The Crown Prince now had a new understanding of Liu Fuyin. Whether from what he had investigated or witnessed firsthand, this woman of the Liu family was not merely pure and lovely—she was almost naively simple. But could there truly be a woman in the inner court so untouched by worldly affairs?
Even his noble mother, the Empress, was deeply cunning; without the Emperor’s favor, she would likely have lost her position long ago!
“What I meant was the way of survival in the inner court. Didn’t your family teach you that?”
The Crown Prince had asked casually, assuming that such basic knowledge of survival should be common sense. He wouldn’t truly be angry if she were hiding her abilities. Yet, to his surprise, Liu Fuyin simply pointed to the two servants beside her.
“Hmm?”
As if she knew nothing, Liu Fuyin straightforwardly revealed her cards: “My mother said, A Tao knows how to manage accounts, and A Xing knows how to manage people. Once I’m married, I can just relax and enjoy life! Your Highness, you don’t know—A Xing was trained by my mother herself. Mother said that if there’s anything I don’t understand, I can always ask her!”
Yun Tao and Yun Xing: …Young lady, please be a bit more cautious!
The Crown Prince was genuinely taken aback. How could this girl reveal everything with just a casual question? But upon second thought, it made sense. The Liu family had no concubines or internal scheming, so they likely never intended to send their daughter into the imperial family. After all, Minister Liu served closely by the Emperor’s side as a trusted confidant. Sending their daughter into the inner court of a prince would only invite suspicion.
Unexpectedly, she had caught the Empress’s eye at a banquet. Madam Liu had probably trained these two capable servants for her daughter to manage the household in the future, never anticipating that he would marry someone else as Crown Princess.
Thinking this, the Crown Prince suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. But since Liu Fuyin now carried his child, even if he didn’t love her, he would protect her more—as a form of compensation.
“Well, you certainly live a carefree life!”
Liu Fuyin’s large eyes sparkled. “Isn’t Your Highness carefree too? If Your Highness is ever unhappy, you can come find me. My mother always said I was a little ray of sunshine!”
The Crown Prince pulled her closer into his embrace. Being with her required no overthinking—she truly was a ray of sunshine!
The following days in the Eastern Palace were peaceful. Chen Wanjun had her belongings packed, and soon it was time to depart for the summer retreat.
The summer retreat was as grand as the imperial palace, built during the reign of Emperor Taizong. Originally a pleasant and comfortable small estate, it had been enclosed by high walls after several assassination attempts, effectively turning it into a temporary palace.
Typically, the inner courts of the Eastern Palace or princely mansions required some female family members to remain behind. In previous years, with only one consort by his side, the Crown Prince had entrusted management to the Nanny. This year, however, with the additional Liangdi Liu pregnant, it was unthinkable to leave her behind in the palace to endure the scorching summer heat.
Thus, after the Empress’s announcement, Liu Fuyin had her belongings packed. With no other concubines in the Eastern Palace to guard against, Yun Tao and Yun Xing naturally accompanied her.
The Crown Prince valued his offspring greatly. The carriage prepared for her was spacious and comfortably furnished, and during the journey, he even sent her some sweet and sour fruits to alleviate motion sickness.
After traveling for about half a month with the grand procession, they finally arrived at the summer retreat.
Liu Fuyin’s father was a second-rank Shizhong. In previous years, she had been able to attend as an official’s family member, so she was accustomed to the bumpy journey and rarely suffered from motion sickness.
This time, however, it was likely due to her “pregnancy” that she felt somewhat unwell. Even after arriving, she remained listless.
After all, the Crown Prince had to appease the Crown Princess and show her respect, so throughout the journey, he either rode on horseback or rested in the Crown Princess’s quarters. Occasionally, he would send someone to inquire about Liu Fuyin’s condition and knew she was feeling unwell. Once settled, he visited her residence in the evening.
“Why do you look so pale? What did the Imperial Physician say?”
Seeing him arrive, Liu Fuyin’s eyes lit up with delight. “Your Highness!”
Despite this, her pallor remained evident. She rose weakly to offer her morning greetings and leaned against him, nuzzling his chest as if to act cute. “He examined me and said it’s common to feel fatigued during pregnancy, and medication should be used sparingly. I’ve attended in previous years, but I never expected to get motion sickness now.”
Liu Fuyin wore a pitiful expression. “As the daughter of an official, I’ve never had the chance to explore the inner grounds before. Now that I’m feeling so unwell, I’m afraid I won’t have the energy to go out for days!”
The Crown Prince was amused by her playful demeanor. “You’re about to become a mother, yet you still act so childlike. Focus on resting and recovering. Once you’re better, I can take you around. Perhaps you might even join the summer hunt!”
Liu Fuyin shook her head and muttered softly, “I’m not interested in the summer hunt anyway. I don’t know how to ride.”
The summer hunt was held every few years. The mountain retreat backed against Cang Mountain, where game was specially released in the rear areas. As long as one didn’t venture deep into the mountains, there was little danger—it was merely an activity for the ruler and minister to enjoy themselves together and strengthen bonds.
The Crown Prince tapped her forehead gently in exasperation. “Silly, it would be a chance for you to meet your family. As for riding, even if you knew how, a pregnant woman shouldn’t take such risks. If you behave, I can teach you after you give birth.”
Hearing this, Liu Fuyin was overjoyed. Having entered the Eastern Palace just over a month ago, she could already see her family—a privilege few women in the palace enjoyed. As for the latter offer, she truly had no interest.
She had tried horseback riding at home before, but it chafed her legs terribly. As a pampered young lady, she had no need for such skills. Still, she was grateful for his words and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his chin—a bold gesture. “Thank you, Your Highness. I’ve heard your riding skills are unparalleled, surpassing even those on prized steeds! With your guidance, I’m sure I’ll learn quickly. I’ll remember this—you must teach me then!”
The young woman’s eyes sparkled, her joy radiating from within. Her undisguised admiration for his riding skills particularly pleased the Crown Prince, who decided to stay and dine with her.
This was, in fact, the first time the Crown Prince had shared a meal with her. Previously, their encounters had been brief and intimate, with little conversation beyond their liaisons.
The mountain retreat had been notified of their arrival in advance, so the meal was promptly prepared and served shortly after being ordered.
Noticing that the woman before him had barely touched her food and kept serving him instead, the Crown Prince frowned. “Is something not to your taste?”
Liu Fuyin blinked, hesitating before nodding slightly, her cheeks flushing. “I’ve always preferred spicy food.”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” The Crown Prince wasn’t particularly demanding when it came to food. As the heir to the throne, he had always been careful not to reveal his personal preferences, so he would usually sample every dish, differing only in how much he ate of each.
It wasn’t that he was especially attentive, but having been with Wanwan during her pregnancy, he understood how particular a pregnant woman’s tastes could be.
Liu Fuyin remained silent, and the Crown Prince immediately knew this girl was once again considering others, likely assuming he enjoyed these dishes. After all, when he was present, the servants usually served his favorite foods.
The Crown Prince sighed helplessly and gently squeezed her hand. “I have dedicated chefs here, including one skilled at preparing spicy dishes. I’ll assign him to cook specifically for you. Yin Yin, if you need anything, just tell me. Don’t keep everything bottled up inside.”
When she still didn’t speak after a long moment, the Crown Prince’s patience began to wane, and he was starting to feel annoyed. Suddenly, a scalding tear fell onto the back of his hand.
The woman leaned into his embrace with utter dependence. “Your Highness, why are you so good to me? So good that these past days, I’ve almost thought I was dreaming. After all, I’ve only ever seen Your Highness treat my sister this well before.”