Yun Kui didn’t act on impulse when she kissed him—she came prepared.
Perhaps it was her eagerness to learn and improve, but during her afternoon nap, she once again slipped into the intimate dream of the Heir of Ningde Marquis and Concubine Yu.
In the past, whenever she witnessed others entangled in embraces, she wouldn’t deliberately look away, but she still felt a hint of embarrassment. Especially since the scenes were so vivid and unrestrained, and she was so close—even though she knew it was just a dream, a nervous fear of being caught lingered.
But this time, Yun Kui boldly stepped forward, observing and learning up close.
She crouched right beside their bed, so near that she could even see the strands of saliva clinging to their lips.
She studied every detail—how their tongues slid in and out, where their hands wandered to tease—and heard every sound, from the wet swallows to the soft, fragmented murmurs between their lips.
As for the Heir of Ningde Marquis’s lips, she found them slightly off-putting and chose not to linger on them.
Though he was undeniably handsome, more so than any guard she’d ever seen, her standards had been raised by the Crown Prince. Ordinary charm no longer swayed her.
Watching him up close, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, even struck her as somewhat distasteful.
Still, this observation yielded some insights.
Kissing, it seemed, was a back-and-forth dance—chasing, retreating, tongues exploring, sucking, and sweeping through each other’s mouths.
Now that she’d learned, it was time to put theory into practice with the Crown Prince.
Hearing her thoughts, the Crown Prince grew curious about her newfound knowledge. He reclined on the bed, watching with leisurely amusement as she made her move.
The moment their lips met, Yun Kui’s palms grew damp with nerves. Holding her breath, she suppressed a tremble and tentatively flicked her tongue against his cool lower lip.
The air between them grew warmer, heavier. She paused, lifting her misty almond eyes to meet his gaze.
The Crown Prince’s expression remained indifferent as he parted his lips slightly. “Is this your way of thanking me?”
Yun Kui’s cheeks flushed, her tone a mix of mischief and allure. “Does Your Highness want such a ‘thank you’?”
Without waiting for an answer, her teeth grazed his damp lips, teasing as if savoring a soft piece of candy. When she was done, her tongue pressed against his teeth, seeking entry.
But her efforts were in vain—the man remained unmoved.
Frustration and embarrassment prickled at her. In her dream, the Heir of Ningde Marquis had been far more responsive. Was the Crown Prince deliberately trying to humiliate her?
Biting her lip, she shot him an indignant glare and racked her brain for the next move from the dream.
But how could she dare replicate Concubine Yu’s boldness with the Crown Prince?
Then again, she’d already touched him freely, even pinned him down for a kiss. What was there left to fear?
The Crown Prince listened as she mentally hyped herself up, recounting her past “heroic deeds.” Just as he wondered what she’d do next, a warm breath suddenly brushed against his ear.
A delicate, wet touch flicked over his earlobe.
The Crown Prince’s breath hitched.
It felt like a tiny serpent flicking its tongue or a spark igniting into a wildfire, spreading uncontrollably.
Noticing the reddening of his ears, Yun Kui smirked inwardly. Even the most composed man had his weak spots.
Emboldened, she traced the shell of his ear with her tongue, her teeth grazing lightly, her heated breath seeping into him.
When she dared to look at his face again, his eyes were dark, swirling with unreadable intensity.
She pressed her lips together, about to laugh, when suddenly she was flipped onto her back, pinned beneath him.
Her heart pounded as she met his smoldering gaze.
Knowing she should lighten the mood, she mimicked the Heir of Ningde Marquis’s teasing tone. “What’s wrong, Your Highness? Can’t handle this? We’ve barely started…”
The Crown Prince nearly laughed at her audacity. His large hand gripped her waist as his lips crashed onto hers.
Before she could even think of resisting, his tongue invaded her mouth.
A few strokes later, her body melted, every limb turning boneless.
Especially when that wicked tongue traced her earlobe and the side of her neck, leaving her flushed and burning, desperate to curl into herself.
“Is this what you learned?” His voice was rough with desire. “Next time you try to seduce someone, practice properly first.”
Practice? Wasn’t that what she was doing? He was the one refusing to cooperate!
Still, the Crown Prince had clearly improved today.
Panting softly, she recalled the Heir of Ningde Marquis’s favorite question to Concubine Yu: “Did the old emperor teach you this too?”
She decided to borrow the line. “When did Your Highness learn these skills? Did you practice with some other maid?”
The moment the words left her mouth, his teeth sank into her earlobe.
Yun Kui yelped, tears springing to her eyes.
But she wasn’t surprised. In the dream, Concubine Yu always retorted, “And what of Lady Meng? Do you dote on her nightly too? Is that how she bore you two children?”
Lady Meng was likely the Heir’s wife.
Sure enough, after Concubine Yu’s jab, the man would lose control, and the scene that followed needed no explanation.
Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the Crown Prince’s ragged breathing or the storm brewing in his darkened eyes.
Yet before he could act, her own hand moved on its own, driven by reckless impulse.
Her mind blanked—but by the time she realized what she’d done, it was too late.
What followed was an unprecedented shock.
The Crown Prince… was truly extraordinary.
The sheer magnitude in her palm told her everything, even without looking at his face.
She was doomed.
Absolutely doomed.
She’d had her curiosities, but she’d never dared venture there—partly because of two accidental brushes that left her with a vague impression of his… grandeur, even without seeing it firsthand.
And partly because, after witnessing such acts in dreams, she knew pleasure wasn’t guaranteed. What if others reveled in ecstasy while she suffered in agony?
But now, not only had she touched him, she felt the scorching heat swelling in her grasp, growing so rapidly her small hand could barely contain it…
Her fingers trembled, but before she could pull away, his rough hand clamped over hers, pinning it in place.
Tears welled in her eyes. “Your Highness, I didn’t mean to…”
I’m finished.
Is he going to say, “You started this fire—now you put it out”?
The Crown Prince: “…”
Sniffling, Yun Kui whispered, “How about… I let you touch me too? Then we’ll be even?”
The Crown Prince sneered, "Now you’re scared?"
Yun Kui whimpered in defense, "This servant has always been loyal to Your Highness, with nothing but reverence in my heart."
The Crown Prince scoffed. If she truly revered him, she wouldn’t switch between calling herself "this servant" and "I" so casually.
His grip tightened around her wrist, pinning her down with overwhelming force, leaving her no room to resist—only to submit.
The pale pink outer robe slipped from her delicate shoulders, revealing a crimson undergarment embroidered with Chinese flowering crabapple blossoms. The soft curves of her chest rose and fell gently, like slender branches trembling in the winter wind.
The Crown Prince’s throat moved slightly as his fingers trailed down her snow-white neck.
Yun Kui shivered as the cold jade ring grazed her chest, then slid lower. The icy, unyielding touch against her warm, tender skin sent chills through her body.
Only when the ring warmed slightly against her lower abdomen did her quiet sobs ease—until it ventured somewhere entirely unexpected.
Her entire body tensed instantly. "Your Highness…!"
The Crown Prince smirked. "Weren’t you the one who wanted to settle the score?"
Yun Kui: "…"
This… wasn’t what she meant by "settling the score"!
The skin here burned even hotter, making the ring feel colder against it. A single touch raised goosebumps all over her body.
Yet he paid no mind, leisurely tracing circles with the ring.
Earlier, when resting against his arm, Yun Kui had studied the ring closely. The dark jade exuded an air of solemn authority, engraved with intricate dragon patterns—reserved only for emperors and heirs—along with scriptures she couldn’t decipher.
Now, those very scriptures pressed against her, alternating between light and heavy strokes…
Yun Kui trembled uncontrollably, her fingers clutching the sheets beneath her in a futile attempt to steady herself.
The Crown Prince remained unmoved. With a slight press of his finger, her tears spilled over in large drops. "Your Highness, I admit my mistake…"
Truthfully, he didn’t know if others reacted this way or if she was just overly sensitive, crying at the slightest touch.
Yun Kui buried her face in the sheets, sobbing pitifully.
I’m so useless!
Waaah… I’m completely worthless…
The Crown Prince couldn’t help but laugh.
This girl was all bark and no bite. He hadn’t even done much, yet she was already falling apart—utterly hopeless.
He tugged the covers down, revealing her disheveled face, then held the ring before her.
Yun Kui reached out with shaky hands, and the Crown Prince slid the glistening jade ring onto her finger.
As he stood to call for Deshun to clean up, he glanced at the small, fragile figure curled in the bedding and changed his mind, summoning two maids instead.
The maids, carefully selected for their discretion and loyalty, entered silently, keeping their eyes lowered as they tidied the bed.
But when they noticed the stains on the brocade sheets, they couldn’t hide their shock.
His Highness’s robes are still on! How did this happen?!
This girl is too delicate—how could she…
Having been trained in the inner palace, they weren’t ignorant of such matters. A single whiff told them it wasn’t the Crown Prince’s doing.
If not his, then it could only belong to this bedchamber maid.
One maid in pale green lifted the covers to wash Yun Kui, but the sight of her flawless, supple skin made even her breath hitch.
With such beauty, no wonder His Highness couldn’t resist…
The Crown Prince had heard enough of their thoughts. "Leave," he ordered with a wave.
(A/N: Aaaah, I rewrote this so many times!)
