Chapter 3

5

I never expected things to change so little.

Fu Nangui still wanted to share a room with me.

Could it be that he didn’t believe I liked men?

My expression turned grave. Fine, then—I’d let him experience it for himself.

That night, I was already in bed. The moment Fu Nangui finished his official business and entered the room, I patted the empty space beside me, unable to wait another second.

“Your Highness, come over here.”

Fu Nangui stood some distance away, looking at me with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Angry? Furious?

Then let the storm come harder!

I struck a seductive pose, lying on my side. My hand slowly slid up my thigh. I bit my lip and winked at him.

Fu Nangui frowned and strode over.

I opened my arms expectantly. Come on, throw me out!

Huh? Why was he lying down?

Fu Nangui lay beside me as if nothing had happened and casually pulled the blanket over me.

“It’s getting cold. Why isn’t Lord Pei using a blanket? If you catch a chill in my manor, I’ll have trouble explaining myself.”

Wrapped in the blanket, I began to question my entire life.

He could put up with even that? It still wasn’t bad enough.

In the middle of the night, I sensed Fu Nangui was still awake. I deliberately edged closer, pressed my face to his neck, and sniffed at him in a perverted way, lowering my voice to sound as excited as possible.

“You smell so good, Your Highness.”

Fu Nangui said nothing.

“Ah… mmm…”

“You smell so good I can’t sleep. It’s giving me all kinds of ideas.”

I was pushing my luck, but inside I was terrified.

Had I gone too far? What if Fu Nangui lost control and killed me?

Just then, Fu Nangui suddenly braced one hand beside my ear.

His voice was hoarse, as though he were holding something back.

“I had no idea Lord Pei was suffering so much.”

Me: “…”

“Perhaps I should help you take care of it.”

Fu Nangui’s hand slid down, preparing to slip inside my clothes.

My eyes flew open. I rolled away at once, escaping his hold.

“I… actually…”

I pulled the blanket over my head and muttered in frustration,

“I can’t get it up!”

Someone pressed a hand to my shoulder. Fu Nangui whispered into my ear.

“Lord Pei, you smell so good…”

Hiding beneath the blanket, I was on the verge of tears.

No wonder the manor had no concubines.

No wonder he didn’t mind sharing a bed with me.

It turned out Fu Nangui was the one who liked men!

I knew I was wrong. Please spare my life.

Wait!

Hadn’t I just found his weakness?

I was laughing and crying at once, too frightened to sleep for the rest of the night.

6

At last, the next day Fu Nangui went out on business. I wanted to send word to the palace and escape this living hell, but the maids in the manor kept hovering around me.

I had no choice. While having soup, I deliberately stained my clothes and asked a maid named Tao’er to bring me a change of clothes.

Then I struck her from behind, knocked her out, changed into her clothes, and sneaked out.

After delivering my message to the emperor, I hurried back. A page intercepted me outside the bathhouse and shoved a set of clothes into my arms.

“My stomach hurts! Good sister, please take these clothes to the prince for me!”

Before I could refuse, he pushed me toward the bathhouse.

I staggered in with the wooden tray. By the time I steadied myself, steam was billowing over the bath. Fu Nangui had his back to me, revealing a broad, strong, bronze-colored back.

I choked on my words.

Remembering his preferences, I couldn’t help feeling a little regret.

“Your Highness, I’ve left your clothes here.”

I finished in a falsetto, set the clothes down, and was about to slip out when Fu Nangui suddenly stopped me.

“Wait.”

My heart lurched.

I bowed my head and halted.

Fu Nangui’s gaze swept over me.

“I haven’t seen you in the manor before.”

“I’m new here.”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m called… A-Ning.”

“Come closer.”

I reluctantly stepped forward.

“Massage my shoulders.”

I stood motionless. Only after Fu Nangui repeated himself did I slowly raise my hands and place them on his smooth, firm shoulders.

Fu Nangui was a general. Years of martial arts training had given him a strong, beautifully defined physique.

What a feeling! Who could blame me?

My accursed hands wandered up and down, finally sliding forward.

Those pecs were huge…

I instinctively gave one a squeeze. My fingers brushed over the two raised points, and I heard a low groan.

I shuddered and snatched my hand back as if shocked. When I looked up, Fu Nangui’s gaze was dangerous.

I’d messed up…

“Raise your head.”

I clutched my skirt, refusing to look up at any cost.

Fu Nangui reached out and tipped my chin up.

I met his astonished gaze and hurriedly spoke before he could ask anything.

“Your Highness, you guessed correctly. I’m Pei Feng’s younger sister, Pei Ning. My brother said the manor offered good wages and recommended me for a job.”

Fu Nangui let go and frowned slightly.

“Lord Pei is a court official. How could his younger sister sell herself into servitude?”

“Your Highness doesn’t know the situation. Housing in the capital is so expensive. My brother came from out of town and has no one to rely on here. His salary alone isn’t enough. As his younger sister, I can’t bear to see him struggle, so I came out to earn a little money for the family.

“Besides, I haven’t sold myself into servitude. I’m only working part-time. I work during the day and go home at night. Um… it’s getting late. Your Highness, I’ll take my leave.”

I turned and ran, changed back into my own clothes, and immediately went to find the steward.

A few days earlier, while wandering around, I’d happened to catch him gambling in debt and pawning items from the manor’s storeroom.

I blackmailed him into confirming that he’d hired my younger sister to work part-time.

After a whole day of scrambling, I ended up lying on Fu Nangui’s bed again, as lifeless as a dead fish.

The rumor that Fu Nangui liked men had already spread.

All that remained was to wait and see what the emperor would do.

Still…

I looked at Fu Nangui working by candlelight, and guilt rose in my heart.

There was nothing wrong with his orientation.

It was only that the way he loved was different from most people’s.

And to protect myself, I’d had no choice but to betray him.

My conscience troubled me. Almost without thinking, I asked, “Your Highness, is there anything I can do for you? Within my abilities.”

Fu Nangui’s writing hand paused.

He looked up at me, took something from the drawer behind him, stood, and tossed the bag in front of me.

The bright clink told me it was silver.

I slowly pulled the blanket up to my chin. “This… really isn’t something I can do.”

Fu Nangui sighed. “Your younger sister…”