The winter cold bit deep. Thick snow lay on the eaves, and transparent icicles hung beneath.
Ning Yuwang wasn't afraid of the cold, but Yan Zhao was. In winter, his hands and feet were always ice - cold.
Every morning at dawn, when Ning Yuwang wanted to get up, he would cling to her, trapping her in the warm quilt.
"My lady, it's cold."
In private, Yan Zhao always looked so weak and pitiful, with a faint blush at the corners of his eyes.
Coupled with the occasional soft cough after catching a chill, it only intensified the "old dragon's" protective instinct.
Ning Yuwang had always been susceptible to his charm. Day after day, she was so dazed by his good looks.
Occasionally, she privately thought that now she understood why the emperors in the storybooks would neglect state affairs for beauty.
She was exactly like that, unable to extricate herself from his beauty.
As the sun rose above the branches, the gentle warmth began to melt the snow.
Only then did Yan Zhao agree to let Ning Yuwang go. But after sleeping in for so long, Ning Yuwang's waist was sore and weak.
In contrast, Yan Zhao was full of energy, his eyes content.
As time went by, even Doctor Yan couldn't help but issue a ban, telling him to take better care of his body.
Before finding a complete cure for his illness, they could only be intimate once a month at most.
It was a kind of indirect rescue for Ning Yuwang. In private, she sent a lot of snow lotus and ginseng to Doctor Yan.
Even so, Yan Zhao still clung to Ning Yuwang. Since they couldn't be overly intimate, he would steal kisses from her whenever he could.
Hugging and cuddling his own wife wasn't excessive!
"Alas!"
Ning Yuwang frowned in front of the mirror. This was her twelfth sigh of the day.
Lianye had counted them carefully. But since Ning Yuwang sighed several times every day, she and Lianzi were already used to it.
They deftly arranged her hair, inserting a graceful and grand velvet flower and tassel hairpin, which added a touch of warmth in the cold winter.
She wore a warm yellow undershirt with a pink skirt, and a white fox fur cloak over it, looking even more wealthy and charming.
She pursed her lips slightly, her red lips bright and alluring.
In fact, Yan Zhao did exactly that!
He waved his hand to signal Lianye and Lianzi to leave, then lowered his head with deep affection in his eyes.
He gently kissed her full and alluring red lips, lingering and reluctant to part. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Wanwan, don't go out today, okay?"
He took the opportunity to make a request.
Ning Yuwang quietly supported her sore waist and naturally didn't dare to agree. She gently pushed him and said, "My lord, if we delay any longer, we'll be late!"
Seeing that she wouldn't agree, Yan Zhao gritted his teeth in frustration. He deliberately bit her fair and tender neck, leaving a red mark.
Only then did he retreat contentedly, admiring the beauty he had created.
Ning Yuwang's eyes were filled with a hint of water, and her lip rouge was smudged. She looked extremely charming.
It was supposed to be Yan Zhao who wanted to tempt Ning Yuwang with his beauty, but in the end, he was the one who was tempted.
Unable to control his accelerating heartbeat and the heat in his lower abdomen, the affection in his eyes deepened.
But Ning Yuwang got up one step ahead of him. She called Lianye and Lianzi back in to touch up her makeup.
She was physically resisting him from making another move.
He took a long drink of the cold water on the table, trying to suppress the restlessness.
He even blamed Chu Nian'an for organizing this lake - viewing and snow - admiring event.
In the palace, Chu Nian'an, who was about to get into the carriage, rubbed her nose and sneezed.
"Princess, wear more. Don't catch a cold!"
The little maid immediately put an extra outer robe on her, making her look like a chubby little cat.
It was really cold outside. Chu Nian'an shrank her neck and got into the carriage.
But she always felt that the sneeze wasn't because of the cold.
She just couldn't figure out the exact reason.
It had been snowing heavily for several days and it had only stopped last night.
Today, the sun was warm, and it was the Cold - Dispelling Festival.
Chu Nian'an had already asked the eunuchs to send out invitations to families with young people of similar ages to go boating on the lake and enjoy the snow.
Yan Zhao originally planned to decline, but Ning Yuwang heard that Pei Yunlu would also be there.
Remembering what she had seen on the Mid - Autumn Festival night, she was eager to have a detailed talk with Pei Yunlu.
Another reason was that Yan Zhao had been too enthusiastic these days. Even the Dragon Lady couldn't take it anymore.
Staying in the mansion, she was at risk of being "devoured", so it was better to go out and breathe some fresh air.
Since Ning Yuwang agreed to go, Yan Zhao naturally followed closely.
But he was more vigilant in his heart. In the future, he should hide such invitations so that Wanwan wouldn't see them.
Ning Yuwang didn't know his thoughts. Along the way, she was trembling with fear that he would cling to her again. But unexpectedly, he was unusually well - behaved and quiet.
The destination was a lake at the foot of Fang Mountain not far from the imperial city.
The lake tightly encircled Fang Mountain. If one wanted to enter the mountain, there was no way except by water.
This lake - viewing activity was naturally not just for one day.
Although Chu Nian'an had organized this event on short notice, she had long had the idea of boating on the lake and enjoying the snow.
Half a month ago, she had sent people to the villa on Fang Mountain in advance.
On her birthday last year, Emperor Chu had given her the entire Fang Mountain as a birthday gift.
Chu Nian'an had spent a whole year building a villa on it, and it had just been completed recently.
When Ning Yuwang and Yan Zhao arrived at the foot of Fang Mountain, everyone except Chu Nian'an had already arrived.
They were all nobles from the imperial city, so everyone there was a familiar face.
When Yan Zhao and Ning Yuwang got out of the carriage, several pairs of eyes immediately followed them.
Some were curiously sizing them up, some were full of resentment, and some were lecherously admiring.
Ning Yuwang's eyes flitted slightly, and she remembered all those who were sizing them up.
"Greetings to the Prince of De and the Princess Consort."
The first one to come forward and pay respects was naturally Pei Yunlu.
She seemed to be in a very good mood, with a smile on her face and bright eyes.
"Be excused."
Yan Zhao nodded coldly. In public, he always pretended not to be very familiar with Pei Yunlu.
But in his heart, he was also curious. Pei Yunlu was usually cold and aloof. When had she ever been so visibly happy like today?
Yan Zhao sized her up subtly. Pei Yunlu naturally felt his gaze.
She subtly glanced back and moved slightly, as if trying to block something.
Yan Zhao didn't understand her girlish thoughts, but Ning Yuwang noticed. Following Pei Yunlu's movements, her dragon eyes quietly peeked behind.
Sure enough, hidden in the crowd was the man who had admired the moon with Pei Yunlu on the Mid - Autumn Festival night.
Ning Yuwang fell into deep thought. What was the relationship between Pei Yunlu and this man?
While she was thinking, others came forward to pay their respects.
Of course, they were mainly paying respects to Yan Zhao.
After all, his status was second only to the princes and princesses. Even the princes and princesses had to show him some respect.
"Greetings to the Prince."
Among the crowd, the sweetest voice belonged to An Xingzhi.
Since the incident in the palace, she had almost embarrassed the An family and had been caught by An Ruoqian.
Her grandfather ignored the small disputes between the sisters. Maybe he was waiting. If An Xingzhi lost to An Ruoqian, he might choose another granddaughter to cultivate.
In order to survive in the mansion, An Xingzhi was forced to stay at home and learn to lie low.
A few days ago, An Ruoqian left the capital, and she finally got a chance to breathe.
Especially after receiving Chu Nian'an's invitation, An Xingzhi immediately dressed up nicely.
She knew that she had a rift with Chu Nian'an, but she also knew that Chu Nian'an was soft - hearted and easy to coax.
Moreover, since the queen's birthday when she had shown Chu Heye a cold shoulder.
She thought he would soon come to apologize. But months had passed, and there was still no sign of him.
Fearing that Chu Heye would be tempted by other women and give away his future high position,
This time, An Xingzhi also planned to coax Chu Heye again.
However, although it was a plan, the moment she saw Yan Zhao, her eyes were glued to him.