Marquis Xuanyi stepped onto the circular platform. A faint smile had appeared on his usually stern face.
Once he had come to a stop, his voice rang out across the entire training grounds. “The third match—the Crown Prince is victorious!”
The instant his words fell, the Imperial Guards seemed to ignite as one. They raised their weapons high and shouted in unison, “Victory!”
“Victory to the Crown Prince!”
“Victory to the Crown Prince!”
“Victory to the Crown Prince!”
The thunderous cries surged from near to far, spreading from the Imperial Guards to the soldiers gathered around the perimeter, each wave louder than the last.
The military officials had long since erupted into uproar. Quite a few of them joined in at the top of their lungs, their voices cracking from the force of their cheers without their even noticing. Their eyes were red-rimmed, and they were too overwhelmed to contain their excitement.
On the civil officials’ side, the atmosphere swept them up as well. They had shed their usual reserve; though their cheers were not as booming as those of the generals, they were no less heartfelt.
The raised platform where the ladies sat was equally abuzz.
Shen Yanshui stood by the railing at the edge of the platform. Her heart was still pounding fiercely after she had cried out, “The Crown Prince!” Her cheeks burned. Only after the rush of excitement had passed did she belatedly realize just how loudly she had shouted.
Would that have been... improper?
She instinctively turned to look behind her, only to freeze in surprise.
At some point, the Seventh Princess had already leapt up from her seat. Both hands gripping the railing, she bounced so high that her whole body seemed to leave the ground. Her little face was flushed crimson with excitement as she repeatedly shouted, “Victory to Crown Prince Brother! Victory to Crown Prince Brother!”
The Fifth Princess had been pulled along by her. At first, she had seemed rather embarrassed, but the Seventh Princess was too strong for her, and she, too, was dragged into bouncing up and down. Both girls’ faces were bright red with excitement.
Seeing the Seventh Princess like that, Shen Yanshui could not help but smile.
The Seventh Princess had only recently been punished by the Crown Prince and confined for some time. She had been released just a few days ago. Shen Yanshui had assumed that she would bear at least some resentment toward him, but unexpectedly, the Seventh Princess was not one to hold a grudge.
She seemed a little more likable now.
Just as Shen Yanshui was thinking this, Consort Shu’s voice rang out, tinged with severity. “Zhaoning, you are a princess. What sort of behavior is this—jumping about and shouting at the top of your lungs? Sit down at once.”
Hearing her mother’s voice, the Seventh Princess immediately seemed as though someone had poured a bucket of cold water over her. Reluctantly, she stopped, pouting with obvious displeasure.
The Fifth Princess hurriedly tugged at the Seventh Princess’s sleeve, trying to pull her back down into her seat.
Her Majesty the Empress sat upright in the seat of honor, but at that moment she spoke, her voice gentle and smiling. “Consort Shu, there is no need to be so strict. On a day like this, it does no harm to let the children enjoy themselves.”
At once, Consort Shu turned toward her, a smile on her face. “Your Majesty is right. It is only that Zhaoning is far too mischievous. She is not as poised and sensible as the Fifth Princess, and I fear she may overstep her bounds.”
Consort Liang smiled and picked up the conversation. “You are too modest, Sister. I think the Seventh Princess is refreshingly forthright and adorable. How is she mischievous?” As she spoke, the corner of her eye flicked toward Worthy Lady Shen.
Her gaze was rather complicated.
She had never imagined that the young lady of the Shen family—whom she had taken a liking to when Shen first entered the palace for the selection, and who had nearly become her daughter-in-law—would enjoy such fortune after entering the Eastern Palace...
Even she had heard quite a bit about the Crown Prince’s favor toward Worthy Lady Shen.
Just now, Worthy Lady Shen had behaved so boldly, yet Her Majesty the Empress had not reproached her in the slightest. She was remarkably indulgent of her...
As Shen Yanshui listened to the two women exchange their polite pleasantries, she withdrew her gaze. Out of the corner of her eye, however, she caught sight of the Seventh Princess turning her head to look elsewhere.
Following the Seventh Princess’s line of sight, she glanced over.
It was... Xu Chengwen.
Shen Yanshui: “...”
It seemed the Seventh Princess truly did like Xu Chengwen now.
Smiling, Shen Yanshui looked away and returned to her seat.
No sooner had she sat down than the Princess Consort of the Second Prince leaned close, lowering her voice with a teasing smile. “Sister Shen, I truly never expected His Highness the Crown Prince to be so valiant.”
Shen Yanshui still wore a smile as she turned toward her, just about to respond. Then she saw the unmistakably mischievous gleam in the other woman’s eyes.
“His Highness usually appears so refined and elegant,” the Princess Consort of the Second Prince murmured, “but who would have thought that on the martial arena, he would be so formidable?”
As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Shen Yanshui, her teasing obvious. “The Crown Prince dotes on you so greatly, Sister Shen. Your good fortune truly runs deep.”
Shen Yanshui: “...”
All at once, she recalled Consort Tang from the First Prince’s residence, who had said much the same thing to her last time.
She could only give an awkward smile, unable to think of a reply.
It seemed that once women married, they all spoke in the same vein. Even their teasing remarks sounded as though they had rehearsed them together.
As the Princess Consort of the Second Prince went on, genuine envy gradually appeared in her eyes, and she could not help letting out a silent sigh.
Unlike her own prince. He only came to her chambers twice a month, on the first and fifteenth days. The rest of the time, he spent in the company of all those fluttering beauties in the rear courtyard. There were only so many days in a month, and with so many women in the household, it was difficult even for her turn to come around once...
As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily flicked toward the raised platform again.
Although the Crown Prince had been fully clothed during the match just now, his garments had been of light fabric. Whenever he exerted himself, the strong lines of his muscles showed clearly beneath them. He was tall and well-proportioned, yet not lacking in strength. It truly was...
Then she thought of her own prince. He looked passable enough while dressed, but once his clothes came off... the flesh on his body was all soft and loose. Without anything to compare him to before, she had never thought much of it. But now, with the Crown Prince right before her as a comparison...
The Princess Consort of the Second Prince’s faint envy immediately turned into distaste.
Fortunately, she only made that one remark before changing the subject. Shen Yanshui let out a quiet breath of relief. She had no desire to discuss such private matters between herself and the Crown Prince with anyone else.
Ahem. Whether the Crown Prince was skilled or vigorous in that regard... it was enough that she herself knew.
As she listened to the Princess Consort of the Second Prince speaking, she noticed the Seventh Princess, who stood in front of her, tugging at the Fifth Princess’s sleeve. Her little face was flushed pink, and she leaned close to whisper shyly into her sister’s ear:
“Elder Sister, she looked at me! Lord Xu looked at me!”
Shen Yanshui: “...”
Sigh. The Seventh Princess might have become a little more pleasing to the eye, but she was still hopelessly love-struck. With so many people here, how could she be certain he had been looking at her?
The Fifth Princess lifted her eyes and glanced in that direction. Sure enough, Lord Xu seemed to have looked over here twice.
At once, the Seventh Princess was unable to hide her delight.
...
Xu Chengwen withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes.
The moment the Crown Prince had won, he had heard a crisp cry from the women’s viewing platform—bright with unrestrained joy:
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”
He would never mistake that voice.
It was Fourth Miss Shen.
She had called out with such delight, such pride, so openly and without restraint.
It was clear... she truly loved the Crown Prince.
Xu Chengwen closed his eyes briefly.
The lingering unwillingness that had weighed upon his heart for so long seemed, at that moment, to finally begin to fade.
In truth, before their marriage negotiations had begun, he had already seen her twice while traveling to the capital to sit for the imperial examinations.
The first time had been outside Drunken Immortal Tower.
Two little beggars were being driven away by one of the restaurant servants. One small figure was curled up in a corner, while the other had a conspicuous red birthmark on his face. Most passersby kept their distance, either disgusted or frightened.
When she came out of the restaurant and saw them, she stopped the servant from chasing them away. Then she had her maid buy some porridge, steamed buns, and stuffed buns for the two children, speaking to them gently for a while...
There had been none of the usual disgust or contempt in her expression when she looked upon beggars. At the time, he had assumed she was simply a kind-hearted young lady performing a single good deed.
Not long afterward, however, he saw those same two little beggars again at a rather famous eatery. They were carrying a stack of “advertising flyers,” handing them out everywhere and drawing in customers.
Later, a new acquaintance told him that it was an establishment belonging to the Zhongyi Marquis’s household. He also said that the Marquis’s fourth daughter was stunningly beautiful, though rumors claimed that her reputation and temperament were not particularly good...
The second time had been at a cuju field in the capital.
Dressed as an ordinary young woman, she had blended into the crowd and run freely across the field, wild and uninhibited. With one powerful kick, she sent the ball into the goal. Her eyes curved as she laughed, bright and radiant, as though her whole person were shining.
At the time, he had stood among the crowd, watching that smiling face, and something deep within him had been gently stirred.
After he had placed high in the imperial examinations and earned an official degree, he deliberately made arrangements to draw the attention of the Zhongyi Earl’s household.
Everything went as he had wished.
When he received word that the Zhongyi Earl’s household was interested in a marriage alliance, his joy was beyond description.
Later, he received her letter, asking to meet with him in private.
He read that letter over and over again, studying every stroke and every character with care.
He spent a long time preparing. The place they met was once again Drunken Immortal Tower.
That day, he arrived early and sat by the window, watching as she stepped down from her carriage and was led upstairs.
The moment she pushed open the door and entered, he saw her gaze settle on him, examining him from head to toe. There seemed to be surprise in her eyes—and perhaps... satisfaction as well.
Only then did his heart settle.
Later, he had another chance to meet her a second time.
That time, it had been at the polo grounds.
She had been astride her horse, mallet in hand, a fine sheen of sweat on her brow and a rosy flush on her cheeks. Her whole being radiated vibrant energy.
She had deliberately chosen this place for their meeting, and he understood what she meant.
He had always liked her bright, lively nature. Naturally, he would not stand in her way.
The light in her eyes brightened, her delight completely undisguised.
And so he smiled as well.
After meeting her twice, he had come to see that she was simple by nature—indeed, almost pure-hearted. It was precisely this quality that made him like her all the more.
He promptly sent a letter home, speaking to his parents of marriage.
But not long after the letter was sent, he suddenly learned from the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness that... she had entered the palace to take part in the imperial selection.
That was the first time he had hated his own helplessness so bitterly...
After a long moment, Xu Chengwen opened his eyes. His gaze settled calmly on the Crown Prince, and he did not glance again toward the women’s viewing platform.
...
Upon the imperial throne, Emperor Pingkang looked at the Crown Prince and Agula, the eldest prince of Northern Rong, before him, a smile on his face.
“Excellent! Excellent! The Crown Prince has performed admirably, but the eldest prince is also a warrior of remarkable valor. I am greatly pleased!”
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s praise. However—”
As he spoke, Agula looked toward the Crown Prince. Unlike the blazing battle spirit he had displayed in the arena moments ago, his expression now held a deeper measure of respect and solemnity.
He suddenly raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and placed it over his chest before bowing deeply.
“The Crown Prince is stronger than I am. I concede defeat.”
Then he straightened and looked directly at Cui Yu.
“I never expected the Crown Prince’s martial skill to be so exceptional. With a heir such as the Crown Prince, Great Yong is truly fortunate. Agula is convinced.”
The moment these words were spoken, the civil and military officials within earshot felt a rush of satisfaction shoot from the soles of their feet straight to the crowns of their heads.
Every pore in their bodies seemed to glow with smug delight.
Their gazes upon their own Crown Prince grew ever more proud, and their backs unconsciously straightened a little further.
And yet—
The old Duke Fengguo sat in his place, his expression unchanged. But his eyes swept, seemingly casually, toward Emperor Pingkang on the imperial throne, and his brows drew together almost imperceptibly.
Qi Mingchuan looked at his nephew, grinning so broadly that his mouth nearly reached his ears.
Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites stroked his beard and nodded faintly, thoroughly satisfied.
The Imperial Censor-in-Chief, Lord Li, gradually sobered from his earlier excitement. His gaze passed over Emperor Pingkang upon the throne, and catching the change in the Emperor’s expression, a note of gravity rose in his heart.
Cui Yu remained neither arrogant nor overbearing, his expression as steady as ever.
“Your Highness flatters me.”
Emperor Pingkang smiled and waved a hand, his tone solicitous. “Today’s contest has been taxing. I have already summoned the imperial physicians. The two of you should retire and rest for a while, and let them examine you properly. Do not neglect your injuries.”
Cui Yu bowed slightly. “Yes. Thank you, Father Emperor.”
Agula likewise bowed in salute, and the two departed separately.
The clamor of the martial arena gradually subsided, but the thunderous cries of “Ten thousand victories!” seemed to linger in the air, echoing on and on.
The assembled officials left in twos and threes, murmuring quietly among themselves. A few elderly ministers walked more slowly, still sighing in low voices.
“The Crown Prince truly possesses remarkable courage...”
...
“Your Highness and the First Prince both protected their vital areas, and there is no damage to their internal organs.” The Chief Imperial Physician wiped the sweat from his brow and chose his words carefully. “It is only these external injuries... They must be tended to properly. Avoid any strenuous activity, and rest well for at least half a month.”
Neither man said anything, so the physician wrote out a prescription and brought over ointment for external application, intending to dress their wounds.
“No need.” The Crown Prince spoke first, his tone calm. “There is still the palace banquet this evening.”
Agula cared even less about such minor injuries and waved a hand as well.
What sort of appearance would it be to attend a palace banquet covered in bandages? They were merely superficial wounds. They could endure them.
The evening banquet was held in Yong’an Hall, brilliantly lit and filled with the sounds of silk and string instruments.
The Emperor had changed into a bright yellow informal robe and sat at the head of the hall. His expression had softened considerably, and he even raised his cup several times to drink with the two princes of Northern Rong.
During the banquet, the Minister of Rites publicly read out the imperial decree bestowing a marriage: Prince of Guangling and Princess Ulan Tuya were to wed in two months’ time.
The moment the decree was announced, congratulations rang out throughout the hall. Prince of Guangling and Ulan Tuya knelt to express their gratitude for the imperial favor.
The First Prince was not opposed to the match. In fact, he was rather pleased with it.
He did not care what Princess Ulan Tuya looked like. What mattered to him was the Northern Rong power she represented.
At a critical moment, it might prove to be of great use.
The Northern Rong delegation would return home only after Ulan Tuya’s marriage.
In other words, they would remain in Great Yong for at least another two months. Naturally, the Emperor agreed and ordered the Court of State Ceremonial to receive them with due hospitality and not show them the slightest neglect.
By the time the banquet ended, it was already the beginning of the Hour of the Pig. Cui Yu did not take a sedan chair. Accompanied only by Zheng Yuande, Fang Zhengshan, and several guards, he walked back along the palace road. The night breeze cleared some of the wine from his head.
He suddenly turned and asked, “How goes the matter I asked you to investigate a few days ago—the unmarried soldiers in the Imperial Guard?”
Fang Zhengshan froze for a moment, then quickly replied, “Your Highness, this subordinate did not dare delay. Over the past few days, I have thoroughly looked into the eligible young men among the Imperial Guard under my command. In the end, I selected twenty candidates, awaiting Your Highness’s decision.”
The last time the Crown Prince had accompanied Worthy Lady Shen to the temple fair, Fang Zhengshan had guarded him throughout.
He did not know why, upon their return, the Crown Prince had suddenly ordered him to inquire into the unmarried young men of the Imperial Guard. But since he had specifically asked about those who were not yet married... it surely had something to do with marriage arrangements.
The Crown Prince was not the sort of man who enjoyed meddling in others’ affairs or playing matchmaker.
Then it must be connected to Worthy Lady Shen...
He simply did not know whether Worthy Lady Shen wished to find a match for one of her personal maidservants—or... for one of the young ladies of the Shen family, the Loyal and Righteous Marquis’s household.
He had deliberately sent someone to make inquiries and learned that, recently, the Loyal and Righteous Earl’s household had been seeking marriage matches for the two young ladies in the family...
Cui Yu nodded. “Have an artist make detailed portraits of the men you selected. Present them to me in three days.”
At once, Fang Zhengshan was delighted.
“Yes!”
He had originally been somewhat hesitant, because he had a younger brother at home who was of suitable age and still unmarried. But with the Crown Prince’s words, it was clear that Worthy Lady Shen was not looking for a match for one of her maidservants.
If it were merely a matter of finding a match for a palace maid, all they needed was to pick a suitable time and let the two meet in person. Why would they need to go to the trouble of hiring a portrait painter?
His younger brother was rather handsome, after all. Given the Crown Prince’s favor toward Worthy Lady Shen—and now that Worthy Lady Shen was carrying twins—her future could hardly be anything but secure.
If he could become the Crown Prince’s brother-in-law... Ah, no, that would not do! Merely imagining it was enough to make him feel jealous.
...
Shen Yanshui had only just finished bathing when she heard movement coming from the courtyard outside. She immediately rose to her feet and hurried out to greet him.
The curtain was lifted. The instant she saw the Crown Prince, her eyes lit up, curving into crescents. Her lips lifted high, her entire face unable to conceal her delight. Quickening her pace, she practically threw herself toward him.
“Your Highness!”
The sight of her startled Cui Yu. “A-Yan.” He quickly opened his arms, ready to catch her.
Yet when Shen Yanshui was still two steps away from him, she abruptly stopped short.
Cui Yu’s hands remained raised in midair, having caught no one. He quickly stepped forward and steadied her, sounding somewhat helpless. “You’re about to become a mother—how can you still be so reckless?”
Shen Yanshui lightly tugged at his sleeve, careful not to use any force. In a small, worried voice, she asked, “Your Highness, how are your injuries? Have you applied medicine?”
Then she added, “Just now, I was so happy to see Your Highness that I nearly pounced on you. Fortunately, I came to my senses in time. Otherwise, I might have made your injuries even worse.”
At her words—“made your injuries even worse”—the Crown Prince paused for a moment, then could not help laughing.
He put an arm around her waist and gently drew her into his embrace, though his hold was much lighter than usual.
Looking down at her, amusement in his voice, he said, “With that little weight of yours, you think you could make my injuries worse?”
Held by him as they walked into the room, Shen Yanshui shot him a glance and gave a soft, disgruntled hum. Once they were seated on the couch, she pouted and said, “Your Highness, don’t underestimate me.”
As she spoke, she raised her small fist and waved it in front of him, her expression utterly serious. “You might not even be able to take a single punch from me!”
She did not feel the slightest bit guilty saying so.
Without her ability, she truly would not have been able to defeat him. Though she had survived the apocalypse, she had spent nearly ten or twenty years living in peace afterward and had not fought anyone again. No matter how good her skills had once been, they had mostly grown rusty.
She could still handle a few ordinary men, but against someone like the Crown Prince, a trained martial artist, she would most likely be done for.
But now she had an ability—and it had already reached Level Two. Though she could not openly use it, she could still make someone suffer a hidden loss, catching them off guard and knocking them down.
Seeing how earnest she looked, the Crown Prince lifted a brow. He reached out, completely enclosing her little fist in his palm, and gave a low laugh.
“Yes. Naturally, A-Yan is the most formidable.”
Shen Yanshui was rather speechless. “...Your Highness, are you trying to coax a child?”
Still, she did not argue with him. She pulled her hand free, rose from his embrace, and turned serious. “Your Highness, hurry and take off your clothes. Let me examine your injuries.”
As she spoke, her gaze had already fallen upon his hands. There were several bruises on the backs of them, and his knuckles were somewhat swollen and red. The scent of medicinal wine drifted from him.
Those external wounds were one thing. What she feared were internal injuries. Agula, the eldest prince of the Northern Rong, had said his punch could injure a man from within—and she did not doubt it in the least.
Even before the Crown Prince had returned, Chunping had already arranged the medicine chest, ointments, and all manner of injury remedies obtained from the imperial physician neatly upon the table.
Now, hearing her mistress speak, she did not so much as lift her eyelids. She silently led the palace maids and eunuchs serving in the room out with her.
Zheng Yuande was even more efficient. Bringing up the rear, he gently closed the door behind him as he left.
He had spent the entire day on edge and had barely eaten anything. This was a perfect chance to go find Old Lin and get something to fill his empty stomach.
The room swiftly fell quiet, leaving only Shen Yanshui and Cui Yu.
Shen Yanshui reached for his belt. Cui Yu rose with the pull of her hand, lowering his gaze to her small, worried face and... the fair, full curves above her begonia-colored undergarment.
For some reason, he especially wanted to join A-Yan in the clouds and rain tonight...
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice lower than before. “The imperial physician has already examined me. There are no serious injuries, only a few superficial ones. They merely look frightening. Don’t worry.”
He knew exactly what the wounds on his body looked like—layer upon layer of bruises, with some places scraped raw and covered in thin scabs. He was afraid A-Yan would burst into tears at the sight of them.
Though her tear-filled eyes were also... quite endearing.
Still, he only wished to see her shed tears when she was happy, when she was overcome with pleasure—not when she was worried or upset.
As the final layer of his inner robes slipped away, the injuries across his shoulders, back, chest, and abdomen were fully exposed.
Shen Yanshui had merely murmured in acknowledgment before, but now her gaze swept from his shoulders down to his waist and abdomen. Most of those wounds had been inflicted during his initial, head-on struggle against the Northern Rong’s eldest prince.
A broad patch of bluish-purple bruising covered his shoulder blade, its edges dark russet, while the skin in the center had even turned a faint purplish-black. One side of his waist had been badly scraped, the skin torn up in places, making him look rather bedraggled. His chest and abdomen were somewhat better, with only a few bruises—as though the opponent’s fist had merely grazed him. But Cui Yu’s skin was fair, and those marks stood out all the more starkly against it.
What was most alarming were his arms.
From his wrists to his elbows, there was scarcely an uninjured patch of skin. The outer sides of his forearms were mottled with bruises...
Cui Yu lowered his eyes to look at her, already devising in his mind how he would comfort her.
Shen Yanshui furrowed her brows and inspected him carefully from every angle. She pressed lightly against the bruising on his shoulder blade, then touched the scraped skin at his waist, neither too gently nor too roughly, as if assessing the depth of the wounds.
At last, she took hold of his wrist and placed three fingers on his pulse point, falling silent for a moment.
Then she released her hand and let out a long breath.
“Not too bad,” she said. The tension between her brows eased considerably. “At least there are no internal injuries.”
With that, she looked up at him and smiled. “Your Highness, hurry and bathe. Once you’re done, I’ll apply the medicine for you.”
Cui Yu stood where he was, his clothes half removed. Seeing her beaming expression, he froze for a moment. He merely lowered his eyes to look at her, silent for a long while.
Shen Yanshui had already picked out all the ointments she would need. When she turned and saw him still standing there without moving, she was puzzled at first—but then, seeing the injuries on his body, she suddenly understood.
Still... the corner of her eye caught sight of the pert backside right in front of her...
Unable to resist, she reached out and gave it a smack. Before he could react, she promptly took his hand and led him into the bathing chamber as though nothing had happened, saying with perfect seriousness, “Your Highness, hurry inside. Stand still—I’ll wash you.”
At the moment, it was likely only the Crown Prince’s face, his backside, and... the little brother in front that had escaped injury.
Cui Yu: “...”
A-Yan had just... smacked his...
His expression went blank for an instant.
Once inside the bathing chamber, Shen Yanshui turned to fetch a damp cloth. Seeing that he was still standing motionless, she could not help urging, “Your Highness, what are you spacing out for? Hurry and take off your trousers.”
How else was she supposed to wash him?
Cui Yu: “............”
“Oh, right. Does it hurt when you move because it pulls at your wounds?” Looking somewhat annoyed with herself, she immediately set down the damp cloth. “Your Highness, don’t move. I’ll take them off for you.”
In her previous life, injuries like these had been commonplace to her. She had nearly forgotten that the Crown Prince had always been pampered and privileged. Even when he sparred with others in the past, no one had likely dared to truly hurt him. These injuries must have been quite uncomfortable for him.
Cui Yu gave her a strangely unreadable look. When he saw her grasp his waistband, he raised a hand and caught hers, his voice low and subdued.
“I’ll do it myself.”
Hearing that, Shen Yanshui did not insist. Once he had removed all his clothes, she was just about to wipe him down with the damp cloth when the Crown Prince took one long stride and stepped into the bathing pool...
Shen Yanshui hurriedly said, “Your Highness, you still have wounds. You can’t soak in water—come out quickly.” Why was he in such a rush?
No sooner had she spoken than the Crown Prince rose from the pool. Water streamed down his shoulders and neck, over his chest, winding along the sharply defined lines of his body.
The bruises along his waist had been steamed to a dark red by the warm mist. Droplets slid past the edges of his wounds, lending his body an oddly fractured, battle-worn beauty. It inexplicably reminded her of battle-damaged makeup...
She swallowed unconsciously.
Standing in the pool, Cui Yu lifted his eyelids and glanced at her. His gaze darkened slightly. “You’re carrying a child. Go rest on the couch. I can wash myself.”
“...Oh.” Shen Yanshui withdrew her gaze. Seeing that he moved freely and looked perfectly normal, she did not press the matter. She merely cleared her throat and offered one last reminder. “Then, Your Highness, wash quickly. Just rinse off the sweat. The wounds may be small, but soaking them for too long is bad for healing.”
After saying this, she waited for him to nod before setting down the wet cloth. She placed the medicinal ointment on the small table beside the bed, then climbed onto the bed and waited.
Before long, she heard movement from within. Following the sound of footsteps, she leaned out from the bed and saw the Crown Prince emerge wearing only an inner robe. The sash around his waist hung loose, on the verge of slipping free, while the front of his robe fell open from collar to abdomen...
Shen Yanshui’s gaze drifted downward of its own accord.
Cui Yu lowered his eyes and caught the direction of her stare, a hint of amusement finally surfacing in his gaze.
A-Yan truly was... Any ordinary woman, seeing him in such a state, would likely be trembling too hard to speak. Yet here she was, still fixated on his body...
As that thought crossed his mind, the curve of his lips rose even further.
Only when the Crown Prince came close did Shen Yanshui slowly avert her eyes and finally look up at his face. “Your Highness, take off your clothes. I’ll apply the medicine for you.” As she spoke, she rose and leaned across him to reach for the ointment on the table beside him.
But... the moment the little porcelain jar landed in her palm, she was pulled into a warm, broad embrace. His hands lifted her slightly, forcing her legs apart as he seated her on his lap.
Shen Yanshui froze, looking at his handsome face only inches away. “Your Highness?”
Cui Yu gazed at her with dark, unfathomable eyes. His hands shifted her higher and closer against him. Separated only by two thin layers of fabric, he let out a low, satisfied sigh. His gaze settled on her moist, crimson lips before he kissed her, his lips brushing gently against hers. His voice was slightly hoarse as he murmured, “A-Yan, it has already been three months. We can now...”
Shen Yanshui’s beautiful peach-blossom eyes widened at once. But... looking at the ointment in her hand, then at the faint wounds visible beneath his moon-white inner robe, she swallowed helplessly and said with difficulty, “Your Highness, you’re still injured... Shouldn’t we wait a few more days?”
Seeing her reluctant little expression as she painfully forced herself to refuse, Cui Yu could not help laughing. He buried his face in the hollow of her neck, laughing until his shoulders trembled.
Shen Yanshui: “...”
He was actually laughing at her?!
Instantly flustered and angry, she snapped, “Your Highness!” Then she reached out and pressed a finger against the faint bruise on his chest and abdomen.
Cui Yu caught her hand. Then, guiding that little hand elsewhere, he said in a cool, deep voice, “A-Yan should press here instead...”
A flush immediately spread across Shen Yanshui’s cheeks. She gave a soft huff, but seeing him like this, she said nothing more. At worst, she would take the lead later...
At last, she set down the little porcelain jar. Reaching out, she pulled open his moon-white inner robe—only to discover that there was... nothing underneath.
Cui Yu’s eyes darkened. One hand lifted her body slightly as he deftly tore an opening in her undergarments. The moment Shen Yanshui sank back down, her crimson petals wrapped around him, drawing him in with shallow, trembling motions...
