Gu Qianying tensed her body and suddenly sat up with a swish. "Ninth Imperial Uncle, this consort has woken up."
Nangong Mo did not get up. He rested his arms behind his head, looking relaxed. "You've woken up, you can sleep more. Come, lie down."
Gu Qianying turned to look at him. "Ninth Imperial Uncle doesn't need to go to the palace for the morning court today?"
Nangong Mo's slender fingers unfastened the white inner garment he was wearing, revealing his strong and alluring chest, sparking imagination.
"It's fine. This king is newly married, the Emperor will surely understand."
Gu Qianying inhaled.
She had to admit, the reason was quite sufficient.
She turned her face away, intending to get off the bed. However, Nangong Mo was lying on the outer side, his long, immobile legs occupying the edge of the bed. For Gu Qianying to get off the bed, she would have to climb over him.
"But this consort... is hungry."
Gu Qianying deliberately found an excuse, intending to step over Nangong Mo. She sat up, and as she leaned down, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward. She fell onto him.
Their faces, magnified, were mere inches apart, and they breathed each other's breath.
Gu Qianying's eyes widened, and she was momentarily stunned.
"Then what does the Princess Consort want to eat? Me, or... me?"
His magnetic voice reached her ears.
Gu Qianying's face instantly flushed red.
In her past life, she had also been in love with someone. But in that past relationship, she had spent most of her time in the military camp, bolstering the scoundrel's prestige and paving his way, or leading thousands of troops on the battlefield.
Even during her frivolous moments with the scoundrel in her past life, they were discussing important matters of power. To be flirted with by such explicit words, as she was now, was something she had never experienced.
She was at a loss for what to do, but the scenes of being abandoned by the scoundrel and suffering immense heartbreak in her past life immediately flashed through her mind.
The dazed expression in her eyes gradually turned cold.
She raised her slender, smooth jade finger and pointed at his chest. "Your Highness is truly joking." She then flipped over and climbed directly off him.
Barefoot, she got off the bed and walked to the tea table. She picked up the teapot and took a large gulp of cold tea.
"It's cold on the floor. Put on your shoes and socks."
Nangong Mo had already gotten up but had not left the bed. With his legs still unresponsive, he leaned against the side of the bed, exuding a unique charm. His exposed chest was covered by layers of fine hair, and beneath his thick, long, sword-like eyebrows were eyes as gentle as flowing water. His gentleness was only for her.
Gu Qianying turned to look at him, not moving. She simply said, "It's fine."
"Come here!" His voice became a little colder.
Gu Qianying's hand on the tea table tightened. She turned around. "Alright," and walked over.
Returning to the side of the bed, she was more cautious and kept some distance from him.
Gu Qianying's caution caught Nangong Mo's eye, making his heart tighten.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore."
Gu Qianying looked at him.
He said with self-deprecation, "Princess Consort, do you think, with this king's current physical condition, what can I do to you?"
"That's true. Ninth Imperial Uncle has good self-awareness."
Gu Qianying teased him.
Nangong Mo's face immediately darkened, and he gritted his teeth. "Gu Qianying!"
Gu Qianying chuckled, walked up to him, and sat beside him, putting on her shoes and socks. After a moment, she said, "Alright, don't be angry. Don't worry, I will cure your legs."
He suddenly looked at her, the tenderness in his eyes reappearing. He involuntarily called out to her, "Girl!"
Perhaps due to excessive emotion, the corners of his mouth trembled slightly.
The memory of her telling him years ago, "Don't worry, I'll cure your injuries," flashed through his mind. Since then, his girl had begun to study medicine for him.
"Also, I will definitely cure the wet nurse's illness. After all, in the future, this young lady will still rely on Ninth Imperial Uncle."
Gu Qianying smiled at Nangong Mo.
Her smile diminished some of the passion in his heart. But looking at the face that appeared in his mind day and night, Nangong Mo's passion for her reignited. "Mm, good, this king understands."
No rush, take it slow. She was already by his side. He believed that one day, she would remember him.
After a moment of silence between them.
Nangong Mo suddenly said to Gu Qianying, "Can you carry this king?"
Gu Qianying looked at him, her eyes filled with suspicion.
"This king has accompanied you all night without bathing or changing clothes."
"..."
???
Gu Qianying immediately opened the door. "This consort will call Bai Qi in."
Nangong Mo stopped her. "Bai Qi is injured."
Gu Qianying inhaled. "But this consort is also injured."
"Then use your eyes to see."
Nangong Mo did not let Gu Qianying leave his side.
But Gu Qianying had not yet understood what Nangong Mo meant. "See what?"
"See how this king bathes."
"..."
Gu Qianying never imagined that Nangong Mo would actually have her sit beside him and stare blankly while he bathed.
She didn't see how Nangong Mo got into the bathtub. She only saw several hidden guards surrounding him, and Bai Qi inside.
After Bai Qi and the others left, she saw him, stripped of his clothes, leaning against the side of the bathtub. He looked at her and said, "Wife, what do you think of a鸳鸯浴 (a bath for two)?"
"..."
Gu Qianying quietly looked out the window, deliberately changing the subject. "The weather is nice today."
"This king allows my wife to look freely, no need to pay silver."
"..."
Gu Qianying had no response.
She pretended not to hear anything.
Nangong Mo looked at her and chuckled. "Wife, there's no need to be shy. Your husband's body and heart belong only to you in this life. If you ever become interested in my body, your husband can be at your disposal. However, wife, remember, you must not think of other men in this life, otherwise, your husband will be jealous."
Gu Qianying took a breath. She didn't look at Nangong Mo but quickly opened the door and walked out.
Yes, she needed to go out for some fresh air.
As she left, she deliberately closed the door.
Nangong Mo watched her "fleeing in panic" back, a faint smile rising to his lips. At this moment, he was in a very good mood.
Because Gu Qianying was safe and sound, and because Gu Qianying had become his wife.
No matter how rushed their wedding was, the most important thing was that she had come to his side.
This was enough for him!
After Gu Qianying wandered outside for a while, Nangong Mo was already ready.
Bai Qi pushed Nangong Mo, who had changed into a snow-white robe, out of the room.
Coming to Gu Qianying, Nangong Mo looked up at her and asked, "Are you hungry?"
Due to the embarrassing incident just now, Gu Qianying did not respond.
"Let's go, push this king to the kitchen."
Bai Qi, with his keen eyesight, took two steps back and said to Gu Qianying, "Princess Consort, please." With that, he vanished in an instant.
"..."
Gu Qianying didn't know what Nangong Mo was going to do in the kitchen, but at the moment, only she and Nangong Mo were present. Therefore, she had no choice but to push Nangong Mo to the kitchen.
Along the way, maids and servants who came and went knelt on the ground.
Upon arriving at the kitchen, the cooks and their assistants who were busy cooking were startled. They knelt on the side, trembling with fear.
"Let the cook stay, everyone else get out!"
Nangong Mo commanded.
In an instant,
Only Nangong Mo, Gu Qianying, and the cook remained in the kitchen.
Nangong Mo looked at the cook kneeling on the ground, trembling, and said coldly, "Come over and assist."
The cook was a little confused?
Assist with what?
Nangong Mo gave her a cold glance.
The cook, disregarding her confusion, quickly scurried over, her hands trembling.
Beside them, Gu Qianying was a little puzzled, not knowing what Nangong Mo intended to do.
Perhaps sensing Gu Qianying's thoughts, Nangong Mo turned back and explained, "Today, this king will cook some of your favorite dishes. You just wait and eat."
Gu Qianying was stunned.
The cook was so scared she almost fainted.
To assist their prince? Was this... real?
Gu Qianying, who had initially thought Nangong Mo was just saying it casually, was extremely surprised when she saw Nangong Mo's somewhat strenuous posture as he stirred the pot while sitting in his wheelchair by the stove.
What did Nangong Mo mean by this?
Was he trying to win her heart for some purpose she hadn't yet deciphered, or was he simply cooking for her?
She truly couldn't understand.
A moment later.
Several exquisite dishes had been cooked by Nangong Mo.
The cook, with trembling hands that nearly cut her own fingers, worked efficiently. The dishes, bowls, chopsticks, and food containers were all prepared.
As Gu Qianying pushed Nangong Mo back to the main hall, the dishes cooked by Nangong Mo were also served.
At the table,
Nangong Mo looked at Gu Qianying. "Quick, taste it. How is the flavor?"
Gu Qianying looked at the table full of her favorite dishes, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"Quick, taste it. Don't just look. It won't be good if it gets cold."
Seeing Gu Qianying hesitate to pick up her chopsticks, Nangong Mo reminded her.
Gu Qianying lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable.
"Mm, alright."
Gu Qianying picked up her chopsticks and tasted a bite. Nangong Mo looked at her and asked, "How is the taste?"
His eyes were full of anticipation, like a child who had done a good deed and was waiting for a reaction.
"Mm, it's not bad."
Gu Qianying replied.
"If it's delicious, eat more."
Nangong Mo served a piece of food to Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying, however, put down her chopsticks.
"When can we go see the wet nurse?"
Her plan needed to be executed quickly.
Seeing that she had not eaten the food he served her, Nangong Mo was slightly disappointed, but he still answered her question. "After we finish eating, we will go."
Gu Qianying nodded. "Alright."
During the meal, Nangong Mo called the steward and poured Gu Qianying a bowl of warm wine.
Warm wine can ward off the cold.
When Du Chun took her pulse, he had told him that his wife had a cold constitution. Drinking a small bowl of warm wine during meals was beneficial and harmless to her. He had remembered this advice.
In the prince's mansion, when the prince and princess consort ate, maids and stewards were required to serve them.
However, at this moment, to have some privacy, Nangong Mo dismissed the servants in the room.
For this reason, Gu Qianying saw the steward of the mansion, Steward Qi Zhenhong, for the first time, but she remembered him with just one glance.