The two arrived at the palace gates. Before the Crown Prince could speak, Yun Kui obediently said, "Your Highness should return and rest. This servant will continue guarding the gates."
The Crown Prince gave her a cold look. "Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?"
Yun Kui replied, "This servant hasn’t yet found the poisoner. How can I return empty-handed?"
The Crown Prince’s gaze swept over the torn fabric at her knees, his voice icy. "Why haven’t you come to serve at Chengguang Palace these past days? Must I summon you for you to remember your nightly duties?"
Yun Kui muttered under her breath, "This servant stands at the palace gates all day and collapses into sleep as soon as I return to the side hall. I feared my service would be lacking and displease Your Highness. Moreover, I acted presumptuously before, so I assumed Your Highness no longer wished to see me and had me sent away..."
The Crown Prince scoffed.
Yun Kui stole a glance at his expression. "So, Your Highness isn’t angry? This servant thought you despised me."
The Crown Prince said indifferently, "I merely find you useful for entering dreams."
Yun Kui’s lips curved. "Ah, I see. Then this servant will come to Chengguang Palace tonight to serve. Your Highness, wait for me!"
The Crown Prince’s face darkened.
Her words made it sound less like she was reporting for duty and more like an imperial carriage was arriving, demanding his attendance for favor.
Before he could reprimand her, the little maid had already scampered off.
---
In the imperial study, Emperor Chunming was discussing important matters with his ministers. Several grand secretaries, including the father and son of the Marquis of Ningde, were present.
A eunuch approached to relay that Deshun, the Crown Prince’s attendant, had urgent news.
What urgent matter could the Crown Prince have?
Emperor Chunming’s heart skipped a beat—could it be that something had happened to the Crown Prince?
Mid-discussion, the emperor disregarded his ministers and immediately said, "Summon him."
Deshun entered unhurriedly, first bowing to the emperor and the grand secretaries.
Emperor Chunming waved off the formalities and pressed, "What of the Crown Prince? Has a physician been summoned?"
Deshun replied, "It is not the Crown Prince, but the Ninth Prince."
"What does this have to do with Xiao Jiu?" The emperor looked puzzled.
Several officials turned their attention, especially the Heir of Ningde Marquis, who subtly pricked up his ears at the mention of the Ninth Prince.
Deshun recounted the incident at Donghua Gate: "...The Ninth Prince insisted the palace maid kneel to serve as his horse, even declaring..."
Emperor Chunming’s expression shifted slightly, and he interrupted with a smile, "The grand secretaries and I are in the midst of important discussions. Perhaps we should—"
Before the emperor could finish, Deshun said, "The Crown Prince’s view is that since the grand secretaries include the Ninth Prince’s tutor, Your Majesty might allow this servant to finish."
Shen Qiuhua, Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion—tutor to the imperial princes—stepped forward and bowed. "If a prince errs, this minister bears responsibility. I should be informed to correct his conduct."
Emperor Chunming clenched his fist discreetly, suppressing his displeasure. "Very well, speak truthfully."
Deshun continued, "The Ninth Prince declared that maids exist to be ridden like horses by men."
The emperor and ministers alike paled.
The Ninth Prince, though spoiled and mischievous, had always seemed merely a playful child. None had expected such vulgar words from him.
Deshun added, "Prince Chen wished to escort the Ninth Prince to Baohua Palace for Your Majesty’s discipline, but the Ninth Prince insisted he had done no wrong and demanded Your Majesty judge the matter."
The grand secretaries exchanged glances; Emperor Chunming’s face turned ashen.
Deshun said, "The Crown Prince could endure no further and declared he would discipline the Ninth Prince in Your Majesty’s stead."
The Heir of Ningde Marquis suddenly spoke. "How does the Crown Prince intend to discipline the Ninth Prince?"
The Marquis of Ningde shot his son a warning look. The emperor had yet to speak—why was he in such a hurry?
Was it because the Ninth Prince was Concubine Yu’s son?
The grand secretaries tensed. The Crown Prince was known for his ruthlessness—whether dealing with nobility or officials, torture and summary executions were routine. His methods chilled the blood.
The Ninth Prince was only five. How could he withstand such "discipline"?
Deshun said, "Before this servant left, the Crown Prince only mentioned taking the Ninth Prince to the riding grounds to teach him humility."
Emperor Chunming was stunned. "That’s all?"
Deshun nodded.
The fault lay with the Ninth Prince. Deshun had merely... embellished the truth. If questioned, he had spoken no falsehood.
The Heir of Ningde Marquis smirked. "Since when is the Crown Prince so merciful?"
Deshun feigned surprise. "His Highness has always been just in rewards and punishments, never withholding guidance from the princes. Does the Heir truly see our Crown Prince as a monster?"
The Marquis of Ningde finally glared at his son.
Emperor Chunming and the ministers were equally taken aback. The Crown Prince was not one for leniency.
With the grand secretaries present, the emperor could not show undue concern for the Ninth Prince.
He sighed remorsefully. "This is the result of my indulgence over the years. I have failed Xiao Jiu..."
The Marquis of Ningde quickly consoled him. "Your Majesty must not blame yourself. The Ninth Prince is young—mischief is natural. With proper guidance, he will improve. Your Majesty oversees the empire’s governance while managing nearly twenty children’s upbringing. Some oversights are inevitable."
The grand secretaries nodded in agreement.
Every man had children, but even the most powerful ministers could not ensure every descendant was outstanding and virtuous—let alone an emperor burdened with state affairs. The Ninth Prince was the youngest; doting was only human. There would be time for discipline.
As Emperor Chunming wallowed in guilt, Shen Qiuhua bowed. "A lax teacher breeds wayward students. The Ninth Prince’s misconduct reflects my failure. Your Majesty entrusted the princes to me, yet I have disappointed you. I beg for punishment."
Another round of imperial and ministerial self-reproach followed.
Seizing the moment, Deshun interjected, "The Crown Prince’s view is that while Your Majesty is occupied with state affairs, leading by example remains essential. Grand Secretary Shen must emphasize moral education alongside academics. Today, the Crown Prince intervened, but henceforth, Your Majesty and the grand secretaries must correct the Ninth Prince’s conduct."
Emperor Chunming and Shen Qiuhua flushed with humiliation.
The implication was clear: the emperor could not even discipline his own son, forcing the Crown Prince to step in.
Deeper still—was the Crown Prince signaling dissatisfaction with Emperor Chunming’s regency, demanding full authority?
---
After the meeting, the Marquis of Ningde and his son returned to their offices.
The marquis served as Minister of Revenue, while his son, Xie Huaichuan, had recently been promoted to Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate—honors born of their family’s resurgence.
Yet after the imperial study incident, both wore grim expressions.
The Marquis of Ningde reprimanded his son, "You acted far too rashly today!"
Though Xie Huaichuan appeared composed in public, his father knew well the turmoil in his heart.
At a palace banquet the previous year, Xie Huaichuan had drunk himself into a stupor, leaning against his wife while murmuring the maiden name of Concubine Yu!
It was then that the Marquis of Ningde realized his son, despite being married for years and already a father of two, still harbored forbidden desires for the Emperor’s woman!
Fortunately, only Lady Meng, the Heir’s wife, and the Marquis himself were privy to this scandal. Furious, the Marquis had consoled his daughter-in-law and punished Xie Huaichuan severely.
Yet today, in the imperial study, Xie Huaichuan had recklessly criticized the Crown Prince in front of the grand secretaries—all to defend the Ninth Prince, Concubine Yu’s son!
The Crown Prince’s character was well understood by the ministers. How could an imperial nephew like Xie Huaichuan dare to speak so carelessly? What would others think?
Did the Empress’s clan harbor long-standing grievances against the Crown Prince?
Or did Emperor Chunming himself share such sentiments, plotting to overturn the throne?
Xie Huaichuan was weighed down by anxiety, wondering how the Crown Prince might intimidate the Ninth Prince. Yet he couldn’t rush to the Baohua Palace now, leaving him restless.
"Father, I know I was wrong. I spoke out of urgency..."
The Marquis of Ningde said coldly, "Fortunately, the discussion in the hall centered on the Ninth Prince’s discipline, so attention wasn’t on you. Otherwise, even His Majesty would grow suspicious. Whatever happens to the Ninth Prince now, you must stay out of it. Remember—Baohua Palace has nothing to do with you. Don’t give others a reason to doubt you."
Xie Huaichuan pressed his lips together and nodded in acquiescence.
Unconsciously, the two had neared the Donghua Gate.
The day before, a colleague had mentioned that the Crown Prince had punished a palace maid to stand guard at the gate. The person who clashed with the Ninth Prince today was likely her.
Father and son glanced over simultaneously and spotted a young woman in a silver-red dress standing outside the gate. The soft morning light cast a golden glow on her fair, translucent skin, enhancing her striking beauty.
Hearing footsteps, the girl turned her clear, dark eyes toward them. In that instant, Xie Huaichuan was certain—this was the bedchamber maid he had poisoned with the Seven-Day Powder!
The subordinate who had liaised with her had died in the Eastern Palace’s interrogation chamber, but not before describing her appearance in detail. The woman before him matched perfectly. Moreover, she was said to be the Crown Prince’s favorite, summoned almost nightly. Xie Huaichuan couldn’t imagine anyone else captivating the Crown Prince so thoroughly.
But she should have been dead by now! Why was she standing here?
Had the Crown Prince somehow cured her?
Had he personally reprimanded the Ninth Prince today—for her sake?
Yun Kui recognized Xie Huaichuan as well.
After all, in her dreams, she had unwillingly witnessed this Heir of Ningde Marquis drenched in sweat, whispering indecent words while entangled with a palace concubine. The memory was impossible to forget.
Yet why was he looking at her like that? For a moment, Yun Kui felt as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
Could he be the one who poisoned her?
Before she could scrutinize him further, his expression smoothed over, as if that momentary flicker of shock had been her imagination.
With two high-ranking officials staring at her, Yun Kui hesitated before offering a slight bow.
Technically, guards like Luo Zhang didn’t need to bow to every passing official unless addressed—otherwise, a lowly maid like her would spend all day kneeling at the bustling Donghua Gate.
The Marquis of Ningde merely gave her a complicated glance before looking away.
His son, however, studied her a moment longer.
These officials were all masters of masking their emotions, far beyond her ability to decipher. Yun Kui decided not to dwell on it. Even if she suspected Xie Huaichuan, she had no proof. She could investigate further in her dreams tonight.
Exhausted from the day’s events and her aching knees, she returned to her side chamber before dusk. After bathing, she lay down briefly before mustering the energy to head to Chengguang Palace.
A lavish spread of over a dozen dishes awaited her, each more tantalizing than the last.
When the Crown Prince noticed her arrival, he said indifferently, "Since you’re here, you may taste the food."
The eunuch assigned to the task had nearly finished but shot Yun Kui a resentful look before bowing and retreating.
Yun Kui suppressed a smile, lightly pricking each dish with a silver needle before digging in.
She ate heartily, ignoring the rule of sampling no more than five qian per dish. For her favorites, she pretended not to have tasted them yet, circling back for seconds. The Crown Prince had little appetite anyway, barely touching a few bites before setting his chopsticks down. It would be a waste not to enjoy such delicacies.
Once sated, Deshun presented her with a bottle of golden wound ointment.
Yun Kui glanced at her slightly scraped palms and waved it off. "It’s just a scratch. No need."
The Crown Prince’s cool gaze prompted Deshun to insist, "Please apply it, miss. His Highness’s bedding is woven with the finest silk—staining or tearing it would be unfortunate."
So he’s worried about his precious sheets.
Yet he didn’t seem to mind when he kissed me that night.
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened, but his eyes lingered on the exposed sliver of her forearm—smooth and fair, marred by a two-inch-long scrape.
As she applied the ointment, he asked, "Aside from the princes, have you met anyone else these past few days?"
His voice sounded unusually hoarse.
After a moment’s thought, she answered truthfully, "A few unfamiliar officials, yes. But I also saw the Heir of Ningde Marquis."
The Crown Prince’s gaze sharpened.
Not that it mattered whether she dreamed of Xie Huaichuan or not. The spy he had planted had refused to talk under torture but had revealed everything in his thoughts. The Crown Prince was already gathering evidence to eliminate the entire network in one sweep.
Yun Kui finished tending to her elbows and palms before rolling up her pant leg to treat her bruised knees.
Feeling the Crown Prince’s intense stare, she turned slightly, shielding herself from his burning gaze.
She hadn’t forgotten how stingy he’d been at the hot springs—keeping himself meticulously hidden even when undressed!
Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction either!
Turning her back, she lifted her skirt just enough to expose her slender, jade-white calves. As she dipped her fingers into the ointment, a tall, dark shadow suddenly loomed over her.
The Crown Prince stared at her injured knee, his throat bobbing. "This prince needs to assess whether your wound is severe enough to stain his sheets."
His words dissolved most of her earlier shyness and restraint.
Pursing her lips, she thrust her bruised knee toward him. But balancing on one leg proved unsteady, and she wobbled precariously—until his quick reflexes saved her. One cool hand cupped the back of her thigh, while the other anchored firmly at her waist.
The rough warmth of his palm against her soft skin sent an electric jolt through them both, leaving them trembling.
Yun Kui’s heart pounded wildly.
Though his touch had been cool at first, it now burned like fire, every sensation magnified beyond reason.
She cautiously raised her head, and their eyes met. The man’s gaze was dark and intense, his scorching breath brushing against her cheeks, instantly flushing her face crimson. Her hands fidgeted, unsure where to rest.
The Crown Prince’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly before he finally lowered his lashes, his eyes settling on her injured knee.
The once flawless, snow-like skin was now mottled with bruises, and two scraped areas oozed faint traces of blood.
Unconsciously, he lifted a finger to skim over the wound. The warmth of his fingertip and the coolness of his jade ring simultaneously grazed the thin, sensitive skin of her knee, sending a shiver down her legs.
The position was awkward—she had seen it in an illustrated book before, something called "goat climbing a tree"... But he was so much taller than her, her head barely reaching his shoulder, making the alignment rather difficult.
The Crown Prince: "..."
These past few days by her side had certainly broadened his horizons.
Unlike other princes who had maids assigned to attend to their needs upon reaching adulthood, he had little interest in carnal pleasures. Years spent on military campaigns left him no time for marriage arrangements. It was only upon his recent return to the capital, now past the age of twenty, that the Empress—lest she invite criticism—finally allocated him four bedchamber maids, likely out of pity for his supposedly short-lived fate.
With his pillow long left cold, he had never bothered to study the intimacies of the bedchamber. Though during his years in the army, his rough-mouthed subordinates occasionally let slip a few crude jokes during patrols—that was the extent of his exposure.
Who would have thought that back in the palace, a delicate little maid like her would be so... well-versed in such matters.
He had overheard the thoughts of others before—some were deceitful, yes—but none were quite like hers.
His fingers lingered over the soft, smooth hollow of her knee, his palm unintentionally tightening, feeling the faint pulse beneath her skin.
The Crown Prince’s eyes darkened, his breath growing heavy. A smoldering fire ignited somewhere deep within him, spreading through his limbs like wildfire.
Only when she let out a faint hiss of pain did he snap back to reality, releasing her with an uncharacteristic stiffness before carefully setting her down.
Yun Kui’s face still burned, her rosy lips pressing together. Before she could steady herself, the words tumbled out: "Now that Your Highness has seen, may this servant... share your bed?"
