Ch84 - The Crown Princess Considers Taking a Concubine

Nanfeng was stunned.

He hadn’t expected the world to be this cruel. Still in disbelief, he pointed at Jian Mei and asked, “Then… what about him?”

Lu Xingwang’s expression remained unreadable as he replied, “My bed doesn’t fit three people.”

At first, the statement seemed reasonable, but on second thought, it posed quite a dilemma.

Just as everyone thought the matter was settled, Xiwu, who had been mostly silent, softly called out, “Gege…”

Jian Mei immediately crouched down. “What’s wrong?”

Xiwu Heng glanced hesitantly at Lu Xingwang, fell silent for a moment, then asked, “Can I sleep with you?”

“……”

Jian Mei froze.

The crown prince, who had always carried himself with noble aloofness, suddenly lost his composure. He cast a sidelong glance at Xiwu Heng, his gaze deep and unreadable. Yet, the child didn’t back down, meeting his eyes with unwavering defiance. Their gazes clashed, and for a moment, sparks seemed to fly.

Lu Xingwang said, “You’re old enough to sleep on your own.”

Xiwu Heng tugged at Jian Mei’s sleeve and whispered, “There’s a fire. I’m scared.”

Jian Mei’s heart softened. He bent down and gently patted the child, about to suggest that maybe he should sleep with him after all—when Nanfeng suddenly chimed in, “That’s perfect, Your Highness! I think Meimei wants to sleep with Xiaoheng, don’t you think? Look at me…”

Jian Mei quickly changed course. “Xiaoheng, how about you sleep with Nanfeng-gege instead? You two would make a good pair.”

……

His suggestion left all three of them in silence.

Xiaoheng quietly withdrew his hand and said, “It’s okay, I can handle it myself.”

Nanfeng, unsurprisingly, looked even more unimpressed. “The floor in the living room looks decent enough. I’ll just sleep there.”

Lu Xingwang glanced down at Jian Mei and said, “Let’s go.”

Jian Mei nodded.

He wasn’t sure why, but the moment someone suggested Dazhuang-ge sharing a bed with someone else, he instinctively rejected the idea. He didn’t like the thought of Dazhuang-ge being so close to outsiders. It left him with an odd, almost possessive feeling.

They walked up the stairs toward the third floor.

Jian Mei said, “I’ve never been up here before.”

Leading the way, Lu Xingwang replied, “This is where the senior students live. In two years, you’ll be able to move up.”

“Alright.” As Jian Mei stepped onto the third floor for the first time, he immediately noticed how much more luxurious everything was. Even the carpet looked significantly more expensive than the one downstairs. So this was what people meant by the capitalist class. And this was just a dormitory—it was even fancier than his own home.

Lu Xingwang stopped in front of the last room at the end of the hall.

A mechanical panel popped up. After scanning his pupils and fingerprints, the door unlocked with a soft click.

Lu Xingwang stepped inside, and Jian Mei immediately heard a mechanical voice greet them: “Welcome back, Master Lu. A new individual has been detected in your room. Would you like to register their information and grant them access?”

Without much thought, Lu Xingwang replied, “Grant level-one access.”

“Registration successful,” the mechanical butler confirmed.

Jian Mei wanted to ask what level-one access meant, but before he could, a more pressing concern caught his attention. He glanced at the row of slippers on the cabinet and asked, “Which pair should I wear?”

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Jian Mei sighed in awe. “What kind of books are these? They look so complicated.”

Lu Xingwang cast them a casual glance. “Nothing complicated. I just flip through them when I’m bored.”

Jian Mei suddenly found himself unable to meet the words “when I’m bored” head-on anymore.

One day, if Dazhuang-ge casually mentioned that he was bored and decided to conquer a country, Jian Mei probably wouldn’t even be surprised.

Lu Xingwang draped his jacket over the back of a chair and turned to him. “Do you want to wash up?”

It took Jian Mei a moment to realize he was covered in dust. He nodded, but after noticing that Lu Xingwang also had some dust on him, he said, “You go first. I’ll wash up later.”

Lu Xingwang didn’t argue and simply left.

Once he was gone, Jian Mei was still wondering how he should sleep that night when his gaze landed on a framed photo sitting in the corner of the desk. It was a picture of Lu Xingwang with a woman. She was stunning, exuding beauty and warmth. Beside her stood a handsome young man in a school uniform. His features were sharp, his expression slightly aloof, but the closeness between them was unmistakable.

Was this a picture of Dazhuang-ge and his mother?

This was the first time Jian Mei had seen what Lu Xingwang looked like in his younger years. Suddenly, he understood why so many people were infatuated with the Crown Prince because… he really was that good-looking.

Just as he was lost in thought, the bathroom door swung open.

Jian Mei turned around and saw Lu Xingwang standing there in a bathrobe. He had shed his usual uniform and was now wearing a white robe, its collar slightly open. Droplets of water slid down his sharp, attractive chin. The usual air of authority was gone, replaced by something more relaxed—almost domestic.

Faced with such an unexpectedly alluring scene, Jian Mei blurted out, “Hurry up and put on a jacket, or you’ll catch a cold.”

Lu Xingwang hummed in response. “…Mm.”

Jian Mei put the photo down and said, “I’m going to shower.”

Lu Xingwang stepped aside. “Alright.”

Jian Mei brushed past him and entered the bathroom. The warmth of steam still lingered in the air, carrying the faint scent of shower gel. As he turned on the water and spread the gel across his skin, he suddenly realized—when he had passed by Lu Xingwang just now, the Crown Prince had smelled exactly the same.

At that moment, it felt like the distance between them had become much, much smaller.

Wait a minute…

What exactly was he thinking?

Jian Mei shook his head, trying to clear the strange thoughts running through his mind.

However, when he glanced to the side, something caught his eye—a trash can nearby, where a piece of gauze with faint traces of blood lay discarded. It must have been used to treat a wound. Was he injured?

The discovery made Jian Mei tense. He hurriedly finished his shower and stepped out of the bathroom, also wrapped in a bathrobe. Across the room, Lu Xingwang sat at his desk, flipping through a book.

Jian Mei wiped his damp hair, stood obediently by the door, and said, “I’m done showering.”

Lu Xingwang looked up. “Come here.”

Jian Mei walked over, and Lu Xingwang motioned for him to sit. Then, taking a towel, he began drying Jian Mei’s hair. The warmth seeped in instantly, almost like magic, wrapping him in comforting heat.

Before long, the towel was lifted, and his hair was completely dry.

Jian Mei’s eyes widened, his face lighting up with an awestruck smile. “That’s amazing!”

Lu Xingwang replied, “It’s nothing special. Just a little trick.”

“Then next time, I’ll have Ying try it on me,” Jian Mei said.

Lu Xingwang immediately corrected him, “Not everyone can control the heat the way I can.”

Jian Mei suddenly felt intimidated. He definitely didn’t want to end up bald.

It was almost absurd to think that the renowned Crown Prince would fight over the chance to dry someone’s hair—and even go as far as to scare a kid just to keep anyone else from doing it.

Lu Xingwang put down the towel and asked, “Did you see my old photo?”

Jian Mei nodded.

Lu Xingwang’s gaze darkened slightly. He walked over, sat down, and asked, “What do you think?”

Jian Mei was never one to hold back on compliments. Smiling slightly, he said, “I think your mother is really beautiful, and you’re very handsome too. You look so cool, no wonder so many people like you.”

Lu Xingwang lowered his head, his gaze burning as he asked, “What about you?”

……

Jian Mei hadn’t expected such a sudden question, and he stammered, “Huh?”

Lu Xingwang’s gaze darkened. He sat beside him, looking much more at ease when he wasn’t working. Propping his chin up with one hand, he watched Jian Mei with an almost leisurely amusement.

In truth, even the Crown Prince himself didn’t know why he had asked such a direct question. It wasn’t in line with his usual cautious nature.

But today, after learning that there was a girl in Jian Mei’s room—and that they might share a close relationship—his rational mind told him it didn’t matter. She was probably just a classmate. Yet his actions said otherwise. Before he could even make up his mind, he had already arrived at the school.

His rationality told him that if he truly wanted to protect Jian Mei, he could simply arrange for someone he trusted to look after him. Keeping his distance would be the best way to keep him safe.

But the truth was, when Jian Mei was busy with school and they hadn’t seen each other for days, the one who missed him the most, the one who couldn’t let go, was none other than himself.

He knew this wasn’t right, but Lu Xingwang still asked, “What about you? Do you like me too?”

Jian Mei blinked, then lowered his gaze and softly replied, “I do.”

Lu Xingwang froze.

Jian Mei’s eyes were so clear, untouched by doubt or hesitation. When he spoke, his words carried a rare sincerity.

Lu Xingwang hesitated. “Really?”

“Really, really. Just because things are different now doesn’t mean anything has changed. Don’t overthink it.”

Jian Mei hadn’t expected Lu Xingwang to be so competitive that he’d even compare himself to his past self. But he quickly tried to reassure him.

“You’re super handsome. Even if your face were disfigured and you had to wear a mask, there’d still be tons of people who like you—like Nanfeng! He’s your fan, after all. And even with a mask, you’d still look great. So don’t be sad, okay?”

“……”

The room fell into silence.

Lu Xingwang sighed helplessly. They really weren’t on the same wavelength. But it was fine—there was still plenty of time. He’d take it slow.

However, when Jian Mei noticed him spacing out, a more pressing concern suddenly came to mind. He asked, “Are you hurt? I saw blood in the bathroom.”

Lu Xingwang didn’t try to hide it from him and simply said, “I’m not injured. It’s the poison in my body.”

Jian Mei had long known about Lu Xingwang’s poisoning. After the previous incident, he had stopped him from drinking herbal medicine, but now he panicked. “The poison still isn’t gone?”

Lu Xingwang slowly shook his head.

Jian Mei hesitated before suggesting, “Let me check your pulse.”

This was something only imperial physicians were allowed to do. Ordinary people would never get the chance to take the pulse of a royal. But in front of Jian Mei, Lu Xingwang didn’t even think twice—he simply extended his hand.

Although Jian Mei’s medical skills weren’t as advanced as his grandfather’s, he had accumulated quite a bit of experience over time. The moment he felt Lu Xingwang’s pulse, he immediately realized that his condition was terrible. Not only was there still lingering poison in his system, but years of overwork had also taken a toll on his energy and blood. It was clear that he hadn’t been taking care of his body at all.

Jian Mei’s brows furrowed tightly. He looked up and said, “Dazhuang-ge, do you usually work too hard and stay up late? You’re still recovering from a serious illness—you can’t push yourself like this. Why aren’t you getting enough rest? How’s your diet? Are you eating on time?”

A string of questions hit him like an interrogation. Normally, no one would dare speak to the crown prince this way.

Lu Xingwang pulled his hand back, ready to brush it off and say it wasn’t a big deal. But before he could, Jian Mei continued, “Starting today, I’m going to start making medicine for you again every day. You have to take it on time and get enough rest—I’ll be checking. And since I can leave the school to study daily, I’ll make sure you follow the treatment properly. You can’t ignore medical advice. I will check. So? What do you think?”

The refusal that had been on the tip of Lu Xingwang’s tongue turned into agreement instead. Without changing his expression, he smoothly replied, “Hmm, I really do need it.”

……

On the other side—the Imperial Palace.

The emperor sat in his bedchambers while Imperial Concubine Xi massaged his body, following the priest’s instructions.

As he read a book, a thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he said, “Lately, I’ve heard that Xingwang has been leaving the palace more frequently. While it appears to be for official duties, such things can’t be hidden from me. He’s been visiting the school quite a bit.”

Imperial Concubine Xi paused mid-movement and asked, “Your Majesty, are you worried about the Crown Prince’s relationship with the principal…?”

“No.” The emperor smiled and shook his head. “Xingwang is skilled in political affairs, but he would never interfere in student affairs. While it’s true that forming alliances with various factions is easier by targeting their younger heirs, I understand his character. He wouldn’t resort to such tactics.”

Imperial Concubine Xi hesitated. “Then, in Your Majesty’s opinion…?”

A mysterious smile tugged at the emperor’s lips. “He’s at the right age for marriage.”

Imperial Concubine Xi immediately understood and was momentarily stunned. “Could His Highness have taken a liking to someone? And… is it a student?”

“This is truly strange. There are so many unmarried young ladies and young masters in the court, yet the Crown Prince hasn’t taken a liking to any of them. And now, out of nowhere, a student has caught his eye?”

The emperor let out a sigh. “This is just my speculation, but if it’s true, I can only hope that the person comes from a powerful and influential family. If they’re a commoner, then the Crown Prince’s first official spouse would be quite unpresentable.”

Imperial Concubine Xi chuckled. “Maybe it’s just a concubine?”

The emperor fell silent, contemplating for a long time before speaking again. “What worries me is that, knowing his temperament, if he has someone in his heart, he won’t be willing to take concubines.”

That statement struck right at the core of the issue.

Imperial Concubine Xi withdrew her hand and sat beside the emperor. “Throughout history, Your Majesty, you’ve had the fewest consorts among the royals. But if, in time, the Crown Prince ascends the throne and refuses to take wives, how could that possibly work? The court officials would never allow it.”

The emperor had, of course, considered this matter before, but he could only sigh helplessly. “You know his temperament—he’s incredibly stubborn. Forget the court officials, even if I personally tried to persuade him, I doubt it would make any difference.”

Imperial Concubine Xi, ever the sharp one, said, “Then as long as the Crown Prince’s first official wife is a sensible woman, it won’t be a problem. If she’s willing to advise him, everything should work out.”

The emperor had to admit she had a point. Looking at it this way, the key to the situation actually lay with the future Crown Princess.

This thought piqued his curiosity—just what kind of person had managed to win over his proud son? He thought it would be nice to meet her one day.