Under the flickering oil lamp, Jiang Mengyue’s gaze shimmered with quiet allure. Her face, soft and exquisite, lit up with a faint smile—one that stirred the heart without a word.
The Crown Prince fixed his gaze on the person before him. “You’ve rendered me a great service,” he said. “Now tell me—how might I repay you?”
Jiang Mengyue offered a gentle smile, retrieved the Crown Prince’s teacup, and poured a new serving of tea.
“There is no need for repayment, Your Highness. Simply remembering Mengyue from time to time will suffice… I may need your support in the future.” After pouring the tea, she stepped forward and placed the cup neatly on the table beside the Crown Prince.
As she inclined slightly, the crown prince’s vantage point revealed the poised curve of her figure—striking in its quiet confidence.
The Crown Prince showed little interest in women. Though many sought his favor, he remained indifferent, unimpressed by their beauty or charm.
But the one before him… was different.
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. This woman held considerable value in his eyes.
The more mysterious a woman was, the more she drew his attention.
Without a second thought, the Crown Prince reached out and pulled Jiang Mengyue into his arms.
Jiang Mengyue let out a soft cry as the Crown Prince pulled her gently onto his lap. “Your Highness…” she whispered, her expression startled—like a doe caught in sudden light.
The crown prince let out a soft laugh, burying his face in the curve of her neck, breathing in her scent. “Why not become my consort?” he murmured. “I can give you wealth, status—anything your heart desires.”
“Your Highness… this isn’t proper…”
Jiang Mengyue appeared visibly startled, her eyes widening in clear astonishment.
He chuckled softly, one arm still around Jiang Mengyue’s waist. “Wasn’t this your goal all along?” His fingers traced slowly along the curve of her back, voice low and teasing. “Dressed like this… sheer and tempting—if you weren’t trying to seduce me, then what were you doing?”
Jiang Mengyue’s face flushed deep red. Her words stumbled out in a flurry: “I—I wasn’t… I always sleep dressed like this. Your Highness came so suddenly—I hadn’t had time to change.”
“I’ll… I’ll go put on something more appropriate.”
As Jiang Mengyue spoke, she rose to her feet, ready to leave.
The Crown Prince reached out and gently pulled her back, settling her once more onto his lap.
Jiang Mengyue’s cheeks burned crimson. She pushed at the crown prince’s chest, but her strength was half-hearted—more yielding than resisting.
The Crown Prince’s smile deepened as he leaned in, their faces mere inches apart. “So… do you wish to become my concubine?”
Jiang Mengyue looked at the Crown Prince, a flicker stirring in her gaze before she lowered her eyes.
"Yue'er doesn't dare to hope."
“Given my background, I am unworthy of Your Highness. Were I the true daughter of the Marquis, it might be different. but I’m not. I’m a counterfeit. Once the truth comes out, I’ll be nothing but a laughingstock in the capital.”
As she spoke, Jiang Mengyue’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice thick with grievance. “How could someone like me ever be worthy of Your Highness…”
She looked so heartbreakingly fragile, it stirred a tenderness that made one want to hold her close and soothe her gently.
The Crown Prince’s heart stirred, quietly and irresistibly drawn to her.
He lifted a hand to gently brush her cheek, wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes. “When I hold true power,” he murmured, “I’ll make you my concubine. Let’s see who in the capital dares laugh then.”
“If anyone dares to mock you, I’ll wipe out their entire family.”
“Your Highness…” Jiang Mengyue lifted her face, lashes still wet with tears, delicate and pitiful.
The Crown Prince drew her into his arms, gently patting her back as he whispered, “When the day comes that I hold true power… I won’t forget you.”
Jiang Mengyue nestled into the crown prince’s embrace. Out of his sight, the corners of her lips lifted in quiet triumph— the softness from moments before vanished without a trace.
After a long moment, she gently pushed the Crown Prince away. “Your Highness,” she said softly, “I have a proposal. If it succeeds, the day you seize power may come sooner.”
He straightened, eyes sharp with interest. “What kind of plan is it?” he asked, without missing a beat.
By now, the Crown Prince trusted Jiang Mengyue completely.
“Chu Yunli will meet with misfortune on the way to the disaster relief site. All the grain meant for aid will be swept away. The Emperor will surely be troubled, his heart heavy. But if Your Highness can ease his worries at that moment…”
The Crown Prince’s eyes lit up. “You’re right. If I can ease Father’s worries, he’ll see me in a new light. What Chu Yunli failed to do… I will accomplish.”
The Crown Prince’s heart surged with excitement, but a moment’s thought doused it like cold water. “How can I ease Father’s worries?” he murmured. “The best way would be to gather a new batch of relief supplies… but…” His brows drew together. Funds were tight—he couldn’t raise that much silver.
Even the Crown princess’s family could offer little help.
Jiang Mengyue’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I can introduce someone to Your Highness.”
"Who?"
"The young master of the Jin family."
The Jin family’s shops span the empire, their wealth rivaling half the national treasury. Silver flows endlessly—their fortune, vast and staggering.
If Jin Jingxiu could be made his ally, the Crown Prince’s rise would be unstoppable—like a hawk soaring into clear skies.
“The Jin family?” the crown prince said. “Very well. Since it’s your suggestion, it must carry weight. I’ll meet him.”
"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince rose to his feet. “It’s getting late. I should be going.”
Jiang Mengyue rose as well, her voice soft as silk. “Let me walk Your Highness out.”
The Crown Prince did not stay the night at the residence, nor did he claim Jiang Mengyue as his own.
Even if the prince wanted her, Jiang Mengyue wouldn’t yield. She’d deflect him—gracefully, cleverly, without ever saying “no” outright.
Jiang Mengyue watched the Crown Prince depart, her gaze lingering until he vanished from sight. Then she turned away, calm and untroubled—without a trace of longing.
Today, she had finally taken hold of the Crown Prince—this precious chess piece now hers to command.
She wore a sheer clothes with deliberate intent, a whisper of allure. The Crown Prince, captivated, took the bait with ease.
She had thought it through carefully—her future could not rest on the Fourth Prince alone. If she failed to earn his trust, everything would vanish like ripples in water.
The safest path was to prepare two roads. The Crown Prince—he would be her fallback.
“The Crown Prince… the Fourth Prince…”
What prompted the thought was simple: the Fourth Prince was far too difficult to approach.
Last time, she’d finally managed to meet the Fourth Prince—only to be cast out. She had never felt so humiliated.
If she could reach the Fourth Prince and earn his trust, that would be the ideal outcome.
More than the title of a concubine, what she truly desired was to become the crown princess.
Jiang Mengyue lifted her chin with quiet pride, her gaze cold and distant. She had the means to shape her future—how could she ever settle for the role of a mere concubine? To bow to another woman? Unthinkable.
Just...
If, in the end, the Fourth Prince proved unreachable, she would have no choice but to take the fallback path.
If she could help the Crown Prince this time, he would trust her without question. She had to introduce Jin Jingxiu to him.
Jiang Mengyue was deep in thought, her mind occupied with intricate calculations and strategic foresight.
To her, Jin Jingxiu was a useful piece on the board. With a mere curl of her finger, he would obey her every word.
At the thought, Jiang Mengyue frowned slightly. “It’s been a long time since I last saw him…”
“Could it be… that my words were too harsh last time?”
Jiang Mengyue frowned.
🐇♡🐇♡🐇♡🐇
Runa's Nonsense Corner/ Translator's World
A day of Jin Jingxiu's exaggerated spending:
Scene: Jiang Mengyue's room in the Marquis residence. Jiang Mengyue reclines on a velvet chaise, surrounded by bolts of imported silk, a miniature fountain that plays music, and a suspiciously large pile of receipts. Jin Jingxiu stands nearby, holding a live peacock in his arms. He looks proud. He should not.
Jiang Mengyue (sipping lychee wine): “I said I wanted the room to feel regal. Not reasonable. Where are the golden cushions?”
Jin Jingxiu (panting): “I bought thirty. One for each emotion you might feel while sitting.”
Jiang Mengyue (nods): “Good. And the chandelier made of sugar crystals?”
Jin Jingxiu: “Installed. It melts slightly in the afternoon, but I told the servants it’s ‘symbolic.’”
Jingxiu's Attendant (arriving with a scroll): “Young Master Jingxiu, the monthly budget has… evaporated. Miss Weilan is furious!”
Jiang Mengyue (waves him off): “Evaporated is such a poetic word. Tell Weilan it was a necessary artistic sacrifice.”
Jin Jingxiu (whispering): “Should I order more peacocks? The first one seems lonely.”
Jiang Mengyue: “Only if they harmonize. I won’t tolerate off-key birds.”
Jingxiu's Attendant (muttering): “I’m transferring to the kitchens. Dumplings don’t require budget justification.”
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