He pressed his lips tightly together, his phoenix eyes burning with suppressed anger, his entire aura icy to the extreme.
Yun Kui felt her heart tremble under his gaze and instinctively took two steps back.
Yet the man advanced slowly, his cold eyes fixed on her, his tone eerily calm beneath the surface.
"What did you buy?"
Yun Kui noticed the faint curl of his lips, yet his eyes held no warmth at all.
But… when he had given her the silver notes earlier, he hadn’t been like this. Could it really have been a test?
Her fingers clenched unconsciously. "I… I ate at Wangjiang Tower, bought some gold jewelry and silk, fruits and pastries, and… something for you—"
Before she could finish, he cut her off coldly. "What else?"
His frigid tone sent a shiver down her spine. Fear and a touch of grievance twisted in her chest. "Why is Your Highness so harsh? Didn’t you tell me to spend it all before returning…?"
Is he upset I spent too much?
The Crown Prince let out a derisive laugh. "You even bought a house? Truly, you refuse to shortchange yourself."
Yun Kui hadn’t expected this to be the reason for his anger.
She bit her lower lip and replied softly, "Didn’t Your Highness say that as long as I avoided brothels and gambling dens, I could buy anything? What’s wrong with a house? Compared to reckless spending, a house is at least an asset. I went to see it myself—it’s a large courtyard, five sections deep…"
As he closed the distance between them, his scorching breath nearly brushing her forehead, her voice faltered until she dared not speak another word.
The Crown Prince stared down at her, his gaze heavy. "Do you think I treat you poorly, that you’re always scheming to leave the palace?"
"Or," his eyes sharpened, a self-mocking smile tugging at his lips, "do you believe I won’t live long, and you’re afraid of being dragged down, so you’re planning an early escape?"
Yun Kui stood frozen, stunned by his assumptions.
"I would never think such a thing, nor have I ever implied Your Highness is lacking. My wish to leave the palace isn’t new—you’ve known this for a long time. And it’s not as if I’m leaving now—I’m still here, serving you, am I not?"
She sighed and lowered her head. "You’ve been kind to me, and I’m grateful. Whether in the past or future, I’ll serve you diligently until you grow weary of me. As for your side… I’ve never dared to hope for that place. I only ask for your mercy, that you spare my life. Right now, you favor me, so I’m merely securing a path for myself…"
The Crown Prince sneered. "How prudent of you, always preparing for the worst."
"Yes, I am prudent," Yun Kui’s eyes stung, her nails digging into her palms. "When you’re pleased, you take me out of the palace, reward me with delicacies and a thousand taels of silver, stand up for me, even shield me from assassins with your own body. But when you’re displeased, you can throw me into the dungeons without hesitation. If you don’t want to see me, you won’t for days or weeks. You gave me silver notes, yet when I spent them, you scolded me… You demand I never forget my place, and I haven’t. But I’m foolish—I can’t decipher your thoughts. I’m never certain…"
The words spilled out, emotions she had bottled up for too long finally breaking free. But by the end, her voice trembled uncontrollably.
The Crown Prince watched the redness rimming her eyes, his voice lowering. "Uncertain of what?"
Yun Kui’s fingertips turned white from how hard she pressed them together, fighting back tears.
She didn’t even know what she was saying.
Or what delusions she harbored.
"Nothing," she gritted her teeth and shoved a small brocade box into his hands. "This servant knows her mistake. I’ll go reflect now."
The moment she turned away, the dam broke. Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked.
"Stop right there!"
Yun Kui didn’t know where her defiance came from, but she clenched her jaw and ran without looking back.
The Crown Prince gripped the box, his gaze locked onto her retreating figure, veins bulging at his temples.
He was the Crown Prince, revered by all under heaven. Even Emperor Chunming maintained a facade of deference. No one had ever dared to ignore his command, to turn their back and walk away from him.
Outside, Cao Yuanlu and Qin Ge exchanged a glance before the latter swiftly signaled Huai Zhu to follow her.
Only when she vanished from sight did the man finally rein in his razor-sharp glare. After a long silence, his attention fell to the box in his hand. He flicked open the copper latch and lifted the lid.
Inside, nestled against black satin, lay a smooth, translucent jade thumb ring. Though not the finest jade the palace could offer, it was flawless—delicate, luminous, glowing softly against the dark fabric.
The Crown Prince ran his fingers over the ring, his chest tightening as if gripped by an invisible hand.
Huai Qing had watched in bewilderment as Yun Kui fled in tears. Before he could process what had happened, the Crown Prince summoned him inside.
Seated at his desk, the Crown Prince studied the jade ring, his expression unreadable.
"Where did she go today?"
Huai Qing promptly recounted her itinerary and purchases in detail.
But when he mentioned the snow-white silk, the Crown Prince’s dark eyes lifted slightly, his voice rough. "Was this also for me?"
Huai Qing nodded. "The young lady said she wanted to sew two sets of sleeping robes for Your Highness. She was only worried her embroidery skills weren’t good enough… that you might disdain them."
The Crown Prince’s expression softened marginally, though a trace of mockery curled his lips.
Her needlework was so poor even the embroidery bureau wouldn’t hire her, yet she dared to make him sleeping robes.
Huai Qing continued, "The ring in Your Highness’s hand—she spent six hundred taels on it. When she thought of you, her face even reddened a little."
The Crown Prince’s fingers stilled. "Reddened?"
"Yes. She lingered over this ring for a long time." Huai Qing chose his words carefully. "This servant suspects… she was reminiscing about moments shared with Your Highness."
The Crown Prince traced the smooth inner curve of the ring, an unreadable shadow flickering in his eyes.
Huai Qing added, "She also commissioned a gold accessory for Your Highness, but it’s still being crafted. That’s why she didn’t bring it back today."
A gold accessory… Of all things.
He had always disliked gold.
Couldn’t she at least pretend to cater to his tastes?
After a pause, the Crown Prince’s sharp gaze lifted. "She bought gold locks for you two as well?"
Huai Qing paled, instantly nervous. "This subordinate didn’t speak up for her because of the gifts! Every word I’ve said is true—I beg Your Highness to see clearly!"
When the Crown Prince sensed no deceit in his words, he fell silent for a moment before asking, "What about the house?"
Huai Qing answered honestly, "She had about three hundred taels left and happened upon a property being urgently sold by a broker. That’s when the idea struck her."
In truth, Huai Qing understood Yun Kui’s concerns.
Just like us shadow guards—no matter how high our pay, none of us want to live a life of bloodshed and uncertainty forever. We all dream of saving enough to retire somewhere peaceful, to live out our days in stability.
The court and the rear palace are both treacherous. Without your life, all the wealth and favor in the world mean nothing.
Right now, she’s just a bedchamber maid. Even if she became a Crown Prince consort, without family backing, how far could she go relying solely on His Highness’s favor?
Upon hearing these inner thoughts, the Crown Prince's eyes darkened with gloom. After a moment of contemplation, he raised his hand and said, "You may leave for now."
Huai Qing acknowledged the order and withdrew.
The Crown Prince sat in silence for a long while before finally sighing and rising to his feet. Stepping onto the veranda, he glanced at Qin Ge and asked, "Where is she?"
Sensing the oppressive aura around his master, Qin Ge replied cautiously, "The young lady has left Song Garden."
Noticing the sudden shift in the Crown Prince's expression, he quickly added, "I’ve already sent people to follow her. She won’t come to any harm."
The Crown Prince said coldly, "Where is she? I’ll go myself."
......
Yun Kui wandered aimlessly through the streets, nibbling on the last stick of candied hawthorn she had bought from a vendor. Though the sugar coating was thick, all she tasted was bitterness.
Recalling what had just happened, she couldn’t help but shudder with lingering fear.
How had she dared to be so bold? To openly defy the Crown Prince himself.
Yet she couldn’t bring herself to return and meekly apologize, nor did she want to face his icy expression again.
She didn’t understand why the Crown Prince was always so unpredictable—sometimes warm, sometimes distant, his moods impossible to decipher.
At times, he treated her so tenderly that she began to believe she held a special place in his heart.
At others, he was cold and aloof. The slightest misstep—sometimes one she didn’t even realize she’d made—would turn him back into the unapproachable, imperious prince.
She felt lost, adrift, unsure which version of him was real. And she dared not hope for any deeper affection from him.
What right did a mere palace maid have to wish for such things?
The cold moon hung high above, and the early spring night wind cut through her, chilling her to the bone.
The joy she’d felt upon receiving the three thousand taels of silver in Pingzhou now felt like a distant memory, doused by a bucket of icy water. Her heart ached, swollen with sorrow, as if soaked in brine. She wanted nothing more than to burst into tears.
The night had grown late, and only a few shops along the street still had their lanterns lit. On impulse, she fished out some loose silver from her sleeve and bought a flask of wine from a tavern, drinking as she walked.
At first, the strong scent of alcohol made her hesitate, afraid she might lose control if she drank too much. But then she thought—if she’d had the nerve to pin down and kiss the Crown Prince himself, what else was there to fear?
Steeling herself, she tipped her head back and took a large gulp. The fiery liquid burned down her throat, setting her entire body aflame.
Her face flushed, her eyes grew hazy, and her steps became unsteady as she swayed down the street.
Huai Zhu, fearing she might fall, hurried to steady her.
"Young lady, you should return soon. It’s not safe to be out so late, and His Highness will worry."
Yun Kui’s cheeks were rosy from the wine, her eyes red-rimmed. "He wouldn’t worry about me. He only knows how to scold me..."
Huai Zhu sighed. "That’s not true."
Yun Kui’s voice trembled faintly with sorrow. "Sister Huai Zhu, does he usually treat all of you this harshly? Does he blow hot and cold with you too?"
Huai Zhu, ever cautious with her words, had never dared to criticize their master. Truthfully, the Crown Prince was only ever cold and strict with them—demanding discipline, absolute obedience, and unwavering loyalty.
As for warmth—Huai Zhu had never experienced it.
For a shadow guard, skill and reliability were all that mattered. Their generous stipends were earned through competence, not emotional attachment.
Unsure what had sparked the argument between the two, Huai Zhu could only follow silently, keeping watch. Before she knew it, they had arrived at the mansion Yun Kui had impulsively purchased for three hundred taels earlier that day.
The vermilion gates, the dark tiles, the stone lions flanking the entrance—Yun Kui rubbed her bleary eyes and whispered tearfully, "This is my home now."
She fumbled through her embroidered pouch for the large ring of keys, but her drunken fingers couldn’t fit them into the lock. Huai Zhu finally took over, finding the right key and opening the gate.
Yun Kui stepped past the screen wall, through the moon gate, and into a courtyard lush with plants and trees. The side rooms, the main hall, the bedchambers—all were spacious. And this was only the first and second courtyards. She hadn’t even explored the gardens and ponds further in.
She’d been too impulsive when buying it, thinking only of spending those last three hundred taels. She hadn’t considered how she’d manage such a large estate alone.
Still, it had been a bargain.
But the Crown Prince hadn’t seemed to like it. Should she return it? Sell it? Or perhaps give it back to him?
Yun Kui found a sheltered spot along the corridor, sat down, and hugged her knees, slowly finishing the last of her wine.
The vast mansion only made her slender figure seem smaller, lonelier.
Was this really her home?
She had only borrowed it, like everything else the Crown Prince had given her. If he disapproved, he could take it all back in an instant.
Perhaps today had been a warning—a reminder to know her place and never reach for what wasn’t hers.
"Isn’t it just my body he wants? Fine. In Pingzhou, I’ll give him everything until he’s had his fill, until he grows bored and realizes I’m nothing special. Then I’ll take my rewards and leave with my dignity intact!"
"After that, the world will be wide open. No more walking on eggshells, no more agonizing over whether he cares or not, no more dreading the day the future Crown Princess arrives..."
With this resolution, Yun Kui felt a sense of direction for the first time.
But just as she rose to leave, a tall, shadowed figure loomed behind her—how long had he been standing there?
Blinking through her haze, she finally recognized the coldly handsome face. "Y-Your Highness?"
The Crown Prince’s phoenix eyes bore into her, his jaw clenched so tightly it might shatter.
When he swept her up into his arms, Yun Kui was still dazed. Only as the night wind dispersed some of her drunkenness did she murmur belatedly, "How did Your Highness find me here?"
The Crown Prince deposited her into the carriage, his gaze burning into her. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Two answers to your questions."
"Yes, I care."
"As for whether I’ll grow tired of you—we’ll see after I’ve had my fill."
(A/N: Late again! So sorry! My writing speed is abysmal—took me all day just to finish this chapter. Thank you all for your patience!)
