Yun Kui was surprised by his sudden mention of The Sixth Prince. Could it be that The Sixth Prince had secretly been watching her in the hall, and the Crown Prince had noticed?
"So, does he want me to agree or not?"
Yun Kui blinked. "Does Your Highness wish to keep this servant?"
The Crown Prince said coldly, "I asked you a question, yet instead of answering directly, you dare to counter with another. That is disrespectful."
Haha, disrespectful.
Hearing her inexplicable internal laughter, the Crown Prince's expression darkened.
Was I respectful when I groped your chest muscles? When I pinned you down on the bed? When I forced a kiss on you? Hahahaha…
The Crown Prince stared at her intently.
Yun Kui’s laughter in her mind abruptly stopped.
Could it be that the Crown Prince dislikes me and wants to send me away?
That won’t do! If the Empress finds out I failed in my duties and am now causing trouble for her son, she’ll surely have me killed!
Fine, I’ll just cling tightly to the Crown Prince’s favor for now…
The Crown Prince: "…"
So, he was merely the lesser of two evils in her eyes. All her talk of loyalty was just empty words—she was nothing but a two-faced little ingrate.
With a cold expression, the Crown Prince turned and walked away.
Seeing his displeasure, Yun Kui hurried after him, fawning. "Ah, this servant only wishes to follow Your Highness!"
The Crown Prince didn’t spare her another glance.
Back at Chengguang Palace, Yun Kui watched helplessly as the two men were dragged into the interrogation chamber. With no further orders from the Crown Prince, she could only wait outside.
She didn’t know what kind of torture was being used inside, but the agonized screams were bone-chilling—sounds of unbearable suffering, as if they had reached the limits of human endurance. The cries no longer even sounded human, more like beasts trapped in a predator’s jaws, their flesh being torn apart bite by bite.
Though she wasn’t experiencing it herself, the ghastly noises sent shivers down her spine. Night had long fallen, and the cold wind in the corridor seeped into her bones, chilling her to the core.
Cruel? Undoubtedly.
But whether Chief Steward Deng had framed Eunuch Cao or acted out of personal vengeance, countless palace servants from Qingfeng Office and Qianyuan Terrace had lost their lives because of him. He was undeniably guilty.
She clenched her fists and took a deep breath.
Don’t be afraid. I’ve done nothing wrong.
Time passed indistinctly inside, until the screams finally ceased. When the Crown Prince emerged, his tall figure was half-hidden in the dim light of the corridor, his expression unreadable, the thick scent of blood still clinging to him.
Yun Kui stood obediently to the side. The Crown Prince glanced at her, his gaze deep and silent, before walking away.
Back in the main hall, Cao Yuanlu attended to his bath first. Afterward, Deshun came to report that dinner was ready.
The Crown Prince had little appetite. After a moment of silence, he said, "I’ll go shortly."
As usual, Yun Kui sampled the dishes first.
She had eaten sparingly at Nanny Yan’s place during lunch, feigning restraint. Though she had been hungry earlier, the events of the afternoon and the lingering stench of blood outside the interrogation chamber had left her stomach queasy at the sight of meat dishes.
She only nibbled on the vegetarian options, avoiding the meat entirely—not that the Crown Prince cared for it either.
Sure enough, whether due to poor appetite or another headache, the Crown Prince merely sipped some broth before dismissing the meal.
That night, as she lay beside him, Yun Kui stole glances at his aloof, indifferent face and wisely kept quiet, not daring to provoke him.
But deep into the night, the gnawing hunger returned with a vengeance. Rubbing her stomach, she lamented inwardly.
Ugh, I’m starving.
At least the Crown Prince is a feast for the eyes. From this angle, his profile is flawless—like it was meticulously carved. His lashes are so long, his nose so perfectly straight. How is he this good-looking?
Tell me, little sunflower, where would you start devouring such a delectable Crown Prince?
His nose? Eyes? Lips? Maybe just a little nibble on his cheek first—munch, munch, munch!
The Crown Prince: "…"
He was genuinely irritated.
Summoning her to his bed was meant to ease his headaches, yet she always found a way to disrupt the night—either too full, too hungry, needing to relieve herself, dreaming aloud, or ogling him. There was never a peaceful moment.
As Yun Kui continued her silent admiration, his lips suddenly moved, startling her.
"Are you sleeping or not? If not, get out."
Yun Kui froze. "How did Your Highness know I wasn’t asleep?"
Does he have supernatural vision? She was certain she hadn’t made a single sound—even her breathing had been quiet.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Yun Kui: "…"
Stupid stomach, why now?!
The Crown Prince massaged his temples.
She gave an awkward smile. "Your Highness, I didn’t eat much at dinner, so I’m a bit too hungry to sleep."
I miss my milk and water chestnut cakes so much… Soft, sweet, and creamy—those who don’t appreciate them are missing out!
A vein twitched at the Crown Prince’s temple. "If you’re hungry, go eat."
Yun Kui bit her lip. "There’s still that plate of milk and water chestnut cakes, but they were made for Your Highness. It wouldn’t be right for me to eat them alone."
The Crown Prince ignored her. She inched closer. "You only had half a bowl of broth earlier—you must be hungry too. How about I bring the cakes, and we share?"
The Crown Prince: "I’m not hungry. Eat them yourself."
Yun Kui sighed. "If you won’t eat, then neither will I. I’ve gained weight recently anyway."
Staring at His Highness’s beauty is almost as satisfying as a meal.
The Crown Prince exhaled deeply. "…Go fetch them."
Delighted, Yun Kui sprang up. "Right away!"
She hastily dressed, retrieved the plate of cakes from her room, reheated them in the kitchen, and rushed back.
The Crown Prince had already sat up on the bed. She placed the plate on the small table, lifting the lid to reveal the steaming, fragrant cakes. She nudged it toward him. "Try one, Your Highness."
Skeptical, the Crown Prince picked up a piece and took a slow bite. The texture was soft, the sweetness of rice flour blending with rich milk, each bite punctuated by crisp water chestnut bits.
Though the craftsmanship was simple, he finished the entire cake without comment before offering a terse evaluation: "Passable."
Yun Kui beamed inwardly.
I knew he had a sweet tooth.
The Crown Prince scoffed and refused more.
Under normal circumstances, a servant who presumed to guess their master’s preferences would be caned.
He glanced at her. "Aren’t you eating?"
"Maybe I shouldn’t?" Yun Kui licked her lips, pouting. "I’ve been indulging in Your Highness’s food so much lately—I’ve gotten rounder. Don’t you think I’ve gained weight?"
Her words redirected his attention to the slightly parted collar of her robe, where soft, fragrant skin peeked out. The memory of that night’s touch lingered on his fingertips.
He recalled a time in his youth in the northwestern snowfields when, on a whim, he had molded a snowball the size of his palm.
And now, this soft, tender milk cake.
The Crown Prince subtly lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable. "If you already know you're plump, why ask me?"
Yun Kui rested her chin on her arm, her dark, luminous eyes fixed on him. "Then, Your Highness, do you prefer me plump or slender?"
The Crown Prince replied indifferently, "I prefer you quieter."
Yun Kui curved her lips into a smile. "Then I’ll just have one piece! Otherwise, I’ll be too hungry to sleep later and might disturb Your Highness’s ears."
After sharing the pastries and rinsing their mouths, Yun Kui happily nestled into the inner side of the bed.
Finally, silence settled beside him.
The Crown Prince closed his eyes, only to dream of himself at thirteen, standing in the snow at the northwestern military camp.
The borderlands were a harsh and bitter place, where blizzards raged fiercer than anything he’d ever seen in the capital. In a single night, the snow piled over a foot deep.
Outside a general’s tent, someone had built three snowmen, resembling a family from afar—likely the handiwork of a homesick soldier longing for his wife and children.
Born without parents, the Crown Prince had never known familial warmth. He had no childhood memories, nor had he ever built a snowman.
That day, on a whim, he bent down and scooped up a handful of snow, shaping it into a palm-sized ball. Just as he considered attempting a snowman, he noticed soldiers passing by the camp. Without a word, he set it down and returned to his tent to study military texts, never touching snow again.
The scene shifted—now it was that girl holding a plate of milky-white pastries before him. "I made these milk and water chestnut cakes myself, Your Highness. Won’t you try one?"
He took two bites. They were indeed fragrant, soft, and delicately sweet.
"Your Highness," that mischievous girl asked with a grin, "which is sweeter—the pastries or me?"
He didn’t answer, yet somehow, she lured him onto the bed, guiding his hand to the soft, snow-white curve below her collarbone. She blinked up at him, shy yet bold. "Your Highness always doubts my loyalty, doesn’t you? Well, my heart is right here. Feel it—see if there’s room for anyone else."
The moment his palm met that warm, yielding softness, the Crown Prince shuddered violently and jolted awake.
Since when had he started having such absurd dreams?
Rubbing his temples, he suddenly sensed something amiss and instinctively glanced at the little figure beside him—her back turned, shoulders trembling slightly.
At the same time, her inner voice echoed in his ears.
"Ahhhh!"
"Hold it together, Yun Kui! Pretend nothing happened, nothing at all! Stay calm, stay calm..."
"If I act oblivious, only he’ll be embarrassed."
The Crown Prince: "..."
So she had indeed invaded his dream.
Yet he couldn’t tell whether it was his own longing manifesting or if this girl had left such an indelible mark that even his dreams weren’t spared her teasing.
His fingertips still burned with the phantom heat of her skin—soft as snow, pressing against the rough calluses of his palm. The ripple effect was undeniable; he could feel a certain part of him stirring beyond his control.
The Crown Prince shut his eyes and drew a deep breath.
Of course, this girl couldn’t keep a secret. The moment she woke, her gaze held a knowing glint.
"Does Your Highness have court this morning?"
He averted his eyes. "No."
The Great Zhao Dynasty held court once every three days. Emperor Chunming, eager to showcase his diligence, had once considered daily sessions. But frequent indulgence in the harem left him too exhausted, and the idea was abandoned.
Yun Kui leaned closer with a smile. "I learned a new hairstyle from Nanny Yan yesterday. Won’t you let me try it on you today?"
She was too close—her warm breath brushed his neck, her expression brimming with mischief.
The Crown Prince shot her a cold glare, but as he turned his shoulder, it accidentally bumped into the plush fullness beneath her slender neck. A soft gasp escaped her.
Today, she wore a red undergarment embroidered with pomegranate vines—a common motif in the inner palace, symbolizing fertility and abundance.
Yet the flimsy fabric could hardly contain the rounded curves beneath. The sinuous vines and blossoms only accentuated their allure. The Crown Prince’s eyes darkened, his breathing growing heavy.
Reporter Qingqing: Which part of the Crown Prince tastes best?
Little Sunflower: The Crown Prince’s wife tastes the best!
