Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The Crown Prince used to be unruly and defiant, leaving the Emperor with a massive headache.
Later, Fu Yanheng managed to tame him in just three days.
Though no one knew what methods he used, the Crown Prince grew to both fear and loathe him.
That evening, Song Yunjiao discovered that her Nineteen had run away.
Furious, she grabbed her whip and stormed out of the palace to hunt him down.
I remained in her palace, impersonating her, but I found myself suffering from insomnia again.
I was terrified that the news of my pregnancy would leak out.
If that happened, it wouldn’t just be me; the entire Mu Family would have their assets seized and their nine clans exterminated.
No, this won’t do.
I decided to make a run for it.
I packed my bags overnight.
Just as I was about to change into a maid’s uniform, there was a knock at the door.
“Princess, Eighteen is here to serve you.”
“?”
Good heavens.
How could the Crown Prince be so insatiable?
I grabbed some knockout powder from the side, intending to knock him out as soon as he stepped behind the door.
“Come in.”
The door was pushed open.
A gust of wind blew in, extinguishing the candles in the room.
This time, Eighteen wasn’t wearing a disguise; instead, he wore a mask.
I was just about to launch a sneak attack when he pulled me into his arms.
He snatched the powder from my hand and covered my mouth.
A somber voice reached my ears.
“What is the Princess doing? Now that you have someone else, you don’t want Eighteen anymore?”
Something was wrong.
This wasn’t the Crown Prince.
“You… you aren’t Eighteen?” I asked, my voice muffled.
The man let out a soft chuckle.
“Then who does the Princess think I am?”
He leaned in close to me.
Through the mask, I saw eyes as cold and clear as the moon.
Gra-Grand Tutor?
He likes the Princess too?
Fu Yanheng picked me up with one hand and pinned me against the back of the door.
“Has the Princess forgotten all the things you pestered me to do during those nights?”
“…”
His slender fingers expertly reached for my back.
My legs went weak.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door again.
The newcomer noticed the door was slightly ajar and sounded puzzled.
“Princess, Eighteen is here.”
?
Another one?
The person outside was about to push the door open.
Fu Yanheng held the door shut, casting a chilling gaze at me.
“Try doting on that ‘Eighteen’ and see what happens.”
“…”
He squeezed my waist, as if he had me by my literal pressure point.
I had no idea if the one outside was the real Eighteen or the Crown Prince in disguise.
Terrified of the Grand Tutor and the Crown Prince running into each other, I had no choice but to call out to the door:
“I am tired today. You may leave.”
It went silent outside for a few seconds.
“Your Highness, are you sure? How about I help you relax?”
“…”
Fu Yanheng’s hand gradually moved lower.
I slumped against his shoulder, completely limp.
“There is no need. I have a lot of schoolwork these days and must go to the Imperial Study tomorrow. Perhaps another day.”
“Then rest early, Your Highness. Eighteen will return tomorrow.”
The person outside left reluctantly.
The sound of footsteps faded into the distance.
Once certain no one else would interrupt, Fu Yanheng carried me with one arm over to a nearby rocking chair.
Eighteen had pestered me to play on this chair many times.
Because it would sway with the slightest movement.
He liked having me sit on his lap, watching as my face turned bright red.
I used to wonder why Eighteen sometimes didn’t like that lounge chair and found it dull. It turned out it was because they were two different people all along.
Fu Yanheng’s fingers traced over me inch by inch, about to brush against my cheek.
I dodged.
I had only planned on impersonating the Princess at night, so I hadn’t been meticulous with the human-skin mask; it would be easy to see through.
If the room hadn’t been so dim, Fu Yanheng probably would have pushed me away long ago.
Fu Yanheng’s eyes turned cold.
“What, now that you’ve recognized me, you don’t like me anymore?”
“Grand Tutor, this is inappropriate.”
I tried to get off his lap.
He refused to let go, instead pinning me down firmly.
“When the Princess was riding so vigorously before, why didn’t you say it was inappropriate?”
“I…”
Before I could finish, he stripped off his clothes.
By the moonlight, I saw his well-defined physique-especially those chest muscles, which were incredibly firm.
Dammit.
I had touched them so many times before; how did I never notice he was different from the other one?
“Try again, and see if the real Eighteen is better, or the fake one.”
He guided my hand to touch him everywhere.
I swallowed hard, losing my resolve.
He leaned in to kiss me.
Fu Yanheng was more familiar with my body than I was.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
But I didn’t dare reveal that I was Mu Yao.
If Fu Yanheng found out he had been deceived, he would surely flay me alive.
I was dead if I did, and dead if I didn’t.
I might as well enjoy the meal before I die.
…