章節 12: Extra — Teasing

Han Yasheng gently combed the crown prince's hair, as was her nightly routine before he went to sleep. She knew that Li Jie's claim of going to bed was merely a facade, but she couldn't deny that it played a positive role in his mental well-being.

Han Yasheng had been the crown prince's personal maid since his very first day of life, and as a result, she knew him better than even the emperor and empress themselves. Smiling secretly, she stole a glance at the eight-year-old prince through the mirror.

"Your Highness?" Han Yasheng called out to the boy. "You will go to bed once I close the door, won't you?"

"O-of course!" Li Jie responded, his voice betraying his nervousness.

Han Yasheng concealed her amusement, fully aware that Li Jie's words weren't entirely truthful. The prince's honesty was endearing, and as she looked at his flushed face, she couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth.

"Good, good," Han Yasheng patted the crown prince's head and ran her fingers through his silky white hair one last time. "Then I can rest peacefully."

The prince turned, looking up at Han Yasheng with his wide, innocent eyes. "Why wouldn't you sleep peacefully?"

Of course, what Han Yasheng said next was merely a playful tease aimed at the adorable little boy. "Well... These days, I haven't been sleeping well."

Han Yasheng feigned fatigue, further enhancing her act, all while secretly admiring the prince's innocence in her heart.

"Why?" Li Jie tilted his head, a habit he couldn't let go of no matter how hard the emperor tried to break it.

"It's just... When I feel like the crown prince isn't safe and sound in bed, I find it hard to fall asleep myself," Han Yasheng replied, closing her eyes for added effect. "But it's only a feeling. You go to bed early and sleep well, so I shouldn't have trouble sleeping either, right?"

Li Jie's eyes widened, and his cheeks grew warmer. "You can't sleep!?"

"It's most likely just a feeling," Han Yasheng grinned at the little prince. "But you go to bed early and sleep soundly, so I shouldn't have any trouble sleeping either."

Li Jie bit his upper lip, concern filling his innocent eyes for the woman who was like a mother to him.

"Of course..." the eight-year-old mumbled with a tinge of shame, but he didn't say anything more.

Han Yasheng smiled, giving Li Jie's head one final pat before bowing and saying, "Goodnight, Your Highness. May you have a peaceful and sweet sleep."

With that, she left the room.

That night, Li Jie had planned to join the Huang siblings for an adventure in the forest behind the palace. They were supposed to meet under the cherry blossom tree in his garden, a hidden spot where they would be unlikely to be noticed. However, Li Jie couldn't bring himself to go through with the plan anymore.

He sent his personal pigeon with a note explaining that he couldn't join them that night, then quickly wrapped himself in his blue blanket, closing his eyes and attempting to fall asleep as soon as possible.

...

Han Yasheng, always watchful over the prince and his friends, didn't know whether to be surprised or not when she didn't see Li Jie that night.

The next morning, the crown prince leaped onto Han Yasheng, wrapping himself around her leg and looking up at her with his bright blue eyes.

"Did mo- you sleep well?" Li Jie asked, his words slightly muffled against her leg.