MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!

Xia Lin nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. When it was being prepared, he specifically asked for it to be simple. He thought you wouldn’t be accustomed to all the riches and extravagance that consorts are traditionally surrounded by. He wanted a place that would suit you, something that wouldn’t overwhelm you."

Hua Jing blinked in surprise, her gaze shifting around the room once more. "He really said that?"

"He did," Xia Lin confirmed, her smile softening. "And I think he did quite well. Do you like it, young lady?"

Hua Jing hesitated for a moment, taking in the understated elegance of the space. It was so in tune with her preferences that it left her slightly stunned. In her original world, she had always gravitated toward simplicity. Even though her job had often placed her in elaborate settings, her personal tastes leaned toward the minimal.

"It’s perfect," Hua Jing finally said, her voice quiet.

A warmth spread through her chest at the thought of Zhao Yan taking the time to create a place that would make her feel comfortable. It wasn’t something she had expected from him, and the effort behind it touched her in a way she hadn’t anticipated. For a moment, she wondered what the Zhao Yan of this world truly thought of her.

"This way, my lady," Xia Lin interrupted her thoughts, motioning toward another door. "I’ll show you your bedroom."

Hua Jing followed her through a short hallway until they reached a spacious room at the end. The bedroom was just as tastefully decorated as the rest of the house. The bed was large, draped with soft white linens and accented with embroidered pillows. A small vanity stood by the window, and a wardrobe was tucked neatly into the corner.

"This will be your bedroom," Xia Lin said cheerfully. "It’s where you’ll sleep, of course, and also where you and the prince will stay together when it’s his turn to visit."

Hua Jing stopped in her tracks and stared at Xia Lin as if she’d grown a second head. "Wait, sleep together?" she blurted out, her voice louder than she intended.

Xia Lin turned back to her, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Well, yes. You are his wife, after all."

Hua Jing blinked, her mind racing. "But—"

"It’s tradition," Xia Lin continued, cutting her off. "The prince has designated times to visit his consorts. When it’s your turn, this is where you’ll both stay."

Hua Jing’s eyes bulged as she processed Xia Lin’s words. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she finally blurted, "Stupid palace rules! Who in the world even came up with such a stupid rule?"

Xia Lin blinked at her, tilting her head slightly as though considering the question. "When we were born, it was already that way," she said matter-of-factly.

Hua Jing let out an exasperated huff and glanced around the room, her eyes landing on a vase perched delicately on a side table. For a fleeting moment, she seriously considered grabbing it and hurling it across the room to vent her frustration. But when her gaze lingered, she noticed the faint glimmer of gold on its surface. Her anger dissipated almost instantly as she gingerly touched the vase, as if afraid of offending its beauty. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"The rules are still stupid," she muttered under her breath, her fingers brushing the vase lovingly.

Xia Lin watched her with an amused expression, but before she could comment, Hua Jing suddenly turned toward her. "Wait, so each consort gets a specific night? Or how does it work? There are seven of us, right?"

Xia Lin blinked again, taking a moment to formulate her answer. "Most of the time, yes. But it really depends. The prince might spend more time with his favorite consort." She paused and lowered her voice conspiratorially. "There are some consorts who aren’t visited at all."

Hua Jing blinked in surprise, her mind racing. The gears in her head began turning as a rough idea took shape. What if I make the prince so disgusted with me that he won’t ever want to visit? She didn’t voice the thought aloud—after all, Xia Lin was still standing right there—but the idea brought a sly smile to her lips.

Xia Lin’s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze locking onto Hua Jing’s expression. "I know what you’re thinking," she said with a knowing smile.

Hua Jing froze, her heart skipping a beat. "What am I thinking?" she asked quickly, trying to mask her nervousness with a touch of excitement.

Xia Lin’s smile grew brighter as she clapped her hands together. "You can’t wait for the prince to come visit you in this place! You’re imagining how lovely it’ll be to welcome him here!"

Hua Jing’s jaw dropped, her expression oscillating between disbelief and outrage. "What?!"

she all but shouted, staring at Xia Lin as though the girl had just sprouted horns.

Xia Lin, entirely oblivious to Hua Jing’s true feelings, continued to beam. "It’s written all over your face, young lady. You’re practically glowing at the thought! It’s only natural to be excited. This is your home now, and you’re his wife!"

Hua Jing’s hand twitched toward the vase again, but she held herself back. Instead, she took a deep breath and glared at Xia Lin, her voice low and dangerous. "I’m glowing because I’m so mad I might explode."

Xia Lin giggled, clearly not taking her seriously. "You’re so funny, young lady. Don’t worry, I’ll help you get everything ready for his visit. The prince will love it here!"

Hua Jing pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath, "Unbelievable. You’re unbelievable." She shot Xia Lin another glare. "Why would I be excited about that? What’s there to look forward to?"

Xia Lin tilted her head again, looking genuinely puzzled. "Why wouldn’t you be excited? He’s the prince. He designed this place for you. And he’s your husband. Shouldn’t you want to spend time with him?"

Hua Jing groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "You don’t understand!"