The Crown Prince gripped her hand and coldly spat out two words: "How dare you."
He had begun regaining consciousness when the bandages were changed. As the stinging pain of saline soaking his wounds spread, his awareness gradually cleared.
He hadn't opened his eyes initially because her movements were quite meticulous—far better than those clumsy eunuchs. Judging from her inner thoughts, she posed no immediate threat to him, so he allowed her to continue.
But he never expected this girl to be filled with such indecent thoughts, even daring to… towards him.
He took a deep breath, finally recalling what she had thought upon waking that day—pectoral muscles.
"—Want to see your pectoral muscles, will you show me?"
The Crown Prince's mood was uncharacteristically complex.
Having lived over twenty years, only the elderly servants who attended him had mentioned his resemblance to Empress Huigong in the eyes and brow—no one had ever commented on anything else.
Since gaining the ability to hear others' thoughts, he had seen through many people's duplicity and sinister ambitions. Yet even so, no palace maid had ever dared to mentally speculate about his appearance.
It wasn't that his features lacked handsomeness, but his reputation for brutality preceded him. At first glance, people were already intimidated by his fierce aura, not daring to look a second time.
Even Emperor Chunming and the Empress needed thorough mental preparation before meeting his gaze.
This little girl was the first who dared to scrutinize him so boldly.
Not only that, she even harbored improper, intimate thoughts about him—utterly audacious!
Meeting his gaze, Yun Kui felt all blood in her body freeze.
Her trapped hand trembled violently, causing the porcelain bottle to slip from her grasp. It fell with a "clatter" onto the Prince's abdominal muscles, then rolled downward along the defined grooves until stopping where it was blocked between his thighs…
Their eyes unintentionally followed the bottle's trajectory, both landing on an extremely awkward position.
In moments of panic and fear, people tend to act recklessly. Yun Kui's mind went blank, and driven by some misguided impulse, she hastily reached to retrieve the bottle from the Prince's body.
Inevitably, her hand brushed against where it shouldn't.
A warm sensation grazed the back of her hand, making Yun Kui feel all blood rush to her head.
"Help, what did I just touch?!"
Her eyes instinctively flickered downward. Realizing the inappropriateness, she quickly averted her gaze and glanced up at the Prince, only to find his eyes cold as ice, his brow etched with menace.
Panicked, she tried to kneel and beg for forgiveness, but found her hand still firmly imprisoned.
Last time she managed to break free because she used all her strength and caught the Prince off guard while his vision was blocked by the blindfold—a lucky escape.
But today, no such luck would come.
Yun Kui's heart pounded like a drum, her face pale with terror as she stammered, "This servant… was changing Your Highness's bandages. I have offended you, please forgive me…"
Aunt Wei, standing at a distance, hadn't seen the bottle fall clearly. She only knew the Prince had awakened during the bandage change and seemed angered again.
Though she had pushed Yun Kui into this position herself, having carefully trained her for several days and considering she was the Empress's person, it would be a pity if the Prince had her executed. She stepped forward to intercede: "Your Highness, you're awake? This girl truly came to change your bandages and cleanse your body. If her service was lacking, I will discipline her properly."
The Crown Prince twisted the thumb ring on his finger, his tone devoid of emotion. "It seems I have been away for too long. Is Aunt Wei now in charge of the Eastern Palace?"
Aunt Wei’s face turned deathly pale as she hurriedly knelt. "This humble servant deserves death! I never intended such a thing!"
The palace attendants behind her also dropped to their knees in unison.
The Crown Prince closed his eyes briefly, his patience clearly exhausted. "All of you, get out."
No one dared to delay even for a moment. They scrambled away on their knees, and the imperial physicians, eager to preserve their lives, fled the brewing storm along with the others.
The most awkward position was Yun Kui’s. Held firmly by the Crown Prince, she was trapped, unable to advance or retreat, constantly fearing the executioner’s blade might descend upon her neck at any moment.
The Crown Prince pressed his thin lips into a tight line, staring at her darkly for a long moment before finally releasing his grip.
Yun Kui, freed from his grasp, was so terrified that she immediately dropped to the floor, prostrating herself.
Yet the Crown Prince showed no urgency in dealing with her. He withdrew his gaze and instructed his personal guard, Qin Ge, "Go find Yuanlu for me."
Qin Ge promptly accepted the order and left.
Cao Yuanlu had originally served as the chief steward of Cheng Guang Hall, attending first to the Late Empress and later to the Crown Prince for many years. However, after an error during the Qian Yuan Terrace sacrificial rites in February of that year, he had been demoted to the Imperial Stables, where he was tasked with leading horses and holding stirrups for others.
When the Crown Prince demanded his return, the Imperial Stables dared not refuse.
Cao Yuanlu was quickly brought back. Overwhelmed with joy, he knelt before the Crown Prince. "This old servant pays his respects to Your Highness! You have finally returned!"
The Crown Prince cast him a cold glance. "What have you been doing in my absence that you ended up in the Imperial Stables, serving as a footstool for others?"
Wiping his tears, Cao Yuanlu knew the Crown Prince disliked long-winded explanations, so he cut to the chase. "…This year’s sacrificial rites were overseen by Prince Chen. His Highness said that since I had assisted you in presiding over the rites many times and had ample experience, he requested my help. I never expected that the prepared livestock—cattle, sheep, chickens, and dogs—would all fall ill and die overnight. His Majesty was furious, and Prince Chen punished me by sending me to the Imperial Stables…"
Prince Chen, the eldest son of the Empress and second among the princes, had been entrusted with the rites in the Crown Prince’s absence—an opportunity for other princes to gain experience, as the rites were typically presided over by the Chunming Emperor and the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince asked, "Was the cause ever investigated?"
Cao Yuanlu replied helplessly, "The transportation and care of the livestock were indeed under my supervision from start to finish. I cannot shirk responsibility…"
Qin Ge interjected urgently, "It must have been Prince Chen’s scheme to frame you!"
The Crown Prince shot him a look, and Qin Ge immediately clasped his hands in acknowledgment. "This subordinate will investigate at once."
The Crown Prince then glanced at Yuanlu. "Why are you still standing there? Change my bandages."
Just then, a sobbing voice reached their ears.
"Save me… Someone, please save little Xiao Kui…"
Following the Crown Prince’s gaze, Cao Yuanlu noticed a young maid kneeling in the hall, sniffling softly, her eyes red and brimming with tears.
Having served the Crown Prince for years, Cao Yuanlu understood his temperament better than anyone. He knew the Crown Prince had limited patience—if he was displeased with someone, he would either deal with them on the spot or order them out of Cheng Guang Hall.
At this moment, the Crown Prince’s disgust was unmistakable, yet he had not specified any punishment. It was truly unusual for this young maid to remain unharmed in the hall.
Cao Yuanlu ventured to ask, "And this girl is…?"
Finally hearing someone acknowledge her, Yun Kui quickly lifted her head, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with tears. "This humble servant was sent to attend to His Highness the Crown Prince and change his bandages…"
Cao Yuanlu glanced from Yun Kui to the Crown Prince. Having just returned, he was unaware of this maid’s background, but he knew that if she were a spy sent from outside, the Crown Prince would have snapped her neck without hesitation. How could he allow her to weep and wail in the hall?
Could he have taken a fancy to her beauty?
Impossible. His Royal Highness was not one to indulge in sensual pleasures.
The Crown Prince said coldly, "Heavy makeup and strong perfume reek to high heaven."
Yun Kui instinctively touched her face. Her makeup was only slightly more adorned with powder than usual, far from being considered elaborate compared to the beauties in the Moon Embracing Pavilion.
She then sniffed her own scent. She had used perfume, but Aunt Wei had long reminded her that His Royal Highness disliked strong fragrances, so they were provided with light and fresh scents. Could even this be unacceptable?
Cao Yuanlu understood the Crown Prince’s meaning and instructed Yun Kui, "Hurry back to bathe and change into clean clothes, then return to serve."
Yun Kui was stunned. Had she… had she just been spared her life?
Seeing that the Crown Prince did not object, Cao Yuanlu took charge and said, "Get going now!"
Yun Kui hastily kowtowed and left joyfully.
Cao Yuanlu turned around and met the Crown Prince’s gloomy phoenix eyes, trembling in fear. "Y-Your Royal Highness?"
The Crown Prince stared coldly at him. "Who gave you permission to act on your own?"
The familiar Crown Prince had returned. Cao Yuanlu quickly smiled and said, "This servant saw that you had no intention of punishing her."
The Crown Prince sneered, "After not seeing you for years, you’ve become quite capable. It seems it was unnecessary for me to promote you from the Imperial Stables."
Cao Yuanlu smiled apologetically and begged for mercy, then added, "Your Royal Highness lacks a personal maid. Why not keep her?"
The Crown Prince remained silent, so Cao Yuanlu boldly stepped forward, took the towel and medicine bottle from the tray, and continued dressing the Crown Prince’s wounds.
Seeing the crisscrossing scars on the Crown Prince’s body, Cao Yuanlu couldn’t help but tear up. "Your Royal Highness has fought battles far and wide, yet these people only think of eliminating you. They don’t even consider who gave them their current positions…"
The Crown Prince said, "If you keep rambling, go back to tending horses."
Cao Yuanlu fell silent and reached out to examine the wounds Yun Kui had dressed, unable to resist praising her. "That young girl was quite diligent. She handled the wounds well…"
The Crown Prince thought of her filthy, despicable thoughts, closed his eyes, and clenched his jaw.
By the time Cao Yuanlu finished treating the Crown Prince’s wounds, it was already the end of the You hour.
Cao Yuanlu’s forehead was beaded with sweat as he sighed. "The imperial physicians are useless, and who knows who is behind them, plotting against Your Royal Highness. For now, we can only wait for Military Doctor He to arrive from the Northern Frontier. Your Royal Highness’s condition cannot be delayed any longer…"
Most people struck by a poisoned arrow would die on the spot. The Crown Prince had only survived by cutting open the flesh in time to release the poisoned blood, preventing the toxin from reaching his heart. But that was all he could do.
Remnants of the poisoned blood still circulated through his limbs and body, and it was uncertain when it might spiral out of control, with unimaginable consequences.
He Bailing was the Crown Prince’s military doctor. This time, he had not returned to the capital with the Crown Prince but stayed in the Northern Frontier to treat the common people.
No one had expected the Crown Prince to be ambushed on his journey. Guards had been sent posthaste to find He Bailing, but the Northern Frontier was thousands of miles away, and it would take time for him to reach the capital. They had no choice but to endure this period of waiting.
…
Yun Kui returned to the side hall and washed herself thoroughly from head to toe, ensuring she carried no extraneous scent, before lying down on the bed with relief.
Earlier, she had inquired and learned that the eunuch in the hall today was named Cao Yuanlu. He had been personally attending to the Crown Prince since his birth.
Did he seem to have a favorable impression of her?
Yun Kui pondered internally: Since he could plead for mercy on her behalf before the Crown Prince, it was evident this man's words carried significant weight.
In contrast, Aunt Wei had been scolded by the Crown Prince like a chastised grandchild—their respective statuses were clear as day.
If that were the case, she would follow Eunuch Cao from now on. As long as she made no mistakes, Eunuch Cao would surely protect her life before the Crown Prince. In the future, moving about the Eastern Palace would become much more convenient for her.
With this thought, her heart felt considerably more at ease. Heaven had allowed her to narrowly escape death multiple times in the Eastern Palace—surely this meant she was under divine protection!
Of course, all of this was contingent on one condition—
Had she not taken Eunuch Cao's instruction to "change into clean clothes and come serve" as an opportunity to eagerly present herself at Cheng Guang Hall that evening, she would never have witnessed the bloody scene before her.
A palace maid in a goose-yellow ruqun lay convulsing on the ground, drenched in blood, clutching a dagger in her tight grip.
The Crown Prince leaned slightly forward before her, effortlessly plucking the dagger from her hand before methodically drawing it across her throat.
Ignoring all screams and trembling, disregarding the warm blood spurting from her neck—every movement appeared excessively practiced, even elegant.
This was Yun Kui's first time witnessing the Crown Prince's killing firsthand. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to her knees.
The "thud" of her kneeling echoed distinctly through the silent, frigid Cheng Guang Hall.
The Crown Prince's eyes burned crimson, his murderous aura yet to dissipate as he advanced step by step toward the panic-stricken girl at the hall entrance. His low, hoarse voice resembled demons from the underworld.
"She attempted to assassinate me. Pity she died by my hand."
Yun Kui: …There's truly no need for you to explain this to me.
The Crown Prince looked down at her, his dark eyes devoid of any warmth. "Raise your head. Tell me what you're thinking."
Trembling uncontrollably, Yun Kui lifted her head and met the Crown Prince's devastatingly handsome, almost demonic countenance.
She knew she was about to die.
Though wildly inappropriate, she couldn't suppress the wayward thought:
"His lips look so soft."
"I wonder if I could steal one kiss before I die."