The Adornment of Silk, The Sustenance of Jade - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“The Yan Family governs its household with strict discipline. We cannot abide habits of arrogance, extravagance, or indulgence. Since Your Highness has made up her mind to marry into our family, this humble official can only accept. I hope Your Highness will conduct herself with more restraint in the future and abide by our ancestral teachings.”

Yan Jinyu sat across from me with a face like a corpse, as rigid and old-fashioned as ever. He had been exactly like this since I first met him at the age of three.

Back then, Imperial Grandmother had given me a little rabbit. While touring the gardens with Imperial Father, I accidentally lost it. I cried and threw such a fit that Imperial Father ordered the guards to turn the entire palace upside down.

Yan Jinyu, only ten years old then, stood there with a cold face and a furrowed brow. “To throw the whole palace into chaos over a single person is truly unbecoming of a princess of this nation.”

Imperial Father was a mighty man. He had seven princes in a row, and it was not until he turned forty that he finally got me. Holding me outside the delivery room, he burst into loud sobs. Therefore, I am the one and only princess of this dynasty, under heaven and above earth.

“My father is willing to spoil me. What business is it of yours?”

I kicked him. Yan Jinyu’s face darkened at once. Ignoring the black footprint on his robe, he stood where he was and said, word by word, “Not everyone is obligated to spoil you.”

From that day on, Yan Jinyu and I became sworn enemies.

The year I came of age, some rumor started spreading from who knew where, claiming that This Princess was unwanted. As soon as the court officials heard Imperial Father intended to discuss my marriage, a wave of sudden illnesses swept through the court. They actually left Imperial Father presiding over a hall half empty for more than two weeks.

During that time, only Yan Jinyu, who had opposed me since childhood, came rain or shine.

One day, I got into another argument with Yan Jinyu. In a fit of anger, a wicked thought seized me. “Yan Jinyu, how about This Princess marries you?”

Yan Jinyu listened in silence. Then, with a cold expression, he said, “Your Highness may certainly try.”

If he dared look down on me, he would have to pay the price.

I told Imperial Father I wanted to marry Yan Jinyu.

Imperial Father laughed like a goose in the imperial study, pacing back and forth in excitement. “Hahahaha, excellent! Excellent! That old bastard from the Yan Family points at my nose and scolds me every day. Now I shall let him taste what it’s like to have no peace at home!”

The old bastard he referred to was Yan Jinyu’s father, a white-bearded old man whose tongue was razor-sharp. On ordinary days, whenever he stood in court, he would denounce Imperial Father’s policies at the drop of a hat. If their political views clashed, he would even go head-to-head with Imperial Father.

“Now? No peace at home?” I stared at Imperial Father with a stiff face and a blank expression.

Imperial Father’s laughter caught in his throat, coming out as a clear, birdlike chirp. “No, how could that be? My Zhanzhan is precious beyond compare. Yan Jinyu is only a minor official; he is hardly worthy of you. Well then, let his old father retire… retire! Yan Jinyu can inherit his father’s post!”

Imperial Father’s enthusiasm was practically written all over his face. Once Censor Yan retired, the remonstrance officials at court would be left without a leader, and my father’s ears would enjoy a good long stretch of peace and quiet.

“Zhanzhan,” Imperial Father said, tears glistening in his eyes, “don’t let that Yan Jinyu of yours talk, all right? Let him be a good official and work quietly with his head down.”

A censor who did not speak-could he even be called an official?

At this moment, I had a pair of chopsticks clenched between my teeth and one foot propped on another small black-carved rosewood stool. I looked at Yan Jinyu’s face with smug satisfaction. “Lord Yan, I imagine you would very much like to know how to write the words ‘reaping what you sow.'”

He had dared tell me to try. Then try I would.

I wanted to find even the slightest hint of exasperation on his face.

Unfortunately, those eyes of his, which I had seen a thousand, a million times and hated enough to gnash my teeth over, were as still as a deep abyss. Even now, dressed in bright red wedding robes with a jade crown on his head, he remained as calm and self-possessed as he had been for the past ten thousand years.

At some point, Yan Jinyu had grown a full head taller than me. Even when he was sitting, I still had to look up at him.

“Yan Jinyu, why won’t you beg for mercy?” I was indignant. Throwing down my chopsticks, I leaned closer and pressed him. “This Princess already said that as long as you respectfully come to my residence and kowtow three times, hard enough for me to hear it, I’ll let you off.”

“A man’s knees are worth gold,” Yan Jinyu said, looking at me indifferently. “If Your Highness dares make a joke of your own marriage, then this humble official will accompany you to the end.”

“You-” I was so furious I pointed at him, my fingertip nearly jabbing into his eye. “Yan Jinyu! This is the Princess Residence! You eat my food, use my things, and still dare to disrespect me!”

“If Your Highness does not wish to live here, then come with me to the Yan Family.” Yan Jinyu’s expression did not change as he enunciated every word. “The Yan Family’s meals can keep you fed as well.”

I had imagined Yan Jinyu losing his mind, flying into a rage, even cursing me out. The one thing I had not expected was this detached, as-if-it-had-nothing-to-do-with-him attitude. It was like throwing a punch into cotton; all my anger had nowhere to go, burning me up from the inside.

With a sharp crack, I smashed the cup in my hand and snapped, “Yan Jinyu, are you trying to rebel?”

“This subject is merely fulfilling his duty. How is that rebellion?”

Right in front of him, I yanked off my phoenix crown, stripped off the phoenix wedding robes, and hurled them viciously onto the floor. “Yan Jinyu, I am going to take a concubine. A male concubine! I am not going through with this marriage!”

I had never been this improperly dressed in front of a man before, but he had made me so angry I could barely think. The moment I finished speaking, I swept my sleeve and turned to leave.

A large, burning-hot hand suddenly clamped around my wrist. With one gentle tug, he pulled me back. I struggled to no avail, shocked that Yan Jinyu could hold me in place so firmly. He gripped me as if he were holding a frail stalk of straw.

His eyes were dark and heavy as ink as he rose and walked toward me, one step at a time.

“Descendants of the Yan Family are not permitted to take concubines.”

“I am not a member of the Yan Family!”

The corners of Yan Jinyu’s thin lips slowly curved into a subtle arc. “His Majesty bestowed this marriage. This subject and Your Highness have bowed to Heaven and Earth and become husband and wife. You leaped into this fire pit yourself. Does Your Highness need this subject to teach you how to write ‘reap what you sow’?”

Oh, wonderful! He actually dared to throw my own words back in my face!

He was usually so solemn and unsmiling, but now, within those calm, undisturbed eyes, there was a rare hint of teasing. Something in my chest began to flutter wildly, and I forced it down.

“Who… who needs you to teach me! Let… let go! This Princess is going to bed.”

Yan Jinyu stood with his back to the window, blocking the night wind for me. In truth, I was not cold. But at that moment, with his scorching palm wrapped around me and the thin calluses on his fingertips pressing against the tender inside of my wrist, goose bumps rose all over my body.

“Your Highness, one should see things through to the end.” He lifted the nuptial wine and handed it to me with rigid propriety.

Impatient, I snatched it from him and tipped my head back to drink it down.

Yan Jinyu did not get angry. He calmly drank his own cup, then bowed. “Your Highness may sleep in the room. This subject shall take his leave.”

“At least you know your place.” Satisfied by his concession, I walked toward the bed in high spirits.

I had barely taken one step when I let out a muffled groan. A strange tingling itch shot up from the base of my thighs, burrowing straight into my heart. It was like a delicate goose feather, scratching at my chest again and again.

Yan Jinyu’s steps halted. Suddenly, he turned back to look at me.

I turned back to look at him too.

Heat surged into my cheeks, and my heart pounded out of my control.

In the mirror, I saw my own face flushed as red as blood, my brows and eyes brimming with spring.

All at once, I did not want him to leave. Used to giving orders, I blurted out, “Hey, come here.”

Tiny flames leaped in Yan Jinyu’s eyes, like a golden-red glow in a pile of firewood not yet fully lit. He asked, “Is Your Highness certain?”

I stamped my foot in frustration. Though I did not understand what was happening, I wanted nothing more than to drag him over right now, and then… and then what?

I did not know. Yan Jinyu answered that question for me. He wrapped an arm around my waist, lifted me sideways into his arms, and tossed me onto the bed, somewhat roughly.

His arms were steady and powerful, burning hot like iron as he pinned me to the bed, impossible to resist.

I cried out in pain, tears spilling from the sting.

A ring of red marks had been left around my fair wrist.