Yun Kui returned to Pine Garden, her mind still in a daze. In just half a day, her emotions had been tossed up and down, and even now, her rapid heartbeat refused to settle.
The words Qi Chengye had hurled at her were nothing new—she had heard them since childhood, like an old scab being torn open again and again. The pain had long since numbed her, but that didn’t mean the insults and humiliation left her unaffected.
Perhaps the heavens had seen her living too comfortably and decided to throw her back into the mud, forcing her to remember where she came from. That must be why she had crossed paths with Qi Chengye today.
Just because she had entered the palace, become a maid, received a bestowed name, and started a new life didn’t mean she was no longer the same A-Kui from before.
Closing her eyes, she was flooded with memories of her wretched childhood.
Neighborhood children ganging up to call her a bastard, scrubbing laundry for coins only to be turned away by a mistress who sneered at her unclean origins, her aunt cursing her as a "little slut," her cousin mimicking the same taunts—she had endured it all since infancy.
Only after escaping that household with immense difficulty did she feel like a drowning person finally dragging herself ashore. Even if the land was covered in thorns, it was still far better than the suffocating life she had left behind.
For years, she had never sought news of her uncle’s family, pretending they were all dead. Entering the palace was meant to be a clean break from the past.
Yet she never imagined that on her first trip outside the palace, in a place as unfamiliar as Pingzhou Prefecture, she would run headlong into Qi Chengye.
And of all times, it had to be when he was spewing nonsense, leaving her humiliated and laughed at by the crowd—only for His Highness the Crown Prince to appear.
Having seen his impassive demeanor countless times, she could swear that beneath his calm exterior, the prince was anything but unruffled by the filth being thrown at her.
He must have been furious, restraining his anger, his chilling presence making the air around them feel like an icy prison.
Yet he had promised to always shield her, forbidding anyone from bullying her—even going so far as to call her "Madam" in front of everyone.
The moment that title left his lips, she could feel the sudden hush, followed by countless eyes turning toward her.
Whispers spread through the crowd—this woman was no "concubine," but the legitimate wife of a powerful man who had come to defend her.
She couldn’t deny the secret, self-deceptive joy that flickered in her heart.
It was as if, amid the torrent of abuse, someone had stepped forward to restore her dignity—proclaiming her the daughter of a respectable family, a properly wedded wife.
But the truth? A bedchamber maid was likely lower than a concubine.
She didn’t understand why His Highness had addressed her that way. Before this, he had repeatedly warned her not to presume on his favor. Even after admitting he "had intentions" toward her, he had later refused to acknowledge it.
Eunuch Cao claimed the prince was fond of her. She believed there was some affection, some care—but to what extent? Perhaps it was like the emperor’s fondness for every consort in his harem, bestowing them with gold, jewels, and status.
The prince treated her the same way.
Maybe she was slightly more special—but only because she was the first woman to share his bed.
Even so, the position of the crown prince’s principal wife was something she dared not even dream of. That honor belonged to a noblewoman raised with meticulous care—graceful, virtuous, and flawless down to the last strand of hair—someone destined to become the future empress.
How could she, of all people, deserve the title "Madam"?
She could guess why His Highness had chosen to interrogate Qi Chengye privately.
He likely intended to grant her an official rank. After all, anyone entered into the imperial registry had to have a clean lineage, with no shadows in their family history. If the prince uncovered the truth of how her mother had conceived her, he might well withdraw his favor.
And if Qi Chengye spilled more details—like those about Squire Zhu—he might even embellish the story with lies. Would His Highness be able to discern fact from fiction?
At this thought, Yun Kui sighed deeply.
This was why one should always know their place. Harboring unrealistic fantasies only led to being blinded by fleeting favor, feeding greed until, like her, you ended up anxious and grasping at nothing.
Well, perhaps it was for the best.
At least she had slept with the most extraordinary man in the world, tasted the finest pleasures—what more could she regret?
If she lost him, so be it. His Highness had never truly been hers to begin with.
...
A makeshift interrogation room had been set up in the back hills of Pine Garden. While Qi Chengye remained unconscious, Zhao Yue reported everything he had gathered from brothel keepers and other informants.
"The man is Qi Chengye, a native of Kaiyang in Shandong. His father died three years ago, his mother last year. He’s a lecherous gambler who dabbles in abducting young girls to sell to brothels. He’s notorious for racking up debts in gambling dens and brothels, even resorting to theft. Today, he was caught using counterfeit silver notes, which earned him that beating."
The crown prince frowned. "He’s Yun Kui’s cousin?"
Zhao Yue, having previously investigated Yun Kui’s background, nodded. "Yes."
The prince pressed further. "Any new leads on her parents?"
Zhao Yue shook his head. "Yun Kui’s mother never revealed anything about her father. I suspect even she might not have known."
After a brief silence, the prince glanced at Qin Ge, who promptly doused Qi Chengye’s face with a bucket of ice water.
The shock of the cold water jolted Qi Chengye awake. His limbs had been broken, his body writhing in agony. Blinking in panic, he took in his surroundings—he had been imprisoned.
His trembling gaze landed on the man seated in the armchair before him. Clad in dark brocade, his eyes were deep-set, his lips pressed into a thin line. Even without speaking, the sheer intensity of his presence was terrifying.
Qi Chengye’s lips quivered. "Wh-who are you people? Where am I?"
Then he noticed the fierce-looking guard beside him—the very man who had shattered his limbs in the street.
Memories of the earlier scene flooded back, sending cold sweat down his spine. He gritted his teeth, mouth bloody. "How dare you treat me like this! Is there no law left?"
The prince took a leisurely sip of tea, half his face cast in shadow by the flickering candlelight. His expression was cold, edged with menace.
Setting down the cup, he finally lifted his gaze. "What do you know about Yun Kui’s mother? Speak the truth."
Qi Chengye blinked. "Y-Yun Kui?"
The prince clarified, "The girl you knew as A-Kui."
Qi Chengye’s eyes lit up with realization. "So you’re her current master? Is she your concubine or your mistress?"
She even changed her name—was she sold as a courtesan and bought out by this man?
No wonder she turned down Squire Zhu, that fat pig. She must’ve found herself a richer, more handsome patron.
This man must be wealthy and powerful—look how well-fed and dressed she is, even with a female bodyguard.
At this thought, Qi Chengye immediately plastered an ingratiating smile on his face: "Since you're her master, that makes us family! I'm her cousin—her mother’s own nephew. My parents raised her for ten years, spending no small sum on her..."
Noticing the man’s frosty expression, his tongue tied in fear, and he hurriedly backtracked: "Her mother was my aunt, but she passed away right after giving birth to Yun Kui. Though... I do know about those... unsavory matters."
The Crown Prince’s voice was icy: "Speak."
Qi Chengye’s teeth chattered as he spilled everything he knew: "Her mother worked at the town’s medical clinic. She didn’t live with us, but one day, my parents were summoned there. Turns out she’d taken a fall while gathering herbs in the mountains, and the shock threatened the pregnancy. The physician warned her to rest, or she’d lose the child. But she’d never even married—how could she be pregnant? She refused to say who the father was... My parents had no choice but to take her in. Our family suffered gossip and scorn because of her."
The Crown Prince sneered: "If your parents hadn’t eyed the savings she’d earned from herb-gathering, would they have endured the shame of sheltering her and her child?"
Qi Chengye, long hardened by years of swindling, retorted shamelessly: "A pregnant woman’s expenses are higher than most. Then there was the midwife for the birth, and after her mother died, it was my mother who raised Yun Kui, changing her diapers and all. Do you think that didn’t cost money?"
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened further, recalling Zhao Yue’s earlier report.
"The girl was beautiful from birth. The neighbors assumed Qi Rong and his wife were raising her as a future daughter-in-law. But as she grew more stunning, her aunt Luo changed her mind—said such beauty would only bring trouble. She wanted to sell her as a concubine to a wealthy man in the county, boasting she wouldn’t accept a dowry of less than a thousand taels."
The Crown Prince clenched his fists, his ink-dark eyes churning with stormy fury.
He could easily imagine how her lecherous uncle must have leered at her, how Qi Chengye had viewed her as his future wife since childhood, and how her greedy aunt had treated her like merchandise, ready to be auctioned off at the first opportunity...
Qi Chengye shuddered under the man’s terrifying gaze, cold sweat drenching his back.
He’d frequented brothels and gambling dens, rubbing shoulders with officials and nobles, but he’d never met anyone like this—a man whose very presence exuded crushing authority, whose attendants moved with lethal precision, yet stood in deferential silence around him.
Qi Chengye’s limited understanding couldn’t grasp the man’s status, but the primal fear gripping him was undeniable. It felt as though his life hung by a thread in this man’s hands.
Pale and trembling, Qi Chengye stammered, "I only stopped her on the street today because I was short on funds... Our family raised her all these years without ever mistreating her. My parents are dead now—I’m her only kin left. What... what do you want from me?"
A thought struck him. "Unless... you’re ashamed of her origins and plan to cast her out? That’s none of our doing! Her mother’s indiscretions had nothing to do with us—"
The Crown Prince massaged his temples, irritated by the man’s babbling.
With a final frown, he asked, "So you know nothing of her father’s identity?"
Qi Chengye faltered. "I..."
So he’s after her father’s name? But even my parents didn’t know. How could I—?
His eyes darted nervously before he blurted, "I might not know now, but I can dig up clues! Just tell me what you need—"
Before he could finish, the Crown Prince smirked, rising leisurely from his chair. "You’ve trafficked young girls, stolen goods, and circulated counterfeit coins. Even if I spare you, the law won’t."
Qi Chengye gaped. The word "zhen" (this royal "I") struck him like a hammer to the skull, leaving his mind reeling as if his very soul had been ripped out.
"You—" His mouth worked soundlessly.
Even the most ignorant commoner knew what that pronoun signified—a station so exalted, he’d never dare lift his eyes to it.
After a brief pause, the Crown Prince issued his decree, voice frigid: "Cut out his tongue and dump him in the marketplace. Let debtors and enemies have their way. If he’s still alive in ten days, hand him to Pingzhou’s magistrate."
Qi Chengye trembled violently, sweat pouring down his face. "Y-you—"
Before he could scream or beg, two guards seized him, pinning his thrashing body to the ground.
The Crown Prince stepped past the threshold. A bloodcurdling shriek soon followed.
He closed his eyes briefly, fingertips tracing the jade ring on his thumb, his expression unmoved.
Zhao Yue approached.
After a moment’s thought, the Crown Prince ordered, "Find the clinic where Qi’s mother worked. Uncover every detail—every place she visited before and after the pregnancy: government offices, temples, festivals, mountains. Track every suspicious person she met, and investigate all incidents in Kaiyang County during that time—banditry, disasters, rituals, hunts. Scrutinize every outsider: officials, soldiers, monks, mystics."
Zhao Yue bowed in acknowledgment.
As the Crown Prince turned to leave, he glanced back. "Throw the trash farther away. I won’t have his filth staining her sight."
Returning to the main quarters, he found Huai Zhu and Huai Qing standing guard outside. They bowed deeply at his approach.
He gave a slight nod, but for once, their thoughts reached him:
I wonder if His Highness will wear that... armor.
It was a gift from the young mistress. Surely he won’t be angry.
So she’d bought him armor?
At least she had some conscience.
The tension that had lined the Crown Prince’s brow all day finally eased.
