Volume One, Chapter Four: Seized by the Crown Prince into the Eastern Palace

“Very well,” Lin Qingwan nodded.

Let it stay, then—at worst, it would be a fight to the death.

But her mother could never remain here; she had to find a way to send her mother back to town. Only after her mother left could she act without restraint.

Her entire being was held close in Chu Linyuan’s arms.

She was utterly exhausted—since last night until now, she hadn’t had a moment’s proper rest and could barely summon any energy.

“Did you agree? Say it again.”

The woman’s gentle voice calmed Chu Linyuan’s restless heart. He wanted to hear more of her voice.

Just as the man was about to lose his temper from waiting too long for an answer, he lowered his gaze and saw the woman nestled against his shoulder, her eyes closed in sleep, though he hadn’t noticed when she had fallen asleep.

Could it be that he was too vigorous last night?

Thinking back to their intimacy last night, it was a pleasure he had never experienced before.

He should have been tender, knowing it was her first time, yet he couldn’t help but ask again and again. The only fault lay in how irresistibly alluring her body was.

If not for the secret agents investigating her background, he might have suspected she was from Nanjiang, perhaps under some spell to make him so addicted to her scent.

He was never one to dwell on emotions, but with her, he found himself unable to let go. Yet, the matter of giving her a formal position could not be rushed.

A daughter of a lowly prefect had ambitions to become the crown prince’s consort—there was no way the Empress Dowager would agree so easily.

Carrying Lin Qingwan back to the Crown Prince’s residence, he gently laid her on the bed.

Looking at his own undisciplined body, if she weren’t so exhausted, he truly wished to continue.

It wasn’t out of pity, but because he preferred when she actively sought his favor.

Convincing himself, Chu Linyuan stepped outside, allowing the cold wind to sweep away the heat coursing through him.

Nearby, a young maid saw the Crown Prince carrying someone into his chambers and recalled Consort Ji’s instructions. She hurried over and knelt before him.

“Your Highness, Young Mistress Mei says she has chest pain and wishes to see you.”

Thinking of the woman on the bed, who wanted to sleep but could not, Chu Linyuan had no leisure to entertain such trivial matters.

“If she’s in pain, she should seek the imperial physician. What use is it to call me? Should I grant her early entry to paradise?”

Hearing the Crown Prince’s words, the maid trembled in fear. Why was he so irritable today?

Though usually indifferent to his servants, he was at least gentle. Now, he seemed to want the young mistress dead.

“I’m a wretched servant, a wretched servant,” she murmured, knocking her head three times before retreating hastily.

She ran all the way back to the Yimei Courtyard, nearly out of breath when she arrived, leaning against the plum tree at the gate to catch her breath.

“What’s wrong? Why the rush? Did His Highness say when he would come?”

Ji Qingmei sat in the courtyard, pondering how to keep the Crown Prince at the Yimei Courtyard today.

Her mother had told her that as long as the Crown Prince had not taken a principal consort, if she could conceive early and bear a son, combined with their family’s influence, the position of Crown Princess would be within easy reach.

But since the day he first entered the residence, the Crown Prince had never set foot in her courtyard again. How could she hope to conceive?

Her personal maid knelt before her, recounting everything that had just happened.

“Mistress, I saw His Highness carrying a woman into his chambers and letting her sleep on his bed.”

“I told him you were unwell and wished for him to come to Yimei Courtyard, but he said…”

Hearing that Chu Linyuan had brought another woman back to his chambers, Ji Qingmei’s face lost all warmth.

She put down the shears she had been using to trim flowers and approached the maid, lightly tracing the maid’s cheek with her fingertip.

“What did His Highness say?”

“He said that if you were unwell, you should call the imperial physician.”

She dared not repeat the part about granting early entry to paradise to her mistress. If she did, her life would be forfeit.

“Hmph.”

His Highness had never been close to any woman, except the night he was granted to the Crown Prince; he never spent the night in anyone’s quarters.

She had thought everyone would coexist peacefully, so how did a woman suddenly appear who could lie on His Highness’s bed?

“Mei, this is terrible. Did you hear? The Crown Prince brought a woman back.”

Liu Liangdi hurried over, her lips pressed tight as she panted, clutching her embroidered handkerchief as though she wanted to grind her teeth to dust.

“No one knows what kind of woman she is. She actually lured His Highness, who is noble and exalted. How shameless.”

“Mei, what shall we do now?”

The Crown Prince’s residence already had few consorts. Aside from the two of them, there was a daughter of a disgraced official, but they never associated with that unlucky woman.

“If His Highness likes her, what can we do? Didn’t you know all along that he wouldn’t settle for just a few of us? There might be even more sisters in the future.”

Looking at the simple-minded Liu Liangdi, Ji Qingmei knew she was a useful tool.

She took Liu Liangdi’s hand and led her to sit on a chair in the courtyard.

“Sister, don’t be impulsive. We don’t even know where that woman is from. It’s best to lay low and avoid conflict.”

Liu Liangdi frowned deeply, recalling the gossip she had heard, her face twisted with disdain.

“Don’t overestimate her, sister. I heard she’s the daughter of the prefect of Yunbian Town. Ridiculous. I’ve never even heard of that remote place.”

Only a daughter of a small prefect? That wouldn’t threaten them.

If His Highness liked to keep her for amusement, let him. Once she lost favor, they could easily control her.

She handed the pruning scissors on the table to a nearby maid and spoke softly, “Serve tea, and prepare some snacks that Sister Liu likes.”

“Mei, why aren’t you worried at all? That woman just entered the residence and has already slept on His Highness’s bed. Who knows how arrogant she’ll become?”

“What if she abuses His Highness’s favor and disregards us?”

The maid who served them placed the tea and snacks on the table, then bowed slightly and withdrew.

Ji Qingmei picked up a piece of pastry and took a small bite.

“The pastry tastes good this time, Sister, you should try some.”

“People have phases where they like one thing, then another. It’s like when His Highness gets tired of rich dishes and craves plain congee.”

Hearing the deeper meaning in Mei’s words, Liu Liangdi’s eyes brightened, as if suddenly enlightened.

“Thank you for your advice, sister.” She thought for a moment but still felt uneasy. “Mei, may I go see her?”

She wanted to know what kind of woman could make His Highness lower himself and carry her back to the palace.

She had once tried to seduce His Highness by deliberately falling before him. He was so close, just an arm’s length away, yet he stepped back, not even bothering to reach out.

“If you want to see her, it’s not impossible. But only when His Highness is not present. After tomorrow’s morning court, we’ll go see this new sister.”

Ji Qingmei leaned back in her chair, handing the half-eaten pastry to a waiting servant. “Crush it and feed it to the fish.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

The servant bowed slightly and left the courtyard with the pastry.

“You truly are the model of a noble lady in the capital, not wasting even a single bite of pastry. I’ll have to learn from you more in the future.”

Looking at Liu Liangdi’s admiring face, Ji Qingmei pondered.

She wondered how the many cunning members of the Liu family had produced such an innocent girl.

Could it be that one becomes pure only after sinking to the depths of darkness?

Another young maid, cheeks flushed, ran back to the courtyard, kneeling anxiously before Liu Liangdi.

“Liangdi, bad news! I heard that His Highness and that woman were indulging in daylight debauchery inside the chambers. They’ve already called for water twice.”

Hearing this, Liu Liangdi sprang up from her seat.

“No! I must go now and teach her a lesson! That damned wretch, daring to seduce the Crown Prince!”

“Little sister, please don’t be rash.”

Liu Sisi’s warnings fell on deaf ears. She could not bear the thought of the heir to the realm neglecting affairs of state for carnal pleasures.

Ji Qingmei sat elegantly in her chair, dabbing the corner of her lips with a handkerchief, and could not help but smile at Liu Sisi’s angry departure.

Some people...

How could they be so foolish?

That woman was now favored by the Crown Prince; they must first avoid provoking her. Interfering now would disrupt His Highness’s mood—truly reckless.

At the Crown Prince’s chambers, Liu Liangdi was stopped by a young eunuch at the door.

“Liangdi, His HighI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.