Chapter 3

Chapter 3

It wasn’t until after she spoke that Xie Run remembered she was supposed to spend the night with Prince Jing—and likely wouldn’t have time to study the chess problem.

Turning her head, she met Prince Jing’s faint, knowing smile.

Xie Run opened her dewy, sparkling eyes, her smile sweet and guileless, playing the part of the perfect, obedient consort.

“Your Highness, may I serve you your meal?”

“No need. Sit down and eat with me.”

Xie Run obediently took her seat.

Fortunately, Prince Jing didn’t mind this minor breach.

Hardly had they finished eating—before any improper intimacies could begin—Prince Jing offered Xie Run some guidance. He watched her solve the chess problem, feeling deeply satisfied within—even more triumphant than if he himself had cracked a difficult endgame.

Then, with a sweeping gesture, he prepared to bathe and retire for the night.

The bed curtains were drawn. Prince Jing glanced at Xie Run, seated beside him, head bowed, feigning demureness. He suspected she was still mentally replaying that evening’s chess game.

Prince Jing: “Your surname is Xie. What is your given name?”

Xie Run blinked, lowered her gaze to study the embroidery on her skirt, and replied softly, “Run—‘The gentle spring scene, mist and dew moisten.’ I was born in early spring. My mother said the day I was born, the spring air was warm and tender, the rain and mist soft and damp—so my father named me ‘Run.’”

Prince Jing reached out and gently pressed her beneath him. Lowering his head, he met Xie Run’s clear, dewy, peach-blossom eyes.

A moment of awkward silence passed as their gazes locked.

Prince Jing’s expression grew intense. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Many women had served Prince Jing before, but on their first night, they were always profoundly shy—unable even to meet his eyes. None had ever gazed at him so openly, so wide-eyed.

Was she truly unembarrassed?

Xie Run replied, direct yet soft and charming: “I’m shy. I don’t know where else to look.”

She wasn’t lying.

The more nervous she became, the more her gaze fixed itself on a single point.

Her face was fair and delicate, flushed with a visible rosy hue. A subtle, elusive charm seemed to emanate from her cheeks, quietly ensnaring Prince Jing.

For a moment, Prince Jing was struck by the pure, bashful light in her peach-blossom eyes—then, almost involuntarily, he leaned down.

All he could lament was that the night was too short, and the tide of passion too long.

Whether it was because Xie Run’s eyes had captivated him—or because he’d held himself back for so long and now deliberately wished to tease her—his interest that night was exceptionally heightened.

As consciousness ebbed and flowed like the tide, Xie Run heard Prince Jing’s hoarse voice ask, “Do you have a childhood name?”

Startled, Xie Run blurted out two words: “Suisui.”

The character *Sui* (绥) meant peace; the other *Sui* (岁) meant year. Together, they signified “peace and health year after year.”

It was the nickname her parents from her past life had given her after consulting a fortune-teller. Unfortunately, she had never known peace year after year.

Prince Jing misheard and murmured, “Suisui? A fine name indeed.”

From then on, he kept calling her Suisui—repeating it until Xie Run was utterly spent.

Early the next morning, Xie Run awoke the instant Prince Jing stirred.

Prince Jing was considerate. Glancing at her, he said, “You were tired last night. No need to serve me—go back to sleep.”

He said it—but Xie Run couldn’t truly neglect her duties.

Of the four maids in Linxuan Pavilion, Xiaoshu and Xiao Ci had been assigned by the household. Who knew whether one of them was a spy?

If she slept in on her first day serving him, word would spread—and reflect poorly upon her.

Xie Run yawned politely. “Let me serve you first, Your Highness. I’ll catch up on sleep after you’ve left.”

After all, she was merely a concubine—not even qualified to pay respects to the princess. She had plenty of time to sleep in.

Prince Jing didn’t refuse.

As he looked down, he saw Xie Run nodding off while tying his belt.

With each knot, her head dipped lower. Her long lashes veiled her eyes, making her look exactly like the lazy cat in his mother’s palace—gluttonous and sluggish. Like that cat, even drowsy and on the verge of closing her eyes, she never forgot the morsel before her mouth.

Prince Jing could tell Xie Run was straining to keep her eyes open—but sleep overwhelmed her.

He decided to savor the spectacle and didn’t tell her to rest.

He simply watched her fumble through helping him dress. The moment he was fully dressed, she turned and collapsed headfirst onto the bed.

He was still in the bedroom when Xie Run—already lying in bed—bid him farewell: “I humbly see Your Highness off.”

Prince Jing glanced over—she was already fast asleep.

He shook his head helplessly, understanding precisely what worried Xie Run. Adjusting his sleeves, he said to Yuli, standing nearby: “Stay here and attend to your mistress. Don’t wake her.”

Seeing Xie Run act so ‘virtuous,’ Prince Jing nearly laughed.

Yuli and Dan Tao had watched in terror as Xie Run served Prince Jing.

A concubine’s sole duty was to serve the prince. Yet with the prince still present, their mistress had already fallen asleep—a grave breach of etiquette.

But seeing that Prince Jing showed no anger, they breathed an enormous sigh of relief.

As Prince Jing entered the outer chamber, he saw Xiaoshu and Xiao Ci standing by, waiting to serve. Calmly, he said, “Not a single word about what happens in Linxuan Pavilion is to leave this place.”

His tone was calm—but the imposing authority of a man in power made Xiaoshu and Xiao Ci tremble with fear.

The two maids quickly bowed. “We humbly obey Your Highness’s command.”

By the time Xie Run fully awoke, it was around 9:15 a.m.

Dan Tao gently nudged her. “Mistress, the princess and Concubine Ning have sent many gifts. You must receive them in person.”

According to the rules, when a concubine serves the prince for the first time, rewards are bestowed from above.

The prince's mansion has one principal wife, two secondary wives, and four lesser wives; there are no set requirements for concubines and handmaids.

At present, the official masters of Prince Jing's mansion are only the Princess Consort and Cefei Ning.

Xie Run, well-rested, said lazily, "Then I'll get up."

Dan Tao glanced at the marks on her neck, blushed, and immediately averted her gaze.

When applying Xie Run's makeup, she deliberately applied a lot of powder to her neck.

After receiving the gifts, Xie Run sent Xiaoshu and Xiao Ci to inquire about what the Princess Consort and Cefei Ning had bestowed on Shiqie Fang after her first night of service.

These two are house-born servants and have their own networks.

By giving this task, Xie Run was also testing whether the two were useful and how to best use them.

Soon, Xiao Ci brought news.

"My lady, the Princess Consort has always been fair. The rewards she gave you and Lady Fang are the same, and it was similar for previous concubines, only slightly different in seasonal gifts."

Xiaoshu quickly added, "I also heard that Cefei Ning gave heavier gifts to Lady Fang than to you."

Xie Run glanced at the piles of fabric and jewelry on the table, smiled slightly, and gained a rough understanding of the personalities of the Princess Consort and Cefei Ning.

It seemed the Princess Consort was a steady person who wouldn't treat concubines differently based on their status, at least she would keep up appearances.

This was a good thing.

Having a good lady of the house meant her life wouldn't be too difficult in the future.

Cefei Ning, on the other hand, seemed to be snobbish and probably really looked down on Xie Run.

After all, Xie Run was only the daughter of a scholar, how could she compare with Shiqie Fang, who was backed by a wealthy Jiangnan merchant?

Moreover, Shiqie Fang already had a reputation for beauty in the Jiangnan region. The Fang family sent her to the prince's mansion with the intention of currying favor, so it was no wonder Cefei Ning valued her more.

But being looked down on was a good thing!

If she were actually taken notice of by the women in Prince Jing's harem, Xie Run thought she wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully at night.

Apparently satisfied with Xie Run's service, Prince Jing stayed at her place for three consecutive nights.

Moreover, he arrived an hour earlier each day than he did at other places.

Since it was only an hour earlier each morning, it wasn't conspicuous, so no one noticed anything unusual, thinking that Prince Jing was just going through the motions.

After all, Prince Jing had stayed at Shiqie Fang's place for five consecutive days.

If anyone should be worried, let them wait until Prince Jing has stayed at Linxuan Pavilion for five days.

This early hour was naturally used to teach Xie Run chess.

Watching Xie Run go from a complete novice to truly getting started, Prince Jing's desire to teach was fully sparked.

But this was also thanks to Xie Run's intelligence; she grasped things at a hint and almost never made the same mistake twice.

Teaching such a student, how could one not feel a sense of achievement?