“Did they mention what it was about?”
Luo Xun straightened up, his voice still cool and detached.
But upon closer listening, one could detect a hint of hoarseness within.
“They said the third young master of the Duke of Kang’s residence used Your Highness and Her Majesty’s names to cause trouble at a gambling den, involving commoners. Apparently, it’s quite a serious incident.”
The Duke of Kang’s residence was the maternal family of the current Empress Pei.
That is to say, the Crown Prince’s maternal clan and his staunch supporters.
However…
Kan’er breathed lightly, her thoughts somewhat dazed.
This hadn’t happened in her previous life.
“Understood.”
Luo Xun responded and looked down at the person in his arms.
He saw her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes seductive like silk.
Her thick, curled lashes were damp with fine moisture, her tender lips appearing even fuller and more vibrant after being kissed. Beneath her slightly open collar, her skin glowed with a delicate pink hue, exuding an utterly alluring and captivating charm.
He brushed aside a strand of hair from Kan’er’s cheek.
“I have matters to attend to. I must leave now.”
Since Yuan Longdi had summoned the Crown Prince, Kan’er naturally wouldn’t cling to him at such a time.
But given her current status and situation, she couldn’t appear too composed in front of the Crown Prince under these circumstances.
“Will this servant be able to see Your Highness again?” Kan’er asked softly.
Luo Xun was never one to offer comfort.
He had never comforted anyone.
Even now, facing the palace maid whose amorous flush hadn’t yet faded from her brows and eyes, he felt nothing particularly special.
But perhaps because they had just been so intimate, and her earlier responses had been unusually to his liking,
Luo Xun patiently nodded.
“Hmm.”
Noticing the red mark on her right cheek becoming more prominent against her flushed face, he lightly touched the spot with his fingertip.
“I’ll have someone send some ointment over later.”
The change of topic was too abrupt, leaving Kan’er momentarily confused.
To Luo Xun, this confusion appeared as if she didn’t yet know about the mark on her face, making it even more convincing.
However, Luo Xun didn’t elaborate.
He was accustomed to maintaining purity and few desires.
Except for those inexplicable dreams during the previous three nights.
He had never felt desire for anyone, and now, after just a few words, the restlessness within him had subsided.
He patted Kan’er’s hand, signaling for her to rise.
Hai Shun led attendants in to help the Crown Prince tidy his appearance, while two young palace maids came to assist Kan’er.
After everything was settled, Kan’er accompanied the man to the door.
Luo Xun glanced at her sideways.
Although summer had arrived, the nights still carried a slight chill.
Kan’er was dressed in clothing suitable for midsummer. The plain, thin garment outlined her full, soft curves in the night breeze, lending her an additional touch of delicate vulnerability.
Luo Xun frowned slightly and looked at Hai Shun.
The latter, understanding immediately, smiled and inquired, “Shall this servant have someone escort Miss Kan’er back?”
The Crown Prince replied expressionlessly, “Hmm.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. I trouble Chief Eunuch Hai.”
Kan’er performed a proper curtsey to express her gratitude.
Luo Xun glanced at her casually.
The young palace maid secretly lifted her eyes to look at him after her curtsey. When he looked back, she immediately lowered her eyelids as if startled.
But for some reason, after those dark lashes fluttered slightly, they slowly lifted again. Her beautiful eyes held no feigned affection, only a hint of shyness and reverence.
Luo Xun offered no comment, withdrew his gaze, and left with his hands clasped behind his back.
After exiting Jiarong Hall,
Luo Xun learned the full details of the incident involving the third young master of the Pei family from the eunuch sent by Yuan Longdi to summon him.
Knowing this was yet another scheme by one of his esteemed imperial brothers to set a trap for his third cousin-in-law, Luo Xun’s lips curved into an imperceptible cold smile.
Then he recalled something: “Well?”
“Someone outside heard noises,” Hai Shun reported in a low voice, bowing slightly.
“They said it sounded like a slap, but the specifics are unclear. Only Granny Pang was attending inside the room.”
Luo Xun’s expression remained unchanged, his gaze dark and unreadable.
After a long pause.
He said: “Prepare a courtyard tomorrow.”
So he’s granting her a position already?
Hai Shun maintained a composed expression as he acknowledged the order, but inwardly he couldn’t help marveling at the little palace maid’s extraordinary luck.
After all, she had come to receive the Crown Prince’s favor on behalf of the Crown Princess.
This situation couldn’t truly count her as the Crown Prince’s concubine.
Official status would only be granted after she bore a child.
Yet now, before even receiving the Crown Prince’s favor, she was to be given a position.
Tsk tsk.
As he was thinking this, the Crown Prince’s aloof voice sounded again from ahead: “Make her a Zhaoxun. Deliver the oral decree before tomorrow’s midday meal.”
“…Zhaoxun?”
Hai Shun was taken aback.
The Eastern Palace of Great Jing followed the ancient Tang system for the Crown Prince’s consorts.
Below the Crown Princess were two Liangdi, six Liangyuan, ten Chengwei, sixteen Zhaoxun, and twenty-four Fengyi.
That meant the Crown Prince could have fifty-eight consorts in total.
However, the Crown Prince had always been a cold person.
Early on, due to harem conflicts, he had experienced an incident.
It left him with an unspeakable peculiarity.
Since then, the Crown Prince’s temperament had grown even more detached.
Currently, the only three consorts in the Eastern Palace’s Back Palace were all bestowed by the late Empress Dowager during selection ceremonies.
From Hai Shun’s perspective.
This little palace maid hadn’t yet received the Crown Prince’s favor, and she came from a low-ranking servant background.
Granting her the ninth-rank Fengyi position would already make her a mistress of sorts – the best possible outcome for someone like her.
Yet His Highness directly offered the seventh-rank Zhaoxun position.
Luo Xun glanced at him: “Problem?”
Hai Shun hurriedly shook his head.
Matters decided by the Crown Prince.
Were not for him to question. He just hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to immediately grant the little palace maid the Zhaoxun position.
But then he reconsidered – their Crown Princess was always one for keeping up appearances, always presenting herself as dignified and virtuous to the outside world.
Yet privately, she was constantly scheming.
Like this matter.
Clearly, she had initiated it, with quite a noble-sounding reason. When the Crown Prince finally agreed, she had appeared very pleased.
So why not just send the girl over?
Instead, she slapped the girl right when the Crown Prince was about to bestow his favor. Who knew why that slap was given?
And what did she take the Crown Prince for?
No wonder the Crown Prince wanted to elevate the little palace maid’s status.
Being treated with such disrespect, how could he not be angered?
.
Kan’er returned to her quarters.
No sooner had she entered and lit the lamp than someone knocked on her door.
Opening it, she found an unfamiliar palace maid.
“Are you Kan’er?” the maid asked hesitantly, a flash of admiration in her eyes.
Kan’er: “Yes, you are…”
“I’m from Yuan Chun Palace.”
The maid pulled a round-bellied porcelain jar from her sleeve.
“Hai Gonggong asked me to bring this to you.”
Yuan Chun Palace was located in the third courtyard of the Eastern Palace, where the Crown Prince resided, separated from Jiarong Hall by a passage hall and courtyard.
“Thank you, sister.”
Kan’er accepted the small jar with a gentle smile.
The maid was dazzled by her smile, blushing when she regained her composure. “No need for thanks. Rest early.”
With that, she turned and left.
Kan’er closed the door and went behind the curtain in the corner to wash her face, then sat before the simple dressing table and picked up the small porcelain jar.
The jar was made of bluish-white glaze, its color clear and translucent with a smooth, delicate texture. Cloud patterns adorned its surface, making it exceptionally elegant.
When she opened the lid, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out. Inside was a semi-transparent pale pink ointment with a clear, lustrous consistency.
Kan’er dipped her fingertip in it and dabbed it behind her ear.
An instant cooling sensation spread throughout.
After waiting a while without feeling any discomfort, she looked in the mirror and applied it to the two marks on her face.
After applying the ointment, Kan’er gazed at her reflection in the mirror.
Her lips were brightly red, as if still carrying the man’s lingering presence.
She touched them with her fingertip, her heart filled with indescribable emotions.
In her previous life, this man hadn’t kissed her at all throughout the entire night, not even when she was brought to tears, showing no sign of tenderness.
Unexpectedly, in this life…
Kan’er felt a tumult of mixed emotions, along with some embarrassment.
He had been so fierce and urgent, and even now the sensation of his touch and the faint fragrance remained in her mouth.
Tingling.
Too embarrassed to dwell on it further, Kan’er turned away with flushed cheeks and lay down on the bed. Then, gazing at the canopy, she touched her abdomen.
In her previous life, she had served him that night, and not long after, Yao Ge’er had come. This time, something unexpected had happened—would the child she conceived still be Yao Ge’er?
Early the next morning, in the bedroom of Jiarong Hall.
Crown Princess Zheng Mingzhi was having her face washed and mouth rinsed by palace maids when, seemingly reminded of something, she suddenly smiled.
“What was her reaction last night?”
Granny Pang was selecting several sets of clothing for her mistress and understood she was referring to that little seductress.
She hesitated, “That wench…”
Zheng Mingzhi’s smile faded. “Speak.”
Granny Pang had no choice but to reply, “Your Highness, the servants reported that… that Dianxia arranged for someone to escort her back last night.”
A layer of ice-cold fury instantly clouded Zheng Mingzhi’s eyes, and the palace maids attending to her makeup immediately knelt in fear.
“Bring her to me.”
Granny Pang tried to dissuade her, “Please calm your anger first…”
Smack!
Zheng Mingzhi snatched a hairpin from the dressing table and hurled it to the ground.
“I said bring that wretched servant here!”