Yun Kui’s breath hitched as all the blood in her body rushed to her head, momentarily robbing her of the ability to think.
"Who am I? Where am I? Am I dreaming…?"
Her lips tingled from the kiss, her mind foggy, unable to string together a single coherent thought.
Though his movements were gentle, her entire body felt as if bewitched—weak and pliant. Before she could react, the warmth of his lips and tongue pried her teeth apart, the faint medicinal fragrance of his breath flooding in as her tongue was coaxed to meet his softness.
Unlike the domineering force of that night, he now took his time, savoring her like a delicate piece of sweet pastry—teasing, nibbling, exploring with deliberate slowness, methodically unraveling her until all reason deserted her.
Dizzy from the kiss, she forgot to breathe. Only when his lips finally withdrew did she resurface like a drowning woman gasping for air, clutching his shoulders as she instinctively gulped in breaths.
The Crown Prince eyed her flushed, disheveled state with disdain. "Why are you so weak-kneed?"
Yun Kui’s lashes fluttered, her body limp.
"Am I dreaming? The ‘Living King of Hell’ kissed me again."
"Is this my dream or his?"
The Crown Prince replied flatly, "It’s your dream."
Yun Kui was stunned. "Dreams come with perks like this?"
The Crown Prince: "…"
After the initial shock, her inner voice erupted in frustration.
"Yun Kui, you’re hopeless! Even in dreams, you can’t hold your ground! How do you turn into a puddle every time he kisses you? Where’s your fighting spirit? Where’s your backbone?"
Her fingers trembled as she realized she was still clinging to his shoulders. Through the thin fabric of his robe, she could trace the firm contours of his muscles, even feeling the throbbing veins beneath her fingertips.
Tears welled in her eyes from sheer delight.
"Dreams are the best—I can touch him all I want! This man is usually so stingy; getting even a scrap of sweetness from him is a miracle!"
Last time she’d thrown herself at him, she’d been too intimidated to savor the moment—like Zhu Bajie devouring the ginseng fruit without tasting it. Now, looking back, all she felt was regret.
"Especially that tantalizing little peak—just a fleeting touch, no time to appreciate it properly!"
"With such a golden opportunity in a dream, how could I let it slip away?"
"Abstinence can wait—dream groping doesn’t count as lust!"
Her fingers kneaded his arm greedily, tracing every ridge and curve, reveling in the raw power beneath his skin until her head spun and her throat went dry.
"No wonder he’s so strong—pinning me down is effortless for him."
"With arms this sturdy braced against the bed, he could probably last ages."
"That Heir of Ningde Marquis’s physique is mediocre at best, yet Concubine Yu was already wailing…"
The Crown Prince: "…"
He’d long known the dreams she frequented were explicit, practically live erotic performances. But the thought of her scrutinizing those worthless men’s bodies—reducing him, the imperial heir, to the same level of objectification—ignited a seething irritation. He wanted to teach her a harsh lesson.
Yun Kui continued her slow exploration until she noticed the dark intensity of his gaze. Her fingers stilled as a realization struck her.
Would a dream feel this vividly warm?
Would a dream version of him glare so fiercely when she touched him?
And… hadn’t he just said, "It’s your dream"?
Yun Kui froze.
Her mind replayed his words—clear and unmistakable, not a figment of her imagination. Could it be…?
The horrifying truth dawned: this wasn’t a dream. Her racing heart plummeted into icy stillness.
She took a deep breath, forcing calm.
"Don’t panic. After all, you’ve already said the boldest things, tackled him, even forced a kiss—what’s left to shock you?"
With forced nonchalance, she brushed imaginary dust off his robe and offered a sheepish smile. "Your Highness, your sleep robe had some lint. I got it for you."
The Crown Prince’s lips thinned as he coldly pushed her hand away.
Right. Definitely not a dream.
Yun Kui withdrew her hand and inched backward. If she couldn’t handle him, she could at least flee.
Beyond the bed curtains, candlelight flickered as the water clock dripped softly.
The Crown Prince’s expression hardened. "Still tired?"
Yun Kui paused, unsure why he’d ask. Did he want her to enter someone else’s dream?
Truthfully, dream-walking was exhausting—experiencing everything firsthand was like watching an entire day’s worth of theater. Proper rest was far more rejuvenating.
The Crown Prince clarified, "If not, help me change."
Yun Kui blinked. "Your Highness is rising already?"
It was still dark outside.
Without answering, he threw off the covers and stood. "Court awaits today."
After a dazed moment, she hurried after him into the inner chamber.
The expansive inner quarters of Chengguang Palace housed the Crown Prince’s ceremonial attire—court robes, formal wear, everyday garments, and every other regalia required for official functions.
Yun Kui had never been here before. Her eyes widened at the sight of the black-gold embroidered dragon-patterned round-collar robe hanging neatly on the rack. Then she remembered Aunt Wei’s explanation: while the Crown Prince’s daily wear typically featured serpent motifs, dragon robes were reserved for grand ceremonies like sacrifices, imperial tomb visits, and court assemblies—a privilege bestowed by the Emperor himself.
What cosmic luck had granted her the chance to lay eyes on a dragon robe in this lifetime?
Her year in the Embroidery Bureau had exposed her to the lavish formalwear of palace nobility. Those opulent garments had been a revelation to her younger self—a girl who’d once starved and shivered in rags outside the palace walls. She’d learned then that even the most insignificant pearl on a headdress could outweigh the value of a roomful of commoners’ lives.
Years in the palace had broadened her horizons. She’d witnessed aristocrats and high-ranking consorts parading in jeweled splendor during court visits. Yet none of it compared to the awe-inspiring sight before her now.
The nine-ribboned crown, the black-and-crimson ceremonial robes, the jade pendants and leather belts—every inch shimmered with gold thread and precious gemstones. The intricate patterns exuded the unassailable authority of the imperial heir.
Since his return to the capital a month ago, the Crown Prince had either been bedridden from illness or purging the Eastern Palace with ruthless efficiency.
Her initial terror had faded so completely that she now shared his bed, traded quips, and even dared to lay hands on him—forgetting, at times, the chasm between their statuses.
Yun Kui exhaled softly as she carefully lifted the heavy dragon robe. Though she recognized the jade ornaments and ceremonial tablets, dressing him proved awkward and laborious.
The Crown Prince frowned down at her fumbling. "No one taught you this?"
Yun Kui admitted, "Aunt Wei instructed us, but her lessons focused mainly on serving medicine and… nighttime duties. For formal robes, we only saw diagrams. She demonstrated once but never explained in detail…"
The Crown Prince smirked. "Did you think I wouldn’t live long enough to attend court?"
Yun Kui was chilled by the coldness in his voice, her legs nearly giving way beneath her. "This servant spoke out of turn..."
Yet she wasn’t entirely wrong. Back when the Crown Prince had been riddled with arrows and bedridden with grave injuries, no one expected him to recover so swiftly. And as for the maids who attended him closely—who among them had dared to believe they’d survive to this day? Even Aunt Wei, who had trained them, had been dismissed...
The Crown Prince glanced down at her briefly before summoning Cao Yuanlu inside.
Cao Yuanlu, well-versed in his duties, respectfully helped the Crown Prince into his dragon-embroidered court robes, meticulously explaining every minor detail of the attire to Yun Kui. Finally, he said, "Miss, you may now comb His Highness’s hair and place his crown."
Yun Kui froze for a moment. Her gaze traveled up the dazzling, awe-inspiring dragon patterns adorning the prince’s chest, meeting his deep, piercing phoenix eyes. Her heart trembled violently.
The Crown Prince she usually saw wore only simple black robes, yet even then, his imposing aura was untouchable. Now, clad in the dragon robes, his solemn majesty overshadowed his usual cold severity, making his sharp features even more striking—tall and unshakable as a mountain, radiating the innate dignity of a ruler born to command reverence.
This is the Crown Prince—a man of divine nobility, and yet last night, I dared to defile him in such a manner...
Yun Kui, how could you?!
She suddenly recalled Aunt Bizan’s fondness for her husband’s uniform—the scarlet brocade flying fish robes and black silk belt of the imperial guards, which accentuated his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and powerful legs. The guards selected for the honor guard were already the finest among their ranks, and the sight of him in that attire had reportedly driven Aunt Bizan to shrieks of delight.
The Crown Prince was undoubtedly more striking than any guard commander, his dragon robes embodying celestial grace and imperial authority.
Hearing her compare him again to another man—and a mere guard at that—his expression darkened. But then her thoughts took an even bolder turn:
This is the dragon robe! If he were to pin me down while wearing this... Ah, I can’t think about it, or I’ll start bleeding from my nose!
Abstinence, abstinence, abstinence...
The Crown Prince’s gaze turned shadowy, his throat bobbing slightly. More absurdly, her filthy musings had stirred an improper reaction in him.
Remembering how her face had been streaked with tears after just a brief kiss, he scoffed inwardly. This timid little thing only dares to be bold in her thoughts. If I really gave in and pressed her down as she fantasizes, she’d probably cry from fear.
He suppressed the restless heat within him.
Fortunately, the court robes were voluminous enough to maintain his dignity.
Dazed, Yun Kui accepted the ivory comb from Cao Yuanlu, only to realize she couldn’t even reach the Crown Prince’s head—his towering frame completely enveloped her.
Cao Yuanlu chuckled. "Miss, wait until His Highness is seated before you begin."
Only then did she snap out of it. Glancing up, she met the Crown Prince’s condescending gaze, as if he were looking at a fool.
Yun Kui: "..."
She had practiced hairstyling diligently, but her clumsy fingers, combined with her terror of the prince’s authority, made her hands shake uncontrollably. The resulting bun was either too loose, too tight, or missing strands. In the end, she tugged too hard, making the Crown Prince frown sharply.
She lowered her head sheepishly, on the verge of tears. "Your Highness, spare me..."
The Crown Prince assessed the lopsided bun with visible displeasure.
Cao Yuanlu hadn’t expected her to be so inept—such shoddy work would have earned her a beating in any other noble’s household. And yet, he’d deliberately given her this chance to get closer to His Highness...
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the Crown Prince shot him a frosty glare.
Cao Yuanlu hurriedly smiled. "Shall this servant redo it for you?"
The Crown Prince replied icily, "Unnecessary."
Left with no choice, Cao Yuanlu fetched the court crown and secured it himself.
Yun Kui stared at the Crown Prince’s majestic figure, her heart pounding wildly, her fingers clenching unconsciously.
The Crown Prince looked down at her but heard no inner monologue this time. "Do you have something to say?"
Nervous, she stammered, "I... Does this servant still need to guard the palace gates today?"
"No," the Crown Prince said, then ordered Cao Yuanlu, "Arrange for someone to teach her how to properly style hair."
Before dawn had fully broken, he strode out of the hall, his tall form melting into the thick darkness, the hem of his robes swirling with each step. The golden dragons embroidered on the fabric seemed to surge from the night, ready to dominate heaven and earth.
Only when he was completely out of sight did Yun Kui dare to exhale.
It was unimaginable—she had actually kissed such a man, even groped his chest! This was... sheer audacity!
He wants me to learn hairstyling... Does that mean he intends for me to do this every day?
The memory of that crooked bun made her cringe. Thankfully, the crown had stabilized it.
The Crown Prince seems... far more tolerant than before.
Later, the Crown Prince pressed her against the wall, his eyes burning crimson as he kissed her fiercely. "You’ll have everything you desire."
