Yun Kui’s ears buzzed as the rush of blood and the haze of alcohol clouded her mind. It took a long while for the two answers he had given to break free from the chaos and imprint themselves clearly in her thoughts.
She still couldn’t believe it, her lips trembling slightly as she whispered, "Your Highness just said… what?"
The Crown Prince clenched his jaw imperceptibly, unwilling to explain further. "If you didn’t hear, forget it."
Yun Kui began carefully replaying those two sentences in her mind.
When he said "have feelings," could he have been answering the question lingering in her heart—
"No need to rack my brains wondering whether he has feelings for me or not."
As for the second line, "Whether I’ll grow tired of it or not, I’ll eat first before deciding," that must have been a reply to—
"Until he’s thoroughly had his fill, grown bored, and decided I’m nothing special, I’ll take my rewards and leave unscathed."
Those few words sent shockwaves through her, leaving her utterly dumbfounded, her thoughts in disarray.
"Your Highness, you…"
"Are you saying… you have feelings for me?"
Yun Kui’s already flushed cheeks burned even hotter, the blush spreading from her face to the tips of her ears and down her neck.
Her mind was a mess, lost in confusion.
"Or does he simply mean he’s ‘interested’ enough to take a bite, and once he’s had his fill, that ‘interest’ will vanish?"
The Crown Prince: "…"
Yun Kui tried to steady herself, gritting her teeth as she said, "If Your Highness refuses to repeat what you just said, then put me down. After all, I’m just someone dispensable, hardly worth Your Highness’s concern."
The Crown Prince frowned. "How much have you drunk to spout such nonsense?"
Yun Kui’s breathing quickened. "Your Highness is always so unpredictable, flipping between moods without warning. If you truly… care for me even a little, why are you so hot and cold?"
The Crown Prince ignored her, striding through the moon gate with her in his arms, nearly at the estate’s exit.
Yun Kui, fueled by alcohol, pounded his chest in frustration. "This is my home! The deed bears my name in black and white! Even if Your Highness paid for it, once you gave it to me, what I do with it is none of your concern! Taking me away without permission is trespassing!"
The Crown Prince glanced down with a cold scoff. "Then go report it. See who dares rescue you from my hands."
Yun Kui bit her lip. "Unless Your Highness explains clearly, I won’t go with you!"
The Crown Prince smirked. "Wasn’t it you who said you’d serve me with all your heart, even offering yourself until I’ve had my fill and grown tired? Having second thoughts now?"
Yun Kui: "…"
It was as if a thunderbolt had struck her, leaving her mind blank once more.
All the courage the alcohol had given her evaporated instantly.
After a long silence, she finally lifted her head, staring at him in disbelief. "Your Highness… can you really hear what I’m thinking?"
She was certain—absolutely certain—she hadn’t spoken a single word aloud while drowning her sorrows in drink earlier!
And she would never dare voice those shameful thoughts openly!
This time, the Crown Prince answered her directly, locking eyes with her as he enunciated each word: "I can read minds."
Then, with deliberate amusement, he arched a brow.
Yun Kui turned red from head to toe, like a shrimp tossed into boiling oil. The alcohol in her stomach seemed to ignite into flames, leaving her thoroughly scorched.
"He really can read minds!"
"Then all the disrespect, the insults, the careless thoughts, even the times I cursed him in my head—he heard everything?!"
The Crown Prince replied leisurely, "I did."
Yun Kui: !!!
Looking back, he had hinted at this ability before—like during their shared chamber when she silently recited that mantra. But she had stubbornly refused to believe it, convincing herself that mind-reading was too fantastical, that he was just unusually perceptive.
Yet it was true!
He really could hear every single thought!
Then again, if she could enter others’ dreams, perhaps it wasn’t so far-fetched that the Crown Prince could hear minds.
Still, she couldn’t accept it. Staring at him intently, she boldly tested her inner voice.
"Consort… Consort Xiao?"
Instantly, the man’s expression darkened, his voice turning icy. "I advise you not to test my patience."
Yun Kui felt as if the sky had collapsed. Every memory of their past interactions now rushed to the forefront of her mind.
"So… from the very beginning, Your Highness knew that I… coveted you?"
She racked her brain for a more refined term.
The Crown Prince remained impassive. "Yes. Every thought—wanting to kiss me, ogling my chest, imagining touching every inch of me, even wanting to sleep with me—I knew. I just chose not to expose you."
Yun Kui: !!!
"Not exposing me? Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing now?"
And not just exposing—he was skewering her through the heart with brutal precision!
The Crown Prince looked down at her. "So you should understand just how tolerant I’ve been. If anyone else knew the treasonous thoughts in your mind, you’d have died a thousand times over."
Yun Kui’s lashes trembled uncontrollably, her entire body tense. Every point of contact between them—where his arms held her, where their skin touched—burned as if on fire.
She couldn’t calm down, her lips quivering as she pleaded, "Could you… put me down first?"
She desperately needed to collect herself.
The Crown Prince scoffed. "What’s wrong? Brave enough to fantasize, but too cowardly to face me?"
Yun Kui was on the verge of tears. Just before being tossed into the carriage, she tried to escape, only to be pinned firmly onto the seat.
The Crown Prince warned, "If you dare misbehave again, we’ll settle all accounts at once."
Yun Kui finally stopped struggling—but the moment she grumbled inwardly, his sharp, cold gaze shot her way.
"…"
"How am I supposed to live like this?!"
As the carriage rumbled back, her bold attempt at running away had ended in failure within a mere hour.
Now, memories of the past flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.
Outwardly, she had always been obedient, mindful of her status—but inwardly, she had never stopped lusting after his body. From the moment she opened her eyes each day, it was always "his chest is so broad," "his abs are so defined," "his ‘little highness’ is so impressive…"—and he had known all along.
Many past mysteries now made sense.
No wonder he hadn’t let her serve him during medicinal baths at the hot springs. No wonder he always kept his sleeping robes tightly fastened. No wonder he forbade her from fantasizing before bed—he had been guarding against her desires this whole time!
The Crown Prince suddenly shot her a frosty glance. "Are you sure you want to revisit every single one of those shameless thoughts?"
Yun Kui: "…"
"Ahhh! Stupid brain, stop thinking!!!"
She decided to distract herself, scanning the shops along the street. When the carriage turned into an alley, she busied herself studying the intricate carvings inside the cabin—until her gaze inadvertently landed on the Crown Prince’s pale hand resting on his knee.
And the jade thumb ring adorning it.
Yun Kui froze for a long moment, a peculiar emotion slowly welling up in her heart. "Your Highness... why are you wearing the thumb ring I bought?"
The man's thin lips pressed tightly together, offering no reply.
It wasn't until she was carried back to Song Garden, laid upon the huanghuali wood bed in his chambers, and the cool, translucent jade thumb ring grazed the side of her neck that he finally spoke, his gaze dark and heavy.
"Why did you buy this thumb ring for me, hmm?"
Yun Kui shivered from the cold touch but stubbornly retorted, "Your Highness gave me three thousand taels in silver notes. I couldn’t just think of myself—this is my way of repaying your kindness."
"That obsidian thumb ring of yours is too rough! It chafes me terribly!"
Her thoughts drifted uncontrollably before snapping back, and she belatedly realized what she’d just imagined. Trembling, she met the Crown Prince’s pitch-black eyes.
The Crown Prince: "I see."
Yun Kui: "..."
"He heard it again!"
The jade thumb ring slid downward inch by inch, gliding over every inch of her flawless, snow-white skin. Ignoring her violent trembling, the man’s movements remained deliberate and unhurried.
"That obsidian thumb ring of mine is engraved with Buddhist scriptures to ward off evil spirits. Naturally, you couldn’t endure it."
Yun Kui: "..."
"I feel like you’re insulting me!"
The Crown Prince continued, "This one you bought, though inferior in quality, is smooth and fine. Since you’ve already purchased it, we might as well try it."
The icy sensation shot up her spine like an electric current. Yun Kui’s face flushed crimson, her body tense and aching, every finger trembling uncontrollably.
In the end, she clutched a soft pillow, sobbing pitifully.
"What have I done to deserve this?!"
"Why did I dig myself such a deep hole?!"
Thinking of how she’d ended up in this state, grief welled up in her heart. She wiped her tears, half-convinced this was a hallucination from beyond the grave.
Perhaps she had actually died the night the Crown Prince awoke from his grievous injuries!
All of it—his mind-reading, her contributions in dreams, solving bizarre cases, uncovering palace secrets, being doted on by the Crown Prince, rewarded with thousands of taels—must be nothing but delusions after death. None of it could be real!
Hearing her sniffles, the Crown Prince sighed helplessly.
He tossed aside the damp bedding, turning her curled-up form toward him. "What nonsense are you thinking now?"
Tear-streaked, her nose red and hair disheveled, Yun Kui looked utterly ravaged.
"I don’t believe any of it. It must all be fake."
Her voice quivered as she lifted her misty eyes to his.
"Unless Your Highness gives me an explanation—why haven’t you killed me yet, when I’ve shamelessly fantasized about you in my heart a hundred times over?"
"And that word, ‘intentional’—I’m too stupid to understand."
"And also—"
Before she could finish, the man leaned down, cradling her face as his scorching lips sealed over hers, swallowing all her unspoken words.
A few more kisses, and she’ll soften.
