Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

Shen Ningzhu turned her head away, not wanting to look at that face, because as soon as she saw it, all the memories of these days spent with him would flood her mind.

Just thinking about these things makes that nausea in my chest surge up again.

"Don't even think about it, Jiang Xuan Yan. Who do you think you are? Let me tell you the truth, if you hadn't forced me back then, I would have happily become a farmer long ago."

Watch the sky in the morning and the clouds in the evening.

In my spare time, I grow vegetables and flowers, invite one or two friends to brew wine and tea, and chat about farming. Life couldn't be more pleasant.

But because of him, she had to come to the Crown Prince's residence, and she had really had enough of this kind of life.

Now, she would rather die than have any physical contact with him again.

"You have no choice. From the moment your body belonged to me, you have been my person. I want you, and it is not up to you to refuse."

Liu Zhiyi, with tears in her eyes, brought out a thin cloak and helped Shen Ningzhu put it on.

Only then did he kneel down next to Shen Ningzhu and solemnly bow to Jiang Xuanyan.

"Please calm down, Your Highness. My mistress is not feeling well today, which is why she was a little agitated. She did not mean to offend you."

The man scoffed, "Unwell?"

"Yes, according to the date, the young master's menstrual period is approaching, hence the emotional fluctuations, which are not intentional."

is it?

The man turned to look at Shen Ningzhu.

She was soaked to the bone, with glistening raindrops clinging to her thick, long eyelashes. Soft strands of hair clung to her cheeks.

He looked extremely disheveled.

Jiang Xuan Yan's brows furrowed with annoyance. He wondered if he should soften his tone and try to coax her.

But when he met the defiant look in her eyes, he couldn't help but feel angry and embarrassed.

He changed his mind.

"You lowly servant, how dare you speak like that? As a servant, shouldn't you take good care of your master, and shouldn't you try your best to persuade him when he's being foolish?"

And you, you're perfectly content to let her, your mistress, serve you, and even tolerate her talking back to me?"

He turned his anger towards Liu Zhiyi.

She always cared about this maid.

He feared nothing for her. He wanted to see if she would compromise this time, given her resolute actions.

Shen Ningzhu's delicate eyebrows furrowed.

"What does this have to do with her? Xiaoyi, are you deliberately trying to annoy me? Get up."

That scoundrel doesn't deserve your pleas.

"How can it not be her fault? In my opinion, your madness today is all instigated by this wretched maid. Guards, take this ignorant servant away and execute her."

Liu Zhiyi: ...

Shen Ningzhu: ...Standing still.

This scoundrel of a man is constantly redefining her understanding of human nature.

She walked up to him coldly and looked up to meet his gaze.

"Jiang Xuan Yan, you are the Crown Prince. Do you really intend to treat human life so irrationally and carelessly? Why should other people be involved in our affairs? Let Xiao Yi go."

"The royal family loves to punish relatives, didn't you know that?"

"Shen Ningzhu, haven't you heard that when a king is angry, millions will die and blood will flow for miles? You said it yourself, I am the crown prince, what reason do I need to kill a servant girl?"

……

Suppressing the urge to tear that coffin-like face apart, he spoke calmly.

"Tell me, what will it take for you to let Xiaoyi go?"

Shen Ningzhu's voice was hoarse.

A self-deprecating smile curved his lips.

Seeing her like this made Liu Zhiyi feel as if something was blocking her chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Zhuzhu~~~"

Shen Ningzhu turned her head and gave her a comforting smile.

It'll be soon, just this once, but she probably won't be able to wait for Song Hanchuan to bring the infertility medicine tonight.

What a shame, that scoundrel got to be a scoundrel for one more day.

Never mind, I'll find another opportunity to get it tomorrow.

"Jiang Xuan Yan, I was wrong. I'll go back with you. Please let Xiao Yi go."

"You really know you were wrong?"

"Yes, I promise, this will never happen again, please."

Jiang Xuan Yan, however, had no intention of letting her off so easily.

"Shen Ningzhu, those who provoke me will pay the price. Do you think that I will pretend nothing happened just because you casually apologize?"

"Am I really that easy to talk to?"

"Then what do you want?" Shen Ningzhu asked calmly.

Jiang Xuan Yan bent down, close to her fair and delicate earlobe, and breathed hot air from his cool breath.

"It's very simple. Please me. If I'm satisfied, I'll spare her worthless life. It's not impossible."

Shen Ningzhu clenched her teeth tightly, forcing a smile. "Alright, let's go back to the main courtyard. Then you can do whatever you want with me."

Jiang Xuan Yan remained completely still.

He did this on purpose, making her act like a lapdog in front of Xiaoyi, wagging her tail and begging for his attention.

He wanted to tear off her facade, crush her pride, and satisfy his sense of superiority.

But she simply wouldn't do as he wished.

With her slender fingers, she untied the cloak's straps, letting it fall to her ankles. Her arms outstretched, she waving her hands around him, her plump and slender, jade-white feet slowly drawing circles, spinning, and leaping.

The mud and water on the ground splashed up as she moved.

Jiang Xuanyan's pupils contracted.

She actually...danced seductively in front of him.

For some reason, Jiang Xuan Yan suddenly felt a pang of fear, as if something important was about to leave him.

He looked up and met Shen Ningzhu's exquisitely curved fox-like eyes. Although she was performing a erotic dance, when those beautiful eyes looked at him, they surged with a murderous intent that she couldn't hide.

She wanted to kill him.

From childhood to adulthood, everyone wanted him dead.

She used to be the only exception, but now even she has become like this?

My heart was filled with anger and unknown emotions, and a raging fire shot straight to the top of my head.

"enough--"

Jiang Xuan Yan roared, "I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to get yourself together and get back to the main courtyard."

After saying that, he strode away.

He had only taken a few steps when he bumped into Jiang Qingyi, who was rushing over. His brows furrowed. "Why are you here?"

Jiang Qingyi held up her skirt with both hands, while a maidservant held a large umbrella for her so that she wouldn't get wet at all.

Behind them were several old women carrying palace lanterns for illumination.

At this moment, she looked worried.

"It was thundering today, and I couldn't sleep. I was just thinking of coming to your yard to see if you were alright."

Jiang Xuan Yan's gaze softened.

From childhood to adulthood, only Jiang Qingyi knew that he was actually most afraid of thunder. Whenever he encountered thunder, he would have a splitting headache, break out in a cold sweat, and become agitated and restless.

"I'm fine. Just take care of yourself and don't catch a cold."

Jiang Qingyi shook her head.

“As soon as I arrived, the servants told me that you came to the abandoned courtyard in a huff. I was worried that with your stubborn temper, you might have another unpleasant argument with Miss Shen, so I came to check on you.”

After saying that, he walked past Jiang Xuan Yan.

He quickly approached Shen Ningzhu.

He looked her up and down carefully for a moment, then took her hand with a tender look in his eyes, his tone filled with disappointment.

"Miss Shen, please don't be angry."

"That's just how Ah Yan is. He's a quiet, reserved person who speaks his mind directly and is a bit clueless about romance, but I'm sure he truly loves you."

Shen Ningzhu's face fell, and she slowly clenched her fists.