The Pretty Wife of General Jinxiu Huanian

Chapter 54: Sweetness After Marriage

That morning, the sun shone brightly through the carved window lattices, shining directly into the house. Yunxi woke up slowly and drowsily. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the prince staring at her with his side profile. His eyes were full of tenderness and doting.

"Awake?" the prince asked softly, with the corners of his mouth raised and a faint smile on his face.

Yunxi's face flushed instantly, and she nodded slightly, "Yeah."

The prince stood up and reached out to get clothes for Yunxi himself, saying, "Come, I'll help you."

Yunxi shrank back, a look of embarrassment on her face, and said quickly, "Your Highness, I can do it myself."

The prince didn't listen, his hands still holding the clothes, his brows furrowed, and his tone was firm: "You and I are husband and wife, there is no need to be so formal."

Yunxi had no choice but to let the prince do as he pleased. After the two of them had packed up, they walked hand in hand into the courtyard.

The prince stood straight and walked steadily, while Yunxi leaned slightly against him, her steps light. The prince turned his head to look at Yunxi, his eyes full of concern: "Walk slowly, don't rush."

Yunxi pursed her lips and smiled, and replied, "I understand."

Arriving at the courtyard, breakfast was already prepared on the table, with delicate dim sum and porridge spread out. Yunxi sat down briskly, picked up a piece of dim sum with her chopsticks, and put it into her mouth, saying with a smile, "This tastes very good."

The prince looked at her and said, "As long as you like, you can have it every day."

After hearing this, Yunxi's face was filled with a happy smile, and her eyes curved into crescents. She said coquettishly: "Your Highness dotes on me so much, I am about to be spoiled."

The prince laughed heartily and gently pinched Yunxi's cheek with his big hands, "This is how my princess should be pampered."

After breakfast, the prince took Yunxi to the market. The prince was dressed in a royal blue brocade robe, with a white jade belt around his waist, and he stood tall and majestic.

Yunxi was wearing a light pink dress and the exquisite hairpin that the prince had just bought for her, which made her look even more charming and pretty.

The street market was bustling with the sounds of hawkers. A vendor selling candied haws (tanghulu) shouted, "Tanghulu! Sweet and crispy candied haws!"

The guy selling steamed buns over there wasn't to be outdone: "Hot steamed buns fresh out of the oven, thin skin and big fillings, come and try them!"

The prince held Yunxi's hand tightly, fearing that she would be separated by the crowd.

"Yunxi, look at this," the prince said, pointing to an exquisite hairpin on a small stall. The hairpin was inlaid with a blue gem, sparkling charmingly in the sunlight.

Yunxi looked over, her eyes lit with admiration, and she couldn't help but reach out and touch it gently. The prince immediately took out the silver and bought it without saying a word, and put it on Yunxi himself, smiling and saying, "It's really beautiful."

Yunxi blushed, lowered her head slightly, and said in a low voice: "Thank you, Your Highness." Passersby looked at her sideways, envious of this loving couple.

Passing by a silk shop, the prince stopped and went in to pick out some fine silk for Yunxi.

The prince took up a piece of silk, gestured on Yunxi's body, and said, "I will make you new clothes." Yunxi smiled and said, "Prince, this is enough."

But the prince said seriously: "Not enough, my princess should wear the best."

In the afternoon, the two returned to the mansion. Yunxi remembered the embroidery she had learned in the mansion, so she took out her needle and thread and wanted to embroider a handkerchief.

Yunxi sat in front of the window, the sunlight shone on her. She looked focused and embroidered carefully stitch by stitch.

The prince watched from the side, praising him from time to time, "Yunxi's cooking skills are getting better and better." Yunxi scolded him, "Your Highness only knows how to coax me."

The prince quickly waved his hands and said, "I'm not kidding you. This embroidery is truly excellent."

As he was speaking, Ah Fu came running over, panting, "Your Highness, someone is coming from the palace." The prince frowned, his face instantly becoming serious, and said to Yunxi, "You stay here first, I'll go and take a look."

Yunxi nodded.

The prince went to the front hall and found out that the emperor had given him some treasures as a reward.

When the prince returned to Yunxi, his face was still somewhat happy. He flung his robe and sat down. He picked up the teacup and took a big gulp. Then he said, "It's nothing serious, just some rewards."

Yunxi came over with a smile, her eyes curved. "This is the emperor's great love for you, Your Highness. You, Your Highness, must work harder and share the emperor's worries."

The prince nodded and looked at Yunxi gently.

In the evening, after dinner, the prince took Yunxi's hand and walked towards the garden. The moonlight was like water, softly shining on the two of them.

The prince slowed down his pace and walked side by side with Yunxi, saying softly, "Yunxi, I feel at peace being with you like this."

Yunxi looked up at the prince. The moonlight made her face look even whiter. She smiled softly and said in a delicate voice, "Me too."

As they were walking, they suddenly heard a melodious flute sound. Yunxi pricked up his ears and looked around to find the source of the sound. He saw a young servant in coarse clothes playing the flute in the corner.

Seeing Yunxi's curious look, the prince waved his hand and said, "Go, call that servant over."

The servant was brought forward, his head lowered and his body trembling slightly. The prince looked up at him and said, "You play the flute well."

Upon hearing this, the servant knelt down and saluted, his voice trembling: "Thank you, Your Majesty, and Your Majesty for your praise."

Yunxi took two steps forward, squatted down, and asked gently, "Who is your teacher?" The servant didn't dare to look up and replied, "I taught myself."

Yunxi's eyes showed admiration, he stood up and said, "Then you must practice more in the future." The servant quickly agreed and hurriedly retreated.

As the night deepened, the prince and Yunxi returned to their room. The prince rolled up his sleeves, personally fetched hot water for Yunxi, and placed a towel beside her.

Yunxi stood there, watching the prince busying around, and felt warm in her heart.

The prince placed the basin in front of Yunxi and said, "Come, Madam, wash up and take a rest."

Yunxi stretched out her hand, tested the water temperature, and looked up at the prince, her eyes full of emotion: "Prince, you are of noble status, yet you do all this for me, I..." The prince interrupted her with a smile: "What are you talking about? You are my beloved wife, what does this mean to me?"

As he said that, he picked up the towel and was about to hand it to Yunxi.

Yunxi took the towel and gently wiped her face, muttering, "It is a blessing that I have cultivated for several lifetimes for myself to marry the prince."

The prince watched from the side and said, "From now on, I will fetch you water every day." Yunxi chuckled, "That's impossible. The prince has important things to do."

After washing up, Yunxi sat on the edge of the bed. The prince poured her another cup of tea and handed it to her. Yunxi took the tea and drank it in small sips. The prince sat beside her, looking at her without blinking.

After finishing her tea, Yunxi placed the cup on the table. The prince reached out and pulled her over, letting her lean against his chest. He patted her back gently and said, "Go to sleep, Madam."

Yunxi nestled in the prince's arms, closed her eyes, and a happy smile played on her lips.

Yunxi was deeply moved, "Prince, it's great to have you."

The prince looked at her with a smile and said, "I will treat you well in this life."

After hearing this, Yunxi coquettishly snuggled into the prince's arms, a blush appearing on her face, as beautiful as a peach blossom blooming in spring.

The prince hugged her tightly, his eyes full of doting, and his chin gently rubbed her head.

A few days later, a distinguished guest arrived at the palace. It was the prince's good friend, General Li. General Li's loud voice could be heard from afar: "Prince, long time no see!"

General Li was a tall and strong man with a broad back and thick eyebrows and big eyes. He strode into the palace with big strides.

The prince hurried forward, a warm smile on his face, and took General Li's arm and said, "Brother Li, please come in."

Yunxi also came out to greet them upon hearing the sound. She was wearing a light blue dress with only a simple jade hairpin in her hair, which made her look even more gentle and charming.

Yunxi bowed slightly, with a perfect smile on her face: "General Li."

When General Li saw Yunxi, he quickly bowed and said, "The princess is truly dignified and beautiful." Yunxi smiled and returned the greeting, "General Li, you are too kind."

The three of them entered the hall, where the maids swiftly brought them tea. General Li picked up the teacup, blew on the steam, took a sip, and said, "Your Highness, is the border peaceful these days?"

The prince frowned and looked serious, "Although there is no war for the time being, we must not take it lightly."

After saying this, he sighed softly. Yunxi listened quietly beside him, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

General Li added, "Your Highness's dedication to the court is admirable." The prince waved his hand, smiled wryly, and said, "This is my duty."

After lunch, General Li stood up to say goodbye and leave. The prince escorted General Li to the door. General Li jumped on his horse, bowed and said goodbye, and rode away.

As the days passed, the relationship between the prince and Yunxi grew deeper and deeper. One day, Yunxi suddenly had the idea of cooking a meal for the prince herself.

She flicked her sleeves and walked towards the kitchen. When she got to the kitchen, Yunxi rolled up her sleeves, put on an apron, and looked very motivated.

The cook was stunned watching from the side. Yunxi smiled and said to the cook, "Master, you have to teach me today."

The cook came back to his senses and nodded hurriedly: "Princess, just tell me what you want to make." Yunxi tilted her head and thought for a moment: "I'll make the braised pork elbow and sweet and sour carp that the prince likes."

The cook responded, "Okay!"

Yunxi followed the cook and bustled around, picking and washing vegetables, with beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

She didn't even bother to wipe it, her eyes fixed on the cook's movements, afraid of missing anything. When the cook put the pork elbow into the pot, Yunxi's eyes widened, and she kept muttering, "This heat must be controlled well."

After finally finishing the dish, Yunxi's face was filled with a satisfied smile, and she walked towards the dining room with the plate.

She went to the kitchen and started to get busy under the guidance of the cook.

When the prince came back, the food was already on the table.

"Did you do all this?" The prince asked in surprise, his eyes wide open.

Yunxi pursed her lips and nodded gently, her beautiful eyes looking at the prince expectantly, "Try it quickly."

The prince quickly picked up a piece of food and put it in his mouth. He chewed it for a few times and nodded repeatedly, "Mm, it's delicious."

After saying that, he picked up another big piece of food with chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.

Yunxi looked at the way the prince devoured his food and couldn't help but burst out laughing. Her eyes became crescents. "Eat slowly. No one is trying to snatch it from you."

The prince's mouth was full, and he mumbled, "It's so delicious, I can't stop eating."

After dinner, night fell and the stars twinkled. At night, the two came to the yard and sat side by side on the stone bench.

Yunxi leaned on the prince's shoulder like a kitten, tilted her head back, and said with a look of longing: "Prince, I hope that days like this will continue forever."

The prince turned his head and looked at Yunxi affectionately. He held her hand tightly and said firmly, "Yes, I will protect you for the rest of your life and make you happy forever."

After hearing this, Yunxi's face was filled with a happy smile and she rubbed her head on the prince's shoulder.

Their sweet life was seen by the servants in the mansion, who were all envious.