Yun Kui was utterly mortified, wishing she could vanish into the ground.
"Why does he always catch me when I'm spouting nonsense?"
Nanny Yan, however, was overjoyed. She never expected the Crown Prince to personally visit her in the rear chamber and hurriedly bowed in greeting.
The Crown Prince stepped forward to help her up. "No need for formalities, Nanny."
Nanny Yan asked, "Has Your Highness fully recovered from your injuries?"
The Crown Prince replied, "I’m fine. No need to worry."
Nanny Yan nodded. "Your Highness holds a perilous position. You must remain vigilant at all times."
The Crown Prince acknowledged her concern. "How is your health, Nanny?"
"I’m doing well," Nanny Yan said, her eyes glistening. "But I can’t help feeling regretful—what if I pass away before seeing Your Highness marry, have children, and ascend the throne…"
The Crown Prince sighed. "That won’t happen."
Taking his words as reassurance, Nanny Yan pressed, "Is there any young lady Your Highness favors?"
The Crown Prince fell silent, his gaze involuntarily flickering toward Yun Kui, who was mindlessly fiddling with her hair in the mirror.
He composed himself and answered, "There’s no need for concern, Nanny. I have my own plans."
Nanny Yan, shrewd as she was, noticed the subtle shift in his demeanor.
Over the years, she had observed the Crown Prince’s temperament closely. No matter how accomplished or virtuous the noble ladies were, none had ever truly captured his attention. If he disliked someone, no amount of persuasion or prestigious background could change his mind.
Their Crown Prince was an intimidating figure—even the princesses of Emperor Chunming and the daughters of high-ranking officials treated him with reverence and fear. Yet this timid-looking maidservant, Yun Kui, always greeted him with a shy, radiant smile.
For so many years, she was the only young woman by his side. If he didn’t care for her, why would he keep her so close? In the past two decades, no palace maid had ever been allowed near him, yet this one practically lived in his chambers, attending to him night after night.
And now, he couldn’t even let her learn hairdressing alone—he had to come fetch her himself.
As if he were here to see an old woman like her.
Nanny Yan recalled how the Late Emperor and Empress Huigong had shared a deep bond. Whenever in the palace, the Late Emperor never let anyone else dress or groom him except the Empress. No matter how busy he was, he made time to dine with her daily. And after returning from battle, he would rush to her side without even removing his armor…
The Crown Prince listened silently to her thoughts before finally saying, "Rest early, Nanny. I’ll take her back now."
Snapping out of her reverie, Nanny Yan quickly agreed. "Of course."
As the Crown Prince turned to leave, Yun Kui hastily gathered her things and followed.
Watching their retreating figures, Nanny Yan sighed inwardly.
Had she not known of Yun Kui’s tragic childhood and years spent in the palace, she would have marveled at her beauty—those bright eyes, fair skin, and delicate features were hardly common among ordinary folk.
In terms of appearance alone, she was a perfect match for the Crown Prince. Even if her status was low, it wouldn’t matter—so long as His Highness was fond of her, the future…
Then, as she studied Yun Kui’s exquisite face, Nanny Yan suddenly felt a flicker of familiarity, as if recalling a name from the past.
But that was impossible. Resemblances were common, and there was no way two unrelated people could share such a connection.
As Yun Kui trailed behind the Crown Prince, she sensed a shadow of displeasure in his expression. After some hesitation, she decided to clarify.
"Your Highness, I only said those things earlier to cheer Nanny Yan up. She’s been longing for a little prince, but I didn’t mean it myself."
(Though, if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t mind either.)
The mention of a "little prince" snapped the Crown Prince out of his thoughts, only to realize she meant an actual heir—not… Well, as the ancients said, one is influenced by the company they keep.
He responded with a simple "Hn," his expression quickly returning to its usual calm.
But Yun Kui was baffled.
"What does 'Hn' mean? Are we trying tonight or not?!"
After dinner and washing up, Yun Kui returned to the warm chamber in the Crown Prince’s residence.
Now a permanent fixture in his quarters, she had been granted her own partitioned space—a small eastern chamber—by Cao Yuanlu under the Crown Prince’s orders. This allowed her to be on call while maintaining some privacy, moving freely without disturbing His Highness’s work.
More importantly, the stack of romance novels she’d bought no longer cluttered the Crown Prince’s desk. They fit perfectly in her cozy little room.
With no one to disturb her, she seized the chance to sneak out the shop’s "treasured edition" while the Crown Prince bathed.
She had been secretly flipping through it for days. During her monthly cycle, she felt an inexplicable restlessness, craving the Crown Prince’s touch more than usual. But knowing she couldn’t act on it, she settled for the book as a substitute.
She had bookmarked a few simple positions—ones that didn’t require much effort or uncomfortable contortions but promised equal pleasure.
Meanwhile, after his bath, Cao Yuanlu discreetly presented two items to the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, I’ve acquired the items you requested."
"This lubricant aids in smoothness. Given Your Highness’s… exceptional physique, it will greatly ease the process."
The Crown Prince accepted it without a word, then glanced at the familiar-looking item on the tray.
Cao Yuanlu chuckled awkwardly. "This sheep casing is what Yun Kui used to feed you medicine before."
Seeing the Crown Prince’s expression darken, he hurriedly added, "She worked in the kitchens before and wouldn’t have known its other uses. Normally, it’s employed after childbirth or when delaying conception. But in Your Highness’s case, it’s unnecessary."
The Crown Prince’s face twitched at the memory of being fed medicine through it. "Set it aside for now."
Having memorized the positions, Yun Kui returned to help the Crown Prince change for bed.
He spread his arms, letting her remove his outer robe, while overhearing her mental recitation:
"Lie flat on the back, raise and bend the legs over the shoulders, open the feminine gate, eight shallow and two deep thrusts…"
The Crown Prince’s eyes darkened, his breathing growing heavier. But he couldn’t scold her—she was only thinking it, not saying it aloud.
Once the outer robe was off, only a thin white undergarment remained. Yun Kui deftly slipped her hands inside, parting the fabric to reveal the three-inch scar, now healed with pink new flesh. Her fingertips traced it lightly, feeling the muscles beneath tense in response, the defined lines of his body growing even more pronounced.
She loved this—especially knowing how sensitive the Crown Prince was. The slightest touch made him stiffen, and it gave her a mischievous thrill, as if teasing a shy maiden.
Besides, the Crown Prince no longer hid his reactions as he once did. Perhaps he’d grown accustomed to her antics, or maybe their frequent embraces and kisses had softened him. Either way, he rarely scolded her for these small liberties now.
Curving her lips, she looked up at him. "Your Highness has recovered well. I suppose you can move freely now?"
Even without her words, her intentions were plain as day.
Yun Kui noticed the faint stirring beneath the Crown Prince’s sleeping robes and wondered if she was seeing things. Before she could confirm, her waist was seized abruptly, and in the next moment, she found herself lifted into his arms.
The bed curtains fell, dimming most of the candlelight in the chamber.
His thin lips descended upon hers, teasing and nibbling at her soft, moist mouth with deliberate slowness, sending tremors through her body and leaving her mind blank with dazed confusion.
Her fingers clutched tightly at the sheets beneath her as she felt his scorching breath sear against her skin, marking her with his presence. Ticklish and restless, she squirmed, only to be pinned firmly beneath him, unable to move.
She knew this was the prelude.
Lord Shen, the Commissioner of Transmission, was renowned for his expertise in this very domain—his techniques often left Lady Shen utterly spellbound and lost in pleasure.
Yun Kui even suspected the Crown Prince might have sought advice from Lord Shen. She could sense the restless desire he was holding back, yet it was rare to see him exercise such patience—kissing, caressing, each touch sending shivers deep into her core.
As she slowly regained her senses, she began silently reciting the incantation she had memorized earlier, afraid her mind would go blank when the moment arrived.
But she had barely repeated it twice when his breathing suddenly grew heavy. He bit down hard on the tender flesh of her waist, the sharp pain making her instinctively curl her legs.
The Crown Prince’s gaze darkened as he studied the spot before rising to fetch something.
The sudden warmth of his touch startled her, sending another tremor through her body. Whatever he applied next made her feel as though she were floating on water, like a delicate petal drifting weightlessly.
Trained in martial arts since childhood, the Crown Prince was no pampered nobleman with mere ornamental skills—his prowess was honed in the brutal clashes of the battlefield.
Like a dragon emerging from the sea, his spear moved with unstoppable force, each strike carrying the weight of a thousand jun, cleaving through waves and splitting the earth. Sweat fell like rain, the intensity intoxicating.
Even as he practiced, a certain "expert" would offer guidance from the sidelines—though this expert was hardly reliable herself. Still, her theoretical knowledge was sound, and whenever he faltered, he could hear her frantic mental protests—this was wrong, that was wrong. He listened half-heartedly, occasionally adjusting based on her expressions, but in the end, he took his fill.
Tears streaked Yun Kui’s flushed cheeks as she buried her face deep into the bedding.
The sensation was indescribable—she was like a well, dug deeper and deeper until clear water finally gushed forth from the depths.
It was a cause for joy. Though the digging was fraught with urgency and pain, there was also an inexplicable, overwhelming pleasure.
In her dazed state, she heard him murmur, "Villager, would you like a taste of your well’s water?"
Without thinking, she obediently licked his finger. Whether it was psychological or not—after all, she had expended tremendous effort—the water tasted surprisingly sweet.
But as her awareness gradually returned, she replayed his words in her mind and froze, as if a cold wind had pierced straight through her thoughts.
Well water?
How did he know what she was thinking?
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Your Highness, you—"
The heavy desire in his gaze had faded slightly. He glanced at her indifferently, his voice slightly hoarse. "What?"
Yun Kui was deeply convinced that this man must possess some mind-reading ability—how else could he so effortlessly decipher her thoughts every time?
Studying his expression intently, she silently recited in her mind: You’re invincibly huge.
The Crown Prince remained unfazed, his demeanor unreadable.
Unconvinced, she tried again: Just kidding. You’re small. The smallest!
Without a word, the Crown Prince yanked the sheets off the bed, sending Yun Kui scrambling with a startled yelp, nearly tumbling off the mattress.
Expressionlessly, he tossed the soiled bedding into the brazier, watching as it burned to ashes.
Yun Kui: "..."
Two maidservants entered quietly to tidy up, though none dared ask why the newly laid, exorbitantly expensive cloud-patterned brocade bedding had been reduced to cinders.
After washing up, Yun Kui still felt weak, especially the soreness in her lower back. Wrapped in fresh sheets, she was about to drift off when the insatiable man pressed close again.
The Crown Prince’s throat moved slightly. "Those incantations of yours—aren’t there a few left untested?"
Yun Kui: !!!
