Shen Chao inquired with the palace maids in Phoenix Palace and learned that during her illness, an unfamiliar female physician had been taking care of her. Carrying gifts of gratitude, she made a round to the Imperial Hospital but failed to find any information about the person. She could only return to the palace in disappointment.
On the way, a preposterous thought flashed through her mind—could it have been Xiao Yanli who sent her?
The Empress’s health was managed by her own trusted imperial physicians.
Ordinary palace maids falling ill were not even eligible to seek treatment at the Imperial Hospital.
Female officials like her had the privilege to receive medical care, but imperial physicians would not freely enter or leave the inner palace without a waist token.
This female physician had a waist token and had taken the trouble to come specifically to diagnose and treat her, even preparing medicine and caring for her.
Apart from a noble’s orders from above, she could think of no other explanation.
What was Xiao Yanli doing? Slapping her first and then offering a sweet date?
Shen Chao did not feel any sense of being "special" compared to other women because she had gained the Crown Prince’s "attention." Instead, she felt nothing but horror.
She had fallen ill deep within the inner palace, yet he, a man from the outer court, knew about it and had even sent someone to care for her.
Did this mean there were his spies around her? That he was aware of her every move?
If a stranger had entered her quarters, the Empress must have known as well, yet she had silently allowed it all to happen.
It seemed the Empress’s promise of granting her permission to leave the palace might not come to fruition. She could only rely on herself.
By the time she returned to the palace, it was already past lunchtime.
Shen Chao, having just recovered from her illness, had little appetite and planned to take a short nap.
As she approached her room, she saw Fu Hai waiting there.
Fu Hai glanced at her, his fingers hidden beneath his sleeves subtly pointing toward her room, giving Shen Chao a look that said, "You’re on your own."
Shen Chao’s heart skipped a beat. She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and steeled herself to walk inside.
The room was already small and cramped, and Xiao Yanli’s presence inside gave Shen Chao an overwhelming sense of oppression, as if the space was completely filled and could not accommodate anything else.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Shen Chao curtsied.
Xiao Yanli surveyed her living quarters, seemingly searching for something to sit on. Shen Chao hurriedly pulled out a stool from under the square table.
Xiao Yanli narrowed his eyes and sat down.
"Does Your Highness have any instructions for this servant? If so, you could have simply sent someone to relay the message." Shen Chao’s words caught in her throat halfway through as she watched Xiao Yanli take a palm-sized porcelain jar from his sleeve and place it on the table, looking at her with a faint, mocking smile.
A familiar chill crept up her ankles once again. She stared fixedly at the porcelain jar, feeling as if all the air around her had been sucked away, leaving her suffocated.
It was the osmanthus honey she had sent out—now it had somehow ended up in Xiao Yanli’s hands.
"Elder Sister has been naughty," Xiao Yanli said with a smile, his tone still gentle, but the words he uttered felt like knives slowly carving into Shen Chao’s heart.
Xiao Yanli really had people watching her!
What should she do? What should she do?
No, she needed to stay calm!
Shen Chao slowly knelt down and spoke, "This servant already has someone in her heart. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and spare me!"
Xiao Yanli watched Shen Chao quietly, then suddenly let out a soft chuckle before repeating her words.
"Some-one-in-your-heart?" he said, enunciating each word slowly. "Do you mean you want me to cut open your heart and stand on it?"
Shen Chao felt like a beast trapped in a hunter’s snare, struggling desperately. She had already been pushed to the point of ruining her own reputation just to sever ties with him, yet he still refused to let her go!
She took a deep breath. Since she was damned if she did and damned if she didn’t, she might as well just die outright.
"Your Highness is of noble status and should not be entangled with a lowly servant like me."
Xiao Yanli lowered his gaze without responding. He leisurely took a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his hands, then lifted the lid of the porcelain jar and dipped his finger into the honey.
Shen Chao didn’t understand what he intended to do. The cold floor had already made her knees begin to feel numb. Her eyes followed Xiao Yanli’s movements—his jade-like finger was coated in a layer of crystal-clear honey, adorned with a few tiny osmanthus flowers. It looked quite beautiful.
Then it enlarged in her vision.
"Lick it clean, and I will spare you this time."
His tone was full of mockery, as if teasing a puppy with food.
Shen Chao met his gaze. His eyes were cold, like layers of accumulated snow in the depths of winter that even the brightest sun could not melt.
Shen Chao immediately lowered her eyes, shame and the fear of death warring in her mind.
In that moment, many thoughts flashed through her head.
But Shen Chao was not like those other women. To make Xiao Yanli despise her, she had even risked her reputation by secretly meeting with guards…
In the end, the will to live prevailed. Shen Chao’s lips trembled as if struggling, and she slowly parted her pale lips, taking Xiao Yanli’s finger into her mouth.
The osmanthus honey was still as cloyingly sweet as ever, but she tasted bitterness.
Watching Shen Chao close her eyes in humiliation, Xiao Yanli felt an unprecedented surge of excitement.
He was thrilled.
So thrilled that he wanted to snap her neck.
To lock her in a wooden box and treasure her forever.
Two clear tears streamed from the corners of her eyes, stirring in Xiao Yanli a desire to make her cry even harder.
Shen Chao was forced to tilt her neck to an angle that made her feel slightly suffocated. To steady herself on her knees, her fingers scrambled and pressed against Xiao Yanli’s knee.
Only when his finger withdrew did Shen Chao feel she could breathe again.
Opening her eyes, she saw Xiao Yanli leisurely wiping his fingers with a handkerchief.
Before any other thoughts could surface in her mind, she heard familiar voices conversing outside—Zhixia had returned!
In that instant, only one thought filled Shen Chao’s mind: No one else must know Xiao Yanli was here!
"Wait a moment, I’ll grab something and go with you!"
Zhixia’s voice grew closer, followed by the sound of the door being pushed open.
Zhixia glanced suspiciously around the room. "Caichun? Caichun, are you here?"
Her gaze fell on the canopy bed with its curtains drawn. Caichun’s shoes were not there.
Could she be out?
Just as she was about to step forward to check, Shen Chao’s slightly hoarse voice rang out: "I’m taking a nap. What is it?"
"Oh, it’s nothing. Nian Dong and the others called me over to play leaf cards. Since you’re sleeping, rest well!"
Zhixia took her pouch and left. As the door closed, Shen Chao looked at the man lying on the bed with his arm under his head and timidly spoke: "Thank you for cooperating, Your Highness…"
"Since you wish to thank me, I shall accept a token of gratitude."
With those words, Shen Chao was pressed down, and her lips met something soft.