Chapter 49: Your Highness, Do You Not Want Me? (Consummation)

Back courtyard.

Yingtao brought a servant-dressed man through the side gate. Taking advantage of the night, she guided him past the patrolling guards straight toward the Crown Prince’s main quarters.

She delivered him to the main residence, pointed toward the main chamber, and whispered, “It’s there. Hurry.”

Having served many years in the Crown Prince’s residence, Yingtao had long risen to the rank of first-class maid. Doing a little mischief was not only easy, but with planning, not at all difficult.

Most importantly, Yingtao felt that everything was going smoothly tonight.

After sending the man to the main quarters, she turned her steps toward the study.

What she did not know was that as soon as the man entered the main courtyard, he was thrown into a sack and carried off.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

Yingtao rushed to the study, only to be stopped by Si-nan. “What is it?”

“It seems a thief has entered the main quarters, and the Crown Princess is still inside…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Ji had already come out of the study, striding swiftly toward the main quarters.

Yingtao stood there, watching his back with flickering eyes before following after.

Crown Princess… she must not blame her.

Xiao Ji’s pace was as fast as the wind as he rushed straight to the main residence.

Inside, no candles were lit, and his heart tightened. But considering there might be an intruder, he slowed his steps.

Within, only one person’s breathing could be heard.

Was it Xie Yao, or…

Xiao Ji did not enter from the front. With a look, he signaled Si-nan. They split to attack from two sides. By the dim light, Xiao Ji peered through the window.

There was only one figure inside.

From the shape… it was Xie Yao.

The smell of wine was heavy. Was she drinking? Xiao Ji returned to the main door, giving Si-nan another look. “Search the main quarters thoroughly.”

He then stepped into the chamber.

“Crown Princess.”

He approached the table. Only up close did he notice how her skin gleamed pale and luminous in the dark.

Her collar was slightly disheveled, the faintest trace of spring teasing at the edge, making the tips of Xiao Ji’s ears burn. He turned his gaze aside. “You’re drunk.”

Before he could finish, Xie Yao threw herself into his arms, her eyes glistening. “Your Highness.”

She tilted her face upward and tried to kiss him.

Perhaps it was the wine that gave her courage. She had drunk to overcome her inner fear of this matter.

Xiao Ji turned his face away, his voice husky. “Don’t fool around.”

But Xie Yao paid him no mind. She had prepared herself in every way tonight. She pressed closer. “Your Highness… I feel so unwell.”

Her voice was pitifully soft, laced with a faint scent of wine. Her hands fumbled at her own clothing, her gaze hazy and vulnerable.

Xiao Ji realized something was wrong with her condition. Remembering the quiet in the main courtyard earlier and Yingtao’s mention of a “thief,” he quickly pieced it together.

“I’ll fetch a physician!” he said, turning to leave.

“Your Highness.” Xie Yao clung to him, her voice soft and coaxing. “No! No physician.”

“…I only want Your Highness.”

Her fingers slipped beneath his robes, brushing his skin.

Xiao Ji froze in place.

Her breath tickled his ear, her voice breaking with need and desire.

His throat bobbed. Slowly, he turned back to look down at her. His eyes were already bloodshot, yet he still forced restraint. “Xie Yao, you’re not in your right mind. Be good….”

But she cut him off by rising on tiptoe to kiss him.

One hand clutched his shoulder for support; the other lifted his hand, pressing it against her slender waist.

“Your Highness,” she murmured between kisses. “Do you not want me?”

Xiao Ji was a man.

And after days of Xie Yao’s careful diet designed to “nourish” him, his body was already overflowing with excess energy.

“Xie Yao.”

His gaze sharpened dangerously, locking onto hers. “Are you certain?”

“I cannot give you…” a future or children.

Before he could finish, Xie Yao kissed him again.

His hand closed firmly around her waist, lifting her with ease.

Step by step, they stumbled back toward the bed.

Garments fell piece by piece along the way.

Perhaps he had noticed her unconscious resistance the last two times, for he did not press her beneath him.

Instead, he let himself fall back onto the bedding. Even in the darkness, his eyes shone bright. “Yao-yao, you still have a chance to….”

But Xie Yao, dizzy with wine and his kisses, could only catch fragments of his words.

A chance?

Yes. Tonight was her chance to conceive.

She threw her arms around him, answering with action.

Fine beads of sweat stood on Xiao Ji’s brow from his restraint. But when he heard her, he finally gave in. He sought her hand and laced their fingers tightly together.

“Yao-yao, I’m here.” He kissed away the tears slipping down her face.

Outside, rain poured down suddenly, mercilessly drumming against the flowers in the courtyard.

The night was sleepless.

At dawn’s first light, Xie Yao fainted from exhaustion. Only then did Xiao Ji come back to his senses.

The bed was in disarray, the air thick with the lingering scent of passion.

He stared dazedly for a long while, and then turned his gaze to her. Her pale skin was covered with his marks.

On the goose-yellow bedding, a vivid stain of blood stood out starkly.

Xie Yao, his Crown Princess, from this moment belonged wholly to him.

“Prepare water.”

Though sleepless, Xiao Ji had never felt so alert. He gave the order, and soon there was movement outside.

When the water was ready in the side chamber, he carried Xie Yao there to bathe, while Zhuqing and Zhuxin entered to clear the aftermath.

The lingering scent in the room was unmistakable. Though neither maid had known a man, they understood well enough what had transpired.

They were overjoyed for their mistress, yet also shy beyond words.

Both girls, faces scarlet, silently replaced everything inside the room. Meanwhile, Xiao Ji gently lowered Xie Yao into the hot spring pool.

Looking at the marks covering her body, Xiao Ji felt a pang of guilt.

She was a first-timer. He should have been more careful. But her allure had been too strong that he had utterly lost control.

Yet…

His time was short. From childhood, it had been decreed he would not live past twenty-five.

Only two years remained…

And then… what would become of his Crown Princess?

“Your Highness.”

Xie Yao stirred with a soft sound, waking in his arms. Weak and boneless, she leaned against his shoulder. Her face was flushed with a lingering glow, her brows carrying traces of last night’s passion.

The bud that had only been half-open now bloomed fully, dazzling and radiant, almost unbearable to behold.

Xiao Ji feared that even one more glance would pull him under completely.

Xie Yao quickly realized their situation. Her face blazed red, making her appear even more irresistible. “I…”

Xiao Ji’s voice was hoarse, his eyes dark. “Do you still feel unwell?”