Late at night.
The Eastern Palace.
The Crown Prince had just sat down on the edge of his bed, ready to retire, when a wave of dizziness swept over him and he fell unconscious.
Immediately afterward, a man in black slipped inside.
He went straight to the bedside and gazed blankly at the Crown Prince.
Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the sliver of belly exposed where the prince's clothes had ridden up. Panic flickered in his eyes, and he hurriedly looked away.
His ears burned red.
He quickly tugged the prince's clothes down.
Then he lifted the prince's feet from where they dangled over the edge, settled them on the bed, and gently covered him with the quilt.
Only once he had finished did he relax and turn back to look at the Crown Prince.
Suddenly, his brows drew together in a slight frown.
How could security at the Eastern Palace be so lax that someone could slip inside so easily?
Luckily, it was me.
If someone with ill intentions had come instead... the consequences would have been unthinkable.
It seemed I would have to leave some men to keep watch over the Eastern Palace.
He sat gently on the edge of the Crown Prince's bed. Looking at his peaceful face, he could not resist reaching out to trace its contours.
Then he murmured softly,
"Yuanruo...
"I'll be going with Xuan'er to his fief.
"Who knows when we'll see each other again?
"Perhaps by then, you won't even remember who I am.
"I truly can't bear to leave you.
"But my eldest brother is already married and has a family. It really isn't convenient for him to accompany Xuan'er. Only I have no ties, no one beside me...
"Xuan'er is going to Jiangzhou alone, where everything and everyone will