Within three days of the wedding, the seventh prince’s residence learned a new rule: anything concerning Shen Yuheng was to be sent directly to the main courtyard for his review.

This was not because Xiao Jingyuan disliked managing household affairs, but because the household had discovered that their new principal spouse could read a ledger faster than the steward could explain it, find three hidden problems in a servants’ roster before finishing half a cup of tea, and correct ritual procedures without sounding as though he was correcting anyone.

He did not raise his voice because he did not need to.

The first steward of the seventh prince’s residence had originally been somewhat nervous. The seventh prince had grown up mostly in the northern army, and his residence in Tianjing had always been clean but sparse, with more guards than delicate servants and more military reports than embroidered screens. Now that a principal spouse had entered the household, the steward had worried that the residence would suddenly need to learn the complicated habits of inner-courtyard luxury.

He soon discovered that Shen Yuheng was not difficult to serve. He was difficult to fool.

On the fourth morning, Shen Yuheng sat beneath the window in a pale robe embroidered with faint silver bamboo leaves. His black hair was loosely bound with a white jade crown, and his face, still recovering from the old poisoning, carried a clear, snow-like pallor. The winter light fell on him, making him appear like an immortal painted onto silk, except the brush that painted him had also written judgment into his eyes.

The steward stood before him, his back damp with sweat.

Shen Yuheng turned a page of the household register. “The rice purchased last month was recorded at the price of southern fragrant grain, but the kitchen storage contains mixed old grain from the eastern market. The difference is not large enough to empty the accounts, but it is large enough to prove someone has been testing the residence’s tolerance.”

The steward’s knees softened. “This servant failed to supervise properly.”

Shen Yuheng did not look angry, which made the steward even more afraid.

“The seventh prince’s residence has few inner-courtyard expenses. Because of that, small hands become bolder.” Shen Yuheng placed the register down. “Replace the kitchen buyer. Do not beat him publicly yet. Send someone to follow where the silver went.”

The steward immediately bowed. “Yes, Wangfei.”

The title still made Qingmo, standing behind Shen Yuheng, straighten with delight every time he heard it.

Seventh Prince Wangfei. Principal spouse. Not a borrowed ornament. Not a sickly ger waiting to be arranged.

Shen Yuheng nodded. “Also, the old nurse responsible for bedding arrangements has served in the residence for many years. She has seniority, but seniority is not a license to frighten new maids into giving filial silver. Move her to supervise seasonal storage. Let her keep face, but take away people.”

The steward’s eyes changed.

This was not merely household management. This was surgery.

Do not slash first. Cut away the hand holding the knife.

By the time Xiao Jingyuan entered, the steward had received seven instructions, three warnings, and the clear realization that the new Wangfei’s beauty was the least dangerous thing about him.

Xiao Jingyuan waited until the steward withdrew before walking over. He had just returned from morning military review and was still wearing dark riding clothes, with cold air clinging to his shoulders. The moment his gaze landed on Shen Yuheng, it softened.

“Are you tired?”

Shen Yuheng lifted his eyes. “Your Highness asks this every morning.”

“Because you answer differently depending on how tired you are.”

Shen Yuheng’s lips curved faintly. “Then today, not very.”

Xiao Jingyuan sat beside him. “Not very means slightly.”

“Your Highness has become skilled at interpreting me.”

“Jingyuan,” Xiao Jingyuan corrected.

Shen Yuheng looked at him for a breath, then said with calm obedience that sounded almost like teasing, “Jingyuan.”

The stiffness in Xiao Jingyuan’s brows immediately eased.

Qingmo quietly lowered his head. The servants of the seventh prince’s residence had also learned another rule: their Highness was very easy to coax when Wangfei called him by name.

Unfortunately, only Wangfei could use it.

Xiao Jingyuan reached for Shen Yuheng’s hand. Since their wedding night, he had become increasingly natural about small touches. He did not cross boundaries recklessly, but if they sat together, he liked holding Shen Yuheng’s fingers, touching his sleeve, or standing close enough that their shadows overlapped.

Possessive, but careful. Like a wolf that had learned not to startle the moon.

Shen Yuheng allowed him to hold his hand.

“The palace has sent word,” Xiao Jingyuan said. “Imperial household greetings are set for tomorrow.”

Shen Yuheng’s expression remained steady. The first formal greeting after marriage could not be avoided. He would enter the palace as the seventh prince’s principal spouse to greet the emperor, the empress, the senior consorts, and other members of the imperial household. He would also meet the wives, side spouses, and concubines of the other princes.

The imperial household was not only the emperor’s harem. Every prince had his own inner courtyard, and every inner courtyard had rank, favor, alliances, grievances, children, servants, and old debts. The emperor’s concubines could influence their sons, the princes’ wives could pull their natal families into factional disputes, and even an unfavored concubine could become a thread leading to another household’s secrets.

A palace greeting was never just tea. It was a battlefield with silk sleeves.

“I know,” Shen Yuheng said.

Xiao Jingyuan looked at him for a moment. “I will enter with you.”

“That is natural.”

“I will also remain nearby.”

Shen Yuheng’s gaze held faint amusement. “Does Your Highness fear I will be bullied?”

“I fear someone will try,” Xiao Jingyuan said.

Shen Yuheng squeezed his fingers lightly. “Then let them try.”

The next morning, Zichen Palace opened its side gates for the seventh prince and his new spouse.

Shen Yuheng wore a formal robe of deep red and white, restrained enough for post-wedding palace greetings but dignified enough to match his title. His hair was bound with a jade crown from the betrothal gifts, its dark snow-jade sheen echoing the pendant at Xiao Jingyuan’s waist. The vivid color at his collar made his skin look almost translucent beneath the morning light.

When he descended from the carriage, several palace servants forgot to lower their eyes.

Xiao Jingyuan noticed. His expression remained dignified, but his hand moved naturally to Shen Yuheng’s waist to steady him. The movement lasted only a moment, proper enough to be called care and intimate enough to be called warning.

Shen Yuheng looked up at him. “Jingyuan.”

“Yes?”

“Your hand.”

Xiao Jingyuan withdrew it after a breath, very reluctantly.

Shen Yuheng’s lips curved. “You are in the palace.”

“I know.”

“Then look less as though every person with eyes has committed a capital crime.”

Xiao Jingyuan glanced at the palace servants, who immediately lowered their heads. “They stared.”

“I have a face. People will look.”

Xiao Jingyuan was silent for a moment before saying, “That is precisely the problem.”

Shen Yuheng nearly laughed, though before the smile could fully appear, the eunuch leading them forward announced their arrival.

The emperor received them first. Xiao Jingyuan and Shen Yuheng entered the hall together and saluted.

“This son greets Imperial Father.”

“This spouse greets Imperial Father.”

The emperor looked at them for a long moment. Xiao Jingyuan stood tall and solemn, while Shen Yuheng stood beside him, calm and refined, every movement precise. The two were both young, but the air between them was unexpectedly stable. It was not the shallow sweetness of newlyweds trying to display affection, but more like two blades returned to one sheath.

The emperor’s gaze moved to Xiao Jingyuan. “I heard you sent the household accounts to Wangfei before the third morning.”

Xiao Jingyuan answered without shame, “Yes.”

“Afraid he would have nothing to do?”

“No. He manages them better than my steward.”

The chief eunuch lowered his head to hide a smile.

The emperor raised a brow. “And you are proud of this?”

Xiao Jingyuan said, “Yes.”

Shen Yuheng’s lashes lowered slightly.

The emperor almost laughed. Then he looked at Shen Yuheng. “Wangfei, has Seventh troubled you?”

Shen Yuheng bowed lightly. “Your Highness treats this spouse with sincerity. The residence is orderly, and the servants are respectful. There is no trouble.”

Xiao Jingyuan turned to look at him, and the emperor saw that look clearly.

Too pleased. Too visible.

After some formal words, the emperor dismissed the attendants farther back and said to Xiao Jingyuan, “You told me before the wedding that Shen Yuheng would be your principal spouse and that this would not change.”

Xiao Jingyuan’s expression became serious. “Yes.”

“It has been only a few days. Do you still say the same?”

Xiao Jingyuan did not hesitate. “Yes.”

The emperor’s gaze sharpened. “In the future, if a minister offers his daughter? If a border tribe sends a beauty as alliance? If the court says your household is too empty?”

Xiao Jingyuan said evenly, “Then they may keep their daughters, beauties, and opinions.”

The hall fell silent. Even Shen Yuheng turned his eyes toward him.

The emperor looked at his son for a long moment, then asked, “You speak boldly.”

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his head. “This son speaks of his own household.”

“And if your household becomes a matter of court politics?”

“Then this son will handle the politics without filling the inner courtyard.”

The emperor’s fingers tapped once against the armrest.

Xiao Jingyuan continued, “Imperial Father, I have no objection to others keeping large households. But I know my own temperament. If I take people I do not want, I will neglect them. If I allow them to scheme, I will resent them. If they are planted by others, I will guard against them. Such a household will not produce harmony, only waste.”

The emperor did not speak.

Xiao Jingyuan looked at Shen Yuheng, then back at the emperor. “This son already has a principal spouse.”

The sentence was calm, but it landed heavily.

Shen Yuheng’s heart moved once, quietly.

The emperor finally smiled faintly. “Very well. Since you are so determined, remember it yourself. Do not make me listen to complaints one day that Wangfei has become fierce because you broke your word.”

Xiao Jingyuan said, “He may be fierce even if I do not break my word.”

The emperor paused. Shen Yuheng lowered his eyes, while the chief eunuch’s shoulders trembled almost invisibly.

Then the emperor burst into laughter. “You have learned humor after marriage?”

Xiao Jingyuan answered seriously, “This son is speaking truth.”

Shen Yuheng finally could not help glancing at him. Xiao Jingyuan met his gaze, eyes faintly warm.

The emperor waved them away. “Go greet the empress. Let her see this Wangfei who has made my seventh son unwilling to accept even theoretical concubines.”

The empress received them in Fengyi Palace.

Empress Ji sat beneath a carved phoenix screen, dressed in deep blue court robes embroidered with gold thread. She was not the emperor’s first wife in youth, but she had sat in the empress’s seat for many years. Her beauty had settled into authority, and her gaze was cool and steady.

Beside her were several senior consorts of the emperor’s harem. Consort De, mother of the third prince, looked gentle but had sharp eyes. Consort Shu, whose daughter had married into a powerful clan, smiled with practiced warmth. Two younger consorts sat farther down, listening more than speaking.

Beyond them sat several princes’ principal wives, side spouses, and favored concubines. The Crown Prince’s household had also sent representatives. Crown Prince Consort Liu sat in the highest seat among the younger generation, dignified and reserved. Bai Ruoyao, Bai Liangdi, sat slightly behind her, quiet and pale, her hands folded neatly.

When Shen Yuheng entered, the women and gers of the imperial household all looked over. Even those prepared by rumors were still caught off guard.

The beauty before them was too calm.