Chapter 56: The Queen… Tamed by a Colt?!
"Who allowed you to come in!"
Han Jin Xiu reacted swiftly, shouting directly at the doorway.
The anger she had been suppressing completely erupted at this moment.
But instead of targeting Su Qing, the true culprit, her wrath was directed at the approaching prince.
Prince Qi's hand, which was about to knock on the door, froze mid-air.
The smile on his face stiffened instantly, leaving him momentarily unsure of what to do.
"There's no place for you at today's banquet. Go find somewhere else to eat."
Han Jin Xiu raised her voice more than usual.
"Huh?! B-But he's here too!"
Prince Qi finally processed what was happening and voiced his frustration.
Even the most docile man had his limits.
Typically, he and Han Jin Xiu never dined together.
He had planned to take advantage of the banquet to properly observe both his wife and concubine.
Yet before he even stepped inside, he was struck down.
After working so hard to prepare everything, he was now being kicked out of his own meal, unable to even watch!
Even a rock would be angry in this situation!
"So what if Lord Su is here? You're seriously competing with a child for favor? How inappropriate."
Han Jin Xiu's voice was filled with irritation.
Hearing this, Prince Qi's face twisted with barely contained rage.
This was too much—utterly too much!
This was his own courtyard! He was supposed to be the only man here!
Calling Su Qing a child? Where exactly was he small?! This was blatant nonsense!
Yet in the end, he said nothing.
He had been conditioned to obey, lacking the courage to defy the princess consort.
He could only mutter a lifeless response and turn to leave.
But as he departed, he pretended to pass by the window, sneaking a glance inside.
What he saw made his breath hitch.
The scene before him—the three of them seated together, Su Qing's enviable posture, and the flushed, captivating expressions on the two women—was almost too much to bear.
At that moment, memories of his frequent visits to pleasure houses stirred a terrifying realization.
Had both of them already fallen into that brat's hands?!
A shiver ran down his spine as his mind raced with panic.
But as he considered it further, he realized how ridiculous the idea was.
Even if Su Qing had such an idea and acted on it, only the concubine might succumb.
After all, she was weak-willed and clearly not one to resist.
But his wife… that was impossible!
To Prince Qi, Han Jin Xiu was more of a queen than even the Empress herself.
Her intelligence and cunning were unparalleled—whenever she made a move, she succeeded.
Would a queen like her really be subdued by a mere boy?
Ridiculous!
And yet…
The thought lingered in his mind, and without realizing it, he started to imagine it.
A bizarre image formed in his head—his proud, untouchable Queen, utterly conquered.
Tamed by a colt…?
Hah… That was exciting.
No! What was he thinking?!
A deep flush spread across his face, and his breath grew heavier.
He tried desperately to suppress these thoughts, to clear his mind of such absurd fantasies.
He failed to recognize that a latent desire within him had just been awakened.
The prince, who had always been the obedient one, secretly longed for someone else to take his place in subduing his overbearing wife.
Even if he couldn't have her himself, he yearned to witness the moment she was finally conquered.
Shaking off his intrusive thoughts, Prince Qi decisively walked away, dismissing them as mere delusions.
After all, what he had just seen must have been part of some elaborate plan of Han Jin Xiu's!
What he didn't know was that his guess had been eerily close to the truth.
The Princess he thought so highly of… was already on the verge of crumbling.
The earlier outburst hadn't made Han Jin Xiu feel any better.
In fact, because Prince Qi didn't enter, she had sighed in relief.
But that very sigh… was her undoing.
The sensation she had been suppressing became even clearer.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Yun Rong noticed this as well.
She might not have been the most perceptive in this area, but she wasn't completely naive.
Her suspicious gaze sharpened, and she was on the verge of piecing things together.
Han Jin Xiu's heart sank in despair.
Without thinking, she leaned against Su Qing, her body pressing into his shoulder.
At this moment, she couldn't even bring herself to care that her ample chest was firmly pressed against his arm.
"I'm sorry… I was wrong."
Her voice was soft, carrying an unmistakable tone of surrender.
In the end, she chose to yield, repeatedly convincing herself.
This was just a momentary compromise—it didn't mean anything!
She still had a chance!
What she didn't realize was that this time, her surrender was different.
Before, her obedience had been an act—a performance to maintain control while secretly resisting.
But now, she had been forced into submission because she simply couldn't fight back.
And once that kind of submission took root… there would always be a next time.
This was just the beginning.
After the maids finished serving the dishes, they silently retreated.
The banquet began—with only three people.
At Su Qing's silent command, Han Jin Xiu didn't even care that Yun Rong was watching.
She picked up a dish and obediently brought it to Su Qing's lips.
She had no choice.
Feeding him while being watched was far better than making sounds while being watched!
Han Jin Xiu struggled to keep her expression neutral, constantly convincing herself.
This wasn't humiliation.
This wasn't submission.
This was just an elder showing care for a junior!
And yet, despite her self-reassurances, she couldn't shake the deep shame and discomfort.
She had never once doted on anyone like this in her life!
And now, with someone watching? This was beyond strange!
You little brat, just wait. Once my plan is complete, I'll make you pay!
Meanwhile, Yun Rong's eyes widened in astonishment.
Everything she saw unfolded like a revelation.
A thought crossed her mind—one she had never considered before.
Could it be that this calculating, ruthless princess consort… actually liked him?!
The innocent beauty had stumbled upon a blind spot.
Who would have thought that even the most cunning minds harbored a bit of tenderness?
And really, who could resist him?
As this realization dawned on her, Yun Rong couldn't help but smile warmly.
Little did she know, the sweet-faced boy she adored was the true mastermind behind it all.
If she ever found out, the shock would be immeasurable.