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

Xia Lin guided Hua Jing through the dimly lit corridor, her hand lightly holding Hua Jing's arm. The red silk veil covering Hua Jing's face was thick and heavy, the color so vivid it felt almost blinding, even through the fabric. Her dress was equally garish—a deep crimson adorned with intricate golden embroidery that shimmered in the faint light.

"Young Madam," Xia Lin began cautiously, "please remember—"

"Remember what?" Hua Jing interrupted, her tone light but exasperated.

"Well," Xia Lin stammered, clearly flustered, "to behave properly tonight. His Highness—"

Hua Jing snorted softly. "Behave properly? Since when do I misbehave?"

Hua Jing blinked innocently

Xia Lin blinked, struggling to come up with a reply. "I mean…"

Ever since the young lady had woken up, all she had done was misbehave!

Xia Lin knew this yet she still struggled to say that out loud

"Oh, I know what you mean," Hua Jing said breezily. "You're saying I'm a disaster waiting to happen." She stopped abruptly, pulling her arm free. "But, you know what? I'll manage just fine without the pep talk."

"What?"

"Out," Hua Jing said, pointing dramatically toward the door to the bridal chamber.

Xia Lin froze, her eyes wide. "Young Madam, I'm just trying to—"

She was trying to give Hua Jing some pointers on how she should go about tonight. The young madam had never had a man in her life except for that...

Well, never mind!

Xia Lin did not know anything herself but before she came here, some of the court ladies had given her some pointers.

They had even drawn diagrams!

She wanted to pass Hua Jing the papers outlining the most favorable positions yet she was being thrown out!

Her good intentions were being wasted!

"Out," Hua Jing repeated, a sly smile curling her lips. "Go on, Xia Lin. Don't make me carry you out myself."

She knew what Xia Lin wanted to do but when it came to romantic scenes, Hua Jing was a master!

She had acted in a lot of films with romantic scenes so she did not need any orientation

Xia Lin huffed indignantly, bowing hastily before retreating through the door. "Fine, but you—"

The door clicked shut before she could finish.

Hua Jing exhaled in relief, shaking her head as she yanked the veil off and tossed it onto a nearby chair.

"Finally," she muttered. "I thought she'd never leave."

She needed an uninterrupted time so she could come up with something before the annoying prince arrived!

She could also finally take a look around the room

The room was bathed in a red glow that immediately soured Hua Jing's mood. Red silk draped every surface—the walls, the bed, even the lanterns, which cast an almost oppressive light.

The red was blinding. Hua Jing gazed at the things hatefully, red was the color she hated the most!

"Overkill," Hua Jing muttered, her lips curling in distaste. She turned her gaze to the massive bed in the center, its crimson sheets adorned with golden phoenixes and dragons. Her stomach twisted.

She had seen the phoenix on Zhao Yan's clothes. The dragon though, she did not understand what it meant!

She wasn't nervous. Absolutely not. There was no way this marriage was going to be consummated—over her dead body.

Yet her palms felt uncomfortably clammy, and her heart fluttered strangely.

Why am I nervous? she wondered, frowning. I've been in worse situations than this.

She huffed, brushing the thought aside, and began pacing the room. Her eyes landed on a lacquered table by the wall, covered with an array of ornate containers. Curious, she strode over and picked up a small porcelain cup.

Lifting the lid of one container, she sniffed and immediately recognized the sharp scent of liquor. Without a second thought, she poured herself a cup and downed it in one gulp.

The alcohol burned her throat, making her cough violently. Her eyes watered as the rich, fragrant taste lingered on her tongue.

"Good stuff," she muttered, rasping slightly. She poured another cup, marveling at the craftsmanship of the container. "When I get out of this place, I'm taking some of this with me," she added with a chuckle, before setting the cup down.

The alcohol spread warmth through her chest, easing her nerves and emboldening her. She began inspecting the room again, this time with a mischievous purpose.

The alcohol in her system made her feel very liberated as she looked around the room once more

Her eyes landed on an ornate paperweight, and she picked it up with a thoughtful hum. "Hmm," she mused aloud, turning it over in her hands. "Do you think this could knock him out?"

She did the motion of hitting. 

She squinted at it, then shook her head. "Nope, too light. He'd probably just get annoyed."

Her gaze shifted to a decorative vase. "Now this," she said, picking it up, "might actually do the trick." She chuckled softly, picturing Zhao Yan sprawled on the floor, his mask tilted awkwardly.

The image of his face, unmasked and possibly dazed, made her laugh. "If he's out cold, I could finally see what he's hiding under that ridiculous thing," she muttered. "Bet he's got some embarrassing scar or… I don't know, an extra nose."

The rumors were ridiculous yet at this moment, they made perfect sense!

Her laughter echoed softly in the room as she wandered back to the liquor table. She took another sip of the fragrant brew, her thoughts buzzing with possibilities.

Focus, Hua Jing, she scolded herself. You've got a mission here. Step one: survive. Step two: annoy him to the point of retreat.

She glanced at the bed again, the sight of it sparking a flicker of defiance. If Zhao Yan thought he could control her, he was sorely mistaken. She wasn't just going to survive—she was going to win.

A sudden sound outside the room startled her, making her heart leap into her throat.

Her ears strained as the muffled voice of a guard reached her.

"The prince is here!"