Chapter 62 Bedside Table
Yun Kui turned her head to dodge, but the man grabbed the back of her head with one hand, firmly holding her body and forcing her to accept this unquestionable kiss.
Having experienced so much shock in the night, Yun Kui's dizzy drunkenness had long since disappeared, but now, as he gently kissed and caressed her, a slight blush returned to her cheeks, and her moist eyes were filled with tears.
She was slowly released by the man when she was almost out of breath.
The Crown Prince frowned: "You reek of alcohol."
Yun Kui regained her senses and whispered, "Your Highness doesn't have to kiss me."
The prince pinched her chin, "You're getting bolder and bolder."
Yun Kui bit her lip. "Your Highness has not yet answered my question."
The Crown Prince stared at her: "I've always been the one interrogating others; no one has ever dared to question me repeatedly."
Yun Kui, whether from drunkenness or something else, felt her blood rush to her head upon hearing this: "Yes, Your Highness has always been high and mighty. It is already an immense act of kindness for you to bestow a few words upon me. This servant should be eternally grateful."
The Crown Prince frowned, surprised that she had shed her obedient exterior and dared to speak with such sharp and veiled barbs.
"You've had too much to drink, I won't hold it against you."
Yun Kui clenched her fingers tightly. Since things had already come to this point, she might as well go all out and be bold one last time. "Even if Your Highness tries to shut me up, I will still speak today."
The man's gaze grew increasingly cold, and Yun Kui could even see the bulging veins on the back of his hand.
She gritted her teeth and said, "I know that my status is worlds apart from Your Highness's, so I have never coveted a place in Your Highness's harem. Compared to fleeting wealth and glory, I would rather live a peaceful and comfortable life. That's why I'm determined to leave the palace. Even if Your Highness has feelings for me, I..."
The man's thin lips were pressed together, and a cold, furious glint flickered in his eyes. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and forced a smile: "It is Your Highness who is unwilling to speak frankly, so I will take it as you having no interest in me. If it is only a temporary favor, I am very grateful to Your Highness and am willing to serve you for this period of time. However... you heard what I was thinking in that house just now. When Your Highness gets tired of me, I would like to ask you for a favor so that I can settle my home here after I leave the palace."
With each word she spoke, the gaze above her grew colder and more menacing, but she dared not pause, afraid of inadvertently revealing her true feelings, and could only grit her teeth and continue: "I wanted to say..."
A surge of intense bitterness welled up inside her, and she forced herself to look up and meet his gaze. "Your Highness is indeed a good man, but he is not suitable to be my lifelong companion. I..."
"What kind of person do you take me for?"
The man interrupted her abruptly, his deep, rapid breath landing on her face. His voice was low and husky, yet sharp and ruthless: "Am I just the kind of man who can satisfy your tastes, whom you can touch at will, and who can satisfy your appetites whenever you want? If you want me, you come and seduce me; if you don't, you trick me into giving you some rewards and leaving the palace. I'm at your beck and call. In your heart, I'm not even as good as a guard. At least a guard can give you security. They are the ones who are suitable to accompany you for life, are they?"
"Why are we talking about guards again...?"
A cold sneer flickered across the Crown Prince's lips: "Actually, you're like this with everyone, aren't you? I should have realized it long ago. You don't just lust after me in your heart; you fantasize about any tall, strong, and handsome man you see, don't you?"
He was furious to the extreme; his eyes were bloodshot, the veins like a dark, intricate web, as if trying to trap her within them.
"Let me tell you, don't even think about it. As long as I live, I will never let you leave."
Yun Kui's mind was buzzing. Before she could recover from the shock of those words, she saw him curl his thin lips into a stern look, his eyes fierce: "Didn't you know I could read minds?"
He gritted his teeth, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists. "Whoever you're thinking of, I'll tear them to pieces. You're welcome to try."
He also vaguely sensed that his emotions were out of control, his headache was acting up, his brain felt like it was burning, and the pain swept through every meridian in his body.
If this continues, it will only hurt innocent people.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind, then got up to leave, but suddenly two slender, snow-white arms wrapped around his neck.
The next moment, the girl's soft, warm lips pressed against mine.
The crown prince's furious body almost instantly stiffened.
Despite having kissed him many times before, she had never felt so nervous. She cautiously embraced his sharp, cold blades with her weak, trembling body.
His lips trembled slightly, and the tears he had held back for so long finally rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably.
Her warm fingertips trembled as she stroked his cheek, cautiously asking, "Your Highness... are you angry because you care about me and want me to stay?"
The crown prince gritted his teeth, gripped her wrist tightly with his large hand, and pressed it hard against his side. A sinister and terrifying sneer curled at the corner of his lips: "Why have you changed your mind again? Are you scared now that you heard I was going to tear your lovers to pieces?"
Yun Kui: "..."
The crown prince stared intently at the heartless girl, his eyes revealing a clear darkness and madness.
"Get out," he said suddenly.
Yun Kui trembled in fear at his gloomy gaze. She noticed that his eyes were bloodshot, the veins on his forehead were bulging, and his chest was heaving violently, showing signs of a headache attack.
"Your Highness, are you... are you having a relapse of your headache?"
She hadn't seen him so furious in a long time, and she panicked, her hands trembling as she didn't know how to comfort him. Her voice trembled as she said, "I was talking nonsense. I was just trying to upset you. I'm sorry..."
The prince closed his eyes tightly. "Get out. Don't let anyone in, or... I'll kill you."
Yun Kui's eyes were filled with tears as she wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Your Highness, wait for me, I'll go and fetch a doctor for you..."
She quickly got up, slipped on her shoes, and went out. Fortunately, Cao Yuanlu was waiting in the corridor. She rushed forward, her voice trembling, and said, "Eunuch Cao, His Highness seems to have suffered a relapse of his headache..."
Cao Yuanlu heard some noises outside, but he didn't hear what they were saying clearly. He never expected that his prince would have a headache at this time.
Since the girl came to his side, His Highness has not suffered from headaches for a long time. Even when the lighthouse collapsed on the Lantern Festival and he was injured in the assassination attempt, his headaches did not recur.
This time, when investigating the case incognito, even He Bailing did not accompany him; he only brought a young lady to serve him, just in case.
Cao Yuanlu glanced into the room and first asked Qin Ge to invite the most skilled doctor in Pingzhou Prefecture.
Qin Ge immediately turned and left.
Cao Yuanlu then asked Yun Kui, "Why did you suddenly start arguing? Weren't you perfectly fine when His Highness carried you back just now?"
Yun Kui's eyes were red, "It's my fault..."
Cao Yuanlu guessed, "Is His Highness angry because of your house purchase?"
Yun Kui pursed her lips tightly, and two lines of tears fell down her cheeks.
Cao Yuanlu sighed and said, "His Highness has treated you very well. This old servant has been by his side for so many years and has never seen him take a fancy to any girl. Why do you always want to leave the palace?"
Yun Kui felt a pang of sadness in her heart, a feeling she couldn't express.
Who is she? She's a female official in charge of the imperial bedchamber. It sounds nice, and she's a female official, but to put it bluntly, she's just a woman who's there to entertain the master. If she's lucky, she might rise to a low-ranking position. If she's unlucky, she'll be a thorn in the side of the concubines in the harem. Someone like her, without any family background, could be strangled with a flick of their finger.
She had read stories about women like that.
One of the palace maids who had served the Crown Princess was falsely accused of stealing her jewelry and was taken to the Department of Cautious Punishment.
There was also a maid who was falsely accused of bumping into the mistress's pregnant belly. She was severely whipped and sold off.
Some maids were even secretly drowned in the lake by the princess for joking with the prince...
Having seen too much, I am conflicted. I secretly hope for something, wanting to hear him say "I'm interested" again, but I'm also afraid to hear those two words. I'm afraid that my unwarranted ambition will gradually swell, and in the end, my heart will be too high, and I will be smashed to pieces.
But she really didn't expect His Highness to react so strongly.
A series of loud crashes came from inside the room, like teacups on the table being swept to the ground.
Yun Kui was panicked and her heart was burning with anxiety. "Eunuch Cao, is there any way to alleviate this... Should we go back and fetch the army doctor? Or is there any medicine..."
Cao Yuanlu sighed deeply, "His Highness's headache is something that even the general practitioners, military physician He, and the imperial physicians are helpless against, let alone the common doctors. There is only one way..."
Yun Kui immediately asked, "What method?"
His Highness has ordered that this not be revealed to anyone, but there is no better way at the moment, so Cao Yuanlu can only say, "Actually, the young lady has a special fragrance that can relieve His Highness's headache."
Yun Kui stared blankly, her mouth agape: "My...scent?"
She was aware that she had a faint floral scent, but it was not strong enough to attract attention. Only those very close to her could smell it. Dan Gui loved to sleep close to her and said she smelled nice...
She never paid attention to this, simply assuming that her clothes had been washed many times and that they had acquired the scent of sunshine and plants.
Unexpectedly, it was able to alleviate His Highness's headache.
Cao Yuanlu said, "Your Highness previously asked Physician Liang from the Imperial Hospital to prepare a blend of incense similar to the one worn by the young lady, but unfortunately it had no effect on Your Highness."
Yun Kui murmured, "So that's why His Highness wanted me to serve him in bed..."
No wonder, with so many people in the Eastern Palace and countless beauties being sent in, how did she stand out?
Moreover, she was "entrusted with an important task" by the Empress. Any other spy would have been interrogated in the torture chamber long ago.
And then there were her vile thoughts. Given His Highness's ruthless nature, he should have torn her to pieces long ago. The only reason he kept her alive was because she could alleviate his headaches...
All sorts of emotions swirled and surged in my mind in an instant, a mixture of feelings, and my heart was filled with indescribable emotions.
Cao Yuanlu noticed the disappointment in her eyes and guessed what was going on. He panicked a little and said, "What are you thinking, young lady? His Highness did keep you around for that reason at first, but can't you tell how His Highness has treated you since then?"
He sighed and said, "The time you were punished to guard the palace gate, His Highness heard that the Ninth Prince was bullying you, and he immediately stepped out of the palace gate, afraid that if he was a step too late, you would be wronged. At the New Year's Eve palace banquet, when he saw you chatting and laughing with Li Meng, His Highness was furious and unhappy. Later, he felt that he had neglected you, so he took you out of the palace to enjoy the lanterns on the Lantern Festival. The assassination attempt was also unexpected, but His Highness would rather be injured himself than let others hurt you. If His Highness didn't care about you and only saw you as a cure for his headache, would he have fed you delicacies every day? Would he have bought you storybooks to make you happy? Would he have stood up for you?"
Yun Kui's eyes stung, and tears silently streamed down her cheeks.
He's a very good person.
She never dreamed that she would live in the Crown Prince's palace, eat at the same table with him, sleep in the same bed with him, and even take advantage of him. Being pampered, protected, and indulged by such a high and mighty person was too incredible.
She couldn't believe it, so she kept confirming it. She was also anxious and worried that this favor would disappear one day. So from the day she received it, she began to wait for the ending of being rejected.
Who made her serve a crown prince destined to have three palaces and six courtyards?
She was such a cowardly person, afraid of pain and death, having experienced too much suffering, so she lived even the good days with trepidation.
Cao Yuanlu said, "Even the fact that you can alleviate your headaches is known only to this servant and Physician He. His Highness forbids it from being spread, for fear that you will be harmed, and naturally also for fear that you will misunderstand and think that His Highness only favors you because of this."
"Although it was my suggestion to take you out of the capital this time, His Highness immediately spent a fortune on your food, drink, and entertainment as soon as we arrived in Pingzhou. And you, on the contrary, bought a house and want to settle down here..."
Before he could finish speaking, the little girl turned and went inside.
Cao Yuanlu watched her retreating figure and let out a long sigh.
As soon as Yun Kui entered the room, she smelled a strong stench of blood. She quickened her pace and walked until she saw the man's figure hidden in the dim candlelight in front of the bed. Her face turned pale and her heart trembled violently.
His forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his pale, thin fingers were injured by the broken porcelain on the ground. Blood gushed out from between his fingers, as if only bleeding could release the pain and anger brought on by his headache.
Hearing footsteps, he didn't even look up, and said in a deep voice, "Didn't I tell you to get out? What are you doing here again?"
Yun Kui was not intimidated by him. She first took out some wound medicine from the chest, walked up to him, slowly squatted down, took out a clean handkerchief from her sleeve, and wiped the bloodstains from the back of his hand.
The Crown Prince raised his dark, cold eyes and stared intently into hers: "What are you thinking about, or did Cao Yuanlu say something to you?"
Yun Kui pursed her lips and remained silent, her mind in turmoil, unsure of where to begin.
After a long silence, she slowly opened her mouth and said, "Eunuch Cao said that I can relieve Your Highness's headache."
A surge of anger instantly welled up in the Crown Prince's eyes, and his tone became even colder than before: "Get out. I don't need you by my side."
Yun Kui didn't move, but sat down beside him and slowly moved closer to him. "Will Your Highness be more comfortable if I lean against you like this?"
The crown prince closed his eyes tightly, barely suppressing his anger: "Do you think I won't kill you?"
Yun Kui lifted his arm, and seeing that he did not refuse, she simply snuggled into his arms and then reached out to slowly hug his waist.
"How about this? Will it make you feel better?"
The girl's soft body pressed close, hugging him tighter and tighter, as if she wanted to be entwined with him perfectly.
The warm, dry scent of sunflowers, like the rising sun dispelling the thick fog, silently soothes the inner turmoil within.
The prince's body stiffened for a moment, his injured hand clenched tightly, and countless tiny wounds burst open almost simultaneously, blood gushing out and soaking the snow-white handkerchief.
He didn't care at all, his tone as cold as ice: "You really are audacious, thinking I can't live without you? In the past twenty-odd years, I have never relied on anyone..."
Before she could finish speaking, the girl's soft lips covered the man's slightly cool lips.
Their breaths mingled, and her tears rolled down to his lips. Inexperienced yet bold, she used the tip of her tongue to lick his lower lip, gathering the slightly salty tears.
Between kisses, she trembled and whispered, "So? Do you still want to kill me, Your Highness?"
The prince closed his eyes tightly, seemingly unmoved, until her sharp teeth bit his tongue, at which point he snapped back to reality and pushed her away.
Beneath her fingertips was her carotid artery, delicate and slender, yet pulsating with vibrant life.
He stroked the throbbing veins on her neck, as if he could tighten his grip at any moment. "What exactly do you want to do?"
Yun Kui's mind was also in disarray, and she couldn't convey her true feelings clearly.
After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke: "I...I want to treat your headache."
The Crown Prince said coldly, "I said, I don't need it."
Yun Kui said, "Please don't rush to reject me. I suddenly... have figured something out, and I want to reaffirm my relationship with Your Highness."
Crown Prince: "What's the relationship?"
Yun Kui swallowed hard. "Your Highness needs me to relieve your headache, and I also covet Your Highness's good looks. In that case, I'll be your antidote from now on, and you can give me kisses and hugs. We'll just be a pair of innocent... bed partners. What do you say?"
Crown Prince: "..."
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