The Princess Who Married The Crown Prince - Chapter 11

“The taste is a little strange and a little bitter. Well, I’ll take the first sip to demonstrate my sincerity.” After licking her lips and finishing the wine in the gourd, Su Qiuqiu saw Lu Fangting looking at her

intently. He no longer gripped his chest as though he was having trouble breathing. A hint of delicate beauty from his frail appearance enhanced his dazed expression, making him undeniably handsome.

Knowing she had probably confused him, Su Qiuqiu secretly regretted letting her thoughts run wild. She gave a brief explanation.

Su Qiuqiu had liked wine in a past life. She loved creamy dessert wines and frequently drank red wine for its beauty benefits.

The Su family had never experienced such luxury. She drained the gourd dry, and her finger was twitching with desire at the scent of wine.

Su Qiuqiu’s belief in the proverb “When a person is about to die, they become kind” contributed to this. Su Qiuqiu saw no need for pretense, as she had nothing left to hide and would soon bury all secrets

with her. Her marriage to Lu Fangting sealed their destiny to share their lives together. Now that they were alone, Su Qiuqiu decided to stop pretending and tell him the truth.

“You don’t have to do anything; you are the patient. Simply take a sip. Observing Lu Fangting’s stunned expression, Su Qiuqiu spoke. She unintentionally touched his hand as she motioned for him to drink. It was freezing.

Lu Fangting had recently recovered from a bout of sickness. His hands were icy, and his face was pale. Su Qiuqiu couldn’t help but think that he appeared to be like a woman with menstrual cramps and anemia. Well, ahem.

Lu Fangting’s eyes were fixed on Su Qiuqiu’s face. As she had advised, he took a tiny sip. Su Qiuqiu swiftly cleared the table and took off the heavy phoenix crown from her head.

“Whew, that was heavy. I’m finally free! I feel as though my head could float away. Approaching Lu Fangting, Su Qiuqiu lifted her skirt and rubbed her scalp.

“Brother Fangting?” In front of his distracted gaze, Su Qiuqiu waved her hand. “Are you okay?”

“Call me Fangting, please.” Lu Fangting’s voice was a little weak, and he blinked slowly.

“So I won’t participate in the ceremony… We’ve already performed the marriage ceremony, and now we’re family, Brother Fangting. For now, I’ll drop the formalities. I’ll take off the mask I wear at the

Marquis’s Residence once we’re alone. Wearing it all the time is really exhausting. You also don’t have to be reserved around me, Brother Fangting. Feel free to laugh or cry.

What are your thoughts? After pulling up a chair next to Lu Fangting, Su Qiuqiu greeted him with a pat on the shoulder. She was aware that what she was saying might seem unusual, but she decided to

try it since they were still getting to know each other. Conventional norms would later constrain her if she didn’t comply. “The wife obeys the husband,” and “a married woman follows her husband’s will”

norms would, after all, require his consent if she ever wanted to leave the house. It’s better to build a solid rapport first.

Lu Fangting looks at Su Qiuqiu with curiosity, confusion, and bewilderment in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, even though you may still feel a little uncomfortable. As we spend more time together, we’ll develop into close friends. I’m really easy to get along with. What are your thoughts? I can go

back to how I was when we were together if this doesn’t work.” After saying that, Su Qiuqiu bowed respectfully to Lu Fangting.

For a long time, Su Qiuqiu had been aware of rumors that the Crown Prince of Zhen’nan was impotent due to a secret illness. He was someone she could think of as a male confidant, and she had

implicitly accepted him as harmless. She never questioned the reports that Lu Fangting was impotent. What mattered most to men was being called inadequate, so why hadn’t he quickly denied such a

pervasive rumor? The fact that Prince Zhen’nan’s manor had allowed it to go on for so long without providing an explanation only made her conviction stronger.

Lu Fangting said, “I can…” after glancing at Su Qiuqiu.

“You are not only attractive but also a good person. Your skin is so much better than I could have ever imagined. You have the ability to charm anyone. It’s just unfortunate. His agreement made Su

Qiuqiu smile. Her first thought was, “It’s a pity you’re a man,” but she quickly changed it to, “It’s a pity you’re ill.” It must be difficult. You’ve been weak since you were young. What condition are you in

exactly? Are you hurting right now?

Lu Fangting replied, “A congenital illness.” It’s okay. I’m accustomed to it.

“I can’t help you with your illness because I’m not a doctor. But don’t be afraid to ask if there’s anything I can do. Do you know where Mamma Li and my dowry maid are, by the way? How am I going to

change and wash later? Exhausted, Su Qiuqiu remarked, “I don’t even know where my things are.” The ornaments must have weighed dozens of pounds, and she took them off of her body and hair. She

yearned for a hot bath and some food after chatting with the Crown Prince and resolving some issues.

“My wet nurse is aware of it. Here, she serves as the chief steward. “All of you can come in now,” Lu Fangting answered.

When Su Qiuqiu heard this, she nodded, combed her hair, calmed down, and proceeded to summon the servants with dignity and grace.

Leaning against his cushions, Lu Fangting observed her with a chuckle in his eyes.

“Hello, Princess Zhenqi. I am Mo Huishu, the steward of the Crown Prince’s household. You can call me Mamma Mo. Mamma Li and the others have already been sent for. A plump middle-aged woman

politely greeted Su Qiuqiu, saying, “Please don’t worry.”

“I’m grateful, Mama Mo. Accept this, please. After giving Mama Mo a nod, Su Qiuqiu took a red envelope out of her wide-sleeved jacket’s inner pocket and gave it to her.

I have no idea what the local customs are. Are the groom’s family servants required to receive red envelopes at the wedding? Fortunately, I had some saved up and had prepared some beforehand.

After thanking her, Mama Mo called two maids to honor Su Qiuqiu.

One of the maids, a tall, remarkably attractive woman with a refined manner, said, “My name is Lanxiu, and I greet the County Princess.” The Crown Prince “couldn’t be without someone by his side,” the maid had previously informed Su Qiuqiu.

With a smile, Su Qiuqiu handed Lanxiu a red envelope. The other maid moved forward, bowed deeply, but said nothing.

Su Qiuqiu looked closely at the girl, who had escaped her notice earlier.

The maid was not yet of marriageable age; she looked to be around fourteen or fifteen. Her big, unusually bright eyes glowed with innocent curiosity, and her hair was arranged in twin buns. She still had

the roundness of a child, with plump cheeks and a pursed mouth that made her look very much like a child.

The girl finished her greeting, then looked nervously at Lu Fangting.

“County Princess, please don’t take offense. This is Qing Zhi, the personal maid of the Crown Prince. Mamma Mo pulled the maid forward to apologize to Su Qiuqiu, saying, “She is mute and has very poor hearing.”

It’s okay. She looks excited to see my husband. “Go ahead,” Su Qiuqiu said as she placed a pouch in Qing Zhi’s hand and indicated for her to leave. With a grateful nod, Qing Zhi rushed over to Lu

Fangting, touched his forehead, and took his hand. Then, she asked him a question that Su Qiuqiu couldn’t comprehend. In a kind gesture, Lu Fangting patted Su Qiuqiu’s head as if to reassure her.

It surprised Su Qiuqiu that such a sweet and gentle maid would be deaf and silent. The fact that the Crown Prince of Zhen’nan would have such a servant was even more unexpected!

Su Qiuqiu’s opinion of Lu Fangting changed after witnessing his kind treatment of Qing Zhi. It was uncommon to witness a master show such generosity to his servants.

She felt sorry for Lu Fangting once more. What a lovely maid she has.

“I’m going to wash up now. Lu Fangting said, “Qing Zhi will help me,” getting up with Qing Zhi’s assistance and turning to face Su Qiuqiu.

“All right, my husband, feel free to leave…” Su Qiuqiu smiled benevolently and morally at Lu Fangting.

“Qing Zhi is overly pampered by the Crown Prince. It’s always her… hmph!” Lanxiu muttered bitterly.

“Lanxiu, stop talking nonsense!” After reprimanding, Mamma Mo turned to Su Qiuqiu. “County Princess, Qing Zhi’s service is nothing new to the Crown Prince. He was just not comfortable with others.”

“Mm, I get it…” Su Qiuqiu nodded without much response. She reasoned that having a favorite maid is quite normal for the Crown Prince. At least his heart is still alive, even though his body is weak.

Mamma Mo couldn’t resist taking another look at Su Qiuqiu in an attempt to gauge how she really felt. She sighed to herself, finding nothing. She had such a perfect childhood. There was no hint of

jealousy, and everyone was generous and tolerant.

“You stay and take care of the County Princess, Lanxiu. Always be prepared to do as she says. I’m going to check on Mamma Li and the others.” Mamma Mo said.

Su Qiuqiu didn’t care who served her. To relieve her scalp, Lanxiu assisted her in taking off the last of the hair ornaments, letting her hair down, and combing it. They also removed the ornate wedding dress.

Su Qiuqiu observed another thing while Lanxiu was tending to her: Lanxiu appeared to have a leg injury. She walked with a slight limp and an uneven gait.

Su Qiuqiu became even more intrigued by this. Is it possible that Prince Zhen’nan’s Manor actually got into such a bad situation?

When Princess Zhen’nan last visited, her maid had freckles and drab skin, but in Su Qiuqiu’s former life, she would have looked very stylish—the epitome of a global supermodel. But things were different during the Great Chu Dynasty.

The Great Chu had similar aesthetic tastes to Su Qiuqiu’s former world, even though beauty wasn’t everything. They gave preference to maids with appropriate features and a dignified demeanor when

hiring them, rather than those with trendy appearances. Propriety was valued more in households with greater influence and power. It was very unusual to have a “supermodel” maid.

Su Qiuqiu was about to question Lanxiu about Prince Zhen’nan’s Manor when Mamma Li and the others showed up to assist her. To freshen up, they escorted her to another restroom.

In the meantime, Lu Fangting straightened his body with Qing Zhi’s assistance. His already beautiful features became even more remarkable as the sickly pallor on his face glowed with vitality.

“Tired?” Lu Fangting stretched his legs a bit, then looked at Qing Zhi.

“I’m not tired. Let me help you…” Qing Zhi responded with sign language, completely unfazed by his question.

“It’s fine. I can manage. Go fetch something for me,” Lu Fangting signed, his brows furrowing slightly. “It’s not poison acting up this time—just an annoying old friend dropping by…”

Qing Zhi mirrored his frown, her soft eyes gleaming with unshed tears, pure and crystalline.

“Silly girl, go on. And bring something to eat while you’re at it. I wasn’t able to eat anything all day… I’m starving…” Lu Fangting sighed with a wry smile.

With a nod, Qing Zhi hurried out of the restroom through a tiny side door, her short legs moving in tiny, swift steps.

Lu Fangting’s narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes glinted thoughtfully as he stroked his chin with his index finger after Qing Zhi had gone.

In a moment the coldness was back in his eyes. He started to undress after making his way to the steaming bathtub. As he undressed, his broad robe, which was embroidered with python, fell away, revealing his slim figure and somewhat rounded chest.

Lu Fangting kept taking off his clothes until he was down to his underwear. Layer by layer he unwrapped the white cloth that bound his chest. The chest, flattened to resemble a man’s pectoral muscles, slowly expanded like a compressed sponge as the last layer came off. At last, two fully formed br3asts were exposed.

Su Qiuqiu would have been astonished if she had been present. In reality, the Crown Prince of Zhen’nan was a woman, and based on appearances, she was a C-cup!