When Chu Shengsheng woke up, the sky was already bright.
The space beside her was empty—clearly, someone had left long ago.
Her entire body ached as she struggled to sit up. She noticed a clean, plain-colored dress placed at the head of the bed, along with a ten-tael silver ingot beside it.
Only ten taels? Damn, this Crown Prince is too stingy, isn’t he?
Just as she was inwardly complaining, the door was pushed open, and a stern-looking nanny walked in, followed by two maidservants.
“Has the young lady awakened?” The nanny looked down at her, her tone neither humble nor arrogant. “This old servant’s surname is Zhou. I was sent by His Highness the Crown Prince to attend to you. Please change your clothes and follow me out of the city.”
“Out of the city?”
“His Highness has a villa outside the city—quiet and elegant, suitable for recuperation.”
As Nanny Zhou spoke, she waved her hand, and the two maidservants stepped forward, dressing and grooming her without further discussion.
She did not resist.
Leaving this place was better than staying here. Besides, whether it was completing the mission or anything else, as long as she could get close to the Crown Prince, it would suffice.
Moreover, just sleeping with him for one night wouldn’t immediately grant her entry into the Eastern Palace.
There would surely be some investigation into her background.
So, from now on, all she had to do was wait—wait for the medicine to take effect, wait for the Crown Prince to come to her on his own.
Half an hour later, an inconspicuous carriage drove out from the back door of the Drunken Flower Pavilion. Another half hour passed before it stopped at a mountain villa in the outskirts outside the city.
“Ningxiang Villa.”
Chu Shengsheng glanced up at the sign before following them into the courtyard. The compound was not large, but it was elegantly arranged, with artificial hills, flowing water, and winding corridors—far better than she had imagined.
“The young lady will reside here from now on,” Nanny Zhou led her into the main room and said. “His Highness has instructed that all your provisions shall be equivalent to those of a Lady of Goodness. These two maidservants are named Chun Tao and Xia He, responsible for attending to your daily needs. There are eight guards in the outer courtyard. Without His Highness’s written permission, you are not to leave this compound.”
Not allowed to leave? House arrest?
She immediately understood in her heart, but on the surface, she feigned fear and trepidation. “Nanny, I… I’m just an orphan girl. How could I possibly deserve this…”
“There is no need for the young lady to belittle herself,” Nanny Zhou gave her a deep look and said slowly. “Since His Highness has arranged for you to stay here, he must have his reasons. You need only settle in peacefully and refrain from asking too many questions about other matters.”
With that, she left.
Chu Shengsheng waited for a while. When she saw no movement outside, she immediately lay down on the bed and began communicating with the System.
Her relaxed demeanor bore no resemblance to the fearful appearance she had just displayed. It seemed less like house arrest and more like a vacation.
“System, was last night successful?”
[Scanning in progress… Target Pei Zhen has ingested the “Emotional Bond Powder.” Psychological suggestion is taking effect.]
[Current effects: When the target feels irritable, there is a 30% probability he will recall the Host. When the target interacts with other women, there is a 50% probability he will feel repulsed and think of the Host.]
“Only 30%?” That’s way too low!
[The effects of the beginner-level medicine are limited. The Host must complete missions to earn Points and exchange them for higher-tier medicines.]
[Previous mission progress: Engage in relations with the target (1/1). Reward: 100 Points. New mission: Have the target actively seek out the Host a second time. Reward: 200 Points.]
After listening, she couldn’t help but open the system panel.
[Host: Chu Shengsheng]
[Current World: Daliang Kingdom]
[Main Mission: Bear a child for the Sterile Crown Prince (0/1)]
[Points: 100]
“Only 100 points…” She looked at the exchange list.
【Talent Crash Course Package (Zither): 300 points】
【Talent Crash Course Package (Chess): 300 points】
【Talent Crash Course Package (Calligraphy & Painting): 500 points】
【False Pregnancy Pill: 800 points】
【Identity Clue (Random): 1000 points】
【Emotional Bond Powder (Advanced, double effect): 1500 points】
After reading, she felt a bit disheartened. How many times would she have to sleep with the Crown Prince to earn so many points!
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace.
Pei Zhen sat in his study, his expression dark as water.
“Have you investigated thoroughly?”
“Yes.” A Shadow Guard knelt on one knee. “The Chu family, age seventeen, originally from Lin’an Prefecture in Jiangnan. Three years ago, a flood struck her hometown, both parents died, and she was abducted to the capital. She was sold into the Drunken Flower Pavilion just yesterday, has not yet received any clients, and has a clean background with no connections to any factions.”
Clean.
Too clean, in fact, which made him suspicious.
Especially since last night, his brothers’ insistence on getting him drunk was suspicious, his drunken intrusion into the Drunken Flower Pavilion was too coincidental, and the woman’s appearance was perfectly timed, more like a carefully arranged bait.
Yet the panic in her eyes seemed genuine, and there was a sense of familiarity about her…
“Continue investigating. Look into her ancestors for three generations and everyone she came into contact with in Jiangnan.”
“Yes.” The Shadow Guard paused. “Your Highness, what about the Chu woman… how should we handle her?”
The man fell silent for a moment.
“Keep her in the villa for now and watch her closely.” He closed his eyes, but the image of those tear-filled eyes from last night involuntarily surfaced in his mind. “I want to see whose pawn she truly is.”
After the Shadow Guard withdrew, the study returned to silence.
Pei Zhen walked to the window, gazing at the blooming crabapple trees in the courtyard, an inexplicable restlessness stirring in his heart.
Ever since he was poisoned three years ago, he had lost interest in matters between men and women. The Imperial Physician said that although the poison was not fatal, it had damaged his foundation, making it difficult for him to have offspring.
He had tried with many women—those in his rear courtyard, as well as beauties offered by others—but he felt no desire. Even when he forced himself, it was dull and uninteresting.
But last night…
He had lost control.
Was it because of the alcohol, or was that woman special?
Thinking of this, he rubbed his temples, suppressing the strange feeling in his heart.
Regardless, now that she was in the villa, she was his possession. If she behaved, he wouldn’t mind giving her the status of a concubine.
If she had ulterior motives…
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
In the following days, Chu Shengsheng lived quite comfortably in the villa. She had elderly matrons and maidservants attending to her, who were sensible and spoke little, and there was a constant supply of various delicacies. It could be said to be nearly perfect.
Except for one thing: the Crown Prince had not appeared since that night.
But she wasn’t in a hurry.
Fishing required patience, after all. One had to wait calmly for the fish to take the bait.
A few more days passed, in the Eastern Palace study.
“Your Highness…”
Pei Zhen had not visited the villa for several days. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go, but he was restraining himself.
Until her identity was fully clarified, he would not go again.
“What is it?”
He looked up from his official duties, a trace of irritation between his brows as he asked coldly.
“The palace has sent two noble ladies, saying they are to enrich Your Highness’s harem in hopes of an early birth of an heir.”
The speaker was a young eunuch. Hearing no response from the Crown Prince, he broke into a cold sweat, the pressure mounting on him.
“I see.”
The man’s voice betrayed no emotion. After speaking, seeing the young eunuch still hadn’t left, he asked again.
“What? Is there something else?”
“The Emperor has ordered that the Crown Prince must visit the chambers of the two noble ladies within the next two days.”
After delivering the message, the young eunuch dared not even breathe too loudly.
“…Get out!”
These words completely ignited Pei Zhen’s fury. An inkstone shattered on the floor, mingling with his rage, as the eunuch scrambled out of the study in a panic.
Inside the study, Pei Zhen’s expression was hidden in the darkness. Under the flickering candlelight, the lingering anger on the man’s face had yet to dissipate.
The palace had sent people, and with such a pointed reminder, the implication was clear.
If he did not comply…
As he thought this, Chu Shengsheng’s face flashed before his eyes. He immediately rose and strode out of the study.
“Where are the two newcomers? Bring them here for me to see.”