Chapter 36: The Puppy Prince

Chapter 36: The Crown Prince Is a Puppy

Right now, if she weren't stuck on this little boat, Liu Yun would've already bolted.

Even though this wasn't the first time the Crown Prince had kissed her, every time it ended, she wanted to vanish on the spot—let alone meet his eyes.

Especially this time—he'd gone way further. He didn't just bite her lips; he bit other places too.

Even now, her neck still stung a little.

It was her own fault for being so dazed and weak, so when the Crown Prince nuzzled down her chin, she was too foggy to fight back.

Then Liu Yun realized the Crown Prince was nuzzling into the crook of her neck like a little puppy.

When she was little, she used to visit her aunt's house a lot. Her aunt had a puppy named Snowball.

With fluffy snow-white fur, a wet pink nose, and a round, chubby body, it would whimper and whine every day, begging someone to play with it.

The first time they met, Snowball jumped into her arms and kept nuzzling into her neck, its wet nose rubbing against her, tickling her so much she couldn't stop giggling.

But when the Crown Prince nuzzled her like that, Liu Yun couldn't laugh at all—she felt like crying.

He wasn't like a puppy. At least a puppy only licked her—it never bit her.

But him? He licked and bit, and even held her down so she couldn't get up.

He's so bad!

Standing anxiously at the bow, Liu Yun planned to jump off the moment the boat docked and get as far away from the Crown Prince as possible.

She'd figured it out—the Crown Prince only bullied her when no one else was around.

As long as there were people around, he wouldn't dare.

With that thought, Liu Yun wished she could fly to the shore.

The wooden oar stirred up ripples, the gurgling water echoing in her ears and inexplicably bringing up memories Liu Yun didn't want to talk about.

Like just now, deep in the lotus thicket, the kisses on her lips had been so frequent that the constant friction made a soft, gurgling sound like water.

At the time, she hadn't had a chance to think about it, but now she couldn't stop.

Seeing the boat about to reach shore, Liu Yun shifted her feet, ready to jump off.

Thud...

The boat bumped against the rocks with a thud. Just as Liu Yun lifted her leg to step off, the ground beneath her suddenly shook violently.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Liu Yun yelped. Unable to steady herself, she started to fall backward.

But she never felt weightless—she fell straight into a warm, broad embrace.

A crisp, faintly sweet scent wrapped around her. She didn't need to guess who it was.

Then her feet left the ground, and in a blink, she was on shore with the Crown Prince.

Looking back, the small boat was still trembling on the water, ripples spreading outward.

They were already on shore, and the Crown Prince had walked a good distance without putting her down. Seeing the figures getting closer in the distance, Liu Yun started to panic.

Even a real married couple wouldn't embrace in broad daylight.

If people saw this, what would they say!

"Please put me down, Your Highness."

She pushed with some effort, but he didn't budge.

The Crown Prince curled his lips into a smile, deliberately teasing her: "Beg me, and I'll let you down."

Liu Yun was speechless, thinking the Crown Prince's age must be fake—he was really just a little kid at heart.

What childish, ridiculous things to say. Wasn't he embarrassed?

Though she thought this, she didn't dare say it out loud. Who knew how he'd punish her if he got angry.

"Please, Your Highness."

Liu Yun didn't dare to fight him head-on. Faced with his childish teasing, she could only go soft.

Anyway, that was just her nature—she didn't feel humiliated or annoyed.

She just found it funny.

The girl's soft, light voice brushed past like a feather. Xiao Hang's heart itched with sweetness, his bones seemed to melt, and even the strength in his arms weakened.

"Fine, you're smart."

After setting her down without a word, as if afraid she'd run, Xiao Hang immediately grabbed her hand again.

Maybe because she'd slept for a while earlier, Liu Yun saw her mother hurrying over.

"Shanshan!"

"I greet Your Highness."

Though she'd been taken advantage of a bit by His Highness, at least she was intact and unharmed. Zhang Yuhua felt relieved.

Zhang Yuhua could never quite relax around this prospective son-in-law.

Her gut told her the Crown Prince wasn't the type to restrain himself.

She was still worried her foolish daughter might give herself away before the wedding night.

So the moment she learned her daughter had gone to the Eastern Palace with the Crown Prince, Zhang Yuhua's heart clenched.

"Mother!"

As if seeing a savior, Liu Yun immediately called out sweetly.

With her mother right there, Liu Yun felt braver and shook off the Crown Prince's hand.

Though it took several tries.

In public, Liu Yun held back the urge to throw herself into her mother's arms and stood properly instead.

Behind her, Xiao Hang slowly caught up and bowed to his future mother-in-law.

“Mother-in-law, why have you come?”

Though not the first time she had heard it, Zhang Yuhua still felt her old face flush, thinking to herself that this lad was too hasty and reckless.

She wasn’t even married into the family yet, yet he dared to call her that.

Zhang Yuhua only muttered inwardly, not daring to argue, and simply smiled and said, “This humble woman thought it was time to return home. Hearing that my daughter was here with Your Highness, I came to fetch her.”

“If Your Highness has nothing else, I shall take my daughter home.”

Xiao Hang listened with a calm expression, nodding reservedly, “Very well.”

But then he added, “Since I’m free right now, I might as well walk Yunniang and Mother-in-law partway.”

The two women wanted to refuse, but seeing the Crown Prince already stepping forward, they found it hard to object.

They left the Eastern Palace, took the palanquin they’d come in, and exited the palace gates.

Glancing back, the Crown Prince rode beside them on horseback, the black horse beneath him a striking sight.

Its coat, black to the extreme, seemed to flow with silver light in the sun, flashing with each movement.

Horses and carriages weren’t allowed in the palace grounds, but for the Crown Prince, so favored by the Emperor, it was another matter entirely.

Sword and shoes in the hall, riding through the palace, acting first and reporting later—

these were the most basic rights Crown Prince Xiao Hang possessed.

As Liu Yun stared curiously at the black horse, Xiao Hang was also watching her.

“His name is Wushuang, and he’s four this year.”

“You can pet him.”

He rode closer, ran a hand over the horse’s shiny black mane, and said to Liu Yun, inviting her.

Liu Yun hesitated, fearing the horse might be too fiery and not let a stranger approach, and she’d end up embarrassed.

As if sensing her worry, Xiao Hang patted Wushuang’s head, telling him to be smart about it.

Liu Yun watched the black horse lower its head to her, allowing her to touch.

How could Liu Yun hold back? She immediately reached out and touched him.

His coat was warm, a bit prickly, but the novelty was thrilling.

“The name Wushuang fits him perfectly.”

Liu Yun praised sincerely, then gave Wushuang’s ear another stroke, a soft smile on her face.

Xiao Hang watched the girl, who was clearly enjoying herself with the horse, and suddenly asked, “Can you ride a horse?”

Liu Yun shook her head.

She figured riding was tough to learn—one wrong move and you’d fall off, and if you were unlucky, you might get trampled.

She was naturally quiet and not one for activity, and had never once thought about learning to ride in all those years.

“That’s great. When I’m free later, I’ll pick a day and give you a lesson.”

Liu Yun started to look up, but the always-assertive young man had already decided it on the spot.

Liu Yun opened her mouth, then chose to stay quiet.

Fine, I’ll ride—if I fall, it’s all on him!

Xiao Hang showily walked them to their front door, as if he half-hoped to be invited in.

But Liu Yun had no intention of inviting him, and with a sweet, demure smile, she gave him the boot.

“Take care, Your Highness.”

She couldn’t put her cook through that again.

Xiao Hang had gotten plenty of satisfaction today, licked his lips, and took his leave.

...

Since that day, a drizzling rain fell over Yanjing.

Mostly it was a fine, pattering drizzle, and even when the rain stopped, the air remained misty and damp.

Liu Yun, who already loved staying cooped up at home, now had even less desire to go out.

And the Crown Prince’s promise to teach her riding was shelved for the time being.

Not only because of the bad weather, but also because at the turn of summer and autumn, torrential rains hit Jiangnan, the river embankments collapsed under the floodwaters, and the people on both banks suffered greatly—many were displaced and homeless. The situation was dire.

As the Crown Prince, Xiao Hang had to take this seriously.

And as the Ministry of Works, which oversaw construction, her father also became busy, sending word three days in a row that he was staying overnight at the ministry.

Liu Yun suggested visiting her father, bringing along some of his favorite meals to ease their minds.

Zhang Yuhua immediately agreed, only hesitating briefly over who should go, and finally decided Liu Yun should.

Her mother personally made a bowl of pigeon soup, Liu Yun made a token effort with a plate of milk cakes, and they bought the roast goose from her father’s favorite shop along the way, then headed grandly toward the palace.

Whether as an official’s daughter visiting her father or as the Crown Princess-to-be, the palace guards dared not stop her, and Liu Yun passed through without hindrance.

Fearing her father wouldn’t know she was coming today and would eat what he often cursed as the ministry cafeteria’s “slop,” Liu Yun arrived early.

“Please wait a moment, miss. The master is discussing affairs in the council hall and may be a while. You may wait in his office.”

“Alright, go keep watch over my father and make sure he comes to eat when he’s done.”

Liu Yun nodded, instructing the servant attending her father.

Good thing she had anticipated her father might be too busy to eat on time, so she brought an insulated container to keep the food warm.

Sitting quietly, Liu Yun busied herself by watering each potted plant in her father’s office and trimming the excess branches, leaving them looking much tidier.

While she was contentedly occupied, in the council hall, Xiao Hang, seated at the head, said wearily, “Proceed with the methods proposed by the ministers. Be diligent and thorough—the flood crisis in Jiangnan must not be neglected. If anyone dares to slip up, I have my ways.”

His words were so cold they carried a bone-chilling indifference. The ministers dared not speak further, only chorusing their assent and watching the tall figure in purple robes with a jade belt stride away.

Liu Shiwen was among them, and as he stepped out of the council hall, he let out a sigh of relief.

Even now, he still found it surreal that the Crown Prince had become his prospective son-in-law.

Just now, as he watched the Crown Prince sitting at the head of the table, he couldn't picture the scene of the Crown Prince warmly calling him "father-in-law."

It was hard to believe this man was about to become a son-in-law of the Liu family; Liu Shiwen felt fate was playing a cruel joke on him.

Just as he was about to head to the canteen, a servant of the Crown Prince nearby called out to stop him.

"Greetings, Vice Minister Liu. His Highness invites you to dine at the Eastern Palace. Would you be so kind as to join him?"

With the Crown Prince extending an invitation—and a chance to skip the canteen's "slop"—Liu Shiwen dared not refuse and was about to accept on the spot.

"Hold on, Master!"

Just then, his personal servant ran over and explained briefly, "Master, you might not know, but the young lady came today to bring your meal and is waiting in your office."

Hearing this, Liu Shiwen immediately lost all interest in his princely son-in-law and smiled and declined Su Lin, saying, "As Su Dianling (Palace Secretary) has heard, my daughter came early to bring me a meal and must have been waiting a while. So today, I must respectfully decline His Highness's kind offer."

Su Lin nodded, surprised, and turned to report back, already guessing what his master would do next.

Sure enough, after hearing the report, the Crown Prince's eyes lit up, most of his fatigue fading as he smiled and said, "What a coincidence. We haven't eaten either. Let's go take a look."

Su Lin played along, chiming in, "Indeed, I'll have the kitchen send a few more dishes. It'll be nice and lively for the whole family to eat together."

Xiao Hang gave Su Lin a satisfied look and said, "From now on, your monthly salary will be doubled."

Su Lin beamed and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your generosity."

With that, he quickened his pace to catch up with the Crown Prince, who was already striding briskly toward Vice Minister Liu's office.

Author's note:

Update

Not feeling great today, a bit late, my apologies.