The story begins with a power struggle among nine princes, but the protagonist doesn't vie for

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on your martial arts skills have reached a new level! As for when we will consummate our marriage, Your Highness need not worry about it; I am always at your service."

"However, I've been menstruating these past two days, so it's not very convenient. Once my period is over, I'll be ready to serve Your Highness at any time," Bai Jinyu said calmly.

"That's quite a coincidence. It's alright, a few more days won't make a difference." Although Luo Zhaoheng was a little surprised, he could understand.

"To be honest, Your Highness is really arrogant! You said you would go into seclusion, and it's been almost two months. What about Miss... what about the Princess?"

Now that you've emerged from seclusion and achieved a breakthrough in martial arts, and feel it's "no longer an obstacle," you want to consummate the marriage? So, this matter of consummating the marriage is entirely up to you, whenever you wish?

Jingzhe became more and more agitated as she spoke, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances she had been holding back for her mistress during this time: "You are a prince, a master, and this servant should not say more."

But this servant just can't stand it! Since Her Highness the Princess entered the palace, she has managed everything inside and outside the palace in perfect order, and she has always been very respectful to you, without ever making a mistake.

And you? You secluded yourself on your wedding night, leaving the Empress alone in her room. Have you ever thought about how the Empress felt hearing all those gossips outside?

Now, with just a "It's alright," you want the Empress... you want the Empress... She seemed to realize that the following words were too blunt, and paused for a moment, but with her neck stiff and her eyes fixed on Luo Zhaoheng, the meaning couldn't be clearer.

"Shut up! Jingzhe, get out of here!" Bai Jinyu snapped.

Luo Zhaoheng was also stunned by the sudden outburst of Jingzhe.

Are all the maids and servants who come with you as part of a dowry this brave now? Who gave you the courage to speak to a prince like that? Is it Fish Leong?

This kind of bad trend must be stopped, otherwise, in the Prince's mansion, even a maid or servant girl would dare to slam the table, and wouldn't that turn the world upside down?

"I have neglected to discipline you, Your Highness, please forgive me!" Bai Jinyu said to Luo Zhaoheng.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I am not the kind of person to be petty. I will not punish Jingzhe for such a small matter," Luo Zhaoheng said.

"On behalf of Jingzhe, I thank Your Highness," Bai Jinyu said again.

"It's nothing. By the way, Your Highness, I've heard that before a noblewoman from the royal family gets married, she'll be given a maidservant to 'test out' the new groom. Is that true?"

Luo Zhaoheng's topic shift was extremely abrupt, yet it carried a casual, teasing tone, as if it were just a casual remark. However, the content was like a thunderclap, instantly pushing the slightly eased atmosphere in an even more bizarre direction.

"Before a royal or noblewoman marries, her maids will conduct a trial marriage with her fiancé"—this is indeed an unwritten but tacitly understood rule among certain high-ranking families, especially the royal family or top noble families.

The purpose, ostensibly, was to allow the maids to familiarize themselves with the future son-in-law's habits and physical condition in advance, and even teach him some matters of domestic life, so as to ensure that the young lady could adapt more quickly after marriage and reduce friction.

On a deeper level, it's also a way of assessing the son-in-law.

This kind of thing is extremely private and is usually only mentioned among the closest relatives or confidants. It would never be brought up in public, especially not in front of the person involved and their "trial marriage partner".

Therefore, when Luo Zhaoheng asked that question with a smile, Jingzhe was completely dumbfounded. Her eyes, which always carried a heroic and stubborn air, were now wide open, her mouth slightly agape, her mind blank, with only a few words frantically flashing across her screen:

"No way? No way? No way?!"

"What...what does Luo Zhaoheng mean?! Could it be that he wants to...?!" Jingzhe felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

She instinctively gripped the hilt of the sword at her waist, then released it as if electrocuted, completely losing her usual agility and leaving only a bewildered and terrified expression, as if asking, "Who am I? Where am I? What am I listening to?"

Bai Jinyu was taken aback by Luo Zhaoheng's sudden question. A hint of surprise flashed in her cool eyes, which quickly turned into a deep scrutiny.

She glanced at Jingzhe, who was now standing like a wooden stake with a face full of resistance and confusion. She was both annoyed and amused. This girl was so reckless just now, but now she knows fear?

Then, she looked at Luo Zhaoheng again, trying to discern his true intentions from his smiling face. Was he serious? Or was he simply retaliating against Jingzhe for her earlier defiance, deliberately teasing her? Or... was there some deeper meaning?

Bai Jinyu hesitated for a moment, then nodded, maintaining his composure, his voice revealing little emotion: "Your Highness, there is indeed such an unwritten rule."

Then, she subtly changed the subject, her cool eyes fixed on Luo Zhaoheng, her questioning tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible inquiry: "What? Your Highness... also wants to try marriage?"

She threw the question back at Luo Zhaoheng, wanting to see how he would respond.

Luo Zhaoheng seemed to have been waiting for her to ask this question. His smile deepened, but his eyes appeared exceptionally "frank," even carrying a perfectly measured hint of "embarrassment" and "difficulty." He touched his nose and said "sincerely":

"This... Your Highness, you may not know this. I am devoted to martial arts and have been single-minded in this matter of men and women. In fact, I have never experienced anything about this and have many questions." The shameless Luo Zhaoheng deliberately emphasized the words "never experienced anything about this and have many questions."

"I'm afraid..." He looked at Bai Jinyu with a "sincere" gaze, "If I am clumsy and awkward when I consummate my marriage with the princess, and offend her or displease her, then that would be my fault."

Therefore, I thought, if such a rule really exists, perhaps... I could familiarize myself with it beforehand?

Luo Zhaoheng's words sounded high-sounding and reasonable, even positioning himself as a "considerate" person who was "thinking of his wife" and "afraid of not performing well."

With his handsome face and "innocent" expression, it's almost impossible to criticize him.

However, to the ears of Jingzhe, this was nothing short of a bolt from the blue!

"Familiar with me?! How can I be familiar with you?! Familiar with whom?! Do you really mean you have to... with me?!"

Jingzhe felt like she was about to faint. Her face was so hot that she could fry an egg on it. She didn't know where to put her hands and feet. She wished she could use her light-footed skills to escape the scene immediately, or simply dig a hole and crawl into it.

She looked at her young mistress pleadingly, her eyes screaming, "Miss, help! I don't want to!"

"Since Your Highness has a need, let Jingzhe serve you in bed first, as a trial marriage."

Bai Jinyu spoke so naturally, as if he were arranging a routine task, rather than a matter of life and death concerning the purity of his personal maid.

Then, she turned to Jingzhe, who was completely petrified and mentally blank, and gave a gentle but unquestionable order:

"Jingzhe, since His Highness has this intention, you must serve him well and not be negligent in the slightest."

"boom--!"

Jingzhe felt as if ten thousand bronze bells were ringing simultaneously in her mind, shaking her to her core, her ears ringing, and her vision going black. "Miss... what did Miss say? She wants her... to serve the Prince? A trial marriage? To serve the Prince well?"

"Miss! This kind of trial marriage...no, shouldn't it be Xia He, a maidservant, who does it? I'm not suitable, am I?"

In her panic, Jingzhe didn't care about anything else and hurriedly sold out Bai Jinyu's other maid.

Bai Jinyu listened quietly to Jingzhe finish speaking, her cool face remaining expressionless. She merely glanced at her indifferently, a look that instantly made Jingzhe feel that all her little thoughts had been laid bare.

"Xia He has been sent to the estate outside the city to check the accounts, and she won't be back for a while." Bai Jingyu's voice was calm and even, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact. "Right now, you're the only suitable person in the manor. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you."