Since this matter had to be kept secret, they couldn’t openly call for water to clean up. Instead, they simply wiped themselves with a cloth. Considering how utterly exhausted Liu Fuyin was, the man even helped her dress.
“You know what to say once you step outside, right?”
“Your concubine knows. Your concubine only came to speak with Your Highness about my father’s matter.” Liu Fuyin’s eyes were red at this moment, truly looking as if she had been scolded to tears.
“Alright, you may leave!” The Crown Prince was quite satisfied with Liu Fuyin’s understanding of the situation, though he still felt somewhat unsettled. After all, the Eastern Palace was his domain, yet having intimate relations with a properly wedded Liangdi felt almost like a secret affair.
Nevertheless, remembering his promise to Wanwan to observe the Liu woman for a while and not wanting to upset her, he said nothing more. Besides, this “secret affair” had its own unique flavor.
As the Crown Princess, Chen Wanjun was fully aware of everything that happened in the main courtyard, even knowing precisely when Liu Fuyin had entered the study.
However, she didn’t believe anything had occurred between the two, given that it was broad daylight and the Crown Prince had returned in a visibly poor mood. She didn’t dwell on it further, only wondering, “What happened?”
“Your Highness, you wouldn’t believe it! That Liu Liangdi’s father is simply a fool. He actually opposed His Highness openly in court! This servant heard from those below that he harbored resentment because he believed His Highness was dissatisfied with Liu Liangdi!” Ying Chun returned with the news, her face full of gleeful schadenfreude as she spoke.
Ying Dong frowned. “But wouldn’t that make His Highness grow even more displeased with the Liu Family’s daughter? Our Highness is not one to bow or compromise easily!”
“Exactly! That’s why I say this Liu Liangdi is foolish, her father is foolish—a whole family of fools still daring to compete with our Your Highness!”
Chen Wanjun shook her head with a smile, clearly agreeing with Ying Chun’s words.
Only Granny Sun spoke up hesitantly, “We should say less of such things. It wouldn’t be good if someone seized hold of it. Minister Liu is, after all, a trusted confidant of the Emperor. Who’s to say His Highness won’t show him some face?”
After all, Liu Liangdi was a properly married Liangdi whose name had been entered into the imperial registry. Such talk was ultimately inappropriate. However, Chen Wanjun harbored deep disdain for this Liu woman from the bottom of her heart, so she never restrained what her subordinates said.
“Speaking of this makes me laugh even more. What face? I heard His Highness reprimanded Liu Liangdi in the study. When she came out, her eyes were swollen from crying, her face terribly pale. She probably knelt for so long that she could barely stand steady,” Ying Chun, who excelled at gathering information, spoke with considerable pride.
Hearing this, Chen Wanjun felt something was amiss, but upon learning that Liu Liangdi had already returned to her courtyard, she immediately felt relieved. “Go to my treasury and pick out a few hairpins I don’t often wear. Take them to console Liu Liangdi.”
“Why give such things to her!” Ying Chun muttered discontentedly, but upon receiving a displeased look from Chen Wanjun, she fell silent and obediently went to do her task.
Ying Chun returned happily not long after, looking as if she herself had encountered some great joyous event. “Your Highness! You wouldn’t believe it. When this servant arrived, that Liu Liangdi was applying medicine. It was truly pitiful—her knees were even tinged with blood. Someone in such a state still dares to compete with Your Highness for favor? She truly overestimates herself!”
Ying Chun had grown up with Chen Wanjun since childhood, and Chen Wanjun was not someone to be easily bullied. Even the people in her courtyard were formidable—they had never suffered any grievances. So now, seeing Liu Fuyin in a bad situation, she couldn’t help but feel happy for her mistress.
Chen Wanjun and the Crown Prince were generally quite proper in bed; even at their most intense, they stuck to traditional positions. Hearing this, she merely smiled without giving it much thought.
In the evening, the Crown Prince came to Guanju Hall as usual to accompany Chen Wanjun for dinner and naturally stayed the night.
However, the two didn’t do anything, and Chen Wanjun didn’t ask further. After all, in recent days, the Crown Prince had been like a man possessed, exhausting her to the point where she was genuinely a little afraid.
Life in the Eastern Palace was no different from before, except that the Crown Prince had been busy with official duties lately, often working until he fell asleep directly in the study. But whenever he had time, he would still visit the Crown Princess’s courtyard.
As for Liangdi Liu, who had not long entered the palace, if it weren’t for her coming every few days to pay Morning Greetings to the Crown Princess, the servants might have forgotten there was even such a person.
In reality, during the time the Crown Prince spent in the front hall study, he always found various reasons to summon her. After all, the act of discord between the Crown Prince and Minister Liu in court was still ongoing. Having suffered grievances from the elder, he would naturally return to reprimand the younger.
When the Crown Prince handled matters, he didn’t allow those below to approach, so aside from his personal eunuch Tian Zhongshun, no one noticed anything amiss. Even Chen Wanjun believed the Crown Prince utterly despised Liu Fuyin and had even pretended to comfort her a few times.
“Your Highness, peace be upon you.”
Liu Fuyin performed a curtsy and dawdled by the door, showing no intention of moving further inside.
The Crown Prince had been summoning her more frequently these days, but that was to be expected. After all, under the influence of that incense, the deeper one sank, the more affected they became. Moreover, the original host was a peerless beauty both inside and out, and she had her techniques—how could he not become addicted?
“Come here.”
Seeing her, the Crown Prince simply crooked a finger.
Now, for his convenience, aside from fixed cleaning times, servants were not allowed near the study.
Liu Fuyin reluctantly shuffled forward, taking a full quarter of an hour to cover such a short distance.
The Crown Prince, who had been sketching the garden scenery, set down his brush and pulled her into his arms. “Why so slow? I’ve missed you terribly.”
Once he had her in his embrace, the man began groping her all over. The feel was quite pleasant, so he buried his face against her chest.
Noticing her prolonged silence, the Crown Prince finally saw the aggrieved expression on her face.
“What’s wrong?”
Liu Fuyin clutched her handkerchief, biting her lip as if holding back, her wide eyes brimming with tears. “Is Your Highness toying with this concubine?”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince’s face instantly darkened. “I’ve told you before—you’re still under observation. Officially attending the bedchamber will have to wait a few more days, at least until some time has passed and Wanwan has accepted you.”
He couldn’t help but wonder if he had been too good to Lady Liu lately. Despite his deep love for Wanwan, he was still willing to touch her—shouldn’t she be grateful instead of harboring thoughts of exposing things?
So, had her previous understanding and consideration all been an act?
For a moment, the Crown Prince’s gaze toward her sharpened. Seeing his expression, Liu Fuyin knew exactly what this dog of a man was thinking—he was doubting her again.
Truly, how suspicious he was!
Liu Fuyin lowered her head, rolling her eyes, yet her voice grew increasingly delicate: “I have always admired Your Highness and also respect the Crown Princess. Therefore, I am willing to wait until the day the Crown Princess accepts me. Compared to Your Highness and the Crown Princess, I am indeed insignificant. But no matter what, I was properly raised and educated. How could Your Highness treat me like this, as if I were some plaything to amuse you in the study every time…”