The air on a rainy night is always damp, and indoors it felt somewhat sticky.

Qin Zheng saw Chu Chengji light two brand-new red candles on the candelabrum, brightening the inner room and making the rainy night outside seem even darker.

His refined face was bathed in the soft glow of the candlelight.

When he looked up, his eyes reflected both the candles and her. “I’ve heard that on the night of a wedding, the candles should burn all night for good luck.”

The sound of rain tapping against the window was like drumbeats falling on their hearts.

Qin Zheng, who usually didn’t care for such superstitions, found his serious demeanor amusing.

Yet, she couldn’t help but feel a peculiar, indescribable emotion in her heart.

She joked, “Does that mean we should also drink nuptial wine?”

Chu Chengji smiled at her, a smile different from his usual gentle yet distant one.

This smile seemed to come from deep within, genuinely joyful.

“Nuptial wine, red candles, and the vow to be together forever. Of course, we can’t skip the nuptial wine.”

His voice, clear and elegant, was more intoxicating than the wine itself.

Qin Zheng couldn’t quite recall how the cups rolled to the corner of the bed.

She had comforted this man before and knew that, despite his gentle exterior, he could be quite domineering in such matters, but it had never been beyond her ability to handle.

It wasn’t until she was crying so much that her voice went hoarse that she realized he had been quite gentle with her before.

The last time Chu Chengji carried her out of the hot spring in the bathroom, Qin Zheng’s legs were trembling so much she could barely stand.

The bedding on the bed was a mess, and Chu Chengji had to pull it all off and throw it into the dirty laundry basket before laying down fresh sheets and carrying her back to bed.

Exhausted, Qin Zheng nestled in his arms.

Her long eyelashes, wet with tears, stuck together, and the blush on her face had not yet faded, making her look like a small, bullied animal.

Chu Chengji kissed her eyelids lovingly, finally showing a bit of conscience as he whispered, “Sleep.”

The two red candles on the candelabrum had burned down to stubs, with wax tears pooled at their base.

From the courtyard, the faint sounds of early-rising servants could be heard.

Half-awake, Qin Zheng glanced at him, then bit his shoulder hard in both anger and frustration.

Chu Chengji suppressed a groan, and feeling his body’s response, Qin Zheng immediately shrank back like a scared quail, closing her eyes tightly, almost wanting to write “I’m asleep” on her forehead.

A large hand gently stroked her hair, and his deep, amused voice said, “I won’t bother you anymore, go to sleep.”

Reassured, Qin Zheng turned over, wanting to bury her head in the pillow, but then remembered that he had used this pillow to support her waist earlier.

Suddenly alert, she lifted her head and protested, “I don’t want to sleep on this pillow.”

She heard a few low chuckles, followed by some rustling.

Chu Chengji replaced the pillow with his own, but the arm around her waist remained firmly in place.

In such small matters, he seemed to be getting increasingly possessive of her.

…

When Qin Zheng woke up, it was still raining outside, and the sky was dim.

She couldn’t tell whether it was morning or evening.

The bedding beside her was cold, indicating Chu Chengji had been up for a while.

Qin Zheng pushed herself up from the bed, feeling as if her entire body had been taken apart and reassembled.

Slipping into her shoes, Qin Zheng found her legs as weak as noodles.

If she hadn’t quickly grabbed the bedpost, she might have fallen.

Recalling the events of the previous night, anger quickly overshadowed her embarrassment.

Three days? He could sleep in the study for three days!

Qin Zheng sat at the table and poured herself a cup of cold tea, gulping it down to quench her thirst.

While grooming herself, she noticed that there were no marks on her neck, which slightly alleviated her anger at the thought of having to stay out of sight for a few days.

But then she saw the bruises like flower prints on her chest, and her face turned green with fury.

So he hadn’t learned to restrain himself; he just chose spots that could be hidden!

Gritting her teeth, Qin Zheng finished dressing with trembling hands and then opened the door to call for breakfast.

She intended to work at the desk but felt uncomfortable picking up a pen there again.

Just as she was about to move a cushion to the low table to work, she noticed a stack of documents in the corner of the desk, with “Military Regulations” written in Chu Chengji’s bold handwriting on the top.

Qin Zheng opened it and found that Chu Chengji had adapted the existing military regulations to suit the women’s army.

She thought of how many days it would have taken her to understand and compile the regulations, yet he had managed to do it in less than half a day.

She couldn’t help but think of the phrase “trading talent for beauty,” and stood there, stunned.

She carefully read through the documents, noting that even the training plans were included.

Despite herself, she smiled slightly.

When Bai Lu and Lou Yan brought breakfast, Qin Zheng wasn’t surprised to learn that Chu Chengji had gone to meet with the ministers again in the afternoon.

Qin Zheng glanced at the military regulations proposal, silently wondering when he had the time to draft it, considering they had both only gone to sleep at dawn.

Qin Zheng asked, “Any news from Prince Huaiyang?”

Her voice was unexpectedly hoarse.

Bai Lu and Lou Yan, being part of the women’s army, were more informed about military affairs than ordinary servants.

Bai Lu replied, “Prince Huaiyang’s side is quiet for now. Major cities east of Xuzhou have blocked their main roads. With the plague rampant in his army, many of his soldiers are ill, and the morale is low, making it impossible for them to attack the city.”

Qin Zheng nodded, acknowledging the information, and then asked, “What about Qingzhou and Wucheng?”

Bai Lu handed her a letter. “This is from Lord Song.”

Having nearly finished her meal, Qin Zheng wiped her mouth and opened the letter from Song Heqing.

Previously, when Qin Zheng wanted to personally go to suppress the riot in Qingxi County, Song Heqing had vehemently opposed it.

After learning that Prince Huaiyang’s army had clashed with the refugees in Qingxi County, his worries grew.

He guessed she would retreat to Minzhou and immediately sent a letter there.

Qin Zheng quickly read through the letter.

The disaster shelters in Qingzhou and the plague in Wucheng were currently under control.

Though the doctors from various regions hadn’t found a cure for the plague, their decoctions could prevent the red rashes from worsening into severe sores.

Even if it wasn’t a complete cure, finding a way to temporarily halt the disease’s progression was good news.

With Qingzhou and Wucheng stable, Qin Zheng felt relieved.

She told Bai Lu and Lou Yan, “In two days, you will accompany me to recruit soldiers at the temporary residence of Feng County’s refugees. Minzhou has many cloth shops. Find out the prices and order a batch of uniforms for the women’s army.”

Bai Lu and Lou Yan were visibly excited upon hearing Qin Zheng’s orders. “Yes, Your Highness,” they responded.

Qin Zheng nodded slightly. “You may go.”

Lou Yan, being straightforward, noticed Qin Zheng’s hoarse voice and, considering the recent autumn rain, thought she might have caught a cold.

Concerned, she asked, “Your Highness, it’s chilly in late autumn. Shouldn’t you take care of yourself? Should we call a doctor for your hoarseness?”

Qin Zheng was drinking tea to counter the heaviness of the meal when she was caught off guard by Lou Yan’s words.

She nearly choked but managed to maintain her composure. “No need.”

Lou Yan wanted to say more, but Bai Lu subtly stepped on her foot.

Confused, Lou Yan looked at Bai Lu, who then bowed to Qin Zheng and said, “Your Highness, please rest well. We will take our leave now.”

Once Bai Lu and Lou Yan had left, Qin Zheng glanced at the stack of military regulations on the desk and gritted her teeth again.

That evening, Chu Chengji returned late, only to find the door bolted from the inside.

He was well aware of his actions from the previous night and understood why she might be upset.

While he didn’t intend to be unkind, her tears had driven him over the edge.

Understanding her anger, he gently knocked on the door, his voice calm and warm, “Ah Zheng?”

There was no response from the dark room inside.

He knocked again, still patient, “Are you asleep?”

In the adjacent room, Bai Lu and Lou Yan, hearing the sound, nervously stepped out. Bai Lu replied, “Your Highness, the Crown Princess said the autumn rain gave her a cold, so she has taken medicine and gone to bed. She also mentioned not wanting to pass the sickness to you, so she suggested you sleep in the study for a few days.”

A heavy silence followed.

Bai Lu and Lou Yan stared at their feet, not daring to breathe loudly.

The lantern under the eaves cast a long shadow on the ground.

After a while, they heard Chu Chengji’s faint voice, “You may go.”

His usual warmth was gone.

Bai Lu and Lou Yan, feeling the pressure, bowed and retreated.

They didn’t dare to go to bed immediately after returning to their room.

It wasn’t until they heard the sound of footsteps leaving that they relaxed a bit.

Bai Lu sighed with a hint of worry. If the Crown Princess and the Prince argued and he truly left in anger, what would they do?

Inside the main room, Qin Zheng lay in bed, listening intently to the sounds outside.

Having slept all day, she was wide awake.

She had been awake when Chu Chengji first knocked.

Hearing him linger and then leave, she felt a small sense of satisfaction.

After lying in bed for a while without being able to sleep, she got up, lit a lamp in the inner room, and decided to read.

As the light from the inner room flickered to life, she heard a slight rustling by the window, as if stirred by the night wind.

Nervously, Qin Zheng picked up the candle holder and went to check the window, but found nothing.

Still unconvinced, she opened the window and looked outside.

Other than the dark shadows of the trees in the garden, there was nothing.

The cool night wind blew into the room. Ignoring the chill, Qin Zheng shielded the candle flame with her hand to keep it from being extinguished.