AMLFS Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Prince Brings the Betrothal Gifts to the Door

In the Imperial Palace, Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district not only protected Song Huaixi and stood up for him, but also carried him on his back.

Song Huaixi felt that he was a good person and handsome. He had already automatically categorized Zhao Fangye as one of his own.

That night, Song Huaixi tossed and turned in his quilt, waiting for Zhao Fangye to no avail.

Zhang Wenwen, carrying a candlestick, walked in and saw that he was still awake: “Why aren’t you asleep yet? You’re going home tomorrow.”

Song Huaixi asked her again, “Isn’t the Prince coming back to sleep? Why isn’t he coming back to sleep?”

He really liked sleeping with Zhao Fangye; Zhao Fangye was like a big warm stove.

Zhang Wenwen choked for a moment, unsure of what to say.

She had heard that the Prince had been staying in another courtyard for the past few days.

It seemed that he wouldn’t be sleeping with Song Huaixi anymore.

Alas, as expected, the Prince was still disgusted by Song Huaixi, his male wife.

She feared that life in the Ning Wang Mansion would be difficult from now on.

Zhang Wenwen looked worried, but Song Huaixi didn’t understand why she would show such an expression.

Zhang Wenwen could tell that Song Huaixi liked Zhao Fangye quite a bit, so she didn’t explain. “Go to sleep quickly.”

The next morning, Song Huaixi was pulled out of bed early.

Last night, he had been thinking about how Zhao Fangye had promised him to go to his house to see the talking parrot.

He hadn’t seen him, and he didn’t know if he would still go. His mind was in a mess, and it took him a long time to fall asleep.

Song Huaixi was so sleepy that he couldn’t open his eyes, and he allowed Zhao Lu to dress him quietly.

Today was the homecoming visit, and Zhao Lu dressed him in clothes that the Ning Wang Mansion had prepared long ago.

It was a long robe made of soft and smooth crimson brocade. The shoulders and cuffs were embroidered with twining branches, and the chest was embroidered with cranes and cloud patterns.

The embroiderer used the techniques of slanted embroidery and couching with gold thread, making the patterns on the clothes lifelike and exceptionally beautiful.

Song Huaixi had fair skin, and the crimson color made him look even more vibrant, making him look rich and noble.

Zhang Wenwen circled around him, praising, “As expected, clothes make the man. If the master and mistress see you like this, they might not recognize the Wangfei.”

Chun Hua, who was more lively, chimed in, “Yes, this outfit really suits the Wangfei.”

Hearing the people around him praise him, Song Huaixi woke up completely and ran to the mirror to spin around. “This outfit is so beautiful!”

“Thank you, Zhao Lu.” He touched the patterns on the clothes happily.

Suddenly thanked, Zhao Lu was stunned for a moment and said shyly, “This was sent by the Prince this morning.”

Hearing this, the smile on Song Huaixi’s face became even brighter.

“Alright, quickly tie up your hair so as not to delay the time.”

Since it was a homecoming visit to his own home, there was no need to be so particular. Song Huaixi still returned home dressed as a man.

Chun Hua tied up his hair in a bun and put on a hair crown.

The hair crown was entirely golden and engraved with dark patterns, with a large ruby inlaid in the center and surrounded by a circle of pearls.

The hair crown and the clothes were a set, and wearing them made him even more imposing and noble.

The weather outside was cold, and Song Huaixi was sensitive to the cold. Zhang Wenwen took a red silk cloak with a circle of fluffy fur around the edge.

Song Huaixi’s fair face was wrapped inside, making him look even more clean and beautiful.

Outside the Ning Wang Mansion, three carriages were parked on the road. The leading carriage was especially large and luxurious.

Sun Shu, Zhao Fangye’s deputy general, sat outside the carriage and personally drove the horse. Zhao Fangye had taken a seat in the carriage before Song Huaixi.

Zhang Wenwen led Song Huaixi towards the carriage.

She stepped forward and lifted the curtain of the carriage, seeing Zhao Fangye sitting inside. Zhang Wenwen paused, feeling a little incredulous.

Zhao Fangye was actually going too? She had thought that only Song Huaixi would be returning home this time.

In just a moment, she composed herself, suppressing the doubts in her heart, and helped Song Huaixi into the carriage.

“Your Highness!” Song Huaixi exclaimed in surprise when he saw Zhao Fangye sitting in the carriage.

Leaning against a soft pillow, Zhao Fangye’s pale eyes looked towards him: “What?”

“I thought you wouldn’t come!”

Song Huaixi hurriedly got into the carriage and sat next to him, leaning close to him: “Where have you been these past few days?”

“I had official business to attend to,” Zhao Fangye said quietly.

“Oh.” Song Huaixi nodded and then asked, “Why don’t you sleep with me anymore?”

Song Huaixi’s straightforward words caught Zhao Fangye off guard.

If he didn’t know that Song Huaixi was simple-minded, he would have suspected that this person was deliberately seducing him.

Seeing that he didn’t speak, Song Huaixi leaned forward and continued, “You’re not sleeping with me anymore? Why?”

Zhao Fangye looked at his fair face so close, with confusion in his big eyes.

His tone was persistent, wanting to get to the bottom of things.

“Why should I sleep with you?”

Using his slender fingers to prop his head, pushing him away a little, Zhao Fangye said casually.

Song Huaixi was puzzled: “Didn’t you say that we would sleep together after getting married?”

Song Huaixi remembered clearly what he had said on the night of their wedding, that they would sleep together.

Zhao Fangye knew that he was talking about that night, and his tone was teasing: “I did say that, but I don’t want to sleep with you now.”

“Why?” Song Huaixi immediately looked like a deflated eggplant, constantly asking, “Why?”

Zhao Fangye didn’t answer, closing his eyes and ignoring his questioning.

Seeing that he didn’t respond no matter how he asked, Song Huaixi was helpless.

He obediently leaned to one side, thinking that after returning home, he must take Zhao Fangye to see the parrot and the garden.

Before long, the carriage stopped steadily in front of the Song Mansion.

The Song family resided on the east side of the capital, where the environment was quiet. The surrounding residents were mostly scholars and officials who were not so prominent.

The Ning Wang Mansion’s carriage stopping in front of the Song Mansion immediately attracted many people to stop and watch.

The Song family had been waiting at the gate for a long time.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Song Huaixi couldn’t wait to get out.

“Father, Mother! Older brother and sister-in-law!” Song Huaixi shouted at the group of people at the gate.

“Huaixi!”

Song Huaixi’s mother, Lin Rugui, pulled the person who had rushed into her arms out to take a look, and she was relieved to see that he was well-dressed and radiant.

“Madam, don’t be rude. You must greet the Wangfei,” Minister Song Zigen reminded from the side.

Lin Rugui then remembered that she had been impolite: “Yes, yes, yes.”

At this moment, Zhao Fangye followed closely, getting off the carriage with ease.

He wore a black robe embroidered with four-clawed dragon patterns. Outside, he wore a black cloak made of sable fur.

The whole person was noble and elegant, with the oppressive feeling and cold, stern air of someone who had been on the battlefield for a long time.

Just him standing there lowered the surrounding temperature by a few degrees.

Everyone stared at Zhao Fangye’s beautiful face, as if frozen in place. Their eyes were filled with surprise.

They had no preparation for Zhao Fangye’s arrival, and Zhang Wenwen had not sent a message back.

After all, the Song family knew that this marriage was absurd. How could Zhao Fangye accompany Song Huaixi on a homecoming visit?

For a moment, their eyes widened.

Song Zigen was the first to react, leading the others to kneel down and salute: “This humble official greets Your Highness, greets the Wangfei.”

Seeing them suddenly kneeling at his feet, Song Huaixi became at a loss.

He stepped forward to help them up: “Father, Mother, older brother and sister-in-law, what are you doing? Get up quickly…”

Zhao Fangye walked to his side, took Song Huaixi’s hand, and said quietly, “Get up, there’s no need to be so formal.”

Song Zigen then led the group up, apologizing to Zhao Fangye: “This humble official did not know of Your Highness’s arrival and failed to welcome you from afar. I hope Your Highness will not blame us.”

The Song family stood in front of Zhao Fangye, not daring to breathe loudly. During the wedding, they had only seen him from afar at the entrance of the mansion.

Today, Zhao Fangye’s arrival had made the originally joyful atmosphere stifling.

Song Huaixi didn’t understand these things, and he stepped forward to shake Zhao Fangye’s hand: “Your Highness, let’s go. I’ll take you to see the parrot.”

Lin Rugui and Song Zigen were both startled by his bold action, whispering to Song Huaixi, “Huaixi, don’t be rude to the Prince…”

Seeing everyone so nervous, Zhao Fangye softened his voice: “Today, I am accompanying the Wangfei on his homecoming visit. Everyone doesn’t need to be so restrained.”

After speaking, he raised a hand. Deputy General Sun Shu beside the carriage had people carry boxes of gold, silver, and jewels to Song Zigen’s front.

Zhao Fangye met Song Zigen’s confused gaze and explained, “The marriage was rushed, this is the betrothal gift that I am making up for the Wangfei.”

After all, this absurd marriage was caused by him, and whether it was the homecoming visit or the betrothal gift, it was compensation for Song Huaixi.

But Song Huaixi couldn’t wait, unwilling to listen to them say these things, and pulled Zhao Fangye inside.

Leaving the Song family looking at each other, at a complete loss, unsure of Zhao Fangye’s attitude.