Wang Residence:
The chamber was bathed in morning sunlight, casting warm rays on the couple nestled together under the blanket. The man's hand wrapped around the woman's bare waist, gently caressing her naked skin and sending electric sensations through her body.
The woman, her head resting on the man's bare chest, moaned in pleasure as his hand glided over her back and squeezed her bottom, eliciting a gasp at his sudden bold actions.
"My Lord," Zhu Yating let out a sultry moan, addressing the man. She looked up at him, his eyes closed in bliss, and whispered in a low voice, "The sun has already risen. It's time for you to attend the morning royal court." She delicately reminded him that it wasn't the appropriate time for further indulgence and gently woke him up.
The man groaned in annoyance, furrowing his brow as he opened his eyes. He gazed at the woman's blushing face and then turned his attention to the bright sky outside. A sigh escaped him as he realized that the night had passed, and it was already morning—the time for him to attend the royal court.
In a swift motion, he seized Zhu Yating's face and planted a demanding kiss on her already swollen lips from the previous night's activities. He declared, "You were spared last night, but not tonight. So, rest the whole day and be prepared to serve me at night. Also, don't wear that strong scent again.
It's disgusting." He delivered the directive to the woman, squeezing her bottom once again before sitting up on the bed. Meanwhile, the woman gathered the blanket to cover her naked self.
After the man adorned himself in a long, loose silk robe to cover his naked body and tied its ribbon around his waist, he left the chamber. Accompanied by maids catering to his needs, he proceeded to take a bath in his own quarters. Zhu Yating gazed at the closed wooden door of her chamber and let out a sigh of relief.
She then stood up from the bed, covering her naked body with the blanket. Her legs wobbled as she was exhausted from the activities of the previous night. Every night was a battle for her, leaving her drained. While people wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, each morning she felt even more tired and exhausted.
When she stood in front of the large mirror, she could see her exhausted figure reflected in it. Her lips were swollen, her hair in disarray. As she loosened the clutches of the blanket on her body, she could see the crimson and purple marks covering every inch of her skin. There was not a single part that was spared.
The man who inflicted these cruel marks upon her was none other than her husband, Wang Rong. Despite having three wives, Zhu Yating being his favorite and most beloved second wife, he spent five out of seven nights in her chamber. It was the consequence of her being his most beloved and favored wife.
Before she got married, her mother had taught her to serve her husband well and keep him happy, doing whatever she could to gain his favor. Because if she had his favor and him by her side, only then could she lead a happy life, gain the upper hand over the other wives, and earn respect in society.
The other two wives of Wang Rong frowned upon seeing Zhu Yating act this way. From her demeanor and the crimson marks on her slender neck, it was clear what had happened between the couple the previous night. Now, Zhu Yating didn't even try to hide these marks, treating them as the trophies of her fierce battle every night.
They struggled to spend time with their husbands, yet Zhu Yating seemed to engage in pleasure every day. While Zhu Yating enjoyed the pampering from the lord every night, the other wives were busy instructing the maids to prepare his favorite dishes, aiming to serve him during breakfast and gain his favor in their way.
"What are you apologizing for? Why would you make breakfast? Aren't these two and the maids enough to do the chores?" Wang Rong said indifferently before gesturing to Zhu Yating, "Sit down and have breakfast."
"Yes, My lord," Zhu Yating said shyly, feeling grateful for his words. She sat on the chair next to him while his other two wives stood on the side, waiting to serve him the dishes as per his needs.
He glanced at his first wife, who was holding the pot of rice and seemed dazed, and commanded her, "What are you dazing off for? Serve the dishes to Zhu Yating. Make her eat some more meat. Can't you see that she has lost so much weight?
How do you expect her to carry my child when she is this thin?" He scolded her for not performing her duties properly and not treating Zhu Yating well, with whom he spent most of his nights.
He does not spend most of his time with Zhu Yating out of love. It's not due to love or care, but because among all three of his wives, Zhu Yating is the most beautiful with the best body—pleasing to look at and touch. Moreover, she serves him the best and knows how to please him. That's why he chooses to spend more time with her. How can he not pamper her more among all of his wives?
The first wife swallowed her pride, took a deep breath, and served the dishes to Zhu Yating. While the other wives couldn't even sit together with Wang Rong, Zhu Yating was the only wife eating with him.
After Wang Rong finished his breakfast, the second wife placed a bowl of lemon water in front of him to clean his hands. As she wiped his hands with a towel, a maid hurried into the dining hall and informed Wang Rong, "My Lord, the royal carriage has stopped by the residence."
Wang Rong frowned. "Royal carriage? Who has come?"
It was early in the morning, and he was about to go to the royal court for the morning session. Who would come to his residence at such an hour?
The maid lowered her head and said, "It is the Crown Princess, My Lord."