Cao Yuanlu knew that the Crown Prince had kept his distance from women all these years. Three years ago, Emperor Chunming had proposed selecting a consort for him, but the matter was delayed due to the northern border war. Now that the Prince’s arrow wound had healed and his chronic headaches had eased, the matter of marriage could no longer be postponed.
The Crown Prince’s notorious reputation, coupled with his violent temperament and lingering ailments, had deterred many noble families in the capital. To them, the Eastern Palace seemed like the gates of hell—entering meant certain death.
Nevertheless, there were still officials favored by the late emperor who stood by the Prince’s side, and he also had several capable generals in the army. Their unmarried daughters were all suitable candidates for the position of Crown Princess.
Cao Yuanlu cautiously observed him and asked, “Traditionally, one principal consort and two secondary consorts are selected first. Does Your Highness have anyone in mind?”
It would be best to settle the matter all at once, ensuring the swift continuation of the royal lineage. Otherwise, on top of the Prince’s already infamous reputation, he might also be saddled with the blame for failing to produce an heir.
Cao Yuanlu even feared that if things dragged on, the Emperor and Empress might spread rumors of the Prince’s “impotence.” At that point, even the officials who staunchly supported him might waver in their loyalty.
The Crown Prince’s icy gaze snapped toward him at the mention of “impotence.”
Unaware that his thoughts had been overheard, Cao Yuanlu assumed the Prince simply resisted marriage. “Your Highness, this matter truly cannot be delayed any longer.”
“As for Yun Kui, no matter how fond you are of her, she is still just a palace maid,” he sighed, speaking out of concern for his master. “Once the Crown Princess enters the palace, you can elevate her status—to Liangyuan or Cairen. Bestow her with gold, silver, and the affection and dignity she deserves. That would hardly be mistreatment.”
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable.
The late emperor and empress had passed away early, leaving the throne to others. He had clawed his way to this position step by step, understanding better than anyone the importance of royal heirs to the stability of the realm.
He also knew that as long as he remained the heir apparent, he would inevitably have a Crown Princess.
But he was not Emperor Chunming, who needed to constantly expand his harem to win over court officials and forge alliances.
The late emperor, despite his dominance, had only ever taken his mother as his sole wife.
To reclaim the throne, he relied on his legitimate bloodline, his personal army, his political acumen, and his military prestige. He would also expose the truth of Emperor Chunming’s usurpation, revealing the hypocrisy of the imperial couple to the world.
As for the influence of in-laws, while it might be pivotal for some rulers, to him, it was negligible.
He had no clear image of an ideal Crown Princess in mind, but he knew he would not marry a woman who trembled in fear at the sight of him, nor one who sought to elevate her family through his power while offering him no genuine affection. He wanted neither a submissive puppet nor a prim and proper noblewoman shackled by rigid etiquette, devoid of any spark.
If he could not find such a woman, he would rather remain unmarried.
As for Yun Kui… The image of her delicate, enchanting face surfaced in his mind. He closed his eyes briefly.
A mere palace maid, yet she already had the audacity to push boundaries. If he elevated her status, she would surely grow even more presumptuous.
Besides, her mind was filled with indecent thoughts, unlike ordinary women. Even now, sharing his bed, she couldn’t resist touching him. If he were to actually bed her, it would only encourage her further—she’d likely pester him every night for more.
He couldn’t indulge her too much.
...
As the New Year’s Eve palace banquet approached, news of the Crown Prince’s impending selection of a consort spread quickly, even reaching Yun Kui’s ears.
For a time, it seemed many began looking at her with pity.
Perhaps it was because she had served the Prince all this time without any official status, or perhaps because the Eastern Palace was about to welcome its true mistress, and she, as the Prince’s only bedmate, might face harsh treatment.
Yun Kui, however, felt little turmoil. She was just a maid, after all—serving one more mistress made little difference. If she was lucky, her new mistress might be generous and reward her handsomely.
The only regret was that the handsome and delectable Crown Prince, whom she hadn’t yet managed to devour, was about to become someone else’s feast!
The Prince, observing her carefree demeanor, found it somewhat dull.
One night, beneath the brocade curtains, he gazed down at the teary-eyed girl beneath him, kissed breathless, and—uncharacteristically indulgent—asked, “Don’t you want to ask me for anything?”
Yun Kui’s eyes flickered mischievously. “If I ask, will Your Highness grant it?”
The Prince sensed trouble, and sure enough, her shameless thoughts echoed in his mind.
I want to devour His Highness whole!
The Crown Prince snorted. Of course.
But things were different now. He wouldn’t take her life for such insolence. Since he had asked, Yun Kui wouldn’t waste the opportunity. She tugged at his sleeve coyly. “There is one thing, actually.”
The Prince raised a brow. “Speak.”
Squirming in his arms, she murmured, “Well… other palace mistresses often reward their servants. Even the Empress has bestowed gifts upon me. Yet after serving Your Highness for so long, you’ve never…”
Not only has he never rewarded me, he even confiscated that thousand-tael silver note!
Forget hairpins or bracelets—just a few golden melon seeds would be nice!
The Crown Prince: “…”
Others whispered in his ear for status or to elevate their families. But her? All she cared about was either lust or money.
“What use do you have for so much silver in the Eastern Palace?”
He had investigated her background. She had fled after a falling-out with her uncle’s family, leaving her with no relatives to support. Nor did she have any opportunity to spend money outside the palace.
“It’s different,” Yun Kui grinned. “Having money makes me feel secure. Even if I don’t use it, just looking at it brings me joy.”
She waggled her eyebrows at him, but the Prince ignored her.
No meat, no money—how stingy!
His expression darkened as he caught her wandering hand before it could reach his abdomen. “Time to sleep.”
Yun Kui withdrew her hand, disappointed.
After a long silence, she sighed and asked, “Your Highness… if the Crown Princess dislikes me, will you send me away?”
The Prince’s face turned stormy. “Do you want to leave?”
In the past, when the slightest mistake in serving the Prince could cost her life, Yun Kui had desperately wanted to escape. But now… she wasn’t so sure.
She suddenly recalled the stories of seductresses in books—those who displeased the mistress were sold off, or worse: killed to leave only the child, thrown into brothels, or secretly hunted down.
The thought brought a pang of sadness.
If only His Highness would give her enough wealth to secure her future and let her leave early…
The Prince’s expression darkened further at her thoughts.
Letting her go was out of the question.
She had already entered the Eastern Palace, bound to him irrevocably. Now that she had also offended the Empress and the heir of the Marquis of Ningde, there was no place for her outside these walls.
Where could she possibly run?
Yun Kui was contemplating the possibility of leaving when she suddenly felt the atmosphere around her grow icy. The man’s jade thumb ring brushed against the nape of her neck, sending a chill down her spine.
It was as if she had been transported back to her first few days in the Eastern Palace—timid, trembling, constantly fearing that one wrong move might provoke the Crown Prince to snap her neck without warning.
The Crown Prince traced the scattered love bites on her snow-white skin, watching as her almond-shaped eyes glistened with fearful tears. Her delicate, fragile body trembled softly in his grasp, and he thought to himself: if only she would obey him willingly, he could protect her.
In this world, only he had the power to shield her.
Yet, in the next moment, the Crown Prince’s dark, stormy eyes twitched slightly.
That small, trembling hand of hers reached hesitantly toward his chest, gently stroking it as her voice softened like a whisper of water: "Your Highness, please calm your anger..."
Yun Kui had learned a thing or two about reading moods. When she asked if he would send her away, the Crown Prince’s expression darkened immediately. Could it be… he actually wanted her to stay?
Well, if the Crown Prince was displeased, she’d just have to coax him!
"His chest muscles are so firm… who knows how many more chances I’ll get to touch them? Might as well enjoy it now!"
Though the Crown Prince was infuriated by her shameless inner monologue, he tolerated it in the end.
A timid little thing like her, still afraid of him yet clever enough to know how to appease him—that was enough.
The next morning, when Yun Kui awoke, the space beside her pillow was empty.
Just as she was about to rise, something cold and hard pressed against her waist.
The Crown Prince’s bed was always the softest and most immaculate—when had such a large foreign object ever appeared? Was it some kind of murder weapon? Had someone planted it there to harm her?
Trembling, she lifted the covers, and the moment she saw the "object," her pupils dilated in shock.
A massive lump of gold—at least two pounds worth!
With shaking hands, Yun Kui lifted the enormous gold ingot, utterly speechless.
Was this… another attempt to bribe her into assassinating the Crown Prince?
This was far too blatant! Who in their right mind would leave a gold ingot right on the Crown Prince’s imperial bed?!
Or… had she asked His Highness for a reward last night, and this was his way of granting it?
A two-pound gold ingot!
Her heart pounded wildly, her palms slick with sweat.
The entire day passed without anyone suddenly appearing to bribe her or force poison down her throat.
By evening, when it was time to attend to the Crown Prince, Yun Kui still felt lightheaded, her vision blurring at the edges.
Just to be safe, she knelt before him. "Your Highness, this servant must confess—today, I came into possession of an unexpected fortune. It weighs heavily on my conscience, as I fear it may be another scheme to use me against Your Highness..."
The Crown Prince arched a brow. "Oh? And where is this ill-gotten gain now?"
Ill… ill-gotten gain?
His phrasing made her doubt herself. "The… ill-gotten gain is still in my possession, but the mastermind hasn’t approached me yet. Perhaps I could keep it as bait, wait for them to reveal themselves, and then help Your Highness capture them in one fell swoop?"
The Crown Prince lowered his gaze, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Very well. I’ll leave it to you, then."
Yun Kui clung to his arm, nuzzling against him with a coy smile. "Until then… might this servant be allowed to keep temporary custody of the ill-gotten gain?"
The Crown Prince closed his eyes, trying to ignore the warmth pressed so snugly against him. Just as he uttered a low "Hmm," her soft, rosy lips suddenly met his in a surprise kiss.
"Let’s see just how stubborn those lips really are!"
Reporter Qingqing: "Huang Xiaokui, which part of the Crown Prince is the hardest?"
Huang Xiaokui: "At the moment, his lips."
Crown Prince: "Is that all?"
Huang Xiaokui: "Take off your pants and prove me wrong."
