The Gentle Couple

my step-aunt arrived...

Consort La refrained from scolding Young mi.

Yn saw Consort La's sad eyes and she realised Consort La felt powerless to protect Rayan.

'Rayan, stop holding onto your ninth brother and come down,' Consort La said.

Rayan hugged Taehyung tighter.

'Mother, it's alright,' Taehyung said. 'Thirteenth brother still can't speak?'

Consort La nodded her head and her eyes saddened. Rayan was three years old but he couldn't say more than two consecutive words. It was rumored Rayan was foolish thirteenth prince. The emperor favored Consort La after Rayan was born, but Consort La lost the emperor's favor when Rayan was slow to speak.

Taehyung stroked Rayan's head affectionately. 'Mother, you don't need to worry. Thirteenth brother looks intelligent. He'll be able to speak in the future.'

Consort La sighed helplessly.

Yn looked lovingly at Rayan while he sat on Taehyung's shoulders.

Taehyung saw Yn smiling warmly at Rayan and he realised the little lion loved children.

Yn looked lovingly at Rayan because Rayan looked like a loveable fool and her heart encouraged her to tease Rayan.

The tree branches in the gardens were decorated with fabrics and lanterns and banquet tables were set in the gardens for guests to view the moon on the night of the harvest festival. Yn smelt delicious aromas of food and wine. She happily ate fruits, drank wine and listened to singers. She would have been happier if she wasn't sitting near two people who were staring at her strangely.

Taehyung sat on the left of Yn, he was talking to a diplomat visiting from another kingdom. On the right of her was Yoo mi who sat between her and the crown prince.

According to palace protocols Yoo mi wasn't allowed to sit next to the crown prince if she wasn't his wife. But the empress said to the emperor, 'I haven't seen Yoo mi for a few days and I miss her. Let her sit here.'

Yoo mi acted reluctant to sit next to the crown prince. Yoo mi and the crown prince side by side looked like a stunning painting and everyone knew Yoo mi would become the crown prince's wife.

Unfortunately Yoo mi's usual haughtiness wavered a little after sitting next to Yn. She wore a dress that took days to make, but it wasn't even expensive as half of the dress Yn wore.

In the past Yoo mi looked more beautiful than Yn because Yoo mi wore beautiful dresses and makeup. But after Yn married Taehyung, Yn was no longer the poor daughter from Xuan Qing.

Yoo mi was unhappy everyone were admiring Yn instead of her. She even caught the crown prince staring at Yn many times.

Yoo mi was jealous and frustrated but she knew where she was sitting and controlled her tongue.

'Oppa crown prince, eat this fruit,' Yoo mi said.

'Thank you,' Woo seok said and looked at Yn. 'Ninth sister, you should eat this fruit too.'

Afterward Woo seok pretended to watch the dancers. But his heart lingered on the image of Yn adjusting her collar and showed a glimpse of the red kiss mark on her snow white neck. Then his little brother hardened.

Yn sighed happily after Yoo mi and the crown prince stopped staring at her.

Yn saw a palace nurse maid was holding Rayan's hand while walking around the gardens.

'Nin, Nin,' Rayan said after he saw Taehyung.

Rayan let go of his nurse maid's hand and he ran toward Taehyung. But he accidently bumped into Yoo mi and fell on the ground. He cried, pulled Yoo mi's dress to stand up and the dirt on his hands stained Yoo mi's dress.