The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 852 - 808: Auspicious Night

Xiang Ning had already left, and Ye Ling sat on the redwood carved gourd-patterned canopy bed, with the curtain halfway down. The light from the octagonal lampshade at the head of the bed cast a gentle glow, highlighting her delicate and fair face.

Hearing footsteps, Ye Ling looked up and saw it was Song Yuanbao. She tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand, "Husband..."

Song Yuanbao sat down next to her, "We climbed up and down the mountain today. Baby, are you tired?"

Ye Ling shyly shook her head, "I just took a bath, feeling much better now."

Song Yuanbao asked her, "Is there anywhere uncomfortable? I can give you a massage."

Although they had been married for more than two months, the two had yet to be intimate. Ye Ling felt too shy and shook her head, "I haven’t exercised for a long time. It was rare to go out; it felt quite good."

Song Yuanbao saw that she was nervous and chuckled softly, "Don’t be afraid, after tonight, it will be fine."

Him saying this made Ye Ling’s face redden as if about to drip blood, and she didn’t dare to lift her head. Just as she was about to say something, she was suddenly embraced.

At first not used to it, Ye Ling struggled slightly, but soon softened, her half body leaning against him.

Song Yuanbao held her with one arm, while the other hand gently massaged her head, "I didn’t expect that after all the effort to marry you, we would wait so long for the candlelit night. Baby, these two months, I missed you terribly."

There was a slight hint of complaint in his tone.

Ye Ling heard it, looked up to meet Song Yuanbao’s gaze, and blushed, "I know, the first two months we had no choice, now that the mourning period is over..."

Her voice gradually trailed off.

Looking at her acting like this, she looked very much like the two rabbits huddled in the cage he had seen when he first came in. He suddenly laughed aloud.

"Why are you laughing, husband?" Ye Ling asked somewhat embarrassedly.

Song Yuanbao, his lips still curved in affection, said, "I laughed because the painting you made for me is wonderful. When we have time, let’s paint another one. Next time, not in the flower bushes, but by the lake or somewhere else. You’ll paint it carefully, and we’ll keep it to show our son in the future."

"You’re talking nonsense again!" Ye Ling glared at him, her puffed-up expression melting Song Yuanbao’s heart. He reluctantly released her, "Sit here for a while; I’m going to take a bath."

With those words, he got up and left.

Xiang Ning had been waiting outside the whole time. Seeing the young master go for a bath and attended by servant boys, she quietly slipped into the room to find Ye Ling bending over by the wardrobe, searching for a new quilt.

"Miss." Xiang Ning quietly called.

Ye Ling was startled and looked back at her, "Why did you come in?"

Xiang Ning giggled and pulled out her hands that she had hidden behind her back. In one hand, she held a thick red candle styled with dragon and phoenix motifs.

Ye Ling was stunned, "What are you doing with that?"

Xiang Ning raised an eyebrow, "Naturally, it’s to light the red candle for the young master and the young lady!"

Saying this, she walked over to the incense table, placed the red candle, lit it with a flint, and added, "Madam has been asking me all along, tomorrow I finally have something to report back."

Ye Ling, holding the new quilt, was too occupied to use her hands, so she could only scold her with her eyes, "What kind of maid, as part of dowry, goes to her mother’s house every three days? Next time, without my permission, you’re not allowed to go back, or I’ll assign you to the outer courtyard to do the housekeeper’s chores, and you won’t be serving me anymore."

"Oh dear, young lady, you’re too heartless!" Xiang Ning said with a pinched face, "Madam only has you as a daughter, she wants to know how you’re doing in the Song family every day. I have to go back, besides, the mistress won’t say anything."

"That’s because Mother has a good temper. If Granny Song catches you one day, see if she spares you."

Hearing Ye Ling mention Granny Song, Xiang Ning immediately wilted. After a while, she said, trying to please, "Don’t be angry, young lady. I won’t go back. Oh? Didn’t the mistress arrange for someone to check the bedsheets for the first cloth tonight? Why hasn’t anyone come?"

"Earlier, when I ate in Mother’s courtyard, she saw I was nervous and said she wouldn’t arrange for anyone to come," Ye Ling said, growing shy herself, "Husband’s coming back soon, you better go out, and don’t meddle in my affairs."

Xiang Ning covered her mouth and laughed slightly, then reminded Ye Ling, "Young lady, this red candle is to burn until dawn. Do not put it out yourself tonight, otherwise, it’s considered unlucky."

Ye Ling acknowledged quickly and chased the little maid out.

Song Yuanbao returned from his bath, wearing only a cream-colored silk robe, his hair mostly dry, loosely draped over his shoulders. With his handsome and debonair looks, his every move was enticing.

Ye Ling blushed, her heart racing. Not knowing what to say, she pointed to the red candle on the incense table, "That maid Xiang Ning brought this in, said it should be lit all night tonight."

"That girl’s thoughtful, give her a red envelope tomorrow," Song Yuanbao said happily, and suddenly thought of something, "Oh no, tomorrow morning, all the servants in this courtyard must be rewarded, generously rewarded."

Ye Ling turned around to straighten the quilt, her face blushing, "It’s late at night, husband, rest early!"

...

On this night, the dragon and phoenix candles were not only lit at the Harmony Pavilion but also in the Yikun Palace within the Imperial City.

Knowing that His Majesty would stay overnight at Yikun Palace, Eunuch Sanbao instructed the little eunuch to fetch a pair of celebratory candles from the Imperial Household early on.

Upon seeing them, Dong Han immediately understood, her usually calm demeanor giving way to a rare flush of embarrassment.

The night services for the concubines in the palace are far more complicated than ordinary wedding nights, especially when it was to supplement the Empress’ grand wedding night. The ceremonial aspect was significant—from the hour of 5 p.m. when the sky hadn’t completely darkened yet, palace attendants started preparing. The spacious and luxurious bath was filled with a fragrant soup specially concocted by female officials for the Empress. Knowing His Majesty dislikes overly strong scents, not many petals were used. The shampoo and body lotion prepared for the Empress were of the highest quality with extremely faint fragrances.

Nian Chun and Xiu Dong were the ones serving Dong Han during her bath.

These two were originally palace maids left by the late Empress for Zhao Xi, but Zhao Xi did not want so many maids around him, so he bestowed them to Dong Han, keeping only Aunt Jingzhe as the female official.

Dong Han had heard of Nian Chun and Xiu Dong, previously they were bedroom maids at the Eastern Palace, later serving with the late Empress. After the late Empress passed away, they returned and are now her Chief Palace Maids.

The palace rules are strict, Dong Han understood that if these two had succeeded in serving as bedroom maids before, they should have a title by now. But here they were, serving the Empress instead, indicating they had never served in the bedroom.

Nevertheless, Dong Han had some questions she couldn’t help but ask. Leaning at the edge of the White Jade Pool, she looked at the two, "Do you know what rules His Majesty has when resting?"

Dong Han, who had been in the palace for two months, had already discerned most of the open preferences and taboos of His Majesty. But she still didn’t know if Zhao Xi had any particular rules when sleeping. If he did, she needed to prepare in advance to avoid displeasing him on the first night, which could set a lasting negative impression.

Nian Chun and Xiu Dong exchanged glances, seemingly hesitant, and neither spoke.

Noticing this, Dong Han smiled and asked, "Is there something I shouldn’t know?"

Nian Chun hesitated and said, "It’s not that we refuse to say, it’s just..."

Before she could finish, Xiu Dong interrupted, "Well, let’s say it, anyway, the Empress will serve in the bedroom shortly, sooner or later she will find out."

Her tone made Dong Han pay attention, "Go ahead, tell me!"

"During the day, His Majesty is strict and solemn, but when he sleeps, he is not at all settled. He kicks the quilt and burrows into the pillow, and his hair is a mess the next morning. Previously, Sister Wanqiu would spend a long time tidying his hair in the mornings while keeping night watch in his room."

Dong Han listened, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

She couldn’t imagine that someone so perfect and strict like His Majesty, would be like this at night.

"Indeed!" Nian Chun sighed, "That’s why when His Majesty was in Yutang Palace, he hardly allowed anyone to keep night watch easily. It was only when Young Master Song entered the palace as a companion that somehow he convinced His Majesty to let Sister Wanqiu in. We learned this from Sister Wanqiu, as for what His Majesty’s messy hair looks like, the two of us have never seen it."

Dong Han nodded, "Alright, I understand."

...

When the sky completely darkened, Zhao Xi finally put down the vermillion pen, lifting his head from the writing desk in the Imperial Study Room, returned to the palace for dinner, bathed, and then made his way to Yikun Palace.

Dong Han had a small stove prepared, with wine warming on it.

As Zhao Xi entered, he immediately smelled the fragrance of wine filling the room, it was precisely the Luofu Spring he liked.

Dong Han kneeled, ready to pay respect, but Zhao Xi excused her, his gaze falling on the small stove, "Drinking this late?"

"It’s autumn," Dong Han said, "the mornings and evenings are chilly. Your Majesty sat rigidly in the Imperial Study Room all day, some warm wine is good to warm the body."

She continued, using a wine ladle to pour a scoop into a wine cup, offering it with both hands before Zhao Xi, "Your Majesty, try it."

Usually, Zhao Xi would not drink at night, but for some reason, he suddenly had the urge today. He accepted it, taking a sip, carefully tasted it, and remarked, "Warm and mellow, leaving a sweet aftertaste, quite delicious."

Dong Han also drank a cup, quickly had Xiu Dong and the others come in to remove the wine pot, cup, and small stove, explaining, "This wine has a strong effect; Your Majesty should not drink too much, one cup is sufficient to warm the body."

Zhao Xi, being always moderate, would naturally not overindulge. He glanced at the water clock in the treasure cabinet, "It’s getting late, time to rest."

Dong Han knew Zhao Xi had a strong sense of time, waking up and sleeping promptly at fixed hours every day unless under special circumstances.

She nodded, "Allow me to unclothe Your Majesty."