Returning to the hot spring pool, Deshun was helping the Crown Prince undress.
Yun Kui couldn’t help but steal a glance in their direction, just as the Crown Prince shed his last undergarment.
Shrouded in the misty steam, the man’s tall, robust figure gradually came into view. Bandages tightly wrapped his lean yet powerfully built frame. Though his waist was narrow, every muscle was taut and well-defined, veins coiling like tightly drawn strings, tempting one to reach out and pluck them.
The Crown Prince seemed to hear something and quickly stepped into the water, submerging most of his body in the steaming pool.
Yun Kui could only regret being called away earlier by Imperial Physician Liang—otherwise, she would have been the one undressing the Crown Prince.
Though she had tended to his wounds and even shared his bed, she had never gotten a proper look at the parts she was most curious about. Yet, fearing he might overexert himself, she always removed her outer robe when serving him at night, letting him take all the advantages. The only time she’d tasted any reward was in his dream! She hadn’t even gotten to touch anything and had nearly lost her life because of that dream. Who could she even complain to?
Clutching the medicinal oil in her hand, Yun Kui consoled herself—at least she still had this.
"Once His Highness finishes bathing, I’ll thoroughly apply this oil for him, not missing a single inch of his body. Hehe."
The Crown Prince heard her thoughts, a vein throbbing at his temple.
Yun Kui stood idly by, waiting for a summons. When none came, she took the initiative to offer her help. But Eunuch Cao, who was usually polite, refused her assistance, giving a lofty excuse: "His Highness prefers tranquility during his medicinal bath. Deshun and I are enough. You may rest for now, miss."
Their master was completely unclothed, after all. If an assassin were to slip poison into the water or strike him with a tainted blade, it would be impossible to guard against.
Yun Kui felt uneasy, sensing that Eunuch Cao wasn’t as warm toward her as before.
In the past, whenever there was a chance to serve the Crown Prince up close, Eunuch Cao had eagerly pushed her toward him. Today, however, he seemed to be avoiding her at every turn. Had he discovered something?
But the Empress’s secret poison had been discreetly given to her by Nanny Qin, and the two palace servants who’d tried to bribe her had come in secret. Surely no one had noticed.
Besides, if they had truly found out she was hiding poison and plotting against the Crown Prince, given how His Highness and Eunuch Cao dealt with assassins, she wouldn’t still be standing here unharmed.
Fine, if they didn’t need her, so be it! She had followed the Crown Prince all the way from Chengguang Palace, walking in the cold wind for so long that her lower abdomen was still aching.
She strained her eyes to peer into the pool, but the Crown Prince sat with his eyes closed, arms stretched out on either side. The amber-colored water rose past his chest, and the swirling steam obscured everything else.
"Such a stingy man."
"Oh well, I’ll just admire something else… Hmm, his Adam’s apple is quite manly. And his fingers are so long—no wonder he could grip me so easily… His arms are firm too. Those who wield swords and spears really are different."
The Crown Prince’s expression shifted several times before he silently sank deeper into the water, retracting his arms. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he snapped, "All unnecessary personnel, leave at once!"
Eunuch Cao Yuanlu, who had been about to wash the Crown Prince, flinched at the sudden command.
The three in the room exchanged glances. Since Cao Yuanlu and Deshun were needed for the medicinal bath, the "unnecessary personnel" could only be…
Both Eunuch Cao and Deshun turned to Yun Kui.
Yun Kui: "…Fine, I’ll go."
But if she left, who would apply the medicinal oil for the Crown Prince?
Realizing this, Cao Yuanlu stepped forward with a practiced smile and took the bottle from her hands. "Leave this task to me, miss."
Yun Kui was disappointed, but even if she had been the one to apply the oil, this stingy man probably wouldn’t have let her take any liberties. She’d have ended up working hard only to be scolded.
Retreating to the corridor, she caught the mocking gaze of the head chambermaid, who whispered, "I thought the Crown Prince doted on you? Why won’t he let you serve his bath?"
Yun Kui had little interest in entertaining her. "His Highness prefers tranquility."
The head chambermaid smirked inwardly. So, it seemed they were all treated the same—the Crown Prince didn’t favor Yun Kui that much after all. He still found her presence bothersome.
Yun Kui ignored her petty thoughts. Not having to serve anyone was a welcome break.
But the corridor was drafty, far from the warmth of the steamy chamber. The cold seeped into her bones, and after standing for just a while, the discomfort in her lower abdomen grew sharper.
Yet she couldn’t leave the Crown Prince’s side without permission, and with Eunuch Cao busy inside, there was no one to report to. She had no choice but to endure it.
After soaking in the medicinal bath for a full hour, the Crown Prince rose. When Cao Yuanlu moved to apply the medicinal oil, the Crown Prince, recalling something, coldly refused. "No need. Just help me dress."
The oil was merely a pretext from Liang Jin—it did little for him, offering only negligible relief.
Hearing movement inside, the head chambermaid perked up, straightening her posture as the Crown Prince emerged in dark robes. He didn’t glance to either side, but as he stepped into the corridor, someone suddenly collapsed straight into his arms.
Though severely injured, the Crown Prince’s reflexes remained sharp. He instantly seized the person’s wrist, restraining them firmly against him.
Cao Yuanlu, unable to see clearly, shouted in alarm, "An assassin! Protect His Highness!"
Below the steps, guards like Qin Ge and Luo Zhang immediately drew their swords. Chaos erupted as everyone scattered, though no one knew what was happening—only that Eunuch Cao had cried "assassin."
Only the head chambermaid, standing closest to Yun Kui, saw everything clearly. She glared furiously at the little vixen who had thrown herself at the Crown Prince, her eyes nearly popping out of her skull.
This fox spirit! Always using such cheap tricks to seduce His Highness!
The softness of the figure and the faint floral scent were familiar to the Crown Prince.
Expecting an assassination attempt, he looked down—only to see a pale, delicate face, long lashes veiling closed eyes, lips drained of color.
She had fainted.
Qin Ge, a seasoned warrior, moved swiftly. In an instant, his blade was at Yun Kui’s throat, the steel pressing just enough to draw a thin red line on her flawless skin.
At the same time, a faint whimper escaped the woman in the Crown Prince’s arms.
Cao Yuanlu dared to step closer, finally recognizing the "assassin." "Yun Kui?"
The Crown Prince studied her pallid face before ordering coldly, "Stand down."
The command was for Qin Ge.
Though he sheathed his sword, Qin Ge kept his eyes locked on the woman, wary of a feigned faint masking an attack.
The Crown Prince spoke again. "Summon Imperial Physician Liang."
Cao Yuanlu hesitated briefly before gesturing to two young eunuchs, who moved to carry the unconscious woman back inside.
Given her suspected involvement in an assassination plot, this was the best she could expect.
But before they could take her, the Crown Prince had already lifted her into his arms and carried her into the chamber himself.
Night had fallen, and Imperial Physician Zheng, advanced in years, had already left the palace. Liang Jin and a few other physicians remained at the hot spring palace in case of emergencies during the Crown Prince’s treatment.
At present, the Crown Prince had just finished bathing, and Liang Jin was preparing to leave the palace with his medicine chest when a messenger arrived, summoning him on the Crown Prince's orders. His heart tightened, fearing something had happened to the Crown Prince, and he rushed over in haste—only to find that it was the Crown Prince's favored maidservant who had fainted.
The Crown Prince gave his instructions, and Liang Jin dared not be negligent. He quickly stepped forward to take Yun Kui's pulse. After carefully assessing for a moment, his brows furrowed deeply.
The Crown Prince asked, "Well?"
Liang Jin hesitated, not daring to meet the Crown Prince's dark, ink-like gaze. Keeping his eyes lowered, he replied, "Your Highness, if this humble servant has not misdiagnosed, the young lady must have ingested a large quantity of cooling medicine. Moreover, she stood for too long in the corridor, allowing cold to invade her body, causing severe abdominal pain that led to her fainting."
The Crown Prince's expression darkened. "Cooling medicine?"
He was not entirely familiar with certain uses of such medicine, but Eunuch Cao, who had witnessed much of the harem's schemes, knew a thing or two about the tricks used to induce abortions. Hearing Liang Jin's words, Eunuch Cao cast a complicated glance toward the bed. "Your Highness, cooling medicines in the palace are mostly used to... expel pregnancies."
The moment these words fell, the atmosphere in the hall turned frigid.
The Crown Prince's face instantly turned icy, his dark eyes glinting with a ruthless, murderous intent.
Today, she had only gone to the Empress's palace—meaning the abortifacient could only have been forced upon her by the Empress.
Yet the Crown Prince had not heard a single complaint from her about the Empress. She likely didn’t even realize she had been made to drink an abortifacient.
She was the Empress's pawn. The Empress would use her, but never allow her to bear the Crown Prince's child—even if she had never been favored. Just to be safe, the abortifacient had to be taken.
Suppressing the fury in his gaze, the Crown Prince finally spoke after a long silence, his voice cold. "Take her back to Chengguang Palace."
......
Yun Kui had a dream.
Or rather, she saw a dream.
In it was a battlefield shrouded in smoke, rivers of blood flowing between corpses. Arrows rained from the sky, piercing straight through the chest of a general clad in black iron armor astride his horse.
A thousand arrows through the heart—in an instant.
The general, drenched in blood, collapsed with a thunderous crash. Blood splattered, dust flew, and the air filled with the chaotic cacophony of wails, cheers, clashing weapons, and the din of battle.
Amid the chaos, Yun Kui saw the fallen man's face.
When she opened her eyes again, the dim glow of lantern light greeted her. Perhaps because she had been too long without candlelight, her eyes stung with discomfort. Blinking to adjust, she finally recognized the sapphire-blue canopy embroidered with golden bat patterns above her.
This was the Crown Prince's bedchamber!
Yun Kui struggled to recall everything before she lost consciousness. She had been dismissed from the hall by the Crown Prince and retreated to the corridor. The abdominal pain that had plagued her all day, aggravated by the cold wind, grew unbearable. Drenched in cold sweat, she finally succumbed to the agony and fainted.
Oh—and just before collapsing, she seemed to have crashed into someone.
Staring at the canopy, her heart pounded wildly. After steadying her breathing, she slowly turned her head to look beside her.
Sure enough, she was not only lying in the Crown Prince's bed—she was lying right next to his pillow.
