Yun Kui tentatively asked, "Who usually changes His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's dressings and bathes him?"
Cuixiang avoided her gaze, stammering, "Initially it was the physicians from the Imperial Hospital, later it was the eunuchs from Cheng Guang Hall. But because their service was inadequate, they were… were…"
She didn't dare say that the previous attendants had either been frightened away by the Crown Prince, fallen ill from fear themselves, or like one young eunuch who made some mistake and was kicked so hard by the awakened Crown Prince that he coughed up blood…
Seeing her expression, Yun Kui knew she shouldn't have asked.
Given His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's temperament, neither man nor ghost dared approach him—who would dare serve him personally?
She recalled the corpse dragged out of Cheng Guang Hall days earlier, feeling an indescribable nausea and suffocation in her chest, her face turning pale.
"I've only been at Cheng Guang Hall for a few days and have never served His Royal Highness. Why was I chosen today?"
Cuixiang pressed her lips together. "Perhaps Aunt Wei noticed your merit in preparing medicine and your presence before His Highness today. You're the most suitable candidate."
Yun Kui sighed mournfully, her face full of helpless resignation.
She had been to Cheng Guang Hall twice, and both times nearly lost her life! Just because she narrowly survived didn't mean they should keep exploiting her alone.
Unless… she carried some fatal curse destined to end her life today?
But fortune-tellers from her childhood all said she had excellent fortune, destined for great wealth and status—otherwise her aunt wouldn't have been matchmaking her with elderly officials.
Ah, Kui Kui's heart felt dead.
As she finished washing up to leave, Cuixiang stopped her, whispering, "Aunt Wei said you should dress up before going."
Yun Kui: "Why…"
Well, she supposed she ought to tidy up.
With good luck, the Living King of Hell might take a fancy to her and spare her life.
With bad luck, she'd be meeting the real King of Hell directly.
Though the chance of good luck was virtually nonexistent.
Still, one should dress properly even to meet the King of Hell. Having come to this world, she should leave with dignity. As a lowly palace maid, even in death no mortician would prepare her body—most likely she'd be wrapped in a straw mat and discarded in a mass grave.
This dignity she'd have to create herself.
Yun Kui unusually applied more powder, extravagantly using perfume. Finally gazing at her reflection, she produced a smile uglier than tears.
Upon arriving at Cheng Guang Hall, she was immediately escorted inside by Aunt Wei.
Imperial Physician Chen Yi greeted her like salvation. "Miss Yun Kui, you're most skilled at serving the Crown Prince. The golden wound medicine is prepared—shall we begin?"
Yun Kui: "…"
She forced a smile through gritted teeth. "Physician Chen, I originally worked menial tasks in the kitchen and have never served His Highness. How could I be the most skilled?"
Chen Yi smiled awkwardly.
With the Crown Prince's unpredictable moods, changing his dressings was a position that broke attendants. Many Imperial Hospital physicians had already claimed illness and returned home—none dared serve this ancestor.
Though newly promoted to head physician, the Crown Prince had given him one month's deadline. He could no longer be perfunctory like before, or not even the Empress could protect him.
The timid palace maids and eunuchs in the hall were useless—if they angered this Living King of Hell, he couldn't fulfill his duty. He had no choice but to have Aunt Wei select someone to serve.
Aunt Wei, well aware of the Crown Prince's temperament, wouldn't rush to send anyone to their death. Coincidentally, four beauties were waiting in the side hall, and Yun Kui had been personally promoted by the Empress—this opportunity naturally fell to her.
Yun Kui cursed inwardly—that damned imperial physician didn’t dare to apply medicine to the Crown Prince himself, so he found a scapegoat, namely her, to take the fall.
Aunt Wei approached and, catching sight of the girl’s radiant face, froze momentarily.
In the dim corridor earlier, she hadn’t gotten a clear look, but now, under the bright candlelight in the hall, she saw the girl’s delicate features: a light dusting of powder on her cheeks, faintly traced eyebrows, and dark, clear eyes slightly upturned, lending her a charming allure. Even the simple pink-and-white ruqun she wore seemed to glow like a gown woven from sunset clouds and moonlight.
Even as a seasoned palace veteran of over twenty years, Aunt Wei had rarely seen such vivid, spirited beauty. Even the emperor’s own princesses would pale in comparison.
Snapping back to reality, she stepped forward with a stern expression and said, “What’s taking you so long? If the Crown Prince’s condition worsens because of the delay, none of us can bear the consequences.”
Though Yun Kui was following orders and dared not show her anger openly, she had never regretted anything more than stepping forward to administer medicine earlier, all for a paltry reward.
After washing her hands, a eunuch brought over a tray laden with porcelain bottles of various sizes, scissors, and gauze. A physician beside her carefully explained the names and dosages of the medicines, and Yun Kui listened attentively, committing every detail to memory, not daring to make a single mistake.
Next came the task of undressing the Crown Prince.
Fortunately, he was still unconscious, but with past incidents as a warning, Yun Kui didn’t dare let her guard down. At any moment during the bandage change, the Crown Prince could suddenly awaken.
And snap her neck in an instant.
The thought made her take a deep breath. She tiptoed to the bedside and slowly knelt down.
This was the first time she had truly observed the man before her.
During the earlier medicine administration, she had covered his eyes with a cloth. That morning, when he choked her, she was forced to meet his gaze, but her mind was so consumed by terror that the stunning impact of his handsome features was quickly overshadowed by fear.
It was the same now.
Even with his eyes closed, the fierce, ruthless aura emanating from his very bones was as sharp as a blade, radiating an intimidating chill in the darkness.
Yet, it was undeniable—he was truly beautiful.
Arched brows like swords, phoenix eyes, a tall nose, and thin lips—his jawline was sharp and elegant, his features so exquisitely carved that he seemed almost divine under the candlelight, noble and transcendent.
So handsome, so handsome, so handsome, ahhhh!
Yun Kui stared, mesmerized, completely unaware that the man’s thumb, adorned with a black jade ring, had twitched slightly.
It was only when the physician beside her whispered a reminder that she snapped out of her daze and hurriedly reached for the medicine bottle.
She had witnessed others’ spring dreams and seen how their robes were gradually removed. Over time, she had learned how to untie a man’s inner garments.
Hadn’t she seen pigs run, even if she hadn’t eaten pork?
Gently, she lifted the brocade quilt, reached toward the man’s waist, found the sash, and slowly untied it. Using her fingertips, she parted the inner robe, revealing his jade-like, pale, and well-defined torso.
Yun Kui feasted her eyes, her heartbeat quickening involuntarily.
But the sight of his wounds, large and small, quickly snapped her back to reality.
The snow-white bandages were soaked with blood, and the thick, metallic scent of blood filled her nostrils. Yun Kui had never seen anyone so severely injured—no wonder he hadn’t had the strength to strangle her earlier.
She took a deep breath, first cutting open the bandage on his chest, then fetching a cloth soaked in diluted saltwater. These steps had been taught by the medical woman, so Yun Kui was not unfamiliar with them.
But the moment the cloth touched the gruesome wound, the man's brow immediately furrowed tightly.
Yun Kui trembled in fright, her legs going so weak she nearly collapsed. Seeing him still lying there with his eyes closed, she managed to steady herself slightly.
Clutching the cloth in her hand, she carefully cleaned along the wound. However, the flesh was torn and ragged, with scabs stuck to the bandage, and in several places, blood was still oozing out—a truly horrifying sight.
Fine beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but with no one to assist, she had no choice but to brace herself and continue.
"Please, please! Don't wake up now!"
"Ouch, just looking at it hurts…"
"Was the Empress overthinking it? In this state, could the Crown Prince even manage to exert himself? Are these bedchamber maids here just for show, or purely to meet their doom? Consummation is exhausting—even men who are slightly weak can't handle it, let alone someone with such severe injuries. He might just die in bed…"
"But to be honest, the Crown Prince is the most handsome man I've ever seen. Guards like Zhao, Qian, and Li don't even come close! His Adam's apple is sexy, his collarbones are beautiful, his chest muscles are robust, and though the gauze covers some of it, I'd estimate he has an eight-pack… Oh heavens, am I going to get a nosebleed…"
While cleaning and applying medicine, Yun Kui suppressed her restless, drool-inducing excitement.
Thanks to her ability to glimpse into dreams, she had occasionally seen a few unclothed men, and the spring palace pictures in the booklet Aunt Wei had given them were also quite explicit, but… Yun Kui had never seen anyone like this.
Of course, even with a hundred times the courage, she wouldn't dare touch the Crown Prince's chest muscles. But while bandaging the wound, she inevitably brushed against them—the firm, warm texture and the smooth, defined lines made her palms tingle. That tingling sensation collided and spread through her bloodstream, stirring ripples in her heart.
The arrow wound on his chest was severe, torn open and particularly gruesome. It was only under Chen Yi's detailed guidance that she dared to boldly wipe the wound, press out the poisoned blood, and apply a thick layer of golden sore ointment.
Yet she didn't understand—the Crown Prince had been injured for some time, but instead of healing, the wound hadn't even scabbed over.
Earlier, she had overheard in the hall that the Crown Prince had been poisoned. Could it be that the poison hadn't been neutralized?
No wonder he was so irritable.
There was another arrow wound at his waist. Yun Kui's hand moved downward, but this spot was lower, requiring her to pull down his inner trousers slightly.
While treating the wounds on his upper body, she had managed to keep her composure and avoid fumbling, but these inner trousers…
Was it appropriate to remove the Crown Prince's inner trousers so casually?
Yun Kui blinked, her gaze drifting downward as if with a mind of its own.
The man's waist and abdomen were taut and well-defined, without an ounce of excess flesh. The bulging veins resembled mountain ranges, trailing down into the unfathomable depths below his waist, exuding a restrained yet palpable strength.
Even though countless eyes were watching in the hall, she felt an indescribable sense of stealth—as if… she were committing an impropriety, secretly taking liberties with someone.
Heaven as her witness, she was only changing his bandages.
Carefully, she untied the waistband, her small hand slipping into the edge as she prepared to pull the trousers down slightly. Suddenly, a pale yet powerful hand reached out and stopped her from proceeding further.
Yun Kui's wrist was squeezed painfully, and she stumbled, falling against the edge of the bed.
Dazed, I lifted my gaze and met the Crown Prince's eyes, dark and gloomy as ink, my heart skipping a beat in an instant.