Chapter 73: First Meeting of Past Events

Chu Jinyao was surprised and hurriedly turned around, trying to stand up: “Where are the maids? How could they not tell me when His Highness came in? How rude of them!”

 

She stood up too quickly, and after two consecutive days of little rest, the sudden movement made her feel dizzy. Qin Yi, quick to react, caught her in his arms. His expression darkened immediately, “What’s wrong?”

 

Before Chu Jinyao could respond, Qin Yi effortlessly picked her up in his arms and started walking towards the inner chamber, ordering, “Summon the imperial physician.”

 

Chu Jinyao, still dizzy but recovering, was startled by the sudden loss of balance. Instinctively, she grabbed onto the closest thing she could for support. As her panic subsided, she heard Qin Yi’s words and hurriedly said, “No! Your Highness, I’m fine. It’s just that I haven’t rested well, so I felt a bit dizzy.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Really!” Chu Jinyao replied and then realized that her hands were resting on Qin Yi’s shoulders. Despite his slender appearance, his muscles were firm, and his shoulders strong, as were his arms holding her steadily without the slightest shake, even while walking quickly.

 

Embarrassed, Chu Jinyao quickly withdrew her hands, but without something to hold onto, she felt like she might fall. Reluctantly, she said, “Your Highness, I’m really fine. Please put me down.”

 

“Are you sure you’re fine?” Qin Yi still looked doubtful. “Your face turned pale just now.”

 

Feeling even more embarrassed, Chu Jinyao covered her eyes with her hand and softly muttered, “I’ll be fine after eating something and getting some proper rest.” She was only feeling light-headed because she hadn’t eaten anything since the morning!

 

Still unconvinced, Qin Yi placed her down on the couch but didn’t get up. He leaned down, keeping her gently pressed down, saying, “Lie down properly and don’t move.”

 

He then turned to the palace attendants and ordered, “Prepare a meal.”

 

Linglong and the other maids had seen the prince enter but were silenced with a mere gesture from him, not daring to speak. They obediently stepped back, witnessing with blushing faces as the prince massaged Chu Jinyao’s neck and carried her to the couch.

The maids of the Marquis’s residence were both shy and happy, smiling as they retreated outside to set the table for the meal.

 

Chu Jinyao waited until everyone had left the room before sitting up, flustered. She shifted a bit, but the couch wasn’t big enough to distance herself from Qin Yi.

 

Now that they were alone, Chu Jinyao dared to softly ask, “Your Highness, what is going on?”

 

Qin Yi looked at her for a moment before raising his eyebrows, “You still haven’t fully accepted my identity?”

 

“It’s not that I haven’t accepted it…” Chu Jinyao sighed lightly, looking at him. “It’s just… I still need some time to adjust.”

 

She had her suspicions before, but the crown prince’s status was so high that even the thought of equating him to Qi Ze felt like blasphemy. However, last night, Qin Yi had firmly revealed the truth to her—Qi Ze and the crown prince were one and the same.

 

It was overwhelming. Last night had been too chaotic, and by the time it all sank in, she had no energy to think deeply about it. But now, seeing Qin Yi in the daylight, she found everything unnervingly awkward.

 

“I suppose it’s my fault for keeping it from you at the beginning.” Qin Yi, for perhaps the first time in his life, actually admitted fault. “To be honest, I hadn’t planned to reveal my identity, nor had I planned on getting involved with you.”

 

Chu Jinyao could understand Qin Yi’s caution. People’s hearts are easily tested. If she had known from the start that Qin Yi was the crown prince, would she have been able to resist asking him for favors? And if not her, then what about others around her?

She nodded sympathetically. “I understand. Your Highness did the right thing. Back then, I had just returned home and didn’t know much. If I had known you were the crown prince, I might have become greedy and asked for all sorts of things.”

 

Qin Yi couldn’t help but laugh. Chu Jinyao, knowing that the person beside her was the crown prince, was only thinking about asking for material goods? How adorably naive.

 

“You really have modest ambitions. What you should have asked for was power and connections, not just gold and silver. If you had been more daring, knowing I needed the jade pendant for healing, you might’ve asked for something even greater.” His tone carried a hint of amusement. If it had been another sharp-witted, ambitious noblewoman, she might’ve aimed to become a royal consort. Yet here was Chu Jinyao, so oblivious that he ended up giving her the title of crown princess anyway.

 

Seeing his strange expression, Chu Jinyao hadn’t realized what he was thinking. Reflecting on his words, she imagined what she would have done if she had known he was the crown prince back then. Turning to look at Qin Yi, she said sincerely, “If you had told me you were the crown prince, I definitely wouldn’t have dared to keep you. I’d probably have thrown both you and the jade pendant far away.”

 

Her words, while blasphemous, didn’t make Qin Yi angry. Instead, they made him laugh even harder, so much so that he couldn’t hold it back. “You’re right. You would’ve done exactly that. It seems I saved myself back then.”

 

“You can’t say that.” Chu Jinyao felt embarrassed by his laughter. Once he had calmed down, she asked earnestly, “Your Highness, you mentioned you were healing back then?”

 

“Hm?” Qin Yi raised an eyebrow, running his hand thoughtfully across his chin. “Did I mention that?”

 

“So, you appeared there because you were injured?” Chu Jinyao slowly pieced together why Qin Yi could be in two places at once. It was likely that when he was injured, the border kept the information under wraps. By the time the filtered information reached her, she had no idea what was going on. This explained why she hadn’t connected Qi Ze’s appearances with the crown prince’s supposed coma.

 

To be injured so badly that his spirit could leave his body for two or three months before returning… How severe must the injury have been! Chu Jinyao was overwhelmed by the thought and softly asked, “Your Highness, has your injury fully healed?”

 

Qin Yi, amused by her concern, couldn’t resist ruffling her hair again. “Of course. I’ve long since recovered. You certainly were listening carefully.”

 

Despite his casual tone, Chu Jinyao wanted to say more, but since it was all in the past, bringing it up now seemed pointless and insincere. Instead, she resolved to be more vigilant in the future. Changing the subject, she murmured, “I remember you saying you didn’t plan to intervene in my life back then.”

 

Qin Yi couldn’t hold back a laugh. She sounded so aggrieved yet tried to appear indifferent, making her look even more endearing. He couldn’t help but pull her closer. “In the end, I couldn’t help but get involved, could I? I can’t deny it—you’re very hard to ignore when you start crying.”

 

Chu Jinyao, trying to maintain her dignity as crown princess, found herself helpless against Qin Yi’s teasing. She attempted to scoot away, but the couch was too small, and he easily pulled her back toward him with just one hand.

 

“Your Highness, please behave properly!” she protested.

 

“This is my palace. I can do whatever I want.” Qin Yi, now holding her close, examined her face carefully. “It’s a good thing your eyes aren’t swollen today after all that crying yesterday,” he remarked, patting her head. “You should start getting used to being the crown princess.”

 

His tone was clearly suggestive, and Chu Jinyao’s face turned bright red. “You’re… being so shameless!”

 

Every time she was upset, she said the same thing, but it had no effect on Qin Yi. He found her puffed-up cheeks and wide, glaring eyes irresistibly amusing. In a moment of nostalgia, he murmured, “It’s been a long time since anyone has dared look at me like that. I almost missed it.”

 

Startled, Chu Jinyao remembered who she was dealing with—this was the crown prince. She quickly sat up straight, ready to apologize: “Your Highness, I…”

 

“There you go again.” Qin Yi, displeased, pulled her back to his side before she could finish her apology. She lost her balance and fell against his chest, her face turning crimson. She tried to push herself up, but Qin Yi’s hand rested firmly on her shoulder, keeping her close.

 

With her body stiff and awkwardly braced against him, Chu Jinyao felt Qin Yi’s warmth through her hair. He had merely lowered his head slightly, and yet their closeness felt far too intimate.

 

Her thoughts drifted to Qin Yi’s childhood. At five, he had lost his mother, Empress Wenxiao, to a fatal illness, and had to witness his father’s affair with his aunt, the current Empress Xiao Qi. His once-beloved aunt had quickly become his enemy. Was this what had shaped the cold and commanding man she now knew?

 

Softening, Chu Jinyao allowed herself to lean into his warmth. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she confessed, “Sometimes I still see you as Qi Ze. But, more often than not, I think of you as the crown prince.”

 

Qin Yi chuckled softly, his chest vibrating gently against her. Though her statement seemed naive, it was honest and heartfelt.

 

“I’ll try harder to remember that you are both Qi Ze and the crown prince,” she continued.

 

For a brief moment, Qin Yi was caught off guard by her sincerity. Most people only saw him as the crown prince. No one cared who he truly was beneath that title. Yet here was someone, for the first time, addressing him not as a title, but as a person. It was an unfamiliar, almost unsettling feeling.

 

The weight of her words hung in the air, making Qin Yi’s usually unshakeable demeanor falter ever so slightly. For a fleeting moment, he found himself appreciating her honesty. She wasn’t just another sycophant; she was genuine.

 

Still, old habits die hard. Pulling her even closer, Qin Yi smiled, letting the moment pass. “Well then, if you’re going to make an effort, I guess I can let you.”

 

They sat together in silence for a while longer, both reluctant to let go of the warmth between them. But reality soon called them back—there were meals to eat and court matters to attend to. Qin Yi stood up first, extending a hand to help Chu Jinyao to her feet.

 

“We should eat first. There’s a palace banquet tonight, and you’ll need to wear your formal attire again. It’s going to be a long evening.”

 

Before she could protest, he scooped her up effortlessly. Surprised, Chu Jinyao quickly interjected, “Your Highness, this isn’t proper! You can’t behave like this in front of others.”

 

“This is our palace,” Qin Yi replied matter-of-factly.

 

“Even so!” She hurriedly wriggled out of his grasp, standing tall and resolute. “As the crown princess, I must maintain decorum.”

 

Amused by her serious demeanor, Qin Yi finally relented. “Alright, I’ll let you have this one.”

 

After their meal, when they were finally alone again, Qin Yi didn’t hesitate to scoop her up once more, ignoring her protests. “Rest while you can. You didn’t sleep much last night.”

 

Though flustered, Chu Jinyao couldn’t deny the warmth of his embrace and reluctantly let herself be carried to the bed.

 

As Chu Jinyao’s back met the soft bedding, she suddenly became wide awake and immediately tried to sit up. “Your Highness…” she began.

 

Qin Yi, after placing her on the bed, removed his shoes and climbed in beside her, casually wrapping his arm around her waist. With a gentle tug, he pulled her closer. “You didn’t sleep well last night. Take this afternoon to rest a bit more.”

 

It was just a nap… Chu Jinyao felt both embarrassed and relieved as she settled into the bedding. With her face flushed, she murmured a soft “Mm.”

 

Of course, all her little thoughts and actions were fully noticed by Qin Yi. Taking advantage of her not being able to see his face, his eyes were full of amusement, though his tone remained completely proper as he said, “Don’t overthink it. Just rest.”

 

Who’s overthinking! Chu Jinyao buried her face deeper into the soft bedding, inwardly grumbling. If not for how suggestive his actions were, or his… touch, how could her thoughts have wandered there?

 

Despite her irritation, Chu Jinyao had always been someone who could sleep easily. Thinking about the upcoming banquet where she’d have to present herself as the crown princess, and all the ceremonies that would follow, she drifted off to sleep quickly.

 

By the time Chu Jinyao woke up, an hour and a half had passed.

 

Linglong and the other maids were waiting quietly outside, and as soon as they heard movement, they swiftly entered, lifting the curtains and softly walking toward her. “Crown Princess, you’re awake?”

 

“Mm.” Chu Jinyao, still drowsy, nodded as she slowly sat up from the bed. “Where’s His Highness?”

 

“His Highness left about an hour ago to meet with foreign officials,” Linglong replied while helping Chu Jinyao out of bed. She leaned in closer and whispered, “Crown Princess, while you were resting, a few of the senior palace staff requested to meet with you, but His Highness blocked them, saying they must wait until you woke up. What would you like to do?”

 

“They’ve already been waiting for so long?” Chu Jinyao was startled. “Invite them in at once.”

 

The Crown Prince’s residence, the Cìqìng Palace, was home to numerous servants and administrators. The day-to-day affairs were managed by two key figures: the elderly nursemaid, Momo Huo, and the palace manager, Gugu Ziyan. Momo Huo had served the late Empress Wenxiao and had been by Qin Yi’s side since childhood, making her indispensable. Gugu Ziyan, well-respected and capable, oversaw the palace’s operations, but even she relied on four senior palace maids beneath her to handle the more detailed matters.

 

Momo Huo, Gugu Ziyan, and all the palace attendants had been waiting for some time to pay their respects to Chu Jinyao. Once they entered and knelt before her, Chu Jinyao gave them a brief and polite acknowledgment before instructing Linglong to distribute rewards to the palace staff.

 

As a new bride, Chu Jinyao was in no rush to assert her authority in the palace. For now, it was best to let the household run as usual, especially as she was still finding her footing. Building a strong connection with Qin Yi was her priority. With all the upcoming ceremonies, it was crucial to first establish a strong bond with him.

 

After addressing the palace staff, Chu Jinyao returned to the inner chamber. Linglong cautiously approached her again. “Crown Princess, while you were resting, it was Erhua who came in to attend to you.”

 

Chu Jinyao immediately became alert. Erhua was one of the four palace maids sent by the Empress. If she was the one who came in to serve Chu Jinyao during her nap, there was no mistaking her intentions. Chu Jinyao shook her head and said, “She’s moving too fast.”

 

Linglong nodded in agreement. There were countless palace servants who might have their own hidden agendas. Yet, this was only Chu Jinyao’s second day in the Eastern Palace, and Erhua was already trying to ingratiate herself. Her ambition was painfully obvious.

 

The four palace maids sent by the Empress were named Erfeng, Erhua, Erxue, and Eryue—names that, taken together, had a rather poetic meaning: “Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon.” From the names alone, Chu Jinyao could sense the Empress’s intentions.

 

“What a romantic set of names,” Chu Jinyao mused, her voice laced with sarcasm.

 

She knew these four women would eventually need to be dealt with, regardless of how they acted. The key was how to handle them tactfully. For now, Chu Jinyao was more concerned about one thing: “What about His Highness? What did he say?”