After the Crown Prince’s return to the capital, his first court assembly took everyone by surprise—not only the officials but even Emperor Chunming himself.
Everyone knew the Crown Prince was arrogant beyond measure, never once considering the emperor worthy of his notice. Yet no one expected him to show up uninvited to such an important court meeting, without so much as a greeting.
Last night, Emperor Chunming had gone to see the Ninth Prince. The young child had been tormented so severely that his arm was dislocated, nearly frightening him out of his wits. When he woke yesterday, he was crying uncontrollably, struggling to breathe, and ended up vomiting all the food he had swallowed.
Concubine Yu wept bitterly. How could the emperor bear it? He soothed the beloved consort, comforted the child, and only finally settled down well past midnight.
His only regret was that the Crown Prince’s heart was cruel and ruthless. The Ninth Prince had only misspoken once; a minor punishment would have sufficed. But the Crown Prince had imposed such a harsh penalty and then exploited the incident to make a scene, going before the senior ministers and practically pointing a finger at Emperor Chunming, accusing him of failing to educate his child properly and causing him to lose face in front of the court.
Yet today, when the Crown Prince appeared at court, no matter how displeased Emperor Chunming felt inside, he suppressed his anger for fear of giving others ammunition. With a smile, he rose to greet the Crown Prince warmly, inquiring after his health and playing the part of the affectionate uncle to perfection.
Prince Chen stared at the five-clawed dragon embroidered on the Crown Prince’s court robe and felt a sharp sting in his heart.
In the entire Great Zhao empire, only two people were permitted to wear the dragon robe: Emperor Chunming himself, and the Crown Prince.
At the founding of the dynasty, princes and kings were allowed to wear robes adorned with dragons. But by Emperor Jingyou’s reign, only the emperor could wear the dragon robe; all princes and dukes were limited to four-clawed “mang” robes. Yet Emperor Chunming, in a rare display of generosity, had granted the Crown Prince the privilege to wear the dragon robe.
And all this honor rightfully belonged to Prince Chen.
The court officials, having not seen the Crown Prince for a long time, were filled with a mix of fear, curiosity, awe at his imposing presence, or guilt, afraid that the Crown Prince might once again dredge up charges against them as he had three years ago.
Rumors outside claimed the Crown Prince’s campaign to the northern border was a chance to redeem himself through merit, but the truth was different.
Before leaving, he had personally dealt with a group of corrupt, negligent officials—removing these cancerous elements that harmed the state and the people, and setting an example to warn others not to misbehave during his absence.
Yet the methods he used back then were so brutal they still sent chills down people’s spines.
When he was away on campaign, many dared to breathe a little easier. But now that he had returned to the capital, everyone had to tighten their nerves once more. Just seeing him stand at the front of the procession with his hands behind his back, radiating an aura of ruthless severity, was enough to make people shudder.
“Wasn’t he supposed to be gravely injured and barely able to recover? How is he standing here so perfectly fine?”
“With the Crown Prince back, who knows how many people will suffer.”
“The Late Emperor was wise and benevolent, respected by all officials—how could his son be so...”
The Crown Prince listened to the whispers and murmurs from all directions, a cold, mocking smile curling at the corner of his lips.
Some things didn’t need much explanation, and he was too lazy to bother.
Just as the common folk said he had slaughtered across seven cities in Northern Wei without leaving a single survivor, much of it was due to famine and plague. The few thousand he truly ordered executed were all Northern Wei soldiers who chose death over surrender.
Northern Wei was a belligerent, warlike state that had provoked conflicts along Great Zhao’s borders for a century. Even the brave and capable Late Emperor had ultimately fallen in the northern frontier. During his three years leading troops there, the Crown Prince had endured countless fierce battles, with heavy casualties on Great Zhao’s side. Victory had come at a steep price.
An undefeated army left lingering troubles.
He did not deny that deep down, he harbored a violent and bloodthirsty streak—his actions often extreme, showing no mercy to the soldiers of Northern Wei, pursuing them relentlessly to the point of annihilation. Of course, part of this was due to his physical condition—he did not know how much longer he had to live.
The chronic head ailment tormented him day and night, surrounded by packs of wolves, countless nights spent teetering on the edge of death from pain. Then, under a hail of arrows, in a moment of life and death, a sudden, sharp pain like steel needles stabbing his nerves erupted inside his skull, causing his entire body to convulse and freeze, unable to move, helpless as the arrows pierced his flesh...
He was unwilling to wait any longer—he couldn’t afford to. Time was too scarce to waste on delays and negotiations. So he chose to eliminate all future troubles once and for all.
His ruthlessness extended not only to the Northern Wei enemies but also to corrupt officials.
Those who governed unjustly, he would root out one by one.
Those who neglected their duties were unworthy to stand in the grand halls of the court.
How could those who were easily swayed by rumors, unable to discern truth from falsehood, and who turned right into wrong, be expected to uphold justice for the people?
Even if his reputation was sullied, he did not care.
...
After an early meal, Cao Yuanlu took Yun Kui to a secluded chamber behind the rear palace to learn hairdressing from Nanny Yan.
Nanny Yan was a veteran of the Eastern Palace, having once served Empress Huigong. Now advanced in age, she managed trivial chores in the Eastern Palace and lived alone in a private room in the rear quarters, enjoying a peaceful retirement.
It was rare for someone to visit her room and speak, so Nanny Yan was very pleased.
Cao Yuanlu made a point of saying, “This young lady is a palace maid attending the Crown Prince, much favored by His Highness.”
Nanny Yan’s eyes shone with even more delight and affection as she looked at Yun Kui.
Yun Kui felt deeply ashamed; her cheeks flushed bright red. She wanted to say something in response but was too shy to speak.
Cao Yuanlu had other matters to attend to and left first. Yun Kui stayed behind contentedly, learning to style hair under Nanny Yan’s guidance.
Though old and frail, Nanny Yan’s pale temples were neatly groomed, her clothes tidy without a wrinkle, and not a speck of dust could be found in the room.
As they chatted, Yun Kui learned that the bridal hairstyle of Empress Huigong at her wedding to the Late Emperor had been crafted by Nanny Yan’s own hands. Later, for important occasions like ancestral rites and palace banquets, Nanny Yan had often been entrusted with styling the Empress’s hair.
Yun Kui said, “The Crown Prince is so handsome; Empress Huigong must be the most beautiful woman under heaven.”
Nanny Yan agreed but was surprised that such a young girl would use such elegant words to describe the Crown Prince.
Having served the Crown Prince since his youth, she knew that he had been born with a serious illness, which made his temperament violent and unpredictable. Everyone in the palace respected but kept their distance. Among the noble ladies who entered the palace, few dared to get close to him, let alone look him over properly.
This young girl was quite remarkable.
Nanny Yan brought out a lacquered tray holding various combs, hairpins, and ornamental flowers. After looking it over, she decided to remove Yun Kui’s beaded flower and undo her hairstyle, using her hair as a teaching model.
The young girl’s raven-black hair was as smooth as silk, cascading over her shoulders like delicate jade petals, highlighting her fair, translucent complexion. Her hair was neatly pinned up, revealing the delicate skin of her ears, thin and almost transparent, flawless like jade.
Nanny Yan looked into the mirror at those clear, shimmering eyes and couldn’t help but smile. “Truly a beauty in the making. No wonder the Crown Prince favors you.”
Yun Kui whispered softly, “Please don’t listen to Eunuch Cao’s nonsense. The Crown Prince doesn’t actually dote on me. He just keeps me by his side to serve. I’m quite afraid of him and always speak cautiously…”
Nanny Yan chuckled softly, “If he didn’t like you, would he keep you to share his bed?”
Yun Kui blushed deeply but didn’t bother explaining to everyone that the Crown Prince had never laid a hand on her.
Thinking it over carefully, aside from sharing the bed at night, kissing her twice, saving her twice, and standing up for her in front of the other princes just yesterday, there really wasn’t much else.
In any case, it seemed he kept her around because she remained loyal—warming his bed for now. But if she ever truly angered him, her life wouldn’t be safe.
Watching Nanny Yan’s practiced hands as she braided her hair, Yun Kui spoke softly, “Nanny, you’ve served the Crown Prince for many years and understand his likes and temperament better than anyone. Could you give me some advice? So that I might be a little more clever around him.”
Nanny Yan had been ill for many years and hadn’t served at Chengguang Hall for a long time. In her memories, the Crown Prince was still a melancholy youth, his brows always shadowed by a heavy gloom.
When he was three, the Late Empress Dowager passed away. The young Crown Prince said nothing, didn’t drink a drop, and knelt at the mourning hall for three whole days.
At five, someone he trusted most among his attendants poisoned his meal. The Crown Prince vomited blood through the night, nearly losing half his life. From then on, his dark, somber eyes were always wary and guarded.
At seven, during a bout of illness, he accidentally killed someone. That night, sitting alone in the empty hall’s corner, his eyes red as fire, he said to Nanny Yan, “Nanny, how I wish it had been me who died.”
…
Recalling all this, Nanny Yan’s eyes reddened. She felt both heartache for his lonely, suffering childhood and long illness that twisted his nature into one of bitterness and suspicion, and relief that he had persevered, building his own power, purging traitors from the court, fulfilling the Late Emperor’s unfinished legacy. The man who once kept everyone at arm’s length now had a companion he cared for.
The preferences of those in power were never to be spoken aloud. The Crown Prince was cold and self-disciplined, showing no particular enthusiasm for anything. Even if he did harbor some affection, as heir apparent, he kept it buried deep, never revealing it publicly.
Yet after years of service, Nanny Yan knew some secrets others did not—and she was willing to share a few words with this young girl.
“Your Highness, there’s actually a little-known fondness he has.”
Yun Kui’s eyes brightened. “Please tell me.”
Nanny Yan smiled quietly, “When the Crown Prince was little, he refused to eat longevity noodles on his birthday. Instead, he would eat sweet treats—sometimes a single pine nut candy, other times a piece of osmanthus cake. He never ate much, but I believe he liked them very much.”
Yun Kui could hardly believe it. “His Highness actually likes sweets?”
Nanny Yan nodded and sighed, “It’s just that as he’s gotten older, constantly at war and burdened with worries, and with my health failing, I haven’t been able to serve him in the palace for quite some time. I don’t know if he still likes them now.”
Yun Kui made a mental note.
She had come from the Imperial Kitchen, and although she had never been the head cook, she had assisted the pastry chefs and had been immersed in their craft day after day. She had genuinely learned how to make a few kinds of sweets.
If she could win His Highness’s favor with this, perhaps he would treat her better?
After all, once you’ve accepted someone’s kindness, you’re bound to owe them. And if she wanted to get closer to him in the future, he probably wouldn’t be so stingy.
Hesitating for a moment, Yun Kui asked, “Nanny Yan, do you know about His Highness’s head ailment?”
Nanny Yan sighed, “His Highness has cried more than ordinary babies since birth. At first, we thought it was because he was premature and weak. Also, Empress Huigong died giving birth, so perhaps there was some connection between mother and child. But later, he cried almost every night. The Empress Dowager summoned many doctors, yet none could find the cause. Imperial Physician Zheng had some remedies for head ailments, but His Highness was too young to take the medicine, so we could only use a small amount of calming incense to help him sleep. Later, Military Doctor He came to the palace and said His Highness’s condition was unusual, unlike normal cases. Still, no cure was found. And so, he has endured this for twenty years…”
Yun Kui’s eyes darkened as she recalled how bloodshot the Crown Prince’s eyes had been when he woke last night. She couldn’t imagine the kind of pain he must be in.
Nanny Yan smiled, “But you needn’t worry too much. His Highness is measured and endures what others cannot. He wouldn’t easily harm those around him—otherwise, how could I have lived to this age?”
Yun Kui shrank her head and muttered, “That’s because you’re respected and esteemed. He naturally cherishes you, but he’s quite fierce with me.”
Nanny Yan couldn’t help but laugh. In all her years, she had never heard anyone describe His Highness as “fierce.” People often said he was ruthless and cruel, sometimes even worse, but never just “fierce.”
As they talked, Nanny Yan’s hands never stopped moving. In the blink of an eye, she had fashioned a neat and tidy masculine hairstyle on Yun Kui.
Yun Kui glanced at her reflection. What a handsome young gentleman she looked like!
If she were a man, her appearance wouldn’t be any less striking than any of the princes in the palace.
Nanny Yan stared at her for a moment, feeling a strange sense of familiarity about the hairstyle but couldn’t quite place it.
After diligently practicing for half a day, Yun Kui headed straight to the kitchen, planning to make some sweets for the Crown Prince as a token of her goodwill. Unexpectedly, the steward was there too.
The steward had yet to be summoned by the Crown Prince and was anxious. Thinking the weather had turned cold these days, he decided to personally prepare a warming soup to bring to the Crown Prince’s chamber, hoping to make an appearance in front of him.
“What are you doing here?” the steward asked, staring at her.
Yun Kui looked around and said, “I’m craving something sweet.”
The steward snapped, “You’re too greedy. His Highness has such sumptuous meals every day, and you’ve eaten your fill, yet you come all the way to the kitchen looking for sweets? Haven’t you noticed how much weight you’ve gained?”
Yun Kui followed her gaze downward and noticed her chest looked noticeably fuller—indeed, more rounded than before.
But she still had to retort: “What do you know? This is called ‘plump and perfect.’ Don’t you think about how it got this way? Are you questioning the Crown Prince’s abilities?”
The stewardess was stunned for a moment before understanding her meaning, her face instantly flushing red. “You… you’re shameless!”
“That’s not quite it,” Yun Kui smiled, patting her on the shoulder. “We’re close enough to speak frankly. I’m actually quite shy in front of the Crown Prince.”
The stewardess was speechless.
The kitchen was well-stocked with ingredients. Seeing some fresh water chestnuts, Yun Kui decided to make a foolproof dish for the Crown Prince: milk and water chestnut pudding.
She crushed the water chestnuts into a paste, then mixed in fresh milk and flour. As she stirred, her eyes drifted back to her chest.
It really had grown quite a bit… probably because she’d been eating so well lately.
She just wondered if the Crown Prince had noticed.
He hadn’t touched her in a long time. Aside from that one time when he had tenderly massaged her breasts after taking the ‘Harmony Powder,’ even when they shared the same bed, he lay there cold and distant. Occasionally, he would hold her briefly, but always with extreme restraint.
Honestly… was all that restraint really necessary?
Lost in these wandering thoughts, Yun Kui felt her ears flush and an indescribable desire welling up from deep within.
Her vow to abstain had already failed.
It turned out she didn’t just crave his body—she wanted him to try her again…
Crown Prince: If you want to try, then try.
