The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 67

Xiao Beitang sat on the edge of her bed, hands trembling, unsure what to do. Song Qingqian had long since slipped into unconscious sleep, turning away from her, leaving only her back visible—she didn’t want

Xiao Beitang to see her in such a state.

The moment Imperial Physician Zhang stepped into the main hall of Zichen Palace, she caught a faint but unmistakable scent—perfume laced with a trace of medicinal herbs. The average person wouldn’t detect it, but having spent years immersed in the world of medicine, his senses were acutely attuned.

He rushed back to Fuhua Courtyard to report to Xiao Beitang.

“Your Highness, there is the scent of Hehuan incense lingering in the main hall of Zichen Palace.”

“Hehuan incense?” Xiao Beitang frowned. “Why would something like that be in the palace?”

“It’s an aphrodisiac,” Zhang explained. “It smells similar to ordinary rouge or perfume, but carries a subtle medicinal note. When applied to the body, it releases a scent that triggers sexual arousal, effective only on dryn and kunzhe. It’s commonly found in brothels.”

“I didn’t ask for a lecture. Tell me how to counter it!”

Zhang looked troubled. “There is no cure… One must endure it. During heat cycles, the Yize pill might offer some relief—but in this case, it’s useless.”

Her meaning couldn’t be clearer.

Xiao Beitang’s expression turned cold. “Everyone, leave.”

Without delay, all attendants filed out.

Xiao Beitang returned to her bedside and reached out, only to stop midway.

“Song Qingqian, are you alright?”

She gave no reply—she didn’t have the strength to.

Xiao Beitang’s hand lightly touched her shoulder, and Song Qingqian shuddered at the contact. When she gently turned her to face her, she was stunned. Her face was flushed red, tears glistened in her eyes, and her lips were bloodied from biting them. A fine sheen of sweat dampened her forehead. She had never seen her like this—and her heart ached.

“Don’t bite yourself anymore. If it’s unbearable, bite me instead.” She offered her arm.

Song Qingqian was already lost to the heat and haze. All she could comprehend was that Xiao Beitang was in front of her—and she wanted her. She was trying her utmost not to throw herself into her arms.

But her last thread of self-control snapped.

“Your Highness… I want you…” Her voice had completely changed.

Xiao Beitang froze, unable to respond.

Song Qingqian lifted herself slightly, wrapped her arms around her neck, and leaned toward her in a silent plea for affection. Xiao Beitang avoided her.

Her eyes, glazed with desire, no longer bore the usual restraint and pride.

Such was the nature of a kunzhe in heat—reason abandoned, body out of control, yearning for release.

“Song Qingqian, I know how unbearable this must be,” Xiao Beitang said, standing up and restraining her own restlessness, “but I can’t… I won’t take advantage of you. Not like this. I can’t let you regret it afterward.”

She stared at her, ragged breaths causing her chest to rise and fall rapidly.

“If I’m not in your heart, you’ll regret this once it’s over. I’m terrified of that regret. Yes, I want you—desperately. Every day, every night, I think of you. Standing before you now, it feels like my heart is being clawed apart. It’s taking everything in me not to give in…”

“But I still won’t. Song Qingqian, I can’t… I said I’d agree to annul our bond. You’re free to leave me.” Her voice trembled as she fought the raging instinct to release her pheromones.

Song Qingqian looked at her, mind in turmoil, words at the tip of her tongue but unsaid.

“…Leave,” she finally whispered.

Xiao Beitang hesitated but understood. Staying would only make things worse. With resolve, she stepped back and walked away.

“Xiaotao, Baixue—go in and tend to Her Highness. Don’t let her harm herself. Imperial Physician Zhang, come with me.”

Her face darkened as she issued commands with clarity and composure.

In the main hall, the attendants were already kneeling. Xiao Beitang’s expression was frosty as she waited for Zhang to investigate the source.

“Your Highness, it wasn’t lit inside the hall,” Zhang said hesitantly. How could there be no trace? Was it already cleaned?

“Could it have been carried in on someone?”

Xiao Beitang had already begun to suspect.

Zhang examined the maids and shook her head. “None of them have it on their person.”

“I see. You may go, Physician Zhang.”

After she left, Xiao Beitang descended the steps and stood before Li Fu, speaking icily: “Did you recommend the courtesan yourself, or did someone instruct you to?”

“I… I…” Li Fu stammered, trembling—he knew he was in deep trouble.

Xiao Beitang sneered. “You won’t speak? Fine. Let’s see if you can hold out under torture…”

Li Fu kowtowed repeatedly, sobbing. “Mercy, Your Highness! I wouldn’t dare lie. It was Miss Linglong—she gave me silver and told me what to say!”

Just as she suspected. When Zhang mentioned the incense earlier, Xiao Beitang had already begun to guess. Linglong’s target had never been Song Qingqian—it was her.

But Linglong didn’t realize that Hehuan incense was ineffective on Xiao Beitang. Unlike others, Xiao Beitang’s pheromones were imperceptible, and to her, other kunzhe’s scents were unpleasant. She was a normal dryn, physiologically responsive, but lacked the typical heat cycles. Song Qingqian was the only kunzhe whose scent she found appealing—and the only one who could detect hers.

After her secondary gender presented, her prolonged lack of heat cycles had worried the emperor. The royal astrologer had tried countless treatments, all in vain.

That explained why she remained unaffected despite being in the palace for days, while Song Qingqian succumbed in mere moments.

“Send him to the laundry bureau.” She turned, hands clasped behind her back, voice cold.

Li Fu was dragged out screaming and sobbing.

She dismissed the others and called out, “Xiao Yi.”

“Here.”

“Investigate whether someone is behind Linglong’s actions.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Only after handling these matters did Xiao Beitang allow herself a moment of reflection. Song Qingqian had told her to leave—after she’d said all that—did that mean she, too, feared regretting it? Or did it mean…

Song Qingqian truly didn’t care for her?

Then perhaps she’d done the right thing. Thank heavens she held back. Yet, the turmoil in her heart was relentless. Song Qingqian’s flushed face lingered in her mind, her gasping breath echoing in her ears, that gaze, and the moment she leaned into her…

Xiao Beitang shook her head violently, trying to purge those images.

Shame flooded her. How could she… desecrate her like this in her thoughts?

She gulped down water and tugged at her collar. She was hot—too hot—sweating, parched, heart pounding. Her breathing grew ragged.

Burning. Her ears and cheeks were burning. Her breath, too, was scorching. This wasn’t right. She had never felt this before. And in the dead of winter, no brazier could cause such heat. It was similar to Song

Qingqian’s state… but not exactly.

Could it be… she was in heat?

Yes—she must be. Her mind was filled to the brim with thoughts of Song Qingqian. Nothing but her.

She immediately summoned Imperial Physician Zhang once more.

The moment Zhang saw her, he understood.

This one too… was in heat.

He didn’t point it out. Instead, he quietly took her pulse—and frowned. No trace of aphrodisiacs.

“Is it the same… Have I also been affected by Hehuan incense?” Xiao Beitang’s voice was shaky.

“Your Highness, your pulse indicates a natural heat cycle. Hehuan incense acts quickly—it wouldn’t have taken this long to manifest.” Zhang answered truthfully.

“Then…”

How was she supposed to explain this? A bonded pair entering heat at the same time, and separately enduring it? That… made no sense.

“Your Highness, please take this. It should help relieve your symptoms.” Zhang, ever discreet, offered a dose without comment.

Xiao Beitang accepted it in silence, face tinged with embarrassment.