The Emperor, with more men than women, made me his mistress.

On the way back, Yue Li talked about the boy she had rescued from the lake.

As Yue Li chattered away in his ear, Jin Chenyuan's expression relaxed more and more, and a faint smile returned to his eyes, which had been gloomy for the past few days.

After Yue Li finished explaining the whole story, he said, "If Li Bao wants to know who that lady is, we can have Qing Yun and the others investigate when we get back. As for the heir of the Marquis of Ruyang, given what happened, we'll have to see how the Marquis of Ruyang reacts."

Upon hearing this, Yue Li nodded.

She told Jin Chenyuan about it because she felt it was a bit outrageous.

Just as Jin Chenyuan said, the eldest son of the Princess of Funing County is much older than the heir of the Marquis of Ruyang. I don't know what the Princess of Funing County was thinking.

........................

Yue Li lay on the edge of the bathtub, her back pressed tightly against Jin Chenyuan's strong and powerful chest.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, her red lips parted slightly, and she breathed softly.

Water splashed in the bathtub.

A water stain was also splashed on the floor, and the stain gradually expanded.

The water in the bathtub rippled like waves crashing on a beach.

"Li Bao, I've missed you these past few days..." he said, his thin lips landing on her perfect shoulder blade.

"Yes, I know..."

This position was unbearable for her; it was as if he would never stop unless she answered.

"Li Bao, how can you not concentrate?" A slightly hoarse voice reached Yue Li's ears, carrying a hint of threat.

"without……"

After that, Jin Chenyuan never gave Yue Li any more time to think about those messy things.

"Li Bao, we still have plenty of time. How about we go somewhere else?"

Then, in a daze, she was lifted out of the bathtub.

The battleground between the two shifted to the bed.

Outside the courtyard, upon hearing the news of Yue Li's return, Shao Qi rushed from the mountain to the manor, only to find that the courtyard where Yue Li lived was already heavily guarded.

Looking at the tightly closed courtyard gate, Shao Qi asked Qing Yun, who was guarding the gate, "Didn't they say Yue Li was back? Where is she?"

Qingyun glanced at the young prince standing in front of him with mixed feelings. He was no longer the dashing young prince he had been the day before. He thought about how this young prince had been going up the mountain to find the princess these past few days, getting up early and working late.

Qingyun then said cryptically, "After the princess returned, she went into the courtyard with the master."

Looking at the closed courtyard gate and then at Qingyun guarding it, Shaoqi understood everything.

Undeterred, he asked, "When will they come out?"

Qingyun: ...

How could he possibly know such a thing?

When will the princess and the others come out? Doesn't that depend on their master?

"Young Master, you must be tired after being busy for so many days. You should go back and rest. I will have someone inform you when the Princess and the others will come out."

Qingyun realized that the princess probably didn't know that a young prince had come to the estate.

After glancing at the tightly closed courtyard gate, Shao Qi reluctantly returned to the courtyard that had been arranged for him.

After washing up and eating the dinner brought by the servants, Shao Qi sat on the soft couch in the outer room, but his thoughts had already flown to Yue Li's courtyard.

Thinking back to the time Yue Li agreed to give him a chance, he realized that he hadn't even seen Yue Li once, let alone spent time alone with her.

Then there's Prince Chen, who's already living with Yue Li even before they're married.

At that moment, Shao Qi realized that his father was right.

His father once said that once a man and a woman have had a relationship, their feelings for each other will undergo subtle changes.

Once a man and a woman have had sexual relations, any woman with a sense of responsibility, or someone who cares deeply about her reputation, will take responsibility for the man.

At this moment, Shao Qi was extremely conflicted. On one hand, he felt that this was not right, but on the other hand, he wanted to stand openly by Yue Li's side, just like Prince Chen.

Tian Dong stood to the side and behind his young master. Seeing that the young master was about to tear the folding fan in his hand to shreds, he could only remind him, "Young master, that folding fan in your hand is your favorite one."

Startled awake by Tian Dong's voice, Shao Qi made up his mind, placed the folding fan on the soft couch, and waved to Tian Dong.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?" Tian Dong asked as he approached.

"Starting tomorrow morning, keep an eye on the courtyard where Yue Li lives. Let me know when Prince Chen comes out."

"What's wrong, Your Highness?" Shao Qi's words left Tian Dong completely bewildered.

"Just go when I tell you to. Why are you making so many excuses?"

His plan must not be known to anyone, not even Tian Dong. Who knows if the people on Prince Chen's estate will overhear it and tell him?

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Inside the palace, in the Zichen Hall.

Having just finished dinner, the Emperor was arranging a chessboard during this brief respite when Fuquan entered and reported, "Your Majesty, Commander Tian requests an audience."

"Tian Ye? Let him in quickly." The Emperor immediately said, remembering what he had instructed Tian Ye to do.

"Yes." Fu Quan bowed and responded before leaving the Zi Chen Hall.

A short while later, a steady series of footsteps echoed in the Zichen Palace: "Greetings to His Majesty, may His Majesty live ten thousand years!"

"Alright, get up. Have you found the person? Is he injured?" The Emperor asked impatiently as soon as Tian Ye stood up.

"Your Majesty, the person has been found, and is unharmed. Moreover, they have already returned to Prince Chen's estate with him," Tian Ye reported in a formal and measured manner.

"That's good, it's good that you're not injured." The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Yue Li was unharmed.

"Now that the person has been found, let's withdraw our people as well."

"Yes, if there is nothing else, then I will take my leave."

"Yes, you may leave." The Emperor waved his hand.

How could the Emperor not have received the news that Prince Chen had mobilized a large number of soldiers from his manor on the estate?

Upon receiving the news and investigating the cause of the matter, even the emperor at the time could not remain silent.

So he ordered Tian Ye to send a team of skilled guards from the Imperial City Guard, ostensibly to help Prince Chen, but also to search for Yue Li's whereabouts in the mountains.

Unexpectedly, it was the people from Prince Chen's mansion who found Yue Li first.

The Emperor pondered, fiddling with the chessboard on the low table, wondering if his rash move would arouse suspicion from his uncle. He considered how to respond if his uncle became suspicious.

Zhuangzi

Things didn't go as smoothly as Shao Qi had imagined, because no one came out of the courtyard where Yue Li was staying the next day.

All I saw were servants bringing three meals a day to the courtyard.

Shao Qi waited anxiously in his courtyard.

On the third day, after breakfast, Tiandong cautiously entered and, seeing his young master's sour face, reported, "Young master, the courtyard gate is open, and Prince Chen has also come out."

"Really." Shao Qi, who had thought he wouldn't have a chance today, immediately perked up.

"Did you see where Prince Chen went after he left the courtyard?"

"Yes, I saw it. As per your instructions, I have been observing Prince Chen's movements ever since he left the courtyard. I saw him go straight out of the manor gate and leave in a carriage."

"real!"

This was truly an unexpected delight. Shao Qi happily paced around the room twice, straightened his robes and hair ornament, and said, "Tian Dong, come and check if there's anything wrong with my attire?"

Tian Dong really circled around Shao Qi before smiling and saying, "Your Highness is dressed very appropriately. You are already handsome and dashing, and with this outfit, you look even more extraordinary."

These few words made Shao Qi extremely happy. He smiled and tapped Tian Dong's head with his folding fan, saying, "You're so good with words."

"Alright, I'm going to find Yue Li now. You can decide what to do later." With that, Shao Qi stepped out of the courtyard gate.

"What do you mean by 'acting according to circumstances'? Your Highness, you should let me know beforehand what you're going to do! Otherwise, I won't be able to do anything later." Tian Dong said, following closely behind Shao Qi.