They were in charge of being beautiful, and she was in charge of taking the hits.

Sima Lingchuan felt a little embarrassed by Wu Ziyan's gaze and turned his head away to avoid meeting her eyes.

Wu Ziyan was also embarrassed, but when she thought that this was a game, she became bolder and directly reached out and turned his head to look at her.

"Ziyan, what are you doing!" Sima Lingchuan's slightly panicked tone amused Wu Ziyan. What could she possibly be doing?

"Lingchuan, you are the one I married with great ceremony. What else can you do? Just do what you did before, and do it now!" Although she herself had no experience, all she wanted to do was be with him, love each other, and deepen their relationship.

Upon hearing Wu Ziyan's words, Sima Lingchuan suddenly pushed her away, stood up, took two steps back, and looked at her with disgust: "Is Your Highness Ziyan trying to play tricks on me again?"

This time, Wu Ziyan was somewhat bewildered, wondering why her attitude towards her had changed so drastically.

Suddenly, some images flashed through her mind, seemingly from previous save files. She treated Sima Lingchuan particularly badly, summoning him to bed several times to give him hope, but in the end, it was nothing more than humiliation.

She stood up, pulled him over, and sat back down on the edge of the bed. Tears welled up in Sima Lingchuan's eyes.

Wu Ziyan patted him on the back, and Sima Lingchuan finally broke down, crying as he recounted what had happened back then: "Ziyan, Ziyan, you are so cruel! If you wanted to toy with me, you didn't have to force yourself. You hated me so much before, but today you treat me like this, giving me hope!"

His words made the fragmented images in Wu Ziyan's mind even clearer, something that would be unbearable for anyone.

Sima Lingchuan tearfully recounted her story, while Wu Ziyan inwardly cursed, "My God, was I even human before? If it were me, I would have quit long ago!" For the past three years since Sima Lingchuan married into the family, she had endured everyone's ridicule and sarcasm alone, including her own!

"Alright, I'm sorry, Lingchuan, it's my fault, I'm so sorry!" Wu Ziyan had no other way to comfort him, she just kept stroking Sima Lingchuan's back with her palm to make him feel less uncomfortable.

Hearing Wu Ziyan say such things, he looked up and asked, "Ziyan, are you serious?" Sima Lingchuan gradually stopped crying.

"Then are you willing to forgive me?" She stared into Sima Linchuan's eyes and asked him very solemnly.

"Your Highness Ziyan, what are you saying? Forgive me or not. I should be the one asking for your forgiveness. I lost my composure tonight." As he spoke, Sima Lingchuan actually tried to kneel down again, but Wu Ziyan grabbed him.

"I owed you before, but I will never owe you anything in the future! And you don't need to use those respectful titles for me anymore, understand?" Wu Ziyan felt that Sima Lingchuan was really pitiful. Such a small favor was enough to open his heart.

Hearing Wu Ziyan's words, Sima Lingchuan shed tears again. After holding back for so long, he finally said what he wanted to say. He thought he would be punished, but he didn't expect Wu Ziyan to be a completely different person, or rather, he really was a completely different person.

And so, the two fell silent for a moment. Wu Ziyan wanted to say something to liven up the atmosphere, but when he took Sima Lingchuan's hand, Sima Lingchuan subconsciously pulled his hand back.

Seeing the mixture of shyness and inexplicable anger in Sima Lingchuan's eyes, she forcefully grabbed his hand. Unexpectedly, a single red dot of cinnabar on his snow-white arm beneath his sleeve was exceptionally dazzling.

It turned out that nothing had really happened. She looked at her arm and saw nothing there. Thinking back to how she had been spending all her time with the officials and servants, she realized she was no good. She clicked her tongue. Sima Lingchuan pulled his hand away and hid it. Even his ears turned red with embarrassment.

Wu Ziyan smiled knowingly, hooked her hand under Sima Lingchuan's chin, and licked her lips. Only then did she lean closer to take a closer look at her husband. He was indeed handsome, with a perfect jawline that was clearly defined. In reality, who wouldn't love him?

The candlelight was dim, and the atmosphere was tense. Now that things had reached this point, Wu Ziyan had no choice but to move on to the next step, but this was actually her first time doing this too! Helplessly, she had to pretend to be very mature.

Knock, knock, knock! The knocking broke the silence. Wu Ziyan hurriedly withdrew her hand and asked, "Who is it?"

"Master, it's me, Xiaoyun'er. My husband hasn't taken the contraceptive medicine yet, so I've brought it over!" His voice was very calm, as if he was already used to this kind of work.

Wu Ziyan straightened his clothes and called out, "Come in!"

Mo Baiyun, holding the contraceptive medicine, squinted her eyes, still wearing that smiling expression.

Sima Lingchuan was looking at her with bright eyes. She stood up and walked towards Mo Baiyun, whispering, "Prepare some contraceptive medicine for me."

“Master, this… is against the rules.” Mo Baiyun’s eyes swept over Sima Lingchuan; this was something that had never happened before.

"Who is the master!" Wu Ziyan knew that at this moment, he had to speak in a commanding tone.

"Yes." Mo Baiyun withdrew to prepare contraceptive medicine for Wu Ziyan, but as he went to get the medicine, he glanced back at Wu Ziyan. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but the seemingly incompetent Marquis Qingxian had actually been ordering him around. How interesting!

Wu Ziyan drank the contraceptive medicine, turned around and closed the door. She sat down next to Sima Lingchuan, who spoke first: "Contraceptive medicine, this is routine, just have Xiaoyun bring it." His eyes were incredibly gentle, and Wu Ziyan felt as if she were about to be intoxicated by them.

He then mentally berated the original save file again: "Why is the affection level zero? Wait! Zero? Then why isn't he resisting?"

She increased his favorability rating, but it only reached two percent. Wouldn't he feel uncomfortable if they slept together?

The atmosphere had been perfectly set, but Wu Ziyan gave up halfway through, deciding not to move things too fast. Firstly, she hadn't built up enough goodwill, and secondly, she wasn't ready herself.

Then she patted his shoulder and said, "You're the husband, you don't need that!" giving him a heartwarming response.

This domineering response did indeed relax Sima Lingchuan a lot, and his last line of defense collapsed. Wu Ziyan blinked, but was very flustered inside. She said nervously, "Lingchuan, why don't we go to sleep?"

Sima Linchuan also thought that the thing he had been looking forward to for several years would come to pass, but he did not expect Wu Ziyan to end it so hastily. His heart sank.

Since they've already started, why not continue until the very end?

Wu Ziyan thought that this action would increase Sima Lingchuan's favorability, but when she opened the progress bar, it had dropped to zero percent again!

Good grief, looks like I'm definitely going to have to sleep in tonight!

He thought nothing had happened, but no sooner had Sima Lingchuan lain down than Wu Ziyan rolled over and climbed on top of him.

Sima Lingchuan didn't expect all of this to happen so suddenly; he had just said he was going to sleep.

"Ziyan, you, what are you doing..."

"Ah, I, I, I like being on top." This made her, a lifelong single, feel awkward.

Sima Lingchuan bit his lip, his eyes glistening. Before today, they had always lived in peace, and he had always thought that he would be a stay-at-home husband for the rest of his life.

The bed curtains were drawn, the candles were extinguished, and only the two of them were breathing. Mo Baiyun heard all of this.

In the darkness, several figures whizzed across the rooftops, flying towards a place in the city where the lights would never go out.

The Empress was reviewing memorials, and a person was kneeling below, reporting on some matters. Suddenly, the memorial closed: "Owl, are you saying that Ziyan has suddenly changed his personality?"

"Yes." Mo Baiyun narrowed her eyes into slits.

"Keep an eye on her. Perhaps it's just a passing fancy. Let her do what she wants, but one thing is certain: she can't have any children of the Sima family!" The Empress gently placed the pen on the pen holder and rubbed her temples.

"Yes!"

Mo Baiyun disappeared into the night. The Empress picked up a new memorial, read it for a while, and then wrote an imperial edict.

The next morning, Wu Ziyan got up early and looked at the sleeping Sima Lingchuan. She had exhausted her back last night, and thinking about it, the system's settings were really a bit abnormal.

As she washed up and left the room, Mo Baiyun was already waiting outside. Seeing that she was alone, he teased, "Master, is your husband still not up?"

"How could a kid like you understand how intense the battle was last night? Let him rest." Wu Ziyan patted his back, surprised that these feelings were so real.

"Then you must take care of your health, Master, and I'm not a child anymore." His narrowed eyes revealed a hint of maturity.

Wu Ziyan laughed and flicked Mo Baiyun on the forehead. Little did she know that Mo Baiyun still harbored other feelings for her.

After having breakfast, Wu Ziyan strolled around the Marquis's residence. Although it was her home, she wasn't very familiar with it yet.

Mo Baiyun was also secretly observing Wu Ziyan's every move and found that she was really like a different person. She was not even familiar with her own home. She looked around and touched things, and sometimes the light in her eyes was like that of someone who had never seen the world.

Afterwards, Wu Ziyan went to her private treasury, but there was really nothing good there. It seems she was quite poor before, and these officials must have squandered it all!

Meanwhile, Sima Lingchuan didn't wake up until noon. Seeing that Wu Ziyan was no longer by his side, he recalled the events of the night and instantly blushed. Then, he felt aches all over his body. This wasn't a dream; it was real.

He summoned his servant, washed up, and when he saw that it was already bright outside, he asked what time it was. The servant told him that it was noon. He hurriedly went out of his room and bumped into Mo Baiyun as soon as he stepped out.

"Master Sima, did you rest well? My master sent me to check on you." As he spoke, he moved closer to Sima Lingchuan and whispered, "Judging from your appearance, you must have been exhausted last night."

"Little Yun'er! Why are you teasing me? I overslept today and should be punished. There are still many things to take care of, and I didn't talk to Ziyan about the officials yesterday!" Sima Lingchuan really acted like a master of his household, thinking about many miscellaneous matters in the mansion.

"Master is waiting for you in the main hall." Mo Baiyun still had that same smiling expression.

Sima Lingchuan entered the hall, flanked by court officials and attendants. In the center were displayed bolts of cloth, jewelry, and ornaments. The eyes of the court officials, who had no official titles, gleamed. They had never seen so many fine things before.

Sima Lingchuan glanced at Wu Ziyan, who stood up and took his hand, saying, "Pick whatever you like. These things are usually kept in the storeroom; why don't you ever take them out to use?"

"Ziyan, I... I think I'm fine as I am now. I'll give these to my younger brothers." He said these words from the bottom of his heart. Perhaps it was the environment he grew up in that made him uncomfortable wearing these gold beads.

"You don't like it?" Wu Ziyan wanted to quickly raise the favorability rating to the maximum. She secretly glanced at the favorability rating and found that after a night of nurturing, it had reached seven percent.

"No, no, no, it's just that I am the master of the house, managing all affairs. Even if we are royalty, we must be diligent and thrifty and not indulge in extravagance!" Sima Lingchuan quickly knelt down to express his gratitude, but Wu Ziyan was really not used to it and helped him up.

Upon hearing this, the officials all bit their handkerchiefs and stamped their feet. They wanted it but couldn't get it, and he, on the other hand, wouldn't even take it when it was offered.

At this point, some servants began to whine, "Your Highness, I want a new set of clothes!"

Hearing the man's coquettish voice, she felt like spitting blood: "Do you always treat your husbands like this?" She smiled, but her eyes flashed with cold light.

"No, no, Master Sima, I..." The young official still tried to get Sima Lingchuan to plead for him.

"These are all gifts from His Highness to Master Sima. Quickly send them to Master Sima's residence," Mo Baiyun said hastily, showing his keen observation.

Wu Ziyan waved her hand to dismiss them, but a few officials still tried to flatter her as before. She had no interest in other men now, so she had Mo Baiyun drag them all away, leaving only Sima Lingchuan. The two of them sat silently in the hall.

Sima Lingchuan didn't dare to look Wu Ziyan in the eye, because seeing her face would remind him of those embarrassing things. Wu Ziyan was also worried about how to break the awkward atmosphere.

Just then, a female official from the palace arrived and shouted as she entered, "The imperial edict has arrived!"

Upon hearing the sound, Wu Ziyan and Sima Lingchuan hurriedly went out to greet them, kneeling to receive the imperial decree. The female official said, "The Marquis of Qingxian has been living in the Marquis's residence for a long time and has not entered the palace for a long time. Tomorrow, he will bring his husband, the Marquis Sima, to the palace for a family banquet."

Wu Ziyan stood up and, mimicking what he saw on TV, slipped some silver to the female official: "My lord, please buy some tea and snacks."

The lady-in-waiting was quite taken with it, and as she weighed the amount of silver, she smiled and said, "Fourth Prince, I dare not accept such a title. Tomorrow is a family banquet, and the other princes are all here, so I'm preparing gifts."

Wu Ziyan nodded in understanding.

Unexpectedly, the storyline is about to begin so soon. Wu Ziyan was so anxious that she was scratching her head and biting her nails. Sima Lingchuan, holding the imperial edict, asked Wu Ziyan, "Ziyan, you used to be very happy to be summoned by the Empress. What's wrong this time?"

"It's alright, go to the storeroom and pick out a few gifts." Of course she wasn't happy, because she wasn't the same person she used to be. Who knew how she had dealt with this whole family before?

"Okay." Sima Lingchuan replied very gently, without asking any further questions, and then went to the storeroom to choose a gift.

Wu Ziyan returned to the main hall alone and sat down to analyze the situation. He was summoned to dinner, a family banquet? It wasn't that simple. This Marquis of Qingxian had just shared a room with Sima Lingchuan, and now he was being summoned. What a coincidence!

Looking at Sima Lingchuan's detailed page, his mother was the prime minister, which means what? Political infighting. So why deliberately gather several princesses together? To check each other's strength and understand each other's power. But she was a truly idle princess, she didn't care about anything, she had no money or power. I really don't understand what the empress was planning.

Are they afraid she has a child with the Sima family? But isn't she a useless woman? Why are they so wary of her?

Wu Ziyan sighed, and suddenly a system notification popped up: "The palace entry plot has been triggered ahead of schedule, and you have obtained the item - Glazed Lamp."

Clicking to claim the gift revealed a crystal goblet, completely transparent and iridescent. The system remained silent when asked questions. Wu Ziyan carefully examined the goblet. [Is this system giving me a gift because my inventory is too poor?]

She then nodded; it was indeed a good way to curry favor with the Queen.

The next day, Wu Ziyan brought Sima Lingchuan into the palace. Both of them had their own thoughts; Wu Ziyan was mostly uneasy, while Sima Lingchuan was puzzled.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, they disembarked from the carriage and underwent the routine inspection. They happened to run into Prime Minister Sima, who was coming out of the palace. Upon seeing him, Sima Lingchuan called out, "Mother."

Hearing the call, she looked over, her cold eyes devoid of any of the tenderness a mother would show her son. She simply replied coldly, "Qingxian Hou, Qingxian Hou Husband!" Her tone was extremely sarcastic. Then she bowed and turned to leave.

Seeing Sima Zongcheng's arrogant demeanor, Wu Ziyan felt a surge of anger. Was this really how her mother-in-law acted? It was simply too annoying: "Prime Minister Sima, what great authority you have! Even my mother, the Empress, would have to be wary of you."

Wu Ziyan has really put a huge accusation on her head.

Sima Zongcheng narrowed his eyes. How come Wu Ziyan is like a different person? Before, she was always obsequious to her, but this person in front of her actually dared to talk back to her like that!

"It's just that there are still matters to attend to at home, which is why it was a bit rushed." But after all, she is a member of the royal family, and he couldn't afford to break ties with her.

“My dear mother-in-law, Lingchuan and I were in a hurry today, and it has been a long time since we visited your residence. This is not proper etiquette. How about this, why don’t you come to the palace with me again? The Empress said that today is a family banquet!” Wu Ziyan’s words were barbed.

"I dare not! Farewell, Lord Qingxian, Lord Qingxian's husband." Sima Zongcheng was so angry that he could not refute.

"Take care, I won't see you off!" Wu Ziyan smiled as he looked at Sima Zongcheng, his eyes seemingly full of provocation.

During this time, Sima Lingchuan did not say another word. His mother had always been indifferent to him, but was better to his second brother. Today, hearing Wu Ziyan say this, he felt relieved. She actually defended him.

"Ziyan, hurry up and get in the carriage, don't be late for the banquet."

Sitting in the carriage, Wu Ziyan looked at Sima Linchuan's gloomy expression and asked, "Lingchuan, did you ever hate your mother?"

"I dare not, I cannot. You have already shown me the greatest kindness by giving me life and raising me." Sima Lingchuan's eyes were empty, and his voice was as cold as ice. It seemed that his heart had long since turned cold.

Wu Ziyan smiled and said nothing more, simply placing her hand on Sima Lingchuan's hand to reassure him. But in her heart, she was calculating that this Sima Zongcheng was probably not a good person.