When the Crown Prince entered, Yun Kui was sitting on the couch with a troubled expression, idly flipping through a storybook.
Seeing him, she instinctively curled her fingers and stood up properly. "Your Highness, have you... interrogated my cousin?"
The Crown Prince sat down to drink tea and gave a simple "Mm" in response.
Yun Kui asked, "Then... what did you ask him?"
The Crown Prince countered, "What are you afraid I asked him?"
Yun Kui pressed her lips tightly together. Though she had tried to convince herself that wealth and status were fleeting, that affection was rarely lasting, and that she was originally just a lowly palace maid—now merely in a worse situation—deep down, she still didn’t want him to know how shamefully others had spoken of her. Even though she had done nothing wrong, this was the way of the world. Her birth had destined her to face scorn and insults.
She couldn’t choose her origins, but like everyone else, she had come into this world unknowing, striving to survive each day. What had she done to deserve this?
After silently listening to her thoughts, the Crown Prince pondered for a long moment before asking, "Would you like to know who your birth father is?"
The moment the words left his lips, Yun Kui’s heart clenched violently.
It was as if an old, thick scab had suddenly peeled away, revealing thin, fragile skin beneath. The wound might have seemed healed, but pressing a finger against it still drew fresh blood from deep within.
Her hands and feet turned cold, her voice trembling faintly. "Your Highness... found out? Does Qi Chengye know?"
The Crown Prince shook his head. "No."
Yun Kui seemed to exhale quietly in relief, her heart a tangle of emotions—mostly confusion and resistance. She didn’t know how to face the man who had never been part of her life yet brought endless suffering to her and her mother.
With difficulty, she asked, "Why does Your Highness suddenly want to know this?"
The Crown Prince replied, "Certain matters need verification."
He had to know the identity of the man who had plunged her and her mother into such hardship. Whether to seek justice for her or to reunite father and daughter, he needed clarity.
"But if you’d rather not speak of him, I won’t mention him again."
Yun Kui asked softly, "Does Your Highness also know about my mother... and my uncle’s family?"
The Crown Prince gazed at her slightly reddened eyes. "I know all that can be uncovered."
Her voice grew even quieter, shaking. "Actually... my mother was kind-hearted, diligent, and hardworking. She earned her living with her own hands, and the neighbors always praised her. She only made one mistake, yet people branded her for life... But I’ve never blamed her."
The Crown Prince sighed and said nothing more, leaning forward slightly to pull her into his arms.
Enveloped in the warmth of his embrace, her ear pressed against his steady heartbeat, Yun Kui took a long moment to react. "Your Highness... aren’t you angry?"
The Crown Prince said coldly, "I am furious."
Yun Kui stiffened slightly, about to pull away, but his hand pressed firmly against the small of her back, holding her in place.
He looked down at her. "Do you not understand why I gave you Huai Qing and Huai Zhu? To let yourself be publicly humiliated and do nothing—how spineless can you be? You can’t even borrow my authority?"
Yun Kui pursed her lips. "A mere palace maid like me—how bold could I be, borrowing Your Highness’s power?"
The Crown Prince scoffed. "If you had even a tenth of the audacity you show in front of me, no one would dare mistreat you."
Yun Kui murmured, "I didn’t want to trouble Your Highness. If someone had died..."
The Crown Prince cut her off. "So what if they died?"
Yun Kui stared at him blankly, then suddenly realized something. "Your Highness... didn’t kill my cousin, did you?"
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. "What, would you care if I did?"
"Of course not," Yun Kui said, her heart unmoved. "I just didn’t expect to see him here. He’s still the same... as detestable as ever."
The Crown Prince recalled Qi Chengye’s words—how he had bullied her relentlessly since childhood, even shamelessly teasing her as if she were his betrothed. Rage burned in his chest; even a thousand cuts wouldn’t suffice.
A swift death was too merciful for such vermin. Cutting out his tongue, breaking his limbs, and tossing him into the streets—even if he survived the debt collectors from gambling dens and brothels, the law would still claim his life.
His voice grew icy. "He’s a swindler and a criminal. Even if I don’t kill him, his fate is sealed."
Yun Kui nodded hurriedly.
The Crown Prince’s gaze darkened. "If you let yourself be bullied like this again, I..."
What will you do?
The thought flashed through Yun Kui’s mind, and her face immediately flushed crimson. With a hint of tears in her voice, she stammered, "Y-Your Highness, I didn’t mean to..."
The Crown Prince laughed in exasperation. "You think I haven’t heard you before? You’ve overstepped more than once. That I tolerate you at all is already immense grace."
Yun Kui nodded like a pecking bird.
The Crown Prince continued, "If you let yourself be trampled on again, I won’t be lenient."
His tone was stern, yet it sent ripples through her heart.
Suddenly, she recalled his unexpected use of "wife," his promise that she needn’t fear consequences—that he would bear them all. Half-jokingly, she asked, "Can I really borrow your authority? What if the one targeting me holds a status far beyond my reach?"
The Crown Prince said, "If you could handle them yourself, what use would I be?"
Fair point.
Emboldened, she ventured further. "What if it’s someone like the Heir of Ningde Marquis... or even the Empress?"
The Crown Prince smiled faintly. "You’re welcome to try."
Yun Kui shrugged. She wouldn’t dare.
The Crown Prince said, "Just remember—no matter what, I’ll bear the consequences. Huai Qing and Huai Zhu will stay with you. Don’t disgrace me by acting like a coward."
Yun Kui smiled, pressing her lips together. "Mm."
After a long silence, the Crown Prince, still waiting for her to bring it up, finally asked, "By the way, where is that armor? Show it to me."
"A-Armor?"
The sudden question nearly made her jaw drop.
Did someone tell him? Huai Qing or Huai Zhu?
I wanted to wait before begging him to wear it. After today’s events, I thought he’d be in a foul mood.
The Crown Prince frowned. "If you know I’m in a bad mood, why hide it instead of bringing it out?"
Yun Kui: "..."
Your Highness, you’ll understand when you see it.
A sense of foreboding crept over the Crown Prince.
Was the armor hideous? Useless? Did she have to beg him to wear it?
Even Huai Qing and Huai Zhu seemed to think it might provoke his wrath.
"Never mind," the Crown Prince said magnanimously. "You’re usually thoughtless. That you went to the trouble of preparing a gift—no matter how unsightly—I’ll accept it gladly."
Yun Kui immediately brightened. "You’ll really wear it for me?"
The Crown Prince sensed something was off but still patted her shoulder encouragingly. "Let me see it first."
Yun Kui went to fetch the brocade box from the display shelf, hesitating at the last moment. "Your Highness, maybe you should close your eyes first?"
The Crown Prince: "No."
Yun Kui: "..."
His curiosity thoroughly piqued, the Crown Prince wanted to see just how extraordinary this so-called "armor" could be.
Then, as a delicate tangle of golden chains was slowly drawn out of the brocade box, unfolding in Yun Kui’s fingertips with a mischievous smile, it revealed itself as something resembling an ornate body adornment. The Crown Prince’s expression shifted from curiosity to a furrowed brow, and finally to gritted teeth as he let out a humorless laugh.
"Is this what you prepared for me… as armor?"
Yun Kui chuckled awkwardly. "Well, it was supposed to be armor—to protect you from assassins and keep you from getting fatally wounded..."
The Crown Prince pointed at the two gold plates embedded with rubies and the sapphire dangling near where the navel would be, his temple twitching. "And this is what you call 'protecting vital areas'?"
Yun Kui hurried to explain, "The jeweler misunderstood my request! He thought I was making this for… for romantic purposes. I was just as shocked when I saw it!"
The Crown Prince: "Yet you still brought it back."
He saw right through her little scheme. Since he could read her mind anyway—knew she was as soft as a half-cooked egg, oozing at the slightest poke—she dropped the act entirely. She blinked up at him, grinning.
"Even if it wasn’t my original intention… I really, really want to see the Crown Prince wear this! It’s so, so beautiful! You’d be the most handsome man in the world like this—I’d swoon so hard I’d get a nosebleed!"
She suddenly realized how much easier it was to blurt out these shameless, saccharine thoughts rather than say them aloud.
The Crown Prince’s lips curled coldly. "Don’t even think about it. I won’t wear it."
Yun Kui pouted. "Just try it? Please?"
"I’ve had such a rough day… If someone would wear this golden chain for me, I’d kiss and hug them, love them the most!"
The Crown Prince scoffed. "You dare love someone else?"
"Weren’t we bedmates? I’ve been your antidote—can’t you indulge me just once?"
His expression darkened as he turned to leave. Yun Kui’s frantic thoughts chased after him.
"Of course I only love Your Highness! But if you’d wear it just once for me, I’d love you even more—the most!"
No matter how she pleaded in her mind, he strode away without looking back. Defeated, Yun Kui slumped onto the daybed.
That evening, after the Crown Prince finished bathing, Yun Kui prepared to wash up as well. Passing through the corridor, she admired the lush garden with its artfully arranged rocks and blooming flowers, musing to herself that while this place wasn’t as grand as the palace, its intricate carvings and picturesque scenery were still breathtaking.
Cao Yuanlu, noticing her curiosity, explained, "This is His Highness’s private residence in Pingzhou. The Crown Prince owns properties in every major city—it’s convenient for incognito travels."
Yun Kui gasped. "Properties everywhere? Isn’t he as rich as a kingdom?"
Cao Yuanlu smiled. "The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation. His Highness is the very essence of the empire, destined to rule all under heaven, commanding its lands and treasures."
Yun Kui didn’t understand the flowery language, but she grasped one thing—the Crown Prince wasn’t just as wealthy as a country; he was the country.
Cao Yuanlu added warmly, "The young mistress is deeply favored by His Highness. In the future, you’ll enjoy endless riches and honors."
Yun Kui sighed inwardly. If I live long enough to enjoy them.
Cao Yuanlu watched her enter, recalling how the Crown Prince had addressed her as "Madam" in public earlier. He had pieced things together.
Though Yun Kui was just a palace maid by birth, the Crown Prince held her in the highest regard. To call her "Madam" among commoners meant he saw her as his rightful wife. Others might sweet-talk, but the Crown Prince’s word was law—he never spoke idly.
Yet here she was, still oblivious to the grand fate awaiting her.
After his bath, the Crown Prince returned to his chamber, Yun Kui’s earlier mental chirping still echoing in his ears.
Against his better judgment, he took out the golden chain again, examining it closely.
The placement of the tassels and gemstones nearly made him laugh in exasperation.
What did she take him for—some courtesan from the pleasure quarters? If he, the Crown Prince, wore something like this, even assassins would pause to laugh before striking.
But she had sworn she’d be so dazzled she’d bleed from the nose, that she’d kiss and embrace him, that if he wore it just once, she’d love him and only him…
The Crown Prince sneered. Did her fickle heart even understand love? Would she adore anyone who strutted around in this ridiculous thing?
Could some pot-bellied merchant pull it off? Or those grimy, sweat-drenched guards?
After a long silence, he clenched his jaw and strode to the veranda, ordering Qin Ge, "Clear the courtyard. No one approaches the main house tonight without my command."
Qin Ge stiffened momentarily before bowing in acknowledgment.
When Yun Kui returned from her bath, she found the Crown Prince seated on the edge of the bed in snow-white sleep robes, his gaze dark and unreadable.
Anticipating his intentions, her legs weakened slightly as she approached cautiously—only to hear a faint metallic rustling hidden in the shadows. Before she could speak, his hand clamped around her wrist, yanking her forward as he pinned her beneath him.
Her heart hadn’t even steadied when she saw it—the delicate golden choker around his throat, the body chain trailing down his half-open robes, glinting against the sculpted planes of his chest.
Yun Kui’s breath hitched.
The Crown Prince’s voice was rough. "Is this the effect you wanted?"
She stared, transfixed, unable to hide her awe and delight, her lips curving uncontrollably. "Yes! Absolutely!"
Trembling, she reached into his robes, tracing the smooth muscles and the ruby-embedded gold plate. When her fingers pressed down lightly, his breath faltered—then his mouth crashed onto hers.
(What followed really can’t be described in detail. Don’t get too excited, folks—I’ll simmer more "soup" tomorrow.)
