Shen Qingyao felt uneasy under the man’s gaze, and her nervousness made her completely unaware that she was about to bump into the bed.
After a few steps, her legs met a solid barrier, causing her to lose her balance and fall backward onto the bed.
Dazed for a moment, she instinctively looked up to find Song Jiuchen standing before her.
His tall figure loomed over her, blocking out all light.
He gazed down at the woman, his dark eyes shimmering with an unfathomable undercurrent.
Shen Qingyao tilted her head back, her breath catching slightly.
Startled by the sudden closeness and the imposing gaze from above, she nervously clenched the bedsheet beneath her hands. Her eyes flickered with a hint of bewildered panic, like a small animal frozen in fear.
Song Jiuchen took in her subtle fluster and that touch of confusion, a faint smile slowly curling at the corner of his lips.
“Weren’t you bold enough to address this prince by name? Why are you so nervous now?”
His words were spoken slowly, his clear voice carrying a hint of gentleness, yet his tone seemed tinged with teasing.
He glanced at Shen Nian. “Leave us.”
“Yes.” Shen Nian promptly vanished.
Shen Qingyao blinked, her eyes darting around as she struggled to find the right words.
In the end, she remained silent, lowering her head to avoid his gaze.
Seeing this, Song Jiuchen’s smile deepened as he deliberately leaned closer to her.
“Lost your tongue?”
“…”
Shen Qingyao lifted her head, intending to glare at him, only to realize their faces were merely a palm’s distance apart.
His warm breath, carrying a faint, cool fragrance, brushed against her face, making it tingle.
She froze for a moment, her gaze sweeping past his tall, straight nose before she hastily leaned back, a flicker of sudden panic flashing in her eyes.
Song Jiuchen caught her reaction and chuckled softly. “Hah!”
“Is that all the courage you have? It seems you only dare to act tough behind this prince’s back.”
He deliberately provoked her. This woman wouldn’t show her true nature unless provoked, and he enjoyed seeing her stubborn, defiant little expressions.
Sure enough, Shen Qingyao frowned, raising her eyes to glare at him with an unyielding look.
But she was no child, easily provoked into a tantrum.
She restrained herself, calming her emotions, and asked in a composed tone, “What brings Your Highness here today?”
A flicker of surprise crossed Song Jiuchen’s eyes—he hadn’t expected her to control her emotions so well.
A slight disappointment washed over him.
After a moment of silence, he straightened up and looked down at her. “Tomorrow, Liu Hui’s dismissal notice will be issued throughout the Southern Territory. That will also be the day his family falls apart.”
??
Shen Qingyao was shocked and quickly stood up to ask, “His family falls apart? Why?”
Song Jiuchen replied, “His wife despises him for being a disgraced official. For the sake of her family’s honor and her son’s future, she will naturally sever ties with him.”
In ancient official households, when the head of the family was convicted, the entire family was implicated. Liu Hui’s son would no longer be eligible to take the imperial examinations, and no matter what path he chose in the future, he would face rejection and exclusion.
Shen Qingyao was stunned, her hands unconsciously clenching tightly together.
How could this be?
As she pondered, a thought suddenly struck her.
“What about Lady Ying? She should stay by my uncle’s side, right?”
If Aunt Ying didn’t leave, then it was fine if that woman left. Her uncle could finally live happily with his wife, and they had a son to care for them in their old age, didn’t they?
Yet Song Jiuchen said, “That’s right. She will also seek a divorce.”
“What?”
Shen Qingyao was dumbfounded, hardly able to believe what she had just heard. “How is that possible? Madam Mei Ying loved my uncle. How could she also want a divorce?”
Song Jiuchen raised an eyebrow, then sat down on the edge of the bed. Looking at her, he asked in return, “If it were you, and the man you loved betrayed you by marrying another woman, had a child with her, and then came back wanting to marry you, would you still love him as before?”
After asking, he fixed his gaze on Shen Qingyao’s eyes, waiting for her answer.
“No.”
Without hesitation, Shen Qingyao answered firmly. “Someone like that—forget love, I’d find even looking at them disgusting.”
She wasn’t referring to Liu Hui; she was thinking of herself in such a situation.
Song Jiuchen’s eyes flickered, and he pursed his lips, a trace of melancholy stirring in his heart.
His earlier words were a test—to see if there was any possibility that, after winning her heart, she might change her principles.
But now it was clear: she wouldn’t.
This made things a bit tricky.
Although he could easily have this woman, to win her heart, he would have to promise her a lifetime of devotion to one person alone.
But he couldn’t do that.
He could forgo concubines in the future, but the position of the princess consort could not remain vacant. He could not be without an heir to his princely title.
So… should he respect her principles and let her go?
As soon as this thought arose, he immediately dismissed it in his heart. No.
Better to have her first, then figure out the rest.
The man refused to believe it was impossible and didn’t want to give up the woman he had taken a liking to at first sight. He brushed away the faint irritation in his heart. “So, this is why Mei Ying wants to leave Liu Hui.”
Shen Qingyao fell silent, turning her face away, conflicted.
As a woman who shared Mei Ying’s way of thinking, she could no longer make excuses for Uncle Liu.
But Uncle Liu was her benefactor, and she couldn’t bear to see him end up with nothing.
Song Jiuchen watched her calmly, undercurrents swirling in his eyes.
This man was cunning at heart, though it didn’t show on his face. The story about Mei Ying was a lie he had fabricated.
He still wanted this woman to choose to become his, out of gratitude for repaying Liu Hui’s kindness.
He reached out, took the woman’s hand, and watched for her reaction.
Shen Qingyao stiffened, quickly turning her face to look at him. Though she wanted to pull her hand back, she forcibly held herself back.
Song Jiuchen secretly rejoiced, seizing the opportunity to pull her onto his lap. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he spoke softly, “Liu Hui wants to come to the Punishment Mansion to beg you. He’s willing to retain his fifth-rank official position. He says he can’t end up with nothing.”
Shen Qingyao lowered her gaze, remaining silent, a sour feeling in her heart.
This was too unfair. Her principles were precious to her.
To trade her as a concubine for a mere deputy prefect’s official position—no matter how she looked at it, it felt like a loss.
Song Jiuchen looked at her, as if knowing what she was thinking, and added, “This prince can promote him to the fourth rank within a month and restore him to the third rank within half a year.
After all, he is your benefactor and will continue to support you in the future. Once he’s restored to the third rank, I’ll have him adopt you as his goddaughter and grant you the position of a secondary consort. How does that sound?”
Shen Qingyao looked up at him. She didn’t care about being a secondary consort; she only cared about one thing. “Really? Can Uncle really be restored to the third rank?”
Song Jiuchen smiled gently, his eyes as tender as could be. “Really.”
Shen Qingyao’s eyes lit up, and she wavered instantly. “Alright.”
She agreed readily.
As long as her uncle was restored to his official position, she would no longer owe him anything. Then, she could carefully plan a secluded life in a paradise of her own.
Song Jiuchen was pleased that his goal had been achieved. His eyes darkened, and he lifted the woman’s chin, pressing his thin lips against hers.
But it was not a deep kiss.
After merely sucking on her lips, he quietly tapped her acupoint.
Shen Qingyao, completely unaware, closed her eyes and fainted.
He picked her up and walked toward the iron bars, which slowly opened, allowing him to slip inside.
Arriving at Ye Yu’s location, he sat on a chair with the woman in his arms.
The four tigers that had been lying with their eyes closed opened their eyes and stood up, stretching their necks to sniff Shen Qingyao.
Song Jiuchen did not stop them, allowing them to carefully sniff her.
After they had sniffed for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he stood up with the woman in his arms, his gaze cold and authoritative in the darkness.
“Remember her scent.”
The four tigers let out a soft grunt, as if in response.