Yun Kui noticed his gaze growing increasingly intense, even somewhat frightening.
"Your Highness, calm down! Your own dream has nothing to do with me!"
"I’ve renounced worldly desires, this humble one begs you to…"
Before she could finish her thoughts, the man’s palm suddenly tightened. Before Yun Kui could react, he had already gripped her shoulders and pressed her down. Her wide, glistening eyes stared at him in shock. "Your Highness…"
The Crown Prince’s eyes darkened as his gaze leisurely trailed downward. The moment his rough fingertips brushed against the soft, dewy flesh—like the delicate skin of a lychee—the girl beneath him shivered uncontrollably.
Yun Kui bit her lip and blurted out in panic, "Your Highness! I truly didn’t dream of you last night…"
The Crown Prince scoffed.
It took Yun Kui’s muddled mind a moment to catch up, only to realize her words were a blatant admission of guilt.
Now in no hurry, the Crown Prince leisurely traced circles on her snow-white skin, watching as a delicate pink flush gradually spread across it. The intricate pomegranate embroidery on her undergarment swayed with each rise and fall of her chest, the plump fruit at the branch’s tip trembling as if begging to be plucked, bitten into, and savored.
"You’ve grown bold. How long have I indulged you?"
Yun Kui pouted. "But in the dream, it was Your Highness who…"
Before she could finish, the Crown Prince’s knuckles dug sharply into the soft flesh. Yun Kui instinctively bit her lip, but a soft moan still escaped.
The sound was so sweet it instantly disrupted the man’s breathing.
Their breaths mingled as Yun Kui’s lashes fluttered wildly.
The Crown Prince’s gaze burned into her. "Didn’t you say you wanted to take advantage of me every day? Why are you acting like a paper tiger now?"
If she hadn’t recklessly pinned him down last time and spouted such brazen words, she might still be able to play the innocent, obedient little rabbit. But now that he saw right through her, any resistance would only come off as coy pretence.
Maybe I should just give in?
Everyone was so happy in the dream—haven’t you always wanted to experience it? Who knows, maybe the Crown Prince is even bigger… and more skilled?
You’ve been craving this too, haven’t you? Don’t let him look down on you!
With that thought, Yun Kui gritted her teeth, arched her back like a carp leaping out of water, and slammed her chest against his firm muscles.
The Crown Prince: "…"
But with that collision, something hard and unmistakable pressed sharply against her lower abdomen.
The moment she realized what it was, her entire face burned crimson.
That’s… way too obvious!
They say the taller a man’s nose bridge, the more gifted he is… seems like it’s true!
A low chuckle sounded above her.
Yun Kui blinked her watery almond eyes. As their gazes locked, he leaned down—but before he could close the distance, her hand moved faster than her brain, slapping over her own lips.
The Crown Prince studied her for a moment but didn’t remove her hand. Instead, his dark eyes drifted lower, his cool lips landing just below her collarbone, where the soft swell of her breasts strained against the thin fabric.
Yun Kui never expected him to kiss her there. The tingling sensation sent a violent shudder through her body.
His lips lingered on the fragrant, silken skin before he suddenly bit down—hard.
Tears sprang to Yun Kui’s eyes, her ears burning red. She finally lowered her hand from her mouth to push him away, but his lips crashed onto hers before she could react, stealing her breath.
After their previous encounters, Yun Kui thought she’d be more composed this time. Yet her body still melted helplessly under his touch, her heart in chaos.
Her hands fluttered uncertainly before settling on his lower back, wrapping around him in a tentative embrace.
Such… such a nice waist.
Her slender arms coiled around him like the delicate vines embroidered on her undergarment, clinging tightly.
The Crown Prince’s breathing grew heavier, his kiss deepening from a teasing brush to something all-consuming, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
Afraid of repeating their first awkward experience, Yun Kui timidly began responding.
Their tongues met—his kiss was wet, scorching, his breath wrapping around her like countless sparks igniting beneath her skin. Those invisible embers fluttered like butterflies, lifting her body into a haze of warmth and weightlessness.
His kissing… suddenly improved?
Mmph!
---
Kunning Palace
Today was the day the imperial concubines paid their respects to the Empress. Emperor Chunming’s harem was vast, and even excluding those who frequently claimed illness, the procession was still an impressive sight.
By tradition, the concubines should visit the Empress daily. However, the Empress, unwilling to entertain them yet eager to maintain her magnanimous image, had reduced the visits to once every five days—earning herself a reputation for kindness and harmony.
The concubines entered the hall in small groups, offering their greetings before seating themselves according to rank.
News of the Crown Prince’s recent spectacle at Yongyan Palace had spread. It was now known that the incident during the New Year’s sacrificial rites had been orchestrated by Prince Chen’s trusted eunuch, who had since been dragged into the Eastern Palace—his fate unknown.
Everyone kept their expressions neutral, but inwardly, they knew: this was undoubtedly Prince Chen’s doing. With the Crown Prince away on campaign, removing his loyalists from the Eastern Palace would allow Prince Chen to plant his own people.
But this was a battle between the Crown Prince and Prince Chen. The concubines knew better than to voice opinions in front of the Empress—why invite trouble?
Most still deferred to the Empress. With the Crown Prince as heir and two other legitimate sons, Emperor Chunming’s numerous offspring posed no immediate threat to the succession.
The concubines vied for favor—for their families, for children, for themselves—but with the power struggle between Emperor Chunming and the Crown Prince unresolved, premature ambition was futile.
Besides, Emperor Chunming distributed his favors evenly. Even those of lesser status or beauty, as long as they behaved, were never neglected. Thus, despite the harem’s many blossoms, peace had prevailed over the years.
The imperial selections served two purposes: securing alliances with powerful families and ensuring a robust lineage. The Empress understood this—yet it did nothing to lessen her disdain for these women.
Jealousy festered within her. The affection that should have been hers alone was now divided among so many. The sheer noise of their greetings, louder even than the court’s morning assemblies, was unbearable!
Moreover, her years of scheming against the Crown Prince had ended in repeated failures. Her own son remained unable to claim his rightful place, and now the Crown Prince had exposed the truth behind the sacrificial incident—humiliating Prince Chen in the process! The harem was surely reveling in their rivalry.
The thought that these women might one day benefit from Emperor Chunming’s reign—perhaps even covet the throne—filled the Empress with simmering rage.
Of course, no matter how much she loathed them, she had to maintain a facade of harmony.
The Empress glanced past the several concubines in front and finally settled her gaze on a woman whose face appeared somewhat pale.
"Concubine Yu, how has the Ninth Prince been these past few days?"
Concubine Yu rose at the question, stepping forward with a graceful bow. Once a radiant and beautiful woman, her eyes were now rimmed with red, her voice slightly hoarse. "Your Majesty, Shou'er's wounds have all scabbed over, but his arm still pains him terribly. He cries every day."
The Empress felt no sympathy for another woman's son. In fact, she believed the Ninth Prince had long deserved discipline—the Emperor had been far too indulgent, and Concubine Yu, spoiled by favor, had allowed her son to grow reckless and unrestrained in speech. This had given the Crown Prince an opening to strike and even humiliated the Emperor before his court officials.
The Empress refrained from reprimanding her only out of propriety. Instead, she sternly advised, "Having learned this lesson, he must be more cautious in words and deeds from now on."
Concubine Yu bit her lip and bowed in acquiescence.
The Empress disliked Concubine Yu the most—a woman of lowly origins, yet with the bewitching looks of a fox spirit, who had once ensnared her nephew Xie Huaichuan, nearly driving him to sever ties with his family.
Had it not been for her relentless persuasion back then, her nephew would never have relented and willingly married the granddaughter of Duke Ling.
The Yu family should have given up their ambitions. Yet, driven by their desire to climb the social ladder, they had sent their daughter into the imperial harem as a candidate, and now she served the same man as the Empress herself!
She didn’t know how her nephew felt about it, but it gnawed at her. Yet the more it troubled her, the more she had to conceal it. If the Emperor were to discover that his favored concubine had once been betrothed to the Xie family and that the two had been deeply infatuated, Concubine Yu’s fall from grace would be the least of their worries—the Xie family would surely suffer the consequences.
After the concubines paid their respects and exchanged pleasantries in Kunming Palace, the Empress dismissed them.
Concubine Yu walked among the crowd, her face ashen, when she unexpectedly caught sight of a familiar figure.
Their eyes met, and Concubine Yu immediately lowered her gaze, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
By the palace path, Xie Huaichuan, the heir of Ningde Marquis, glanced at her, suppressing the surge of longing before finally looking away.
He couldn’t visit Bao Hua Palace, nor could he see the Ninth Prince. He had deliberately chosen this time to enter the palace and pay respects to the Empress, knowing the concubines would be present for their morning greetings—perhaps he could catch a distant glimpse of her.
But now that he had seen her, her despondent, pale, and pitiable appearance only intensified the anguish in his heart.
"Aunt."
Entering the grand hall, Xie Huaichuan bowed to the Empress.
Seeing him, the Empress frowned slightly. Concubine Yu had just left, and his arrival right after was too conspicuous—it was hard not to suspect his ulterior motives.
Only after dismissing the attendants did the Empress prepare to question him, but Xie Huaichuan spoke first. "Aunt, has the secret medicine been delivered?"
He diverted the topic, forcing the Empress to set aside her suspicions for now. She shook her head. "It was given, but she is either too timid or has yet to find the opportunity. The Crown Prince has not taken it."
Some matters were too delicate to discuss openly with the Emperor, and certain forbidden or poisonous substances could not be entrusted to others. The Empress often relied on her nephew for such tasks.
As the cousin of the Second and Sixth Princes, he was family. The rise and fall of the Xie family were intertwined with their own. Having stood at the pinnacle of Dazhao’s power for twenty years, none were willing to plummet from those heights and be trampled into dust. Thus, they had to exhaust every means to overthrow the Crown Prince and install Prince Chen in the Eastern Palace.
Xie Huaichuan pondered briefly. "The Eastern Palace now has only one bedchamber attendant left. Was she the one Aunt entrusted with the medicine?"
"Indeed," the Empress replied. "Is there a problem?"
Xie Huaichuan then recounted the matter of the Seven-Day Poison. "She had no means to detoxify herself—the antidote could only have been given to her by the Crown Prince through He Bailing."
The Empress paled slightly, her fingers tightening around her handkerchief. "Are you saying the Crown Prince knew she had been poisoned and went out of his way to save her?"
Xie Huaichuan nodded. "Yes."
"That wretched girl must be quite remarkable to have coaxed the Crown Prince into saving her." A sudden realization struck the Empress, and panic flashed across her face. "Then the secret medicine I gave her… Could she have already handed it over?"
Xie Huaichuan’s expression darkened. "It’s possible."
The Empress’s fingers trembled faintly, a cold sweat breaking out on her back. "What should we do?"
Xie Huaichuan quickly reassured her. "Aunt, there’s no need for excessive worry. Since the Crown Prince has not confronted you, perhaps the maid has yet to confess. Gaining his favor while offending you would bring her no benefit. Moreover, she doesn’t even know what the medicine truly is. Now that the Crown Prince dotes on her, she has no urgent need to use it. When new consorts enter the Eastern Palace, when a Crown Princess is installed, and when she loses his favor—that is when she will act."
The Empress exclaimed in frustration, "How can I wait for that day?"
Now that the Crown Prince had returned to the capital, he had first purged the Eastern Palace, executing or expelling all disloyal servants. Then he had punished the Ninth Prince and exposed Prince Chen’s scheme to frame Cao Yuanlu. Next, he would surely come for her and the Emperor!
Xie Huaichuan said, "Aunt, do not panic. The New Year’s Eve banquet is approaching, and the Crown Prince will undoubtedly attend. I have a plan."
Thinking of Concubine Yu’s haggard face and the Ninth Prince, weakened by the Crown Prince’s torment, Xie Huaichuan exhaled heavily, his dark eyes seething with near-murderous fury.
...
After breakfast, the Crown Prince went to Chongming Hall to discuss state affairs with his advisors, while Yun Kui returned to the rear annex to continue learning hairstyling from Nanny Yan.
Nanny Yan had sharp eyes and immediately noticed the subtle change in Yun Kui compared to the day before.
Yesterday, she had been timid and hesitant, but today, she carried the radiant shyness of a maiden in bloom. Though only lightly adorned, her cheeks were the color of crabapple blossoms, and her lips, like ripe cherries, seemed to glisten as if a mere touch would release their sweetness.
Yun Kui obediently sat before the mirror as Nanny Yan combed through her hair. The older woman’s gaze trailed down the silken black strands until it caught on a suspicious red mark at the base of Yun Kui’s neck.
Nanny Yan chuckled. "Did the Crown Prince show you his affection last night?"
Yun Kui’s face flushed crimson.
