She knew it would end up like this. He must have planned this, especially after learning that Lou Yueting was accompanying her. It made him uncomfortable. Not only did he show up out of nowhere, but he also made ambiguous remarks on purpose to cause misunderstandings. Normally, she wouldn’t care about unrelated people’s opinions and would ignore them. But this time, it was in front of Lou Yueting. She felt an awkward embarrassment, like a cat revealing its tail. Why was it so hard to keep a decent friendship?
She felt like she was about to explode with anger. Her face, already pale from the cold, looked even more ashen under Lou Yueting’s gaze. The Crown Prince noticed her change in expression and, annoyed in secret, decided to add more fuel to the fire: “It seems like you came back too late yesterday, and maybe didn’t sleep well last night, so you’re not feeling well.” He then pretended to bite his lip in thought, “Could it be that time of the month… In that case, you shouldn’t overwork yourself. Leave the tasks to Commander Nan Yushu and the others. Go back and rest. After all, it’s been delayed for so long already, there’s no rush now.”
Su Xinghe couldn’t bear to listen any longer, her vision began to blur with golden spots. What does he mean by “that time of the month”? How would he even know when her exact time is? He’s never been involved with a woman, how could he possibly understand this? It was truly baffling.
Su Xinghe, who had been named, quickly stifled his smirk, thinking that he’d long predicted trouble, but didn’t expect it to come soon. The Crown Prince is still young after all, decisive and efficient when handling political affairs, but they are not mature, in matters of the heart. It’s no wonder, though. Until now, he’s only had this one woman, who refuses to be his official wife and insists on working as an official. While the Crown Prince might appear to be in a powerful position, he’s surely suffering internally. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have braved the northwest wind to come to Gangwa City.
What now? The three of them, are all important figures; it’s not their place to intervene. They should retreat quickly and avoid the storm to stay safe. Su Xinghe approached hands at his sides, and spoke softly to his superior, “His Highness is right. My Lord has been busy for several days. You should go back and rest today. We’ll handle the rest and you make sure everything is properly taken care.”
Going back to rest wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. If the Crown Prince were to leave with her, that would be fine. But what she was afraid that he would send her away and then stay behind himself, stirring up more trouble. In the end, things would get so messy that Lou Yueting might be scared off, never to see her again.
She raised her hand slightly. “I’m not tired. At a crucial moment like this, I can’t afford to let small matters cause big losses.”
Was this a direct challenge? The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed slightly, but being a gentleman, he maintained his composure in public. He had to save face for her. “A woman’s body isn’t as strong as a man’s. Medical books say women are of the body element and need more warmth in the cold. Letting you come this far was already indulging you. Do you want to keep pushing? That’s not going to work.” After speaking, he paused and turned to Lou Yueting with a smile. “What do you think, General Lou Yueting?”
Lou Yueting, of course, didn’t object. When he first heard that Su Xinghe had been appointed Deputy Commander of the Ministry of Military Control, he thought it was too risky. Su family children were ambitious, but he hadn’t expected Su Xinghe to be the same. That day, when he went to the Bureau’s punishment room, the smell of rotting flesh on the way made even the men gag. How could she, a young woman, be thinking it? As he walked, he thought, that if Commander Nan Yushu frightened her, he wouldn’t hold back. But when he reached the depths of the punishment room, he found her sitting upright in a chair, holding a hand warmer, calmly watching the execution.
What kind of girl could endure such things? Though her face showed no emotion, he could see the desolation in her eyes.
Those star-like eyes were far too familiar to him. If she wasn’t happy, they lost their brilliance, becoming dull and lifeless. That day was freezing cold, and her eyes were filled with endless dark clouds. So, he had found an excuse to take her out of the punishment room. Later, when he asked if she could handle her current position, she said she could. But it reminded him of a time when she had cried uncontrollably, clutching an ice chair, just because she wanted to skate with him on Shichahai.
However, times were different now. In their childhood, things had been casual between them, but now, even when offering comfort, there were others in between, and he had to be careful with his words.
He felt a bit sad. He had originally wanted to persuade her to rest, but before he could speak, the Crown Prince had already started a conversation with him: “I’ve heard Su Xinghe mention you before. You two grew up together, childhood friends, practically childhood sweethearts.”
Su Xinghe’s mind was a complete mess, and she thought things might really be going to south now. Could it be that Huo Qingxiao was about to bring up the topic directly? She stared at him in fear, but the Crown Prince smiled gently and said, “Don’t be afraid. There are no such taboos with me. Just because you’re in my palace doesn’t mean you can’t recall the past.”
How could she not be afraid? The Eastern Palace, might indeed be his territory, but what was that whole “my palace” talk supposed to mean? Would it kill him to speak plainly? It seemed like today she’d to have a proper confrontation with him.
Lou Yueting, watching the subtle back-and-forth between them, wasn’t sure whether it was better to respond or to stay silent. After careful consideration, he finally said, “Su Xinghe returned to Eastern Palace from the south when she was six, and since we lived in the same neighborhood, we interacted frequently before she entered the palace.”
The Crown Prince nodded, feeling a bit sentimental. “Childhood friendships are the most sincere. I truly envy that.”
Su Xinghe, listening in, wanted to call him out on his act. While the princes may be noble in the palace, they never lacked companions. Not to mention the relatives who studied with them, each prince had at least one or two study companions. These companions were all from prestigious families, and together they’d practiced archery, climbed mountains, and crossed rivers, there wasn’t anything they didn’t do. What was he envious of? Did he have anything to be worth it? He made himself he were completely isolated, pretending she was the only one he knew!
Even Lou Yueting seemed unsure how to respond. But the Crown Prince didn’t need him to. He smoothly changed the topic himself saying, “Su Xinghe entered the Eastern Palace when she was twelve, and it’s been ten years since. General Lou Yueting, would you say, she and I count as childhood sweethearts?”
The fact that he could even ask this question made Su Xinghe want to die of embarrassment. Was this worth him putting aside his official duties and rushing here an answer?
Lou Yueting, unsure of the Crown Prince’s true intentions, cautiously clasped his hands and replied, “Meeting at such a young age, by common standards, it would seem so.”
This made the Crown Prince quite pleased. He turned to glance, at Su Xinghe, his eyes full of satisfaction as if to say, *See, even Lou Yueting agrees.* In his mind, it was a simple, indisputable matter. Why did she have to make it so complicated?
In that moment, the Crown Prince’s mood broadened like never before. With a gentle expression, he turned to Su Xinghe and said, “It’s about time, you should come back with me. I plan to practice calligraphy, and you can grind the ink for me. As for the suspects we had in custody, have the commanders interrogate them again. Once that’s done, follow your original plan, call for a joint hearing with the people from the Twelfth Department, and when it’s all wrapped up, get the confessions signed.”
In their eyes, the life or death of a consort’s husband was not a particularly significant matter. A high-ranking official, actively serving in her role, was suddenly pulled back to the palace to handle the Crown Prince’s calligraphy needs, as if the Ministry of Military Control was his private business, running entirely at his command.
Su Xinghe felt humiliated in her position, but even though the Crown Prince publicly embarrassed her, she couldn’t refute him. The only consolation was that he hadn’t mentioned the revolting subject of her being his “forbidden treasure,” which was a small mercy on his part. As the guards helped him mount his horse, she took the opportunity to turn back and quietly say to Lou Yueting, “Brother Luo Yueting, today’s not convenient, let’s find another time. I have something I need to tell you…”
Lou Yueting nodded, but just as he did, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that the Crown Prince, already on horseback, was watching them with a smile. Quickly, Lou Yueting straightened up and said, “Don’t keep His Highness waiting. Go ahead.” Then he turned and bowed deeply to the Crown Prince, saying, “I humbly send off Your Highness.”
Perched high on the horse, the Crown Prince’s crown was adorned with vibrant, intricate tassels that fluttered in the wind. The sunlight cast a shimmering golden net over his eyes, giving his gaze a misty, distant quality, half hidden, half revealed. His features were extraordinary, his handsome appearance tinged with an air of recklessness. No matter how many immoral deeds he committed, his divine-like presence remained untouchable.
Su Xinghe eventually followed him back to the palace, her head hanging low. He walked ahead, and she followed behind, gripping the reins tightly, her teeth clenched. When they finally reached Xuande Gate, the guards stayed behind at the entrance. Today, the long north-south avenue was unusually empty, and only the two walked the long stretch of green-bricked road.
“How heartless,” the Crown Prince lazily said. “Not even working in the same department, yet still assisting with official duties. I’ve seen it all now. By acting like this, can you command respect? Do the commanders under you listen to your orders?”
In frustration, she responded, “The commanders don’t show me respect; they do it because of Your Highness.”
Though it was a compliment, the tone was resentful. The Crown Prince glanced back at her and sure enough, she was puffing her cheeks, head down, glaring at him from beneath her thick bangs. The sight startled him.
“In broad daylight, what are you? A ghost or a blowfish? What’s with that face? Do you want me to call the Imperial Observatory to come and exercise you?”
After that scolding, she calmed down a bit, though her whole demeanor still radiated defiance.
“Do I displease Your Highness?” she asked, her tone still stiff. “If I’ve made a mistake, just point it out, and I’ll correct it.”
The Crown Prince looked at her in confusion. “I haven’t done anything to you. After all, you are my kept woman, and I tend to be quite patient with the meat on my plate.”
At the mention of this, she regretted everything. Who could have predicted he would show up unexpectedly? She rubbed her forehead and tucked her official hat under her arm, resigning herself to her fate. “Your Highness, it’s true, our situation is already known to everyone. If I hadn’t gone along with what the princess said, I would have had to waste effort explaining, and even then, people might not believe me. Besides, I was there today for official business, not to chit-chat, so it wasn’t worth clearing my name.”
“So that’s why you claimed it. And I didn’t say a word against it, did I? I fully agree with you. But the term ‘kept woman’ is a bit uncouth. Let’s keep that for private conversations. In front of others, we should be a bit more restrained.”
Hearing this, Su Xinghe was breathless with frustration. “I only said that because I was resigned to the situation. Couldn’t you tell?”
Her voice was a bit too loud this time, and the echo bounced off the high palace walls on both sides of the corridor, amplifying her words several times. The Crown Prince, with his delicate, porcelain-like ears, had never been spoken to like this before. He was truly stunned by her audacity. He stared at her in shock for a long while, successfully making her shrink back. Then, he retraced his steps and came to stand before her, his voice cold. “You dare to raise your voice at me? Your wings are getting strong, aren’t they?”
What could she do? Su Xinghe thought bitterly. When you’re under someone’s roof, standing too tall, will only make you hit your head. She had been putting up with his bullying for years, so she should be used to it by now. Still, she couldn’t help but feel she must have committed some great sin in a past life to end up with such a childhood friend.
“Yes,” she bowed low. “I was out of line. Please, Your Highness, calm your anger.”
He scoffed, “I know. You hate me so much your teeth must be miles long because I ruined your good moment. I stopped you from exchanging glances with Lou Yueting. Su Xinghe, let me tell you this: since you’ve taken on the title of being one of my women, you are not allowed to be improper with anyone else. I won’t let myself be shamed like that.”
Su Xinghe realized she had fallen into a deep pit this time, and the mud was nearly up to her neck. She was so furious that she couldn’t find the words to respond. After a long pause, she finally said, “You know as well as I do what’s going on. We’re both completely innocent, nothing improper between us. You’re the master here; you have your reasons for letting the world misunderstand. As long as it pleases you, I won’t oppose you. But you can’t go too far. The consorts, court ladies, and eunuchs in the palace know the truth. As long as it doesn’t come from your mouth, I will ignore their rumors. But today, you’ve publicly announced it, stabbing me in the heart with every word. Your Highness, I’m still a woman. Can’t you give me some dignity? I have acquaintances who are watching!”
The Crown Prince was taken aback. She had been in the palace for ten years, and this was the first time she had spoken to him at such length. Listening to her, it was clear she thought he had ruined her reputation in front of Lou Yueting. She probably still hoped to leave the palace one day and rekindle her relationship with him!
Dream on, he thought. Once you enter the Eastern Palace, there’s no leaving without scars, unless Prince Jianping dies. And even then, dying a hundred deaths wouldn’t help Lou Yueting now. He looked down at her with a mixture of disdain and arrogance. “Don’t forget,” he sneered, “you and I have shared a bed. After doing that, do you still think you can stand proudly in front of another man? Do you take me for a fool?”
