[Warning: Sexual contents below. Read at your risk.]

Moonlights, have you been waiting?

As the two walked, they had a heartfelt chat. Within the walls, one can hear the gentle laughter of a beautiful woman resonating. The Crown Prince, Song Jin Hai, discovered her official position in Nangong. He knew she was a noble, based on the way she carries herself in the courtroom. A flash of memory passed Jin Hai's mind:

Behind his little brother, was a petite maiden. She kept her eyes down and her emotions blank— in fact, it was hard to actually see her face— but he could still tell that she was a beauty. When he got closer to the couple, he got a good look at her. Her jade-like hands folded neatly in front of her while her dress lightly dragged behind her; she was like a fairy. Her back straight and her posture was almost perfect. And when she faced his imperial father without a trace of fear on her visage, his heart moved. Though she seems gentle, her spirit was unwavering. What has she gone through that enabled her to stand so strong against the breath of the dragon's anger?

Jin Hai smiled as he continued to peek at her from the corner of his eyes. He will try his best to convince his Imperial Father to go easy on her.

Before he knew it, they were at the entrance of the Eastern Palace, where most of the servants and those facing punishment reside; this is also where Rui and Yu Jian are confined in at the moment.

Rui spun around to face the crown prince and she gave him another soft smile. While they were talking, she finally let her guard down and drop the mask of formality. She can't quite explain why she felt like he was trustworthy. Of course, she will act more properly if there are other people in their presence. But since it's only them, it doesn't hurt to get to know the person Yu Jian respects the most. "Thank you, your highness, for standing up for me today as well as walking me back to the Eastern Palace. Rui is grateful for your kind actions. If your highness ever needs a favor, feel free to ask Rui!"

Jin Hai lifted his hand and chuckled, "Don't worry about it, Rui. In fact, if you ever feel troubled, come to me and this prince will take care of it. After all, you are my little brother's beloved wife."

This time, Rui smiled with her pearly teeth and her eyes curved like crescent moons. "Then, this one thanks First Brother-in-law!"

Jin Hai's cheeks reddened a little but he cleared his throat and saluted farewell.

At night, Yu Jian was finally allowed to see Rui. She ran into his strong arms with joy and tightly wrapped her arms around his slim waist. He rested his hand on the back of her head and pulled her in even closer. A comfortable silence fell between them as Rui continued to snuggle her head in his arms. Yu Jian gently pulled away and cupped both of her cheeks with his rough hands, "Rui-er. . ."

He pulled her face closer and their lips immediately embraced. He sucked on her bottom lip gently while gliding his tongue across. Her knees began to buckle at the mercy of his passionate kiss. Rui subconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck; her right hand running through his silky hair and her left hand tugging him towards her. Their kiss broke when she pulled away for air, but Yu Jian wouldn't let their intimate moment disperse just yet. Within seconds, he carried her like a princess to the deeper end of their bedroom.

When he set her down on the bed, he kept his eyes steady on hers. They traveled to her flushed cheeks and swollen lips, then down to her slightly disheveled dress that revealed her alluring neck. When he blinked, his eyes found hers again and the erotic look made a sweet chill run down her spine to her core. She squirmed under his gaze and blushed even harder.

"Cute," he chuckled with his velvet voice. With his hand above her to support his weight, he lowered himself to reconnect their lips. They were like two pieces of a matching puzzle. Rui shivered under his touch as he slowly removed one garment at a time. Sitting up with her back against the wall, she wore only her blushing skin and her black hair flowed like rivers between the slopes of her breasts.

"Not fair. . ." she pouted with a red face and began to tug at his robe. While she was fully naked, he was still in his silky black clothes. The corner of his lips pulled into a smirk and he let her hands roam to undress him. But Rui grew nervous under his heavy gaze and her fingers fumbled around his belt anxiously. Her cheeks only grew redder in embarrassment and she bit her bottom lip with frustration.

Yu Jian gently grabbed her trembling hands and brought them to his smiling lips, "Rui-er, you're so endearing. . . it makes me want to eat you up right now."

Her soft lips parted and before she could say another word, he was already attacking her neck with kisses. One hand reached for her womanhood and the other massaged her smooth sides. Rui let out a quiet gasp and pushed her chest forwards, allowing him to have more access to mark her body as his territory. His tongue swirled around her nipple before he gently pulled at the nub with his teeth. His fingers rubbed against her clit in slow circular motions.

Before she knew it, his robes fell open and his hands maneuvered to her hips, yanking her towards his base. With one push, his length stretched her open. She whimpered beneath him as her arms clung onto his shoulders for her dear life.

Yu Jian groaned in pleasure as she wrapped around him tightly, like a warm embrace in the middle of the sea. Holding himself up on the bed, he rocked his hips into her like he was riding the waves. Her soft, sweet moans filled his ears like a seductive melody.

The two lovers were lost within each other's warmth and rhythm. It was as if nothing mattered, as long as they had one another. The night passed in passion.

Unfortunately, this sweetness did not last. It wasn't long before the Emperor required Yu Jian's attendance once again. Before he left, however, the couple had a small but important chat.

"Rui-er, do you believe me?" he inquired slowly, his eyebrows wrinkled with anxiety.

"Of course," she answered without a second to spare.

The stress lifted from his brows and his shoulders. A small smile formed, "Thank you, my adorable wife."

Rui giggled at the nickname and lightly smacked his arm.

There was a small pause before he continued, "Don't be mad. I ordered one of my guards to watch over you and report back to me."

"You had someone following me?" Rui shot out in a burst of anger as she took a sharp turn to face him. Yu Jian nodded guiltily and his eyes lowered with his lips protruding. She stared at him and her heart softened. She couldn't be mad at him for long, especially since he looks like a lost puppy. Rui inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm herself down. "I know you did it to protect me, but a heads up would've been nice?"

He mumbled a 'sorry' and peppered her face with kisses until she could no longer hold in her laughter. After a while, he abruptly said, "There was no maid in my bed. No loose clothes. Nothing."

Rui raised her eyebrows and then smiled softly. She knew that Wen Shi was lying but hearing the reassurance from Yu Jian, the small needle in her heart has been removed. Thinking about it now, having a guard reporting to Yu Jian isn't so bad. It saves her time and she doesn't even need to confront Yu Jian about her matter. 

"I will thank First Brother later."

There he goes again: short and straight to the point with his words. He only speaks more if she doesn't understand or when he's explaining himself. She's glad that that hasn't changed about him.

"Your hands, use this cream." He handed her a jar with a beautiful peony painted lid. Such simple subtle things, she loved that about him.

"En," she agreed tenderly.

That day, while she was doing another load of laundry, she could hear a small group of servants gossiping behind the tree. Rui quieted her movement while keeping her ears open. Though she's assuming that it's just random gossip about some imperial consort, she was so bored of washing clothes that she was willing to eavesdrop.

"Did you know WenShi fell into the pond today?" one of the girls whispered.

"What? How?" the other gasped.

"Not sure. It was like some ghost possessed her. She suddenly just fell into the pond and kept screaming 'Who dares push me!' like a maniac. But there was no one near her."

A small smile played at Rui's lips. She has a feeling that it was no coincidence or freak accident.

"Maybe she hit her head while she fell. Serves her right. She alway acts so high and mighty around us."

"En. Hope she gets sick too," the girl chuckled before bustling with energy again, "but did you hear? About that Xin Rui girl?"

Now her ears perked up. Gossiping about her again? Can they not find a different person to pick on for a change in taste?

The maids continued, "Yeah, about how she is trying to seduce our Crown Prince?"

Rui almost choked on her own saliva. These girls can make anything up out of thin air.

"I can't believe her. She already climbed into the Seventh Prince's bed and now she wants to latch onto the Crown Prince like a leech?"

"The Crown Princess will not let her go if she finds out. She is going to be livid!" the girl giggled.

"Who does she think she is? Some sort of goddess that all men will bow down to? She's even worse than WenShi."

"Don't worry. She will have her retribution for her repulsive actions. I hate these sluts the most!"

Their voices faded into the distance as the servant girls walked away, leaving Rui alone with her thoughts.

"Slut, huh?" she whispered to herself as she gazed at her shaking hands and then drifted her attention to the basin with wet clothes. Her eyes blurred with tears.