It seemed the Crown Prince was determined to confront her, insisting she enter his dreams. If luck wasn’t on her side and she failed to dream of him, wouldn’t that prove her words were nothing but deceitful nonsense?
But if she truly did dream of him, perhaps the Crown Prince would spare her life for now, recognizing her unique skill, and find use for her in the future.
Take Cai Ju’s poisoning attempt, for example—hadn’t Yun Kui stumbled upon it by sheer coincidence?
Her almond-shaped eyes brightened as optimism replaced her earlier pessimism. She pinned her hopes on tonight’s dream.
Who knew? After tonight, she might even earn a place among the Crown Prince’s circle of extraordinary talents!
Suppressing her excitement, she rose to tidy the tray. By the time she returned, the Crown Prince was already seated at the edge of the bed.
Yun Kui recalled how last night had unfolded. Though things hadn’t gone all the way, the Crown Prince had still taken his liberties—the faint fingerprints on her chest from his rough handling hadn’t even faded yet.
The Crown Prince fixed her with a heavy gaze and urged impatiently, "Why are you just standing there?"
Yun Kui pressed her lips together. "Yes, Your Highness."
Based on last night’s experience, she probably didn’t need to undress so much. After all, even under the influence of aphrodisiacs, the Crown Prince had restrained himself. It was reasonable to suspect he either couldn’t perform at all or was severely injured, lacking the strength—too ashamed to let anyone discover his inadequacy.
The Crown Prince: "..."
Yun Kui lifted her eyes, startled by the sudden dark fury in his gaze.
Why is he in a rage again?
Is he annoyed at my hesitation?
Or can he tell I don’t want to undress, silently scolding me with that glare?
Fine, I’ll strip. It’s not like he can do anything anyway.
The Crown Prince: "..."
Taking a deep breath, Yun Kui swiftly untied her sash and shed her outer robe, leaving only a thin crimson undergarment embroidered with pomegranate motifs.
As a bedchamber maid, her attire had changed from before.
The Imperial Household Department had prepared several new sets of autumn and winter garments for her and the three other girls—luxurious fabrics inside and out, vibrant in color and exquisitely stitched. Though not as lavish as those worn by the imperial concubines, they were far more refined than the plain uniforms of ordinary palace maids.
Naturally, all this was done to please the Crown Prince—and to reflect the Empress’s keen interest in her son’s intimate affairs.
The chamber was bathed in golden lamplight, casting a luminous glow over Yun Kui’s snow-white skin. The heavy drapes swayed gently, their shadows dancing across the delicate curves of her silhouette.
The early winter night was bitterly cold, and Yun Kui shivered as she slowly wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to hide something.
She still wasn’t used to being so exposed under another’s gaze. If only the lights were dimmed—but the room was brightly lit, meaning she’d have to endure the Crown Prince’s piercing scrutiny for a long time.
How terrifying was it? Like waking in the dead of night, freezing, only to find yourself entangled by a venomous serpent, its fangs poised to snap your neck at any moment.
The mere thought sent chills down her spine.
The Crown Prince’s eyes lingered briefly on her slender, porcelain neck before he unexpectedly showed mercy. "Extinguish the outer lamps. Keep only one."
Yun Kui nearly sighed in relief, quietly snuffing out the lamps until only a single crystal lantern by the bed remained, casting just enough light to avoid total darkness.
Once done, she exhaled softly and carefully climbed into the inner side of the bed from the foot, careful not to brush against the Crown Prince’s long, muscular legs.
Lying down slowly, she steadied her breathing and stole a glance at the man beside her, then at the neatly folded brocade quilt at the foot of the bed.
The Crown Prince truly is made of steel. It’s freezing, yet there’s no brazier in the chamber. Wearing only thin sleep robes, he doesn’t even seem to feel the cold.
"Your Highness," she ventured timidly when his expression softened slightly, "this servant is a little cold."
The Crown Prince’s gaze darkened as it landed on her, then inexplicably paused.
In the dim lantern light, the crimson undergarment made her skin appear even fairer, like frost-kissed snow. Her cheeks were flushed a delicate pink, her long lashes trembling slightly. Below her slender neck, the delicate arches of her collarbones resembled flawless jade bridges. The faint glow of the lamp traced the soft curves of her shoulders, where the embroidered pomegranates swelled against the fabric, the plush ripeness of her figure spilling forth like moonlit snow.
A natural temptress—yet her eyes held only innocent timidity, a combination that could easily stir any man’s desire.
The Empress certainly knew how to pick them.
Any ordinary man, hearing her say she was cold, would have melted instantly, pulling her into his arms to warm her.
But he was no ordinary man, and he didn’t indulge in lust.
Yun Kui felt the weight of his gaze stretch unbearably long, until her limbs grew numb. The Crown Prince’s expression, initially unreadable, now carried a faint, simmering menace.
Another mood swing?
Did I… do something wrong?
I just wanted to cover myself with the quilt…
"Cold?" The Crown Prince’s icy demeanor eased slightly as he averted his eyes. "Then pull the quilt over yourself."
Yun Kui hastily obeyed, reaching for the covers.
As she sat up, the pale expanse of her slender back flashed before the Crown Prince’s eyes once more.
He turned away, his breathing imperceptibly heavier.
Closing his eyes, deprived of sight, his other senses sharpened.
The soft rustle of fabric against skin whispered in his ears. The faint scent of sunflowers, mingled with the warmth of sun-dried bedding, filled his lungs, soothing the relentless throbbing in his skull.
The closer she was, the more the pain receded.
By the time he realized it, she was already in his arms.
Her delicate, rosy face was inches from his, her wide dark eyes brimming with shock.
The Crown Prince was equally stunned by his own actions.
But… why correct it?
This was his palace, his bed, and she was his bedchamber maid. Was she not his to touch?
Yun Kui blinked rapidly, bewildered. One moment, the Crown Prince had coldly told her to cover herself—the next, she was pulled into the solid heat of his embrace.
Is this… some kind of teasing game?
Did he want to hold me all along but couldn’t bring himself to admit it, pretending to be aloof until he finally gave in and grabbed me when I wasn’t looking?
Her thoughts spiraled wildly until a hand suddenly closed around the nape of her neck.
Like a snake pinned at its vital spot, Yun Kui froze.
"Your Highness," she whispered nervously, "let’s talk this through—"
The Crown Prince’s voice was low and warning. "This is merely to facilitate your entry into my dreams. Discard any improper thoughts, or you’ll regret it."
So that was it.
Earlier, she hadn’t understood why the Crown Prince insisted on sharing the bed—why she’d foolishly undressed. Now she realized: this was an interrogation, merely relocated from the torture chamber to the Crown Prince’s bed.
She wasn’t to entertain any distractions. Her only task was to focus on entering his dreams.
Burying her face against his chest, she inhaled the faint medicinal scent clinging to him and silently repeated his title in her mind.
Crown Prince, Crown Prince, Crown Prince…
Honestly, do we really need to be this close to share a dream? It’s so hot—I can barely breathe…
If I try to push him away, maybe I can sneak a feel of those muscles…
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened gradually, feeling as though he was holding a hot potato. He wanted to toss her away, yet his body seemed instinctively drawn to the warmth of her presence, making it impossible for him to push her aside.
His raised hand ultimately didn’t throw her off but instead landed a light flick on her forehead with a soft "thunk."
"Ouch!"
Startled by the sudden knock, Yun Kui couldn’t help but cry out. But as soon as she regained her senses, her voice softened into a meek murmur, "Your Highness… why did you strike this servant so suddenly?"
Of course, the Crown Prince wouldn’t reveal to an outsider that he could read minds. To silence her improper thoughts, he only said sternly, "If you don’t sleep now, I’ll knock you out myself."
Yun Kui: "…"
Who forces someone to sleep?
Besides, she had been lying there quietly with her eyes shut, not daring to make a single sound. Was even that not enough?
Truly, he was hard to please.
Afraid of being punished, she sighed inwardly, banishing her wandering thoughts and obediently closing her eyes again.
As her breathing gradually evened out, the Crown Prince stared at her for a moment before lowering his gaze to his slightly parted robes.
This was a place he rarely paid attention to. In the past, he had only known that a woman’s chest might hold some appeal for men—but could women also feel the same toward men?
His brows furrowed, his eyes darkening.
In any case, this foolish girl couldn’t stay. As for the soothing scent she carried, he would have to find another way.
Closing his eyes, the Crown Prince drifted into an unusually peaceful slumber, lulled by the warm, clean fragrance of the girl in his arms.
Yet his dreams were far from restful.
In fact, they were downright infuriating.
He actually dreamed of her—and in the dream, she was nothing like the timid, soft-spoken girl in reality. Instead, she boldly groped him, drooling as her hands kneaded his chest without restraint.
The Crown Prince woke up seething.
At the same time, Yun Kui also awoke.
Startled.
The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was the Crown Prince’s icy, stormy glare.
What had she just dreamed about? Heaven help her…
