Crown Prince Jingyuan
Eunuch Bo stood next to the open carriage, his silk robe’s sleeve belling as he gestured towards the sedan. “Crown Prince, the sedan,” he said. Crown Prince Jingyuan’s young eunuch, dressed in a deep leafy green robe, stood with graceful posture, bending in wait, resembling a weeping willow. Jingyuan sighed, looking up at the early evening sky. He wished he could continue playing chess and talking to his twin, but the astrologers had determined that today was the day for him and his consort to share the same bed.
“No, I’ll walk,” Jingyuan replied, dismissing the idea of using the sedan. The eunuch questioned his choice, saying, “Aya, Crown Prince, conserving your energy for tonight’s activities would be best. Your stamina…”
Jingyuan interrupted him with a sharp glare, causing the eunuch to fall silent. The servant’s eyes widened in alarm, realizing his mistake, and he agreed enthusiastically, “The Crown Prince is wise, most wise indeed. There has never been a night more perfect for a walk than tonight, and our Crown Prince possesses endless stamina.” Eunuch Bo smiled, his eyes twinkling as if he had come up with the idea himself. He then instructed the other servants to move ten paces behind their master.
Jingyuan’s hands were clasped behind his back as he maneuvered through the labyrinth of towering palace walls. His slow stride was unhurried, almost leisurely. Having been born within the confines of the royal walls in the imperial harem, there was not a single corner of the palace that remained unfamiliar to him. Every step he took, every crack and crevice between the steps, he knew by heart.
His younger half-siblings would often make snide remarks about his nightly strolls, accusing him of flaunting his power as the Crown Prince. They believed he paraded around the royal grounds, asserting his future domain like a dog marking its territory with urine. They painted him as an arrogant ruler, a greedy tyrant who took secret pleasure in watching everyone bow and grovel in his presence. However, they were oblivious to the truth. Jingyuan’s wanderings had nothing to do with displaying his power.
Instead, they were driven by a profound sense of frustration.
His life was an unending sequence of predetermined events, a harsh reality in which every decision he believed to be his own was merely an echo of choices forged by others. Symbolic of the unpredictability of his twists and the spontaneous paths he opted for, he perpetually found himself back at square one. Just like the path beneath his feet, regardless of how far he wandered or how desperately he sought a different route, fate always pulled him back into its unrelenting grip, firmly anchoring him to the same point.
He never vocalized his private thoughts nor would he during his entire life, but the cumbersome weight of the expectations placed upon him was suffocating and, regardless of everyone around him, he was lonely, especially when Jinghua wasn’t by his side.
His father, the emperor, bestowed upon him the title of the next heir apparent at birth. As a young child, he didn’t comprehend the significance of his position or the differential treatment he received compared to his twin, Jinghua. All he desired was to be like his carefree siblings without being told he couldn’t do this or had to refrain from that to ensure his safety, which equated to the stability of the nation. It was confusing how his desire to ride the unbroken new tribute stallion affected others. However, as an observant and astute child, he grasped the magnitude of his role. His title was broad, encompassing more than just himself or a mere crown; it carried a hefty weight, something much grander than his own existence.
As the Crown Prince, his mother would be spared from humiliation and the whims of the harem. The inner palace was an unpredictable place where intrigue, antagonism and plotting flourished and ruled to gain Royal father’s favoritism. Because she was the future heir’s mother, nobody in their right mind would challenge her position. Without hesitation, she would receive the finest the world offered and forever be held in the highest regard by the royal father. And because Jingyuan was the Crown Prince, only he possessed the power and resources to overnight quell false and baseless rumors that circulated about his younger twin attempting to gather supporters for the throne. No one dared question his actions.
The solution was clear and uncomplicated. Those without heads could not wag their tongues with baseless gossip.
However, he knew that comments about Jinghua would continue to arise, not just now, but also in the future. The lives and safety of his mother and younger brother depended on him. Therefore, he had no other option but to embrace his destiny and accept his birthright as the future ruler of the dynasty. He acknowledged the decisions others had made for his life without complaint and, as his title dictated, he had no say in his future partners.
Jingyuan was nine years old years old when he became engaged to Grand General Bai and Grand Princess’s daughter, his little cousin Princess Yueli. She had more gaps in her smile than teeth. She had just turned four and the Left Prime Minister’s daughter Shao Wan was the same age as he. Empress Mother had carefully selected his future spouses to ensure his position on the throne. She chose Shao Wan as his consort, second wife, because of her father, Lord Shao’s powerful hold on commerce and trade.
No matter where wealth flowed, Left Prime Minister was there with his wide-reaching influence like a net to catch the plentiful sea life in waters off the coast of the southern seas, making him almost as wealthy as the royal family. But money alone wasn’t enough to deter other the princes and their ambitious mothers’ families from vying for the throne.
Without military power, how influential could money be?
Therefore, Empress Mother also selected Princess Yueli to be his future first wife and princess consort. The Grand Princess, Princess Yueli’s mother, held a special place in the Emperor’s heart as his favorite sister, as they shared the same parents. Meanwhile, her father, Grand General Bai, commanded the imperial army.
The military Bai family, bound to him by blood, formed his right hand; the Shao family, his left; his royal bloodline was at the center. This dynamic, powerful combination of military, royalty, and finance made Jingyuan’s path to the throne unshakeable. However, unlike his role as the Crown Prince, which he often resented, he was satisfied with the choice of his future wives, chubby-cheeked and fiery-tempered, Princess Yueli in particular.
Little Princess Yueli was in his life as long as he could remember. As the only daughter of Royal Father’s sister, cousin Yueli, whom family called A-li, spent most of her time in the palace and had been like his shadow. Like a little duckling, she had followed Jingyuan around while fighting and bickering with Jinghua over everything under the sun, especially Jingyuan’s undivided attention.
Cousin A-li and his younger twin were like oil and water, incompatible.
She was the first person to lay hands on his twin, blackening his eye over a pastry, a mooncake, and Jinghua, in retaliation, threw her shoes into the lake only to have her jump into the water to fetch them. Jingyuan had dove in the coy fish and lotus filled water after her and when he did, all his servants, even the ones who couldn’t swim, jumped into the lake after their master.
Jinghua’s prank had caused a domino effect of chaos as attendants trying to save Jingyuan needed other servants to save them and as ridiculous as it all was when A-li was pulled from the lake, she chased after Jinghua blinded by rage like a provoked bull, soaking wet, blackened his other eye then kissed Jingyuan on the lips and told him she was overjoyed to marry him because she loved him most.
Years had passed, but the memory of that day still made him smile and A-li’s tragic death had been a terrible blow that shook the entire royal family and him. Even Jinghua had cried for weeks, regretful of how he had treated her. She didn’t have a funeral and as much as Royal Father had insisted on a grand funeral to honor his niece, Grand Princess refused to accept A-li’s death, since her body was never found.
“Your Highness, we have arrived. However, there seems to be no one here to greet you.” Eunuch Bo’s words interrupted Crown Prince Jingyuan’s thoughts as he found himself at the gates of Consort Shao’s residence, which was lit dimly and unattended by a single servant in sight. “How odd,” Eunuch Bo remarked, scratching his head in confusion. ”Consort Shao must have known of your visit tonight. Allow me to send the servants to the hall of punishment for their terrible behavior.”
“No need. If anyone deserves punishment, it’s their mistress.” Jingyuan replied in a knowing tone, the soft sound of his footsteps echoing through the quiet courtyard as he entered Shao Wan’s opulent palace. He could already envision Consort Shao sulking like a child. He knew she would be hiding under her silk covers, upset about something that he was sure he would soon hear about.
Shao Wan’s residence, much like her, exuded a grand and lofty atmosphere. However, he found the ostentatious display of wealth rather distastefully vulgar. The entire place was adorned with gold and everything from the expensive silk brocade furniture to the large, ornate coral piece at the entrance flaunted her family’s vast fortune. He had always held his tongue, never uttering a word about her questionable sense of decor. Even now, as he passed by the garish twisted coral, he couldn’t help but grimace a little, silently making his way through the chambers until he stood just a few steps away from the bed.
The soft glow of a single candle cast an extended version of his shadow on the silk walls. The burning incense in the chamber’s corner filled the room with a mixture of sweet floral perfume and the subtle scent of sandalwood and tuberose. With a tired sigh, Jingyuan crossed his arms over his chest, feeling the weariness settling into his bones before he even had a chance to remove a single article of clothing. “Consort,” Jingyuan coaxed, “I’m here and waiting.”
“Oh? Why are you here?” She asked, her voice a whisper. “I thought the Crown Prince was too occupied for me. Shao Wan doesn’t matter when Prince Jinghua is here.” She muttered, her girlish voice heavy with jealousy and resentment. “Yet Crown Prince has taken another concubine, one who is far from pleasing to the eye. I might as well live in the cold palace.”
“Perhaps I should leave.” No sooner had the words escaped his mouth than she threw the warm blankets off her head. The brocade silk fabric swished as it fell, cascading around her. Slanted eyes, shaped like bamboo leaves, glared at him with spite, narrowing with intensity. Shao Wan’s lips pressed together, forming a firm line. Once precisely combed and head-banded hair now overflowed wildly over her grumpy face, strands sticking to her wet cheeks.
Despite her temper, she flung herself towards him, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the bedchamber. On her knees, she embraced his legs, gripping onto him, her face buried in his lower torso, seeking comfort like a child. “Crown prince must understand, Shao Wan. Nobody loves you like me. Nobody,” she whimpered.
He affectionately caressed her head, his touch soothing and gentle. An amused chuckle escaped his lips, a soft sound that broke the tension. His second wife was spoiled, audacious, prideful, and even spiteful, but Jingyuan understood and tried to sympathize with her feelings. He knew that Shao Wan had never had to share or be anything but first her entire life until she married him.
As her tears streamed down her cheeks, Jingyuan whispered, “I’m here. How could I forget about tonight?” his fingers cradling her chin gingerly, his touch radiating warmth against her skin. With a tender motion, he wiped away her tears, the softness of his touch easing her distress. The room was quiet, filled only with the sound of his breathing and her faint whimpering. Jingyuan’s voice, just a slight above a whisper, carried a sense of intimacy as he asked, “Did you not know I was coming? Where are the servants?” His tender gaze, his eyes brimming with a private affection seldom witnessed by others, remained fixated on her, making her feel like the sole inhabitant of his world. He could do this for her. In this moment, Jingyuan’s devotion was unwavering, as he aimed to give her his utmost care and attention. “Am I to undress myself?”
The sorrow that had once etched itself upon her face vanished, replaced by a fiery spark of jealousy that ignited in her eyes. “I’ve sent everyone away! I don’t trust these whores! They all crave to serve you,” she retorted, her voice laced with possessiveness and deep-seated mistrust. “No other woman shall lay a hand on you or witness your bare form. You belong to me!”
He pinched her cheeks ever so lightly, the playful gesture bringing an impish smile to her tear-streaked face. “Why are all your servants so very plain and unfetching?” He inquired, raising her from her knees and as she rose from the bed, their bodies bumped then pressed into each other, the slight contact of their bodies taking away his fatigue and sending a sudden jolt of electricity to his loin. Her lovely face was only inches from his, their breaths mingling as she growled with jealousy. “Have you been sneaking peeks at my servants again?”
Jingyuan’s reply came, his voice quickly sounding low and husky with arousal, sending shivers down her spine. “Yes, always,” he teased, his words hanging in the air like a tantalizing melody. Before she could respond, he pressed his lips to hers, igniting a symphony of sensations. Her lips, delicate and doll-like, had a rosy pink hue, their softness a velvet caress against his own moist still carrying the lingering taste of sweet plum wine from her dinner, adding a hint of intoxication to their passionate exchange. As his hands explored her body, he felt a surge of warmth coursing through his veins and her skin grew, flushing with desire for him. Her body, inviting and soft, radiated an irresistible feminine energy as she pressed into him with longing and anticipation. “All I do is wait for you. Waiting to serve my Crown Prince.” She murmured her words, a breathy confession of her yearning.
He felt her shiver from the touch of his fingertips dancing across her skin, like butterflies fluttering over her clothing. Her expression softened, and her body grew warm under his hand, her body exuding a heat that matched the intensity of their connection. Goosebumps formed on her skin, a testament to the fervor building within her. As he undressed her, his touch ignited a fire within her and her small nipples hardened under her night clothing. His desire to ravish her intensified. A primal need consumed him, but she struggled with the intricate buttons on his robe. “Therefore, keep at least one servant on the nights you attend to me. Allow me,” Jingyuan offered, undoing his clothes without effort, his actions a seamless display of desire and expertise.
His golden, heavy outer coat fell to the ground with a weighted thud, then layer by layer until revealing his nakedness, a sight that left her blushing. His exposed male desire, thick and hard, pulsed with an ache that mirrored her own, aching to intertwine with hers. He watched as she reclined on the bed with grace, ready to serve him, her floral-scented skin filling the air, the intimate scent of her desire and beauty awakening a primal hunger within him.
“Let me see you. Open your thighs for me.” Consort Shao parted her legs, thighs, as fair as moonlight was inviting. A delicate blush adorned her moistening lower treasure, evidence of her arousal. Nestled beneath a sparse fine ebony thatch, the velvety rose petal like folds of her femininity revealed themselves, yielding to Jingyuan’s command. Visual stimulation heightened his pleasure, gazing upon the exquisite form of a nude woman.
Her waiting body, yearning for his possession, threatened to consume him with insatiable lust. Jingyuan’s firm, engorged, and throbbing head of manhood shimmered with pre-cum and the promise of pleasure, his hand stroking himself harder, hastening his arousal. Whispering with a voice laden with desire, he pleaded, his anticipation palpable. “Consort, let me lose myself in the depths of your gaze as I enter you.”
She turned away. Her flushed face facing in the opposite direction, overcome with modesty , her eyes squeezed shut. Consort Shao whimpered, her voice filled with hesitation. “It’s not proper, and it makes me feel uncomfortable.” Restless upon the bed, she crossed her legs, shielding her breasts with her arms, and closed her eyes, as though the years of their coupling hadn’t happened and this was their first time together.
Jingyuan’s movements were deliberate and gentle, his touch caressing Consort Shao’s body with utmost care. She had her limits that didn’t match his, but her girlish timidity had an element of cute sweetness that produced a distinct sense of arousal that made him want to take her lazily, delicately, and lovingly. As he trailed kisses along her legs, the softness of her skin against his lips sent shivers down his spine. He nibbled on her closed thighs, eliciting small gasps of anticipation, then with a dampened palm, moistened with saliva, he prepared himself, heightening the wetness between them to join.
He separated the folds of her lower treasure with his stiff cock. He slid inside her, giving her taste, a tease of what was to come and Consort Shao’s face flushed further with embarrassment, her cheeks flushed turning the deepest shade of crimson. Her eyes shut again, betraying her hesitation. She squeaked in surprise when he gave her more of himself. Reaching back, Jingyuan clutched her right leg, raising it to his lower back, allowing him to penetrate her further.
She winced and a wave of pain coursed through Consort Shao’s body as he pushed himself deeper inside her, causing her to whimper and gasp. Their bodies intertwined, his strokes coming faster, harder, the tingling sensation of their skins brushing against each other as he pumped into her, creating wetness and a tangled web of desire. He licked her lips apart. Their mouths met, a passionate exchange that should have united them. Instead, Consort Wan’s body recoiled, retreating further into the softness of the bed beneath them. He could feel her hands on his shoulders, tense and gripping, her fingers digging into his skin. With her eyes squeezed shut, she let out a pleading whimper, her voice filled with embarrassment, “Please, Crown Prince, you’re hurting me.”
“I apologize,” Jingyuan whispered, his voice filled with sincerity. This wasn’t the first time he had heard these words from his partner. As he delicately lifted himself off of her, he extended his arms, offering comfort and relaxation. The intimate contact they had shared left a glistening trail of moisture along her inner thigh. Drawing her close, without a word conveying he still found her beautiful and desirable regardless of her body’s limitations, he captured her lips in a deep, fervent kiss, his exploration of her mouth and face sending waves of pleasure through her body.
A gentle bite on her neck elicited a moan of delight. Guiding her, he encouraged her to position herself on all fours, a stance that would grant him control over the depth of his penetration. However, she hesitated, resisting his suggestion. “For a prince,” she spoke in earnest, her voice laced with determination. “We should lie down facing each other. Empress mother consulted with the royal physician and she explained that position led to her own pregnancy the first time she served the Emperor.”
The conversation about his mother and conception had a profound impact on him. As he glanced down at his now deflating member, Jingyuan proposed, “Maybe we should avoid discussing my mother and elderly bearded men while we engage in boldly pleasure? Having a prince is crucial, but just look at the current situation.” With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he playfully suggested, “I believe it would help if you took me in your mouth.”
She responded, “The Crown Prince must have missed some important lessons in copulation. Even pre-fluid carries your royal seed, so we must not waste a single drop in my mouth.” Frustrated, she turned her attention to him and accused, “Are you trying to sabotage me? I must give birth to a prince in order to become your legitimate wife. All I desire is to be your Princess Consort. The ministers, your royal parents, and the entire world are watching and mocking us. It doesn’t help that you are still engaged to someone who passed away years ago. It has been eleven long years. How much longer must we continue this farce?”
Jingyuan’s intense gaze lingered on Consort Shao for a silent minute, the air growing colder around him as his expression turned icy and distant. He couldn’t help but wonder why women were so cryptic and difficult to please. His brows furrowed, his features tense with unreleased sexual frustration, as he dressed himself with speed, the fabric rustling and his jade belt noisily clanked in the room’s stillness.
The mere thought of uniting with Shao Wan tonight seemed unimaginable.
“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?” Consort Shao’s voice nagged, slicing through the silence like a sharp blade. Her accusations, bordering on offensive, echoed in Jingyuan’s mind, intensifying his sexual frustration and transforming it into a silent indifference, which was even more unsettling than his anger. It meant he no longer cared if he hurt her or not.
Halting amid dressing, he swiveled around to face her fiery gaze, his countenance as cold, hard, and distant as the snow-covered peaks of Kunlun Mountain. The room seemed to grow silent, except for the faint sound of their breathing. “I could plead with royal father,” he spoke. His brisk speech was frigid and curt, “but nothing will change as long as the Grand Princess continues her relentless quest for A-li. If the engagement is dissolved, my aunt will have to accept that A-li is dead, and it will be the death of her. All you need to do is wait until I take the throne.”
Turning his back to her, Jingyuan stated, “Consort, I’ll have your tag off rotation for the rest of the month, so you can learn how to exercise some patience.” With a purposeful stride, Jingyuan exited the room without a single glance back at his consort, leaving her naked and wailing.