Yun Kui, resigned to her fate, waited in utter misery until the seventh day.
She begged a familiar cook in the kitchen for some wine, hoping only that death would not be too painful.
Seeing her in such a state, the cook feared that drinking might cause trouble, especially since she was still expected to serve the prince. Out of kindness, he made her a bowl of fermented glutinous rice balls with wine to satisfy her craving.
Having lost her appetite these past few days, Yun Kui’s stomach was already empty. After finishing the entire bowl, she truly began to feel tipsy.
When drunk, people tend to boast, act recklessly, or reminisce about the past. Unfortunately, there was no one around to listen to her bragging, so she could only cry while recalling her tragic life.
During her childhood years living at her uncle’s house, she had no parents and no one to care for her. Neighbors and playmates bullied and humiliated her, mocking her mother for being unfaithful and her father for abandoning his wife and daughter.
Later, when she learned that her aunt intended to marry her off to an old man in his fifties, she desperately fled from home. At her lowest point, she was even worse off than a beggar on the streets.
After entering the palace, just when she thought she could at least have enough to eat and wear, a hunchbacked old eunuch lusted after her beauty and wanted to take her as his "companion." If Auntie Bi Zan hadn’t passed by and saved her, she likely wouldn’t have escaped that time either.
It was only after entering the Imperial Food Bureau that her life began to improve.
No matter how bitter or difficult the past had been, she had gritted her teeth and endured it. As long as she lived, there was hope of leaving the palace, marrying a respectable man, and never again having to live under someone else’s roof, drifting from place to place, or bowing and scraping.
But ever since entering the Eastern Palace, everything had changed.
Countless times, she had experienced the fear of walking on a knife’s edge, witnessing living people die before her eyes. Those in power treated human lives as worthless, and in their eyes, she was nothing but a tiny ant, forced into their schemes with no ability to resist.
Obeying orders meant death; disobeying also meant death.
She had cried enough—what else could she do?
In her entire life, she had never even killed a chicken, let alone had the courage to poison someone. Especially not someone like the Crown Prince, who stood above all but one. In his presence, she wouldn’t even have a chance to strike, and even if she did, her fate would only be more miserable than Cai Ju’s.
But she simply couldn’t swallow this injustice!
Though it wasn’t the Crown Prince who forced her to take the Seven-Day Powder, he was undeniably involved!
Her tragic life had begun in the Eastern Palace, and her current predicament was all because of that damned Crown Prince!
Why should she be implicated and suffer innocently because of him?
Why should the masterminds behind these wicked deeds hide in the shadows while pushing innocent palace maids like her to their deaths?
She hadn’t lived enough, hadn’t enjoyed a single day of happiness. Her dream of marriage had been shattered, and she hadn’t even had the chance to enjoy a man’s company!
If she were outside the palace, she would definitely use her ten taels of gold to buy herself a strong, burly man for some pleasure! Money was just an external possession—you couldn’t bring it with you when you were born, nor take it with you when you died. She wouldn’t leave it to anyone; she would indulge herself before death!
But what could she do in the palace? She couldn’t leave the Eastern Palace, and having an affair with a guard would also be a death sentence. She was going to die, but she couldn’t drag others down with her.
After much thought, the only man with three legs she could come into contact with now was that damned Crown Prince!
So what if he was noble? So what if she couldn’t afford to provoke him?
She was going to die anyway!
Either she would be killed by the Crown Prince, or she would die on his bed, her intestines pierced and her belly torn open, scaring him to death!
In the past, when the Crown Prince had wrapped his arms around her waist or caressed her chest, she had never dared to fight back, only venturing to think about it in her heart. But why should she be denied the right to look or touch?
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die"—Yun Kui had made up her mind. Tonight, she would do all the things she had longed for but never dared to attempt!
She was going to sleep with the Crown Prince!
She would pin him down and kiss him fiercely!
She would touch his pectorals, his abdominal muscles, run her hands over every inch of his body!
Otherwise, all those vernacular storybooks, illustrations of sexual techniques, and those wild, passionate scenes from her dreams would have been for nothing!
She couldn’t take this knowledge to her grave!
Having cried her fill, she rode the slight intoxication from the fermented rice dumplings and rushed to the Crown Prince’s bedchamber. There, she saw the man seated on the couch, his dragon countenance and phoenix bearing so striking that, in a surge of impulse, she threw herself at him and pressed her lips to his.
For a fleeting moment, when she met the Crown Prince’s dark, intense gaze, she felt a twinge of hesitation. But soon, the alcohol took over, and she found herself mesmerized by his unparalleled handsomeness. Time was short, and her mission urgent—there was no room for delay. So, mustering all her courage, she charged straight toward her goal!
Yet, she was too nervous. The moment her lips touched his, her blood rushed violently through her veins, and even her eyelashes trembled uncontrollably.
The Crown Prince had considered that she might come to beg him, or perhaps, in desperation, attempt to poison him in exchange for the antidote to the Seven-Day Scatter. But he never imagined she would be so audacious!
In the past, women who sought to seduce him had always adopted an air of gentle tenderness or enchanting allure. None had ever barged in and thrown themselves at him like this.
"You are utterly insolent."
He grabbed her by the neck, forcing her to look at him.
As the young woman lifted her head, a tear that had been clinging to the flushed corner of her eye fell with a soft "plop" onto the back of his hand.
His movement stilled, and for once, he was taken aback.
Yun Kui also noticed that tear. Her mind was foggy, her attention fixed solely on his large, beautiful hand—slender and jade-like, with distinct knuckles and prominent bluish veins exuding strength.
A hand like this could command any part of her body…
As if possessed, she wiped that tear from his hand, then trembling, grasped his fingers and slowly guided them to rest against the slender, soft curve of her waist.
The Crown Prince stared into her glistening dark eyes. Though he complied, his expression remained cold and intimidating.
"Your Highness," she swallowed nervously, foolishly attempting to negotiate, "could you pretend that nothing happened?"
The Crown Prince curled his lip. "Am I a dead man?"
Yun Kui lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze. But… there was no turning back now. She had already kissed him; even if she knelt and begged for mercy, death would be unavoidable.
In that case, what was there left to fear?
Gritting her teeth, she leaned in once more and kissed his tightly pressed lips.
There was a saying, "Knowledge from books is shallow without practice." In her childhood, a young scholar had lived next door to her uncle’s house, reciting texts day in and day out with a swaying head. She had been fortunate enough to overhear a few lines of scripture, and this verse perfectly captured her current situation.
Even though she had practically worn out her illustrations of sexual techniques and had witnessed countless scenes of tangled lips and clashing teeth in her dreams, when it came to her own turn, she was utterly clumsy and inexperienced.
She tried hard to ignore those dark, burning eyes—one more glance and her courage would fail.
But the man’s scorching breath was so close, radiating an undeniable aura of danger. Her breathing grew unsteady, her chest rising and falling erratically, and even the teeth pressed against his lips began to chatter.
Why was it so difficult for her, when in the dream, the Ceremonial Guard commander’s lips had been so easily parted by Auntie Bi Zan’s kiss? Those two were always like dry tinder meeting a spark—the moment they touched each other, they ignited instantly. Wasn’t that how Auntie Bi Zan had kissed him…?
The more anxious she grew, the more her lips trembled.
Finding this approach futile, she gave up after fumbling for a while.
Frustrated and flustered, she moved to undo his sash—she would feel those abdominal muscles first!
Though she didn’t understand why the Crown Prince offered no resistance, there was no time to ponder it. Like an impatient rogue eager to steal a taste, she recklessly tugged open his waistband and slipped her hand inside.
But she hadn’t expected layer upon layer of garments beneath.
The Crown Prince had recovered from the arrow poison, his wounds improved. Unlike during his severe injury when he wore only a loose inner robe, his regular attire was far more intricate than that of an ordinary guard. In her nervousness, she had completely forgotten the dressing details taught by Aunt Wei. She couldn’t pull it open, couldn’t tear it apart, and soon she was sweating with frustration.
The Crown Prince had endured enough. He seized the wandering little hand and abruptly lifted it.
Yun Kui gasped in surprise. By the time she realized what was happening, he had flipped her over, pinning her down, and restrained her mischievous hands above her head, forcing her to meet his intense, blazing gaze.
“Aren’t you afraid I will kill you?”
His grip was powerful, effortlessly holding her captive beneath him. Yun Kui couldn’t even move a finger. The thought that her attempt had failed before it even began filled her with indignation and despair.
“Kill me then! Better a clean slash to the throat than a slow, agonizing death from internal rupture.”
“So what if he’s the Crown Prince? What’s the big deal? If I were emperor, I’d have all of you executed!”
“Since you’re so formidable, why don’t you just kiss me to death!”
No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than his cool, moist lips suddenly descended upon hers. Yun Kui’s eyes widened in shock.
“Wait… is he serious?”
“He couldn’t possibly know what I’m thinking, could he…?”
The kiss was not gentle—it was a punishment for her audacity and recklessness.
Seething with cold fury, the Crown Prince pressed his thin lips harshly against her soft, crimson ones, forcefully prying them apart.
Though she had seemingly come for this very purpose, faced with such a fierce and overwhelming assault, she instinctively trembled in panic.
His hold was like an iron clamp, allowing no retreat.
Every breath was ruthlessly claimed by him. Her cheeks flushed a deep red—the kind that surges with rushing blood—spreading from her ears to her face and neck. Her limbs slowly turned to jelly under his relentless advance.
She had seen his tongue before—soft and tender—but now, in its dominance, it felt heavy enough to crush her.
“Waaah, this isn’t tasty at all.”
Hearing her inner complaint, the Crown Prince bit down sharply on her lip.
Outside the hall, Cao Yuanlu, hearing no conversation within, grew worried. Fearful that Yun Kui might act rashly in desperation and provoke His Highness, and concerned for his lord’s safety, he couldn’t resist stepping closer to peek inside.
What he saw astonished him: His Highness had pinned her down on the couch and was kissing her!
His old face flushed, and he quickly retreated unnoticed.
Hearing the footsteps, the Crown Prince opened his eyes. Gazing at the pitiful little face before him—trembling lashes, tear-filled eyes—something within him stirred inexplicably.
After a long silence, he gradually loosened his grip. The fierce invasion softened into alternating light and deep licks and sucks.
The young girl beneath him struggled to catch her breath through the gaps between their lips, her hair disheveled, the corners of her eyes tinged with a faint red. Her slender, pale wrists appeared especially fragile and delicate under his grasp.
So audacious, yet so pitiful.
But the more pitiful she appeared, the more he wanted to torment her—to bite down fiercely, to make her feel the pain! He wanted her to regret today's actions, to see if she would still dare to be so shameless and reckless in the future!
Rage surged within him, and the friction between their lips grew increasingly savage. Though he knew she was already gasping for air, he stubbornly refused to let go.
Finally, Yun Kui could bear it no longer. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed and pleaded, "Your… Your Highness…"
"I can't… I can't take it anymore…"
She truly felt she was about to die—breathless, limbs weak and boneless, her lips both sore and numb. Her entire body was so numb she had lost all sensation. Even without him pinning her wrists, she couldn't lift them at all.
"Has the seven-day deadline arrived?"
"Has my intestines already ruptured? Has my stomach begun to rot…?"
Hearing her inner thoughts, the Crown Prince couldn't help but frown.
His fingers gripped her chin, his thumb brushing over lips that had been kissed into a startlingly sensual shade. His voice carried a barely perceptible hoarseness: "What exactly did you come here for today?"
Yun Kui, finally freed from his restraint, gasped for air in large breaths. It took a long while for her breathing to gradually steady.
Struggling to suppress her inner agony, her shoulders involuntarily trembled. Weakly, she said, "Your Highness, this servant is about to die. I will never be able to serve you again…"
"Is that so?" The Crown Prince seemed indifferent.
"So cold-blooded after all."
She was about to die, yet he couldn't even be bothered to spare a few words—not even asking "Why are you dying?"
Yun Kui's heart turned desolate with cold. She wept softly, "Considering we've slept together a few times, could Your Highness grant me an intact corpse?"
The Crown Prince sneered.
"Enough. With your intestines rotting and stomach ruptured, where would an intact corpse come from?"
Yun Kui suddenly thought of something, her eyes looking at him with hope. "You've seen much of the world—is there a way to die without pain, and without looking too dreadful?"
The Crown Prince replied coolly, "No."
Yun Kui's eyes reddened again. She abandoned her delicate, fragile act entirely, sighed, and resigned herself to waiting for death.
"Damn Crown Prince. Can't rely on you for anything, and now I'll die because of you."
The Crown Prince scoffed lightly. "If you hate me so much, why not kill me?"
Yun Kui gritted her teeth, unwilling to respond.
"I'm not like you, killing people so casually."
After a moment, she crept closer again like a clingy kitten, tentatively asking him, "Your Highness, in remembrance of my service to you, could you grant this servant her final wish before death?"
The Crown Prince said, "Let's hear it."
Yun Kui deliberated for a moment, then said softly, "This servant wishes… to serve you one last time. May I help you change your clothes?"
The Crown Prince sneered. Was this girl, with her flattering expression, switching from force to soft tactics after failing with the former?
Yun Kui wept and said, "To be honest with you, someone poisoned me and told me they'd only give me the antidote if I killed you… But I am utterly loyal to Your Highness. I would rather die myself than harm you in the slightest."
The Crown Prince smiled ambiguously. "So, I should be grateful to you, then?"
"I didn't mean it that way…" Yun Kui hastily shook her head. "I've heard rumors that Your Highness is cruel and merciless, but I don't believe them. I only feel that although Your Highness is domineering and mighty, you're also gentle and approachable. Before I die, I have only one unfulfilled wish—to personally witness the improvement of Your Highness's injuries. Once I see you recovering, I can rest in peace…"
"I've already experienced the kiss, and it was quite terrible."
"Sigh, and yet the chest massage earlier was rather nice."
The Crown Prince: …
"With skills like this, I don't even dare hope for anything more intimate. Why bother exhausting myself when I'm about to die anyway… I just want to look and touch now, to enjoy myself one last time before descending to hell, wuwuwu…"
The Crown Prince's face darkened. "Time to retire."
Yun Kui stood frozen in place, her almond-shaped eyes wide as she stared at him in disbelief.
"Did I express myself wrongly, or does he have hearing problems? I'm about to die, and he still wants me to share his bed?!"
"Isn't he afraid I'll die right on his bed?!The Crown Prince glanced at her, his authority clearly undeniable.
Bewildered, Yun Kui rose and smoothed the wrinkles he had pressed into her dress. In the end, she decided against undressing—if she were to die on the Crown Prince's bed with her intestines spilling out after removing her clothes, it would be far too unsightly… What would Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang think of her? How would she explain herself when she descended to King Yama's Hall?
Better to remain fully dressed.
Before she could make a move, she saw the Crown Prince avoiding her as if she were a thief, walking behind the screen to undress by himself.
Yun Kui: …
"Stingy ghost drinking cold water!"
Only after the Crown Prince had settled in bed did she dawdle her way to the bedside. "Your Highness, I truly wasn't joking…"
The Crown Prince coldly interrupted, "I never repeat myself."
Gritting her teeth, Yun Kui kicked off her embroidered shoes and climbed onto the bed.
Having nothing left to lose as someone facing death, she tugged at the brocade quilt and squeezed close to him.
Although they had shared a bed before, the Crown Prince's quilt was spacious and warm enough for three or four people. When he was willing to be near, they would press close without a gap, but when he showed no interest, she never took the initiative to seek favor. A chasm would lie between them, the space in between cold and distant.
Today, she didn't overthink it. Since he was the one who demanded she come up, why should she hold back?
She inched closer until their body warmth connected. His breath was noticeably hotter. The moment Yun Kui touched his firm, powerful arm, a strange tingling sensation surged through her fingertips.
For some reason, she recalled the thrilling sensation of being pinned beneath him earlier, the feeling of their lips and tongues intertwining spreading from her throat all the way to her heart, setting every nerve ablaze.
It was an indescribable feeling—not entirely painful, it seemed.
But it certainly wasn't pleasant either.
Hesitantly, her small hand pressed firmly against his hard arm. Even through the thin undergarment, she could feel the prominent veins and muscular texture of his upper arm.
Just clinging to him like this for a while filled her heart with contentment.
Yet once people gain satisfaction, they often become greedy.
She secretly glanced up and saw his eyes closed, as if he had no intention of confronting her. Emboldened, she slid her hand further inside.
With only a thin undergarment separating them, it was easy to slip beneath. The Crown Prince's body was still wrapped in bandages, so she sought out the unbandaged areas.
His skin wasn't as delicate as a woman's, yet it wasn't rough either—it possessed a masculine, robust beauty, carrying a faint, bitter woody fragrance.
Rather than saying her hand was pressed against his chest, it would be more accurate to say his well-developed pectoral muscles filled her palm completely. They weren't excessively thick or bulging—any larger would have been intimidating. His were just perfect—firm, supple, with a slight rebound when pressed.
But the moment she pressed down, the man's breathing immediately grew heavy, his body tensing up so much that further pressure became impossible.
Yun Kui pressed closely against him, her ears growing warm.
She had imagined countless times that when she married, it would be to such a tall, imposing man. She would nestle in his warm, broad embrace every night, just like this. She loved this indescribable sense of security, as if someone could protect her and shelter her from the world.
It was just a pity she was about to die.
What had she done wrong in this life to deserve such a wretched, miserable end?
She wept softly against his chest, her tears quickly dampening his sleeping robe.
"Thank you, Your Highness…"
The words "for letting me feel your chest muscles" ultimately remained unspoken.
In return, she decided to tell him some life-and-death secrets before her demise. "A few days ago, Her Majesty the Empress gave me a bottle of secret medicine, telling me to administer it to Your Highness. She said after taking it, you would dote on me excessively. But before I could use it, I had a dream."
Seeing that he showed no curiosity—even remaining completely indifferent—she gritted her teeth and said earnestly, "In the dream, after Your Highness took that secret medicine, you immediately bled from all seven orifices and died a gruesome death."
The Crown Prince: "…"
Yun Kui swore to heaven: "This servant is absolutely not trying to frighten you with empty threats."
Crown Prince: "Hmm."
Yun Kui: "…Your Highness isn't the least bit surprised?"
'Why does this feel like casting pearls before swine?'
Only then did the Crown Prince's face darken slightly.
Yun Kui sighed. Someone as intelligent as His Highness should understand her meaning.
A man on the point of death speaks sincerely—otherwise, even with ten times the courage, she wouldn't dare drive a wedge between the Crown Prince and the Empress without any evidence, relying solely on a fleeting dream.
Having settled her final affairs, she began to reflect again: "This servant never thought I'd get to take advantage of you before dying. I can die without regrets now…"
While weeping quietly, a sudden boldness surged within her, and she cautiously slid her hand further inward.
When her fingers brushed against a strange protrusion, she curiously rubbed it with her fingertip. The man beside her jolted violently, grabbing her mischievous hand as he gritted his teeth: "You've been far too presumptuous tonight!"
Yun Kui stared blankly for a moment before realizing what it was. She chuckled softly: "Since I've already been presumptuous, what's one more transgression?"
The night had grown deep, the water clock dripping relentlessly. She had little time left.
Emboldened now, Yun Kui remained unfazed even with her hand captured. Her other hand swept across, unexpectedly giving his chest a firm grope.
Crown Prince: "…"
He took a deep breath, his face dark as he gritted out a laugh: "You'll regret this."
"Then I'll regret it in King Yama's Hall!"
Yun Kui showed no fear, flipping over to pin the Crown Prince onto the bed. "At this point, I won’t hide it from you—I adore this body of yours and dream of taking advantage of you every single day! Though I’ve seen many sturdy men in my dreams, none compare to Your Highness’s extraordinary grace. Yet you always hide yourself away—how dreadfully dull! If you won’t let me touch you, I’ll touch you anyway. This is only the beginning—I still need to carefully count your abdominal muscles. Oh, and I haven’t even laid a hand on the little prince yet…"
The more Yun Kui spoke, the bolder she became, while the Crown Prince’s expression grew increasingly grim—grim enough to kill.
Then, a series of crisp water droplets echoed from the copper water clock.
Midnight had arrived.
Yun Kui’s body suddenly stiffened, the sound of the droplets nailing her in place like iron spikes, rendering her immobile.
It was the eighth day.
Counting from the moment she took the poison, strictly speaking, the seventh day had only ended at yesterday’s late afternoon. Yet she hadn’t died, so she thought the poison might take effect at midnight—that was why she had dared to act so recklessly and run wild in the Crown Prince’s chambers.
But now it was truly the eighth day.
Cold sweat beaded on Yun Kui's forehead while a flame simultaneously shot up her spine.
Trembling, she lowered her head and met an expression of extreme cold fury.
Her mind was in complete disarray, utterly unable to calm down. Her body went limp, and she collapsed, her half-dead form crashing against the man's chest.
Furious, the Crown Prince brushed her off. "Kneel."
Yun Kui's body moved faster than her mind. Before she could process what was happening, she had already numbly slid onto the footrest and knelt properly.
The Crown Prince fastened his robe and sat up, radiating an icy aura.
Outside the hall, Cao Yuanlu had been attentively listening to the commotion inside. Unable to hold back any longer, he hurried in quietly.
Recalling Yun Kui's earlier actions and words, cold sweat poured down his forehead as he sighed repeatedly. "Miss, you… ah, actually, the day after you were poisoned, His Highness already asked Military Doctor He for the antidote to the Seven-Day Powder and put it in the pear soup you drank. Your poison was cured long ago."
Yun Kui collapsed to the floor.
Her poison had been cured long ago?
Then what were all her seven days of fear and anxiety for?
And tonight's various tantrums, rolling on the ground, unreasonable pestering, and disrespectful remarks…
Her mind was a tangled mess. The joy of being alive was quickly overshadowed by the terror of recalling her earlier reckless behavior. She didn't dare remember what she had done, but those shameful memories surfaced like small fish rising to the water's surface before rain, scrambling to emerge.
She had forcibly kissed the Crown Prince under the influence of alcohol.
In truth, she wasn't really drunk—it was just to bolster her courage for making a scene.
Not only had she groped the Crown Prince all over, but she had also pushed her luck by roughly grabbing his chest several times, saying she wanted to take advantage of him every day, and even boldly declared she wanted to touch his… little highness…
Yun Kui closed her eyes in agony.
『I'd rather be dead. If I were dead, I wouldn't have to face any of this…』
So she could be afraid too. The Crown Prince sneered coldly and looked at Cao Yuanlu. "For someone who dares to deceive their superior and climb into their bed, what should the punishment be?"
Yun Kui knelt with her head bowed to the ground, trembling all over.
Cao Yuanlu recalled the scene of his master forcibly kissing her earlier and replied carefully with a smile, "For those with ill intentions, death would be too light a punishment. But since Yun Kui meant no harm to Your Highness, if you fancy her, keeping her wouldn't be entirely inappropriate…"
Before tonight, Cao Yuanlu might not have fully trusted her, but after this incident, he could see that although this girl was bold and reckless, she had a truly good heart. She would rather let herself die from poison than harm His Highness. Keeping her to serve His Highness from now on would put Cao Yuanlu completely at ease.
The Crown Prince's gaze was indifferent. "If she stays, will you take her punishment for her?"
Cao Yuanlu smiled awkwardly. "She spoke insolently and acted outrageously. A minor punishment would be appropriate."
『Punishment is definitely necessary, otherwise where would His Highness's authority be?』
Crown Prince: "…"
Yun Kui buried her head in the ground, wishing she could shrink into a ball and find a hole to hide in.
『Fine, punish me then. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Since Heaven let me take advantage of His Highness, I should pay the corresponding price.』
『But what can he punish me with? Why not take this chance to drive me away! To be honest, I'm quite envious of Si Yi—she can return to the Imperial Household Department for reassignment. Anyway, serving anywhere wouldn't be more terrifying than in the Eastern Palace! As long as I'm not by the Living King of Hell's side, Empress and her people won't come after me again.』
"Surely he won't chop off my hand just because I touched his little tip! Oh heavens, I'd rather die…"
A sound resembling knuckles cracking from a clenched fist came from above. Yun Kui trembled as she awaited her punishment.
"Starting tomorrow, you shall guard the palace gates at Donghua Gate for me."
She looked up in surprise: "G-guard the palace gates?"
The Crown Prince looked at her coldly: "Are you saying someone tried to poison you? Since you didn't die, that person will surely appear again. You may return to serve at Cheng Guang Hall only when you find the mastermind behind this."
"Great! At this critical moment, the farther away from the Living King of Hell, the better!"
The Crown Prince: "…"
Suppressing her inner joy, Yun Kui bowed to express her gratitude.
Too ashamed to remain in Cheng Guang Hall any longer, she retreated in disgrace.
Back in her side chamber, she sprawled on the bed in a "big" shape, then pinched her arms and patted her stomach, confirming her body was still warm and soft before letting out a long sigh.
She actually didn't die!
Never thought the Crown Prince, with his usually detestable temperament that even dogs would avoid, would be willing to save her. It was simply unbelievable.
Excited, Yun Kui rolled around on the bed twice, then got up and randomly practiced two sets of fist techniques before stiffly performing the red silk dance that Si Zhang always showed off.
When she grew tired from dancing and lay back on the bed, she pondered for a moment before digging out the poison and lip rouge from the bottom of her chest.
And that thick stack of silver notes… After struggling with herself for a long time, she gritted her teeth and pocketed them, heading to Cheng Guang Hall to turn them in.
Cheng Guang Hall.
The Crown Prince lay with his eyes closed, unable to sleep for a long time.
His mind was filled with images of that girl's brazen words and reckless behavior.
What did she take him for? A brothel attendant, a kept man, or one of those bodyguards who sell their looks?
She truly had no regard for her life.
The punishment he gave was still too light. He should throw her into the punishment chamber and let her taste the eighteen forms of torture—only then would this girl behave.
But her skin was so delicate and tender; just with a little force, red marks had already appeared around her wrist from his grip. If she were tied with ropes and hung on the torture rack, who knows how swollen she would become. With just two lashes, she could shed a basin of tears.
The Crown Prince inexplicably recalled her tearful appearance when pinned beneath him—the captivating redness at the corners of her eyes, her small red nose tip, even her eyelashes adorned with teardrops. The lips he had kissed were slightly parted, like flower petals crushed in a storm, like a soul-snatching enchantress.
Tonight's events felt completely different from when she usually slept beside him.
His gaze darkened, a faint pain throbbing in his skull, and he felt unusually restless.
Just then, Cao Yuanlu reported outside the hall: "Yun Kui requests an audience with Your Highness."
What does she want at such a late hour?
The Crown Prince closed his eyes: "Summon her."
Yun Kui entered with various bottles and jars filling her sleeves. After paying respects to the Crown Prince, she said softly: "Earlier, this servant's mind was unclear and I failed to properly thank Your Highness for saving my life."
The Crown Prince ignored her, only staring at her, with a faint, intense redness visible beneath his eyes.
Yun Kui arranged the items she brought in a row on the footrest before the Crown Prince's bed. "This servant has come to present the received poisons to Your Highness."
The Crown Prince looked at the porcelain bottles.
Yun Kui pointed to the leftmost bottle. "This is the secret medicine the Empress gave me. This other bottle was given to me by an unfamiliar young eunuch. And this poisoned lip rouge was also given to me by an unknown palace maid. And… these one thousand taels in silver notes were also benefits she gave me."
She only needed to hand over everything she had obtained. As for whether it was poison or what kind of poison, she didn't know—the Crown Prince would investigate it himself.
Yun Kui followed his gaze to the exquisite black lacquer mother-of-pearl box in front of her. Thinking the Crown Prince didn't know what the lip rouge was for, she kindly explained, "The mastermind behind this probably assumed I was deeply favored by Your Highness, so they had me apply this lip rouge before being intimate with you. Your Highness would then ingest the rouge from my lips…"
"Enough."
The Crown Prince's face darkened as he coldly cut her off.
Yun Kui pressed her lips together and glanced at the stack of silver notes. Though reluctant, she had no choice but to surrender them. If she didn't hand them over today and they were discovered later, she wouldn't be able to explain herself even with a hundred mouths.
After struggling internally for a long moment, she forced out through gritted teeth, "If Your Highness likes these silver notes, you may take them."
The Crown Prince: "…"
As if he were confiscating her private savings.
The Crown Prince expressionlessly picked up the stack of silver notes and summoned Qin Ge inside, instructing him, "Investigate the origin of these silver notes."
Yun Kui watched wistfully as Qin Ge accepted the order and withdrew.
"My silver notes, wuwuwu… They're leaving me before I even had time to warm them…"
"Not to mention, this Qin guard may look strong and imposing, but his waist is quite slender too."
But with the Crown Prince present, she couldn't stare openly. Once Qin Ge was gone, she averted her gaze.
Turning back, she suddenly met the Crown Prince's abruptly gloomy and chilling expression. Yun Kui trembled in fright.
"He's so fierce."
"But he looks so handsome when he's fierce."
"If only I could touch him again!"
Recalling where her fingertips had ventured earlier, she licked her lips, savoring the memory.