Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The tassels of the hibiscus bed curtains swayed rhythmically.

The Princess’s male concubine was named Eighteen.

He lived up to his name: eighteen years old, and eighteen centimeters long.

From the first time he served me until now, he had become significantly more skilled.

I was starting to find it a bit difficult to endure.

Thinking back to the report from the secret guard yesterday, the Princess was due to return today.

I pushed away Eighteen, who was currently biting me.

“Gentle… don’t leave any marks.”

“Gentle? Didn’t you always love it when I used force?”

Eighteen’s eyes darkened. “Could it be that the Princess has favored someone else these past few days?”

I almost forgot; this male concubine was incredibly prone to jealousy.

How would I ever dare touch the Princess’s favorites? Dealing with him alone was more than enough; I had to keep busy every single day.

“No, I am just a little tired.”

He placed my hand on his well-defined waist.

The muscles beneath my palm were symmetrical and burning hot.

I couldn’t help but swallow hard.

The Princess certainly ate well on a daily basis.

“Then rest, Princess. Just leave everything to me.”

Eighteen gently laid me down on the couch.

The atmosphere was thick with passion.

At his most fervent moment, he tried to kiss me.

I tilted my head to avoid him.

“Princess? Still no?” His tone was filled with disappointment.

I felt like he was a bit different from yesterday.

Before, he wouldn’t have asked such questions; he would have just lunged straight at me.

I remained silent.

Mainly, it was because my disguise techniques weren’t particularly refined.

It took a long time every day to dress up and masquerade as the Princess.

If he got too close or if we kissed, he would see through my flaws.

My silence made Eighteen somewhat resentful.

That resentment transformed into physical force.

***

On the day Princess Song Yunjiao returned.

I finally didn’t have to pretend to be her anymore.

I looked at myself in the bronze mirror. My cheeks were round, and I didn’t possess the Princess’s stunning features; I could only be considered a girl from a modest family.

I returned to my own identity.

My name is Mu Yao, and I am the Princess’s study companion.

My father was originally the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but because he was framed, his rank was demoted again and again.

In order to seek a patron, he sent me into the palace, hoping it might save my life in the future.

Song Yunjiao had been pampered since childhood and had a fiery temper.

Her Imperial Father doted on her, allowing her to bring one handsome man after another into the palace.

At first, I was afraid of her.

She never looked at me directly.

Later, when the Chancellor’s Daughter bullied me, Song Yunjiao whipped the girl’s hands until they were raw.

I looked at her with adoration and became her little shadow.

Only then did I realize that Song Yunjiao was merely proud and aloof, but her heart was actually very kind.

***

The maid prepared my favorite breakfast, including Songluo cake.

But a wave of nausea hit me, and I could only manage a few bites.

For some reason lately, I had been feeling lethargic and unwell.

In the evening, the Princess returned.

I saw a man following behind her, dressed rather… scantily.

“Princess, didn’t you run away to elope with someone?”

“Those were all excuses. I heard a new Nanfeng Pavilion opened on the street, so I went to check it out.”

“And this is?”

“The top courtesan I brought back from there.”

The Princess gestured casually, saying his name would be Nineteen from now on.

Nineteen bowed to me.

He stood there as straight as a pine tree. From the moment he entered until now, his face remained expressionless. He was handsome, certainly, but he looked as if he had been kidnapped and brought here by force.

Seeing my pale face, the Princess took me into the room.

“During this time, no one noticed anything wrong, right?”

“No.”

“What’s wrong with your complexion? Did Eighteen not serve you well?”

“He was… quite good.”

Thinking back to those nights, my ears couldn’t help but feel hot.

“That’s good then. If you like him, I’ll bestow him upon you as a concubine.”

“This…”

The Princess was always generous.

With a wave of her hand, she ordered someone to handle it, intending to move Eighteen’s belongings into my courtyard.