Chapter 661: Female Sovereign’s Consort Selection 18

Seeing his flustered refusal, Tang Wan only smiled, her expression soft but unwavering.

“Tongtong, there’s no need to be shy,” she said gently. “You’ll have to get used to this sooner or later. Now, be good—open your mouth.”

Lan Xintong hesitated.

For a moment, embarrassment battled against something warmer in his chest. In the end, the quiet sweetness of her care won.

Slowly, he opened his mouth.

The bird’s nest was light and delicate, melting almost instantly on his tongue. It wasn’t particularly sweet—but for some reason, it tasted sweeter than anything he had ever eaten.

Perhaps…

Because it was fed to him by her.

Tang Wan continued feeding him spoonful by spoonful, her movements unhurried and natural, as if this were the most ordinary thing in the world.

“I’ve already sent word to Mother Emperor and Father Emperor,” she said casually as she worked. “We won’t be going to pay our respects today. We’ll visit the palace tomorrow instead. So you can take your time and eat.”

Hearing this, Lan Xintong couldn’t help but look at her, his eyes filled with quiet gratitude.

“Thank you, my wife,” he said softly.

Tang Wan paused, then gave him a slightly amused look.

“What are you thanking me for?” she asked.

She set the bowl aside briefly, her tone turning a little more serious.

“You have a bad habit,” she continued. “We’re already husband and wife. Why do you keep thanking me for everything? In the future, are you planning to thank me for every little thing?”

Lan Xintong froze slightly, clearly caught off guard.

“But… my wife treats me so well,” he said carefully, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “If I don’t express my thanks, wouldn’t that make me… ungrateful?”

Tang Wan looked at him steadily.

“You are my husband,” she said simply. “As your wife, treating you well is only natural.”

Lan Xintong’s lips parted slightly.

For a moment, he couldn’t speak.

A faint soreness rose in his eyes, something he had to suppress with effort before it could show.

In the end, he nodded.

“I understand,” he said quietly. “Xintong was wrong. I won’t do that again.”

How fortunate…

To have married someone like her.

Tang Wan softened immediately, reaching for the bowl again.

“What’s there to be wrong about?” she said lightly. “You just don’t know me well yet. Once we spend more time together, you’ll understand.”

As she resumed feeding him, her thoughts drifted.

Given Tongtong’s attitude, his feelings were clearly there… so why hadn’t his favorability crossed eighty yet?

She shook the thought away almost immediately.

Forget it.

There was no need to rush.

Compared to finishing the task quickly, she would rather enjoy this—take her time, savor the process.

After all, this kind of… relationship wasn’t something to be hurried.

—

After finishing the bird’s nest, the two shared a quiet breakfast together.

Once they were done, Tang Wan naturally reached for Lan Xintong’s hand and led him outside.

She didn’t say much, but her purpose was clear.

They walked through the Crown Princess’s residence side by side, passing courtyards and corridors, their figures visible to every attendant along the way.

It didn’t take long for the message to spread.

The Crown Princess valued her principal consort—deeply.

The effect was immediate.

Where there had once been subtle curiosity or hesitation, the servants now lowered their heads with unmistakable respect whenever they saw Lan Xintong.

In the end, appearances mattered little.

What mattered was favor.

And now, it was clear—

Lan Xintong held it.

No one with any sense would dare treat him lightly.

Lan Xintong, too, understood what Tang Wan was doing.

Because of that, the gratitude in his heart only deepened.

She had thought of everything.

Every detail.

—

The next morning, Lan Xintong woke early.

Today, they were to enter the palace and pay their respects, and he didn’t dare be careless.

When he opened his eyes, the room was still quiet.

Tang Wan was still asleep.

But what surprised him was—

She was lying in his arms.

For a moment, he froze, not daring to move.

Looking down at her, a trace of unease crept into his thoughts.

He was larger than her, broader, stronger. In other households, it was usually the wife who held her husband, offering protection and warmth.

But here…

The roles felt reversed.

Would she mind?

Would she feel… that her dignity was affected?

The thought made him uneasy.

And yet—

She had shown no such concern.

No discomfort.

Only acceptance.

At that realization, the tension in his chest eased slightly.

Carefully, he shifted just enough to look at her more clearly, his expression softening.

If this was how things would be…

Then perhaps, quietly, he thought—

That wouldn’t be so bad at all.