Above the horizon, rosy clouds billowed and surged. Pale golden morning light broke through the layers of cloud, pouring down over the Great Yong imperial palace and enveloping it in a dazzling radiance.
All around the palace, the various residences had long since begun their new day. The courtyards of the Eastern Palace were likewise filled with their own stirrings, but Lotusheart Court remained steeped in silence.
The doors of the western side hall were shut tight, and its occupants had been confined within. The servants attending them had therefore grown even quieter and more cautious.
Chunping could not help glancing at the sky. It was almost past the time for breakfast, yet there was still no sign that the Crown Prince or her mistress intended to rise. She turned to look at Eunuch Zheng, who wore an utterly composed, unruffled expression.
She respectfully asked, “Eunuch Zheng, it’s almost past the time for breakfast. What do you think…?”
Zheng Yuande continued to maintain his calm expression. “Just wait.”
Last night, the Crown Prince and this young mistress had carried on until well into the night. He had already lost count of how many times they had shocked him.
Dark circles had formed beneath his eyes. Since His Highness had not rested, naturally he could not rest either.
And today was a day off from court… If there was still no movement after another quarter of an hour, they truly could not delay any longer. They could not let it upset His Highness’s stomach, after all.
Seeing that he was not in a hurry, Chunping felt reassured as well.
Shen Yanshui had actually been awake for a little while. Her body was soft and languid, however, and she did not feel like moving in the slightest, so she continued lying there with her eyes closed. But after a while, she gradually began to feel hungry…
Cui Yu had also awakened early. Yet for some reason, holding the person in his arms, he found himself unusually reluctant to rise as he normally did. Thinking of the previous night, he felt they had indulged themselves a little too much. In the future, he absolutely could not let things go so far again.
But since it had already happened, there was no need to get up just yet. Thus, he went back to sleep for a while.
When he awoke again, he heard someone calling out beside his ear with a trace of deep grievance, as though summoning his soul.
“Your Highness? Your Highness? Time to get up~”
Shen Yanshui tilted her head slightly and leaned close to his ear, calling to him in a soft voice.
When he finally lifted his eyelids, Shen Yanshui immediately looked at him with a radiant smile.
Thus, the first thing Cui Yu saw upon opening his eyes was her exceptionally bright and dazzling face.
Then, the next moment, a somewhat muffled “Gurgle~ gurgle~” came from beneath the covers.
Cui Yu: “…”
Meeting his gaze, Shen Yanshui said in a perfectly justified little voice, “Last night left me completely exhausted. Aren’t you tired too, Your Highness?”
She possessed an ability, and even she had ended up like this. She refused to believe he was not tired at all. After all, he had been the one to expend more effort.
“Not tired.” Cui Yu’s tone was calm and utterly certain.
Shen Yanshui: “…”
Hah. Men. Even if the sky fell, they would still prop it up with their mouths.
With a sweet smile, she said gently, “I know Your Highness is vigorous and strong, with a robust constitution. Of course you wouldn’t be tired. But it should be nearly the Hour of the Dragon by now. It’s time to get up and eat.”
Cui Yu gave a faint hum.
Seeing this, Shen Yanshui immediately smiled and pulled the bell beside the bed.
Outside, Zheng Yuande had just been making preparations to enter and wake them. When he heard the movement inside, he immediately waved his hand. A procession of eunuchs and palace maids entered the room, carrying the things prepared for washing up.
The two of them each had servants attend to them as they dressed and washed. They were soon properly groomed, and after eating breakfast together, Cui Yu prepared to leave.
Just before departing, however, he suddenly turned his head toward her. Seeing the confusion in her clear eyes, he instructed her in a deep voice, “You will be going to Golden Bright Pool early the day after tomorrow. You must behave yourself that day and be obedient. Do not act recklessly again.”
Shen Yanshui’s eyes gleamed as she looked at him, her smile warm and radiant. “Yes. Thank you, Your Highness!”
Only after Cui Yu had left and she could no longer see him did Shen Yanshui rise and return to her room.
Chunping brought over a cup of warm tea and could not help smiling happily. Although the Crown Prince had previously asked whether her mistress wished to go watch the Dragon Boat Festival festivities at Golden Bright Pool, it had not been set in stone. Only now that the Crown Prince had spoken of it directly could it be considered certain.
It was just that the Crown Prince’s final words before leaving had been rather strange.
Although their mistress seemed somewhat bold in front of the Crown Prince, she was still very proper before the Crown Princess. She had never liked causing trouble, either. As for acting recklessly—her mistress did not seem to have done anything particularly outrageous, did she?
As she was thinking this, Xia’an asked in confusion, “Mistress, what did the Crown Prince mean by those last words?”
The Crown Prince had seemed to be in a good mood during the meal, yet there had been something inexplicably frightening about his tone when he left.
Shen Yanshui smiled but did not answer at once.
On the surface, it sounded as though he was telling her not to be too bold and cause trouble.
But in reality, was the Crown Prince also hinting—or warning her—to keep to her proper place and not get involved with Noble Consort Lan and the others?
Whatever. It was not worth worrying over.
She gave a light laugh and said, “Don’t let your imaginations run wild. Perhaps the Crown Prince simply saw that this is my first time attending such a royal banquet and was worried that I might accidentally cause trouble, so he offered a reminder. As long as we behave honestly and properly, then even if something does happen, it will have nothing to do with us.”
*
Zheng Yuande spent the entire journey back to the Hall of Eternal Celebration with his heart in his throat. The instant he returned and saw His Highness sit down, he dropped to his knees to beg forgiveness. His round, pale, plump cheeks trembled like steamed buns.
With a sob in his voice, he said, “Your Highness, this servant knows he was wrong. Please punish me.”
Cui Yu gave him an expressionless, cold glance. Seeing the dark circles beneath his eyes, he let out a cold snort.
“This time, I will let it pass. But if there is a next time…”
Zheng Yuande immediately took the hint and thanked him. “Thank you, Your Highness! Rest assured, there definitely will not be another time. If there is, this servant will go and receive thirty strokes of the cane!”
Cui Yu’s expression remained calm. “Go and find out who gave Lady Liu the information.”
Zheng Yuande’s heart instantly tightened. He no longer dared to act pitiful or curry favor before his master, and immediately went out to begin the investigation.
He already had a few suspects in mind.
The Eastern Palace appeared relaxed on the surface, but was tightly controlled underneath. He knew exactly what sort of people worked in the Hall of Eternal Celebration.
Since His Highness had never issued any special instructions before, and those few people had behaved well enough, he had not dealt with them. He had never expected that one of them would nearly trip him up!
Zheng Yuande’s heart hardened.
It did not take long before he returned, bent at the waist and treading lightly. Entering the study, he reported cautiously, “Your Highness, this servant has found the culprit. It was one of the Crown Princess’s people. This servant… does not know how she should be dealt with.”
At his words, Cui Yu showed no surprise. Although he had already suspected as much, his expression was still far from pleasant, and his voice turned even colder.
“Was it ordered by the Crown Princess?”
Zheng Yuande’s body trembled. He replied carefully, “It should not have been. The servant confessed everything just now. It was because she had become lovers with one of the palace maids serving in the Crown Princess’s residence and was short of money. In a moment of foolish greed, she accepted money from the Lady and passed along the information in advance.”
What His Highness ate and used—how could such things be casually revealed to outsiders?
Cui Yu’s expression softened somewhat, and he said calmly, “Deal with her according to palace regulations.”
Eunuch Zheng hurriedly acknowledged the order. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Also, Lady Liu is to be confined to her quarters for half a year.”
Eunuch Zheng respectfully accepted the order, though inwardly he couldn’t help thinking, Serves her right!
Considering that Lady Liu had dared to bribe one of the servants attending the Crown Prince, her punishment was anything but undeserved.
