My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 23: He Just Wanted To Kiss Her.

　　Yun Ling's heart skipped a beat.

　　Her eyes widened in disbelief, her hand clenched tightly.

　　What does he mean by that?

　　Yun Ling unconsciously took two steps back in alarm, until her back was against the desk, leaving her nowhere to retreat.

　　Li Youfu wasn't killed for incompetence, nor was he killed for speaking out of turn about the Crown Prince's indulgence in women.

　　It was because he saw through the prince's feelings for a lowly palace maid. That's the real taboo!

　　Just as Yun Ling began to understand this, all the palace servants in the grand hall suddenly started to leave.

　　The imposing doors closed, leaving the hall in an eerie silence.

　　Before she could react, in the next instant, her cheeks were firmly gripped by him. He pressed her down onto the desk, leaving her no room to resist.

　　Yun Ling's eyes widened, meeting his gaze.

　　Then, her eyes were covered. Before the world went black, she only caught a glimpse of his deep, menacing eyes.

　　In the darkness, he leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear. His voice was devoid of warmth as he spoke slowly, “I killed him because he saw too much.”

　　Yun Ling's covered eyelids fluttered, a chill spreading through her body. She struggled to break free.

　　Xie Jue held her waist tightly, covering her eyes with one hand. He coldly watched her slender shoulders and neck tremble slightly, her cheeks flushed pink. She shook her head, trying to struggle free, but couldn't. She was so delicate that he could have easily killed her with one hand.

        Suddenly, he lowered his head and kissed her lips, gently sucking.

　　The sweetness and softness of her mouth enticed him, drawing him deeper into the kiss, his movements becoming more intense and forceful. His kiss was so forceful, it felt as though he truly wanted her to die there.

　　Until——

　　A choked sob escaped her lips, and her delicate hands pushed against his chest, forcing him back.

　　She turned her head to the side, pressing her cheek against the cool surface of the desk, but he could still see her slightly swollen lips and the dampness lingering at the corners of her eyes.

　　Fragile, delicate, soft, beautiful, yet lowly, weak, easily controlled, life and death at his mercy.

　　But he only wanted her.

　　It was ridiculous.

　　With a slow swipe of his thumb, Xie Jue wiped away the blood from her lip, then let her go and stood. His temples pounded, but he controlled the rage in his eyes. “Do you really think I can't see through your little tricks?”

　　Yun Ling struggled to control her breathing, her hands braced on the desk, her lips pressed tightly together. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it all.

　　Even if he killed Li Youfu, it wouldn't escape his eyes. He knew all along.

　　She hadn't intended to hide it in the first place.

　　She was merely gambling.

　　She was gambling that even if he discovered it, he wouldn't kill her. But the current situation had completely exceeded her expectations. “This servant deceived Your Highness, and is at fault.”

　　At this moment, she could only lower herself and remain quiet to avoid provoking his anger.

　　The loose strands of her cloud-like dark hair, scattered in her struggle, veiled her slender shoulders, appearing even more delicate and vulnerable in the candlelight.

　　“At fault? You knew you couldn't hide it from me, yet you still dared to scheme.”

　　Xie Jue chuckled lightly, “Oh? Did you think I would necessarily tolerate you, is that it?”

　　Yun Ling shook her head. “This servant would never dare to harbor such delusions, much less think such a thing.”

　　Xie Jue's lips curled into a cold smile. “Palace maids are lowly, and their shallow schemes only disgust me further.”

　　Yun Ling's shoulders and neck flinched. “This servant knows.”

　　His tall figure shifted uncertainly in the flickering candlelight. Xie Jue turned, closing his eyes. “Get out. Three months' pay docked.”

　　Rising quickly, she hastily tidied herself. Yun Ling said softly, “Yes, this servant will take her leave,” and then hurried away.

　　……

　　Returning to her quarters, Yun Ling found that aside from slightly swollen lips, everything else was as usual. Besides, in the dim candlelight, these things weren't easily visible.

　　Therefore, none of the palace maids or eunuchs along the way noticed anything unusual about her lips.

　　Back in her quarters, she had someone draw her a bath. Immersing her whole body in the hot water, her throbbing head gradually calmed down.

　　The events in the study flashed through her mind; she could still feel the force of his harsh touch on her lips.

　　Actually, they had already been intimate the last time he was drugged. Because of the incident with the Empress Li Lian'er, and the Empress Zhaohui's tragic death at the hands of a palace maid, he has since deeply loathed palace maids. How could he allow himself to repeat that mistake? Therefore, after that night, he was most averse to mentioning the matter.

　　Today, he executed Li Youfu, yet suddenly kissed her—something she truly hadn't anticipated.

　　But she understood; even when he kissed her, he covered her eyes, not allowing anyone to see a single thing. The force of it nearly suffocated her.

　　His feelings for a palace maid disgusted him to the point that he wanted to kill her.

　　For him, it was a festering wound, a disgrace.

　　Killing Li Youfu was a warning to her—that any slight affection he felt for her, a mere palace maid, he would destroy and bury, leaving no trace for the world to see.

　　The current Crown Prince is bloodthirsty, violent, and capricious; life and death hang on his every whim. If he's displeased, Yun Ling's life is in constant danger.

　　Not only that, he's sharp-witted and inscrutable, possessing profound political acumen. He's aware of practically everything, perceptive and insightful; nothing escapes his notice.

　　Being by his side requires constant vigilance—it's incredibly dangerous.

　　Yun Ling breathed heavily, still shaken, but at least Wang Dade matter was settled, and now Li Youfu was dead. She had finally gotten her wish.

　　She got up after bathing; the water in the tub was already ice cold.

　　The next morning.

　　Yao Nushi entered with a list of palace maids. Yun Ling opened it and immediately saw Mu Yao's name.

　　The palace naturally wouldn't release all the dismissed personnel at once. It would be done in batches over time to avoid any major, chaotic mistakes.

　　By this month, Yun Ling had already prepared three lists of palace maids to be dismissed from the palace.

　　There was a palace maid named Mu Yao who had fallen ill. It wasn't serious, just a persistent cough. She'd seen the imperial physician; her illness was treatable, but it was best to avoid the wind. Palace maids working outdoors are constantly exposed to the elements, so her condition dragged on without improvement. Her mistress had grown tired of her constant coughing and ill-health.

　　She was twenty-three years old; she would be released in another two years anyway. Given her current poor health and inability to work effectively, Yun Ling added her to the list of palace maids to be dismissed.

　　……

　　The Crown Prince's return to the palace sent shockwaves through both the court and the inner palace.

　　Every palace servant was on high alert.

　　As the Head Palace Maid favored by the Crown Prince, Yun Ling was summoned the very night of his return.

　　From a lowly cleaning maid to a fifth-rank female official overseeing the inner palace, Yun Ling's ascent was meteoric, a testament to the Crown Prince's favor.

　　Yet, inexplicably, on the very night of the Crown Prince's summons, the chief eunuch, Li Youfu, was executed by beating, and Yun Shanggong, seemingly having angered His Highness, was punished with a three-month deduction in salary.

　　Furthermore, the Crown Prince didn't summon Yun Shanggong again for a full half-month after his return.

　　Whispers circulated throughout the palace that Yun Shanggong had fallen out of favor and her glory days were over.

　　Even Yao Nushi and the others, upon hearing this, became increasingly anxious in the following days.

　　Taking advantage of the absence of others, Yao Nushi pulled Yun Shanggong aside, anxiously asking, “Yun Gugu, is His Highness the Crown Prince angry because of Wang Dade matter? What should we do?”

　　She had also been involved in Wang Dade affair, so naturally she was afraid.

　　Yun Ling didn't know why the rumors had spread this way, but the facts were undeniable.

　　“Don't worry, it's not because of Wang Dade. That man was nothing but a lapdog of the late Empress. Killing him was for the Crown Prince's benefit. His Highness hasn't punished anyone for that,” Yun Ling reassured her, “So there's no need to worry.”

　　“Then why hasn't His Highness summoned you for half a month?” Yao Nushi pressed, still worried.

　　Yun Ling helplessly shook her head, remaining silent.

　　She had indeed angered the Crown Prince, but not because of Wang Dade.

　　“You just need to do your own jobs properly and not pry into other matters,” she said.

　　Yao Nushi quickly replied, “Yes.”

　　Although still worried, she didn't press further, following behind Yun Ling towards the Liuli Palace. Passing through the Imperial Garden, a gentle breeze accompanied them along the way.

　　Suddenly, a corner of a dark, richly embroidered robe with golden phoenixes caught her eye. A moment later, a tall, imposing figure emerged from behind the pavilion, followed by a group of eunuchs.

　　It was the Crown Prince.

　　Since the last warning, this was the first time Yun Ling had seen him, even if it was a chance encounter. Not daring to hesitate, Yun Ling quickly stepped forward to pay her respects. When she looked up again, however, she only saw the corner of his robe fluttering past.

　　He hadn't even paused to look at her.

　　Yao Nushi looked at Yun Ling with worry. It seemed the Crown Prince had truly grown to dislike Yun Shanggong.

　　What are we going to do?

　　Even several palace servants were whispering amongst themselves.

　　Yun Ling stood for a moment without speaking, then continued on her way to the Liuli Palace.

　　News of the incident in the Imperial Garden quickly spread throughout the palace, and the story of Yun Ling Shanggong losing the Crown Prince's favor became a hot topic.

　　These rumors didn't particularly bother Yun Ling, but if they continued, it would ultimately reflect poorly on her management. She made an example of a couple of gossiping maids, and the whispers gradually died down.

　　Yun Ling, managing the affairs of the Harem and the Six Bureaus, was incredibly busy and had little time to dwell on these things. In fact, she was still somewhat traumatized by the incident and neither dared nor intended to approach the Crown Prince.

　　Perhaps her very presence before him now was a transgression, something that disgusted him.

　　It was best for her to simply focus on her duties and avoid causing him displeasure by appearing before him again.

　　Not having to see him eased her mind, but she was the Shanggong, and some things were unavoidable.

　　——

　　After a gentle spring rain, the grass grew long, birds sang, and all things revived. New, verdant buds sprouted on the once-bare branches, and dewdrops clung precariously to their tips.

　　After a long period of seclusion in the Shanggong Bureau, and with the Seventh Princess's coming-of-age ceremony fast approaching, Yun Ling had no choice but to request an audience with the Crown Prince.

　　Outside the study.

　　Upon seeing Yun Ling, Grand Eunuch An quickly approached and whispered, “Yun Shanggong, what brings you here today? His Highness is currently in discussion with Lord Xiao and Young Master Chen.”

　　Yun Ling nodded. “No hurry. I'll wait outside.”

　　Grand Eunuch An said, “I'm afraid you may have a long wait, Yun Shanggong.”

　　Hearing this, Yun Ling hesitated. There were still many unfinished matters at the Shanggong Bureau.

　　“Is His Highness in a good mood today?”

　　As the chief eunuch of the East Palace, even though Grand Eunuch An was a relatively recent appointee and had received guidance and kindness from Yun Ling, his loyalty belonged solely to the Crown Prince.

　　Yun Shanggong is a clever woman and understands this; she wouldn't needlessly make things difficult for him.

　　Grand Eunuch An would never reveal anything about the Crown Prince to others, but his ability to rise to the position of chief eunuch in the East Palace indicates that he is far more astute than most.

　　His Highness has been displeased with Yun Shanggong these past few days, not even granting her an audience. However, he hasn't actually punished her severely. Given that Yun Shanggong was with His Highness during his less fortunate times, their relationship is naturally deeper than with others.

　　Without an audience, there's no room for reconciliation.

　　“His Highness suffered from a headache today and didn't eat much at noon,” Grand Eunuch An added, saying no more.

　　Yun Ling acknowledged his kindness, saying, “Thank you, Grand Eunuch An.”

　　Although she received the message, Yun Ling was still somewhat apprehensive.

　　……

　　In the study.

　　Xiao Qibai said, “I found out that the nanny's distant relatives originally lived in the outskirts of the capital. They were known for their tricks and would sell talismans and charms for a living. They also made some ‘divine medicines’ and had dealings with drug vendors. However, twelve winters ago, they suddenly left the capital in a hurry and have not been heard from since, wandering around the Jiangnan area.”

　　“I have made a bold move and sent people to the Jiangnan area. It shouldn't be long before it attracts the attention of those who are interested.”

　　Xie Jue rested his pale fingers against his forehead, a few wrinkles creasing his brow. “It's just those people. Killing them all would be cleaner.”

　　Chen Zhan clicked his tongue. “You must have a headache; you're awfully irritable!”

　　This person goes mad when angered.

　　The old emperor is still alive. There is no precedent for a crown prince killing his consorts.

　　And they were all beauties! Honestly, he shows no mercy at all.

　　“More concerning than that is the King of Dingyang suddenly requesting to come to the capital. I wonder what his intentions are.”

　　Xie Jue coldly snorted. “That uncle of mine is far from a peaceful man. He's harbored resentment ever since he was exiled to that desolate land. News of the old man's worsening illness reached the capital; he's likely been plotting something for a while now.”

　　Xiao Qibai said, “He's a wolf in sheep's clothing. Your Highness must be careful.”

　　His long, slender fingers tapped idly on the table.

　　After a moment,

　　“Pass on my decree. In half a month's time, a spring hunt will be held in Beilin Garden.”

　　Within the palace walls, it'll be difficult for that uncle of his to make a move.

　　When Xiao Qibai and Chen Zhan left the study, an hour had already passed.

　　Yun Ling hesitated outside, wishing more than anything she didn't have to appear before him again and risk incurring his displeasure.

　　After a while, Grand Eunuch An emerged from the study. “His Highness requests your presence.”

　　Yun Ling came back to herself, smiled slightly, and entered the study carrying the plate of almond cakes she had made.

　　She wasn't skilled at many things. Although she'd spent some time diligently practicing her cooking, she probably lacked the natural talent for it; only simple pastries were something she could confidently offer.

　　The Crown Prince's study was not easily accessible. After waiting for more than an hour, the bright daytime sky gradually darkened. Moonlight, like gauzy water, seeped in through a half-open window, hazy and indistinct.

　　Even the study itself was shrouded in a quiet, cool stillness.

　　But even so, it couldn't quite mask the gloomy coldness emanating from the Crown Prince, clad in a moon-white robe, seated behind his desk.

　　His inky black hair cascaded over his shoulders, partially obscuring his sharp, pale profile. The proud line of his nose was half-lit, half-shadowed by the dim candlelight. He was reviewing official documents.

　　Yun Ling waited silently beside him, careful not to make a sound, afraid of disturbing him in the slightest.

　　A stick of incense burned slowly, marking the passage of time.

　　Yun Ling's hands, holding the almond cakes, were almost numb. Finally, a voice, devoid of any clear emotion, rang out in the study, “What's the matter?”

　　Yun Ling quickly said, “Princess Chang Le's coming-of-age ceremony is in a few days, and Yu Fei wishes for His Highness to attend. Also, I'm unsure what gift the East Palace should send; I'm unable to decide.”

　　Too lavish a gift would imply excessive favor, while one too modest would risk losing face for the royal family. Finding the right balance is quite an art.

　　Xie Jue suddenly stopped writing, his handsome brows furrowed slightly. His headache intensified, and his tone was frigid. “Does even this trifling matter require my instruction?”

　　Yun Ling silently pursed her lips.

　　If she could have avoided it, she wouldn't have come to ask. She could have considered the gift herself, but Yu Fei had summoned her repeatedly, pressuring her, leaving her no choice but to come.

　　“Yu Fei said she wanted to discuss it with His Highness personally.”

　　Yu Fei's family is the Duke of Yīng Guó Gōng (英国公), and she's the Emperor's favored concubine. Even though the Emperor is gravely ill, she's not someone to be easily offended.

　　On one side is the Crown Prince, and on the other is Yu Fei; important people on both sides.

　　The Fifth Princess had arranged a proper burial for Dongdong. Although it meant little to the Princess herself, Yun Ling remembered this kindness.

　　Yu Fei's intentions are easy to guess. With the Crown Prince in power and Princess Chang Le being her only daughter, and the Emperor gravely ill, she wants the Crown Prince to attend the coming-of-age ceremony to enhance her status.

　　Currently in the palace, only the Fifth Princess remains unmarried. After her coming-of-age ceremony, discussions about her marriage will likely begin.

　　But the Crown Prince doesn't hold Yu Fei in high regard.

　　He doesn't have much affection for Princess Chang Le, his sister.

　　Xie Jue's hands, with their clearly defined knuckles, rested on the writing desk. Lately, Yu Fei and the Duke of Ying Guo Gong had both been trying to curry favor with him. Unfortunately, a family that's become nothing more than an empty shell holds little value to him; it's not worth his effort.

　　Closing his eyes, he said, “Reject it. I don't have time.”

　　Yun Ling: “Yes.”

　　Since the Crown Prince wouldn't go, she dared not say anything more and could report back to Yu Fei.

　　Just as she had guessed upon her arrival.

　　Just as she was pondering how to gently explain the situation to Yu Fei, Xie Jue instructed, without much inflection, “The hunt at Beilin Garden will be in half a month. You will accompany me.”

　　A hunt?

　　They're actually going to hold a hunt?

　　She unconsciously asked, “Your Highness, why are you suddenly holding a hunt?”

　　Actually, she quite wanted to go to the hunt. Although she couldn't shoot a bow and arrow, she had never been to such an event before. It would be nice to go and see it.

　　Xie Jue, however, seemed to have no more patience to continue, looking at her expressionlessly.

　　Yun Ling realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly apologized.

　　It was clear that he wasn't in a good mood today.

　　Perhaps it was because of a headache, or perhaps because of the incident last time.

　　The Crown Prince stood up and walked towards the exit.

　　Yun Ling pursed her lips, pondering for a moment, unsure of what to do.

　　She wasn't afraid, and she didn't care about his dislike.

　　But if the Sixth Bureau's Shanggong wanted to maintain her position in the palace, she couldn't afford to be disliked by the Crown Prince.

　　Watching his back, she carried the pastries and chased after him. Mustering her courage to try and appease him, Yun Ling carefully asked,

　　“Your Highness,” she said, “I spent a long time making these. Would you… like to try one?”

　　Xie Jue turned around, his narrow phoenix eyes glancing at her. “Were my warnings insufficient?”

　　“Cloyingly sweet,” his voice was cold, and without another glance, he left.

　　Yun Ling stood there, stunned, her fingers clenching.

　　She didn't continue to approach him.

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T/N: Hi everyone! Just a heads-up: The original text uses a lot of formal titles ('this servant,' 'this minister,' 'Gu,' 'Ben Gong'). To make it easier to read, I've mostly used 'I' instead. However, I've kept some of the original titles where it felt appropriate to the context. Hope you don't mind!

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