At the heart of the main palace, in the inner chamber of the suite of rooms given to her upon her wedding, a young woman sat on the large and opulent bed at its center.
Though outwardly composed, she was as nervous as she’d always been whenever she was waiting for her husband to join her.
It had been many months since the last time the two of them had been alone together. But even before then, there had been little cause for her to quickly get used to her new role.
At the sound of the sliding door opening, she fought back the fear that was making her body stiffen in order to lower her head onto the mattress in a respectful bow.
“Welcome, my lord,” she said, her soft voice barely louder than a whisper.
Past the curtains of sheerest silk enclosing the bed frame, Qing Xue looked at the s
