The Crown Prince recalled how Cao Yuanlu had specially delivered a jar of medicinal ointment to him upon his return from Kuning Palace earlier that day.
Suppressing the heat rising within him, he intended to fetch it to apply for her, when unexpectedly, two slender arms slowly encircled him.
The veins on the Crown Prince’s forehead throbbed visibly. The warmth beneath his palm grew scorching, his restraint crumbling inch by inch. His darkened gaze bore into her as he rasped, "Why are you holding onto me?"
Yun Kui’s lashes fluttered slightly, acutely aware of the dangerous undercurrent in his low, tightly controlled voice—as if he might devour her whole.
She whispered timidly, "Didn’t you say… if I was afraid, I could hold onto Your Highness?"
Her cautious glance met his smoldering eyes, and she quickly averted her gaze, biting her lip. Just as she was about to withdraw her arms, her body was abruptly lifted, and before she could react, his domineering kiss descended upon her, leaving no room for refusal.
Dazed by the fervent clash of lips and tongues, Yun Kui felt her senses dissolve into the heat of their entanglement. She was still unaccustomed—every nerve in her body seemed to tighten at once, sending shivers down her spine. When she tried to peek at the source of her fluster, his hand covered her eyes.
"Don’t look," he commanded gruffly.
Pouting, she protested, "Your Highness can look, so why can’t I?"
The Crown Prince was momentarily speechless.
His gaze traced over his consort—her glistening eyes, the faint blush at their corners. It wasn’t just her delicate beauty that captivated him, but the allure beneath it, a thousand charms woven into one.
And yet, her gaze still held the innocent purity of a maiden.
She was young, barely Xuan He’s age, always playing with her sisters whenever she visited the palace. He, having matured early, had first met her as a girl barely reaching his waist—never imagining that one day, she would become his wife, yielding to him in passion.
His fingers brushed her flushed cheeks as he heard his own voice, roughened with desire: "At the Marquis’ estate, how do your parents usually address you?"
Yun Kui was on the verge of tears. Sniffling, she mumbled in a thick, tearful voice, "Father calls me ‘good child.’ Mother calls me ‘precious darling.’"
The Crown Prince fell silent.
Yun Kui didn’t understand why he’d asked, nor why he said nothing afterward.
Only much later, when exhaustion weighed her down and she weakly resisted, did she hear him murmur coaxingly by her ear, "Precious, have you rested enough?"
Yun Kui blinked up at him with dewy, fawn-like eyes, stunned.
The truth was undeniable: a face of breathtaking beauty, so unlike his usual aloof demeanor, now gazing at her with fervent tenderness, kissing her with patient ardor, calling her "precious" in a voice she’d never heard before—soft, magnetic. No matter how tired she was, she couldn’t refuse him.
Afterward, the Crown Prince nearly summoned attendants to assist, but recalling the shameless thoughts of the maids the previous night, he dismissed the idea. He had water brought in, then sent everyone away.
He bathed her himself, applied ointment to the swollen areas, and by the time he finished, dawn was breaking.
The next morning, they rode back to the Marquis of Wuning’s estate in the same carriage.
Yun Kui’s eyes were still red-rimmed, drowsy with sleep. Every jolt of the carriage reminded her of the night before, and she stubbornly avoided looking at him, forcing the Crown Prince to feign repose.
Only as they neared the estate did Yun Kui rouse herself, lifting the curtain to peer outside.
The Marquis and Lady Qi had been waiting at the gates, their eyes fixed on the approaching royal carriage. When it halted, a pair of delicate hands pushed the curtain aside, and their daughter emerged in a crimson gown embroidered with golden flowers—like a butterfly alighting before them.
"Mother! Father!" she cried, her joy unrestrained.
She was still their beloved girl, but now a member of the imperial family. The couple bowed deeply, astonished that the Crown Prince had accompanied her—a gesture that honored both the Marquis’ household and their daughter’s status. Overjoyed, they ushered them inside.
The Marquis was a pillar of the court, now also his father-in-law. The Crown Prince treated him with deference, setting aside his imperial bearing to behave with humility and courtesy.
After tea in the main hall, the Crown Prince discussed court affairs with the Marquis while Yun Kui followed Lady Qi to the inner quarters.
No questions were needed—Lady Qi could see the rosy glow on her daughter’s face, the telltale signs of a well-loved bride. Relieved, she drew Yun Kui into a private chamber. "Is the Crown Prince good to you? Does he find fault?"
Yun Kui flushed. "He’s… alright."
Lady Qi chuckled knowingly. "How so?"
Yun Kui couldn’t bring herself to elaborate.
As a woman experienced in such matters, Lady Qi noted her daughter’s unsteady steps and deduced the Crown Prince’s nightly demands. Military men had their advantages—young, vigorous, and battle-hardened, the Crown Prince was surely insatiable. Even her own husband, despite his years, remained formidable.
Though she pitied Yun Kui’s exhaustion, Lady Qi was pleased by the Crown Prince’s ardor. Better passion than cold propriety between husband and wife.
Household servants gathered to pay respects to the Crown Princess. The kitchen had prepared all her favorite treats, fearing she might be stifled by palace decorum. They’d scoured the markets to ensure she lacked nothing.
By noon, Yun Kui was already stuffed. During the formal meal with the Crown Prince, she finally daintily sampled each dish—three bites at most, having no room for more.
In the afternoon, the Crown Prince departed for the military office, leaving Yun Kui with her parents. Eagerly, she begged her mother to visit the market.
Lady Qi demurred. "Your status has changed. Today is your homecoming—you can’t roam freely as before."
Yun Kui wheedled, "I just want books and little trinkets for the princesses."
Relenting, Lady Qi agreed.
Their carriage stopped at the intersection of Imperial Street. Yun Kui sent Cuihuan for snacks and Yue Xiu to the bookstore. The books she wanted weren’t exactly refined, so she stayed hidden in the carriage, tucking them discreetly into a bundle before returning.
When the Crown Prince finished his duties and returned to fetch her, he heard her laughter before he saw her—bright as silver chimes.
Entering the courtyard, he found her running with a kite, her scarlet skirts fluttering, jewelry tinkling, as light-footed as a butterfly. The setting sun gilded the scene, the air sweet with climbing roses.
Then, in a blink, the kite tangled in the high branches of a phoenix tree. The girl stared up, vexed.
A maid suggested, "Shall I fetch the Marquis? Only he can reach that high."
Before Yun Kui could answer, a figure in black robes leapt upward with such speed she barely registered it. The Crown Prince landed soundlessly, handing the kite back to her.
Her lips parted in astonishment. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Whether from heat or exhaustion, the young woman’s face was flushed, her expression flustered—like a student caught playing in class by the teacher.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince didn’t scold her for her disheveled appearance or lack of decorum. His tone remained calm as he said, "Let’s go."
On the carriage ride back to the palace, the Crown Prince asked her, "You went out today?"
Yun Kui nodded. So he already knew.
The Crown Prince poured a cup of tea and asked casually, "What did you buy?"
Yun Kui answered honestly, "I got some pastries from Wuweizhai for Xuan He and Wanning, and I also stopped by the bookstore to pick up copies of The Book of Songs and Literary Selections..."
"Oh, and some delightful books about intimate pleasures. Hehe, better hide those well once we’re back in the palace."
The Crown Prince’s brow twitched, his expression stiffening slightly.
His views on matters between men and women were rather conservative. While he could indulge freely in the privacy of their bedchamber at night, the idea of his Crown Princess openly purchasing such forbidden books in the city was a breach of palace regulations—and propriety.
Still, confiscating them in front of her, or having them discovered later, would only humiliate her and make her fearful of him, driving a wedge between them.
He pressed his fingers to his temples, his gaze darkening.
Yun Kui twisted her handkerchief nervously, her heart fluttering at his displeasure.
She had even resolved to study more to be a proper Crown Princess—so why was His Highness upset now?
After a long silence, the Crown Prince finally spoke. "Do not bring outside items into the palace from now on. If anything goes wrong, you won’t be able to defend yourself."
Yun Kui’s first thought was that he had discovered the forbidden books. But she hadn’t even mentioned them! Only she and her personal maid, Yue Xiu, knew—and Yue Xiu would never betray her. Besides, if the Crown Prince really knew, given his strict and upright nature, he would have demanded she hand them over immediately. He wouldn’t be this composed.
Then… was he referring to the pastries? Was he worried the palace outsiders’ sweets might upset the princesses’ stomachs?
She lowered her eyes and murmured, "Then I won’t give them away. I’ll eat them myself."
The Crown Prince neither agreed nor disagreed.
When they stepped out of the carriage at Donghua Gate, he immediately noticed the furtive figure of her maid, carrying a suspicious bundle and hiding behind her.
He had been thinking about this the entire journey. It was time to set some rules for his Crown Princess.
She was still young, and the Marquis of Wuning and his wife had spoiled her too much, leaving her naive, unlearned, and lacking in manners—unversed in the Six Arts of gentlemen or the Eight Elegances of noblewomen.
He didn’t expect her to be a paragon of scholarly brilliance, but at the very least, she needed to be well-mannered, dignified, and capable of commanding respect. Only then would those beneath her willingly submit.
The next morning, before Yun Kui had even shaken off her drowsiness, Cuihuan came to rouse her. "Your Highness, please rise. After breakfast, His Highness wishes for you to join him in the study."
Yun Kui felt as if the sky had collapsed. How could she be expected to get up when she had just fallen asleep?!
Was it even dawn yet?
Her entire body ached as if she’d been trampled by a carriage. She shifted slightly, struggling to open her eyes. "What time is it?"
Cuihuan answered, "It’s already mao hour."
Yun Kui: Mao hour?!
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Even for the formal greetings and her return visit to her family, she hadn’t been forced to rise this early. The Empress had even granted her the privilege of only needing to visit Kunning Palace for greetings once every five days.
And after being exhausted three times last night, she was now expected to go to his study at mao hour—to study?!
Cuihuan, who had been on night duty, had heard enough outside the door to know how thoroughly the Crown Princess had been worn out. Her voice was still hoarse, and Cuihuan pitied her. But no one dared defy the Crown Prince’s orders.
Softly, she coaxed, "His Highness must have important matters to discuss. Please rise now, and you can rest a little while I do your hair and makeup, alright?"
After a brief internal struggle, Yun Kui reluctantly agreed.
She kept her eyes closed the entire time her hair was styled and skipped breakfast entirely, heading straight to the study.
The Crown Prince sat at his desk, sipping tea, a stack of documents he had reviewed at dawn beside him. For years, he had risen before yin hour ended—reading, training, never allowing himself a moment of laziness.
So when the Crown Princess shuffled in, bleary-eyed and devoid of energy, he couldn’t help but frown.
Cutting straight to the point, he said, "Starting today, I will oversee your studies daily to ensure you improve."
Yun Kui’s drowsiness vanished instantly. "O-oversee my studies?"
The Crown Prince nodded and pushed two stacks of books toward her. On the left were the Four Books for Women, The Book of Rites, and records of virtuous women throughout history. On the right were The Book of Songs, A Thousand Poems, and Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Governance.
Seeing her dismayed expression, he remained unmoved. Sternly, he said, "Without studying poetry, one cannot speak well; without studying rites, one cannot stand firm. As the Crown Princess—and future mistress of the inner palace—your conduct reflects the dignity of the imperial family. You must set an example for all women. From now on, I will personally guide you in your studies. As for managing the palace, hosting banquets, and receiving noblewomen, Her Majesty the Empress will instruct you in due time."
Yun Kui had never expected to idle forever as Crown Princess—but she hadn’t anticipated this day coming so soon.
She had long heard that the Crown Prince was not only strict with himself but also merciless with others. Even Xuan He, after studying under him for just two days as a child, had since kept a respectful distance from her imperial brother.
Yun Kui ventured, "So… I must rise at mao hour every day?"
"The early hours determine the day’s success," the Crown Prince affirmed. After a pause, he asked, "What time did you usually rise at home?"
Yun Kui mumbled, "After chen hour… sometimes at noon."
The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed. "The Marquis of Wuning and his wife allowed such laxity?"
Yun Kui muttered, "My mother sometimes rose even later than me."
The Crown Prince: "…"
Peeking at him, she added cautiously, "I need at least five full hours of sleep, or I can’t focus on studying. If I rise at mao hour, I’d have to retire by xu hour… which means we…"
"Wouldn’t have time for other activities."
She bit her lip, swallowing the unspoken words.
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened, his grip tightening until his knuckles turned white.
