The undercurrent between these two was something Cao Yuanlu genuinely couldn’t comprehend.
What puzzled him even more was why His Highness had brought Yun Kui to such an important and private occasion.
Tonight’s gathering for revelry consisted of trusted aides promoted by Emperor Chunming over the years—officials from the Ministry of Personnel overseeing appointments and transfers, the Court of Judicial Review handling major criminal cases, the Shuntian Prefecture managing affairs in the capital region, and the Five City Infantry and Cavalry Command responsible for maintaining order in the city.
Likely due to the emperor’s unpredictable temper this year and the upheaval in court dynamics—especially after the Lantern Festival tower collapse—while the Ministry of Works bore primary responsibility, the offices represented here tonight had also been implicated to varying degrees. After months of tireless work, these officials had finally found a rare moment of leisure to unwind at Zuihualou.
Little did they know that this most extravagant pleasure den in the capital was actually one of the Crown Prince’s enterprises.
From high-ranking officials to wealthy merchants and commoners, countless court movements, bureaucratic secrets, tangled interests, and covert schemes were spilled over rounds of toasts.
After ascending the throne, Emperor Chunming had promoted numerous confidants to tighten his grip on key government offices, leaving few among the neighboring officials with clean hands.
If the Crown Prince wanted to deal with these people, his personal attendance tonight was understandable—but why bring a young woman along?
Could it be that he, too, sought amusement and required her company for service?
Whatever the reason, Cao Yuanlu had prepared everything—fresh clothes and bedding for His Highness and the young lady, as well as condoms, lubricants, and even aphrodisiacs commonly used in Zuihualou.
The Crown Prince: "..."
Just as Qin Ge arrived to report urgent matters, the prince gestured for Yun Kui to take the cherries. "Go rest inside the green gauze cabinet."
Not daring to disturb his official business, Yun Kui accepted the cherries and tiptoed in.
The green gauze cabinet was partitioned by silk-covered screens, concealing the interior from outside view. Inside was a world of its own—a Huanghuali wood canopy bed, a daybed, a writing desk, and even a gilded flower-patterned brazier and a plant stand by the daybed.
Seated on the daybed, Yun Kui plucked a ripe cherry and bit into it. Sweet juice instantly flooded her mouth.
Being the Crown Prince’s personal maid had its perks—she shared his meals, even enjoying tribute fruits and pastries.
Recalling her days in the Imperial Kitchen, such rare delicacies were first served to the emperor, then distributed to imperial consorts and high-ranking officials. By the time they trickled down to minor officials, the fruits were often spoiled—let alone reaching lowly kitchen maids like her.
Truly, following His Highness meant feasting like royalty!
After eating a few cherries, she remembered the voluptuous beauty next door and instinctively glanced down at herself.
Months of good food had worked wonders, especially on her chest. Though not as full and seductive as that woman’s, she had certainly grown plumper than before—enough to hold a cherry steady.
Out of curiosity, she pressed one into the softness. The crimson fruit sank into snowy flesh and vanished.
Yun Kui smiled. Seems I’ve got some skills too.
Outside the cabinet, Qin Ge was reporting on drought relief efforts in the north when he noticed an unusual distraction in his lord’s expression—a dark, unreadable intensity flickering in those phoenix eyes.
Qin Ge grew uneasy.
The prince had been considering dispatching a censor to oversee northern affairs when stray thoughts from beyond the partition derailed his focus.
"So cherries can be eaten this way."
"Seems I can hold them too."
"Let me try squeezing..."
The prince’s eyes darkened, his clenched fist betraying faintly pulsing veins.
Snapping back, he found Qin Ge still awaiting instructions. Quickly settling on a candidate, he ordered, "Send Yu Hongwen. Arrange covert protection—ensure nothing happens to him."
Qin Ge bowed in acknowledgment.
"Dismissed," the prince said.
Exchanging a glance with Cao Yuanlu—who wore a knowing look—Qin Ge understood and withdrew with him.
Inside the cabinet, Yun Kui was experimenting when the partition slid open with a sound. Startled, her fingers slipped, sending the cherry rolling conspicuously against her apricot-pink undergarment.
"Your Highness, you’re back so soon?"
She’d faintly heard voices earlier, assuming discussions would take much longer. Had she known his swift return, she’d never have—
The prince’s gaze fixed on the telltale bulge. Recalling her earlier thoughts, he guessed its nature, his brow furrowing slightly.
Flushing crimson, Yun Kui wished the ground would swallow her—caught red-handed in such an embarrassing act.
Turning away to retrieve the cherry, she barely lifted a hand when an arm encircled her from behind, his grip firm on her wrist.
"Want to play this game too?" His voice was low.
She refused to admit it, mumbling without conviction, "What if I said... it fell in by accident? Would you believe—"
His obsidian eyes gleamed. "If you’re eager, I’m willing to try."
Yun Kui: "..."
"Your Highness, did you even hear me?! Accident! ACCIDENT! Ugh, never mind..."
Having tested earlier, she’d found it painfully uncomfortable and couldn’t bring herself to continue.
But the man showed no such restraint, his deliberate movements slow and thorough.
Clutching her sleeves, she failed to suppress a whimper. Seizing a cherry from the crystal bowl, he pressed it to her lips.
"No eating," he commanded.
She gazed at him, aggrieved.
"People are outside," he reminded.
Remembering Cao Yuanlu and Qin Ge standing guard, she bit her lip, eyes welling up.
His dark eyes bored into her tearful ones. "Why did I bring you? You brought this on yourself."
Time blurred until a soft squelch—crimson juice blooming across apricot silk as his warm lips traced her skin, leisurely lapping up every drop of cherry sweetness.
Finding her dazed and tearful, he chuckled. "Dazed?"
Sliding a finger past her parted lips, he fished out the tiny pit.
Yun Kui stared—shocked, wronged, and utterly bewildered.
"How is he... so skilled...?"
Recalling Shen Yanyu’s lavish praise for Lady Shen during intimacy, the prince offered, "You’re not bad either."
Yun Kui: "..."
"Who compliments someone like this?!"
Sticky and uncomfortable, she bit her lip. "I want to return to the palace. I need a bath."
Surprisingly amenable, he agreed. "Very well, we’ll go back."
Originally, he’d brought her merely to familiarize certain faces. But some hidden schemes and buried desires—perhaps glimpsed through dreams—might yet offer him new paths and revelations.
Previously, the identities of the Heir of Ningde Marquis, Concubine Yu, and Lu Qi, Commander of the Imperial Guards, were all secrets she had glimpsed from her dreams—unknown to the world.
Especially during the three years he was away from the capital, many things had long been erased without a trace, leaving no evidence to investigate.
Even though he now possessed the ability to read minds, some secrets were so deeply buried that even the person themselves resisted recalling them, afraid to let the thoughts surface. For instance, while he could get close to Xie Huaichuan, Xie Huaichuan wouldn’t reveal his secrets through his thoughts. This was where the power of entering dreams became invaluable.
The Crown Prince noticed her dampened clothes and frowned, ordering hot water to be brought in. The fresh gowns prepared by Eunuch Cao were promptly put to use.
Yun Kui quickly wiped herself down, but when she saw the distinct red finger marks on her chest, she couldn’t help cursing him silently in her heart.
The Crown Prince fixed her with a heavy gaze. "Do you need me to help you clean up?"
Yun Kui immediately turned away, stammering, "I... I can do it myself."
When she stepped out from behind the screen, she saw the dress she had worn earlier being ruthlessly tossed into the brazier. Her heart ached at the sight. "These clothes could still be worn after washing!"
A few others had been torn by him before, and though they could have been mended, he had thrown them straight into the fire as well!
They were expensive! No matter how much silver she had, she couldn’t bear to spend it on such fine gowns.
The Crown Prince asked coolly, "Who’s going to wash them?"
Yun Kui huffed, "I’ll wash them myself!"
He handed her the soaked undergarment still in his hand. "This one hasn’t been burned yet. Take it back with you."
Yun Kui’s face flushed crimson. "And whose fault is that?"
The Crown Prince replied, "You were the one who wanted it. I merely obliged."
Yun Kui: "..."
You’re truly insufferable!
On the carriage ride back, Yun Kui sat as far from him as possible, lifting the curtain slightly to pretend to gaze outside, letting the cool night breeze ease the heat in her cheeks.
The Crown Prince rested with his eyes closed, but when he heard the clamor of street vendors outside, he suddenly remembered something and pulled the curtain aside to look.
Yun Kui watched as he murmured an order, and the carriage gradually came to a stop by the roadside.
Before long, Eunuch Cao came hurrying back, lifting the curtain to reveal a delicate rabbit-shaped lantern that instantly brightened Yun Kui’s eyes.
She reached out to take it, her face lighting up with joy. "Did Your Highness give this to me?"
As she held the wooden handle, she suddenly recalled buying an identical lantern during the Lantern Festival—only for the Crown Prince to hurl it away like a weapon. He had promised to repay her...
So much time had passed, and while she remembered the night’s thrilling events vividly, she had completely forgotten about the rabbit lantern. Yet, he had remembered.
Pressing her lips together, she deliberately said, "Thank you, Eunuch Cao."
The Crown Prince shot her a cold glance.
Eunuch Cao chuckled and handed her a stick of candied hawthorn. "It was all His Highness’s order. If the young lady wishes to thank anyone, it should be him."
As the carriage began moving again, the rabbit lantern cast a warm golden glow in the dimly lit interior, illuminating the Crown Prince’s tense expression.
Then, the girl’s radiant face suddenly drew close, and her sugar-dusted lips brushed lightly against the corner of his mouth.
