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Lu Hua's head hurt a lot, like a drum. Why was the floor so hard? And why did everything smell a bit like plum wine?
She slowly pushed herself up. She felt confused. This wasn't her room. It was the Sixth Prince's room, with fancy blue silk and carved wood. She remembered last night - the strange meeting, eating together, the Empress's embarrassing "talk," and deciding to take things slow. But then, they just kept talking.
He had brought out some sweet, strong plum wine. They talked about books. He liked old history scrolls, she liked fantasy stories. They talked about silly palace gossip too, and about their favorite foods. He liked mild tastes, she liked spicy food. The wine made them talk more easily, and they laughed a lot. She remembered him moving his wheelchair closer to hear her stories better. He became less shy with each cup. He would listen with wide, interested eyes, not thinking she was crazy.
Now, she was on the floor, using a silk pillow. Across the room, still in his wheelchair near the table with empty dishes and the wine bottle, was her husband. His head was back, mouth a little open, and fast asleep. One hand still held an empty cup.
Lu Hua smiled a little, feeling happy and still a bit drunk. 'We talked all night. We got drunk. Like... friends?' It felt surprisingly nice.
Then, she heard voices through the thick door.
"...are you sure they understood how important it was, Head Eunuch Li?" It was the Empress's voice, clear and expecting, and very close. "They must have done their duty by now."
Panic, cold and clear despite the wine, shot through Lu Hua. 'The Empress! Coming to check!' Her eyes quickly looked at her sleeping husband in the chair, then at the neat, untouched bed.
'Oh no.'
She felt a rush of energy. Lu Hua quickly got up, ignoring her pounding head. She stumbled a little, the room spinning, but she made herself move. She rushed to the prince.
"Zihao! Wake up! Now!" she whispered loudly, shaking his shoulder.
He woke up with a start, his eyes blurry. "What... Lu Hua? Is it morning? Did the duck...?" He blinked, completely confused.
"No time! The Empress is coming!" Lu Hua gasped, already grabbing him under his arms. He was surprisingly light, or maybe her panic made her strong. With a grunt from desperation and still being a bit drunk, she pulled him out of the wheelchair.
Ah! Lu Hua! What—?" he yelled, moving his arms and legs a little as his feet touched the floor. He was wobbly without his chair, trying to stand but clearly unsure.
"Shhh! Just move!" she whispered urgently. She half-pulled and half-carried him the few steps to the big bed. Then, she practically threw him onto it. He bounced a little, looking very confused. His hair was messy, and his sleeping robe was wrinkled.
The scene was simple but hurried, like she was trying to keep him safe and quiet at the same time.
The voices were right outside the door now. Lu Hua's mind rushed. They needed proof.
Her eyes fell on the thin silk ties of his robe. Without thinking much, she grabbed the front of it and pulled as hard as she could. The fine silk ripped with a loud *rip*, revealing a lot of his pale chest.
"Lu Hua!" Zihao gasped, his eyes wide with surprise. Shock and a deep blush replaced his confusion. He tried to cover himself with his hands, but they were useless. "Wh-what are you—?"
She didn't say anything. She looked at her own fancy sleeping gown, grabbed the shoulder, and ripped it down. Another loud rip. The fabric broke apart, revealing her shoulder and collarbone.
Zihao made a strange sound. His face got even redder. He stared at her, completely shocked and flustered. "D-do you... want to... now? After last night...?" he stammered, his voice high with panic and a bit drunk. "But we agreed slow! And I... I feel a bit sick..."
"Quiet!" Lu Hua snapped, her own heart beating fast. She saw a small, sharp fruit knife left on the table from last night. She grabbed it, paused for just a second, then quickly cut her own palm. It stung a lot, then bright red blood came out.
She ignored Zihao's horrified gasp, "You cut yourself!" She quickly smeared the blood onto the clean white bedsheet near where he sat, making a small, believable stain. Then, before he could say anything else, she practically threw herself onto the bed next to him.
"Lie down! Pretend to be asleep!" she ordered, pulling the heavy embroidered blanket over both of them, covering their torn clothes and pulling it up to their chins. She pushed him down so they were lying side-by-side. Then, she buried her face in the pillow, her back partly to him, trying to breathe slowly. "Don't move! Don't speak!"
Zihao, frozen by shock, embarrassment, his hangover, and fear of his mother, did what she said. He squeezed his eyes shut, lying stiffly on his back under the blanket. His torn robe was open, and his face still burned red.
The heavy wooden door creaked open just as Lu Hua forced her breathing to slow, pretending to be in a deep sleep.
Empress Hui Su walked into the room, with two older maids carrying trays covered in silk. Her sharp eyes instantly saw everything: the wine bottle on the floor, the messy table, the wheelchair left by it... and the bed.
Her eyes focused on the two people under the blanket. She saw Lu Hua's bare shoulder, the prince's torn robe showing his chest, their messy hair, and the clear red mark on the white sheet near the prince's hip. A very happy smile spread across the Empress's face, wider and more real than any Lu Hua had seen before.
"Ah," the Empress breathed, her voice a low, happy sound of victory. She didn't step closer, respecting what looked like a private moment. She just nodded, showing she approved. "Perfect. Just perfect." She quietly told her maids what to do. They put the trays probably with gifts or special morning tea on a side table.
With one long, happy look at the "sleeping" couple and the red stain, the Empress turned and quietly walked back out of the room, closing the door with a soft, final click.
Under the blanket, the stiffness slowly left Zihao. He let out a shaky breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Lu Hua slowly opened one eye, peeking towards the door, then turned her head a little to look at him.
His eyes were wide open now, staring at the ceiling. His face was still red, his torn robe a clear reminder of the mess. He slowly turned his head to look at her, his face showing a mix of complete confusion, lasting embarrassment, and a growing, horrified understanding.
Lu Hua looked at him. The panic was fading, replaced by how funny everything was. A giggle, from relief, the rush of excitement, and the plum wine, bubbled up in her throat. She tried to stop it, pressing her lips together, but it came out as a snort.
Seeing her trying not to laugh, the silliness of it all – their torn clothes, the fake blood, the Empress's smug smile suddenly hit Zihao too. A small surprised laugh escaped him. Then another. Soon, they were both shaking silently under the blanket, tears of laughter mixing with the last bit of panic and their sore heads. The morning after their wedding night was something they would never forget.
★
The Sixth Prince's private garden was very different from the busy palace. Sunlight shone through the leaves of old trees onto the winding stone paths. Colorful koi fish swam slowly in a small, clear pond. Butterflies danced over the carefully kept flowerbeds full of peonies and chrysanthemums. The air was filled with the peaceful sounds of bees and birds in the distance.
Lu Hua sat on a smooth, shaded rock near the pond, gently throwing small pebbles into the water. She watched the ripples spread and fade away. Next to her, Prince Zihao sat in his wheelchair, a thick, leather-bound scroll open on his lap. He looked calm and focused, his fingers lightly tracing the old writing as he read. The awkwardness of their wedding night and the crazy morning after seemed far away, replaced by a quiet, almost comfortable silence.
Lu Hua sighed. It was louder than she meant it to be in the quiet space. She felt bored. The peace was nice, but after all the excitement since she came to this world and the crazy wedding, the quiet felt... empty. Her eyes drifted to Zihao's legs, resting on the chair's footrests, covered by his robe. Curiosity, strong and nagging, pushed her.
"Zihao?" she asked, her voice breaking the silence.
He looked up from his scroll, his dark eyes calm and questioning. "Hmm?"
"What happened?" She vaguely pointed at his legs. "If... if you don't mind me asking?"
A quick look crossed his face – not pain, but a shadow of a memory. He looked down at his lap for a moment before looking at her again. "Happened in the battlefield," he said simply, his voice low and steady. "A few years ago, I got ambushed. My horse fell, and I didn't get away fast enough." He shrugged, a small, tired movement. "It crushed my spine."
Zihao watched her, maybe waiting for her to feel sorry for him or be awkward. When she just gave a thoughtful nod, he seemed to relax again. His eyes moved to the delicate silver mask Lu Hua still wore, covering the top half of her face. It had become a habit, a shield.
"Why do you wear that?" he asked gently. "Even here, just with me?"
Lu Hua touched the cool metal. "My stepmother," she explained. "She made me wear it whenever I left our house, ever since I was little. She said it was for being proper, to avoid unwanted attention." She snorted softly. "Turns out, hiding your face just makes people make up stories. Rong Xianzong saw me quickly once, with the mask on, looking tired after traveling, and decided I must be ugly. He spread that rumor everywhere." She shrugged, a hint of old annoyance in her voice. "By the time I was marrying your brother, everyone 'knew' I was an ugly duckling. It was easier to just keep the mask on most of the time than argue."
Zihao frowned a little. "That seems... unfair. And silly." He looked at her, really looked at the part of her face he could see her strong jaw, the look in her eyes. "People miss so much, when they only look at the outside."
Before Lu Hua could answer, the peaceful garden was broken by the cheerful, clear voice of Empress Hui Su.
"Ah! Here you are, my lovebirds!" The Empress swept down the path like a bright, sweet breeze, followed by several maids carrying fancy boxes and baskets full of herbs and beautifully wrapped gifts. She smiled brightly at both of them, her eyes sparkling with motherly pride. "Enjoying your married happiness, I see! Perfect, perfect!"
Lu Hua and Zihao quickly exchanged a slightly panicked look. They both clearly remembered the torn clothes and fake blood from that morning. Lu Hua subtly pulled her sleeve down, making sure the small cut on her palm was covered.
"Mother," Zihao said, bowing his head a little from his chair. Lu Hua stood and made a formal bow.
"No need for formal greetings, my dears!" The Empress waved a hand, bustling closer. She told the maids to put their things on a nearby stone table. "Look! I brought you gifts! Rare ginseng for energy, special herbs for... well, for everything!" She winked broadly at Lu Hua, who tried to keep her face still. "And silks! And jewels! For my precious new daughter-in-law!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lu Hua said, truly touched despite the awkwardness. "You are too kind."
"Kind? Nonsense! I'm practical!" The Empress declared, patting Lu Hua's arm. "A happy wife makes a happy prince!" She turned her sharp gaze fully on Lu Hua. "Which brings me to my next point, my dear. You are a Princess now. The wife of my beloved Zihao. It's time you stepped into the light!"
Lu Hua blinked. "The light, Your Majesty?"
"Yes! Charity work!" The Empress announced with a grand air. "The people should see you! Know you! The Winter Relief distributions are starting soon in the city. Food, warm clothes for the poor. Royal ladies usually oversee this. A perfect chance!"
"Mother has a point," Zihao said quietly. "It is expected. And..." he paused, "it is good work. Helping people."
The Empress nodded strongly. "Exactly! Show them the beauty and kindness of our royal family!"
She took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. The mask suddenly felt heavy on her face. "Alright," she said, looking at the Empress's eager gaze and Zihao's calm one. "I'll do it. I will oversee the Winter Relief."
The Empress clapped her hands happily. "Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! I'll ask the Head Eunuch to make all the arrangements!" She smiled brightly at both of them. "See? Happiness and getting things done! My heart is full!" With one last happy look, she swept out of the garden as dramatically as she had arrived, leaving behind the scent of expensive perfume in the air.
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