The terror from last night's bedchamber far outweighed her suspicion about the Crown Prince's ability to read minds.
Yun Kui no longer dared to test him recklessly. She picked up her rice bowl and buried herself in eating.
"How does it feel like he can read my thoughts, yet also like he can't?"
"I've mentally spouted so many treasonous words, yet he let it slide so lightly? Even calling him 'Consort Xiao'—how could he tolerate that?"
"Where exactly did I go wrong…"
Her internal rambling was abruptly cut short when she met the Crown Prince's icy sidelong glance. Her legs instantly weakened, and she nearly wept as she begged for mercy: "Spare me, Your Highness…"
Compared to his seemingly supernatural mind-reading, her own life was far more important.
If he tormented her so shamelessly for another night, she might genuinely lose her life.
Yun Kui’s face scrunched up pitifully, her hoarse voice still carrying a faint nasal tone: "Your Highness, please let me recover a little. May I rest in the side chamber tonight?"
The Crown Prince was merciless: "No."
Yun Kui could only compromise: "Then I’ll sleep in the warm pavilion. If Your Highness has any orders, I’ll come at once."
The Crown Prince pondered briefly before suddenly declaring: "Tonight, you’ll accompany me out of the palace."
Yun Kui’s eyes instantly brightened—another chance to leave the palace?
But then she remembered the Lantern Festival night, where she had not only witnessed the collapse of the Qiandu Gate lighthouse but also endured a heart-stopping assassination attempt. It was her first time fleeing in panic amid flashing blades, and the memory still sent chills down her spine.
The Crown Prince glanced at her. "Don’t worry. By my side, you’ll be safe."
Yun Kui: "…"
She hadn’t even said anything!
Was this mind-reading again?
Or had the Crown Prince simply noticed her uneasy expression and guessed she was recalling the last outing’s mishap?
Full of doubt, she returned to the warm pavilion, changed into a apricot-pink jacket and skirt suitable for leaving the palace, and boarded the carriage at Donghua Gate.
Yet her lower body still ached terribly. Even sitting on the thick cushion was a struggle.
And as the carriage jolted along, the memories of that Lantern Festival night—those intimate moments inside the carriage—flooded back.
She had fussed over him the entire ride, only to end up with her face smeared in that mess…
Yun Kui instinctively licked her lips.
That thing was thick and ugly. She had to stretch her mouth to its limit just to take in a little, barely holding it between her lips until her jaw nearly dislocated. She couldn’t fathom how the women in those erotic illustrations managed to take it all in.
Like a long stick of candied hawthorn—the taste wasn’t bad, but swallowing the whole thing? Yun Kui couldn’t imagine how difficult that would be.
The Crown Prince’s eyes were closed, but a vein pulsed at his temple in the shadows. Hearing her vivid mental imagery about how she might take him into her mouth, even his lower body grew uncomfortably hot.
He was beginning to regret bringing her out of the palace. Who exactly was tormenting whom?
Pulling aside the carriage curtain, he let in the chilly night breeze of early spring. The cool air slowly dispelled his restless thoughts.
Yun Kui, jolted by the cold wind, shuddered violently.
"If he really can read minds, then all those indecent thoughts just now—even the part about using my mouth—he must have heard everything!"
Her heart pounded as she cautiously studied his expression.
From her angle, she could only see his stern profile as he gazed out the window, his lips pressed into a tight line, his sharp jawline exuding the cold authority of a ruler.
Her eyes trailed downward. His black robes were stiff and voluminous, shrouded in dim candlelight, leaving no visible trace of any… physical reaction.
Only then did Yun Kui quietly exhale in relief.
"I was literally imagining how to devour His Highness, and he didn’t react at all! This mind-reading thing must be all in my head!"
"Still, better safe than sorry. From now on, I’ll keep my thoughts in check."
"What if one day I mentally spout something outrageous and he hears it? I’d probably be ravaged and then executed!"
"Ahhh, stop thinking! Discipline, discipline…"
The Crown Prince clenched his fist. The reaction he had just suppressed was stirring again, especially as her gaze kept darting toward his lower half without restraint.
Had he known, he would never have hinted at his mind-reading ability last night. Now she kept testing his limits with her shameless mental probing.
Those almond-shaped eyes blinked innocently before stealing another glance.
Gritting his teeth, his anger flared. He yanked her into his lap, gripping her audacious little face as he growled, "If you dare look at me like that again, you’ll deal with the consequences yourself."
Perched on him, Yun Kui immediately felt the heat beneath her. Her legs trembled uncontrollably, and she froze.
Noticing he had said "look at me" and not "think about me," she wondered—had his reaction been triggered just by her staring?
How sensitive!
Fortunately, they soon arrived at their destination.
To Yun Kui’s surprise, the Crown Prince had brought her to a dazzling den of debauchery.
Entering through a discreet side door, the clamor of the building enveloped them—toasting, singing, the clatter of dishes, and the elegant strains of string instruments. Beyond the wall, the scene must be one of opulent revelry.
She had an idea of where they were. As a child, after fleeing her uncle’s house, she had been tricked into a brothel by a madam.
Back then, after starving for three days, a lavishly dressed woman approached her, claiming pity and offering to take her home—a place with endless delicacies. The woman even praised her beauty and proposed adopting her.
Dazed by hunger, Yun Kui had found the woman kind-faced and eagerly followed. When she realized the truth, it took three escape attempts before she broke free, nearly losing a leg in the process.
Looking back, those escapes had been harrowing. Had she failed, her life would have been ruined.
After listening silently to her story, the Crown Prince felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest, as if gripped by an invisible hand.
He clenched his fist before suddenly grasping her small, warm hand. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said, "Come with me."
The unexpected touch snapped Yun Kui out of her thoughts. The heat of his palm enveloped hers, sending tingles from her fingertips straight to her heart.
Walking along a hidden passageway, she glanced around and couldn’t resist asking, "Why did Your Highness bring me here?"
The Crown Prince replied, "You’ll see."
Yun Kui mused, What other reason could there be for bringing a girl to a brothel?
"Surely he’s not taking me to watch people in the act?"
"Maybe the courtesans here are experts, and His Highness thinks I’m lacking… Is this a 'learning trip'?"
The Crown Prince: "…"
Tightening his grip on her hand, he led her through the passage until they reached a concealed door. Inside, an elegant private chamber came into view.
Cao Yuanlu and Qin Ge stood guard outside, leaving only the two of them in the room. Yun Kui’s eyes drifted to the pinewood bed behind the screen, neatly made with folded quilts.
Is he bringing me here to sleep?
Has he grown tired of the beds in Chengguang Palace and decided a brothel’s bed has more… ambiance?
The Crown Prince sighed inwardly. He twisted a hidden mechanism beside him, and two small peepholes the size of eyeballs gradually appeared on the wall. The sounds of laughter and clinking cups from the neighboring room drifted through the holes.
The Crown Prince motioned to her. "Come here."
Yun Kui obediently stepped closer to the wall and peered into the adjacent private chamber.
What she saw was certainly eye-opening.
Around a dark mahogany round table sat over a dozen men, each adorned with jade crowns and brocade robes. The table was laden with delicacies on jade plates, and the air was thick with the scent of wine. Beautiful women, their skin powdered and fragrant, swayed gracefully in their arms, addressing them with titles like "Vice Minister" and "Your Excellency."
Yun Kui glanced questioningly at the Crown Prince.
His gaze remained fixed on the scene inside as he finally spoke. "The one presiding is the Prefect of Shuntian. To his left, in the dark blue brocade robe, is the Vice Minister of Personnel. To his right is the Minister of Dali Temple. The one in purple is the Director of the Ministry of Personnel, and the man in russet narrow sleeves is the Commander of the Eastern City Military Patrol..."
As he introduced them, Yun Kui quickly memorized their faces.
Yet her eyes involuntarily drifted toward the voluptuous curves of the woman beside the Vice Minister of Personnel. Yun Kui’s jaw dropped, her mouth suddenly dry.
"That’s enormous! Even bigger than mine!"
The Crown Prince: "..."
Yun Kui stared unblinkingly, only to be stunned by what happened next.
The Prefect of Shuntian tucked a ripe red cherry into the woman’s cleavage, where it was instantly crushed, its juices oozing out. The Vice Minister of Personnel then proceeded to lick it clean, flesh and skin, with slow, deliberate strokes.
Yun Kui: "..."
The Crown Prince: "..."
Meanwhile, the woman beside the Minister of Dali Temple had her collarbones filled with shimmering wine, dancing around the officials as a living wine vessel. The men drank without hesitation, savoring the liquor offered to their lips.
As for the Commander of the Eastern City Military Patrol, Yun Kui had initially thought him upright, since he wasn’t embracing any women. But the next moment, a flushed and disheveled beauty emerged from beneath the table before him...
Yun Kui: "..."
"Did His Highness bring me here because he’s dissatisfied with my service, wanting me to learn seduction techniques from these women?"
The Crown Prince averted his gaze uncomfortably and ordered, "Memorize their faces. Tonight, see if you uncover anything useful."
Only then did Yun Kui understand—these officials must be hiding secrets or harboring unspeakable intentions. The Crown Prince had brought her here to identify them.
This was certainly an effective way to broaden one’s horizons.
The Crown Prince sat on the couch and said coldly, "Once you’ve memorized their faces, return."
Yun Kui whispered, "There are so many people next door. I’m bad with faces—I haven’t remembered them all yet."
She continued watching with fascination.
"How can anyone twist their waist like that?!"
She tried mimicking the movement but couldn’t bend nearly as far.
And while hers weren’t small either, they were far too soft—no way could she squeeze a cherry into juice like that...
After observing for a while, Yun Kui grew too embarrassed to keep watching. Once she had noted the officials’ distinguishing features, she turned—only to meet the Crown Prince’s dark, piercing eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"He can’t read minds, can he?"
"If he could, wouldn’t he have heard all my indecent thoughts just now?!"
Just as her nerves tightened, a soft knock came at the door. "This servant has brought tea and refreshments for Your Highness."
The Crown Prince lowered his gaze. "Enter."
Cao Yuanlu pushed the door open.
Yun Kui’s eyes locked onto the crystal bowl on his red lacquered tray—filled to the brim with cherries!
Seeing her stare, Cao Yuanlu assumed she was craving them and smiled. "These cherries are tribute from Jiangnan. Your Highness and the young lady should enjoy them while they’re fresh."
The Crown Prince’s gaze lingered on her. Remembering the scene next door, Yun Kui swallowed hard.
