Chapter 228: Chapter 228: "Be Good, Don’t Look at Me Like That.

Still, she was afraid of truly provoking him.

She stopped her mean-spirited teasing.

She began to help in earnest.

With both hands at work, she lowered her gaze to the task, her expression focused and incredibly earnest.

Xie Jinbai’s desire swelled uncontrollably; he practically wanted to devour her.

He lifted the arm covering his eyes, and his long, slender fingers slipped through an opening in her nightgown.

Cui Lingyao stiffened and looked at him. "Be gentle. They’ve been a little swollen these past few days."

Before her menstrual period, she always felt uncomfortable one way or another.

Sore, swollen breasts were a common occurrence.

She had to be careful not to even touch them herself.

Thinking of how uncomfortable she was, yet she still took pity on him—dutifully and uncomplainingly helping him find release—Xie Jinbai couldn’t bring himself to be rough.

Unwilling to make her work too hard, he quickly...

He sat up, grabbed a cloth, and cleaned himself up.

Cui Lingyao held out her hand, showing him the space between her fingers. "It got on me."

Xie Jinbai was speechless. "..."

He closed his eyes, took her hand, and meticulously cleaned it. "For the next few days," he advised her kindly, "don’t provoke me in the slightest."

His self-control was practically useless in her presence.

If his love for her hadn’t won out, he would have taken his pleasure recklessly.

’It’s just that sort of thing between a man and a woman.’

He’d even asked the Imperial Physician, who confirmed they could do it as long as her menstrual period hadn’t actually started.

But because she said she was uncomfortable, he had forced himself to hold back.

...That was all.

Once everything was tidy, Xie Jinbai pulled her into his arms and lay back down.

Their skin touched as they lay intimately together, a rare moment of warmth.

Xie Jinbai pushed aside the nightgown on her left shoulder and examined it for a moment. "Does it still hurt?" he asked.

Cui Lingyao shook her head. "It doesn’t really hurt. It just feels like the bone is knitting back together, and it’s a little itchy."

It was an itch deep in the bone, and she couldn’t even scratch the skin above it.

The bamboo splints held it so securely, so stiffly in place, that she couldn’t move that side of her shoulder at all. Even after all this time, Cui Lingyao still found it uncomfortable.

Especially when she slept.

She could only lie flat on her back or on her right side.

It was miserable.

Her little face was all scrunched up in a very glum expression.

The sight made Xie Jinbai’s heart ache for her.

"It’s all my fault you’ve been hurt so many times."

’She had suffered so much since marrying him.’

Cui Lingyao shook her head. "Don’t blame yourself."

’I might not have the best temper, but I’m still reasonable.’

’How could I possibly blame him?’

Xie Jinbai kissed her cheek and whispered hoarsely, "The Empress has moved against you time and again, yet I haven’t made her pay the price. Yaoyao, do you think I’m incompetent?"

Cui Lingyao froze.

She looked up at him.

She was stunned to see how serious he looked.

"How could you possibly think that!"

"Because of what happened," she said, "Prince Ping was taken down. And while the Empress is still in her position, her mountain of crimes has been exposed to the public. Her prestige is in tatters, and she’s no longer a threat. You’ve been formally invested as the Crown Prince. From now on, I can do whatever I want in the Capital City. I don’t have to bow my head to anyone."

’If this is what you call incompetent, then there isn’t a single ’competent’ man in the entire world.’

Her eyes said as much as she looked at him.

Her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes sparkled, filled with complete trust and... admiration.

It was as if she were worshipping some famous historical figure.

Xie Jinbai’s heart seemed to stop for a beat. He reached out and covered her eyes. "Be good. Don’t look at me like that."

’I’ll get hard.’

Cui Lingyao blinked.

Her long lashes brushed against his palm, and desire quickly stirred anew in his body, which had only just found a hasty release.

Sensing something, Cui Lingyao let out a curious "Hm?" "My hand is very sore," she declared. "I’m not helping you this time."

Xie Jinbai was speechless. "..."

He was at a loss for words. "...I didn’t ask you to."

’She’s so delicate she won’t even let me be a little rough. What help could she be?’

’Just teasing me a little less would be a huge help.’

Xie Jinbai tightened his arms around her, holding her a little closer. "Father Emperor is disinclined to manage state affairs in the winter," he said softly. "As Crown Prince, I have the duty of a regent. With the year’s end upon us, I’m going to be extremely busy for a while. Will you move back in? I want to see you every day."

The Emperor’s constitution was frail, and even more so in the winter. He required careful convalescence and could not be exposed to drafts or taxed with the mental strain of state affairs.

Even before Xie Jinbai was named Crown Prince, he would temporarily assume the regent’s duties at the end of every year.

To say nothing of now, when he was the legitimate Crown Prince.

And with the end of the year, complicated official business from every province and prefecture was flooding into the Capital like a snowstorm.

He would indeed be so busy he wouldn’t have a moment’s rest.

If she moved back, it would be much more convenient for him to see her.

Once she realized he had been avoiding her only because he feared she would ask for the Hundred Diseases Pill, Cui Lingyao’s anger vanished. She thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Alright, I’ll move back."

’So obedient.’

’So very reasonable.’

’She’s becoming more and more considerate.’

Limitless joy flooded Xie Jinbai’s heart. The emotions surged so intensely that a hot sting rushed to his nose.

It made his eyes sting, and he wished he could simply absorb the woman in his arms into his own body.

’This is how it should be.’

’She should be good to me.’

When the man before her remained silent for a long time, Cui Lingyao couldn’t resist poking his waist. "Are you asleep?"

"...No."

Xie Jinbai caught her mischievous fingers in his palm. "In previous years, the palace always held a New Year’s Eve banquet," he said. "But it’s been suspended for three years, ever since the Empress fell gravely ill. Now that you’re the Crown Princess Consort, would you like to host one?"

Cui Lingyao was taken aback and instinctively wanted to refuse.

’I don’t like taking on extra responsibilities.’

’Especially since my menstrual period is probably coming in a few days, and with my injury, I just feel so lazy and tired.’

The refusal was on the tip of her tongue when she suddenly had a realization.

’This man never does anything without a reason. Every word, every action, has a purpose.’

’Planning before acting—that’s his code of conduct.’

’For him to suddenly suggest a task for me, there must be some kind of benefit in it.’

With this in mind, Cui Lingyao swallowed her refusal and asked tentatively, "What’s in it for me if I host the palace banquet?"

Benefits...

Xie Jinbai smiled and asked her, "Do you want the Phoenix Seal?"

He toyed with her fingertips, his voice laced with temptation. "If you dare step up and take charge of the Inner Court’s affairs, I can get the Phoenix Seal for you."

Cui Lingyao was speechless. "..."

The Phoenix Seal.

That was the symbol of the Empress’s authority.

With it, one could command the Inner Court, and appoint or promote its officials.

The Inner Court had its own hierarchy for advancement. Although it couldn’t compare to the Outer Court and the highest position was only the Secondary Third Rank, these were still bona fide officials.

They commanded respect when seen in public.

Most importantly, it granted the power to appoint female officials.

If any of the noble ladies in the Capital were to be appointed as a female official, it would bring immense glory to her family, and she could set her sights much higher when considering marriage proposals.

A tremendous amount of power.

"Can you really get it for me?" Cui Lingyao’s eyes lit up. "But that’s the Phoenix Seal! The Empress hasn’t been deposed. Would she willingly relinquish her power?"

’She’s delighted.’

’She really wants it.’

Confirming this, a smile suddenly touched Xie Jinbai’s features. "She’s ’sick.’ She’s long had no energy to manage the Inner Court. It’s only a matter of time before she relinquishes her power."

Before, there was no Crown Princess Consort, nor were there any prominent, favored concubines in the harem.

It was as calm as a pool of stagnant water.

Things are different now.

In the Outer Court, the Crown Prince has been decided and holds the power of a regent.

In the harem, for the Crown Princess Consort to worry about the Empress’s health and offer to share her burdens would be an act of loyalty and filial piety.

It couldn’t be called a power grab.

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