Chapter 2: Living Together

Arthur had fought across endless battlefields over the years, capturing and overpowering uncounted foes. Some were hulking soldiers built like oxen; others were swift and elusive assassins. Yet he had never once restrained a helpless, fragile woman.

Evelyn’s pale wrist was exceptionally delicate and thin. He had pinched it lightly with just two fingers, gripping a bone structure so soft it felt almost weightless—far less solid than the leather horsewhip in his grip. But while her hands were restrained, her legs refused to stay still. She kicked and thrashed, struggling like a feisty kitten brandishing tiny claws.

To someone of Arthur's strength, her resistance did not hurt in the least; rather, he found it strangely intriguing. Her wrists were soft, her body even softer, and the unavoidable physical contact carried a distinct, unspoken subtlety. That was until soft, muffled sobs began echoing from beneath him.

Arthur snapped out of his trance, instantly stunned. Why was she crying? He knew she was the most revered princess of Shu, and marrying him far from her homeland was indeed a sacrifice, but circumstances being what they were, what else could be done? He merely wanted to stop her from acting recklessly; he hadn't done anything to her.

"Ow... It hurts!"

The moment he heard the word "hurts," Arthur released his grip immediately. Evelyn’s wrist, where he had pinned her down, was already flushed red. At a speed visible to the naked eye, clear finger marks surfaced on her skin. This wrist was as delicate as a newly sprouted winter plum branch, looking as though a gentle snap would break it in two. He had barely exerted force; how had it turned so red? Was she crying from actual pain?

"Stop thrashing," he said, looking down at her as a faint fragrance drifted into his nostrils. "It’s late autumn, and winter is right around the corner. Your body cannot handle sleeping on the cold floor."

Evelyn’s eyes were rimmed with red as she stared back at him pitifully. Looking at her aggrieved gaze, Arthur felt this situation was far more troublesome than dealing with armed enemies on a battlefield. "...Fine. I'll sleep on the floor."

Evelyn lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze. "If that is truly unacceptable, either the General or I can move to the side chamber..."

Arthur cut her off abruptly. "Neither of us is sleeping in the side chamber." Moving into separate quarters on their wedding night would spark endless rumors once word spread. This was a political alliance intended to consolidate diplomatic relations between two realms; no such blunder could be allowed.

Noticing Arthur's hesitation, Evelyn knew her words had struck a chord. "General, both you and I understand full well the true purpose behind this marriage. You surely realize that we are fundamentally two completely different people. Rather than growing to resent each other, it would be better for both of us to take a step back. So long as the General agrees, Evelyn is willing to play the part of a loving couple in public. However, when we are alone, I hope we can establish a three-part pact. Consider it a form of mutual respect between husband and wife."

"A three-part pact?" Arthur was merely curious, which was why he permitted her to continue, though he had no intention of agreeing blindly.

"You... you release me first..." He was still leaning over her, making her feel utterly stripped of authority in such an overly intimate position, which made Evelyn profoundly uncomfortable.

Arthur slowly pushed himself up, creating distance between them. As he stepped back, the faint, delicate fragrance waned slightly. She composed herself awkwardly. "In truth, there aren't many conditions—just one primary rule. My health has been poor lately, and I require quiet rest. Unless I give my consent, I ask that the General does not touch me."

Evelyn straightened her rumpled clothing, running her slender fingers through her dark, long hair again and again. The smooth strands cascaded down her shoulders, periodically revealing a vivid cinnabar mole nestled upon her pale neck. Arthur lowered his gaze, observing that behind her proud demeanor lay a subtle trace of nervousness. Moving his eyes downward, he noticed her chest rising and falling rapidly, her inner tunic trembling with each frantic beat of her heart.

He could tell she was genuinely terrified. Yet that lovely face insisted on putting up a strong front, desperately maintaining her imperial pride like a stranded little phoenix trying to smooth its feathers amid a roaring storm. Arthur felt a sudden, sharp pang in his heart, leaving him completely unable to utter a word of reprimand. He stood up on the wooden floorboards. "I have zero interest in forcing anyone into anything."

Fearing he might go back on his word, Evelyn scrambled back onto the bed and dropped the heavy bed curtains shut. "In that case, the General may sleep on the floor for now. As time passes, whether the General chooses to sleep elsewhere or take another maiden as your wife, Evelyn will have no objections."

The red candles continued to flicker gently. Arthur silently watched the red bed curtains settle into place, deep in thought. He quietly extinguished the lamp, laid out his quilt, and stretched out flat on the wooden floor. Having practiced martial arts for many years, Arthur possessed an exceptionally strong constitution; during wartime campaigns, he had often slept out in snowfields. With winter not yet arrived, sleeping on the floor felt far from cold.

As the night deepened, the delicate woman resting on the canopy bed gradually settled into a steady rhythm of breathing. Arthur turned onto his side, staring at her small silhouette through the red curtains, his mind drifting back to the striking astonishment he had felt the moment he lifted her veil. A disdainful smirk touched his lips as he fixed his eyes on the crimson drapery separating them. What did she take him for? If he truly wanted her, could her little defenses ever stop him?

·

Evelyn did not sleep soundly that night. Every time she woke in the dark, she would peek at the man sleeping on the floor, only closing her eyes again once she confirmed he was fast asleep. Arthur, lacking her heavy worries and having consumed wine at the banquet, slept remarkably soundly until dawn. As the sky turned a pale grayish white, Evelyn was still fast asleep. Arthur had no habit of sleeping in; every morning, he spent half an hour practicing his fists.

When the morning sun rose, Evelyn opened her eyes. The red candles inside the room were still crackling softly, but the floor was already empty. She cared little about Arthur's whereabouts; his absence was better, saving her from forcing uncomfortable interactions with him. Ringing the small brass bell by the headboard, her two chief handmaidens, Pearl and Dew, hurried inside upon hearing the signal.

Pearl, being sharp-eyed, instantly spotted the reddened skin on Evelyn’s wrist. Her throat tightened with emotion. "...Your Highness, did General Arthur bully you last night?" Both Pearl and Dew had grown up alongside Evelyn, accompanying her as part of her dowry to care for her daily needs. Evelyn could not bear to see her maids distressed. Besides, Arthur was not as domineering or impolite as she had envisioned. When she presented those demands on their wedding night, he had actually agreed without forcing her, which demonstrated a commendable sense of boundaries. Covering her wrist with her sleeve, she maintained her princessly dignity. "No, he wouldn't dare."

With tearful eyes, one maid busied herself styling Evelyn's hair while the other searched the wardrobes for today's gown. Today marked her first day as a bride, and according to tradition, she needed to pay respects and offer tea to her parents-in-law. Evelyn stared at her reflection in the bronze mirror, letting her handmaidens tend to her. Shifting her gaze, she observed the chamber through the mirror—the place where she would reside for years to come. Last night, she hadn't found time to look closely. Now that daylight flooded in, she noticed her wedding chamber with Arthur was not lavish. The craftsmanship of the furniture lagged far behind what she was accustomed to in her princess manor in Shu, appearing somewhat plain. Yet it was evident that everything was brand new with no signs of wear, clearly prepared specifically for her. Feeling valued eased Evelyn's heart, making her uninclined to be picky. For a family of military generals, having such thoughtfulness was more than enough.

"Dew, go fetch the intricate jewelry box that Mother gave me last year."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After serving Evelyn her daily medicinal decoction, Pearl and Dew followed the princess out of the bedchamber. As soon as the door opened, they ran straight into Arthur walking toward them. Having just finished his martial practice, sweat drops glistened upon his forehead under the morning sunlight, trickling down from his brow into his collar. Evelyn cast a brief glance, feeling a slight aversion, and greeted him neutrally, "The General has returned."

She wore a peach-pink gown embroidered with narcissus patterns, draped in a snow-white fox-furred collar cloak. Due to her cold constitution and fear of chill, she clutched a carved hand-warmer, rubbing her tiny hands together continuously. As a cool autumn breeze blew past, Evelyn pulled the fur collar tighter around herself, embodying a delicate, sickly charm that held a unique, striking elegance. Arthur could not help stealing a few extra glances.

"Have you had breakfast?" he asked.

"Not yet. I am going to pay my respects to Father and Mother, and I will eat upon returning." Evelyn paused before asking, "I wonder if General Arthur will be joining me?"

"Of course." Arthur had returned specifically to wake Evelyn. In a deep voice, he replied, "Let's go then." He turned, preparing to head straight toward his parents' courtyard.

Evelyn was utterly stunned. "Wait—"

Arthur turned back. "Will the General not wash your face and change into clean attire first?" To meet his parents for the very first time after marriage, he was being shockingly casual.

Arthur paused. Though he found it tedious, he raised no objections, heading toward the washroom while calling out to his manservant, "Iron Bull, prepare water."

Iron Bull... Such an uncultured name was something she would never have given a servant back in Shu. Evelyn knit her brows slightly, while Pearl and Dew could not resist covering their lips to stifle a quiet chuckle. The courtyard was bathed in bright sunlight, and knowing Arthur would take time to wash and change, Evelyn stepped back inside to wait on a carved wooden chair. The sound of splashing water echoed from the washroom, stopping shortly after, followed by the crisp rustling of fabric. Before her seat had even warmed, Arthur emerged from the washroom.

The man had tied his hair up neatly, changing into a dark maroon robe. He was not as dark-skinned as typical martial men, and wearing the red robe made his complexion appear considerably fairer. However, his temples remained wet, with several strands of hair clinging to moisture, making it easy to imagine how boisterously and hastily he had scrubbed his face. Evelyn stared at him for a moment longer, wanting to speak, but deemed it unnecessary. "Let us depart."

·

Old Master Arthur and Lady Wang resided in the Five Blessings Hall of the main courtyard. When the young couple arrived, the senior pair was already seated. Arthur's father was under fifty years old, having once been a brave and formidable warrior. However, after sustaining severe injuries during a campaign, he could no longer take the battlefield. Out of compassion, the Emperor of Da had appointed him to a comfortable, idle post within the capital. After the tea ceremony and formal greetings concluded, Old Master Arthur left for his official duties. Lady Wang held Evelyn's hand, keeping her behind, clearly having words to share.

Besides Evelyn, Lady Wang had two other daughters-in-law born from prominent families and wealthy merchant houses, both possessing refined looks and character. Lady Wang herself had been a beauty in her youth and prided herself on having seen absolute beauties, yet she found herself mesmerized by Evelyn's delicate, aristocratic elegance. After a moment's pause, she composed herself. "Your Highness, traveling all the way from Shu to Da must have been exhausting. I originally intended to prepare some precious gifts for our first meeting, but considering your vast horizons, you've likely seen them all, so..."

Saying this, Lady Wang slipped a jade bracelet off her wrist. "This belonged to the Grand Princess. When she passed away, she entrusted it to my care, and I have kept it safe ever since. Now that Arthur has started a family and you are his wife, giving this bracelet to you is most fitting."

Evelyn knew that the "Grand Princess" Lady Wang referred to was Arthur's birth mother—the biological elder sister of the Emperor of Da. The Grand Princess had tragically passed away during difficult childbirth while delivering him. Lady Wang had originally been the Grand Princess's personal maid and was later made the Old Master's secondary wife, bearing two more sons. All of this had been mentioned by her Imperial Father before her departure for Da. Hearing his birth mother mentioned, Arthur leaned forward slightly, his probing gaze landing upon the bracelet.

Lady Wang placed the bracelet into Evelyn's hands. Evelyn calmly put it on, expressed her gratitude to Lady Wang, and signaled Pearl to bring forward the gift box prepared earlier. "Mother, this is prepared for you and Father." Lady Wang looked inside, finding a hundred-year-old wild ginseng and a carved jade Buddha of peace. She had initially worried that because Shu and Da shared a hostile past, a princess married from afar might be difficult to get along with. Now it appeared her worries were entirely unfounded. The poise of a royal princess was truly distinct. Glancing back at her unromantic son, Lady Wang felt a wave of concern. "There is one more matter to trouble Your Highness today. Previously, Arthur was unmarried and consumed by war, fighting on the frontlines since his teenage years. His marriage was delayed until now, marrying you at twenty-five. I lack the capacity to manage the household affairs; previously, the estate was managed by your second brother's wife. Now that you have married into our family, as the eldest sister-in-law, this responsibility should naturally be handed over to you."

"Yes," Evelyn agreed softly. "Mother is being too formal; you may simply call me by my name." Lady Wang's words were both facts and an expression of goodwill.

After chatting briefly, Evelyn and Arthur returned together to their own Ruyi Hall. Arthur had one remaining day of leave, but Evelyn intentionally avoided him, so the couple spent little time together during the day. Only when night fell did they return to their bedroom to rest. After bathing, Evelyn was the first to step into the canopy bed, swiftly dropping the bed curtains shut. Only then did Arthur enter the washroom to bathe. As soon as he stepped through the door, an extraordinary, delicate fragrance greeted his nostrils. The scent was familiar—the exact same fragrance Princess Anyang wore last night.

The man's gaze shifted toward the wooden bathtub, where fresh flower petals floated on the water surface. On a nearby shelf stood jars of fragrant powders, skin creams, specialized soap cakes, and hair oils, along with three separate towels made of different fabrics. Arthur stood frozen for a moment. Did a woman's bath truly require such tedious, complicated preparations? He turned around, washed his face with plain water, wiped it dry, and returned to the bedroom, finding the lamps already extinguished. Arthur lay down on his floor bedding. The lingering floral scent on his skin acted as a strange sedative, and just as he was drifting off to sleep, a violent fit of coughing broke out from inside the bed, showing no signs of stopping.

"Princess Anyang?"

There was no answer from behind the red curtains. Evelyn was coughing so severely that she couldn't speak at all. Coughing was a chronic ailment of hers, flaring up with particular violence during autumn and winter. The royal physicians in Shu had prescribed long-term conditioning remedies for her, but they yielded little effect; only taking licorice pills when a coughing fit struck offered any relief. Evelyn’s throat burned with an unbearable itch, and her eyes turned red from coughing. She reached out her hand, intending to shake the bell to call Dew inside, when she suddenly saw a distinct, well-defined hand holding a teacup, extending through a gap in the bed curtains.

Chapter 3: Misunderstanding

Evelyn had been thoroughly exhausted over the past few days. Even though her coughing woke her tonight, drowsiness still weighed heavily on her. In her dazed state, she suddenly saw a hand extending toward her through the gap in the curtains...

Startled out of her mind, Evelyn turned pale with fear and frantically began shaking the brass bell.

Dew, who was keeping night watch outside the bedroom, assumed something catastrophic had occurred inside. Dispensing with proper etiquette, she pushed open the door and rushed in.

"Your Highness, what happened?"

Dew lit the lamps, instantly illuminating the bedroom with a bright, warm glow. She stood at the doorway with a face full of anxiety, only to see Evelyn pressing one hand against her chest while her other hand tightly clutched the red silk ribbon tied to the bell.

The crimson bed curtains had already been pulled aside. Evelyn raised her eyes in panic, only to discover Arthur holding a teacup, looking thoroughly bewildered.

As her mind cleared, she realized she had been sleep-dazed. This was no longer her royal palace in Shu, nor was that hand belonging to some villain—it was Arthur's hand.

Once the terror subsided, a faint sense of melancholy washed over her, followed by another round of muffled coughing.

Dew understood immediately—the princess was having another coughing fit. She promptly pulled out a vial of licorice pills she kept on her person and handed one over. "The weather has grown even chillier over the past few days. No wonder Your Highness is coughing again. In a moment, I will fetch a thicker quilt for you."

Evelyn nodded, taking the licorice pill and holding it in her mouth.

Just as Dew turned to pour water, Arthur had already extended the teacup in his hand toward Evelyn.

The man possessed large hands with long, defined fingers. Resting between his fingers, the small teacup appeared significantly smaller than usual.

Evelyn hesitated, intending to decline, but the bitterness of the licorice pill in her mouth was truly unbearable. She accepted the cup after all and took a few delicate sips.

"Thank you."

Arthur stood straight beside the canopy bed with his head lowered, overlooking her entirely from above. Having removed her lavish hair ornaments, Evelyn's dark, silky hair cascaded smoothly down her shoulders like a shining waterfall. Bathed in the warm glow of the candlelight, her delicate and fragile demeanor created a faint, deceptive illusion of gentle sweetness. Taking tiny, measured sips of water, she seemed lost in distant memories.

Arthur turned his head slightly. "No need to thank me. You were coughing incessantly; I couldn't sleep either."

Dew returned with a thicker quilt, placed it down, and quietly withdrew from the chamber.

Evelyn glanced sideways at him, looking like a defensive little hedgehog. "I was born with this ailment. It's not just tonight—I will cough like this every single night hereafter. If it disturbs the General's rest, you had best think of a solution as early as possible."

What solution could there be? Either continue listening to it, or move somewhere else to sleep. The latter was obviously out of the question.

With a face as stern as still water, Arthur reached out his hand to retrieve the empty teacup from Evelyn. "Finished? If you're finished, go to sleep."

The teacup had a narrow mouth and was quite small. As it was handed back and forth, the man's rough finger pressed lightly against Evelyn's hand.

Arthur's palm was perpetually warm, whereas in stark contrast, Evelyn's hands and feet were born ice-cold. Yet for reasons unknown, even though her fingertips were freezing, Arthur felt as if he had been singed by an unfamiliar flame, his heart thumping rapidly several times.

Evelyn jerked her hand back abruptly, casting a vigilant glance at him.

Arthur assumed she was merely feeling aversion toward him, indulging in her princessly fastidiousness once more. "Princess Anyang, I washed my hands."

While Evelyn did find him unrefined, she had not meant it that way this time; having Arthur press against her hand simply made her heart flutter in panic. She had no intention of explaining further to him, a proud smirk curling upon her lips. "The General thinks too much. You do not even sleep in the same bed as me; whether you washed them or not has nothing to do with me."

Arthur stood speechless for a moment. "...So I was just being overly sentimental?"

He held the teacup, staring down at Evelyn. The candle wick flickered gently, casting a small shadow from the woman's long eyelashes. Supporting herself on the bed with one hand, her exquisite, graceful figure lay on her side. The undulating curves of her waist, neck, hips, and arms reminded him of the rolling hills he had passed by during the campaign against the Realm of Wei a year ago.

She was indeed breathtakingly beautiful. Her frail, sickly state cleverly softened her inherent pride, making one simultaneously desire to tear her apart and to risk one's life to protect her. A woman like her seemed naturally capable of igniting every man's instinct for conquest. No wonder the ruler of Wei had repeatedly sought her hand in marriage from the King of Shu back then—and when rejected, had even mobilized troops against Shu.

Regrettably, those Wei troops had been intercepted halfway by Arthur and completely annihilated. Arthur couldn't help but wonder: with Princess Anyang's temperament, how long could she have survived under the thumb of that tyrannical ruler of Wei?

Evelyn had never been stared at by a man in such an intense manner before. Uncomfortable, she swiftly pulled the bed curtains closed with a crisp swoosh.

His thoughts pulled back to reality, Arthur set down the teacup, extinguished the light once more, and lay back down on his floor bedding.

He turned his head toward the blurred silhouette inside the bed curtains. "Have you had this illness for eighteen years?"

"Yes."

"Incurable?"

"It can only be kept at bay with medicine."

"Ah." After a pause, Arthur asked again, "Then how did you contract this illness?"

Arthur was not particularly curious by nature, yet tonight he felt a strange desire to know more details about her. Evelyn turned over on her side. "Even if the General knows, what difference would it make? You cannot cure it either."

Silence fell inside the bed curtains. Seeing that the woman on the bed had no desire to share the story with him, he did not press any further.

The three-day wedding leave passed quickly.

Upon returning to court, the Emperor did not revoke Arthur's military tally. Instead, while ordering him to keep a close eye on regional skirmishes across various territories, the Emperor also entrusted the Southern Imperial Encampment in the capital to Arthur for personal training.

The Southern Encampment was closest to the General's Estate, yet galloping there on horseback still took nearly an hour. At the fourth quarter of the Tiger hour (around 4:00 AM), Arthur set off from the estate. By the time he arrived at the Southern Encampment, Evelyn was only just leisurely waking up.

Her mother-in-law, Lady Wang, had entrusted her with managing the household, and over these past few days, she had been taking inventory of the storerooms. Seeing her princess grow noticeably thinner, Pearl could not help but feel heart-pained. "Does Your Highness still plan to continue the inventory this afternoon? There are still several trunks that haven't been moved into the storeroom yet. I see that the General Estate's storeroom is nearly packed full anyway—why don't we just leave those few trunks stacked in Ruyi Hall?"

"It's fine. I have other uses for the items inside those trunks."

In truth, the General Estate didn't possess an excessive amount of property. The task taking up most of her time was actually organizing the lavish dowry she had brought with her from Shu.

After taking a short afternoon nap, Dew entered to report that the Second Mistress from Chunxi Hall, who was previously in charge of household management, had arrived to handle the handover.

This year's autumn had arrived earlier than last year's. Following a bout of rain last night, the weather today had grown several degrees colder. By the time Evelyn finished conversing with the Second Mistress, the sun was already slanting toward the west.

Such weather was truly unsuited for venturing outdoors. Returning to her bedroom, Evelyn picked up her familiar carved hand-warmer, staring blankly out the window, her mind lost in unknown thoughts.

Meanwhile, Arthur had already set off from the Southern Encampment. Galloping swiftly on horseback through the night, the biting cold wind stung like whips against his ears.

While Arthur remained unfazed, his younger brother, Arthur Chengwu, found it somewhat unbearable. Holding the reins with one hand and covering an ear with the other, Chengwu spurred his horse forward to catch up with his elder brother's back. "Eldest Brother, getting married really changes a man! If this were before, you definitely would have stayed overnight at the camp. To rush all the way back in such cold autumn weather... once Sister-in-Law finds out, she'll surely be overjoyed!"

"Keep your mouth shut while riding, lest the north wind fills your belly before you even reach home."

Arthur cast a sharp side-glance at his third brother. Chengwu was only seventeen years old and lacked military merit, so he had been training under Arthur's guidance. He spoke without filter or decorum; if outsiders overheard him, it would inevitably invite teasing gossip about his eldest brother and sister-in-law.

After reprimanding him, Arthur still felt the need to explain the reasoning to his younger brother. "Princess Anyang and I have only recently wed. Even if the weather is freezing, I must return. With His Majesty above us and the Sovereign of Shu beyond our borders, if unfounded rumors spread that Princess Anyang and I are on bad terms, it will impact diplomatic relations between Great Da and Shu. What does an hour's ride matter compared to that?"

"That makes sense, but..." Chengwu looked astonished. "I thought you were rushing home because you couldn't bear to be away from Sister-in-Law. Eldest Brother, do you not like Princess Anyang?"

Like her?

Arthur had only seen Princess Anyang a handful of times. He could only say that he did not dislike her. To him, it was primarily a responsibility toward Great Da and Shu. Since Princess Anyang had become his wife, taking care of her was simply his duty as well. As for whether he liked her or not, he had never given it any thought.

Seeing Chengwu clutching his ears, Arthur deliberately poked at him. "What? Winter hasn't even arrived, and it's far from the coldest period—are you already giving up?"

"Who says I'm giving up? Eldest Brother, don't you know my horsemanship?" Unable to take the provocation, Chengwu clamped his legs against the horse's flanks, surging ahead by a horse's head in a burst of speed.

An hour later, the two brothers returned under the starlight, the sky having turned completely dark. As they halted in front of the main entrance, they found the second brother, Arthur Yanyan, waiting at the gates. Standing alone in the crisp autumn wind with an elegant, scholarly demeanor, he looked as though he had been waiting for a long time.

Arthur dismounted cleanly. "Why are you standing out here?"

Seeing his elder brother blanketed in cold night air, Yanyan stepped forward and offered a respectful greeting. "Eldest Brother, you've had a hard journey. I specifically waited out here for your return."

Handing the reins to the groom, the three brothers walked inside together.

Arthur asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"...It's nothing major."

That meant there was something. Arthur knew his second brother well—he was ordinarily steady and cautious; unless something required attention, he wouldn't stand waiting in the freezing wind for his return.

Crossing the front veranda brought them to a junction. Beyond the moon gate lay separate courtyards for the three brothers. Seeing that they were about to part ways, Yanyan dismissed Chengwu, looked around carefully to ensure no one was listening, and finally opened his mouth toward his elder brother in awkward hesitation.

"Eldest Brother, you are built tall and formidable. At times, please remember to be a bit gentler with the Princess, lest she sends a family letter back to Shu to complain of grievances."

Arthur was left thoroughly bewildered.

Realizing his elder brother hadn't grasped his meaning, Yanyan laid his cards on the table.

"Today, my wife went to pay her respects to the Princess and happened to see Sister-in-Law's wrist... Eldest Brother, pardon my disrespect, but please look at the vast difference in size between you and the Princess. You are newly wedded and lack experience; at times, you really must be lighter on your hands."

Arthur stood utterly speechless.

Yanyan was the only civil official in the family, serving in the Court of Diplomatic Relations where he handled foreign affairs. He was accustomed to thinking deeply and paying strict attention to decorum and boundaries. Influenced by him, the Second Mistress was similarly observant of such matters.

Earlier today, while conversing with Evelyn, she had accidentally caught sight of the bruise on Evelyn's wrist. Evelyn's wrist was fair and slender, pure like mutton-fat jade, yet marred by an unfitting ring of blue-red bruising—a mark easily recognizable as being pinched forcefully by someone's hand. As for who caused it, the answer was obvious.

The Second Mistress mistakenly assumed that the Eldest Brother had treated Princess Anyang too roughly during their intimacy, leaving behind those marks. Considering both their status and the diplomatic relationship between Da and Shu, she had shared her concerns with her husband. Consequently, Yanyan felt compelled to come and advise his brother on matters of the marital bed.

Arthur opened his mouth to explain, yet found himself completely at a loss for words. After all, the fact that he and Princess Anyang were not even sharing the same bed was something that could not be revealed to anyone.

Chapter 4: The Princess's Sickness

Taking leave of his second younger brother, Edwin, Arthur walked with long, swift strides back toward Ruyi Hall. Before long, he could see the warm red lantern light glowing softly from the courtyard in the distance.

He was accustomed to living a simple life, having spent most of his recent years away on military campaigns rather than staying at home. In the past, aside from a single pageboy responsible for sweeping dust and locking the gates, Ruyi Hall had no other servants.

Now that Ruyi Hall had a mistress, however, the courtyard was considerably livelier than before.

In the courtyard, Pearl was directing pageboys as they carried buckets of hot water one by one. One boy stumbled clumsily, spilling nearly half a bucket of water right onto Pearl’s skirt. Pearl let out a startled gasp, inadvertently disturbing the person resting inside the room.

A window was pushed open, and Evelyn leaned her head out, only to be struck by a chilly draft that made her sneeze softly.

"Your Highness!" Pearl ignored her soaked skirts and rushed over to check on Evelyn. "Please take care of your health, Your Highness. We have the family banquet tomorrow, so you must not catch a chill!"

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Evelyn offered a faint smile. The tip of her nose was slightly flushed, and the bright moonlight broke into shimmering ripples within her expressive eyes, though her smile carried a gentle shade of melancholy.

Arthur lost himself for a fleeting moment before furrowing his brows in annoyance. Bathed every single day—was she not tired of the hassle? It was already late autumn, and winter would arrive in no time. This was precisely the season when people caught colds easily, making daily baths entirely unsuitable. Given her fragile body, if she fell ill, she would be the one suffering.

Stepping forward, he took the heavy water buckets from the pageboy’s hands and carried them toward the washroom as effortlessly as walking on level ground, quickly filling the large wooden tub to the brim.

Dismissing the pageboys, Arthur stood outside the window and asked, "Why are you bathing again today? Didn't you just wash yesterday?"

"Yesterday was yesterday, and today is today." Evelyn raised her delicate, charming chin slightly, her lips unadorned by rouge looking somewhat pale. "It has been my habit for years to bathe with fragrant incense before retiring to sleep. Back when I was in Shu, my Imperial Father specifically ordered hot spring water to be channeled directly to my princess manor simply because he knew how much I loved bathing."

Evelyn disliked Arthur questioning her about such matters. Was it not equivalent to asking why one needed to eat today if they had already eaten yesterday? Interrogating her over such trivial matters... She was no ordinary woman; having traveled a great distance for peace, could it be that a grand General’s Manor lacked even a single bucket of bathwater for her daily use?

"The night air is cold, so I shall close the window now. Pray suit yourself, General." Evelyn shut the wooden window, her ethereal voice drifting out from inside: "Pearl, come assist me with my bath."

Knowing her mistress was somewhat annoyed, Pearl quickly bowed toward Arthur and followed her inside. Arthur offered no explanation. Given the nature of their relationship, Princess Anyang would likely not believe any explanation he gave anyway, so he decided to let her indulge in her delicate quirks.

Having ridden hard on horseback through the night, he had expended considerable energy and had not yet eaten dinner. Earlier, while riding swiftly, he had not felt cold, but standing in the chilly courtyard for so long now made the sharp autumn cold seep through his clothes.

"Bull," Arthur called out. "Tell the kitchen to make a bowl of noodles and warm up a jug of yellow wine."

Bull nodded promptly and soon returned carrying a tray of hot food. From inside the washroom came the soft splashing of water accompanied by occasional faint voices. Though the conversation was muffled, fragments like "spoiled," "Shu," and "merely bathing" could be faintly heard.

Arthur could roughly guess what Evelyn and Pearl were discussing. He did not deny Evelyn’s words; truthfully speaking, her life in the General’s Manor was indeed far less luxurious and comfortable than back in Shu.

Pearl was dutiful, while Dew was clever and perceptive. Serving inside the main room and seeing Arthur’s stern, dark expression, Dew plucked up her courage and said timidly, "General, you... you have misunderstood our Princess. Please calm your anger and do not blame her."

Arthur merely thought Evelyn was overly particular, but he was not truly angry. It was just that when he wasn't smiling, he looked inherently fierce and cold. Setting down his wine cup, he asked, "You say I misunderstood? Misunderstood what?"

Dew lowered her head, replying respectfully, "In answer to the General: our Princess has been frail and sickly since childhood, suffering especially from a cold constitution. In the scorching heat of summer, she manages fine, but come autumn and winter, her hands and feet become icy cold, preventing her from sleeping through the night. Though she is of royal blood, she is by no means arrogant or domineering. In all the years she has been ill, she has never uttered a single complaint; even when suffering terribly, she would hide from the Emperor and Empress and weep in secret."

This came as a genuine surprise to Arthur. Recalling their wedding night when her eyes had turned red, he realized he must have genuinely hurt her when gripping her wrist. Dew continued, "The Princess’s illness cannot be cured. His Majesty pained for his daughter, and knowing that she could only sleep peacefully after soaking in a hot bath, he had hot spring water from the Eastern Mountains piped directly into her estate. That is how the Princess formed the habit—only after bathing and warming her limbs can she fall asleep at night."

So that was why. It turned out he had indeed misunderstood her. Arthur had assumed she was merely overly fastidious, never imagining there was such an underlying medical reason behind it.

Pearl’s voice echoed from the washroom: "Dew, the Princess has run out of rose hair oil. Please bring some more."

"Understood." Dew went to fetch the fragrant rose oil.

Arthur took another sip of yellow wine. The warm liquid flowed down his throat into his stomach, leaving a trail of soothing warmth from throat to abdomen as the rich aroma lingered. His entire body felt warm and comfortable; he had no concept of what it felt like to lie awake all night with icy limbs. Remembering how her fingertips had felt cool as fine jade when he touched them that night, his dark eyes narrowed in deep thought beneath the shadow of his lashes. "Bull," Arthur instructed, "pass down the word: starting tomorrow evening, light the underfloor heating flues in Ruyi Hall."

·

Crisp birdsong heralded the morning as the General’s Manor buzzed with activity. In previous years, due to volatile political situations and the fact that most men of the Shaw family were military commanders, gathering the entire family had been a rare luxury. Now that all the Shaw brothers were surprisingly together in the capital, the Dowager Lady, Mother Shaw, intended to host a grand family reunion banquet—which also marked the very first family event Evelyn was responsible for organizing.

At five in the afternoon, Arthur returned to the manor. Lord Shaw, Mother Shaw, along with their sons and daughters-in-law took their respective seats. The decorations in the reception hall had been completely refreshed, and the table featured a lavish array of dishes while adhering strictly to Lord Shaw’s distaste for wasteful extravagance. Lord Shaw and Mother Shaw exchanged pleasantly surprised glances at the hall’s elegant arrangement and plentiful spread, nodding repeatedly in approval.

"Thank you for your hard work, Princess," Mother Shaw said sincerely. "Apart from your second brother-in-law, everyone in our Shaw household is a rough soldier. In the past, we just gathered casually for a quick bite and called it a family dinner. It is thanks to the Princess's refined taste and elegance that we can all enjoy such a splendid feast today." Mother Shaw was not merely flattering her; she genuinely admired Evelyn's skill.

Evelyn smiled softly. "As I have said before, Mother may simply call me Evelyn instead of Princess."

Just as they were speaking, a sharp female voice echoed from outside the reception hall: "Eldest Brother, I heard from the housekeeper that there's a family banquet today. Why wasn't I invited?" A sturdy woman in her late forties with handsome facial features walked inside—this was Lord Shaw’s younger sister, Aunt Beatrice, accompanied closely by her son.

The moment they stepped into the hall, Beatrice’s son, Max, stared wide-eyed at the spread. "Oh my, look at all these dishes! This must have cost a fortune!" After speaking, he instinctively swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Beatrice quickly jabbed Max hard with her elbow, whispering sharply, "Keep your mouth shut! Look at where you are, acting like a barbarian." Max immediately withered, not daring to speak another word.

"Why have you come?" Lord Shaw asked, his voice grave.

"I simply came over to visit my eldest brother, of course." Beatrice had originally come to seek a marriage match for her husband’s niece, having heard that Arthur was surrounded by promising young military officers and hoping her powerful general nephew could introduce a few suitable suitors. Happening upon her brother's family banquet, she refrained from bringing up her request immediately.

Lord Shaw’s voice was solemn. "Since you are already here, take a seat together." All of Lord Shaw’s brothers had perished on battlefields, leaving only this single, useless younger sister. Though he disliked her behavior, he fulfilled his duty as an elder brother and ushered her family to sit down promptly.

Men and women sat on opposite sides of the long banquet tables. In a military household, strict rules were minimal; the family gathered together chatting familiarly, with Caleb animatedly describing the battle experiences he had shared with his eldest brother. Though Evelyn was ordinarily uninterested in rough military matters, hearing how Arthur had taken a heavily fortified city guarded by ten thousand soldiers with only eight hundred cavalrymen, she unconsciously listened intently, holding her breath during critical moments. She had to admit that Arthur was indeed a gifted military commander—it was merely a pity he was not serving under her father’s banner.

Everyone listened attentively with bated breath, except for one person who neither understood nor cared for military stories, unable to join the conversation and doing nothing but silently picking food with his chopsticks—Arthur’s cousin, Max. Max sat right below Arthur, directly across from Evelyn at a slight angle. Every time he raised his chopsticks, his eyes naturally caught sight of that mesmerizing, breathtaking face, causing his hands to freeze mid-air.

As he stared absentmindedly, a wine cup suddenly extended into his field of vision, blocking his view completely. "It has been a long time. Let me toast my cousin," Arthur said coldly. "I brewed this wine myself, so you must drink plenty of it."

Coming to his senses, Max realized his formidable general cousin was offering him a toast. Yet looking at Arthur’s dark expression, it felt less like a toast and more like a predatory wolf stepping out from a pitch-black cave, ready to devour him alive. Max’s hairs stood on end instantly; not daring to refuse, he bowed hurriedly in agreement. Arthur pushed aside Max's small wine cup, replacing it with a large, wide-rimmed bowl, pouring the strong liquor until it overflowed.

Max froze. Just as he was about to decline, he looked up and met a pair of dark, inscrutable eyes. That icy, razor-sharp gaze delivered a clear and terrifying warning: Drink whether you like it or not. Look at what you should, and keep your eyes off what you shouldn't. Feeling guilty, Max swallowed the large bowl of potent liquor with a sheepish expression, never daring to cast another glance at Evelyn for the rest of the meal.

The family banquet lasted for half an hour before Lord Shaw and Mother Shaw excused themselves to rest. Once her parents-in-law had departed, Evelyn felt no desire to stay and socialize further; having consumed some fruit wine, she felt drowsy and wished to leave. Rising to her feet, she was immediately supported by Pearl. "General Shaw, I am fatigued and shall return to my quarters first." Evelyn was not seeking his permission, but informing him.

She cast a faint, distant glance at Arthur, her natural regal arrogance making her appear like an ethereal goddess untainted by worldly dust. Arthur nodded in response: "Mm." He intended to walk back with her, stepping up to stand beside her. The two kept half a body's distance between them, their eyes never meeting.

Aunt Beatrice glanced sideways at them. She had already noticed subtle peculiarities at the dinner table, and now her suspicions were fully confirmed: these two did not look like a newlywed couple at all! Every detail betrayed a cold distance, looking more estranged than complete strangers. Looking at the tall, heroic Arthur and then remembering her husband’s young and beautiful niece, a startling idea suddenly crossed her mind.