Chapter 499 - Confrontation; Commandery Princess Xianyuns Weakness (1/2)

Commandery Princess Xianyun looked at Ao Chenyi while biting her lower lip, feeling ashamed and furious. What had just happened made her too embarrassed to see anyone. It was humiliating to have her, a prince’s consort, and wedding night stolen by an untitled concubine.

Ao Chenyi came this morning and casually tossed the bridal veil that the palace was supposed to retrieve on her bed while she was sleeping. When she was awakened drowsily by her maid and saw that veil thrown carelessly, she felt wronged, ashamed, and resentful.

“Bring that cup of tea to the Princess!” Ao Chenyi raised his chin, his delicate lips curving into a flippant smile that was enchanting but frighteningly cold at the same time.

Ning Xueyan looked around in confusion before discovering the said cup of tea on the table. There was no steam coming from the tea as if it had been placed there for a while. It didn’t feel right to offer the Princess such tea. After thinking about it, she walked up to the table and filled an empty cup instead.

“Fill my cup too.” Ao Chenyi rapped the table to draw her attention. She turned her head and glanced at the cup beside him.

She lowered her head and carried the pot of tea over to fill his cup until it was half full.

When he didn’t say anything, she turned around to offer a fresh cup of tea to Commandery Princess Xianyun. This was her first formal visit to the Princess and this ritual couldn’t be skipped.

To her surprise, Ao Chenyi opened his mouth again just as she was about to reach the Princess. “Just put it there!” He pointed to the table in front of the Princess.

Ning Xueyan didn’t know what he was up to this time, but whatever it was, she would play along. She put down the cup of tea in front of the Princess with a smile.

“The Empress especially sent this tea from the palace. Try it. If you like it, I’ll see if they still have any left when we enter the palace.” Ao Chenyi raised his eyebrow with a cold expression. He gracefully picked up the cup and tasted the tea.

Commandery Princess Xianyun never expected such words from Ao Chenyi. She looked at him in surprise before glancing at Ning Xueyan, who had her head lowered obediently and expression hidden. She picked up the cup from the table and took a sip. A smile gradually appeared on her face as she nodded. “You’re right, Your Highness. I’ll have to trouble you to ask for more tea.”

“It’s no trouble. We’ll be visiting the palace soon anyway.” An enchanting smile appeared on Ao Chenyi’s handsome face. He waved at Ning Xueyan. “You can return. It’s still too early. I’ll call you when it’s time to enter the palace to pay our greetings.”

No matter how strange it was, the ceremony was complete now that the Princess had drunk her tea. Seeing as it wasn’t time to enter the palace, Ning Xueyan excused herself.

Qingyu, who was waiting outside the door, followed her mistress quietly when she came out. The same two eunuchs led them back to their courtyard.

The room fell eerily silent after Ning Xueyan was gone. Commandery Princess Xianyun looked uneasily at the red wedding robe that she had been wearing since yesterday. She hadn’t had time to change before Ao Chenyi arrived and the robe was now wrinkly all over.

“Your Highness, I brought some maids and older female servants with me. Would you like to meet them?” she asked, finally breaking the strange silence. Even without looking at Ao Chenyi, she could sense the coldness in the room. It gave her the same dangerous feeling as he did.

“What? Are you that impatient to send your dowry maids to my bed?” Ao Chenyi retorted with a cheerful voice.

Commandery Princess Xianyun instinctively looked up and met his beautiful but unfeeling eyes. In their beauty was undisguisable slyness and coldness. It was as if he was always sneering at her. Her heart skipped a beat after realizing what she had just said. Her cheeks reddened and she felt a fire burning inside her.

Once again, she felt angry and ashamed.

She must not be in the right mind when she said such things. Some of her dowry maids were indeed chosen for that reason, but it was humiliating for a new bride to suggest sending her maids to her husband’s bed on the first day of her marriage.

“Why did you marry me if you don’t like me, Your Highness? What do you propose that I do in a situation like this?” She could no longer take it. She had felt more despair and dejection in these two days than her entire life added together.

“If I remember correctly, it was the Lord Peace’s Manor that insisted that I marry you. Aunt told me that you’ve always been in love with me. She advised me to treasure your heartfelt feelings and not to waste your youth. I also remember you saying that you’re willing to suffer any grievances as long as you can be with me. Was I mistaken?”

Ao Chenyi raised an eyebrow with a sneer. His sharp, elongated eyes were directed at the Princess.

She understood his meaning well, which was why she was burning red on the face.