The crown prince immediately took the initiative.
The two intertwined bodies gradually grew hot, messing up the embroidered patterns symbolizing a harmonious union on the wedding couch.
The red candles flickered, the bed curtains were drawn, and the room was filled with an amorous atmosphere that lasted throughout the night.
The crown prince was exempt from attending court for the first three days after his wedding.
On normal days, the crown prince would rise at the third watch.
But this morning, it was already past the fifth watch, and there was still no sign of movement in the bedroom.
It was Cheng Simian who woke up first.
As soon as she moved slightly, her whole body ached.
They had been too crazy last night...
Recalling those scenes, Cheng Simian's face burned with embarrassment.
She took several deep breaths before gradually suppressing the heat on her face.
The crown prince was still sound asleep. Cheng Simian looked at his handsome eyebrows intently.
When she first met the crown prince, she only thought him imposing, serious, and hard to approach.
She never expected that in bed, he could say such blush - inducing words and come up with so many amorous tricks...
Cheng Simian's face flushed again.
She wanted to turn over to calm herself down, but as soon as she moved, the crown prince opened his eyes.
Cheng Simian had no choice but to pretend to be serious and look at him.
"Your Highness, it's time to get up. You've already missed the morning court. Don't delay dealing with the memorials."
The crown prince kissed her between the eyebrows, and a teasing laugh rumbled in his throat. "Are you so eager to be a virtuous empress?"
"I don't necessarily have to be a virtuous empress, but Your Highness mustn't be a fatuous king."
The crown prince looked at her serious yet blushing and shy appearance, recalling the amorous night last night.
Mianmian's tenderness made his blood boil.
He felt extremely aroused.
He rolled over and pinned her under him. "With Mianmian by my side, what's wrong with being a fatuous king for once?"
Cheng Simian let out a coquettish moan. Her body was so weak that she really couldn't take any more.
Seeing this, the crown prince felt a bit distressed and self - reproachful. He kissed her red lips again and again.
"Alright, we have plenty of time in the future."
He got up, and Cheng Simian also wanted to get up.
"It's still early. You can rest a while longer."
Cheng Simian smiled. "Today is my first day as the crown princess. How can I lie in bed? I still have to pay respects to the emperor and the empress this afternoon. I need to prepare early."
The two put on their inner clothes and called the servants in to attend to them.
Shuyi and Qiluo pushed open the door, followed by four maids carrying washbasins and other toiletries.
After they washed and dressed properly, breakfast was served in the outer hall.
After a night of passion, Cheng Simian was really a bit hungry.
She first drank a bowl of red date, longan, and lotus seed soup, and then ate a few crystal shrimp dumplings and crab - roe buns.
The crown prince was in no hurry to eat. He kept picking up food for her.
"If you're not used to the food in the Eastern Palace, I'll have your family's cook brought here in the future and set up a small kitchen for you in Ronghua Hall."
Apart from the crown prince's daily residence and office in the Eastern Palace, the most magnificent building was Ronghua Hall, where the crown princess lived.
Cheng Simian was very satisfied with the food. "There's no need to go to so much trouble. The cooks in the Eastern Palace are naturally excellent. I find every dish delicious."
The crown prince suddenly remembered that Mianmian had wandered in the south of the Yangtze River for eight years. She had seen the beautiful scenery but also suffered the hardships of homelessness.
She was such a tenacious woman.
In the years when he didn't know her, the crown prince felt that he owed Mianmian a great deal, and he wanted to make up for it as much as possible.
"I'm glad you like it. Just tell them directly if you want anything."
Before going to pick up his bride yesterday, the crown prince had already summoned all the servants in the Eastern Palace for a lecture.
"From now on, there will be two masters in the Eastern Palace. If anyone shows disrespect or is lazy and neglectful towards the crown princess, I will not spare them!"
Cheng Simian didn't know the crown prince's complex emotions. She thought the plate of crispy pastry rolls looked very delicious.
Just as she was about to pick one up, she saw Xia Anzi walk in with a troubled look on his face.
"Your Highness, Crown Princess, Miss Jiang is outside. She said she wants to send breakfast to the two masters."
Cheng Simian had never met this Miss Jiang before, so she couldn't help but feel a bit curious.
Normally, within three days after the wedding of the crown prince and the crown princess, concubines and maids were not supposed to disturb them without special reasons.
But Jiang Xiyu obviously took advantage of her special status.
She was neither a concubine nor a maid. She was a person who had saved the crown prince's life.
Coming to visit with such a special status, she wasn't just trying to show her presence in front of the crown prince.
This Miss Jiang was here for her.
If she refused to see her, rumors might spread in the Eastern Palace soon that the crown princess was arrogant and disrespectful to the hero who had saved the crown prince.
The crown prince obviously didn't want to see her.
He stole a nervous glance at Cheng Simian.
"Sending breakfast can wait. Ask her to go back first. There will be opportunities for her to meet the crown princess in the future."
Cheng Simian called Xia Anzi back.
"Your Highness, it's okay. I'm quite eager to meet Miss Jiang."
Her smile was generous, without a hint of jealousy.
But the crown prince felt even more uncomfortable.
Jiang Xiyu walked in carrying an exquisite three - tiered food box.
She knelt down and bowed deeply. "I, Jiang Xiyu, pay my respects to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess."
Cheng Simian said gently, "Get up. I haven't had enough yet. I'd like to see what you've brought."
Jiang Xiyu didn't expect Cheng Simian to be so kind to her right from the start.
She also knew that it was impolite to visit the crown princess on the first day after the wedding.
But she couldn't help it. She wanted to see this crown princess.
She wanted to know what kind of woman could make the crown prince more infatuated than he had been with Song Wanchu, and it seemed that he would dote on her exclusively.
She lowered her eyes and looked very docile as she opened the food box and arranged the plates one by one.
"I'm clumsy. I've been busy all morning and only managed to make these three dishes."
She pointed at the plates and introduced them one by one. "Red bean love rolls, twin - lotus leaf soup, and stir - fried vegetables for the love - birds."
All of them had wonderful meanings.
The crown prince kept silent. He could see that Jiang Xiyu had put a lot of effort into it, trying to probe Mianmian's personality.
Cheng Simian took a few bites of each dish.
"The dishes you made have the flavor of Yuhang in the south of the Yangtze River. Is your hometown there?"
Jiang Xiyu was a bit surprised. "The Crown Princess has extensive knowledge. My hometown is indeed Yuhang."
Cheng Simian tilted her head slightly, her face full of longing. "A few years ago, I stayed in Yuhang for three months. I happened to be there in the golden autumn. I still can't forget the pike in the Fuqing River and the lovesick grass in this stir - fried dish."
Jiang Xiyu had been jealous of Cheng Simian before, and she had come today with the intention of probing. But Cheng Simian's gentleness and magnanimity were beyond her expectation.
People are emotional creatures. She hadn't been back to her hometown for many years, and the mention of her distant and beautiful hometown touched her heart.
Cheng Simian gave the crown prince a charming smile. "Your Highness, it seems that Miss Jiang and I will have a lot to talk about in the future."
Hearing this, the crown prince frowned.
Mianmian wouldn't think that he would keep Xier by his side, would she?