If Yun Kui hadn’t been overwhelmed by fear, if she were the type to think twice before acting, she certainly wouldn’t be acting so recklessly now.
If she were a proper seductress, she ought to murmur "Your Highness" in a voice dripping with honeyed allure, twisting her waist like a serpent beneath him—
Not this crude, graceless display.
By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late.
She heard it clearly—the man’s breathing growing heavier, more erratic, until the chamber fell into deathly silence.
The quieter the air around her, the more vivid and intense the sensation against her chest became.
Yun Kui no longer felt cold. A fire seemed to blaze from behind her, scorching her until her head spun.
She had considered, of course, casually brushing his hand away as if it had merely strayed there by accident. But... she tried twice, to no avail.
The Crown Prince’s palm was broad and heavy, his muscular forearm corded with veins. She gave it a tentative poke, but it didn’t budge. Instead, his grip tightened, pressing deeper into the softness until it ached.
Yun Kui bit her lip and pleaded in a whisper, "Your Highness, this servant knows her mistake. Please, just let me go like a passing breeze..."
A cold laugh was his only reply.
When the Crown Prince’s hand had been forced against her chest, he had indeed frozen for a moment. Never had a woman dared to be so bold! Coupled with her earlier shameless thoughts, it was impossible not to suspect this was all a ploy to satisfy her own desires.
After all, in her mind, his physique was... impressive, wasn’t it?
At times, he wondered—was this girl truly so foolish, or was she cunning beyond measure, carving her own path?
He couldn’t deny it: the moment she’d grabbed his hand and pressed it to her, murder had flickered through his mind.
But when his palm fully cupped the warm, yielding softness beneath her thin silk garment, when the full, rounded curve filled his grasp... he decided she didn’t necessarily have to die.
The Crown Prince had suffered from chronic headaches for years, often slipping into states of mental instability where he couldn’t think or communicate like a normal person, his emotions volatile. Perhaps it was due to his premature birth, or some other cause—even the most skilled physicians couldn’t pinpoint the reason.
Yet because of this, he possessed strength far beyond ordinary men, with instincts as sharp as a beast’s.
At the slightest whiff of danger, he would eliminate it without hesitation.
She was the only one who, despite repeatedly stirring his murderous intent, had somehow survived this long.
The warmth and softness beneath his palm inexplicably soothed the storm of rage and agitation that perpetually churned within him.
Reason told him it wasn’t mere lust—other beauties couldn’t even touch a single finger of his, let alone sway him.
Perhaps it was the pliant, velvety texture, or the pure, comforting warmth of her body.
His hand moved of its own accord, kneading slowly, while his lips brushed faintly against the pearl-like skin behind her ear. His gaze darkened.
Now he understood why she’d been expelled from the embroidery bureau for eating too much, despite her slender appearance.
Turns out, she wasn’t lacking—the flesh had simply gone where it ought to.
The aphrodisiac in his system gradually eroded his restraint, but he wasn’t the type to let lust override his mind entirely. There was no rush to proceed further.
Yun Kui, however, trembled with tension. His leisurely movements made it impossible for him to miss the frantic pounding of her heart.
For some reason, she still felt certain she would die.
Not just any death—one where the air vanished, where breathing simply... stopped.
She’d never experienced it before, but she knew: being caressed by the Crown Prince was nothing like being touched by a husband who adored you.
He was like a wolf on the verge of fury, soothing the meal soon to be devoured—because meat from a tense creature was always tougher.
"Serving in the bedchamber is no job for the living. Kui’s scared."
"How much longer is he going to keep groping? Just eat already! If not, at least switch sides! Your Highness, spare one and try the other!"
As if hearing her silent complaints, his hand finally stilled.
A moment later, it moved to the other side.
Yun Kui: "..."
"Can he... read my thoughts?"
"Probably not. Just switching hands."
"Still, men really are born with talent in this area. They say the Crown Prince is a lecher—guess the rumors were right. He’s so skilled, he must’ve practiced... ow."
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened. Over the years, his reputation had truly been dragged through the mud—now they were even branding him a libertine?
"Oh no... no no no!"
Dazed and disoriented, Yun Kui suddenly felt an odd wetness between her legs. Her eyes flew wide open.
The Crown Prince frowned, his voice rough. "What now?"
Instinctively clamping her thighs together, she stammered, "This servant might... might need to visit the privy. May Your Highness grant permission...?"
He released the soft mound in his grasp and shut his eyes irritably. "Get out."
Yun Kui shot a frantic glance at the bedding, relieved to find no stains, then scrambled to dress. As she climbed over the Crown Prince’s legs, her foot caught, sending her crashing onto the footrest. She hissed in pain but had no time to dwell on it—grabbing her robes from the stand, she threw them on and bolted for the rear chamber.
Even if she weren’t just a maid, she wouldn’t be entitled to use the Crown Prince’s privy. The icy wind cut through her as she ran, gasping for breath but not daring to sprint too conspicuously.
Eunuch Cao Yuanlu had never seen a maid leave mid-service before. Her odd behavior made him suspect she’d stolen something—or worse, offended the Crown Prince and fled in the chaos.
Worried, he hurried into the chamber to check.
Finding his master seated at the bedside, face thunderous, Cao Yuanlu paled. "Your Highness, Yun Kui just now—"
The Crown Prince rubbed his fingertips together, the lingering warmth fading. His expression turned icy.
As a eunuch, Cao Yuanlu couldn’t tell if the aphrodisiac’s effects had subsided, but his master’s mood was clearly foul. Thinking quickly, he ventured, "Did that girl fail to serve well? Should this servant summon another maid?"
The Crown Prince lifted his gaze, cold as steel. "Have you been bribed too? So eager to push those women onto me?"
Cao Yuanlu blanched. "This servant’s loyalty is unwavering! Your Highness, you can doubt anyone but me! I only worry for your health—that aphrodisiac... it harms the body."
Just then, hurried footsteps approached.
Yun Kui had returned.
Earlier, she’d felt an odd warmth between her legs and assumed her monthly courses had arrived. Terrified of soiling the Crown Prince’s bed, she’d practically crawled to the privy.
Her undergarments were damp, but it wasn’t blood.
She’d dreamed of damp sheets before, but why would this happen when she and the Crown Prince hadn’t even...?
No time to dwell. Afraid of keeping him waiting, she’d merely wiped herself clean with soft paper before rushing back to duty.
Sigh. Who knows what consequences await for interrupting His Highness’s mood?
Yun Kui tightened her collar and cautiously stepped into the hall. When she saw the figure seated on the ornate bed, an inexplicable dryness crept into her throat. "Your Highness, forgive my intrusion... Should we continue?"
The Crown Prince, visibly disinterested, scowled. "Get out."
Yun Kui nearly sighed in relief, suppressing the urge to smile as she replied, "This servant will take her leave."
Once she was gone, Cao Yuanlu voiced his concern. "Your Highness, has the aphrodisiac been neutralized?"
The Crown Prince didn’t answer, only shooting him a cold glare. "You too. Out."
Cao Yuanlu had no choice but to retreat.
The night stretched endlessly. The Crown Prince lay with his eyes shut, yet sleep eluded him.
The empty space beside him only amplified the torment—the aphrodisiac’s fiery intensity clashed with his chronic headache, like two savage beasts tearing through his body.
Pushed to the brink, he resorted to carving shallow cuts into his forearm, letting the pain dull the unbearable heat and chill.
With no summons from his master, Cao Yuanlu dared not disturb him.
At dawn, he entered with attendants to prepare the Crown Prince’s morning routine, only to freeze in horror.
The Crown Prince lay slumped by the bed, his forearm marred by stark, crimson gashes. Blood dripped from his fingertips onto the footrest, pooling onto the cloud-patterned woolen rug below—some already dried.
"Your Highness!"
Cao Yuanlu’s face paled. He immediately sent for Imperial Physician Zheng while stumbling toward the bed. His trembling hand reached out to check for breath, but the Crown Prince’s arm abruptly blocked him.
Eyes still closed, the Crown Prince’s voice was laced with exhaustion. "What? Here to confirm I’m not dead?"
Relief flooded Cao Yuanlu’s face, though his voice shook. "Your Highness lives—thank heavens! Was it... the headache again? Or the aphrodisiac?"
The Crown Prince remained silent, fingers pressed to his temple, expression unreadable.
The wounds dredged up memories from years past.
The Crown Prince had suffered from chronic headaches since childhood, enduring sleepless nights. Back then, Cao Yuanlu often witnessed him resorting to self-harm for relief. As he grew older, the pain never eased—instead, it drove him to madness, to the point where only bloodshed could soothe him. Eventually, he took to the battlefield.
There, he carved his legend, crushing the Northern Wei forces with ruthless efficiency, earning the moniker "Jade-Faced Asura."
Cao Yuanlu sighed, blinking back tears as he stared at the Crown Prince’s scarred arm.
The palace maids behind him trembled, too afraid to approach. Wiping his eyes, Cao Yuanlu took the brass basin from one and ordered, "Fetch bandages, scissors, and the golden wound powder!"
The maid stammered an acknowledgment. Cao Yuanlu tended to the wounds himself while she stood by, barely daring to breathe.
It wasn’t her fault—these maids had been handpicked by the Empress herself, chosen for their composure. Yet no amount of training could steel anyone against the Crown Prince’s chilling presence.
Between last night’s injuries and the reopened arrow wound, the treatment lasted well into midday.
At lunch, Yun Kui was assigned to serve the Crown Prince his meal.
His condition fluctuated, but unlike before, he was no longer comatose. The kitchen had resumed preparing full meals—sixteen dishes and four soups per sitting, all laid out in moments by a stream of servants.
Yun Kui had heard of the chaos in the palace. The imperial physicians had labored for hours before leaving—clearly, the Crown Prince had suffered another episode.
Head bowed, she stood at attention, avoiding his gaze.
Only when he took his seat did she dare glance up, intending to survey the dishes. Instead, she locked eyes with the Crown Prince—his own bloodshot and piercing—and nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Boss! You were the one who told me to scram last night!"
"You groped and kneaded to your heart’s content—don’t you dare pretend otherwise!"
