Chapter 13
Yan Xuecui greedily inhaled the young woman's soft, sweet fragrance, releasing a satisfied sigh.
Tonight she hadn't used any incense. Her own warm, pure scent permeated his breath. He buried himself deeply against her neck, his consciousness feeling wrapped in warm flowing water that seeped through every crack, inch by inch flooding his barren, desolate heart, gradually filling every void.
The red candles burned high throughout the room, bright yellow warm light spilling over the brocade and gold-threaded curtains. Time was stretched long by the night, flowing slowly and clearly.
Chi Ying felt the man's breathing become steady, that anxious heat slowly receding. His old illness must have eased somewhat. Only... he was leaning far too close. His high-bridged nose pressed against the pulse at her neck, his gentle breathing spilling over her collarbone, waves of tingling spreading outward.
Chi Ying couldn't relax at all. Her nightclothes clung stickily to her back, her fingertips gripped white, barely able to suppress her body's trembling.
Just clinging together like this, there was suddenly a strange sensation at her neck, soft, warm, slightly moist. After realizing what it was, Chi Ying felt hot currents surging through her entire body. Where she had been licked felt like fire burning, restless heat rushing to her four limbs and hundred bones.
Sensing the person beneath him trembling, Yan Xuecui suddenly snapped awake, surprised by his own actions just now. He immediately withdrew, a trace of cold severity flashing across his face.
Distance opened between them. Chi Ying could finally breathe freely and at last, in this moment, clearly see the expression on his face.
The man's gray, cold eyes concealed suppression, but he'd ultimately calmed down. His thin lips curved slightly, that smile revealing three parts contempt. His cool, jade-like fingers climbed toward her neck at that moment.
The most sensitive and vulnerable place, though the touch was neither light nor heavy, that suffocating sensation of potentially being strangled at any moment made Chi Ying shudder violently.
Yan Xuecui lowered his gaze and said softly, "If the Princess Consort wanted my life, just now was the perfect opportunity."
He seemed quite regretful. "What a pity you didn't make your move."
Chi Ying's face filled with shock, momentarily feeling all the blood in her body freeze.
"Your Highness, I don't understand what you're saying..."
How could she want to kill him? What ability did she have to take a prince's life...
She didn't even know why he suddenly thought this way. Weren't they just holding each other tightly moments ago?
Did he think she was some assassin sent by some faction?
Just as Chi Ying thought he would interrogate her, Prince Zhao instead stroked her neck and said gently, "Next time, don't miss such a good opportunity. Understand?"
Chi Ying's entire body went cold. She wanted to explain herself, but her voice seemed stuck in her throat, unable to make a sound.
She could only watch as Prince Zhao rose from ontop of her, groped for his blind cane by the table, got off the bed alone to change clothes, and left Shuyu Pavilion.
Aunt Fangchun had been waiting in the corridor, originally thinking the two masters would succeed tonight. She hadn't imagined His Highness would leave without a word. Though his expression was as usual, in the night it held an intimidating quality.
Steward Yuan and Qingze exchanged glances and hurriedly followed. Aunt Fangchun had no choice but to enter the room and inquire with the Princess Consort about what happened.
Upon entering, she only saw the Princess Consort standing dazedly by the bed, her face full of shock and bewilderment.
Aunt Fangchun hurried forward to help her sit down. "Princess Consort, what happened? Why did His Highness leave?"
They'd been getting along harmoniously at dinner, after all.
Chi Ying shook her head in a daze.
Prince Zhao actually suspected she harbored ill intentions and meant to assassinate him. Assassinating a prince, what a grave crime! How could she bear such an accusation!
Right now the matter hadn't blown up. Prince Zhao hadn't sent people to arrest or interrogate her, probably waiting for her to make further moves? Or investigating privately, waiting until evidence was conclusive before arresting her?
Chi Ying's mind was in complete chaos. She didn't plan to tell Aunt Fangchun. If things escalated and instead of proving whether she was an assassin, her impersonation of the legitimate daughter was exposed, there would be no room for turning back.
Seeing this, Aunt Fangchun had her own vague suspicions. Perhaps His Highness, being blind, felt somewhat dispirited about bedroom matters. This was a mental affliction.
Chi Ying didn't sleep all night.
Early the next morning, she summoned Xiangqin and instructed, "Today I need you to return to the manor and persuade Mother again, and ask what Second Sister's thoughts are."
Seeing her haggard expression, Xiangqin couldn't help asking softly, "The consummation didn't succeed yesterday, has the Prince of Zhao grown suspicious of your identity?"
Chi Ying was silent for a moment, then shook her head. "It's not because of that."
Last night when the Prince of Zhao left in full view of everyone, though Xiangqin and the others didn't dare speak carelessly, how could their minds not wander?
Especially since Prince Zhao's external reputation wasn't good, some said his bedroom methods were bloody, others said he was impotent. But Third Miss hadn't suffered inhuman torture, so it could only be impotence. This would also explain why he left midway through the wedding night.
Chi Ying didn't know she was thinking such things. After hesitating a long while, she finally said truthfully, "His Highness thinks I... intend to assassinate him. He must be investigating my background now."
Xiangqin was dumbstruck. "Assass... assassinate?"
"I don't know why either," Chi Ying was also helpless. "But I have nothing to hide, so I have a clear conscience on this point. I only fear he'll discover the substitute marriage. Just in case, it's better to switch back with Second Sister as soon as possible."
Chapter 13 (Part 2/2)
If she could return to the manor personally, that would naturally be better. But now that Prince Zhao suspected she had ulterior motives, leaving the manor at this moment would inevitably draw attention, making people think she was meeting with assassins.
She could only have Xiangqin return to the manor under the pretext of visiting her mother.
However, before this matter could even consult Chi Yingyue's opinion, Countess Yin vetoed it first.
Upon hearing the news, Countess Yin was so furious she pounded the table and cursed: "She must have said something or done something, otherwise why would Prince Zhao suspect her for no reason?"
"She angered Prince Zhao herself, yet wants Yingyue to clean up her mess? Don't even think about it!"
Xiangqin said timidly, "Perhaps His Highness Prince Zhao frequently encounters assassination attempts and has a suspicious nature..."
Countess Yin said angrily, "Then Yingyue definitely can't go! If Prince Zhao flies into a rage, how could Yingyue survive?"
Xiangqin recalled last night and said carefully, "Last night His Highness didn't fly into a rage, nor did he intend to imprison and interrogate Third Miss. If Second Miss goes over and is just respectful and obedient to His Highness Prince Zhao..."
Countess Yin: "Silence! Have you been bewitched by that Chi Ying? Actually speaking up for her? Don't forget who your master is!"
Xiangqin hadn't expected that not only would she fail to persuade the countess, she would also receive a scolding. When she returned to the manor, her face was full of dejection.
Seeing her expression, Chi Ying knew this matter was hopeless.
Xiangqin said in a low voice, "The lady said you should fend for yourself. If you cause trouble and implicate the Earl's manor, she'll... she'll stop Aunt Xue's medicine..."
Chi Ying collapsed weakly into her seat, the color draining completely from her face.
These past few days she'd been enduring without crying, but now she finally couldn't hold back her emotions. Tears slid down uncontrollably.
Xiangqin was also helpless. She gently patted her back and said softly, "The countess wants you to carefully attend to things here. When Prince Zhao's attitude improves in the future, we'll find a way to switch you back with Second Miss."
Chi Ying only hated that she hadn't thought of this sooner. The Prince of Zhao's moods were unpredictable. Now he even suspected her of being in league with assassins—how could Lady Yin feel comfortable sending her daughter into this dragon's den and tiger's lair?
Xiangqin comforted her: "Miss, right now our Second Miss is hiding in a separate residence. Everyone in the manor keeps their mouths shut, no one dares gossip outside. You can rest assured about that. Right now the most important thing is to make His Highness the Prince of Zhao dismiss his suspicions of you."
Chi Ying's face was pale, her clenched fingertips also turning white. "How could I not know that? It's just..."
Even now she didn't know where things went wrong, why the Prince of Zhao suspected her, or when he started suspecting her.
Since marrying, she'd been extremely cautious, never contacting outsiders. Only that day returning to her natal home, she was seized by assassins and nearly died by his arrow. Later, afflicted by a cold, she stayed indoors for half a month. Yesterday she'd even visited Consort Zhuang with him, dined together, shared a bed, she almost thought there was a layer of intimacy developing between them...
Should she prove her innocence? How could she prove something she hadn't done?
Chi Ying had matters weighing on her mind and barely touched her lunch before setting down her silver chopsticks.
Baoshan didn't know why the two masters were unhappy and privately suggested to Chi Ying: "Why don't you personally make His Highness some pastries, or embroider a sachet or handkerchief to send over? When His Highness sees your thoughtfulness, any anger will dissipate."
Xiangqin thought about it—this was actually feasible. Third Miss staying cooped up in her room all day was still arousing suspicion anyway. Better to take the initiative to show goodwill and prevent the misunderstanding from deepening.
Actually, from what she could see now, His Highness Prince Zhao was quite gentle and kind. Unfortunately, no matter what she said, neither the countess nor Second Miss believed it.
When Third Miss and His Highness Prince Zhao got along well in the future, Second Miss could switch back, and the lady could rest easy.
Chi Ying sighed. She was slowly coming to terms with it herself.
Whether she showed goodwill or not, whether she clarified or not, Prince Zhao would investigate what he needed to. Now deeply mired in danger, she had to think of ways to save herself. Blindly avoiding would accomplish nothing and would only make people think she had a guilty conscience.
Making some pastries wasn't difficult. Chi Ying went to the kitchen, planning to make several pastries to send to Yangui Tower, and also send some to Consort Zhuang to show filial devotion.
On the other side, what worried Aunt Fangchun was another matter entirely.
Knowing that Physician Lin would come today to administer acupuncture treatment for His Highness's eye condition, she specifically waited outside Yangui Tower. Seeing him emerge, she immediately invited him aside to speak.
Seeing her hesitant and wanting to speak but stopping, Physician Lin said directly, "If Aunt has something to ask, just ask directly. I'll naturally answer everything I know."
Aunt Fangchun hesitated a long while before finally opening her mouth with difficulty: "His Highness has always avoided women, especially after losing his sight, ordinary women cannot approach him. Yesterday we finally persuaded His Highness to consummate the marriage with the Princess Consort, but... but midway through consummation, His Highness left the Princess Consort and departed alone... You frequently come to treat His Highness and know his condition best. Has His Highness developed a mental affliction from blindness, or is that aspect... unsatisfactory?"
Physician Lin had just taken Yan Xuecui's pulse. He waved his hand and said, "You can set your mind completely at ease about this. His Highness has abundant kidney essence and vigorous yang energy, the only worry is having nowhere to release it!"
The worry lines on Aunt Fangchun's brow immediately smoothed out.
Their Highness wasn't inadequate, on the contrary, he was very adequate, even... holding back too severely?
TRANSLATOR: Guys, i just realized this book is rated 18, and i cannot continue posting it on my website. i am still trying to figure out what to do when we get to those chapters.
Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/
GLOSSARY
Characters
Chi Ying (池萤) - Female protagonist; concubine-born third daughter who substitutes for her legitimate elder sister in marriage to the Prince of Zhao
Yan Xuecui / Prince of Zhao (晏雪摧 / 昭王) - Male protagonist; blind prince with a dark reputation, suffers from touch-starvation condition
Chi Yingyue (池颖月) - Chi Ying's legitimate elder sister who was originally supposed to marry the Prince of Zhao
Countess Yin / Yin-shi (殷氏)- Chi Yingyue's mother; the legitimate wife who arranged the substitute marriage
Aunt Xue / Xue Yiniang (薛姨娘) - Chi Ying's mother; a concubine in poor health
Consort Zhuang (庄妃) - The Prince of Zhao's mother
Prince Ding (定王) - The deceased elder brother of Prince of Zhao
Emperor Yongcheng (永成帝) - The current emperor
Servants & Attendants
Xiangqin (香琴) - Chi Ying's maid, originally serving Lady Yin's interests
Baoshan (宝扇) - Chi Ying's maid
Aunt Fangchun (芳春姑姑) - Senior servant managing household affairs
Steward Yuan / Yuan-de (元德) - The Prince of Zhao's chief steward
Qingzhi (青芝) & Yintiao (银翘) - Maids at the manor
Qingze (青泽) - The Prince of Zhao's attendant
Physician Lin (林院判) - The physician treating the Prince of Zhao
Locations
Prince of Zhao's Manor (昭王府) - The prince's residence
Shuyu Pavilion (漱玉斋) - Chi Ying's residence, formerly the Prince of Zhao's chamber
Yangui Tower (雁归楼)- The Prince of Zhao's current residence with a dungeon beneath
Shouchun Hall (寿春堂)- Consort Zhuang's residence
Changyuan Earl Manor (昌远伯府)- Chi family's declining noble household
Titles & Terms
Wang/Prince (王)- Imperial prince title
Wangfei/Princess Consort (王妃) - Wife of a prince
Dianxia/Your Highness (殿下) - Formal address for a prince
Niangniang/Your Ladyship (娘娘) - Formal address for an imperial consort
Di (嫡) - Legitimate-born (from legal wife)
Shu (庶) - Concubine-born
Substitute marriage (替嫁)- Marrying in place of another
Consummation/Yuan fang (圆房) - Completing the marriage ceremony through intercourse
Returning home visit/Hui men (回门) - Traditional bride's first visit to natal home after marriage
Cultural Items
Bamboo cane/scrolls (竹杖/竹简) - The prince uses these for mobility and reading
Incense (熏香) - Various types used for ambiance
Dragon and phoenix candles (龙凤喜烛) - Wedding candles
Phoenix seal (鳳印)- Symbol of empress status
Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons pattern (百子千孙图) - Auspicious bedding embroidery symbolizing fertility
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