My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 6: I Hope Your Highness Is In Good Health.

　　The winter sun was warm.

　　Yun Ling diligently carried all the bedding outside to air. The sun-warmed bedding was soft and fluffy, making it even more comfortable to sleep in.

　　She had been serving the Sixth Prince for over half a year now, occasionally facing the condescending treatment of the eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen and cold stares from others. The Sixth Prince, with his unpredictable temper, wasn't an easy person to serve, making her life far from comfortable. But at least she had escaped Wang Dade for now. Within the Jingxiang Palace, Wang Dade couldn't order the other maids to target her, nor did he have the chance to get physical with her again. He was still afraid of the Sixth Prince, after all.

　　As for how long she would live, she had no idea.

　　Perhaps the Sixth Prince would suddenly fly into a rage, or for some other reason, she might be killed by him. In this palace, killing a maid was as easy as snapping a lotus stem.

　　She could only try her best to avoid angering the Sixth Prince and make him happy. She had to be cautious and careful, not to hinder him, and most importantly, not to ‘discover’ anything, or learn any secrets. Perhaps then, she could live a little longer.

　　She was greedy, with desires that went beyond simply surviving.

　　Yun Ling lifted her head, gazing up at the blazing sun and the endless blue sky, where clouds drifted lazily.

　　But in her dreams, the sky was stained red with flames and blood.

　　Whether it was a rebellion or something else, in her dreams, the Sixth Prince was the future emperor.

　　Within this palace, even maids were ranked according to their status. A maid who had accompanied the new Emperor through difficult times naturally held a different position.

　　The key was for the Sixth Prince to lower his guard around her.

　　For the past half year in the Cold Palace, Yun Ling had been careful and cautious, serving him with meticulous attention and care. However, unless there was a reason, the Sixth Prince never allowed her to approach him. He was cold and inscrutable, his thoughts a mystery.

　　She couldn't try too hard to make herself stand out, as that would only make him suspicious of her motives.

　　Although she did.

　　Taking advantage of her brief trips to collect meals, Yun Ling learned about the current state of affairs within the palace. The struggle for the throne was heating up, with Zhang Guifei and the Empress locked in a fierce battle for dominance.

　　It was said that a few days ago, the Empress was stripped of her Phoenix Seal due to Liu Bin's miscarriage. The Seventh Prince was also reprimanded harshly by Grand Tutor Xiao for his flowery and lacking-in-substance essay. This news spread like wildfire throughout the palace, becoming the talk of the town.

　　All of this was likely orchestrated by Zhang Guifei and the Third Prince.

　　Though just a lowly maid, Yun Ling paid close attention to every happening in the palace, regardless of its significance.

　　Understanding the root of things meant knowing how to seize the moment, and in this palace, only those who could navigate the tides of power could truly survive.

　　She had been in the Cold Palace for half a year now, and in her dreams, another six months would mark the Sixth Prince's rebellion. How could she gain his trust before then?

　　The sun began its descent, painting the western sky with hues of orange and gold.

　　Yun Ling carried a clean, sun-dried fox fur cloak towards the Sixth Prince's sleeping quarters.

　　……

　　The dimly lit room was illuminated by a flickering candle, casting a warm glow on the man's sharp brow, but unable to dispel the icy chill in his gaze.

　　“Make it bigger, cause enough of a commotion that the old man has to step in and protect Xie Kang. Only then will Zhang Guifei be truly wary,” Xie Jue's voice was low and menacing. His pale, slender fingers held a small piece of paper over the flickering flame, quickly reducing it to ashes.

　　In the shadows, another figure sat opposite him.

　　The young man in grey handed him a medicine pouch. “This is the medicine Master prepared, according to your request. After consuming it, your body will appear weaker, and you'll cough up blood every day.”

　　“It wasn't easy to slip past all those guards to get here,” Chen Zhan's brow furrowed. “Why do you need this medicine? The rumors about your weakened health are spreading, the Emperor has lowered his guard, why take this? This medicine is no ordinary concoction, once consumed, it will cause bone-deep pain, continuous vomiting of blood, as if you were being cut a thousand times.”

　　It was well-known that Emperor Jingning held a deep affection for Empress Zhaohui and showered his sixth son with love.

　　But within the walls of this palace, the Emperor's blatant affection was a target, plain as day.

　　Open affection, hidden protection.

　　The Emperor's love for Xie Jue was actually laced with fear and caution.

　　Emperor Jingning had been wary of Xie Jue for a long time, until he was confined to Jingxiang Palace and weakened by illness. Only then did the Emperor's heart find peace, no longer needing to constantly test, guard, and suppress him.

　　Xie Jue said, “In half a month, it will be my mother's death anniversary.”

　　Chen Zhan looked at him, confused.

　　“I need to leave the palace for a while, to see Old Grand Tutor Xiao,” Xie Jue raised his eyes slowly. “Grand Tutor Xiao is upright and honest, but also hopelessly rigid.”

　　Chen Zhan shook his head, disapproving. “You're confined here, leaving the palace won't be easy. Besides, Old Grand Tutor Xiao is not someone you can easily persuade.”

　　“That old fool pretends to be virtuous, putting on a facade of a benevolent father in front of the court. In a few days, have my uncle mention my mother's death anniversary in court. Add to that my failing health and impending death, he'll have no choice but to feign agreement. As for Old Grand Tutor Xiao, even in his rigidity, he'll consider his grandson, Xiao Qibai. And Xiao Qibai is a clever one,” Xie Jue set down his teacup.

　　Chen Zhan pondered. “Good, I'll go back and make arrangements. Also, the medicine Master gave the old Emperor has been working for a while now, it should be about time.”

　　“Hold off for now, it's not quite ready yet.”

　　Chen Zhan nodded and said,

　　“I've had people check on the palace maid. It seems Wang Dade had his eyes on her for a long time, and she must have been desperate to enter the Cold Palace. Nothing else is clear. At this crucial moment, we shouldn't let the old Emperor suspect anything.”

　　Regardless of who that palace maid is loyal to, as long as she stays in line, it's best not to make any unnecessary moves.

　　The old Emperor is deeply suspicious, and his mind is as clear as a mirror. The people he sent must be the work of the Empress and Zhang Guifei. He turns a blind eye to it, but it's also to keep an eye on Xie Jue.

　　He guards against Xie Jue, and he guards against the Duke of Chen's Mansion. Over the past few years, the old Emperor has seized several opportunities to diminish the power of the Duke of Chen's Mansion, the very force that helped him ascend to the throne. Yet, he hypocritically maintains his reputation as a benevolent ruler, offering insignificant rewards to pacify them. And towards Xie Jue, he pretends to show even more affection.

　　The more affection he displays, the more fearful and hostile the Empress and Zhang Guifei become towards Xie Jue. As a result, Xie Jue has had to tread carefully within the palace for these years, enduring countless plots and schemes.

　　What a ‘benevolent ruler’ and ‘loving father.’

　　With no one to attend to him, the old Emperor naturally couldn't feel at ease.

　　“And,” Chen Zhan took a sip of the floral tea in his cup and said with a knowing smile, “this little palace maid, all by herself, manages this vast Jingxiang Palace so efficiently. You can see she's very devoted to you.”

　　Xie Jue gave him a cold look, and Chen Zhan immediately shut his mouth. It was getting late, and he should be heading back.

　　The flames flickered and danced, casting dancing shadows on the wall.

　　After a long silence, footsteps echoed from the doorway, followed by a gentle knock. A soft voice spoke, “Your Highness, your cloak is washed.”

　　For some reason, there was no response from inside the room.

　　Yun Ling lowered her head and waited quietly.

　　With a sharp creak, the door opened from the inside. A tall figure, radiating a chillingly frail aura, emerged slowly - the Sixth Prince.

　　His appearance seemed to deepen the chill of the winter night. His gaze fell upon the small palace maid standing before him.

　　Yun Ling didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. She unfolded the freshly washed and dried fox fur cloak, then carefully helped him put it on, her spring-like eyes filled with concern. “Your Highness, it's very cold outside.”

　　She didn't immediately retreat, her expression calm. “With all due respect, Your Highness, I'm truly worried about your health.”

　　“Worried?” Xie Jue said nonchalantly.

　　The little palace maid, dressed in pink, her youthful face flushed with genuine concern, replied, “Your Highness, you're not well, and it's so cold in winter. You can't have the Imperial Physician here all the time in this cold palace. I'm really worried about you, Your Highness. This is the only fox fur cloak in the palace. I had it sunned this afternoon so it would be warm. I hope it can help you withstand the chill a little.”

　　Outside, the wind howled fiercely.

　　Inside, a dim candlelight flickered, casting shadows on Yun Ling's snow-white skin.

　　“What do you want?” Xie Jue asked abruptly, his tone casual.

　　Yun Ling's delicate, upturned nose was flushed from the cold, her eyes reflecting pure sincerity. “I only hope that Your Highness will recover soon and live a long life.”

　　The leaves rustled outside, carried by the wind.

　　Long life…

　　It seemed like a long time ago, someone else had said the same thing to him - they wished him a long and happy life.

　　How dare she say such a thing.

　　“What do you think you are?” Xie Jue asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, his voice light but cruel.

　　Yun Ling knew that even though he was imprisoned here, he wouldn't look at her, a lowly palace maid, with any respect. He wouldn't even consider her worthy of his attention. Palace maids were slaves, not human beings.

　　Perhaps it was because she had gotten used to being treated with such disdain as a palace maid, or perhaps it was something else entirely. Yun Ling didn't seem to mind at all. There was no anger, no fear on her face, only a sincere look in her eyes as she said, “I know I am lowly, Your Highness, but my concern for you comes from a genuine place.”

　　“The heart of a palace maid,” Xie Jue narrowed his phoenix eyes, deliberately slowing his speech, “What does it matter?”

　　His disdain and contempt were evident.

　　Yun Ling stared blankly, her eyes flashing with hurt and sadness, her eyes welling up. After a moment, she lowered her head and bowed, her voice muffled as she said, “Your Highness, forgive me. It was I... who spoke out of turn.”

　　Her voice trembled slightly, but she held back her emotions. “This servant takes her leave.”

　　Xie Jue noticed her reddened eyes and pale face, and his gaze darkened.

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