cold clothes

"I didn't expect that you, Ningbi, also had a wound on your chest, and it was even near your heart."

Zhao Qun's words jolted Leng Yi out of her daze.

She had forgotten the teeth marks Zhao Yin had left on her chest! Leng Yi thought in horror, but Zhao Qun gently touched the mark, which intensified her fear.

"How did you do that?"

"I felt palpitations the night before last, and I scratched myself in my sleep," Leng Yi quickly replied.

She wasn't entirely lying, because her wound was itchy last night, and she accidentally scratched it, which hurt so much that she jolted out of bed. Lingcao was also awakened by her and helped her apply the medicine.

"I didn't realize that... I wouldn't believe it if it were anyone else."

Leng Yi's heart suddenly jumped into her throat.

“But if it’s you,” Zhao Qun said, feeling the pain in his back, “it seems to make sense.”

As he spoke, Leng Yi glanced at the scratches she had made on his back, feeling a mix of guilt and relief. It was so good that the Third Prince hadn't suspected anything…

Amidst her relief, a shadow of darkness flickered in her eyes. It was all Zhao Yin's fault; she absolutely could not see Zhao Yin again.

Zhao Qun suddenly sighed, "Right now, only you dare to hurt me, but I'm not angry at all."

Does that mean that when he used to have sex with palace maids, they wouldn't scratch him? Well, she didn't have much of a service mentality; her relationships with Zhao Yin were mostly life-or-death struggles.

Since the Third Prince said he didn't care, there was no need for her to change.

-

Around noon, the snow outside the window completely stopped, and the outside was almost entirely pure white, so white it was almost dazzling under the sun.

Leng Yi seemed a little distracted.

Because Zhao Qun's stamina is a bit too good, she can't keep up.

"...Your Highness, it's time for your meal."

Leng Yi's voice unconsciously carried a hint of pleading; if she weren't so weak, she would have knelt down before Zhao Qun.

"Ahem, we're almost there." Zhao Qun coughed lightly twice, covering his mouth with his fist, and then called for people to come in. Hong'e and Lingcao entered in response and helped Zhao Qun and Lengyi get dressed.

Damn it, now that you're sober, you think you know right from wrong, huh? Leng Yi clenched her fists secretly, but couldn't vent her frustration.

While dressing Zhao Qun, Hong E kept glancing at Leng Yi, and then said in a teasing tone, "Miss Ning Bi looks exhausted. Your Highness really doesn't know how to cherish a beautiful woman. She's just recovered from a serious illness."

This sentence immediately caught Leng Yi's attention.

Zhao Qun's reaction was somewhat awkward and guilty. Then, he immediately straightened his face and reprimanded, "You're giving me pointers now—tell the kitchen to make another nourishing soup."

"Yes." Hong'e went out with a smile.

Lengyi and Lingcao exchanged glances, and they both saw the same thought in each other's eyes: this Hong'e is not an ordinary maid; she is a bit too bold.

Moreover, Leng Yi felt that what he just said was a bit teasy.

Could it be that the upcoming plot involves a power struggle with Hong'e in the inner palace?!

Come on—the underhanded tricks taught by the old woman from Fengxianglou can finally be used!

Women living in the backyard are really bored. The only way to pass the time is to fight with other women living in the backyard. Questioning domestic infighting, yet understanding it.

Ah~~~ She actually missed the days when she and Weifeng had their verbal sparring sessions.

A gentle breeze, as someone was taking a petal bath in Zuiyuxuan, suddenly sneezed.

Breeze: Did you catch a chill from soaking in the water for too long?

After lunch, Zhao Qun was still in the house when Leng Yi braced herself and asked him, "Your Highness, are you not going out on business today?"

"I am just a leisurely prince, why would I need to go out?" Zhao Qun said in a very lazy tone.

"Your Highness's decision to stay here instead of staying in the palace might damage your reputation," Leng Yi said tactfully, though she was actually on the verge of tears.

"Ningbi is worried about this prince?" Zhao Qun rested his chin on his hand, his starry eyes looking at Leng Yi with a playful expression.

"Of course I'm worried about you."

"Hehe, people say 'a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness,' and it's true."

Leng Yi was stunned for a moment before she reacted, and then her cheeks and neck turned bright red.

Husband...husband and wife?