiangxi.
The reply was Yan Zhao's deep and cold voice. "Get lost!"
Even Ning Yuwan opened her eyes unhappily. "Change three months to six months."
Rubbing his chin against Ning Yuwan's forehead, Yan Zhao replied, "I'll follow my lady's order."
Fortunately, A Si didn't hear their whispers. Otherwise, his grievance would have overflowed the sky.
He had just come to deliver a message, but his fate of going to Jiangxi had changed again.
"It's Wang Fuhai, the one beside His Majesty, who has come to deliver the edict," A Si said.
It took a long time before Yan Zhao's voice was heard. "Got it."
A moment later, Yan Zhao and Ning Yuwan walked out.
A Si couldn't help but take a few more glances. The lip rouge of the princess seemed a bit smudged.
Suddenly, he had an epiphany and slapped his forehead hard. So the lord and the princess were doing... inside the house.
In the front hall, everyone was already kneeling on the ground in a large crowd.
Seeing Yan Zhao and Ning Yuwan coming hand in hand, Wang Fuhai first bowed, then unfolded the imperial edict.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, His Majesty's edict states. The heir apparent, Yan Zhao, is both virtuous and talented. He is conferred the title of 'Virtuous'. The princess is virtuous and kind. She is bestowed the title of a second - rank county princess. Additionally, ten thousand taels of gold, ten pairs of jade ruyi scepters, and a hundred bolts of silk are bestowed. So it is!"
Wang Fuhai respectfully held the imperial edict with both hands. "Virtuous Heir Apparent, Princess, please receive the edict."
This reward was really sudden. Leaving aside the title of the heir apparent, just the fact that Ning Yuwan was bestowed the title of a county princess was the first of its kind in this dynasty.
Especially since she was already a married woman.
Wang Fuhai seemed eager to make friends. He motioned for the young servants behind him to go out first. "His Majesty heard about what happened in the imperial garden today. He thought the princess was extremely intelligent and was very pleased. That's why he sent this old servant here in a hurry to bestow the rewards."
Mysteriously, he took out a bracelet from his bosom. "I heard that the princess likes blood - jade bracelets. Coincidentally, Her Majesty the Queen has a better - quality red - blood bracelet. So she asked this old servant to bring it for the princess."
Just from the names, one could tell the difference between the red - blood bracelet and the blood - jade bracelet. The former had a more intense red color and was, of course, more precious.
But Ning Yuwan had many of these things hidden privately.
She carefully observed Wang Fuhai's expression. She guessed that this kind of thing was very rare in the mortal world.
"Thank Your Majesty. Thank Her Majesty the Queen."
Ning Yuwan politely asked Lian Ye to hand over a large money bag. "Thank you, Father - in - law Wang, for making this trip. This little token is for you to buy some tea."
"The princess is too kind."
Wang Fuhai weighed the money bag and bent down with a big smile. "Her Majesty the Queen also asked this old servant to convey a message to the princess. She hopes that you will enter the palace more often to accompany her in the future."
The Queen had also mentioned this this morning.
Ning Yuwan originally thought it was just a polite remark. But now, she not only sent the red - blood bracelet but also asked Wang Fuhai to convey a message. It was thought - provoking.
Could it be that she really wanted a daughter to accompany her?
There were many princesses in the palace, and there were those with mediocre maternal families. If the Queen really liked one, she could just adopt one.
Although she thought so, on the surface, she still politely returned the greeting. "Thank Her Majesty the Queen for her concern. Yuwan will surely go to bother her in the future."
After seeing Wang Fuhai off, her gaze fell on Yan Zhao, who had been frowning all the time.
Apart from expressing his gratitude, he seemed to have said nothing. Even Ning Yuwan recalled that when Wang Fuhai mentioned that the Queen had asked her to enter the palace, he seemed to have shown a faint resistance. "My lord?"
Clenching his fist tightly in his sleeve, Yan Zhao lowered his misty eyes. "Wanwan, go to sleep first. I'll go out and take care of something."
His back as he turned around and walked away quickly carried a bit of heartless desolation.
A golden light flashed in the bottom of Ning Yuwan's eyes. Without changing her expression, she picked up a bit of the golden light and flicked it into Yan Zhao's hem.
She just wanted to see what on earth Yan Zhao had to do after receiving the edict.
Unconsciously twirling the long hair beside her ear with her fingers, her figure still standing there was misinterpreted by Mother Wang as being aggrieved and helpless.
"Princess, the lord must have some extremely important matters to attend to. Please don't be angry," Mother Wang said.
She carefully wiped her hands on her hem, then helped Ning Yuwan sit down and poured her a cup of tea. Mother Wang continued, "He was always busy before. He would just leave whenever he wanted. He's not deliberately targeting you on the second day of your wedding!"
Ning Yuwan nodded, as if she had listened.
But before she could say anything, Mother Wang still thought she was unhappy. Thinking of the direction Yan Zhao had gone when he left just now, she panicked and explained, "Don't worry, the lord definitely didn't go to the side courtyard to find those ordinary women. His taste is not that bad. He never went to their places before."
Mother Wang was very simple - minded. She just wanted to explain a few words for Yan Zhao, but it seemed that the more she explained, the more confused it got.
If it were another petty woman, she might have gotten more and more upset with the persuasion. But Ning Yuwan nodded sincerely. "I know."
But Mother Wang seemed a bit frustrated. She remembered that Yan Zhao had indeed gone in the direction of the side courtyard. "Even if he really goes to find those ordinary women, princess, please rest assured. His body is not suitable for over - indulgence now."
Over - indulgence?
Ning Yuwan covered her chest in surprise. No wonder her spiritual energy had slowly recovered when Yan Zhao kissed her.
Could this be the legendary "absorbing yang to replenish yin"?
Fortunately, Yan Zhao had only kissed her once. If he had kissed her a few more times, his frail body might really not be able to bear it.
"His body really can't bear it."
"Indeed. He was born with this illness. Although Doctor Yan has been treating him all the time, it can't be cured overnight," Mother Wang didn't hide anything from Ning Yuwan. "However, Doctor Yan also said that as long as the legendary dragon pearl can be found and ground into powder, the lord's illness will be cured."
Ning Yuwan hesitated. "It should not exist."
"Whether the dragon pearl exists or not, there is still a glimmer of hope," Mother Wang said.
Ning Yuwan, who would lose her life if she lost the dragon pearl: Oh no!
His illness might never be cured in this lifetime!
Since they were a mortal couple, if there were other ways, she would definitely help Yan Zhao. But the way of the dragon pearl was impossible!
Ning Yuwan bit her lip. She must definitely hide her identity as a dragon!