Chapter 19: The Fiery Impetuosity of Youth

Even Shen Ruojin, calm as she was, was taken aback by Qin Lang’s words. Her newlywed husband truly had no filter—he could say anything out loud. Now that he had spoken so boldly, Shen Ruojin had no choice but to respond.

“All right.” She extended her index finger and lightly hooked it around Qin Lang’s belt. “Then let’s change the scenery.”

The night breeze slipped through the small window, causing the candle flames inside to flicker. The two left the accounting room and returned to the bridal chamber. When the maids and attendants saw them enter the room together, they were about to step forward to serve but noticed the door was promptly closed behind them. Exchanging knowing glances, they quietly withdrew with tact.

“The lady and the young master have returned…”

Shi Jian wanted to follow and see, but a young maid held her back. In a low voice, the maid whispered, “Let it wait until tomorrow. No disturbing the young master and young lady’s private matters tonight.”

Shi Jian understood immediately and flushed. She had managed the weapon storeroom while accompanying the lady at the border. Since none of the Shen family’s junior generals were married, no one had ever taught her about such intimate matters, unlike the servants in a princely residence who were accustomed to all sorts of affairs.

Still, she wasn’t completely ignorant. The young master had left the mansion on the wedding night without consummating the marriage, but now they were sleeping in the same room—surely they intended to make up for that?

Her mind in turmoil, the young maid was soon pulled away by several palace maids.

Inside the bridal chamber, Qin Lang followed Shen Ruojin, closed the door behind them, and suddenly pressed her against it, lowering his head to kiss her lips. The move came so unexpectedly that Shen Ruojin was caught off guard. Yet Qin Lang’s kiss was skillful, and she did not resist his breath; instead, she was unwittingly drawn into the shared surrender.

Beauty beguiles the heart.

Shen Ruojin hesitated for a moment. After a beat, she raised her hand to strike, but before it came down, Qin Lang grasped her wrist.

“The pleasures of the bridal chamber are about playful sparring on the bed. If you really hit me, that wouldn’t be appropriate.”

The young prince was in high spirits, smiling slyly like a fox who’d stolen a scent.

Shen Ruojin’s raised hand was instinctive, not really meant to harm. Perhaps after all that had happened to the Shen family, her past three years felt like a long nightmare: returning to the capital, betrothal, wedding—all arranged and pushed forward by others—until the day Pei Jing and Mu Yunwei left. Then, urged awake by a series of pressing demands, she resolutely withdrew from that chaotic relationship and remarried Qin Lang.

This man before her was her new husband. Even if she planned to seek divorce after a year, they still had to see each other often and live together during that time.

Likely, she would never marry again.

If she were to share one year of conjugal bliss with Qin Lang, tasting love’s pleasures, perhaps she wouldn’t be the only one to suffer.

With that thought, Shen Ruojin lowered her hand and instead gently touched Qin Lang’s earlobe. Breathing softly onto his neck, she murmured, “Qin Lang, your ears are so hot.”

They truly were—burning with heat.

The teasing words from their wedding night—“Shen Ruojin, why are you blushing?”—still echoed in her mind. Tonight, the one teasing was herself.

They said Qin Lang was a notorious rake, the capital’s foremost philanderer, who had never let any woman, from princesses and noble ladies to courtesans and performers, escape his web of charm. Yet such a libertine blushed when kissed?

Shen Ruojin studied Qin Lang, her gaze filled with curiosity. Her newlywed husband was so handsome, with flushed ears—it was quite amusing.

Her fingers wandered over his neck, pinching his earlobes a couple of times. Amusing indeed.

She couldn’t fathom what was so enjoyable about the ruffians harassing decent women in the streets.

Engaging in a playful duel with a rake, making the rogue restrain himself, watching the fire ignite in his eyes, hearing his breath gradually grow heavier—wasn’t that far more interesting?

“I never expected you to be quite the tease yourself.”

Qin Lang’s gaze darkened, as if he intended to devour her whole.

“That’s not teasing at all. Young Prince Qin has already kissed me; a little touch just evens the score.”

Shen Ruojin withdrew her hand and turned to walk further inside.

Qin Lang leaned against the door, wiping the corner of his mouth, his voice low and hoarse, “You’re really playing with me now?”

Let the game begin.

She would just kindle the flame, without taking responsibility.

Shen Ruojin smiled faintly, lifted the beaded curtain, and entered the inner room.

It was only the second day after their wedding, and the festive red decorations remained untouched. From the furniture to the vases, everything was bright red; the bed bore a brocade quilt embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, and beside it hung a crimson silk canopy adorned with motifs wishing for abundant descendants.

The wedding candles had long since burned out, and tonight fresh red candles were lit.

Shen Ruojin sat before the bronze mirror, removing her hairpins, unaware Qin Lang had entered the inner chamber. She only heard the door open again. He was leaving once more.

It seemed he hadn’t gone far—he had gone to the back washroom.

Soon, the sound of water splashing came, accompanied by a servant’s gentle admonition: “Second young master, winter is near; how can you bathe with cold water? It’s bad for your health…”

“Shut up!”

Cold water for a bath already?

Shen Ruojin chuckled softly. The young prince was truly full of youthful vigor.

That day, Qin Lang stayed in the residence, and Shen Ruojin prepared herself to share the bed with him. But she waited and waited, leaning on the couch reading a travelogue, yet Qin Lang never came to bed.

Exhausted after a long day, she finally set the book aside and lay down, falling asleep.

When she woke the next morning, the other half of the couch was still empty. Qin Lang had not returned to sleep.

Thinking he had bathed and left because he couldn’t stay inside, she paid it no mind, rising to dress and wash before visiting the main courtyard to greet the princess consort.

The Northern Prince had stayed with the princess consort the day before. When the maids announced, “Second young madam has arrived,” the Northern Prince was in the main hall meticulously polishing his treasured sword, while the princess consort sat at her dressing table.

“No other new bride has been so obedient and capable within three days of marriage. Not only does she manage Second Young Master well, but she is also so considerate and filial,” the princess consort praised earnestly. Since seeing Shen Ruojin make Qin Lang obediently count silver in the accounting room yesterday, she had taken a genuine liking to the new bride, seizing every opportunity to compliment her.

The Northern Prince retorted, “Don’t tell me Second Young Master bullied the new bride, making her come here early to complain.”

The princess consort shot him a glare. “If Your Highness dislikes the two of us, you can find somewhere more comfortable to stay.”

The Northern Prince immediately fell silent.

Having spoken ill of Second Young Master the previous night, almost missing the princess consort’s bed, he feared ridicule from servants if he slept in the study again. So he stood by the bed half the night until the princess consort “invited” him to rest.

They had quarreled at the head of the bed but finally reconciled by the foot.

And now, early this morning, that rebellious son caused her irritation again.

The princess consort donned her final purple sapphire hairpin and personally greeted Shen Ruojin outside, saying, “Ruojin has come. The prince and I haven’t had breakfast yet; you can eat with us.”

The morning was bright and clear, so the princess consort had breakfast laid out in the courtyard.

The Northern Prince placed his sword on a rack, polished it for a long time, and at last had breakfast.

The princess consort seated Shen Ruojin beside her. They spoke endlessly—from the invitations to various banquets sent by powerful families to the plum blossom cake on the table—yet not a word was mentioned about Qin Lang.

“Why did you come alone? Where is Second Young Master?”

The Northern Prince’s question broke the princess consort’s composure.

She shot him a sharp glance.

In front of others, especially juniors, the Northern Prince was stern and imposing. With a deep voice, he asked, “Is Second Young Master out gallivanting again? He only returned yesterday, and the princess consort said he…”

“What did you say about me?”

Qin Lang entered through the archway. Today he wore a brocade robe in the hues of dawn and sea, his appearance dazzling beyond compare—more radiant than the morning glow.

He approached, casually greeted his parents, then sat beside Shen Ruojin, whispering to her, “I couldn’t sleep all night, counting silver in the accounting room. No one pities me at all.”