Gifted Bride of the Sinned Prince

“I will stay here… with you,” Tianjie replied and gave her a pill. She took it with water and asked Tianjie to return to the palace.

He refused and sternly said, “I have decided to stay here tonight.”

“The fever is down. His Highness doesn’t need to worry about me anymore,” she said and again requested him to go back.

“I already told Shi Rang to inform the Crown Prince that I would be with Song Jia and would return in the morning,” Tianjie stated.

“What?” Song Jia was stunned for a second. “Why did the Prince do it? What will the Crown Prince think of us?” She murmured.

“That a husband taking care of his wife,” Tianjie answered.

“But we aren’t married yet,” Song Jia said.

Tianjie tilted his head slightly and stood up. He called in the servant and asked her if she prepared dinner for him. She nodded when Tianjie told her to be with Song Jia until he returned.

.....

Once he left, Song Jia asked the servant if she could bring an outfit for her to change into.

After Song Jia changed her dress, she sat on the mattress. The servant had already changed the bed sheet. “Did the Prince scold you?” Song Jia worriedly asked as the servant put the blanket above Song Jia.

“A little,” the servant replied.

“Forgive me,” Song Jia apologized.

“Miss Song should not apologize to a servant.” She stepped back with her head down when Song Jia asked her to sit beside her.

“I do not dare to,” the servant stated.

“I am like you,” Song Jia said and the servant gazed at her. “I was at your place once. Come,” she said while gesturing to the mattress. The servant stepped up and sat down.

“Will you accompany me to the palace? I will soon marry the Third Prince,” Song Jia asked. “Mostly people don’t want to join the palace because of the restrictions it poses. That’s why I asked you beforehand,” she asserted.

“I would have loved to, but I might not survive in the palace. I have worked in the palace for the past seven years. Now, I want to return to my village. My father has seen a man for me. I wanted to speak about it earlier, but I thought to tell Miss Song about it later,” the servant humbly said.

“That’s such great news! You should definitely return to your village. I wish you the best for your upcoming married life,” Song Jia said while smiling at her.

“Thank you, Miss Song,” the servant said. “The palace has many good people. Miss Song will not find trouble adjusting there. The Crown Princess and Princess Consort Li Hua are very down to earth,” she informed Song Jia beforehand so that her nervousness would end.

“Did you serve them as well?” Song Jia asked.

“No. I have heard from the servants from their respective manors. Princess Consort Li Hua has only one servant in the manor in her service as Prince Lóng Wei doesn’t allow many servants,” she stated.

Song Jia hummed and asked her if she knew about Tianjie’s mother.

“Concubine—” before the servant could finish her sentence, Tianjie entered the room. She promptly stood up from the bed and bowed.

“The Prince finished his meals fast,” Song Jia said.

“Hmm.” Tianjie noticed her outfit had changed. He glanced at the servant and asked her to leave the room. “You may rest after dinner,” he said. The servant bowed and dashed out of the room.

Song Jia fiddled with her fingers and watched Tianjie blow off some lanterns. “Will we sleep on the same bed?” She asked and gulped.

Tianjie turned to look at her. “Do you want me to sleep on the floor?” He asked.

“I didn’t mean that,” Song Jia replied.

“Then, what did you mean?” He inquired and walked up to the bed. He removed the hair crown (fastener) which had held the hair at the bedside table.

“You didn’t answer,” Tianjie said and removed the sash around his dress.

“We cannot share the bed before marriage,” Song Jia said and looked at him with her doe eyes.

“If I sleep in a separate room, it will be tough for me to check on you. I never slept on the floor either. I will not let you sleep on the floor. So, there is only one way to stay close to you,” Tianjie explained to her.

“Don’t worry. The wedding bed will be prepared in the palace only,” he said with a smile and sat down.

Song Jia moved back and Tianjie moved his legs up. “The bedsheet is changed,” Tianjie mumbled and looked at her in amusement. Song Jia had her face away from him when he asked her if she should explain that.

“It hasn’t changed since the last day, so I asked her to change it,” she said and gazed at him.

“You knew that I would sleep here,” Tianjie said and asked her to lie down.

“No. I didn’t know. His Highness should not misunderstand my intention,” Song Jia clarified.

“You intended to sleep with me,” Tianjie said.

“No.” Song Jia promptly denied it. “Why would I think that?” She murmured and quickly laid down. Her back was toward Tianjie, who continued to smile. He covered her with a blanket and lay beside her.

Song Jia had tightly clutched the edge of the blanket when she felt Tianjie move closer to her. He securely put his hand around her belly and whispered in her ear, “Song Jia, don’t get sick like this. I get scared.”

“I didn’t know the berries would be poisonous,” she said in a low voice.

Tianjie wondered if someone tried to harm Song Jia intentionally. He decided to investigate it. The person who was in his mind was Li Jianjun, who could stoop low.

“Your Highness, thank you for staying with me tonight.” He heard Song Jia say. He smiled and stroked her hair.