Prince Xin, at heart still an innocent child, didn’t quite grasp the playful banter between his brother and his lover. With a curious look, he asked, “Egg compress? Brother, when did you pick up this strange habit?”
The Crown Prince had intended to explain, but after opening his mouth, he realized there was no need. Casually, he replied, “Grown-ups’ business children shouldn’t interfere.”
Prince Xin chuckled. “I’m about to marry a princess consort myself; you can’t keep brushing me off like a kid. Well, whatever it is, it can’t be anything good. You both hurry on back to your egg compressing. I’ll keep bothering Father with my complaints Zuo Zhaoyi’s pillow talk may be strong, but I doubt she can outlast me.” Grinning widely, he turned and strode back to the Lizheng Hall.
After everyone had dispersed, the night fog had somehow thickened, becoming so dense that figures beyond ten steps were nearly invisible. Dequan led the way with a lantern, while the Crown Prince tightened the floating sash at Su Xinghe’s collar, took her hand, and said, “Come on, let’s go home.”
They were so close now that, as common folk would put it crudely, he knew even her tiniest habits. His sudden attentiveness likely meant trouble. Su Xinghe tried to pull away. “I can walk on my own; you don’t have to drag me.”
She had been pulled along so quickly that her face hurt from the jolting pace. But the Crown Prince didn’t get it, saying, “You’re so unsteady, I’m afraid you’ll trip and break a tooth. That would be a disaster.”
She felt exasperated, knowing she couldn’t win an argument with him, so she let it go. They walked through the fog-filled corridors, lined with tall palace walls, their dull red barely visible through the mist, stretching endlessly forward. He slowed his pace this time, occasionally glancing back to ask if her face still hurt.
It didn’t hurt as much anymore. The initial sting had faded, leaving only numbness. She raised her hand to touch her face, feeling as though, the skin was no longer her own, a wave of bleakness washing over her. But she put on a brave front and replied, “It’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
The Crown Prince laughed. “Better tomorrow? You’re dreaming!” It was such a blow to a young lady’s dignity, being struck like that; he was genuinely concerned for her. “Stay in the palace tomorrow to rest. I’ll have Commander Nan Yushu, conduct a thorough investigation into the Ministry of Military Control’s case. Don’t worry, even if you’re not there, everything will be handled.”
After all that had happened, Su Xinghe felt a wave of weariness. As someone at the Ministry of Military Control, any action or inaction on her part would be criticized. She lowered her head and murmured, “Thank you, Your Highness, for granting me a day off.”
The Crown Prince glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “It’s not exactly granting you leave. You’ll still be on duty upfront. Let’s see how the injury heals; the swelling won’t go down in a day, so stay in the palace and only go back to the office once it’s better. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m the one who hit you, ruining my reputation.” His tone was grand, yet he felt a bit happy inside. They were both so busy; ever since she had taken up the position of Jinyi Guard, it seemed like all her focus was on her duties, and he had to leave the palace just to see her. This was a rare chance to have her rest for a couple of days. With Winter Solstice approaching, he needed to prepare for the festivities in the Eastern Palace. Spending these days together would be nice; the thought of their faces meeting daily brought him joy.
Holding her hand, he looked up and exhaled. “Su Xinghe, do you remember when we used to catch cicadas along these corridors as kids? On those summer evenings, they’d be everywhere. You’d whistle, and I’d catch the ‘red chilies’ for you. I think it was right here, running back and forth in the corridor until the palace gates were locked at night.”
For him, this was a cherished memory, though Su Xinghe felt quite differently. She’d never liked that game, afraid of the insects, and catching dragonflies in nets was almost torture for her. But the Crown Prince hadn’t known; he’d assumed she liked it too. They often had such different perceptions of the same things, speaking past each other without knowing it.
Still, she couldn’t dampen his mood. Since he seemed to enjoy the memory, she nodded and agreed enthusiastically. But inside, she felt relieved that they were grown now and free of such pointless games thankfully.
The Crown Prince tightened his grip on her hand slightly, as if afraid that if he let go, she’d disappear into the fog. In the thick darkness of the night, he finally shared thoughts he had never expressed openly before. “Actually, you were my best playmate growing up. The other boys in the study hall were too wild; I only practiced riding and archery with them because I had to. I always preferred being with you. We’ve spent nearly every day together for ten years. I don’t have to pretend around you. Everyone talks about a crown prince’s dignity, but only with you do I feel truly alive.”
He was complimenting her, and Su Xinghe, unsure how else to respond, just nodded.
“So you should treat me the same way you treat Su Xinghai.” Smiling, he moved to his real point. “For example, when you see me you could happily run to me. I can catch you; you don’t believe me? Try it.”
A chill ran down her back. He seemed to know her every move. Who would want to feel watched at all times? She replied coolly, “Your Highness, you’ve never really trusted me, or you wouldn’t send people to follow me wherever I go.”
The Crown Prince refused to admit it. “It’s not like I have people watching you all the time only on your way to and from work.”
She still wasn’t pleased, and the Crown Prince, looking back at her, raised his voice. “Do you have any idea how many enemies the Ministry of Military Control has? Half of its commanders haven’t had peaceful ends. Do you want to end up like them, attacked and beheaded on the road? I’m doing this for your own good, yet you don’t appreciate it. With your stubborn streak, you’re bound to get into trouble!”
This was how their conversations always went it only took a few exchanges for them to start jabbing at each other. Dequan, well-versed in palace dynamics, knew better than to stay too close and hurried ahead with the lantern. Su Xinghe stared forward; through the hazy mist, she could barely see the faint lantern light ahead, like a ghostly flame. Sullenly, she muttered, “I have guards from the Ministry of Military Control; who would dare mess with me?”
The Crown Prince chuckled at her attitude. “And you think guards are enough? Can they really protect you if someone of high status decides to pick a fight with you? Even if you have your entourage outside the palace and soldiers from the Central Military Office, what about here, in the palace? I’m considering assigning you two sword-bearing bodyguards. If anyone dares hit you again, they can just chop off the culprit’s hand.” He inspected her bruised face from different angles, turning his head this way and that. “From this side, it’s you; from the other side… it’s like I’m looking at a tapir.”
Humiliated, Su Xinghe stomped her foot. “I look like this, and you’re still making jokes! Do you have any conscience?”
How quickly the tables had turned, the words he’d used on her yesterday were now hers to throw back at him.
Seeing her pitiful expression, the Crown Prince decided not to argue and led her back to the Eastern Palace. On the table was a plate of hard-boiled eggs. He ordered the brass kettle for the night watch to be brought over, placed the eggs inside to keep them warm, dismissed the night attendants, then removed his outer robe, rolled up his sleeves, and sat on the south kang with his leg out. “Come, lie down.”
Hesitant, Su Xinghe considered his intent. Was he asking her to rest her head on his lap? That seemed a little improper, especially given the area he’d kicked yesterday. Though unmarried, she understood enough by now. Last night, her flustered massage had been innocent on her part, but he’d clearly reacted. If not for that, she wouldn’t have known that men had… such reactions.
Standing with her hands behind her back, face still swollen, she kept a safe distance from him and mumbled, “With all those eggs, are we planning to do this all night?”
The Crown Prince raised his brow, clearly irritated, and repeated firmly, “This isn’t about the eggs. Now, come here.”
Reluctantly, she shuffled closer, clearly stalling. Sensing her unease, he stroked his chin and said, “We should probably inform your family about what happened today. I’ve heard your brother Su Xinghai is fiercely protective. If he finds out someone mistreated you, will he storm into the Office of the Imperial Clan for justice tomorrow?”
At his words, her frustration dissipated entirely. She recalled how her brother had just urged her to be careful upon returning to the palace, and she’d even boasted confidently in front of him. Yet, the moment she crossed the palace gates, she’d been humiliated… and thinking about the slap to her face brought fresh tears of embarrassment and anger. Drained and defeated, she slipped off her shoes, climbed onto the kang, and pulled over a silk cushion to make herself comfortable. Gauging the right distance, she leaned her head onto his lap.
That movement alone made the Crown Prince break into a nervous sweat. Luckily, she hadn’t leaned the wrong way; otherwise, there would have been trouble. Quietly exhaling with relief, he picked up a peeled egg from the tray and gently pressed it to her face, rolling it in slow circles as he murmured, “From now on, you’re not to go to Fengchu Palace if summoned. When you’re off duty, come straight back here, no more wandering around.”
She retorted stubbornly that she hadn’t been “wandering”, the palace bigwigs had called for her, and one couldn’t just ignore a summons.
He gave a cold chuckle. “After this incident, she won’t be one of the palace bigwigs any longer. Decades of standing destroyed in one move… If it were me, I’d sooner appeal directly to the Emperor than trouble you with this nonsense.”
Su Xinghe listened quietly as he spoke, detailing his ruthless encounters with political enemies and expressing his helplessness when scolding her. Every word was precise and purposeful. As she listened, she sometimes found it strange; logically, he understood the position of the Su family and the need for caution with her. Yet, it seemed he had never considered eliminating her. Perhaps he valued their childhood bond too much. In contrast, she felt as if she had become a callous bystander, lacking in decency.
A twinge of guilt flickered within her. She reached out to grasp his sleeve, the scent of his Canaan perfume soothing her heart. Looking up at him, she playfully said in a soft voice, “Master, with Zuo Zhaoyi losing power, it’ll be difficult for the Jianjun Wang to turn things around.”
He lowered his eyes at her words, a smile gradually forming. “In this matter, Lord Su has made a significant contribution. This time, it can be considered an injury sustained in the line of duty, so I’ll personally attend to you, this should make up for it.”
The boiled egg rolled gently across her face. Initially anxious, she soon felt comforted by his words. Closing her eyes in contentment, she leaned against the soft fabric of his inner robe, feeling at ease. In a dreamy tone, she said, “You know, I was thinking of you at the yamen today, wondering if I hurt you last night. I originally planned to return in the afternoon, but I was worried you might not be at the Eastern Palace, so I intentionally stayed until evening… Who would’ve thought I’d end up caught in someone else’s net? How are you feeling now? Is your body still in pain?”
Hearing her tender voice made him feel warm inside, and he thought to himself that the years he spent devoted to her were worth it. As for her latter question, aside from a fleeting embarrassment, it was nothing he dwelled on, after all, it was all hers, just a matter of timing.
“I’m okay; it just hurts a bit from practicing riding today. It stung when I mounted the horse…”
Su Xinghe’s eyes flew open in surprise. “Really?” After a moment of hesitation, she suggested, “But this egg can help reduce swelling. Why don’t we… try it?”
The Crown Prince’s face instantly flushed to the tips of his ears, his youthful charm illuminated under the light. He shot her a glance and said, “Well, it is as you say… but will you help me?”
As the words left his mouth, both of them fell into an awkward silence. Su Xinghe shook her head bashfully, her swaying movements spreading a soft warmth across his lap.
The Crown Prince felt flustered and short of breath, trying to maintain his composure. “What happened last night isn’t your fault; it was me… it was that Hehuan fragrance causing the disturbance, so we’re both not to blame.”
She mumbled a vague acknowledgment, feeling too shy to face him directly. With the egg rolling around on the side of her cheek, she slightly tilted her head away.
This tilt, in the Crown Prince’s eyes, was incredibly ambiguous. Every sense he had seemed to transform into countless needles and threads, piercing into the tiniest nuances. He could hear her heart thundering and even felt the breath escaping her rosy lips, brushing against the fabric of his clothing, stirring a deep longing within him.
His mind buzzed, and even without incense burning that night, he felt as if he were caught in a storm outside the window. It must be the age he found himself yearning more and more for intimate contact. Strangely, despite being approached by beautiful girls, his heart remained as calm as a still pond. Only in front of her did he become so sensitive that he felt her every breath was for him. When she smiled, it stirred his thoughts; he began to wonder if she harbored the same unspoken feelings as he did. Did she? when he gazed at her intently, also felt a sense of disorientation as if her soul were soaring away from her body.
In any case, he was infatuated. The Crown Prince had always been able to look candidly at his own feelings, and a man’s desires in this regard were often stronger than a woman’s. The egg rolled softly in his palm, yielding and elastic… Instinctively, he tightened his grip, and his heart trembled in response.
A familiar heat began to rise again, this time, accompanied by an indescribable embarrassment and thrill. He dared not move, striving to suppress his rapid breathing, but instead found himself engulfed by a suffocating sensation.
Thank heaven, the loose-fitting robe helped conceal his state; even when he stood in front of her, she couldn’t detect anything amiss. He quietly parted his lips to take a gentle breath, stealing glances at her pitiful half-closed face. Was it a bit animalistic to indulge in such fantasies at this moment?
The subtle changes between them were noticed not only by the Crown Prince but also by Su Xinghe. Long ago, when they were of the same age, she had always been more mature than him, whether in strength or stature. She was not inferior to him in any way. But today, as he tugged at her to run faster, she suddenly realized how vast the disparity had become. Their relationship was no longer equal; facing him evoked in her the feeling of being a carefree and vulnerable girl, akin to when she was in the presence of Lou Yueting and Su Xinghai. The Crown Prince was no longer that slender youth; he had grown into a man, skilled in strategy and holding great power. Yet, in their daily interactions, he remained the same childhood friend who would tease her over trivial matters, and she hadn’t noticed this change at all, until today. The realization struck her hard, leaving her stunned. Lying on his lap, she could no longer focus; every flick of his fingers felt like torment. At this rate, things were bound to go awry.
Finally, she sat up, touching her face to ease the tension. “It’s much better now; it’s not swollen anymore, right?” As she spoke, she moved to the mirror to take a look. The distinct marks left by fingers had faded, becoming a vague red that appeared to be improving. “After a night’s rest, it should be almost fine. Thank you, my lord, for being so attentive and caring.”
The Crown Prince secretly sighed in relief, placing the egg back in the dish as he rose to wash his hands, saying, “I was planning to stay up until dawn.”
Su Xinghe hurriedly replied, “I wouldn’t dare trouble you over such a trivial matter! That would be a great offense on my part.” Just as she finished speaking, her stomach let out a long growl, suddenly reminding her that she hadn’t had dinner. She glanced at the teapot, seeing warm water gently swirling inside, with seven or eight eggs floating about. Since there were plenty, she licked her lips. “Let’s take them out and eat.”
So the Crown Prince watched as she rolled up her sleeves to fish out the eggs, placing them neatly on the table. “You take five, and I’ll take three. Go ahead and eat.”
The Crown Prince looked at the line of eggs before him in disbelief. “Why do I have to eat two more?”
She focused on peeling the shells, replying in between, “You have what I don’t… eat what you need to replenish… if I say you should eat, then just eat! What’s with all the questions?”
