"Did they say 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 the Empress's names to cause trouble at a gambling den, involving commoners. It's said the commotion was quite significant."
The Duke of Kang's residence was the maternal family of the current Empress Pei.
That is, the maternal clan of the Crown Prince and his staunch supporters.
However…
Kan'er panted lightly, her thoughts somewhat dazed.
This hadn't happened in her previous life.
"Understood."
Luo Xun responded, lowering his head to look at the person in his arms.
He saw her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes alluring 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 seductive and enchanting allure.
He brushed aside a strand of hair from Kan'er's cheek.
"I have matters to attend to, I must leave now."
Since Emperor Yuanlong had summoned the Crown Prince on official business, Kan'er naturally wouldn't cling to him at such a time.
But given her current status and situation, she certainly 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 before.
Even now, facing the little palace maid whose lingering flush of passion had yet to fade from her brows and eyes, he felt no particular sentiment in his heart.
But perhaps because they had just been so intimate, and her earlier responses and reactions had been surprisingly to his liking.
Thus, Luo Xun patiently nodded.
"Yes."
Noticing the red mark on her right cheek became more pronounced against her flushed complexion, 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 bewildered.
To Luo Xun, this confusion appeared as if she was unaware of the mark left on her face, making it all the more convincing.
But Luo Xun said no more.
He was accustomed to a life of asceticism.
Apart from those inexplicable dreams over the past three nights.
He had never felt desire for anyone until now, and within these few moments of conversation, the restlessness within him had already subsided.
Patting Kan'er's hand to signal her to rise.
Hai Shun led attendants in to assist the Crown Prince with his attire, while two young palace maids came to help Kan'er tidy up.
Once everything was in order, Kan'er escorted the man to the doorway.
Luo Xun glanced at her sideways.
Although summer had already arrived, the nights still carried a slight chill.
Kan'er was dressed in clothing suited for midsummer; her plain, thin gown, stirred by the night breeze, outlined her full and graceful curves, also lending her a somewhat fragile appearance.
Luo Xun frowned slightly, looking at Hai Shun.
The latter, quick to understand, smiled and pretended to inquire, "Shall this servant have someone escort Miss Kan'er back?"
The Crown Prince replied expressionlessly, "Yes."
"Thank you, Your Highness. I trouble you, Chief Steward Hai."
Kan'er performed a proper curtsy to express her gratitude.
Luo Xun glanced at her casually.
The little palace maid secretly lifted her eyes to look at him after her curtsy. When he looked back, she immediately lowered her lashes as if startled.
But for some reason, after those dark lashes trembled slightly, they slowly lifted again. Within her beautiful eyes, there was no feigned affection, only a hint of shyness and reverence.
Luo Xun offered no comment, withdrew his gaze, and departed with his hands clasped behind his back.
Once outside Jiarong Tang.
From the eunuch sent by Emperor Yuanlong to summon him, Luo Xun learned the full details of the incident caused by Third Young Master Pei.
Knowing this was yet another scheme by one of his esteemed elder brothers to set a trap for his third cousin-in-law.
A faint, icy curve lifted the corner of Luo Xun's lips.
Then he remembered something: "How did it go?"
"Someone outside heard a sound."
Hai Shun bowed and reported in a low voice.
"They said it sounded like a slap, but it's unclear exactly what happened. Only Nanny Pang was attending inside."
Luo Xun's expression remained unchanged, his gaze dark and inscrutable.
After a long while.
He said, "Prepare a courtyard tomorrow."
So he was going to grant her a rank already?
Hai Shun responded with a calm face, but inwardly he couldn't help but marvel at the little palace maid's incredible luck.
After all, she had come to bear the Crown Prince's favor on behalf of the Crown Princess.
Such a situation didn't quite count as being the Crown Prince's concubine.
Her status would only be granted after she bore a child.
Yet now, before she had even received his favor, she was to be given a rank.
Tsk tsk.
As he was thinking this, the Crown Prince's cool, detached voice suddenly sounded again from ahead: "Make her a Zhaoxun. Go deliver the oral decree before tomorrow's midday meal."
"… Zhaoxun?"
Hai Shun was taken aback.
The Dajing Donggong followed the ancient Tang system for the heir apparent's wives and concubines.
Below the Crown Princess were two Liangdi, six Liangyuan, ten Chenghui, sixteen Zhaoxun, and twenty-four Fengyi.
In other words, the Crown Prince could have a total of fifty-eight concubines.
However, the Crown Prince had been a cold person since childhood.
In his early years, he had experienced an incident due to harem conflicts.
It left him with an unspeakable peculiarity.
Since then, the Crown Prince's temperament had grown even more detached.
Currently, the only three concubines in the Donggong's rear courtyard were all bestowed by the late Empress Dowager during Imperial Consort Selections.
In Hai Shun's view.
That little palace maid hadn't yet received favor, and she was of lowly, rankless origins.
Giving her the ninth-rank Fengyi position, making her a mistress of some standing, would already be considered extremely good for her.
Yet His Highness opened his mouth and named the seventh-rank Zhaoxun.
Luo Xun glanced at him: "Is there a problem?"
Hai Shun hurriedly shook his head.
Matters decided by the Crown Prince.
Were not for him to deem problematic or not. He just hadn't expected the Crown Prince to grant the little palace maid the Zhaoxun rank right from the start.
But on second thought, their Crown Princess was always one for keeping up appearances. To the outside world, she managed to be thorough in every aspect, constantly showcasing her dignity, virtue, and benevolence.
Yet in private, she was always full of petty maneuvers.
Take this matter, for example.
Clearly, she was the one who started it, with a seemingly justifiable reason. Finally, His Highness agreed, and she appeared very pleased.
Then why not just send the person over?
Instead, right when the Crown Prince was about to favor the girl, she gave her a slap. Who knows why that slap was given?
And what did she take His Highness for?
No wonder His Highness wanted to elevate the little palace maid's rank.
Being slighted like that, who wouldn't be angered?
.
Kan'er returned to her quarters.
No sooner had she entered the room and lit the lamp than there was a knock at the door.
Opening it, she saw an unfamiliar palace maid.
"Are you Kan'er?"
The palace maid asked hesitantly, a flicker of admiration in her eyes.
Kan'er: "Yes, you are…"
"I'm from Yuanchun Gong."
The palace maid pulled a small round-bellied porcelain jar from her sleeve.
"Eunuch Hai asked me to bring this to you."
Yuanchun Gong was located in the third courtyard of the Donggong, where the Crown Prince resided, separated from Jiarong Tang by a passage hall and a courtyard.
"Thank you, sister."
Kan'er took the small porcelain jar and smiled gently.
The palace maid was dazzled by that smile. Coming to her senses, she couldn't help but blush. "No need, no need. Rest early."
With that, she turned and left.
Kan'er closed the door, walked around to 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, its texture fine and smooth. The body was imprinted with cloud patterns, quite elegant.
As soon as the lid was opened, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out. Inside was a pale pink, semi-transparent ointment, its texture clear and lustrous.
Kan'er dipped her fingertip in it and dabbed it behind her ear.
A refreshing coolness instantly spread.
After waiting a while and feeling no discomfort, Kan'er 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 bright red, as if still carrying the lingering scent of the man.
She touched them with her fingertips, her heart filled with indescribable emotions.
In her previous life, that man had not kissed her at all tonight, even when she was brought to tears, he showed no pity.
Who would have thought that in this life…
Kan'er felt a mix of conflicting emotions, along with a sense of shame.
He had been so fierce and urgent, and even now, the sensation of his touch and the faint fragrance still lingered in her mouth.
It tingled.
Too embarrassed to dwell on it further, Kan'er turned away with flushed cheeks and lay down on the bed, then looked up at the canopy and touched her abdomen.
In her previous life, she had served the bed tonight, and not long after, Yao-ge'er had arrived. This life had inexplicably taken an unexpected turn—would the child she later conceived still be Yao-ge'er?
Early the next morning, in the bedroom of Jiarong Tang.
Crown Princess Zheng Mingzhi washed her face and rinsed her mouth under the care of the palace maids. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she smiled faintly.
"How did she react last night?"
Nanny Pang was selecting several sets of clothes for her mistress to wear. Hearing this, she understood she was referring to that little seductress.
She hesitated slightly: "That wench…"
Zheng Mingzhi's smile faded. "Speak."
Nanny Pang had no choice but to reply: "Your Highness, the servants reported that… that last night, His Highness arranged for someone to escort her back."
Zheng Mingzhi's eyes instantly turned icy cold. The palace maids attending to her makeup immediately knelt in fear.
"Bring her to me."
Nanny Pang tried to dissuade her: "Please calm your anger first…"
Slap!
Zheng Mingzhi picked up a Buyao from the dressing table and flung it to the ground.
"I said bring that wretched servant here!"