After bathing, Xie Zhixue picked up the servant’s uniform nearby and draped it over her shoulders. The fabric felt smooth and supple to the touch; as expected of the Crown Prince's Estate, even the servants were dressed in silk.
Once she had finished grooming, a matron led her to the Crown Prince’s bedchamber, not forgetting to offer a final piece of advice before leaving: "Girl, men respond to softness, not force. His Highness is, at heart, a kind man. Just coax him a little, and he won’t make things difficult for you."
Xie Zhixue offered a bitter smile. She didn't know if Yuwenzhang was merely a master of disguise or if he saved this side of himself only for her. Before her, he was clearly vengeful, bloodthirsty, and dictatorial.
The chamber doors opened. Yuwenzhang sat upright, the table before him laden with delicacies. Seeing Xie Zhixue enter, he gestured with his chin, signaling her to come over and serve the dishes.
Xie Zhixue knelt to one side with lowered eyes, cautiously peeling shrimp and placing them into a clean bowl before pushing it toward Yuwenzhang.
Yuwenzhang rested his cheek on one hand, quietly observing Xie Zhixue in her silk attire. He found this appearance much more pleasing to the eye. Her dark hair was half-pinned and half-draped, gathered in a low chignon with a translucent jade hairpin, and the goose-yellow dress accentuated her snowy complexion. Yet, the dark circles beneath her eyes, which even powder could not hide, and her sickly, pale expression betrayed a frailty born of poverty and illness.
That wild man of hers was a spineless coward! He couldn't even provide for his own woman and child! And Xie Zhixue—she would rather stay with a coward and bear his children than wait for him!
Yuwenzhang dropped his chopsticks, the bamboo clicking sharply against the fine porcelain.
Xie Zhixue flinched instinctively, fearing she had done something wrong, and immediately lowered her head to kowtow. Seeing her submissive posture, Yuwenzhang’s anger flared even higher. She hadn't needed to be like this, yet she insisted on being unappreciative. She ignored his true feelings, choosing instead to cling to a spineless coward.
"I don't care for seafood. Eat these yourself."
Xie Zhixue froze for a moment, unsure of his meaning, and hesitated to move. The Capital was inland; transporting seafood here cost an immense amount of labor and resources. Even if the Crown Prince disliked it, it was not something a lowly servant like her could touch.
"I told you to eat—do I have to say it twice?"
Xie Zhixue dared not disobey. She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat the shrimp she had just peeled, one small bite at a time. It was sweet and succulent—truly delicious. In the past, when her family received rewards from the Emperor, she had tasted shrimp a few times; whenever her mother saw how much she enjoyed them, she would give her own portion to her. Since moving to the estate, she hadn't tasted them again. It was a pity that Yuwenzhang was watching so closely, or she would have hidden two in her sleeves to save for Ping'an.
Once the plate was finished, a bit of color returned to Xie Zhixue’s cheeks. A smear of sauce lingered at the corner of her lips, a sight that made Yuwenzhang’s throat go dry. He forced himself to look away. As the heir to the Eastern Palace, he had never lacked for women throwing themselves at him, yet he had gone and lost his heart to a broken, withered flower. It was truly hellish!
Yet, Xie Zhixue remained obtuse. Seeing his displeasure, she picked up some vegetarian dishes and served them to him. As she leaned in, a faint, ethereal fragrance wafted over—just like that day three years ago, plucking at the taut strings of his mind.
Yuwenzhang closed his eyes, then let out a scoff. He was the heir to the Eastern Palace, the future Emperor. Even if Xie Zhixue were no longer a commoner, even if she were still the daughter of a Hanlin scholar, if he wanted her, she would have to yield!
No longer suppressing his urges, Yuwenzhang reached out, grabbed the back of her head, and pulled. She was forced to lurch forward, falling into his warm chest. The sharp, cool scent of dragon incense enveloped her. Xie Zhixue lost her composure, pushing against him as she tried to rise.
The next second, Yuwenzhang tilted her chin up, his dark eyes fixed on hers as he slowly leaned in. Xie Zhixue struggled, but she was no match for his brute strength. She trembled like a bird struck by a stray arrow.
"Your Highness, please show some self-respect!"
"Self-respect? Why, others can sleep with you, but I cannot?"
Yuwenzhang pressed harder, looming over her until their lips were almost touching and their breaths mingled. Xie Zhixue wanted to retreat, but there was nowhere to go. She could only close her eyes and endure it passively, a tear sliding from the corner of her eye—like a swan craning its neck for the slaughter.
Seeing her reluctant expression, Yuwenzhang suddenly felt a loss of interest and shoved her away. Xie Zhixue tumbled to the floor and began to retreat, her eyes rimmed with red, but she was stopped before she could take another step.
*Hmph*, was he some kind of man-eating beast? Was he really so terrifying to her? There were countless women outside desperate to crawl into his bed, yet Xie Zhixue had to be so ungrateful! He didn't mind that she was a withered flower who had already borne a child—she should be down on her knees in gratitude!
Yuwenzhang paced over to the writing desk and motioned for Xie Zhixue to follow. He pointed to a stack of portraits of beautiful women and said mockingly, "These are the noble ladies chosen by the Ministry of Rites. My future Crown Princess is among them."
Xie Zhixue glanced at them indifferently and bowed. "My congratulations, Your Highness."
The woman at the top of the list, Lady Shen, was the daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan and a former close friend. Three years ago, they had both been selected as candidates for the Crown Princess. Back when they attended poetry clubs together, they had dreamed that if both of them were to enter the Eastern Palace—one as the principal wife, the other as a consort—they could keep each other company. When her father had contracted the epidemic, it was Lady Shen who had suggested she pray at the temple, and her father’s illness had indeed healed.
It was a pity that, after what had happened... she had moved to the estate, and they had never met again.
Yuwenzhang, lacking much interest, spread a few of the portraits across the desk and asked for Xie Zhixue’s opinion. "In your view, who is the best?"
Xie Zhixue hesitated. She couldn't tell what Yuwenzhang was after. Was he mocking her, or was he genuinely asking for her take on the character and nature of these noble ladies? Out of private intent, she pointed to Lady Shen. If Shen Wan'er could enter the Eastern Palace, then by virtue of their past friendship, she and Ping'an might stand a chance at survival.
"Shen Wan'er? How vulgar and insipid!" He had seen that woman a few times at palace banquets; she was just like the other noble ladies in the Capital—bland and boring.
Xie Zhixue bit her lip, daring not to speak further. In those days, she and Shen Wan'er were known as the two beauties of the Capital; she was the one with talent, while Shen Wan'er was known for her virtue and wisdom. If even such a woman could not catch his eye, she didn't know who else this Crown Prince could possibly choose.
Seeing Xie Zhixue standing there like a statue, her calm eyes showing neither envy nor self-abasement, Yuwenzhang felt a sudden sense of boredom. He waved his hand, signaling her to leave.
Xie Zhixue bowed and backed out of the room. Only when she returned to her own quarters did she finally set her heart at ease.
The room was pitch black.
"Ping'an? Why haven't you lit the lamps?"
Xie Zhixue fumbled to light a candle, but seeing her son still fast asleep on the daybed, she shook her head helplessly. "This child, he didn't even eat dinner."
She walked to the bedside to wake him, only to discover that Ping'an’s small face was flushed red with fever. His hands were clenched tightly together, and he was clearly on the verge of shivering from chills.