Chapter 132: Do I Look Like a Waste to You?

"Creak..."

Hearing the door open, Chu You couldn't help but pull her legs together. Her joy far outweighed her nervousness, and her hands, resting on her knees, gripped the fabric of her wedding gown tightly.

"Hoo..."

A moist breath against her ear made Chu You shiver; the faint scent of wine seemed to numb her senses.

"Swish!"

The wedding veil was ripped away. A sharp dagger was pressed against her lower abdomen, the warmth that had just felt so alluring now turning as cold as ice. "Speak! Who are you?"

Chu You felt her blood freeze. She could clearly feel the blade against her skin; the slightest mistake would turn her into a cold corpse in the next instant.

"Y-Your Highness, this humble subject is Chu... Chu Ge..."

"Still not telling the truth?!" Crown Prince Qi Ming tightened his grip on the dagger, pressing it a fraction deeper into her skin.

Chu You squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip hard. "This humble subject, Chu... Chu Ge! Ah!"

As the dagger pressed deeper, the sharp edge sliced through the wedding gown and bit into her flesh. The icy sensation shattered her composure. "This... this humble subject is Chu You! I am Chu You! Spare me, Your Highness! Please!"

Snot and tears streamed down her face. Abandoning all pretense of decorum, she focused entirely on praying the blade would be withdrawn.

Crown Prince Qi Ming narrowed his eyes. Judging by her reaction, she wasn't lying. He pulled the dagger away and produced a handkerchief to wipe the blade. "Why did you lie?"

Feeling the danger retreat from her stomach, Chu You exhaled, not daring to play any more tricks.

Wiping the grime from her face, she began to sob softly. "Chu Ge is my younger sister, but she is a fool. How could she possibly marry Your Highness as a concubine? I intentionally swapped identities with her so that it would be she who married into the Prince Qi residence today!"

Seeing the overflowing affection in Chu You’s eyes, Crown Prince Qi Ming smiled faintly. Under the candlelight, he looked strikingly handsome, so much so that Chu You wanted to confess everything.

"That makes sense. A fool and a cripple—a match made in heaven."

Qi Ming was arrogant by nature and obsessed with imperial power. Since the fool had already married the useless cripple, he decided to be magnanimous and let it slide.

Noticing that the Crown Prince was not displeased, Chu You ventured, "Your Highness, I can do many things for you, and I ask for nothing in return! Though our Chu family is only a minor marquisate, we can still serve as your loyal confidants!"

Qi Ming glanced at her. "Why discuss such things? Tonight is our wedding night. If you work for me, how could I not reward you? Perhaps I shall reward you with a child instead..."

This was the first time he had taken a concubine into his inner court. Previously, he had simply sought out palace maids to satisfy his physical needs, as they were easier to manage should any complications arise.

Though Chu You was not as beautiful as the women in the pleasure houses, she possessed a unique, pure charm. Even a single coquettish glance from her could ignite his desire.

The joy in Chu You’s heart exceeded all her expectations. She hadn't expected that even after learning her true identity, not only would he not punish her, but he would also... Her face flushed as she let her thoughts wander.

Before she could say another word, she was stripped bare by the Crown Prince and surrendered herself.

That night was one of wild passion behind the red curtains.

While one side was indulging in unbridled intimacy, the other was merely chatting under a quilt, with talk of sleeping in separate rooms. Under the red candles, the air in the room felt somewhat ambiguous.

Chu Ge lay on top of Chong Li. "Hold on a little longer, I'm almost there!"

"Yes, alright."

"A little deeper!"

"Hiss!"

"Done! Finished!"

Chu Ge climbed from Chong Li to the windowsill and blew out the candle in one breath, plunging the room into silence.

A moment ago, they had been arguing about who would sleep on the edge of the bed and who would sleep in the middle. The next moment, their clothes and hair had become tangled together, leading to the scene that had just transpired.

Thinking about how Chong Li had refused to get close to her because of her current vessel—with even a hug being his limit—Chu Ge felt perplexed.

Chong Li respected her deeply, and she liked this version of him; he was innocent and adorable. But if they couldn't kiss or be intimate, how would a little "Lotus" ever come to be?

Because no guest room had been prepared, the entire residence—save for two servants' quarters—only had this single room fit for sleeping.

With the servants keeping watch outside, they had to create some noise to prevent them from letting their imaginations run wild.

"Chong Li, we can't consummate our marriage. How will we explain it to the palace matrons who come to inspect tomorrow? There are two 'lightbulbs' waiting outside, too."

"I have my ways. It is very late now; go to sleep." Though he spoke these words, neither of them felt the slightest bit sleepy.

[Master! You are already sleeping with Lord Chong Li! Hurry up and make your move! Wrap yourself around him! If not now, when!?]

"That's right! Sister Lotus! You can't just lie under the quilt and chat all night!"

"Tell me, Goddess, is the man you've set your sights on perhaps not very capable in that regard?"

...

The space within her mind was chattering away, but when she thought about it, their words held some truth.

Chu Ge looked at the person beside her with a grievance. She had accidentally touched his hand earlier; usually, he was cool to the touch, but right now, his skin was burning hot. He was just being stubborn.

"Be good, go to sleep."

Chu Ge turned over, presenting her back to Chong Li, and said in a muffled tone, "How exactly is Prince Qi a cripple?"

"His hands and feet."

"Oh?" Chu Ge’s interest was piqued, and she turned back to face him.

Chong Li slept very rigidly, lying in the posture of someone in a coffin. Chu Ge felt he could maintain that position all night without moving an inch.

"The tendons in Prince Qi’s hands and feet were severed by the enemy on the battlefield. After that defeat, he was sent back and became a neglected prince. Later, the current Crown Prince, Qi Ming, took over Qi Xiu's mess. Much of the enemy territory had already been conquered, requiring only one decisive strike to secure victory. Qi Ming seized that opportunity, returned in triumph, and the Emperor was so pleased that he named him Crown Prince."

Chu Ge watched his thin lips move. She had bitten them once before; they felt like the jelly one eats in the summer—smooth and cool.

It wasn't that Chu Ge couldn't have known this information; if she wanted to, she could have asked "Little Trash" and received a far more detailed account. But she preferred hearing it from Chong Li.

"So where is the real Prince Qi, Qi Xiu, now?"

"I fulfilled his wish. He is likely living in the countryside with the woman he loves, building a home and living a life of leisure, free from the backstabbing of the imperial court. It is a form of liberation. He told me he was weary of everyone and everything in the palace. Lotus, you..."

Chong Li broke his rigid posture for her, only to find that his companion had already fallen fast asleep, her breathing steady.

Chong Li gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, finding joy simply in watching her sleep.

He didn't know how long he watched before he slowly rose and crept out of the blankets.

After he left, the woman who had been sleeping so soundly on the bed slowly opened her eyes. "Who said he wasn't capable? Isn't he off to take a cold shower now..."

She was speaking to the Eight-Tails in her mental space, chiding it for doubting Chong Li's ability.

"Yes, yes, yes! He is capable! He is remarkably capable!"