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The rear palace never truly slept.
Even at night, lanterns still glowed behind silk curtains while physicians hurried through corridors carrying basins of hot water and trays of medicine.
By the time Maomao returned home the next evening, the smell of medicinal smoke still clung faintly to her sleeves.
“You didn’t come home last night.”
Jinshi’s complaint arrived before she had fully sat down.
Maomao suppressed a sigh as he immediately wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned against her shoulder. Since their marriage, the man had become entirely shameless.
“There was a consort in labor,” she replied. “The delivery became complicated.”
“But there were other physicians there.”
“Mm.”
“En’en was present. Yao as well.”
“They were assisting.”
“So you stayed the entire night.”
“Yes.”
“That sounds unnecessary.”
“That sounds like someone who has never worked in a medical pavilion.”
Jinshi let out a long suffering sigh against her shoulder.
Maomao ignored him and reached for the tea set nearby. Her arms still felt unpleasantly heavy.
“The foreign envoy’s banquet is tomorrow,” Jinshi muttered. “His Majesty requested me to attend.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“It will be.”
He lifted his head slightly.
“You should come with me.”
“No.”
The refusal came immediately.
Jinshi looked genuinely aggrieved.
“I need to reorganize medicinal stock tomorrow,” Maomao continued. “Several supplies are running low.”
“You’re choosing dried roots over your husband.”
“You survive court ministers regularly. Surely you can survive one banquet.”
“I remain unconvinced.”
Maomao took a sip of tea.
“That sounds like a personal problem.”
Late the following afternoon, the Moon Prince’s carriage stopped before the medical pavilion.
Basen descended first as usual.
Jinshi followed after him in layered formal robes dark enough to resemble spilled ink, gold embroidery catching briefly beneath the afternoon light. His hair had been tied more carefully than usual.
Troublesome.
Inside the pavilion, Maomao continued grinding herbs.
“You’re still here,” Jinshi said.
The grinding stone turned once more before she answered.
“You say that as though this isn’t my workplace.”
“I was hoping you’d changed your mind.”
“No such miracle occurred.”
Jinshi crouched beside her table.
“Return home early tonight.”
“Yes, yes.”
“And eat a proper dinner.”
“Yes, yes.”
“And not replace an actual meal with medicinal candy.”
“That happened once.”
“This week.”
Before she could respond, he leaned down and pressed a brief kiss against the top of her head.
Entirely too natural lately.
Several nearby assistants immediately became very interested in their work.
Maomao clicked her tongue quietly.
“Shouldn’t you leave already?”
“I was about to.”
Unfortunately, Chue entered at that exact moment carrying a basket piled high with wrapped snacks.
“Oh?” she said brightly. “Your Highness looks especially impressive today.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Maomao muttered.
Jinshi ignored her.
“Chue, make sure she eats properly tonight.”
“No promises,” Chue replied. “Miss Maomao becomes frightening when not given her rice crackers.”
“She becomes frightening regardless.”
“How rude.”
Once Jinshi was out of earshot, another voice joined them.
“I agree, though,” Tianyu said. “His Highness does look unusually refined today.”
Maomao immediately regretted remaining in the room.
“Where’s the Moon Prince headed?” Chue asked.
“The banquet for the foreign envoy,” Tianyu answered before anyone else could. “Dr. Li and Dr. You already left earlier.”
He hesitated briefly.
“I’m surprised you aren’t worried, Niangniang.”
“With what?”
“With all the noble daughters attending.”
The grinding stone cracked sharply beneath Maomao’s hand.
“He is attending as His Majesty’s representative.”
“Still,” Tianyu continued carefully, “there are plenty of rumors lately.”
“What rumors.”
“That things between you and the Moon Prince aren’t going well.”
Maomao stared at him.
Tianyu continued anyway, apparently determined to die.
“People keep talking about how there’s still no child after a year of marriage—”
Idiots.
Naturally there was no child.
That was intentional.
The palace already contained enough succession problems without adding another to the pile.
Beside her, Chue suddenly became very interested in the ceiling beams.
“How interesting,” Maomao said evenly.
Tianyu paled slightly.
“So anyway,” he said weakly, “court gossip is unreliable—”
“Tianyu.”
“Yes?”
“You’re finishing the remaining inventory work tonight.”
“What?”
“Imperial order.”
“I don’t think you can use that phrase!”
“I just did.”
“Niangniang, you’re cruel…”
Maomao stood abruptly.
“I’m leaving.”
The ride home was unusually quiet.
Or rather, Chue talked enough for both of them while pretending not to notice Maomao staring absently out the carriage window.
Something about Yao arguing with one of the quartermasters drifted past Maomao’s ears. Apparently En’en had apologized afterward with the exhausted look of someone long accustomed to cleaning up disasters. Chue continued chatting cheerfully regardless.
Maomao only half listened.
There was no reason to feel irritated.
The Moon Prince attracting women was hardly unusual.
It was simply unpleasant seeing it directed so enthusiastically at someone who belonged to her.
…Troublesome thought.
Maomao frowned faintly at the passing streets.
Suiren greeted them upon arrival.
“Xiaomao, would you like to have dinner prepared?”
“No. I’ll bathe first.”
“Understood. Shall dinner be served afterward?”
Maomao paused briefly.
Then she said, “No. Please prepare suitable attire.”
Suiren’s brows lifted slightly.
“I’ll attend the banquet.”
A short silence followed.
“The foreign envoy brought wine from the western regions, didn’t they?” Maomao added.
Chue’s lips twitched.
“What.”
“Nothing at all,” Chue replied immediately.
Which somehow felt irritating.
Suiren merely bowed.
“As you wish.”
The banquet hall glittered with excessive wealth.
Foreign musicians played unfamiliar melodies while servants moved constantly between tables pouring dark red wine into silver cups.
The smell of roasted meat, incense, perfume, and alcohol blended unpleasantly together.
Several ministers circled the Moon Prince with the determination of merchants spotting valuable prey.
Jinshi endured it all with perfect elegance.
A smile here.
A polite refusal there.
Another noble daughter introduced.
Another conversation carefully redirected.
The foreign envoy had seated Jinshi directly beside his daughter, an elegant young woman with excellent posture and a smile practiced enough to qualify as a weapon.
She leaned close whenever speaking.
Troublesome.
Maomao entered quietly beside Chue and one of the guards.
Jinshi’s attention shifted immediately.
A moment later, he set down his cup and rose smoothly.
Unfortunately, the envoy’s daughter lightly caught his sleeve.
“Your Highness,” she said with a smile, “you were just telling me about the capital.”
“I wasn’t,” Jinshi replied automatically.
Several nearby officials laughed awkwardly.
Maomao approached calmly.
“I only came to discuss several medical matters with Dr. Li and Dr. You,” she said.
A seat was quickly arranged beside the physicians.
Close enough to observe the disaster comfortably.
Dr. Li looked deeply entertained already.
Meanwhile, noble daughters continued attempting conversation with Jinshi while he responded with that polished social smile of his.
Jinshi’s social smile ought to qualify as a public hazard.
When the food arrived, Maomao’s irritation worsened.
Several dishes placed before Jinshi carried traces of mild aphrodisiacs.
Subtle enough that most guests would never notice.
Not subtle enough for her.
The envoy’s daughter personally added another portion onto his plate.
Maomao fixed him with a look that clearly said:
Don’t eat it.
Jinshi’s gaze lingered on her briefly.
Then the corners of his mouth lifted faintly as he took a bite anyway.
Her chest tightened unpleasantly.
Annoying man.
There was no reason to feel irritated.
None whatsoever.
Maomao rose from her seat.
Without another word, she turned and walked toward the exit.
Jinshi excused himself moments later.
Basen followed behind him with the expression of a man spiritually exhausted by royalty.
Outside, Maomao had already entered a carriage.
Jinshi climbed in after her before the servants could close the door.
“Home,” he ordered.
The carriage began moving.
Silence settled between them.
Then:
“What’s wrong?” Jinshi asked quietly.
“Nothing.”
“You left abruptly.”
“I was tired.”
Maomao kept her gaze fixed outside.
“You may continue entertaining the ladies if you wish,” she said quietly. “There seemed to be many suitable candidates present.”
Jinshi stared at her for a long moment.
“That was not our agreement.”
His voice had lowered.
“When we married, you promised we would remain together regardless of circumstance. Just the two of us.”
Maomao looked away.
“If necessary,” she muttered, “I can return to being your servant instead.”
For a brief moment, Jinshi said nothing.
Then he leaned close enough for his breath to brush against her ear.
“If that were true,” he said softly, “I would have you stand outside the bedchamber doors while I entertained another woman and imagined only you instead.”
His fingers slid lightly along her wrist.
“You very well know I could not tolerate anyone else.”
Maomao felt herself shiver despite herself.
“You seemed perfectly willing to eat aphrodisiacs earlier.”
A quiet laugh brushed against her neck.
“I ate it because you were there.”
His lips touched the skin below her ear slowly.
“I knew you’d handle the consequences.”
One of his hands settled against her waist familiarly.
“You were glaring at me again.”
“That was because you were being irritating.”
“And you know I enjoy it.”
Annoying man.
His mouth moved slowly along her throat until coherent thought became increasingly difficult.
By the time the carriage finally stopped at their residence, Jinshi’s robes sat visibly disordered while Maomao refused to think about the state of her hair.
Jinshi exited first while carrying her effortlessly despite her weak protests.
“Jinshi—”
“You’re not escaping tonight.”
The servants immediately lowered their eyes.
“No interruptions tonight,” Jinshi said calmly as he walked past.
“Yes, Young Master,” Suiren replied.
The doors closed behind them.
Maomao briefly considered biting him.
Unfortunately, Jinshi kissed her before she could decide.