When the edict arrived, my parents were both delighted and worried.

　　They were delighted because it was the first time that such an honor, being the concubine of the crown prince, had been bestowed upon a daughter of a Han official.

　　This meant that the late emperor valued the Cui family.

　　They were worried because I had been educated to become the head of a prominent household, and now I had to become a concubine serving someone with my body.

　　Firstly, I could only be considered as an average beauty.

　　At best, I could be described as elegant, but nowhere near the standards of a beautiful concubine.

　　Secondly, it would have been an honor if I were the concubine of the emperor, but I was just a concubine of the crown prince.

　　It's not that I looked down on Xuanqi.

　　He was the son of the late emperor and the empress dowager, and as the eldest son, even though he was only fifteen years old, he already had a good reputation among the imperial tutor and the prominent ministers.

　　If he had been born in a Han dynasty, he would have been an impeccable heir to the throne.

　　However, the Manchu dynasty was different.

　　Before they entered the Central Plains, they followed the tradition of the youngest son inheriting the throne.

　　Although the founding emperor transmitted the throne to his eldest son in accordance with Confucian traditions and the customs of the Central Plains in order to win over the hearts of the people and stabilize the court, he also left behind a younger son with remarkable military achievements - the parallel King Mingche.

　　There can be no two suns in the sky, no two sovereigns in the nation.

　　The title of the parallel king made the late emperor restless on the dragon throne.

　　The late emperor's throne was precarious, and Xuanqi, as the crown prince, was also fearful.

　　When I learned about the marriage arrangement, I was quite dazed.

　　Unexpectedly, my parents, who rarely showed any surprises, were even more shocked.

　　No one asked for my opinion, but even if they did, being given in marriage by imperial favor was a great honor.

　　I could only feel grateful and had no other response.

　　Preparing for the wedding in silence, I married Xuanqi, who was bestowed the title of the Prince of An, one year later.

　　I was already eighteen years old at the time, which was not considered young for the Manchu people who were accustomed to early marriages.

　　Moreover, I was two years older than him, so I thought he might not be satisfied with me.

　　I prepared myself to endure the wedding night.

　　When the veil was lifted, I saw my husband for the first time.

　　Xuanqi, at the age of sixteen, had a tall and straight posture, like a pine tree, with sparkling eyes and an extraordinary appearance.

　　I couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

　　With such beauty, was I really serving him with my body, or was he serving me with his? Although he was at the age of passion, he was restrained and courteous in bed, treating me gently.

　　When the clouds cleared and the rain stopped, I vaguely thought that it was quite different from what books described.

　　It wasn't very painful and had some interest to it.

　　I had been taught since childhood to handle affairs in the palace, but now I had become a concubine who had to serve my lord in smaller matters.

　　I felt somewhat lost.

　　Fortunately, Xuanqi didn't have a legal wife, so temporarily taking charge of the household affairs was not considered overstepping.

　　Xuanqi also welcomed it and gave me great convenience.

　　As for how to become a legitimate wife, I was familiar with that matter and quickly took on the role.

　　Initially, life after marriage was quite good.

　　While Xuanqi accompanied the late emperor to learn about governance, I became a virtuous concubine at home, no, a virtuous wife.

　　I took care of his three meals a day and his wardrobe throughout the seasons.

　　When idle, embroider a sachet to express your thoughts.

　　Let's put aside the fact that I'm just a concubine and talk about how well we get along in our daily lives.

　　During the hot summer, it's unbearable.

　　Xuanqi has been unable to sleep well and has been having many dreams due to the extreme heat.

　　I asked the imperial physician, and he replied that lotus seeds and lily from lotus seeds and lily could be used in heart sutras.

　　They have a slightly cool nature and can clear the mind and calm the soul.

　　Upon hearing this, I personally brought honeysuckle to Pinghu in the southern capital and picked many lotus pods.

　　Smiling and joking with honeysuckle, we entered the house, ready to peel the lotus seeds ourselves and make a lotus seed and lily soup for dinner to try food therapy.

　　As soon as we entered the main courtyard, I saw Xuanqi holding a book and flipping through it on the beauty's bed.

　　I was slightly surprised, put away my excessive smile, and asked him while washing my hands, "Your Highness, why did you return home so early today?" "Oh, the heat was unbearable, so the emperor ordered me to return home and rest early," he replied with a strange look, then glanced at me, "Anan, what kind of books do you usually read?" The correct answer had long been engraved in my mind, so I spoke without hesitation, "A woman without talent is virtuous.

　　I usually love reading 'The Virtues of Women' and 'The Woman's Code'." After wiping my hands clean and applying scented balm with gardenia scent, I walked towards him slowly.

　　In