On Children's Day, I refuse to become one of the Thirteen Beauties.

Lingran’s composure shattered at Chu Yu’s question. She slumped in defeat, then straightened up and asked, “Your Highness, you can’t possibly be serious, can you?”

“When I speak, I never go back on my word.”

Damn! Lingran cursed inwardly and realized he wasn’t joking. Panic seized her. “Your Highness, I have no past grievances with you, nor recent enmity. Even if you dislike Lord Hongxiao, you can’t vent your anger on a maid! Wouldn’t that harm your own noble reputation?”

Chu Yu remained silent, his gaze fixed on Lingran.

This beast of a man had a truly flawless appearance. Seated across from her like a lion king, his aura was overwhelming—Lingran couldn’t possibly match it. Yet the thought that he intended to make her his thirteenth consort filled her with righteous indignation. She wanted nothing more than to stab him with a knife.

Looking at the woman before him, Chu Yu’s expression softened a touch. “If it’s not to spite Lord Hongxiao, but simply because I wish to take you as a secondary consort, would you still refuse?”

Lingran thought, men like this can’t stand rejection. The more you refuse, the more insistent he’ll become, and if he decides you’re special, your life is over. She cautiously asked, “Is Your Highness truly serious?”

A barely perceptible sneer tugged at Chu Yu’s lips. “Of course it’s true. Do you accept?”

His expression didn’t escape Lingran’s sharp eyes. She considered, then forced herself to look as though she were thrilled beyond belief, resting her cheeks in her hands with feigned innocence, nodding eagerly: “I do! I do!”

“Hmph!” Chu Yu seemed to sigh in relief, but his handsome face grew all the more mocking. He lounged against the carriage wall, his tone vicious as he said, “With just you?”

Lingran cursed him thoroughly in her mind, thinking of his harem and scoffing: What’s wrong with me? Am I not as good as those women?

Outwardly, her reaction was the opposite. She feigned shock, exclaiming, “Didn’t Your Highness just say you never go back on your word? How can you offer to make me your consort and then take it back?”

Chu Yu was momentarily speechless, but quickly recovered. “Didn’t you just say you were unwilling? I never force anyone in such matters.”

“Can Your Highness change your mind so easily?” Lingran pressed, putting on a pitiful face.

Chu Yu replied, “You know my word is binding. Since I’ve said I won’t force you, how could I still marry you? Go sit outside and stop disturbing my rest.”

Delighted, Lingran bowed. “Thank you, Your Highness!” She scrambled to climb out of the carriage.

Only then did Chu Yu realize he’d been tricked. Enraged, he grabbed her ankle and yanked her back. She tumbled into the carriage wall with a thud. Though the thick brocade spared her any pain, she must have looked utterly ridiculous.

Lingran cursed her own impatience. She edged away, face taut with anger, and blurted, “There’s an old saying: a true man doesn’t quarrel with a woman! Please, Your Highness, don’t keep changing your mind and make me look down on you!”

Both of them were flushed and panting, Lingran furious at Chu Yu’s unreasonable behavior—he was practically a second Chu Liuxiang.

Yet Chu Yu himself was in a quandary.

What to do with this little maid? Letting her off seemed too easy, but truly making things difficult for her wasn’t his style. His head throbbed, his thoughts a tangled mess.

Seeing him silent and stern, Lingran didn’t dare provoke him further, shrinking into a corner of the carriage and watching him warily.

Chu Yu, sensing her suspicious gaze, was first annoyed, then stifled, and finally amused.

Did she think herself a celestial beauty? Did she really believe he meant to marry her? So many women would beg to enter Wanxiang Court—what made her, with her merely above-average looks, think she was special?

Granted, her brows seemed more finely shaped today; her face more radiant than usual, but she was still not his type.

Her obvious reluctance was new to him, but surely not enough to pique his interest.

Stop right there!

Chu Yu mentally called a halt and decided not to tangle with Lingran any further. He closed his eyes, leaned back, and ordered himself to think of state affairs.

Lingran, watching him, saw that he truly didn’t open his eyes again. Gradually, she relaxed, swaying with the carriage—if not for her nerves on high alert, she might have dozed off.

Chu Yu mulled over a few trivial “state affairs,” when suddenly a thought flashed through his mind: Was it because this girl fancied Lord Hongxiao that she spurned him so?

The idea unsettled him. He shot Lingran a sidelong glance, sorely tempted to shake her awake and demand an answer.

But he was a prince—he could not stoop to such petty behavior. Hongxiao, just you wait! I’ll uproot the one you care for, he vowed, feeling a bit more at ease.

Back at the Prince of Xiang’s residence, Lingran received treatment far from ordinary. She was subjected once more to the same barrage of stares she’d endured that morning when leaving the Prime Minister’s manor with Lord Hongxiao. At length, they reached Wanxiang Court, where a flock of beauties awaited.

A dainty young woman stood at the entrance, skin fair as snow, as though she had been waiting a long time. At the sight of Chu Yu, her joy could not be contained as she curtseyed. “Your Highness, Yunshu has been waiting here for some time.”

Chu Yu was in no mood to respond, but seeing Lingran’s eyes darting curiously toward Wang Yunshu, he softened his expression. “Rise. How did you know I would return?”

Lingran thought to herself, so this is the Tenth Lady, Wang Yunshu. Yan Yan had said she was the niece of Wu Jing, the concubine of General Li Zhen. Sweet-faced, perhaps, but petty and vindictive. Sigh! Even women like this Chu Yu accepts, yet he says I’m unworthy to be his thirteenth consort? What a joke.

Wang Yunshu, delighted by Chu Yu’s kind tone, sidled closer, her voice coy. “Yunshu waits here for Your Highness every day! Whether you return or not, my thoughts are always with you.”

Lingran shuddered at the saccharine words and hastily said, “Your Highness, Tenth Lady, if there are no further instructions, I’ll return to Chunze Pavilion to attend on the Seventh Lady.”

Wang Yunshu had seen this little maid arrive with the prince from the outer court. She turned, fixing Lingran with a smile that did not reach her eyes. “A maid going to serve her mistress doesn’t need to report to His Highness, does she?”

She implied Lingran was being pretentious, trying to attract Chu Yu’s notice.

Lingran, on the contrary, was deeply grateful for the dismissal. She bowed quickly. “I know my place. I take my leave.” Without so much as a glance at Chu Yu, she darted away.

Chu Yu turned to call her back, but she was already gone.

Wang Yunshu sidled up sweetly. “A dozen gifts arrived from the temple today. I still have four tables’ worth in my rooms. Would Your Highness come to Changhe Pavilion to see them?”

Chu Yu brushed her aside. “I am weary. I’ll return to my chambers to rest.”

“But I’ve prepared your favorite dishes…” she persisted.

Chu Yu, already walking away, raised his left hand slightly.

Lu Zigao immediately stepped forward to block Wang Yunshu’s path. He bowed and said, “Tenth Lady, you know His Highness’s rules. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”