Chapter 38 Chapter 38 So attached, not wanting to leave even for a moment…
Yun Kui hid under the covers, her face flushed, not daring to show herself. Only when she heard the Crown Prince order them to leave did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to get up to get the handkerchief, she was surprised to find that when the quilt was lifted, a warm handkerchief was placed on her. His Highness the Crown Prince was actually wiping her face himself.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, partly because the handkerchief tickled her skin terribly, and she couldn't scratch it. She bit her lip and endured it, saying, "Your Highness, let me do it myself."
Let alone the fact that she was just a palace maid serving the emperor, even the Crown Princess herself would never allow the Crown Prince to serve her personally.
If Aunt Wei saw this, she would have to explain the rules to her several times.
His Highness the Crown Prince had never served anyone before; this was his first time.
It didn't matter before the ability to read minds existed, but now all sorts of thoughts flood into their ears, and even if the palace servants below dare not show it openly, their inner murmurs are endless.
The Crown Prince did not want his bed matters to be discussed by outsiders, even if only in their minds.
And if people saw her in such a disheveled state, he would also be subject to gossip.
The Crown Prince pursed his lips and remained silent, his expression still somewhat cold and sullen. Yun Kui had no choice but to obediently let him wipe her, but as soon as the handkerchief touched that spot, she couldn't help but flinch.
The prince held her down to prevent her from moving, but the girl trembled even more violently.
"Why isn't it finished cleaning yet? What is he looking at...?"
"It's so itchy, it's so uncomfortable π_π"
The Crown Prince reprimanded in a stern voice: "You've soiled my bedding, and you still dare to touch it?"
Yun Kui could only clench her fingers tightly, turning her eyes away from him. She held the wet ring in her hand, the cold touch feeling almost tangible, as if it were still roaming freely over her body.
But she really couldn't understand why she was like that...
Even in her dreams, Consort Yu and Aunt Bizan rarely acted like this. No matter how hard the man tried, they were never as enthusiastic as she was at their most enjoyable.
She had just seen him wiping his hands for a long time, and the entire brocade quilt had been replaced with a new one.
More importantly, even though she was the one who took the initiative to flirt and even used countless newly learned skills, the other person remained as dignified and composed as ever, unmoved by anything, while she was burned as soon as she was put into the pot!
How to describe it? It's like a man who excitedly takes off his pants, only to ejaculate in less than two breaths. That's no good!
The prince listened calmly, continuing to wipe his hands.
Unlike her, who looked at the fire-avoidance diagrams every day and could even observe them in her dreams, he always had to be sure of the location so that he wouldn't be completely clueless in the future, and that his knowledge would end in two breaths.
Yun Kui remembered that the ring was still in her hand, so she turned slightly to the side, intending to hand it over to him to clean up together.
The crown prince raised an eyebrow when he saw the wet, black jade and said, "Why don't you clean up your own things?"
Yun Kui didn't have a handkerchief on hand, and she couldn't very well use the Crown Prince's bedding to wipe him.
The prince's eyes darkened: "Aren't you very good at licking?"
Yun Kui blushed instantly to the roots of her ears, "I...I was..."
She argued back, but he also aroused her curiosity. She subconsciously brought her lips close and licked the water stains on the ring. It seemed to have no taste, yet it also seemed a little sweet.
She pursed her lips, then turned to face the Crown Prince's deep gaze. She handed him the ring, her charming eyes looking at him, and stammered, "Would Your Highness like to try some?"
In a fit of rage, the Crown Prince lifted the entire brocade quilt and covered her head and face completely.
Yun Kui belatedly realized what she had said and hid under the covers, chuckling to herself.
However, as she was laughing, she suddenly thought of something, and her lips suddenly froze.
"Just a mere ring and it's all gone like this, how am I supposed to live now! Waaaaah!"
...
Early the next morning.
Tang Fugui, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, came to deliver a message, saying that Emperor Chunming invited the Crown Prince to attend the welcoming banquet on New Year's Eve, five days later.
The crown prince had never intended not to go.
Emperor Chunming not only severely punished Empress Chen and her son, but also held a special banquet to welcome him back, clearly intending to make a statement in front of his ministers.
I'll take advantage of the crowd and join them for a good show.
The Crown Prince looked at Yun Kui and said, "You will accompany me to the New Year's Eve palace banquet."
Yun Kui was somewhat surprised and responded with a dazed "Yes".
His Highness probably wants to take her out to meet more people, so that she'll have new material for her dreams, instead of her dreaming about Consort Yu's affair or her intimacy with the Crown Prince all the time...
The Crown Prince's cool gaze suddenly swept over.
Yun Kui's heart skipped a beat. She always suspected that he had developed a third eye, as if he could guess what she was thinking and always managed to catch her in the act with perfect accuracy!
Cao Yuanlu was a shrewd and perceptive man, and he guessed some of the reasons in his heart.
Firstly, His Highness was worried that his headache might suddenly flare up during the palace banquet, causing him to lose his composure in front of the officials. A few years ago, a similar situation occurred during a sacrificial ceremony. Even though His Highness managed to suppress it, his bloodshot eyes and fierce gaze at the time had indeed frightened many officials.
Having Yunkui by my side this year has at least alleviated some of the difficulties.
Secondly, His Highness still values Yun Kui highly. Bringing her to the New Year's Eve banquet was a reminder to the families who intend to compete for the position of Crown Princess that she is the Crown Prince's beloved concubine and no one can touch her in the future.
...
With the Lunar New Year's Eve approaching, and both the Empress and Prince Chen under house arrest, Emperor Chunming entrusted the palace banquet to Consort Yin this year.
Consort Yin, the birth mother of the fourth prince, was eager to try her luck this time, and even summoned the fourth prince to Changchun Palace to give him some instructions.
After dismissing everyone, Consort Yin said to her son, "At this New Year's Eve palace banquet, you must make a good impression on His Majesty. It would be even better if you could choose two more concubines to assist you."
The fourth prince smiled helplessly and said, "Mother is being too impatient. Your son is not even married yet."
In order to win over his court officials, Emperor Chunming selected many eligible women from the families of officials of the Great Zhao Dynasty to fill his harem, and arranged marriages for his sons with daughters of noble families and daughters of military families.
The fourth prince's betrothed was the second daughter of the Pingchang Marquis's family.
The Fourth Prince said, "Besides, this is the Crown Prince's victory celebration banquet, and the Crown Prince's selection of a consort is also imminent."
Consort Yin lowered her voice and said, "The selection of the Crown Princess is a thorny issue for His Majesty and the Empress. A family background that is too high is not acceptable, nor is one that is too low. Especially now that the Crown Prince has recovered from his illness, Kunning Palace is even more anxious than we are. When they fight each other openly and secretly and both suffer losses, you and your son may well be able to take the position. Prince Jing's maternal family is of humble origin, and Prince Sheng is a sickly man, so it is your turn."
The fourth prince's expression finally became serious, and he nodded in agreement.
The palace banquet was just around the corner.
Yun Kui wore only the most inconspicuous palace maid's dress that day, trying her best to minimize her presence.
Actually, serving her wasn't difficult, but her status was truly awkward. After all, a palace maid who served the emperor was not someone to be respected. Before, outside the Donghua Gate, those officials had already looked down on her. This time, she was facing the highest-ranking members of the imperial family, the wives of high-ranking officials, and the future crown princess. How would they view her?
It would be best if things went smoothly.
As evening fell, Chaoyang Palace was brightly lit, with thousands of glass lamps illuminating the entire hall. In the center of the hall, a row of carved screens depicting ladies separated the seating for men and women. On one side were high-ranking officials and nobles in brocade robes and jade belts, and on the other side were concubines and noblewomen with elegant hair and fragrant clothes. They had all taken their seats in order.
Yun Kui followed closely behind the Crown Prince, and when she looked up, she saw his tall figure in a dark blue robe embroidered with gold dragon patterns, which was majestic and awe-inspiring.
As soon as the Crown Prince entered the hall, the entire Chaoyang Hall fell silent. After a moment of silence, everyone hurriedly rose to greet him and bowed respectfully.
Almost immediately afterward, Emperor Chunming arrived in his imperial carriage, and the court officials and noblewomen in the hall once again bowed and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
The Crown Prince's desk was placed in the most prominent position to the lower left of the Emperor's throne, appearing almost side by side from a distance, as if the two were both rulers of the country. This was the attitude that Emperor Chunming expressed to his court officials and members of the imperial clan.
But how could he remain calm!
He reigned for twenty years, and when he ascended the throne, it was a legitimate and justifiable appointment. For twenty years, he ruled the world, and was revered by the people and the heavens. He was praised by his court officials and supported by the common people. Even so, some members of the imperial family still regarded Emperor Jingyou as the supreme ruler and the Crown Prince as the most respected, as if he were a usurper who had stolen the country and usurped power!
Especially when he saw the dragon robe worn by the crown prince, Emperor Chunming, though outwardly expressionless, was seething with rage.
The crown prince heard of his resentment but simply laughed it off.
One after another, delicacies were served on the table. Emperor Chunming raised his cup to invite the princes and nobles to drink together and celebrate the Crown Prince's victory. "In this great victory in the northern frontier, the Crown Prince has captured seven cities of Northern Wei in one fell swoop, protected the borders and people, and repelled the enemy by a thousand miles. His merits are outstanding and are truly a blessing to our Great Zhao Dynasty."
The princes and ministers raised their glasses in celebration, but Emperor Chunming avoided mentioning or clarifying the name "massacre of the city," which terrified many members of the imperial family and noblewomen who were unaware of the truth.
Music and dance music began, and cups were clinked together.
The Crown Prince listened attentively to the voices from all sides, while Yun Kui knelt behind him, her attention focused entirely on the delicious food on the table and the singing and dancing at the banquet.
Meanwhile, on the women's seats outside the screen, countless gazes were cast intentionally or unintentionally toward the Crown Prince.
Although it was difficult to see clearly, his innate nobility, his upright and dignified demeanor, and his aura of coldness and solemnity all clearly indicated one thing—the Crown Prince had indeed recovered as rumored.
Especially since the women's banquet was presided over by Consort Yin today, and the Empress and Prince Chen and their son were both punished with reduced pay and confined to their homes, and were not even allowed to attend the New Year's Eve banquet, everyone had a sense of justice.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the throne will belong to the Crown Prince in the future, and Emperor Chunming will only pass it on to the Crown Prince.
So what if he's tyrannical and willful? So what if he's plagued by chronic illness? He's still the Crown Prince, the future emperor! The position of Crown Princess remains an unparalleled honor.
Everyone was baffled as to why the Crown Prince would bring along a lowly palace maid to serve him on such a grand occasion.
So they are so attached to it that they can't bear to be apart from it for even a moment?
Not only were the women puzzled, but the courtiers around the crown prince were also secretly grumbling.
The Crown Prince looked across and met the gaze of the cold-faced Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Ningde. The man across from him paused for a moment, then quickly raised his cup in a toast. The Crown Prince twirled the golden goblet in his hand, a half-smile on his face.
The heir of the Marquis of Ningde clenched his fist secretly, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
Tonight is the best opportunity to deal with the Crown Prince; we must not miss it.
He raised his hand to summon his trusted aides behind him and whispered a few instructions.
The crown prince appeared unintentional, but in reality, he saw everything.
During the banquet, the court officials were engaged in much discussion, mainly about the absence of the Empress Chen Kingdom's maternal uncle, the assessment of the court's situation, the discord in officialdom, and the sordid affairs within their own backyards.
Just then, a delicate cry suddenly rang in my ears.
The sounds of string and wind instruments faded, but the drums suddenly rose. The man at the head of the table, wearing a mask with animal patterns and possessing strong muscles, led a dozen or so valiant men, bare-chested, to perform the magnificent Lanling King's Battle Song, stepping to the surging and exciting drumbeats.
When the prince turned around, he saw his concubine staring intently at the group of clowns on the stage, her eyes gleaming.
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