"Did you drug me?"…
The Crown Prince's sinister face twisted with a rare expression of distortion.
Simultaneously, he could feel his blood surging violently throughout his body due to this thought, the veins on his neck bulging in a terrifying arc.
Especially below his waist, an abnormal heat spread as if millions of ants were gnawing at his flesh and blood.
Having been steeped in medicinal brews for years, he was intimately familiar with various poisons. Realizing what this was, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.
"Did you drug me?"
Yun Kui looked utterly astonished, not understanding what the Crown Prince meant, and instinctively denied it: "This servant didn't…"
She had just entered the hall—how could she have drugged anyone?
Had the Crown Prince been poisoned again?
The Crown Prince clearly didn't believe her. After all, though this young girl appeared obedient and gentle, she was actually a perverted maniac who fantasized about his body all day long. Even without the Empress's orders, it was entirely possible she had mustered the audacity to drug him and throw herself at him.
He had been too merciful, allowing her to live until now. He should have ended her during their previous encounters. Then he wouldn't have fallen into her trap today.
Struggling to suppress the restlessness within, the Crown Prince scrutinized the young girl before him, his voice deceptively calm.
"Where should I begin?"
"You want me so badly—how about I strip your tendons and flay your skin, turn you into a human skin lantern to keep me company in this hall day and night?"
Yun Kui's teeth chattered in terror as she shook her head frantically. "Your Highness, spare me! This servant truly didn't do it!"
If others said such things, they might be bluffing, but not the Crown Prince—because he would genuinely turn her into a human skin lantern.
In the literal sense.
Yun Kui felt like crying again.
At this life-or-death moment, an urgent voice came from outside the hall: "Your Highness!"
Yun Kui turned her head with relief, as if seeing a savior: "Eunuch Cao, save me!"
Seeing the corpse on the ground and the dagger in the Crown Prince's hand, Cao Yuanlu was filled with regret. He had only left for a moment, yet someone had seized the opportunity to attack His Highness.
"This is all due to this slave's negligence. Is Your Highness injured?"
After briefly examining the blood on the Crown Prince's body and confirming it belonged to others, he noticed the Crown Prince's burning crimson eyes and the restless anger between his brows. Fearing a recurrence of the head ailment, he quickly turned to call Old Doctor Zheng: "Old Doctor, please examine His Highness at once."
Old Doctor Zheng hurried into the hall with his medical kit. Though advanced in years and long retired, he was one of the few physicians still trustworthy. While not possessing He Bailing's miraculous healing skills, his medical expertise was exceptional and his experience vast. He had treated the Crown Prince since childhood, and Cao Yuanlu had specifically left the palace to summon him back.
Old Doctor Zheng immediately noticed the Crown Prince's abnormal condition and rushed to take his pulse. After careful consideration, his face clouded with concern. "Your Highness has been administered Joyful Union Powder."
Yun Kui's mouth fell open in surprise. Though she had never studied poisons, just hearing "Joyful Union Powder" made her eyelashes tremble violently.
Wasn't that… the kind of drug that made people… intimate?
Trembling, she raised her head to meet the Crown Prince's dark eyes, cold as frozen ponds, staring heavily at her.
Yun Kui: …
I'm innocent, great lord! Where would I get the courage to give the Crown Prince an aphrodisiac?!
She didn't deny that the Crown Prince was extremely handsome, tall and straight-postured, with a robust figure and impressive muscles that indeed inspired admiration—but even with ten times the courage, she wouldn't dare disrespect the Crown Prince. Was she tired of living?
The Crown Prince tightened his grip on the dagger in his hand, his knuckles cracking with the strain, a clear sign of his fury.
Even if she hadn’t been the one to administer the Joyful Union Powder, her disrespectful attitude toward him alone made her death well-deserved.
Just as Yun Kui thought her life was once again in peril, Old Doctor Zheng suddenly spoke up from the side: "The Joyful Union Powder was infused in this palace maid’s handkerchief!"
Everyone turned to look. Old Doctor Zheng was crouched by the bed, covering his nose and mouth with his sleeve.
After examining the Crown Prince’s pulse earlier, Imperial Physician Zheng had been searching the hall for the source of the Joyful Union Powder. He meticulously inspected the medicinal broth, incense burners, and even the candlesticks, finally detecting the scent of the powder on the handkerchief tied to the maid’s waist.
Cao Yuanlu covered his nose and stepped forward to examine it briefly, then formed a hypothesis: "It seems this palace maid laced her handkerchief with an aphrodisiac. If the assassination failed, she could use the drug to seduce His Highness and seize another opportunity to strike. This woman is truly sinister!"
Just as he was about to order a thorough investigation, the Crown Prince closed his eyes and said, "No need. Take her away."
Cao Yuanlu was taken aback. "No investigation?"
Of course, there was no need. Earlier, the woman had announced upon entering the hall: "His Lordship the Imperial Uncle has declared that the Crown Prince must not live past this month. Tonight is the perfect opportunity."
He simply hadn’t expected the assassin to have a backup plan—lacing her handkerchief with the drug.
Sooner or later, he would settle scores with all these clowns.
Unaware of the full story, Cao Yuanlu could only bow in acknowledgment and order the maid’s body and the handkerchief to be removed and disposed of.
Cleared of suspicion, Yun Kui immediately raised her hand to swear an oath: "Your Highness, please believe me, it truly wasn’t me! I am innocent and have always been loyal to you!"
The Crown Prince’s breathing was heavy, his eyes unnaturally red.
Imperial Physician Zheng sighed. "There is no antidote for the Joyful Union Powder. Given that Your Highness is also afflicted with a severe poison, you must not endure this forcibly, or it could be life-threatening."
Cao Yuanlu glanced at the Crown Prince with a complicated expression, then stole a look at Yun Kui, but didn’t dare to speak. After a moment’s hesitation, Imperial Physician Zheng said bluntly, "The only way to counteract the Joyful Union Powder is through sexual intercourse. Does Your Highness have any concubines or palace maids for such purposes?"
As soon as he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the hall.
"That would be… humble me…"
Yun Kui looked up in a daze, then trembled and shrank back.
"But no! Absolutely not! Who knows if the Crown Prince might realize he can’t perform and fly into a humiliated rage, then strangle me to death! Earlier, he even threatened to turn me into a human skin lantern… Forget it, forget it. I’d rather not get involved in this mess. Please find someone else!"
"Though he is indeed very handsome and probably pleasant to touch… If I were the one drugged and the Crown Prince were lying unconscious on the bed, letting me do as I pleased, I might not hold back…"
The Crown Prince’s face darkened with rage, his teeth clenched as he glared at this audacious woman.
Yun Kui hung her head, thinking she was over-worrying.
The Crown Prince disliked her so much; he probably wouldn’t want her to serve him.
But no sooner had this thought crossed her mind than she heard a cold laugh from above: "Fine."
Fine? Fine what?
Trembling, Yun Kui looked up and met those bloodthirsty eyes, her entire body freezing in terror.
A sinister smile curled on the Crown Prince’s lips. "Everyone else, leave."
He then fixed his gaze on Yun Kui. "You stay."
Yun Kui: "…"
Cao Yuanlu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that his master, who had kept his distance from women all these years, would refuse to touch one even under the influence of the Joyful Union Powder. To his surprise, he had agreed so readily.
He gave Yun Kui an encouraging look, only to find the girl looking as if she had lost both parents. Just as he intended to offer some comforting words, he remembered His Highness was afflicted with the Joyful Union Powder and urgently needed detoxification. There was no time to delay, so he simply left with the remark: "Serve His Highness well, and you shall be handsomely rewarded afterward."
And rightly so—this was His Highness's first bedmate, and she was relieving his pressing need. Having rendered meritorious service by attending him, she might very well become a mistress by tomorrow.
Although Cao Yuanlu was well-acquainted with the Crown Prince's temperament and knew the palace maid must be utterly terrified at this moment… he had followed the Crown Prince for so many years and had never seen him hesitate when he wanted someone dead. This indicated the maid must possess exceptional qualities that gave His Highness reason to spare her.
Cao Yuanlu led Imperial Physician Zheng away, even tactfully extinguishing the lamps in the outer chamber.
As the candlelight dimmed, only two people remained in the hall, enveloped in deathly silence.
Yun Kui's entire body was tense. A cold wind swept from the corridor into the hall, causing her to shiver.
Her mind was in turmoil—she never expected the Crown Prince would actually keep her!
Yet she also knew His Highness had no intention of favoring or elevating her by doing this.
He merely wanted a dose of antidote, to be discarded after use.
The Crown Prince let out a scornful laugh, thinking to himself that she at least knew her place: "Get on the bed now."
Yun Kui bit her lip and said softly, "This humble maid is willing to serve Your Highness, only begging that you spare my life in recognition of my loyalty."
Her inner self was far from as docile and meek as her appearance suggested, something the Crown Prince was well aware of, his face filled with utter disgust: "What right do you have to beg me?"
Yun Kui felt bitter inside. Slowly rising, she walked to the canopy bed and gazed at the intricately carved rosewood bed adorned with gold and jade, fragments of dream images flashing through her mind.
She had a fair idea of the situation she was about to face—perhaps being pinned beneath the Crown Prince as he took what he wanted, or maybe busily attending to him while he not only enjoyed her services but also mercilessly spanked her buttocks again and again.
Crown Prince: …
Yun Kui suddenly recalled Aunt Wei's teachings over the past few days. Turning to look at the Crown Prince, she hesitated before asking, "Does Your Highness require this maid to help you undress?"
"He probably only has this underrobe on. Taking it off would likely leave him completely naked…"
Before she could ponder further, she saw the Crown Prince approach with a dark expression, looking as if he wanted to devour her alive.
Yun Kui: …
Once the Crown Prince lay down on the outer side, she took a deep breath, quickly removed her dress, leaving only her undergarments and drawers, then took off her shoes and quietly climbed to the inner side of the bed. Pulling the quilt lightly over herself, she made herself available for the Crown Prince's pleasure.
The brocade curtains were filled with the warm, soft scent of a woman. The Crown Prince tightly shut his eyes, veins bulging on his forehead.
Yun Kui lay on her back, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat, wondering why the Crown Prince was taking so long to begin.
Wasn't he known for his lustfulness, for taking both men and women? He was already under the effects of the drug—what was there to be reserved about?
Was he waiting for her to take the initiative?
But it did seem she should be the one to initiate. The Crown Prince had injuries on his waist and abdomen, preventing him from performing vigorous movements. If his wounds were to reopen because of that, she, as the attending palace maid, would still face the death penalty.
Yet without the Crown Prince's indication, how dare she actively approach him?
Forget it—better to wait for instructions first.
"Your Highness, are you… alright?"
The Crown Prince's breath was scorching as he remained silent, concentrating intently.
Yun Kui waited for a long while, but received no response. She then cautiously added, "The imperial physician said that the Joyful Union Powder is extremely harmful to the body. If one does not engage in intercourse in time…"
Before she could finish her sentence, a powerful force gripped her waist. With a startled cry, she was caught off guard and tumbled into the man’s scorching, firm chest.