As they reached the palace gates, before the Crown Prince could speak, Yun Kui obediently said, "Your Highness should return and rest. This servant will continue guarding the palace gates."
The Crown Prince looked at her coldly. "Haven't you been humiliated enough?"
Yun Kui replied, "This servant hasn't yet found the poisoner. How can I return empty-handed?"
The Crown Prince's gaze swept over the torn fabric at her knees, his voice icy as he asked, "Why haven't you been coming to Cheng Guang Hall to serve recently? Just because I haven't summoned you, do you not know you're supposed to attend to duties at night?"
Yun Kui muttered quietly, "This servant stands at the palace gates all day, then collapses asleep upon returning to the side hall. I feared inadequate service might displease Your Highness. Moreover, having previously offended Your Highness, I thought you wouldn't wish to see me, which is why you sent me away…"
The Crown Prince let out a cold snort.
Yun Kui stole a glance at his expression. "So Your Highness isn't angry after all? This servant thought you had grown to detest me."
The Crown Prince said indifferently, "It's merely because you can enter dreams, and still have some use."
The corners of Yun Kui's lips curved upward. "So that's how it is. Then this servant will come to Cheng Guang Hall to serve tonight. Your Highness, please wait for me!"
The Crown Prince's face darkened.
Her words made it sound not like she was coming for duty, but as if the imperial carriage was arriving, telling him to wait to receive favor.
Before he could question her, the young girl had already scampered away.
…
Imperial Study.
Emperor Chunming was discussing important matters with senior court officials, including several Grand Secretaries and the Imperial Uncle and his son.
A personal eunuch came to report that De Shun from the Crown Prince's side had urgent news to deliver.
What urgent matter could the Crown Prince have for him?
Emperor Chunming's heart stirred, a thrilling thought surfacing in his mind—could something have happened to the Crown Prince?
Though the discussion was only halfway through, Emperor Chunming didn't care that several senior officials were present and immediately said, "Admit him quickly."
De Shun entered the hall unhurriedly, first paying respects to the Emperor and the Grand Secretaries.
Emperor Chunming waived the formalities and asked urgently, "What exactly has happened to the Crown Prince? Has the imperial physician been summoned?"
Only then did De Shun say, "It's not about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but about the Ninth Prince."
"What does this have to do with Little Nine?" Emperor Chunming asked, his face full of confusion.
Several officials also looked over, especially upon hearing it concerned the Ninth Prince. The Heir of Ningde Marquis subtly pricked up his ears.
De Shun then truthfully recounted what had happened outside Donghua Gate. "…The Ninth Prince insisted that the palace maid kneel down to serve as his horse, and even declared…"
Emperor Chunming's expression shifted slightly as he smiled and interrupted, "We still have important matters to discuss with the Grand Secretaries. Perhaps we should first…"
Before Emperor Chunming could finish, De Shun said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's intention is that since some of the Grand Secretaries present are also the Ninth Prince's teachers, Your Majesty might allow this servant to finish speaking."
Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, Shen Qiuhua, who served as teacher to the imperial princes and was present in the hall, stepped forward upon hearing this and said with cupped hands, "When a prince errs, this humble official bears responsibility. I ought to know the details to provide proper guidance."
Emperor Chunming secretly clenched his fist, suppressing his displeasure, and said to De Shun, "In that case, speak truthfully."
De Shun then said, "The Ninth Prince declared that concubines are meant to be ridden like horses by men."
Upon hearing this, everyone including Emperor Chunming instantly changed expressions.
They had always thought the Ninth Prince, though deeply doted on and usually somewhat mischievous, still retained a child's innocence. None had expected the Ninth Prince to speak so recklessly.
De Shun continued: "Prince Chen wished to bring the Ninth Prince back to Baohua Hall to be disciplined by Your Majesty, but the Ninth Prince insisted he had done nothing wrong and demanded that Your Majesty come to adjudicate."
The grand secretaries exchanged uneasy glances, while the Chunming Emperor's face turned ashen.
De Shun said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could no longer tolerate this and declared he would assume the responsibility of discipline on Your Majesty's behalf."
The Heir of Ningde Marquis, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke: "How does the Crown Prince intend to discipline the Ninth Prince?"
The Ningde Marquis shot his son a disapproving look. The Emperor hadn't even spoken, why was he in such a hurry to intervene?
Was it because this concerned Yu Pin's son?
Several grand secretaries grew tense as well. The Crown Prince was known for his ruthless methods – whether dealing with imperial relatives or court officials, once he identified any misconduct, torture and execution without prior consultation were commonplace. His interrogation techniques alone were enough to make one's blood run cold.
The Ninth Prince was merely five years old – how could he withstand such "discipline"?
De Shun replied: "Before this servant departed, I only heard the Crown Prince say he would take the Ninth Prince to the equestrian grounds to teach him horseback riding, to curb His Highness's arrogance."
The Chunming Emperor looked astonished. "That's all?"
De Shun bowed in confirmation.
Since the Ninth Prince was clearly at fault initially, he couldn't be blamed for fanning the flames with carefully chosen words that obscured key points and confused the issue. If anyone were to investigate, he hadn't uttered a single falsehood.
The Heir of Ningde Marquis sneered: "Since when has the Crown Prince been so benevolent?"
De Shun responded with surprise: "His Highness has always been fair in rewards and punishments, and never hesitates to guide the other princes. Could it be that in the Young Master's eyes, our Crown Prince is some kind of vicious brute?"
The Ningde Marquis finally couldn't restrain himself from glaring at his son.
The Chunming Emperor and his ministers were equally taken aback. The Crown Prince wasn't known for making threats idly.
With the grand secretaries present, no matter how concerned the Chunming Emperor was about the Ninth Prince's safety, he couldn't show it.
He sighed deeply, lamenting: "It's all my fault for indulging and spoiling him these past years, allowing Xiao Jiu to become like this. I truly…"
The Ningde Marquis immediately cupped his hands in consolation: "Your Majesty should not blame yourself excessively. The Ninth Prince is still young – willfulness is natural at his age. There will be ample time for proper guidance later. Your Majesty fulfills his duties in governing the nation while also overseeing the education of nearly twenty children. With countless matters demanding attention, some oversights are inevitable."
At these words, the previously displeased expressions of the grand secretaries softened, and they nodded in agreement.
Everyone had children. Even Da Zhao's most powerful ministers who had attained the highest ranks couldn't guarantee that all their descendants would achieve greatness and maintain proper conduct, let alone the Chunming Emperor who handled myriad state affairs while managing numerous offspring. The Ninth Prince was the youngest – showing him extra affection was only human. There would be time for proper guidance later.
Seeing the Chunming Emperor's profound self-reproach, Shen Qiuhua also bowed and pleaded for punishment: "Lax discipline reflects the teacher's negligence. The Ninth Prince's misconduct results from my inadequate instruction. Your Majesty entrusted the princes to my care, yet I have failed in this responsibility. I am deeply ashamed and beg for Your Majesty's punishment."
As this display of ruler-minister harmony unfolded and the situation's momentum shifted, De Shun timely interjected: "His Highness's meaning is that although Your Majesty is burdened with state affairs, you should still lead by example with virtuous words and deeds. While Grand Secretary Shen imparts knowledge, he should also emphasize moral education for the princes and princesses. Since the Ninth Prince uttered profanities today, the Crown Prince is administering discipline on your behalf. Henceforth, Your Majesty and the grand secretaries must devote greater care to encouraging virtue and correcting faults."
These words left both the Chunming Emperor and Shen Qiuhua alternating between blushes and pallor.
Such words implied that even the Chunming Emperor could not properly discipline his own son, requiring the Crown Prince to step in and teach him a lesson.
Delving deeper, was the Crown Prince also using this incident to express dissatisfaction with the Chunming Emperor, who was acting as regent, and signal his desire to take over governance personally?
After the meeting adjourned, the Ningde Marquis and his son returned to the official quarters together.
The Ningde Marquis currently served as the Minister of Revenue, while his son, Xie Huaichuan, had been promoted this year to the rank of Fourth Grade Left Assistant Censor of the Censorate—honors brought by the family’s resurgence.
Following the incident in the imperial study, both father and son wore grim expressions.
The Ningde Marquis rebuked his son, "You were far too impulsive today!"
Xie Huaichuan maintained a calm and composed demeanor in public, but as his father, the Ningde Marquis knew there was something troubling his heart.
At a palace banquet last year, Xie Huaichuan had gotten utterly drunk, leaning against his wife while murmuring the childhood name of Yu Pin!
It was then that the Ningde Marquis discovered that despite being married for so many years and having two children, his son was still pining for the emperor’s woman!
Fortunately, only the heir’s wife, Lady Meng, and the Ningde Marquis were aware of the matter. Furious, the Marquis pacified his daughter-in-law and severely punished Xie Huaichuan.
Today, in the imperial study, Xie Huaichuan had once again spoken recklessly in front of the senior ministers, criticizing the Crown Prince—all for the sake of the Ninth Prince, Yu Pin’s son!
The senior ministers had their own judgments about the Crown Prince’s character; it was not for the emperor’s nephew to make such careless remarks. What would others think?
Had the empress’s maternal clan long been dissatisfied with the Crown Prince?
Or did the Chunming Emperor share this sentiment, intending to seize the throne?
Xie Huaichuan was deeply troubled, unsure how the Crown Prince would intimidate the Ninth Prince. Yet, he could not go to the Baohua Hall at the moment, leaving him anxious and restless.
"Father, I know I was wrong. I acted rashly in the heat of the moment…"
The Ningde Marquis said coldly, "Fortunately, the discussion in the hall was about the Ninth Prince’s discipline, and the attention wasn’t on you. Otherwise, even His Majesty would have grown suspicious of you. Whatever happens to the Ninth Prince this time, you must restrain yourself and refrain from interfering. Remember, everything related to Baohua Hall has long ceased to concern you. Do not give others a handle against you for no reason."
Xie Huaichuan pressed his lips together and nodded in agreement.
Unconsciously, the two had arrived near the Donghua Gate.
The day before, colleagues had mentioned that the Crown Prince had punished a palace maid to guard the palace gate outside Donghua Gate. The person who had clashed with the Ninth Prince today was likely her.
Father and son glanced over simultaneously and indeed saw a young woman in a silver-red jacket and skirt standing outside the gate. The faint, gentle sunlight cast a pale golden glow on her cheeks, making her skin appear snow-white and translucent, stunningly beautiful.
Hearing their footsteps, the girl turned her clear, dark, luminous eyes toward them. In that instant, Xie Huaichuan was almost certain: this palace maid was the Siqin Palace Maid he had poisoned with the Seven-Day Powder!
Although the subordinate who had contacted her had died in the Eastern Palace’s punishment chamber, he had described the Siqin Palace Maid’s appearance to Xie Huaichuan—and it matched the woman before him perfectly. Moreover, she was deeply favored by the Crown Prince, who summoned her almost every night. Xie Huaichuan could not imagine any other beauty capable of winning the Crown Prince’s affection.
But she should have been dead long ago! Why was she standing here?
Had the Crown Prince administered the antidote to her?
Had the Crown Prince personally disciplined the Ninth Prince today for her sake?
Yun Kui also recognized Xie Huaichuan.
After all, in her dreams, she had been forced to witness the entire process of this heir of the Ningde Marquis engaging in intimate acts with a consort of the rear palace—drenched in sweat and spouting endless vulgarities, making it impossible to forget.
But why was he looking at her with such an expression? For a moment, Yun Kui even felt as though he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
Could it be that he was the one who poisoned her?
When Yun Kui tried to observe more carefully, the other party had already subtly concealed his abnormality, as if the momentary change in his pupils had merely been her illusion.
As two high-ranking officials simultaneously turned their gaze toward her, Yun Kui hesitated for a moment before bowing in salute.
According to protocol, guards on duty at the palace gate, like Luo Zhang and the other guards, did not need to salute every passing official unless there was a specific reason. Otherwise, with the constant flow of people outside Donghua Gate, a low-ranking palace maid like her might as well spend the entire day kneeling there.
Fortunately, the Ningde Marquis only glanced at her with a complicated expression before looking away.
The Heir of Ningde Marquis, however, looked at her a few more times.
These high-ranking officials were all shrewd individuals, skilled at concealing their emotions, far beyond her ability to decipher. Yun Kui decided not to dwell on it. Even if she had suspicions, she had no evidence at the moment. It would be better to investigate further in her dreams tonight.
Too much had happened today, and her knees still ached. Before nightfall, she returned to the side hall. After bathing, she lay on the bed for a while before gathering her energy and heading to Cheng Guang Hall.
Over a dozen dishes for the evening meal were spread across the table, their colors, aromas, and flavors all exquisite enough to make one’s mouth water.
When the Crown Prince saw her arrive, he calmly instructed, "Since you're here, you may take over the food tasting."
The young eunuch who had been tasting the food had just finished the last dish. Hearing this, he shot Yun Kui a resentful glance before bowing and stepping aside.
Secretly delighted, Yun Kui pretended to test the food with a silver needle before digging in.
She ate with gusto, completely ignoring the rule that each dish should not exceed five qian in portion. For the dishes she liked, she pretended she hadn’t tasted them yet and went back for another round. After all, the Crown Prince had always had a poor appetite, taking only a few bites before setting down his chopsticks. It would be a waste not to eat so much food.
After eating her fill, De Shun presented her with a bottle of golden sore medicine.
Yun Kui glanced at her palm and waved it off. "It’s just a little scraped skin. It’s nothing serious."
The Crown Prince shot her a cold glance, forcing De Shun to persuade her further. "Please apply it, miss. His Highness’s bedding is made of fabric worth its weight in gold. It would be a shame to stain or tear it."So he’s disgusted with me."That night when he kissed me, I didn’t see him looking down on me then."
The Crown Prince’s face was stern, but his gaze lingered on the exposed section of her fair, smooth forearm, where a two-inch-long scrape was visible.
While she applied the golden sore medicine, the Crown Prince asked, "Aside from the princes, have you met anyone else these past few days?"
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but his voice seemed slightly hoarse.
After a moment’s thought, she replied truthfully, "There were indeed a few unfamiliar officials, but I also saw the Heir of Ningde Marquis."
The Crown Prince’s gaze sharpened.
Of course, whether she could dream of Xie Huaichuan or not didn’t matter. The spy Xie Huaichuan had planted, though refusing to speak even unto death, had already revealed everything in his thoughts. For now, he was still gathering evidence from all sides, waiting to capture them all in one net.
After applying the medicine to her elbow and palm, Yun Kui lifted her pant leg to treat her knees.
Noticing the Crown Prince’s intense stare, she turned slightly to avoid his burning gaze.
She still remembered that day at the Hot Spring Palace—how this petty man had been so secretive, not letting her catch even a glimpse of him despite being completely undressed!
Well, she wouldn’t let him see her either!
Yun Kui turned her back, secretly lifting her skirt to reveal her slender, fair calves. Just as she dipped her fingers into the ointment to apply it, a tall, dark shadow suddenly loomed over her.
The Crown Prince stared at her injured knee, his throat moving slightly. "I must see how severe the injury on your knee is, and whether it will stain my bedding."
Most of Yun Kui's initial shyness and restraint upon arrival dissipated at his words.
Pursing her lips, she thrust her bruised knee toward him. Unexpectedly, losing balance while standing on one foot, she nearly stumbled forward. Fortunately, the man reacted swiftly, his cool palm supporting the back of her knee while his other arm firmly encircled her waist.
The rough texture of his palm pressed intimately against that delicate, warm, untouched skin, sending an electric tingle coursing through both their bodies. They trembled simultaneously from the sensation.
Yun Kui's heart pounded wildly against her ribs.
Though his hand had felt cool when it first touched the back of her knee, it now burned like fire against her skin, the sensation more vivid than ever before.
Cautiously raising her head, she met his gaze. His eyes burned with intensity, his scorching breath brushing against her cheek. Instantly, her face flushed crimson, her hands fluttering uncertainly.
The Crown Prince's Adam's apple bobbed. After a long moment, he lowered his gaze to her injured knee.
The once flawless, snow-white skin was now mottled with bruises, with two scraped areas oozing faint traces of blood.
Subconsciously, he raised a finger to gently trace the injury. The warm pad of his finger and the cold jade ring he wore simultaneously brushed against the thin, sensitive skin of her knee, causing her legs to tremble slightly.
The position felt extremely awkward. She had seen it in an illustrated book before—something called "Goat Climbing a Tree"… But he was so tall, she only reached his shoulders, making the pose rather challenging to achieve.
The Crown Prince: "…"
These past few days around her had certainly broadened his horizons.
Unlike other princes who had chambermaids attend to them after coming of age, he had little interest in sensual pleasures. Years of campaigning left no time for marriage arrangements. It was only upon his return to the capital, now past twenty, that the Empress—both to avoid gossip and considering his supposedly limited lifespan—assigned four bedmaids according to tradition.
With his bedside previously empty, he naturally hadn't bothered studying intimate matters. Though during military campaigns, some rough-tongued officers would occasionally exchange ribald remarks he'd overheard while inspecting camps—that constituted his entire exposure to such topics.
Never did he expect that back in the palace, a delicate young maid like her would… harbor such salacious thoughts and extensive knowledge.
He had occasionally listened to others' inner voices before. While some were duplicitous, none were quite like her.
His fingertips rested against the smooth, soft hollow of her knee, his palm unconsciously tightening. He could feel the distinct pulse throbbing beneath her skin.
The Crown Prince's gaze darkened, his breathing grew heavy. A hidden flame ignited somewhere deep within him, spreading through his limbs.
Only when the woman before him let out a soft hiss did he snap back to reality. Releasing her somewhat awkwardly, he slowly set her down.
The heat still hadn't faded from Yun Kui's cheeks. Her rosy lips pressed together, and before she could regain her composure, she blurted out: "Your Highness has seen it. May this maid now enter your bed?"