My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 10: “You dare to bite me?”

　　Yun Ling has been very tired lately from taking care of the Sixth Prince, and she went to bed early this morning.

　　The quilt was thin and insufficient to keep out the cold. Every night, Yun Ling would pile her winter clothes on top of the quilt, curling her hands and feet together and sleeping for a long time before she could barely feel any warmth. She didn't sleep soundly.

　　Suddenly, a soft sound of dry leaves being crushed came from outside the door, the steps hurried. Yun Ling was immediately awakened by this unusual sound.

　　She had been in Jingxiang Palace for many days, and there had never been such a sound at night. And the Sixth Prince wasn't there today, so who could it be?

　　Many speculations flashed through her mind in an instant, but the priority was to protect herself. Getting up quietly, Yun Ling picked up a handy bamboo broom from beside the bed and hid behind the door.

　　……

　　Xie Jue came all the way, jumping down from a secluded wall. There were no guards outside.

　　From his chest down, the heat ignited by the potent medicine surged, his cold white skin turning red, sweat even beading on his high, straight nose. The burning sensation that was about to consume him was almost unbearable.

　　He had just pushed open the door when a long shadow fell from above, swift as lightning. Xie Jue deftly blocked and pushed away the broom, reaching out to grab a warm, white wrist. With a turn, he pressed her against the wall, immediately covering her mouth. “Be quiet, it's me.”

　　Yun Ling only made a muffled sound, her soft, red lips pressed firmly against his palm, unable to speak, she could only blink hard.

　　Xie Jue saw her face clearly in the moonlight. Her eyes were watery and trembling, she didn't dare to move, like a frightened kitten.

　　Xie Jue's voice wasn't good, it was strange, and he suddenly let go of her hand, pushing her away. “Go get me some water, cold water, be quiet, don't let anyone find out.”

　　After speaking, he pulled back his hand, and as he pulled his sleeve across his face, it seemed to carry a dull heat.

　　Yun Ling heard the strangeness in his voice and also noticed the change in him, and quickly said,

　　“Yes, I'll go now.”

　　The winter well water was icy cold, and Yun Ling only had a small bucket, so she couldn't carry much at once, but it made very little noise. She ran back and forth several times before she finally filled the bath tub halfway.

　　“Get out.”

　　Xie Jue's voice was already hoarse. Yun Ling could tell that he was at some kind of crucial point, so she didn't say anything more, quickly closed the door and went out to keep watch.

　　Through the door, Yun Ling could hear the sound of water from inside, and the muffled groans that escaped from the man's throat, between his clenched teeth, a sound of unbearable pain.

　　From the moment the Sixth Prince had entered, she had felt the unusual heat radiating from him.

　　Could it be... Chinese medicine?

　　Or the kind of medicine that makes people aroused.

　　Having been raised amidst palace maids and eunuchs, Yun Ling possessed limited experience with healthy men and knew little beyond that.

　　She carefully monitored the situation inside, while she tried to recall everything she knew.

　　About an incense stick's worth of time passed, and there was no more sound from inside. Yun Ling listened for a while, hesitant about whether to go in.

　　The door hadn't been properly latched, and it creaked when hit by the wind, revealing a crack.

　　Yun Ling waited a little longer, worried that something might have happened inside, before calling out,

　　“Are you alright?”

　　In the bath tub, the man tilted his head back, eyes tightly shut, his Adam's apple rolling uncontrollably, the lines of his arms resting on the edge of the tub taut with torment. His voice was muffled and laced with disgust. “Who allowed you to enter?!”

　　Yun Ling flinched, seeing that he was alright, she turned to leave, wanting to distance herself further. She didn't want to hear anything that might be unpleasant.

　　Just as she turned away, she heard the sound of splashing water from the bath tub behind her. Before she could take a few steps away, the door swung open from inside. A hand, cold and icy, grabbed her wrist from behind, pulling her forcefully inside. “Come here.”

　　The air in the room was thick with damp, cold steam. Water droplets rolled down the man's sharp jawline, some disappearing into the white linen of his shirt as they trickled down his prominent Adam's apple, while others landed on the floor, making the heart tremble.

　　Yun Ling held her breath, her delicate face trying to remain calm, but her heart was racing. She wanted to run. “Your Highness, what's wrong? Do you need more water? Please wait, I'll go get some for you right now.”

　　She turned her head to leave, ready to run out the door.

　　Xie Jue's chest heaved violently. His hand, gripping her wrist, felt the delicate bones beneath his grasp. Seeing her attempt to leave, he tightened his hold, almost crushing the fragile bones. “I don't need water.”

　　“Your Highness, you're hurting me.”

　　That overwhelming urge to lash out surged even stronger. But he didn't move immediately. He lowered his head, looking at the little palace maid who only reached his chest. Her slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed her anxiety and pain, revealing a section of her delicate neck, white as jade.

　　He didn't come here intending to favor this little palace maid.

　　The medicine coursing through his veins refused to be suppressed. He couldn't expel it in the Bai'en Palace without raising suspicion, and making a scene would only alert the guards. So, he took advantage of the guard shift change and returned here. He intended to use cold water to alleviate the effects, but the medicine was so potent, it seemed like the only solution was... well, you know.

　　And at that moment, he was only accompanied by this little palace maid.

　　A certain heat surged downwards, as if it could no longer be endured. Xie Jue slowly bent down and said, “I need you—”

　　His hot breath, scorching against her ear, rasped out in a voice that left no room for argument, “Take off your clothes.”

　　Yun Ling's palms instinctively clenched tightly, and she shook her head in panic.

　　So it was lust, then.

　　Her speech became somewhat stammering. “Your Highness, this... this isn't possible…”

　　She had just turned around when a large hand clamped down on her shoulder, forcing her back against a wall of heat. He then dragged her to the couch, pinning her down and forcing her face-first onto the bed.

　　Yun Ling was only just realizing how incredibly strong he was. Although she'd always known he was feigning illness, his strength far exceeded her expectations. Suddenly, a scene in her dream flashed in her mind, in which he shot an arrow and pierced through the body of a eunuch.

　　She wondered, if she refused, would he force himself on her?

　　“Not possible?” In the darkness, Xie Jue, struggling to contain his ragged breaths, suddenly leaned down. His cold, white fingers forcefully pinched her cheek, turning her head to meet his gaze. “You were sent here, weren't you aware that you were to serve me? Not just in matters of daily life?”

　　There was no hint of sensuality in his words, only the coldness of winter ice.

　　Yes, even though he was confined, as a prince, the palace maids assigned to serve him weren't just there for his daily needs, they were also expected to share his bed.

　　Only, Yun Ling had always known that the sixth prince wouldn't have any need for a lowly palace maid like her in his bed.

　　Yun Ling bit her lip, her breath trembling as she said, “Your Highness, seeing you in such pain makes me feel bad, but I... I can't.” Her voice held a hint of grievance.

　　Yun Ling felt his grip loosen slightly and she quietly let out a breath of relief.

　　Suddenly, his face buried itself in her hair, and his heavy breathing filled her neck.

　　Yun Ling felt like she was being consumed by the heat radiating from his body.

　　She had actually noticed this strange behavior long ago.

　　She wouldn't know, but she had heard the flirtatious words of other palace maids and eunuchs, and wasn't entirely clueless.

　　It seemed there wasn't just one way, she thought, as long as it came out, right?

　　The sixth prince must have been poisoned, and he couldn't let anyone know. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come here in the dead of night and called for cold water. The cold water must not have worked, which is why he... After all, while Yun Ling was beautiful, he wouldn't look at a lowly palace maid like her. He'd been here for almost a year, and the number of words he'd spoken to her could be counted on one hand.

　　He didn't trust her or rely on her.

　　There was no reward that didn't come with a price. She didn't think losing her virginity would be a big deal anyway. At least he wouldn't be like Wang Dade, who was a twisted killer in bed.

　　Saving the future crown prince from danger would be a great achievement.

　　She came here for him, after all.

　　Six months left.

　　In her dreams, he was leaving the cold palace in six months' time.

　　Unable to refuse, Yun Ling's eyelashes trembled. “Though I don't know how, seeing Your Highness in pain is unbearable. I... I'll help you…”

　　Xie Jue cupped her chin, lifting her face. His arms, adorned with jade bracelets, smelled of a rich, intoxicating fragrance.

　　Moonlight streamed through the narrow window, casting a hazy glow over the room.

　　“How can you help?” Xie Jue closed his eyes, sweat dripping down his nose, his voice hoarse.

　　The delicate woman, her black hair cascading down, veiled her jade-white shoulders.

　　She was so tense, fidgeting constantly.

　　He felt like he could strangle her.

　　Suddenly, she bit down on his wrist. Xie Jue roared in anger, “You dare bite me?”

　　“Your Highness…” She whimpered, calling out to him in a pitiful tone.

　　Xie Jue's back stiffened, and his grip slowly loosened.

　　Yun Ling said, “Or, maybe we could try a different method?”

　　“……”

　　……

　　At the stroke of dawn, outside the Bai'en Palace, the Third Prince, followed by several guards, hurried towards the palace.

　　His own mother's death anniversary and he was still acting out, making a spectacle of himself with a woman in the palace, only to be caught red-handed. Tsk, tsk, what a juicy drama! If the Emperor found out, would this sixth brother have any chance of redemption?

　　Reaching the door, without a word of warning, the Third Prince ignored the two guards who tried to stop him, and immediately had someone kick the door open. He sneered loudly, “I heard my sixth brother is resting here. I've come to pay a visit, brother.”

　　He had people push open the door and immediately began searching everywhere, not looking like he was paying a visit, but more like he was catching someone in the act. He was making sure the woman wasn't hidden somewhere.

　　They searched the entire room, but there was no sign of any woman. That meant she must be in the bed.

　　Xie Xu hurried towards the bed, his face filled with urgency.

　　At that moment, a long, slender, pale finger lifted a corner of the bed curtains. A cough followed, and Xie Jue sat up, looking at his third brother, Xie Xu, and asked in puzzlement, “Why are you here so early, Third Brother?”

　　Xie Xu's eyes were fixed on the inside of the bed curtains, and he walked towards the bed, sneering as he did so, “I heard that you weren't released from confinement yesterday. It's truly heartbreaking. Your brother has come to see you early this morning, fearing you're too upset.”

　　He spoke, and with a hand, he pulled back the bed curtains completely.

　　The bed was empty, with only Xie Jue in it.

　　The smile on Xie Xu's face froze.

　　No one?

　　How could this be? His mother had received word that there was a woman in Xie Jue's bed last night, on the very day of his mother's death anniversary. That's why he had rushed here so early. How could there be no one?

　　Xie Jue suddenly coughed a few times, pressing his hand to his lips. He glanced at the door that had been violently thrown open, “Is this how you pay a visit, brother?”

　　Xie Xu's mouth twitched twice, his face turning ugly. He awkwardly lowered his hand, “Perhaps your brother was worried and acted rashly.”

　　“Since you are fine, I have business at my own residence. I shall take my leave.”

　　Xie Xu stormed off, but halfway through, a eunuch, his face full of urgency, hurried over and whispered something in Xie Xu's ear. Xie Xu immediately erupted in anger.

　　It turned out that Zhang Guifei had later received information that the old lady who had passed on the message to her was bought by the Empress, and was actually the Empress's person.

　　And later, it was learned that the palace maid who was supposedly having a tryst with Xie Jue had long been detained by the patrolling guards, and the whole thing was a fabrication. It was only then that Zhang Guifei realized she had been tricked by the Empress and quickly sent someone to inform Xie Xu.

　　But it was too late.

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