Zheng Yuande quietly slipped out from inside and turned back to shut the door firmly behind him.
Shen Yanshui glanced at the tightly closed doors and understood most of what was going on. The two men must have something important to discuss.
Come to think of it, they had shut themselves in and talked for quite a while yesterday as well. She had not expected Great General Qi to come again today. Who knew what they were discussing?
Still, she gave it only a passing thought before reclining on the lounge chair beneath the old locust tree in the courtyard. It was covered with a soft cushion and propped with a pillow, making it wonderfully comfortable.
She tipped her head back to look at the old locust tree. It seemed to have stood there for many years; its trunk was thick and sturdy, its branches lush and sprawling, casting a broad stretch of shade. Its leaves, washed clean by the rain, were a vivid, glistening green. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage and scattered over her.
Then the snacks were brought out one by one.
A plate of apricots, a plate of walnut kernels, a plate of egg tarts, a plate of chilled melon cut into small pieces, a plate of fried chicken bites, and a pot of freshly made milk tea.
Dongyi stood beside the lounge chair, leisurely fanning her mistress with a round silk fan. The breeze was soft, cool, and pleasant against her face.
Shen Yanshui lounged with her eyes half closed, nibbling on snacks as she listened to a storybook recital. Every now and then, Quanfu’s exaggerated delivery made her laugh aloud.
Before long, Chunping suddenly appeared, carrying a little orange bundle of fur in her arms.
The cat was round and plump, with bright orange-and-white fur. Its chubby face was perfectly round, its pointed ears perked up, and its amber eyes darted this way and that.
It did not struggle in Chunping’s arms, looking entirely calm and self-possessed. It even let out a lazy “meow.”
Recently, this orange tabby had often wandered into their courtyard to beg for food and drink. Shen Yanshui would have someone feed it leftover fish bones and rice mixed with broth. Before long, the cat had come to regard the courtyard as its own territory and began visiting more and more often.
Chunping hurried over to the lounge chair. “My lady, look—the cat has come again.”
The moment Shen Yanshui saw the plump orange ball of fur, she smiled and reached out to take it.
The cat was remarkably familiar with her. It curled up in her arms, first nudging her palm with its head, then meowing twice before settling down comfortably.
Then it rolled over, exposing its round white belly. Tilting its head, it mewed at Shen Yanshui in a soft, sweet voice, as though it were acting spoiled.
The sight nearly melted Shen Yanshui’s heart.
She gently scratched beneath its chin. The cat narrowed its eyes and began to purr contentedly. Then she stroked its belly, which was soft and warm, with an irresistibly pleasant feel beneath her hand.
Watching from the side, Dongyi said with a smile, “My lady likes this cat so much. Why not take it back to the palace with us in a few days and keep it?”
Shen Yanshui’s hand, which had been stroking the cat’s belly, paused slightly.
At those words, Nanny Wang’s brow twitched.
Her mistress was still pregnant. Keeping a cat at a time like this might not be suitable.
Shen Yanshui lowered her eyes to look at the plump orange cat in her arms.
She thought for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. “No need. This cat has always roamed freely. It must be used to an unfettered life. If we bring it back to the palace, it may not adjust well. If it runs away, or accidentally startles or offends someone, that would only cause trouble.”
Lowering her head, she gently scratched behind the cat’s ears. The cat narrowed its eyes and began to purr contentedly.
“Besides, it’s doing perfectly well here. Look how plump and happy it is—it must have been fed well all along. Why take it back to the palace?”
Then she looked up at Quanfu. “Quanfu, before we leave in the next few days, go speak with the imperial residence’s main kitchen. Tell them to keep feeding this cat properly and not let it go hungry.”
Quanfu promptly agreed. “Rest assured, my lady. This servant will make sure the message is delivered.”
Only then did Shen Yanshui smile and lower her head again, wholeheartedly returning to playing with the cat.
Comforted by her scratching, the cat rolled about on her lap, its round little body twisting this way and that in an utterly endearing display. Chunping and Dongyi laughed without stop.
The courtyard was filled with laughter and bustle.
*
Cui Yu had just taken his seat and raised his teacup to his lips when a faint burst of laughter and playful noise drifted in from outside.
He lifted a brow, glanced toward the door, then looked at the Crown Prince seated at the head of the room. “This Worthy Lady Shen certainly knows how to enjoy life.”
There was not the slightest exaggeration in his words.
Every time he saw this Worthy Lady Shen, regardless of the time or place, she always seemed cheerful and carefree—either eating, drinking, and amusing herself, or on her way to do exactly that.
Tsk.
Qi Mingchuan could not help sighing inwardly.
As Cui Yu listened to the faint laughter filtering in from outside, the corner of his lips lifted unconsciously. Yet he quickly returned to his usual composed expression.
“A-Yan,” he said gently, “is indeed someone who knows how to live well.”
With that, his expression resumed its customary calmness. “What brings you here today, Uncle?”
Qi Mingchuan had just taken his second sip of tea. At the question, he nearly choked. He glared at him and lowered his voice. “And you still ask why I came? It was what you said yesterday that shocked me so badly. I went back and talked it over with the old man for half the night—we didn’t sleep a wink.”
As he spoke, he could not help muttering, “I figured I’d come over today and have another talk with you.”
Another talk?
Cui Yu looked at him expressionlessly and said nothing.
Under that gaze, Qi Mingchuan felt somewhat embarrassed. He cleared his throat. The main reason was that his great-nephew’s food was always so novel and delicious...
“Your Highness, rest assured...” His tone, rare for him, became serious.
For generations, the Qi family had fought for Great Yong. Over the decades, they had accumulated immense prestige and countless connections within the army; there were no small number of generals who had followed the Qi family through life-and-death battles for many years.
Surrendering their military authority was merely the Qi family’s way of demonstrating to Emperor Pingkang that they were obedient and harbored no disloyal intentions.
Otherwise, given Emperor Pingkang’s wariness of the Qi family and of the Crown Prince, if he were to suddenly turn on them one day and move against them, would they not be left without even the means to resist?
Qi Mingchuan was not that foolish.
He was still young. He had not even taken a wife yet—he still dreamed of a warm bed, a loving wife, and children. He had no desire to die so early.
To be honest, when the Crown Prince had suddenly said those things to him yesterday, he had truly been startled.
It was not the words themselves that shocked him. Rather, he had suddenly realized... the Crown Prince’s attitude had changed. Not all at once, perhaps, but the change had become increasingly apparent in recent days.
In the past, the Crown Prince had never specifically instructed him to cultivate ties with military commanders, and he understood why.
From the Crown Prince’s position, he was the Empress’s legitimate son and the rightful heir to the throne. He excelled in both letters and arms, surpassing the other princes by a mile.
The First Prince and the Fourth Prince had merely been elevated by His Majesty to keep the Crown Prince’s influence in check.
Now that the He family behind the Fourth Prince had fallen, the Fourth Prince was like a tiger stripped of its claws and fangs. What threat could he possibly pose?
As for the First Prince, he might be competent enough to serve as a general and charge into battle. But as Emperor? Better not. The court officials were not blind; no one wanted to spend every day cleaning up after the Emperor’s messes.
The other princes were even less worthy of notice.
Under normal circumstances, the throne would sooner or later belong to the Crown Prince.
All he had to do was endure until His Majesty passed away—lie low, bide his time, and show a little weakness. Then it would all be over.
But what the Crown Prince had said yesterday... suggested that he had another plan in mind.
How could that not alarm him?
In truth, even if they were quietly winning over military commanders, it was merely a precaution—something to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. Qi Mingchuan did not truly believe that the throne could fall into anyone else’s hands.
Unless... some wholly unpredictable accident occurred.
Otherwise, he simply could not believe that anyone else could sit upon that throne.
As these thoughts turned over in Qi Mingchuan’s mind, another question suddenly occurred to him. “Have you told my sister?”
Cui Yu shook his head. “Mother’s health has improved somewhat lately, but she has not fully recovered. There is no need to tell her about such matters for now. It would only cause her needless worry and perhaps harm her recovery.”
He had no intention of doing anything while his father was still alive.
He merely intended to eliminate even the slightest remaining possibility of anything else happening.
Qi Mingchuan nodded and said no more. Lowering his voice, he began to list, one by one, the people he and the old master had identified after discussing matters yesterday as potential allies to win over...
He spoke in detail, and Cui Yu listened just as attentively. By the time they had finished, half an hour had passed.
Qi Mingchuan picked up his teacup, tipped back his head, and drained the tea inside, which had long since gone cold. Then he let out a long breath.
He glanced at the sky outside. Was it nearly time for the evening meal?
He was just about to speak when, for some reason, he recalled the way his grand-nephew had behaved in front of Worthy Lady Shen earlier that day... Whatever had crossed his mind made him hesitate. He looked up at the Crown Prince.
Cui Yu was unhurriedly taking a sip of tea. Seeing his hesitant, awkward expression, he lifted his eyes. “What is it?”
Qi Mingchuan hesitated, then rose and moved a little closer, a rare look of embarrassment appearing on his face.
“Um... pretending to be ill in front of a woman,” he said, coughing lightly as his gaze drifted away. “Does that really work?”
Cui Yu’s hand paused slightly as he held his teacup. He lifted his eyes and gave his young uncle a rather surprised look.
Qi Mingchuan grew even more uncomfortable under his gaze. Forcing himself to sound casual, he said, “I was just asking. Forget it if you don’t want to talk about it.”
Cui Yu withdrew his gaze and set the teacup gently on the table. His voice was calm. “Whether it works depends on who it’s for.”
Qi Mingchuan paused. “...What do you mean?”
“If the person cares about you, then of course it works,” Cui Yu said, his expression composed, though a trace of irrepressible amusement glimmered in his eyes. “If they don’t, you could die of illness right in front of them, and they wouldn’t so much as furrow their brow.”
Qi Mingchuan fell silent, deep in thought...
*
After Qi Mingchuan left, Shen Yanshui urged the Crown Prince to lie down on the daybed again. Quite a few people had come to visit that day, and dealing with them had taken a toll on his energy.
Cui Yu did not refuse. Following her wishes, he returned to the room and reclined against the daybed by the window. Shen Yanshui then had Dongyi bring in his medicine.
Before long, Dongyi entered carrying a bowl of medicine.
Shen Yanshui took the bowl and sat beside the daybed. She gently stirred it with a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to the Crown Prince’s lips.
“Your Highness, come on. Time for your medicine.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Cui Yu caught sight of Zheng Yuande instantly lowering his head, and the tips of his ears could not help but redden.
Ever since he was very young, he had not allowed anyone to attend him or feed him medicine. He would always tilt his head back and drain it in one gulp. In the past, he had even thought that people who sipped bitter medicine spoonful by spoonful had to be out of their minds.
Wasn’t that simply asking to suffer?
After all, herbal medicine was truly bitter.
Yet he had never imagined that one day, he too would willingly “ask for suffering”—and relish it, sweet as honey.
Watching him sip the medicine from the spoon with his head lowered, looking every bit the frail and beautiful invalid, Shen Yanshui could barely keep the corners of her mouth from rising.
How was this any different from the Crown Prince role-playing for her?
His Highness looked far too alluring in this delicate, sickly state. If not for the fact that he had only recently recovered, she would hardly have been able to restrain herself...
Her peach-blossom eyes remained fixed on him without blinking as she fed him spoonful after spoonful, while Cui Yu drank them one at a time.
But after several spoonfuls, the pungently bitter scent of the medicine made Shen Yanshui feel as though she could taste its bitterness herself. Seeing that more than half the bowl remained, she looked at the Crown Prince with some concern and gently suggested, “Your Highness, this medicine is terribly bitter. Why not just drink it all in one go?”
Cui Yu lifted his eyes, pressing his lips together. “Is A-Yan finding it troublesome to feed me?” His voice carried an unmistakable note of disappointment.
Shen Yanshui’s heart trembled at once. “...No, no, of course not. I was only thinking that if Your Highness drank it more quickly, you could have some cake sooner to sweeten your mouth.”
Ah, the Crown Prince truly was a tormenting little enchantment. Whether he meant those words sincerely or said them on purpose, she found him both adorable and pitiful at that moment.
The corners of Cui Yu’s eyes curved upward slightly. Only after studying her expression did he raise a hand to take the bowl from her. Tilting his head back, he drained it in one swallow. Yet instead of reaching for the little cake set nearby, he merely said, “I don’t want any cake.”
Having said that, he reached out, gently cupped the back of her neck, and kissed her soft, crimson lips...
Shen Yanshui: “...”
So bitter.
Her fair, lovely face immediately scrunched up. She raised a hand to push him away, but just as her hand came up, she stopped.
Ah—His Highness the Crown Prince was still ill. If she pushed him away now, who knew what wild thoughts would start running through his mind again...
With that in mind, she parted her lips and accepted his tongue, still carrying the faint bitterness of medicine. The hands that had meant to resist gradually began to roam over him in his embrace...
Cui Yu’s breathing slowly grew heavier, his eyes darkening...
At some point, the attendants around them had quietly withdrawn, leaving only the sound of the two of them breathing in the room.
Only after an indeterminate while did they slowly part. Cui Yu looked at her, his voice slightly hoarse. “It’s sweet now.”
A-Yan was sweeter than any little cake.
Their breathing was still somewhat unsteady. Shen Yanshui laughed at his words, but when she caught sight of him as he was now, she found herself unable to look away...
The Crown Prince had not received any visitors that day. His long hair had not been properly tied up, only half gathered loosely with a jade hairpin, while the rest spilled over his shoulders and down his back. His dark, satin-smooth hair set off his moon-white inner robe, making his face appear all the more cool and pale, like flawless jade.
After that kiss, she had pulled open the collar of his inner robe, leaving it gaping from his collarbones down to his waist. A broad expanse of pale skin was exposed, the defined lines of his body faintly visible beneath it. His sash was barely holding together.
Most of the bruises from the past few days had already faded. The scraped skin at his waist had scabbed over, and the new flesh beneath showed a faint blush of pink.
The injuries across his chest and abdomen had never been serious to begin with, and now they were nearly flawless again—clean and unmarked, save for a few extremely faint traces, like fine cracks in white porcelain, which somehow only lent him a different sort of allure.
The bruises on his arms, however, had not fully disappeared. The patches of blue and purple along the outside of his forearms had lightened, but were still visible.
Pale, cool skin; sleek, defined muscles; the gentle rise and fall of his chest below his collarbones. Lower still, his abs were even and firm—not exaggerated, yet every inch of him conveyed quiet strength.
His inner robe hung half-open around his arms, on the verge of slipping off. A tied sash sharply defined his narrow waist.
Shen Yanshui’s gaze traveled from his shoulders downward, then slowly rose again from his waist and abdomen. Back and forth, she looked him over several times.
He had the face of one born to honor and privilege, with cool, detached brows and eyes. When his thin lips were pressed together, he carried an air of austere restraint that warned strangers to keep their distance. Yet it was precisely this cold, abstinent appearance—his collar open, his long hair falling loose as he sat there—that silently tempted the eye.
Like a white-jade Guanyin enshrined before the Buddha, touched by the dust of the mortal world.
Cui Yu had seen every glance she gave him with perfect clarity.
And all at once, he realized—
Compared to him as a person, A-Yan seemed to like his face and... body even more.
For a moment, he did not know what expression to wear. His feelings were rather complicated.
“A-Yan...” he said, his voice low and slightly hoarse.
Never mind. Whether it was his face or his body, both belonged to him.
And in the end, the one A-Yan liked was still him.
Shen Yanshui came back to herself and met his eyes—eyes that seemed, all at once, to see straight through her. Heat rushed to her face. Just as she was about to say something, he took hold of her hand.
His palm was broad, completely enveloping her smaller hand. Guiding it from his shoulder downward, he led her fingers over his collarbone and across his chest. Beneath her fingertips, his skin was warm and smooth, his muscles tightening faintly. She could feel the strength of his heartbeat—thump, thump, thump—steady and powerful, yet a little faster than usual.
He guided her hand past his waist and abdomen, beyond the loosely tied sash... until it came to rest over another heated place.
Even through the thin fabric, it filled her entire palm—and then some.
Instinctively, Shen Yanshui gave it a light squeeze.
Cui Yu reclined against the soft pillows on the couch, his voice low and husky. “A-Yan...” The two syllables rolled from between his lips like a satisfied sigh, yet also like a desire he was struggling to restrain.
Shen Yanshui looked at him, her gaze settling on his face... It was simply lethal.
She swallowed, speaking with some difficulty. “Your Highness... your health has not fully recovered. If we do this now, I fear it may hinder your recuperation...”
Cui Yu’s breathing tightened. “It won’t matter. I’m already well.” Better than well, in fact. He reached down and lifted the hem of his robe, letting her feel just how “robust” he was.
Shen Yanshui: “...”
She truly had it hard.
Still, when a beauty as peerless in status and appearance as the Crown Prince was resorting to such little tricks for her sake, could she really be blamed for being unable to resist?
One hand continued to tease his arousal, while the other rose to rest three fingers against his wrist. Her fingertips pressed lightly to his pulse as she examined it for a moment.
Cui Yu’s lashes fluttered, and he lowered his gaze. He had nearly forgotten that A-Yan knew how to take a pulse.
Surely... he had not given himself away?
After feeling his pulse for a while, Shen Yanshui’s expression remained unchanged. She released his wrist and looked up at him, her eyes already reddened... with desire.
Cui Yu was startled. Before he could say anything, he suddenly felt a weight settle over him.
Shen Yanshui had slipped off her shoes. With her legs on either side of his waist, she lowered herself steadily onto him.
Cui Yu jolted in surprise and quickly sat upright. Both hands flew to her waist, his palms pressing against the slight curve of her belly. “A-Yan!”
“Slow down. I’m not going anywhere.” His voice was taut, his brows drawn together. He did not dare hold her too tightly, nor did he dare let go.
Shen Yanshui looked down at him, her eyes brimming with amusement.
She did not hurry. She simply remained seated on him, moving slowly against him through the thin layer of fabric between them.
The soft sensation passed through the cloth, faintly damp with heat. Cui Yu’s breath caught sharply, and the hands at her waist tightened without his realizing it.
Shen Yanshui looped her arms around his neck and smiled at him. She did not remove her outer robe, merely drew the begonia-colored undergarment tight at the center, leaving the pale, full curves at either side displayed before his coolly handsome face.
Cui Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed sharply.
Shen Yanshui looked at him, her eyes smiling. Her voice was soft and gentle, like the tip of a feather brushing across his heart.
“Your Highness, kiss them~”
In that instant, Cui Yu’s reason snapped completely.
...
Zheng Yuande’s voice suddenly sounded from outside.
“Your Highness, Lady Zhang has arrived. She says she has come to visit Your Highness and her ladyship.”
The two of them, caught in the height of passion on the couch, froze at once.
Shen Yanshui had been moving her hips in slow circles. After pausing for only a moment, she settled herself firmly again.
Cui Yu’s breath grew heavy. At last, he released the sweet, full softness he had tasted again and again, lifting his head to look instinctively at the woman before him.
Shen Yanshui’s brows drew together slightly. She said nothing, but did not stop moving in the slightest—in fact, she only grew more hurried.
Cui Yu held her by the waist, his brow furrowed as he said hoarsely, “I won’t see her. Tell her there is no need for her to attend to my illness. Have her return.”
Zheng Yuande acknowledged the order, and his footsteps gradually faded away.
At the sound of his words, Shen Yanshui’s face, which had shown no particular emotion before, suddenly broke into a radiant smile. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. Cupping his face, she kissed him and called softly, happily, “Your Highness, I’m very pleased.”
It was as though she were rewarding his refusal with a kiss.
A faint light kindled in Cui Yu’s eyes.
Seeing the smile at the corners of his eyes, Shen Yanshui reflected that she had never harbored any great ill will toward Lady Zhang.
After all, in terms of status, there was little difference between herself and Lady Zhang. Whether Lady Zhang desired the Crown Prince’s favor or wished to have a child, those were perfectly natural desires.
There was no need to judge her too harshly.
Indeed, once Shen Yanshui had decided to give things a try with the Crown Prince, she had also been destined to influence him in her own way. In the end, she was not all that different from Lady Zhang.
Only their methods differed.
Still, Lady Zhang had openly tried to seduce the Crown Prince right in front of her last time... Shen Yanshui had spared her embarrassment then, out of consideration for their former friendship.
But she had still been unhappy about it.
Noticing that she had drifted off, Cui Yu pressed harder, displeasure in his voice. “Who is A-Yan thinking of?”
Shen Yanshui could not help biting his shoulder when he pressed against her. Before she could reply, another set of footsteps sounded outside—light, then heavy.
“Please, Eunuch Zheng, announce me. I have an urgent matter to report to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
It was Fang Zhengshan, commander of the Eastern Palace’s Imperial Guard.
As Shen Yanshui listened to Eunuch Zheng speaking outside, the voices so close at hand made her feel as if someone were watching them... and the sensation only made her more excited.
Suddenly, she tightened around the fiery dragon within her, attacking it with rapid, relentless contractions.
Caught off guard, the fiery dragon was gripped hard—and in the end, it spilled again and again.
Cui Yu: “...”
