The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Not long after returning to the East Palace in the afternoon, Shen Tinghe noticed a slight downward pressure in her lower abdomen.

Before I could think about it, a familiar warm current surged out.

Her period came early. It shouldn't have been this time of year; perhaps it was because she drank a few too many glasses of wine at noon that it started early.

She was experiencing sharp pains in her lower abdomen, as if someone was squeezing and twisting her inside. She curled up on the bed, her forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

The carved bed was draped in heavy curtains, and the light was dim and soft.

Xie Yanzhao sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into his arms, his warm hands resting on her cold lower abdomen.

Shen Tinghe leaned listlessly against his chest, her cheeks pale and her lips dull. Her once bright eyes were now half-closed, her eyelashes trembling, completely devoid of luster.

"It hurts..." she whimpered softly, her fingertips weakly clutching his clothes.

Xie Yanzhao frowned slightly, and, holding her wrist, peered out from behind the curtain.

The imperial physician was already waiting by her side, and at this moment, he placed three fingers on her slender wrist pulse.

A moment later, the imperial physician bowed and reported: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess suffered from menstrual cramps due to her consumption of cold foods. I will prescribe a formula to warm the meridians, dispel cold, harmonize the blood, and relieve pain. After taking it for three days and with careful recuperation, she will be fine."

Upon hearing that she had to drink medicine, Shen Tinghe immediately buried her face in Xie Yanzhao's neck, protesting in a muffled voice, "I won't drink it... it's too bitter..."

Xie Yanzhao's eyes did not move; he simply said to the imperial physician in a calm voice, "Go and prescribe the medicine." His tone was steady and left no room for doubt.

"I told you, I won't take my medicine!" Shen Tinghe raised her head, her eyes slightly red, with a touch of spoiled arrogance and grievance unique to those who are ill.

Xie Yanzhao remained silent, but slowly channeled a gentle internal force into his palm, which gently soothed her cold abdomen through her clothes.

The warm current seeped in, and the cramping pain did indeed ease a little.

He then lowered his head, his lips almost touching her earlobe, his voice low but clear: "If Yuan Yuan continues to act recklessly, I will have someone throw away all those storybooks you've hidden in the secret compartment of the small study and under your pillowcase."

Shen Tinghe froze, staring at him in astonishment.

How...how did he know so much?

Those secretly collected storybooks were her most important source of emotional support.

Her nose stung with tears, and she actually began to sob softly: "You're bullying me..."

"You don't have to take the medicine," she said, nuzzling his neck like a pleading kitten.

"Brother, just rub it a little more and it'll be fine... It's always like this."

Xie Yanzhao's heart had already melted, but he still kept a straight face, only lowering his head to kiss her sweaty forehead and cool cheeks: "Yuan Yuan, be good, drink the medicine and you'll get better faster."

Looking at her pale face, he found it particularly jarring.

His Yuan Yuan should always be bright, vibrant, and smiling like a flower.

It was indeed his oversight today; he forgot that her period was approaching and allowed her to drink too much wine to cool off.

At the official post station outside the palace, Yu Tuoya was shocked to hear the news that the Yuanxia delegation had suddenly left the capital.

Her personal maid stamped her foot in anger: "Princess! The prince... he's gone too far! He just abandoned us like that!"

The two women, mistress and servant, went out for a stroll in the market in the afternoon. When they returned, the place was deserted, with only a few servants left to look after the inn.

Yu Tuoya took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down: "No. You know my brother's temperament. Once he's made up his mind to curry favor with the Crown Prince of Da Zhao, he will never give up halfway, much less easily abandon me as a pawn. Something unexpected must have happened."

The envoys from various Southeast Asian countries had already returned home one after another, but the Yuanxia delegation stayed for several more days because Dang Yuchaoge had not given up.

How could someone as calculating as him suddenly give up, or even be so hasty as to not be able to take her with him?

In this capital city of Dazhao, how could such swift and decisive measures have made Dang Yuchaoge disappear so quickly...?

A cold, stern face flashed through Yutoya's mind.

Crown Prince of Da Zhao, Xie Yanzhao.

This young man has already seized control of the empire.

A bold idea shot up like wildfire, making her blood feel slightly hot.

Something must have happened to Chaoge, and it's related to the Crown Prince.

Perhaps... this is an opportunity given to her by heaven? Rather than forever being a pawn manipulated and discarded at will by her father and brother, she might as well... take the lead!

Dependent on others, forever bowing your head. Only by truly grasping power in your own hands can you control your destiny.

She recalled the Crown Princess she had encountered in the Imperial Garden the day before, with her bright eyes and gentle smile as she flew kites with her maids, looking so cherished and cared for...

Yutoya dug her nails deep into her palm.

"Help me dress and do my hair," she said calmly.

"We are going to the palace to request an audience with the Crown Princess."

Inside the East Palace's sleeping quarters, the medicinal soup was still bubbling away on the stove in the small kitchen.

Shen Tinghe was in Xie Yanzhao's arms, and he was continuously soothing her stomach with his internal energy. The pain gradually subsided, and she had already drifted off to sleep.

Xie Yanzhao remained motionless, gently pulling the quilt over her to wrap her up tightly. His gaze fell on her peaceful sleeping face, and his cold, hard features softened involuntarily.

The medicine was ready, and a palace maid quietly brought it in.

The dark brown medicinal liquid was served in a white porcelain bowl, steaming and releasing a faint bitter taste.

Xie Yanzhao picked up the medicine bowl with one hand and tested the temperature.

When Shen Ting woke up and saw the bowl of medicine, she immediately shrank back, tugging at Xie Yanzhao's sleeve and pleading softly, "It really doesn't hurt anymore...please don't drink it, okay? It smells bitter..."

"Brother... Husband... Your Highness the Crown Prince..." She blinked, changing her address several times in a row, her voice so sweet and soft it could drip water.

Please.

Xie Yanzhao's heart softened at her obedient and adorable appearance, but he wouldn't spoil her indiscriminately.

Just then, a palace servant announced from outside the hall: "Your Highness, Princess Yuanxia is outside requesting an audience with the Crown Princess."

Shen Tinghe's eyes lit up, as if she had grasped a lifeline: "Quickly, invite her in!"

If someone comes, perhaps the medicine can be avoided.

Xie Yanzhao didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice flat and emotionless: "Step back."

Two words, beyond question.

The palace servants outside the hall immediately fell silent.

Shen Tinghe was already feeling irritable during her period, and seeing this, a surge of grievance welled up inside her, and she clenched her fist and punched his shoulder.

"I, the Crown Princess, truly have no power whatsoever. I need your permission even to see a single person! If that's the case, why did you even make me your Crown Princess? You might as well just put a puppet here."

Xie Yanzhao put down the medicine bowl, helplessly grasped her wrist, but didn't use force, letting her vent her little temper, while his other hand still firmly held her waist.

"Looking at the entire Eastern Palace, it's as if the Crown Princess is about to ride roughshod over me."

Shen Tinghe turned her face away and refused to listen.

Xie Yanzhao sighed almost inaudibly, finally giving in: "Alright, let her in. But Yuan Yuan must obediently drink her medicine, okay?"

Shen Tinghe decided to stop while she was ahead, and besides, she was genuinely curious about Yu Tuoya's intentions: "...Alright."

Xie Yanzhao then signaled the palace servants to bring over a six-panel silk screen and place it in the outer room.