Chapter 87: Complete Defeat

 

 

Qin Yi truly found himself in an unprecedented situation. As the Crown Prince, no one had ever dared to touch him, let alone such a sensitive area as his waist and abdomen. Since having Chu Jinyao, Qin Yi had gradually allowed her access to this forbidden area, but even then, Chu Jinyao only touched him when she was being coy or asking for something—holding hands or linking arms. Such physical intimacy, especially while still clothed, was rare.

 

Qin Yi tried to break free, but the more he moved, the tighter Chu Jinyao held on. Qin Yi didn’t dare pull too hard, afraid that he might hurt her if he applied too much force. In the end, he had no choice but to sigh and say, “I’m not leaving. Just let go first.”

 

“I won’t. You definitely want to go find someone else, and that’s why you’re accusing me on purpose.”

 

What kind of logic was that? Qin Yi felt completely baffled. His body stiffened as he wasn’t used to this kind of intimate physical contact. Normally, when they were in bed or on the couch, he was the one initiating such things, which was an entirely different dynamic. This time, however, he was the one being held, and because of Chu Jinyao’s position, her upper body was pressing against his waist and abdomen, making him even more aware of the contact whenever she tightened her grip.

 

Qin Yi had no choice but to try relaxing his body. He reached out and gently wrapped an arm around Chu Jinyao’s shoulder. “I’m not lying to you. I’m really not going anywhere. Now, let go…”

 

He paused mid-sentence when he noticed something and immediately bent down to lift Chu Jinyao’s chin. “Are you crying?”

 

Chu Jinyao quickly turned her face away before he could touch her. “I’m not crying!”

 

There were very few things in this world that could truly scare Qin Yi, but this woman’s tears were definitely one of them. He sighed and said, “I’ve never met anyone as good at turning the tables on me as you. You were the one who faked illness, and I haven’t even blamed you for it, yet here you are crying.”

 

Chu Jinyao kept her head buried and refused to show her face. Qin Yi’s heart softened instantly. He gently hugged her shoulder and sat back down, completely forgetting that he was supposed to be angry. Once they were seated, he reached up to wipe away her tears. “Alright, alright. I wasn’t planning to scold you. Stop crying now.”

 

“You’re not leaving?” Chu Jinyao finally stopped crying and raised her watery eyes to look at him.

 

Who could still hold onto anger after being looked at like that? Qin Yi had always thought that only weak-willed men like his father would be moved by a woman’s tears, but now that it was happening to him, he realized he wasn’t any better. Qin Yi felt both amused and tender-hearted. He smiled at her and said, “This is my palace. Where would I go?”

 

However, Chu Jinyao didn’t seem relieved by his response. Her tone remained low as she asked, “Your Highness, do you know what day it is today?”

 

Qin Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. It was clear that Chu Jinyao wasn’t asking about something as simple as “the eighth day of the lunar new year.” He thought back to recent events that might have influenced her mood. Fortunately, Crown Prince Qin Yi had always been praised for his sharp mind and excellent memory, and he quickly made the connection. “Today is the one-month anniversary of our wedding.”

 

Hearing his answer, Chu Jinyao became even more somber. “To you, it’s the one-month mark of our wedding. But to me, it’s the day when the ancestral rules end, and I’m supposed to prepare concubine maids for you.”

 

Qin Yi finally recalled that the palace indeed had such a rule. The entire first month after a wedding, the groom wasn’t allowed to stay outside the bridal chamber. This privilege was reserved for the main wife, even a second empress couldn’t enjoy it. But to be honest, this ancestral rule was often just for show—very few members of the Qin family took it seriously.

 

Chu Jinyao’s words, along with her visit to the Empress’s Kunning Palace today, made it easy for Qin Yi to understand the root of her anxiety. He lifted her chin again, and although his tone was questioning, he sounded quite certain: “Did the Empress pressure you to take concubines for me?”

 

“No need to pressure me. It’s the law,” Chu Jinyao replied softly. She tried to turn her head away, but Qin Yi gently held her chin in place. Seeing no way to avoid it, Chu Jinyao lowered her gaze, unwilling to meet his eyes. “Your Highness, this was inevitable. You are the Crown Prince. Even if you don’t have three palaces and six courtyards, at the very least, you should have three wives and four concubines. Soon, you’ll be choosing talented, virtuous, and well-bred daughters from noble families to serve as your ladies-in-waiting and concubines. I’m not a good wife. I can’t discuss literature, history, or the fine arts with you, nor can I analyze court affairs. Fortunately, there will be other women, women who are well-versed in poetry and books, and they’ll surely be more to your liking.”

 

Qin Yi seemed to ponder this for a moment. “So this is why you pretended to be ill today.”

 

“Your Highness!” Chu Jinyao shouted angrily, “Did you even listen to what I was saying?!”

 

Qin Yi had intended to maintain the authority of a prince and husband, but he couldn’t help but laugh when he heard her angry retort. His eyes sparkled as he gazed at her. “You’re bold enough to shout at me. What are you afraid of?”

 

Chu Jinyao stared into Qin Yi’s eyes, inwardly marveling at how stunning they were. But like nature’s rule, the most beautiful things are often the most dangerous. Those same eyes that smiled at her could also look down on the world, making decisions about the fate of families and nations with a mere glance.

 

Noticing the change in her expression, Qin Yi’s playful demeanor faded. He gently cradled her face in his hands and slowly leaned in, their breaths intermingling, their eyelashes almost touching.

 

Chu Jinyao instinctively held her breath. Qin Yi, seeing her tense expression, couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t worry. There won’t be anyone else.”

 

“You’re lying.”

 

“I’m not.” Qin Yi said seriously. “The position of the Eastern Palace is delicate. It’s not appropriate to form deeper alliances with ministers by marrying their daughters. Besides, I don’t want to invite jealousy by showing favoritism to certain factions. The court is already filled with tangled power struggles. I can’t possibly pick a daughter from every powerful family to bring into the palace. So, I’ve decided I won’t have any.”

 

“What about palace maids? There are many talented and beautiful women among them, chosen from good families. What about them?”

 

Qin Yi, as arrogant as ever, wore a look of disdain. “This Crown Prince isn’t interested.”

 

Finally, Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but laugh through her tears.

 

The two of them were already close, and with her smiling face so near, her entire being seemed to come to life with beauty. Qin Yi, following his instincts, leaned in to claim her rose-red lips.

 

Chu Jinyao expected this kiss to be brief, as it had been before, but she soon realized that Qin Yi didn’t intend to stop this time. The kiss deepened, and Chu Jinyao, like a small boat caught in a stormy sea, felt completely overwhelmed. Her body slowly arched backward, eventually sinking into the soft, red bedding.

 

She felt Qin Yi’s hand at the collar of her robe, and with a jolt of realization, she gasped, “Your Highness, we can’t!”

 

Being stopped at this critical moment was far from pleasant. Qin Yi’s dark eyes stared into hers, and Chu Jinyao’s face flushed as she stammered, “Your Highness, I… I’ve started my cycle!”

 

As a husband well aware of his wife’s cycle, Qin Yi remembered exactly when she started and how long it lasted. The usually sharp-minded prince frowned. “Why is it today?”

 

“I don’t know. It came early this time.”

 

Qin Yi sighed deeply. His desire had been fully awakened, only for it to be thwarted. Chu Jinyao, torn between embarrassment and amusement, said, “It’s not my fault. Your Highness…”

 

She tugged at his sleeve, and Qin Yi, who couldn’t stay mad at her, resignedly pulled the covers up to tuck her in, placing her arms neatly inside the blanket. “Alright, I’ll remember this. Next time, I’ll make up for it all at once.”

 

Chu Jinyao, now nestled in the blankets with only her eyes peeking out, asked hesitantly, “So, you’re not mad anymore? I didn’t mean to lie to you today… I just didn’t know how else to say it.”

 

Qin Yi smiled, but unlike before, this time there was no playful indulgence. “One thing is separate from another. I can tolerate your little tricks, but there are boundaries you must not cross. This time, you pretended to be sick and scared me. What will you try next?”

 

“I…”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I know, I was wrong.”

 

“As long as you understand. As for today, I’m sure Linglong was involved. According to palace rules, she’ll be fined three months’ wages. I’ll spare her the lashes for now since she’s still serving by your side, but if she ever dares to step out of line again, the punishment will be doubled.”

 

Linglong, who had been waiting outside, immediately came in and knelt to accept her punishment. Chu Jinyao, hearing this, became anxious and tried to get out of bed, but Qin Yi gently pushed her back under the covers with one hand.

 

“Your Highness, it was my doing. Why are you punishing her?”

 

Qin Yi, calm and composed, looked at her with amusement. “Weren’t you sick? When the mistress falls ill, isn’t it only right to punish the servants for their negligence?”

 

“That’s not…”

 

Before Chu Jinyao could finish, Linglong quickly kowtowed and accepted the punishment. “Your Highness’s reprimand is justified. I accept the penalty.”

 

Chu Jinyao still wanted to protest, but Linglong subtly shook her head, mouthing something before quietly exiting the room.

 

Once she was gone, Qin Yi looked down at Chu Jinyao, his eyes saying more than words could. Although he hadn’t said it outright, Chu Jinyao clearly understood his message: pretending to be sick was something she could only get away with once. There would be no next time. Qin Yi wouldn’t punish her directly, but no servant involved would escape unscathed.

 

As she lay there, Chu Jinyao felt certain that no matter how hard she tried, she would never slip out of Qin Yi’s control. Qin Yi tucked the covers around her once more and said softly, “Stop overthinking things and get some rest.”

 

Chu Jinyao, half-conscious, murmured in response. But then, something suddenly occurred to her. Qin Yi had just stirred up such strong emotions, and now he was telling her to sleep. Where was he planning to go?

 

Before her thoughts could fully form, her body had already acted. She quickly grabbed Qin Yi’s arm, her swift movement impressively efficient. “Where are you going?”

 

“I’m not going anywhere,” Qin Yi said, pulling her hand away and tucking it back under the blanket. “Just sleep. I’ll stay here and watch over you.”

 

Seeing that he wasn’t actually planning to leave, Chu Jinyao finally relaxed and snuggled back into the blankets. “Your Highness, you… sleep early too.”

 

Embarrassed, she coughed lightly, deliberately skipping over the awkward middle part of her sentence. Qin Yi, exasperated, looked at her. Fortunately, after all the fuss she’d made tonight, she was exhausted. Faking an illness wasn’t an easy task, and since her acting skills were lacking, she’d been caught red-handed. Then she had to spend a long time explaining herself to Qin Yi. Now, as soon as everything settled down, she quickly drifted off to sleep.

 

Qin Yi sat there quietly, watching as Chu Jinyao’s breathing gradually evened out and she fell into a deep slumber.

 

In truth, half of what Qin Yi had said earlier was nonsense. If he were truly concerned about disrupting the balance of court factions by marrying the daughters of ministers, then where did all the concubines in the palace come from? No matter how powerful a minister might be, they were still just a subject. Choosing a wife from one of their families would only make them more loyal, working even harder to secure their future. Maintaining balance in the harem was a necessary skill for any ruler.

 

But when Qin Yi promised Chu Jinyao that there wouldn’t be “anyone else,” he meant it.

 

Chu Jinyao had been successfully comforted and was now sleeping soundly. However, Qin Yi couldn’t deceive himself. He asked himself the same question repeatedly—why?

 

Since the day he requested the imperial decree to marry Chu Jinyao, to their wedding night when they had talked, to today when he allowed her to trick him by pretending to be sick, Qin Yi had been pondering this question. He had grown up in the empire’s most rigorous and demanding environment. He had always been hard on others, and even harder on himself. For twenty years, he had never hesitated to confront his weaknesses, cutting away the laziness, hesitation, and wishful thinking that plagued him. He had forged himself into someone of steely determination, always moving forward with purpose.

 

His former tutors had once said that Crown Prince Qin Yi was extraordinarily perceptive. He could grasp complex concepts quickly, whether in his studies or physical activities like riding and archery. But more than that, he had an almost intuitive sense of people’s thoughts and motives. If he could predict the machinations of cunning courtiers, how could it be that he still didn’t understand his own feelings after all this time?

 

Was he really so confused? Or was it that he simply didn’t want to admit the truth? He had allowed Chu Jinyao to come closer to him, and each time she questioned why, he dodged the answer, refusing to confront it. Days turned into months, and the longer he indulged her, the more entrenched he became. Now, at last, Qin Yi realized that he could no longer deceive even himself.

 

Sitting in the soft, warm glow of candlelight, Qin Yi gazed at Chu Jinyao as she slept peacefully. Her skin was as fair and smooth as porcelain, her features were elegant, and her lips were a delicate shade of red—she looked like a figure from a carefully crafted painting.

 

There was no such thing as an exception; it was only because she was special. The first time he had broken his own rules for her, he should have been on guard. But Qin Yi had allowed himself to indulge, and now, looking back, he realized that he had been defeated from the start.

 

When it comes to matters of the heart, by the time you realized it, it was already too late.

 

The next morning, when Chu Jinyao woke up, Qin Yi was already gone.

 

But the warmth of his presence still lingered beside her. Chu Jinyao lightly touched the faint heat that remained, and for the first time, she felt an overwhelming sense of security.

 

The Empress had pressured her into accepting concubines. Chu Jinyao could have played along and put on a facade. The palace servants were secretly disobedient, but she could slowly win them over. However, if her husband wasn’t on her side, there would be nothing she could do.

 

Whether it was taking concubines, managing the palace, or keeping her subordinates in check, all of these things required her to have a strong grip. But the most important thing was the attitude of the man in charge.

 

As she reflected on this, a warm surge of emotion welled up in her chest. In the relatively short span of her life so far, no one had ever treated her as well as Qin Yi did. He had given her guidance, status, and now his unwavering trust. How many men in this world could promise their wife, “only you,” let alone a prince?

 

In these times, a promise held the weight of gold. If Qin Yi had said it, he must have thought it through carefully. Since he was the first to reach out his hand, Chu Jinyao decided she would believe in him with all her heart, instead of worrying about what might happen if he ever changed his mind. Relationships were built on mutual care and trust, and this was especially true for a husband and wife.

 

With this thought in mind, Chu Jinyao felt a sudden burst of energy. The Empress might be scheming, and Noble Consort Shu might be trying to stir up trouble, and soon she’d have to deal with her ambiguous sister-in-law, Zhao Lanhui. There was plenty of work ahead for her as the Crown Princess.

 

That entire morning, Chu Jinyao was full of enthusiasm. The maids serving her exchanged puzzled looks. The whole palace was gossiping that the maids Erhua and Erxue were about to rise to favor, so why wasn’t the Crown Princess showing any signs of concern? In fact, she seemed even happier than usual.

 

Linglong, who knew the whole story, just smiled. As soon as she saw Chu Jinyao, she could tell that the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince had resolved their differences. As for the loss of three months’ wages? She couldn’t care less—that penalty had been worth it.

 

After the Lantern Festival, the festive atmosphere began to fade, and everything returned to normal. By the second month, the palace was busy again—Eldest Princess’s wedding day was approaching. With the wedding, many personnel changes occurred, and new faces quietly began to appear in various positions.

 

One of Chu Jinyao’s informants discreetly reported, “Your Highness, new people have been sent to monitor Madam Hong again.”

 

Chu Jinyao’s expression remained calm, her gaze steady. It was clear that this time, the Empress was no longer underestimating her. The Empress was now treating her as a serious adversary. From here on out, Chu Jinyao could no longer rely on feigned ignorance to get by.

 

The author’s note: The most significant turning point in the emotional storyline has arrived. From now on, the focus will shift to the main plot.