Since childhood, the Crown Prince had disciplined himself with the rigor expected of a future ruler, rising early and retiring late, unwavering in his diligence.
The two years he spent leading troops into battle were far from smooth—more often than not, they were marked by nights spent under the open sky, weapons at the ready. The most perilous moment came when his forces were trapped in a valley, where he went days without rest before finally breaking through the enemy’s encirclement.
He needed only two hours of sleep a night to remain sharp-witted and agile.
It was hard to imagine that a young girl like Yun Kui required a full five hours of sleep just to muster the energy to read.
Yun Kui, too, found it difficult to fathom how drastically their stamina differed.
While he exerted himself tirelessly, she was exhausted just from lying still. According to the illustrated manuals, most men considered lasting the duration of a single incense stick to be impressive, and managing twice in a day was already exceptional. Yet this man… went at it three or four times in a row and still had the energy to handle affairs of state with vigor the next morning.
The Crown Prince made no comment on their nightly activities, only stating, “You’ve grown lazy. Without pressure, how will you ever know the extent of your capabilities? These books are merely foundational. Later, I will arrange for a tutor to instruct you in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Even if you master none, you must at least learn to appreciate them.”
She nodded meekly and murmured her assent, then stole a glance at him. “If I truly can’t learn… will Your Highness blame me?”
The Crown Prince fell silent for a moment before replying, “If you resign yourself to failure before even trying, you’ll never put in your full effort.”
Yun Kui lowered her head, feeling the stifling frustration of being lectured like a student. “Then… should I take these back to the Cheng Guang Palace to study?”
The Crown Prince glanced toward the reading couch by the window. “Stay in the study for now. I’ll assess your foundation and check on your progress.”
Yun Kui drew a sharp breath, her brows knitting tighter.
The Crown Prince lifted his gaze. “What? Unwilling?”
Yun Kui: “No.”
The Crown Prince: “Do you think I’m being unreasonable?”
She didn’t know how to respond. To her, he seemed like two entirely different people—by day, an awe-inspiring, stern ruler; by night, a husband whose persistence left her flushed and weak-kneed. Both versions intimidated her.
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes and exhaled silently.
Her mind was entirely preoccupied with matters of the bedchamber. Keeping her in the study might only prolong the torment for them both.
“Forget it,” he said. “Study wherever you please.”
He summoned attendants to carry the books for her, then added, “Eat breakfast first.”
Yun Kui nodded.
It wasn’t that she disliked studying—she was simply the type to alternate between bursts of diligence and prolonged laziness, occasionally mustering grand ambitions.
As the Crown Princess, she couldn’t afford to be utterly unlearned, lest she become a laughingstock.
What she still couldn’t understand was why, among all the noble and accomplished ladies of the capital, the position of Crown Princess had fallen to her.
If she couldn’t make sense of it, others surely couldn’t either—gossip was inevitable.
For her own sake, as well as for the Crown Prince and the Empress, she couldn’t afford to slack off any longer.
Setting aside the Four Books for Women, she idly flipped through the hefty volume of Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Governance, only to find it densely annotated in neat, forceful script.
Through the thin pages, she could almost picture the Crown Prince seated rigidly at his desk, brows slightly furrowed, his gaze focused as he meticulously penned each stroke.
A strange emotion welled up in her chest—like the delicate touch of a willow branch skimming the surface of a still lake, sending ripples across her heart.
Her maids, fearing she might overexert herself, constantly brought tea and snacks to replenish her energy. Though memorizing texts was taxing, the day passed without too much strain. Only in the afternoon did drowsiness overwhelm her, her head repeatedly bumping against the low desk until she finally gave in and took a nap.
The Crown Prince was occupied late into the night with a case from the Ministry of Justice and didn’t return to Cheng Guang Palace until well past Xu hour.
The chambers were silent. Qiu Chan approached softly to report, “The Crown Princess has already retired for the night. She said if she didn’t sleep early, she wouldn’t be able to rise at Mao hour tomorrow.”
The Crown Prince acknowledged this with a faint nod, then went to bathe. By the time he returned, the little one was fast asleep.
He tried to ignore the warm, soft body beside him, lying down with forced detachment.
But the girl slept restlessly—first throwing a leg over him, then fidgeting until she found his shoulder the perfect pillow, nestling her face against his neck with a contented sigh.
The Crown Prince exhaled heavily. His gaze fell on her rosy cheeks, flushed like spring blossoms, her hair brushing against his throat, her breath warm against his skin—each touch a maddening tease.
His body tensed. He reached out to shift her back, but the moment his fingers grazed her warm back, his mind conjured images of her trembling beneath him, her snow-white shoulder blades exposed, hair disheveled. His lower body tightened further.
Never before had he been so affected. Yet his body betrayed him.
In the past, palace maids had attempted to seduce him, but he’d dealt with them impartially, handing them over to the disciplinary office. At banquets, noble daughters had cast flirtatious glances his way, yet his heart remained unmoved.
Was it simply because she was his Crown Princess?
His hand refused to push her away. Instead, he pulled her closer, the urge to merge her into his very being nearly overwhelming.
But she had only just begun her studies. How could he let his impulses derail her progress?
He needed restraint. This couldn’t continue.
His throat bobbed as he fought back the craving. In the end, he merely pressed a featherlight kiss to her forehead.
Exhausted from days of insufficient rest, Yun Kui slept deeply—until a dream jolted her awake in the dead of night.
What she saw left her stunned.
The Crown Prince was kissing her!
Not just any kiss—it was fierce, unrelenting. He pinned her down, knees forcing her legs apart, then tore open her nightgown. In the dream, she could only whimper as he took her without giving her a chance to protest—
The dream shattered abruptly, and Yun Kui awoke with a start.
To her shock, she found herself cradled in a scorching, unyielding embrace. The man’s strong arms held her close, his devastatingly handsome face mere inches away.
Her heart raced, still flustered from the dream. Seeing him now only deepened her blush.
Thankfully, his eyes remained closed—he was still asleep.
In her memories, the Crown Prince had always been the epitome of nobility and aloofness. Even on the day Xuan He came to her family’s estate to formalize their engagement amidst the uproar caused by the Prince of Mo Shan, he hadn’t spared her a single glance.
How had he changed so much after their marriage?
Tonight, she was truly exhausted, having been worn out from the previous days' ordeals, so she decided to retire early before his return. Yet, after just one night without intimacy, he had already appeared in her dreams… Was this still the same aloof and distant Crown Prince she knew?
While he slept, she cautiously studied his face. He was still the same person, after all.
His features were striking—deep-set eyes, a high-bridged nose, and a sharp, chiseled jawline. His pale complexion had the smoothness of jade, making him undeniably handsome. But his usual sternness made him seem unapproachable. Now, in slumber, he looked just right.
Her gaze lingered on his slightly pursed lips. Holding her breath, she leaned in and pressed a feather-light kiss against them, careful not to wake him.
Only when she closed her eyes and her breathing steadied did the man slowly open his own. Dark, unfathomable emotions swirled in his gaze, intense yet silent.
…
News that Yun Kui was being forced to study by the Crown Prince soon spread beyond the Eastern Palace. The two princesses expressed sympathy, while the Empress, fearing her son might scare his bride away, summoned him to Kunming Palace for a talk.
"How could you be so impatient?" the Empress sighed, looking at her solemn son. "I had hoped you two would take this time to nurture your bond as newlyweds. Yet, barely days after the wedding, you’re already confining her to books and rules, even demanding she rise at dawn. She’s neither an official nor a scholar—why must she wake at such an hour?"
The Crown Prince replied, "If she can endure it, all the better. But if she’s truly exhausted, I won’t force her. Her rest can be adjusted accordingly."
The Empress rubbed her temples. "She is your wife, not your subordinate or your student. That child’s temperament is much like Xuan He’s. Right now, she obeys out of fear. But if you push too hard, she’ll start avoiding you altogether. Where’s the affection in a marriage like that?"
After a pause, the Crown Prince said, "She lacks learning and refinement, having been pampered since childhood. I worry she won’t command respect and may suffer for it later."
"Then guide her gradually," the Empress countered.
The Crown Prince asked, "What does Mother suggest?"
After a moment’s thought, the Empress said, "Two hours of study a day is enough. I’ll also assign Nanny Wen to teach her palace etiquette and help her cultivate trusted aides. Balance kindness with discipline."
The Crown Prince fell silent, unable to fathom how two hours a day would yield progress. Still, he conceded, "As Mother wishes."
The Empress eyed his rigid demeanor with exasperation. "You’re her husband, not her tutor. She’s young—you must coax her along. Don’t scold her for mistakes; reward her for achievements. That will motivate her to study willingly, not resent you for it."
The Crown Prince frowned. "Rewards?"
"Of course," the Empress said. "Have you ever given a girl gifts? After she finishes a book, present her with jewelry or take her out—to the lakes or the countryside. That’s how couples bond."
The Crown Prince lowered his gaze, thoughtful.
Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, it wasn’t long before Deshun reported the findings from Yue Xiu.
"Her Highness favors gold ornaments—any design, as long as it’s pure gold. She’s collected a box of golden melon seeds over the years, along with assorted gold trinkets totaling over a hundred taels."
"As for food, she prefers sweet and spicy flavors: scallion-braised chicken, hand-pulled rice, crispy shrimp, crab roe soup dumplings, lamb oil pastries, spicy rabbit heads, sour bamboo clams, sweet-and-sour mandarin fish, milk tea, cherry drinks, rose taro, lychee ice, candied haws…"
The list went on, and the Crown Prince’s brow furrowed deeper.
Seated on the daybed with a book, Yun Kui looked up as the Crown Prince entered. Noticing her troubled expression, he asked gently, "What are you reading today?"
Yun Kui recited, "The Jing muddies the Wei, yet its shallows run clear. You feast in your new joy, but scorn me now… I should finish the Odes of Bei today."
Hearing the lines, the Crown Prince worried she might overinterpret them and explained, "The ‘Seven Grounds for Divorce’ hold no weight in our dynasty. A woman may leave an unworthy husband—a right the Empress secured for all women a decade ago. You are no abandoned wife, nor am I a fickle man. There’s no need for sorrow or misplaced empathy."
Yun Kui nodded softly, her mind lingering on his words: Nor am I a fickle man.
Among noble families, men taking multiple wives was commonplace. Yet she had also seen rare examples of lifelong devotion—her parents being the finest. Even the Emperor spent his nights solely in Kunming Palace, with only the Empress as his consort…
But why was she overthinking this? The Crown Prince was the heir, the only son. How could two generations of emperors leave the harem empty? The court would erupt in outrage…
The Crown Prince listened without comment, then said, "I’ve discussed it with the Empress. From now on, you need only study two hours daily. Nanny Wen will also instruct you in managing household affairs."
Yun Kui brightened. "Just two hours?"
No more early mornings!
Still skeptical, she asked, "Did Her Majesty’s word alone convince Your Highness?"
Or does he just want more time to… you know…
The Crown Prince’s lips thinned slightly as he glanced at her book. "For every volume you finish, there will be a reward. Name your request, and if it’s within reason, I’ll grant it. So long as you apply yourself, you may have what you wish."
Yun Kui could hardly believe her ears. Was the Crown Prince being this generous?
"So if I finish Odes of Bei today, I get a reward?"
The Crown Prince never went back on his word. "Have you already decided what you want?"
I’d like to see the little prince—would he allow that?
Smiling, Yun Kui bit her lip and said, "I’ll tell Your Highness when I’ve made up my mind."
