The Crown Prince had fainted again during the day. Old Doctor Zheng had specially prepared medicinal ingredients for his medicated bath. While it couldn't completely detoxify him, it would help alleviate his head ailment, reduce fever, and relieve pain.
The Crown Prince dismissed everyone and described Yun Kui's fragrance to Old Doctor Zheng in detail.
Having practiced medicine for decades, Old Doctor Zheng had never heard of such a peculiar phenomenon. However, the fact that this woman could alleviate the Crown Prince's head ailment was an unexpected blessing.
The Crown Prince inquired, "Is there any way to prepare a fragrance similar to the natural scent of this woman's body?"
Old Doctor Zheng was momentarily stunned, contemplating the feasibility of this method before replying, "This old subject has a disciple who is quite knowledgeable about fragrances. He is on duty tonight. Why not let him accompany me to the Hot Spring Palace? We can then invite that young lady to come over. Only after he smells her natural scent can we determine which fragrances to use and in what proportions."
The Crown Prince nodded faintly, "Please keep this matter confidential."
Imperial Physician Zheng quickly assured him, "Your Highness can rest assured."
The Eastern Palace was fraught with dangers from all sides. If those with ill intentions learned that this woman could help with the Crown Prince's head ailment, she would surely be in danger.
As soon as Imperial Physician Zheng left, Cao Yuanlu entered the hall. After hesitating for a moment, he reported the news he had just received: "This morning, Yun Kui was summoned to Kunning Palace. My informant reported that Mama Qin from the Empress's side seemed to have slipped her something."
It was undeniable that Cao Yuanlu quite liked this girl. He could also see that His Highness treated her somewhat differently. Even if it wasn't romantic feelings, there must be certain qualities about her that attracted His Highness; otherwise, why would he allow only her to serve him closely?
Actually, Cao Yuanlu knew that all four of the bedchamber maids sent here had received some special "instructions" to varying degrees. Especially those girls who gained His Highness's favor would be most convenient to target him, inevitably becoming watched and entrusted with "important tasks."
His Highness had been away from the capital for several years, and Cao Yuanlu himself had been framed and punished to work in the Imperial Stables. Other key personnel had either been suppressed or bribed, while the guards couldn't manage internal affairs. This resulted in the Eastern Palace being watched like a sieve, with many spies planted everywhere. Apart from a few old acquaintances whose backgrounds were known, there were almost no trustworthy people.
Finally, there was a docile and pleasant young girl serving by his side. If she were truly tempted by outside influences to harm His Highness, she probably couldn't be kept any longer.
The Crown Prince twisted the thumb ring in his hand, his face darkening as he closed his eyes.
If she truly had ulterior motives, he would know at a glance.
The Hot Spring Palace was located northwest of the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince traveled by sedan chair, followed by Cao Yuanlu and a group of guards and palace attendants. Both Yun Kui and Si Zhang were among them.
When nobles bathed, it typically required one group of people to heat water, carry water, and clean the hot spring pool, while others specialized in undressing, wiping the body, massaging shoulders and back, and even trimming nails.
Having spent many years in the military, the Crown Prince wasn't as meticulous and particular as other nobles. However, due to his severe injuries and inconvenience, Cao Yuanlu feared inadequate service and brought more people along to attend to him.
The only surprise was that the Crown Prince had specifically requested Yun Kui to accompany them.
In the past, His Highness would eliminate spies without hesitation. Could it be that tonight's bath at the Hot Spring Palace was meant to set a trap?
Regardless, Cao Yuanlu would guard His Highness's safety tonight and absolutely not let anyone succeed.
Of course, if the girl was kind-hearted, able to resist external temptations, and remained loyal to His Highness, Cao Yuanlu would not indiscriminately kill the innocent.
Si Zhang was brimming with confidence tonight.
It was impossible for only one person to serve in close proximity to the Crown Prince. Moreover, after the medicated bath tonight, with the Crown Prince's health improving, it was highly likely he would favor the palace maid who attended his bath.
Would that person be her?
Initially, Si Zhang had also feared the Crown Prince, but seeing that he not only spared Yun Kui but also favored her for two consecutive nights, she began to feel restless.
Yun Kui’s mind wandered, still preoccupied with the silver note.
She had locked the poison and lip rouge in her trunk to avoid accidental ingestion or use. As for the thousand-tael silver note, she had been fretting about it ever since she stepped out.
"With such a large sum of money, forget marrying a guard—I could even hire ten strong young men to serve as my personal guards, and it would still be more than enough!"
Since they were not far apart, the Crown Prince, resting with his eyes closed in the sedan chair, could overhear a word or two.
"I wonder if it’s safe to sew such a thick silver note inside an old padded jacket at the bottom of my trunk."
Crown Prince: …
He didn’t even need to test or interrogate her. All it would take was sending someone to search her room, and she would be caught red-handed.
A petty spy like her, with no cunning or schemes, could be crushed with a flick of his finger. If not for her remaining usefulness, he would not have let her live past today.
Meanwhile, Imperial Physician Zheng arrived early at the Hot Spring Palace with his apprentice, Liang Jin.
Since Yun Kui’s matter was not to be disclosed, Imperial Physician Zheng only instructed his apprentice, "When she arrives later, don’t ask unnecessary questions. Just find an opportunity to get close to her and quietly take a sniff."
Liang Jin nodded in agreement. Naturally, he would not be disrespectful to the Crown Prince’s bedchamber maid.
From Old Doctor Zheng’s words, he could only surmise that the Crown Prince was infatuated with the scent on this woman and thus wished to blend a similar incense.
It was merely a matter of the nobles’ private indulgences, something Liang Jin could understand.
The two, along with the medical assistants, spread medicinal herbs into the hot spring pool. As the Crown Prince set out from Cheng Guang Hall, the palace servants of the Hot Spring Palace began arriving with buckets of water, gradually filling the pool.
Upon arriving at the Hot Spring Palace, the chief eunuch led the way for the Crown Prince, with Yun Kui and Si Zhang following closely behind.
Whether it was her imagination or not, Yun Kui felt that Eunuch Cao had been stealing glances at her all evening.
Did he know someone had slipped her silver?
Before she could ponder further, the moment she stepped into the hall, Yun Kui was immediately stunned by the enormous hot spring pool.
The hall was as warm as spring, and the pool was larger than the side hall she resided in—truly a magnificent sight. The vast surface of the pool was shrouded in white mist, and the amber-colored water emitted a faint, soothing medicinal fragrance. Even a deep breath of the air was enough to relax the body and mind. She couldn’t imagine how luxurious it would feel to bathe in such a grand pool.
"Being the Crown Prince must be amazing. I’d like to try it for a couple of days too."
The Crown Prince let out a cold laugh, his expression frosty.
If one were to take her rebellious thoughts seriously, even exterminating ten generations of her clan would not be excessive.
He turned and glanced at the attendants following him, his gaze sweeping over Cao Yuanlu, De Shun, and finally settling on Yun Kui. He issued a calm order: "The three of you stay. The rest may leave."
Yun Kui, having served closely these past few days, was not surprised.
Si Zhang, however, couldn’t understand—why had the Crown Prince chosen her again? Moreover, the bathing process was intricate. How could just three people manage it all?
She shot Yun Kui a resentful glare, but in that moment, she froze slightly.
Though palace attendants had carried lanterns to illuminate the path from Cheng Guang Hall, the night had still obscured clear vision. Now, under proper lighting, he could see her delicate cheeks flushed to a dewy radiance from the hall’s steamy warmth. The lychee-red ruqun embroidered with winding grape vines made her snow-white skin appear even fairer, and the dazzling scenery hinted below her collarbones inexplicably warmed his face.
"It’s no wonder the Crown Prince favors her, but… bigger isn’t always better! Petite figures have their own exquisite charm—could it be His Highness never wishes to try others’?"
The Crown Prince: …
The palace maids in the hall all kept their heads bowed in deference, making it impossible to identify whose inner thoughts these were, but he could discern whom the speaker meant.
His gaze instinctively shifted to Yun Kui.
The Crown Prince’s eyes had always been sharp and weighty, their pressure feeling almost tangible. As if sensing this, Yun Kui looked up and met those dark, penetrating pupils, immediately growing so flustered her hands and feet turned clumsy.
"Stop staring, or I’ll poison you."
Then she saw the Crown Prince smile—a gloomy smile, his black eyes like intangible blades capable of laying bare any secret buried in one’s heart.
Yun Kui’s scalp prickled, and she hung her head even lower.
Liang Jin approached at just the right moment, bowing to the Crown Prince before addressing Yun Kui carefully, "This humble official has prepared medicated oil to soothe His Highness’s muscles and joints. Might I trouble the young lady to accompany me to the side hall to retrieve it?"
Yun Kui first glanced at the Crown Prince for approval.
Guessing this was Liang Jin’s pretext, the Crown Prince responded indifferently, "Go."
Yun Kui bowed in acknowledgment, and Liang Jin led her to the adjacent room.
The hot spring pool’s thick, blended herbal aroma made it impossible to accurately distinguish the unique scent clinging to this palace maid. Moreover, as she served as the Crown Prince’s bedchamber attendant, Liang Jin couldn’t examine her too closely in the main hall. Isolating her made it easier for him to investigate carefully.
By the time they reached the side hall, Liang Jin had roughly formed a conclusion.
"This medicated oil is for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Liang Jin retrieved a white porcelain bottle from the curio shelf and instructed her on its use: "…Rub it between your palms to warm it, then massage in gentle circles over His Highness’s shoulders, neck, chest, upper abdomen, back, and thighs until fully absorbed."
As he spoke, he noticed the Crown Prince’s personal maid—her face as lovely as a hibiscus flower—quietly blushing.