He pondered carefully and indeed felt that the Crown Princess had good feelings toward him. However, the Crown Princess had countless attendants spread throughout the inner and outer courtyards. If he failed to handle something properly somewhere and was accused of spying on the royal carriage, that would be troublesome.
The beauty was dismissive of such concerns and beckoned for him to follow. The official looked himself up and down—he had come prepared tonight, having invested heavily from his hair to his toes, all to seize this opportunity to get close to the heir apparent. Seeing this rare chance, he gritted his teeth and followed the beauty.
Following him through corridors and courtyards, the attendants they encountered along the way didn’t interfere or question them, obviously showing that this beauty was well-trusted by the Crown Princess. The beauty led him all the way to an inconspicuous courtyard with no guards and ordinary furnishings. The beauty brought him directly into the inner chamber, had him sit in the outer room, and pointed to the inside of the green gauze canopy, laughing: “His Highness will rest here tonight. The rest is up to you.”
After speaking, the beauty left, saying he needed to go make cakes for His Highness.
The official walked around the room several times, half-believing and half-doubting. The outer room was arranged like a study with ordinary desks and chairs. The writing implements were quite refined, and there were many documents piled up. The official went over to look and discovered they were actually detailed audit accounts from Huangzhou and interrogation files from the Qianzhou assassination case against the Crown Princess. His heart jumped, knowing this truly was the Crown Princess’s residence.
The official’s heart beat like a drum. He wanted to thoroughly examine those case files but thought this might be a test. Besides, the urgent matter now was to win the Crown Princess’s favor. Once he had her favor, whatever he wanted to say or do would be convenient. He mustn’t lose the big picture over small gains now.
Beside the desk, smoke curled from a Bo Mountain incense burner. The beauty had casually changed the incense in the burner before leaving. The official sat for a while and began to feel drowsy, his mind becoming muddled. Turning his head, he saw shadowy figures within the green gauze canopy. Somehow he walked over and lay down on the couch, smelling a faint fragrance—mellow, rich, and refreshing to the heart. His heart stirred, and he completely forgot what evening this was…
He didn’t know how much time had passed when he smelled another fragrance carrying the aroma of purple sage flowers and human warmth. Then he heard footsteps—unhurried and measured, giving a sense of steady composure yet light as wind. Those footsteps entered the room and were about to approach the green gauze canopy when they suddenly stopped, followed by a surprised “Eh?”
The official’s mind vaguely felt that His Highness had returned. He was a bit panicked, wondering how he had been so bold as to lie here, but his body was lazy and his heart was lazy too. He thought lying here was fine—His Highness was benevolent and surely wouldn’t blame him for such a thing. Besides, His Highness had been so gentle and pleasant with him earlier, maybe she would even be delighted to see him here.
So not only did he not get up, he even adjusted his posture slightly to make himself look more dashing and alluring.
Tie Ci stood in the outer study, her gaze sweeping over the desk. No one was ever allowed to approach her desk without permission, and she would set up small mechanisms on it. Now that strand of hair had been moved from its position.
And there were faint breathing sounds from within the green gauze canopy.
Tie Ci’s smile gained a few points of helplessness.
Murong Yi had said earlier that making pastries was smoky and he wanted to bathe. Now had he washed himself clean and wanted to attend her bed again?
Ever since that day in Wanqing Mountain when she had teased Murong Yi, that fellow seemed to have developed a heart condition, always feeling he had missed out on something wonderful, determined to make up for it doubly on this journey.
But Tie Ci no longer had such thoughts. Earlier with bright moon and fragrant flowers in the deep, quiet mountains, that had atmosphere and mood. Now that they had left the mountains and were publicly touring the south, with guards and accompanying officials around, countless eyes watching—this really wasn’t a good time for wedding night festivities.
This was, after all, a major life event for her.
On the couch behind the green gauze canopy, in the dim glimmering light, thin blankets were half-spread, and a person lay on their side with their back to her, pillow supported, with raven-black long hair flowing like water across half the couch.
Tie Ci’s mood softened with a smile, thinking that if she had to chase someone away, she’d inevitably have to endure several days of sulking. Sharing half the bed wouldn’t matter.
She lazily removed her outer garment and leaned onto the bed, grasping the other person’s shoulder and whispering with a low laugh: “Sleep further in.”
The shoulder beneath her palm trembled slightly.
Tie Ci’s hand had already frozen.
This feel… was wrong!
Suddenly there was a crisp crashing sound from outside. Tie Ci turned around to see Murong Yi standing outside the green gauze canopy, looking at her with “utter shock,” a bronze basin overturned at his feet.
Tie Ci rubbed her forehead.
This scene was truly surprising.
The noise startled Chi Xue and Dan Shuang. Two figures flashed and they appeared, staring at this scene in stunned silence.
Murong Yi was obviously more into the act than they were, pointing at Tie Ci with trembling finger and saying in a shaking voice: “Your Highness, you’re actually cheating on me! You, you, you… how can you face me like this!”
Tie Ci fell silent, truly unable to watch this Golden Broom Award-worthy acting. She simply applied force with her hand and flipped over the fellow who had been trembling with his back to her. Sure enough, she saw a face she had just encountered—that handsome young face was quite pale, and upon seeing her, he said tremblingly: “Your Highness, this person…”
Tie Ci shushed him. The official didn’t dare speak again. Seeing Tie Ci’s calm expression, his heart leaped with joy.
That male favorite had ill intentions, crying thief to catch a thief, but judging by His Highness’s expression, did she really have some feelings for him?
Murong Yi was “shocked and angry”: “Your Highness! A’Ci! You’re actually still getting intimate with him!”
Tie Ci reached out and with a thud, pressed the official down onto the couch. Now Murong Yi was truly stunned.
He had been anxious lately, wanting to take advantage of the moment to consummate things with Tie Ci. Tonight, seeing this unlucky official, he knew what the man was thinking and decided to give him a helping hand. First, to teach him a lesson so those officials who constantly had crooked thoughts would behave themselves from now on, preventing anyone from making trouble for Tie Ci in this regard. Second, he could use this opportunity to put on a show—surely Tie Ci would have to comfort and console him afterward, and in the back and forth of that, wouldn’t it naturally lead to comforting him in bed?
After all, given Tie Ci’s status and tolerant personality, it was difficult to play with the romantic intrigue of jealousy and quarrels. When someone finally came along to take advantage of, how could he not seize the opportunity?
But while this story had a good beginning, the plot wasn’t following his expectations. Tie Ci, “caught in bed with another,” not only didn’t rush to clarify but actually seemed ready to go along with making the affair real?
Chi Xue and Dan Shuang stood at the doorway, watching as someone’s aggressive momentum instantly deflated.
Chi Xue stifled a laugh and pulled Dan Shuang to indicate they should leave. Dan Shuang crossed her arms and leaned against the door, pursing her lips, still somewhat reluctant to go, but was forcibly dragged away by Chi Xue.
Over there, Tie Ci turned back and smiled at Murong Yi: “Ordinary people can’t enter my room, so you must have personally led the way. Since you’re so generous, how could I be so ungracious as not to accept? Safe travels, no need to see you out.”
With a wave of her hand, the lights in the room went out.
Another wave, and the screen fell down. Murong Yi jumped backward, landing right outside the doorway. Bang—the door closed, nearly hitting Murong Yi’s nose.
Inside the room came sounds of furniture moving. When Murong Yi tried to push the door again, it wouldn’t open.
Murong Yi gave a cold laugh, shook his head, turned around, and climbed onto the roof.
Below, Wan Ji passed by and, seeing him sleeping on the roof, curiously asked: “Why aren’t you going inside? What are you doing on His Highness’s roof?”
Mu Si walked by and threw an arm around his neck, saying: “What else could it be? Unsatisfied desires. Come on, don’t look at the grieving husband too much, lest you catch his bad luck.”
Inside the room, Tie Ci sat at the head of the bed, looking at the official with a half-smile.
Starlight and moonlight filtered through the window paper, half-bright and half-dark, outlining the Crown Princess’s exquisite features that couldn’t be improved by even a fraction.
The official slowly sat up but didn’t dare look directly at the Crown Princess. Facing this woman younger than himself, all his thoughts of flattery and favor-seeking had now turned into uncertain anxiety. He only thought that since he was a man and she was still young, he should take the initiative in certain matters and use some adult male techniques—perhaps he could really win a few points of favor.
“This humble official will help Your Highness undress…” His fingers trembled as they reached out.
Tie Ci didn’t move. Before his fingers could touch her collar, she smiled and said: “Who taught you to seek favor?”
His fingers paused. After a long moment, the official said hoarsely: “This humble official doesn’t understand Your Highness’s meaning…”
Tie Ci sat up, picked up a book, and began reading by moonlight, saying: “There’s tea on the table, blankets on the couch. Help yourself if you’re cold or tired. Leave on your own at dawn. No need to see you out.”
The official sat stunned on the couch, not knowing what this person’s intentions were.
Someone had indeed given him advice on seeking favor, carefully groomed him, and repeatedly assured his safety, but their suggestion was to proceed gradually, starting with accompanying chess games, first increasing familiarity and gaining favor, then seeing if there were any gaps to exploit.
But ever since he had staged that “chance encounter” with the Crown Princess, everything had become strange. The person beside the Crown Princess, who should have been jealous, calmly delivered him to bed. After delivering him to bed, he came to catch them in the act. The Crown Princess, caught in the act, showed no guilt and simply kept him there. But after keeping him, she didn’t touch him, and now she had directly called out his intentions.
Clearly using him as a front.
But Tie Ci was already absorbed in reading, her face showing neither joy nor anger, her thoughts deeply hidden. The official didn’t dare say another word, nor did he dare actually eat, drink, or sleep. He could only quietly get off the couch, sit at its foot, and remain silent with lowered head, not even daring to make small talk.
Having long experience in officialdom, he had an intuition that while the Crown Princess appeared benevolent and gentle, she actually saw him as nothing more than a clay ox or wooden horse. If he really dared cross the line, he would certainly die horribly.
On the roof, Murong Yi turned over, pressing his ear to the roof tiles, listening to the activity below.
Naturally there was no activity, but it didn’t seem particularly joyful either.
After all, since A’Ci wouldn’t cooperate in his performance, his tricks were useless.
This woman had a heart of iron and stone.
Murong Yi lay on the roof tiles, his fingers tapping the tiles with intermittent tapping sounds that reached Tie Ci’s ears.
Tie Ci didn’t pay attention at first, but as she listened, she stopped and took out a codebook she had compiled to compare. Finally, she smiled.
She couldn’t help muttering to herself: “Sleep with me? Sleep with me!”
Official: “…”
Are you inviting me?
But this subject doesn’t dare!