Chapter 5: Hot Flashes. His palms irresistibly clasped her waist. …

That night, a crescent moon peeked through the clouds, only to be obscured by dark clouds. A gentle rain began to fall.

Qingwu took her coat and draped it over Ming Yunzhi. “His Highness sent word that we will be staying in Guangming Palace tonight. Please don’t wait any longer, Your Majesty.”

Ming Yunzhi nodded. This was Pei Yu’s normal routine. He was diligent in his official duties and spent eight out of ten days in Guangming Palace.

She checked the time and ordered the meal to be prepared. Qingwu, holding an oil-paper umbrella, accompanied her to Guangming Palace.

All the way, Qingwu felt sorry for her own Majesty.

Back when she was still in the Ming family, she knew that Madam favored the Third Madam. She had never imagined that Madam had completely forgotten that the Second Madam couldn’t have a peach either. Even so, the Empress hadn’t forgotten Madam’s request and braved the rain to find His Highness for the Third Lady’s marriage.

And His Highness, the Empress, always took care of Him with unwavering care, asking about His Highness’s food, clothing, shelter, and every other aspect of his life. Yet, His Highness…

“Look at that little mouth of hers, she’s so full of greasy wine,” Ming Yunzhi said softly, turning to see her expression. “Those snow peaches are delicious, but I just can’t eat them. I’ve saved a plate for you to share with Qingzhu and the others when you get back. Don’t waste them.”

Qingwu gazed at the light streaming from the inner hall not far away and pursed her lips. “The Empress is just too good-natured.”

Ming Yunzhi smiled. “Many things can’t be forced. Being overly fussy only hurts yourself.”

Not to mention, the Marquis of Ting’an’s son is seriously ill, and human life is at stake.

A palace attendant from Guangming Palace spotted the Crown Princess from afar and hurried forward to pass on the message. As she approached, she was already being respectfully greeted inside:

“Your Highness, please enter.”

This palace had been the seat of state affairs for successive Crown Princes. Although it was not far from Linhua Palace, Ming Yunzhi rarely visited. Even when delivering food and clothing to Pei Yu, she would send her away immediately, not wanting to disturb His Highness’s peace.

Come to think of it, this was actually her first time setting foot in the inner chambers.

The hall was brightly lit. Hearing footsteps, the man behind the desk looked up from the pile of documents. His dark eyes softened a bit at the sight of the figure in the imperial robes, and his brow relaxed slightly.

His expression remained impassive, but his tone wasn’t as cold as before. “Why are you here?”

Ming Yunzhi raised an eyebrow, his face relaxed. “It’s been raining late, and I’m worried Your Highness might be suffering from a cold stomach after not having dinner. I’ve come to invite you to dinner.”

A sudden laugh fell by his ear.

Pei Yu stood up, his eyes bright with interest. “How did the Crown Princess know I hadn’t eaten?”

He was busy with official duties, and most of the time he and the Linhua Palace shared meals. The palace maids in Guangming Palace had served him for years, and they were very tight-lipped. Without his permission, they wouldn’t reveal his current situation to anyone.

Including his Crown Princess.

Ming Yunzhi curled his lips. “I guessed it.”

Pei Yu leaned back on the cushions and raised his hand.

After a brief hesitation, Ming Yunzhi placed his fingertips in the man’s palm. His large hand enveloped her delicate hand, and with a slight pressure, she was drawn a few steps closer. The wide hem of his sleeves brushed against her high nose, but Pei Yu remained unperturbed. He simply looked up at her and asked, “How did you guess?”

A tingling tingle tingled in his heart, but Ming Yunzhi studiously ignored it and explained, “Fifth Brother eagerly followed Your Highness out of Changqiu Palace. Given Fifth Brother’s personality, he’d definitely pester Your Highness to have lunch with him.”

“A new chef from Liangzhou has arrived at Taifeng Tower. He’s a skilled griller. At yesterday’s wedding banquet, Fifth Brother praised the chef’s skills, but because it was a wedding, he only tasted a few bites. I think I’ll go and have some today.” “I’m greedy. Besides, before leaving the palace, Fifth Brother was approached by Fifth Brother’s wife, and they talked for quite a while, which delayed him. Lunch was late, so naturally, he wasn’t hungry for dinner.”

“Your Highness is not one to be greedy.”

Ming Yunzhi continued, “I also heard that Your Highness recently gained a talented person. He and Your Highness were discussing matters until the end of the evening hour. How could they have time to spare for food?”

“The Crown Princess is incredibly attentive,” Pei Yu sighed. “Serve the food.”

The dishes were few, but they were all refreshing and delicious. Even the soup was exceptionally delicious. Pei Yu wasn’t hungry to begin with, but the aroma whetted his appetite. “This soup is quite good.”

“Would Your Highness like to have another bowl?”

A soft voice echoed with the jingling of the jade bracelet on her wrist. Ming Yunzhi placed the small jade bowl on the table and asked him, tilting her head.

Pei Yu hummed a “hmm,” taking a sip. “Do you like my gift?”

Ming Yunzhi was slightly startled, her hands clenching awkwardly beneath the table as she softly said, “I do.”

After dinner, Pei Yu saw that she looked normal, no longer as distant as she had been that morning. He presumably thought the gift from the King of Qi was a good one.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d skipped dinner, but today was the day he got to enjoy some delicious food.

“Did my mother-in-law come to the palace today?”

Seemingly enjoying her meal, Pei Yu asked.

Ming Yunzhi, not forgetting the purpose of his visit, told Pei Yu what Madam Bai had asked.

“The Marquis of Ting’an…” Pei Yu said, “It’s not difficult. It’s just that Jingshan has been traveling extensively these past few years, making him hard to find. Finding him will take some effort.”

After speaking, he untied the token and gave his instructions.

Ming Yunzhi bowed to him. “Your Highness’s willingness to help is a blessing to me. I thank Your Highness on your behalf.”

A voice as clear and melodious as a jade spring reached his ears, its clarity too cold.

Pei Yu frowned, a familiar feeling of discomfort welling up within him.

The dishes on the table had not yet been cleared. He remained silent for a moment, his eyes darkening slightly.

To him, Ming Sanniang was his sister-in-law, so offering assistance was only natural. She was usually gentle, generous, and courteous, but today, her thoughtfulness felt strangely off-putting.

Pei Yu lowered his brows, his already cold expression taking on a frost. He slowly turned the ring on his finger.

Ming Yunzhi had merely called for the dishes to be cleared away when he turned back to see that the atmosphere in the hall had changed. He looked at Pei Yu with a puzzled expression.

…He was fine just now. Who had offended him?

Outside, the sound of rain intensified, clattering against the windowsill. A cool breeze blew through the half-open window in the corner, making the candlelight in the hall flicker and look pathetic.

Ming Yunzhi pursed her lips and went to close the window. Then, she said gently, “It’s getting late. If Your Highness has any business, I will…”

Before she finished her words, a broad hand enveloped her hand again.

Then, her whole world spun. An irresistible hand pressed against her waist, and she was thrown into a firm embrace.

A faint scent of sandalwood enveloped her completely. Ming Yunzhi blinked blankly, then looked up to meet a deep gaze.

At some point, she had practically straddled the man, her palms frantically pressing against his chest and abdomen. She frantically tried to withdraw her hand, but found no support to lift herself.

“It’s raining so hard, I’m afraid my shoes and socks will get wet if I go home in the rain.”

Ming Yunzhi could only see his raven eyelashes as he lowered his eyes. So close, she could even feel the vibrations in his chest as he spoke.

A blush crept up her cheeks, and she felt a pang of annoyance: “What is Your Highness doing?”

“Look at the Crown Princess’s burns,” Pei Yu said calmly. “How is it?”

Though his eyes were deep, there was no lust in them. He seemed only to want to see her fingertips, as if all the nervousness and shyness were hers alone.

“It’s healed already…”

Ming Yunzhi tried to pull away, but the man’s strength was astonishing, holding her in his embrace with an unmistakable force.

Many times before, he had pressed her into his arms this forcefully, but those were… This was Guangming Palace, surrounded by piles of official documents and memorials, the heavy scent of ink. It was clearly not a place for unbridled behavior.

She didn’t know where she’d touched, but a short, muffled hum reached her ear. She looked up in surprise, her breath trembling. “Your Highness, have you seen enough?”

Pei Yu answered irrelevantly: “Your guess was mostly correct, except for one point.”

“What do you think, Princess? I’m not a greedy person, always content with what I have?”

Pei Yu lowered his head, his breath landing on her fingertips, bringing a faint, tingling warmth. “I haven’t seen enough.”

The sound of rain continued incessantly, seemingly endlessly, until dawn.

Ming Yunzhi rested for the first time in Guangming Palace, the residence where Pei Yu spent most of his time alone. All she saw was simple yet luxurious furniture, devoid of any unnecessary ornamentation, only numerous old books and ink stains.

Cold and unfamiliar.

Her mind drifted vaguely back to that priceless basket of snow peaches. Her eyes welled up, and her nose felt a little stuffy. Between the ups and downs, something seemed to scratch at him, and consciousness cleared for a moment, but only for a moment.

The next moment, the fingertip that had been tickling him was bitten, neither lightly nor harshly. The slight sting only lured him deeper into the sea of desire.

“…You deserve the punishment.”

…

Bang, bang.

An indescribable palpitation crept up his spine, and his heartbeat slowed and pounded. Pei Yu opened his eyes, and in his arms lay that familiar figure.

—No.

The familiar face had become childish, even endearingly round. His complexion was rosy, and his breathing was heavy, as if he was exhausted and sleeping soundly.

The drab, ancient Guangming Palace was gone. Layers of fiery red curtains hung around it, embroidered with twin lotus flowers, entwined and intertwined.

It was clear that they had just gotten married.

A sharp sting stabbed in her forehead. When she opened her eyes again, the festive decorations in Linhua Palace had been partially removed. The young woman, her hair in a seemingly dignified bun, held a glint in her eyes.

She sat at the table, several dishes laid out before her. It seemed she’d spent ages, but in reality, she hadn’t touched a single thing.

A nearby nanny was worried, “Why isn’t Your Majesty in a hurry? It’s only been a few days since the wedding, and His Highness wants to sleep in a separate room from Your Majesty. What’s going on?”

She put down her bowl and chopsticks with a sullen look. It was clear she hadn’t eaten enough, and her voice was much lower: “…I wish His Highness hadn’t come.”

For several days, she had been…uncomfortable. She couldn’t bring herself to tell anyone around her, so she could only mutter to herself, secretly feeling thankful.

Pei Yu recalled the time when this had happened.

He pursed his lips, his palms tightening slightly.

Having known restraint and moderation since childhood, he spent several days resting in Linhua Palace. Seeing the flower-like beauty’s eyes darken, he finally realized his long-term indulgence.

This shouldn’t be the case.

From that day on, except for the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, he rarely returned to Linhua Palace, even though it was his bedroom.

“Your Majesty, please stay a little longer,” Madam Zhao sighed repeatedly. “You smiled and said goodbye to His Highness the moment he said he was leaving. Aren’t you just pushing him away for nothing?”

“Madam.”

The young lady was silent for a moment, then slowly called her, her cheeks gradually turning an unnatural red. “…Do husband and wife have to do those things?”

Madam Zhao was horrified and quickly covered her mistress’s lips. After confirming that no one was in the hall, she said, “It’s always like that.”

“It’s so uncomfortable, so boring,” the young lady said sadly. “How could anyone enjoy it?”

Madam Zhao seemed to understand something and fell silent.

…

Pei Yu’s solemn eyes darkened completely.