With a punishing, self-indulgent, and venting manner, he did not let Shen Qingyao sleep a wink the entire night.
By the time it ended for the last time, the sky had already begun to lighten with the first hint of dawn. Shen Qingyao could no longer hold on and fell into a deep, unconscious slumber.
She didn’t even know when Song Jiuchen left.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that she gradually regained consciousness amid a deep, bone-aching soreness.
After opening her eyes, she tried to move her body slightly but couldn’t help letting out a soft “hiss,” sucking in a sharp breath.
Her entire body felt as though her bones had been taken apart and reassembled, especially her waist and legs, which were so weak and sore they hardly felt like her own.
Uncertain of the time, she endured the dull, hidden pain and struggled to sit up. As the silk quilt slipped away, she glanced at the red marks covering her body.
“Mad dog,” she cursed under her breath.
“Miss, you’re awake?” Xiao Mei’s voice came from the doorway.
Immediately, Xiao Mei entered, leading three maids carrying washing supplies, along with fresh clothes and jewelry.
“Miss,” the three maids curtsied, also addressing her with the changed title.
Completely naked, Shen Qingyao felt somewhat embarrassed facing the other young women and gave an awkward smile.
“Mm. Xiao Mei, help me up.”
“Oh, yes.”
Wrapping the quilt around herself, Shen Qingyao got out of bed. The sight of the bloodstains and other traces on the bedding instantly flushed the faces of the young women with embarrassment.
Shen Qingyao herself felt even more ashamed. Hurriedly wrapping the quilt around her, she headed toward the bathing chamber. “I’ll go bathe. You all tidy up here.”
“Yes.”
Understanding her meaning, the young women, including Xiao Mei, stayed behind for the moment to clean the bed and would attend to her later.
Sitting alone in the bath, Shen Qingyao finally relaxed and began to consider what to do next.
She had to return tonight and also limit the number of their meetings, or else she would be worn to death by him.
Last night, he had been gentle, but his stamina was astonishingly overwhelming, as if he hadn’t seen a woman in eight lifetimes.
So, thinking about how to coax him into agreeing later, she silently rehearsed her words in her mind before washing herself.
Before long, Xiao Mei and the three maids entered to help her dress properly and leave the bedchamber.
A meal was prepared in the outer hall. Hungry, she sat down at the table and picked up her chopsticks, asking, “Where is His Highness?”
A maid replied, “Deputy Commander Ye has already gone to fetch His Highness.”
Song Jiuchen had instructed before leaving in the morning that he be notified once Shen Qingyao woke up.
That settled it. She said nothing more and began eating. With six dishes and a soup laid out just for her, it felt rather extravagant.
After finishing her meal, the man still hadn’t returned, so she sat patiently by the table to wait.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, three figures finally appeared walking across the square outside.
The man leading the way was handsome and dignified, with an exceptional aura, his steps neither hurried nor slow.
Her eyes flickered slightly. Hah!
He was putting on that aloof, restrained, and pristine act again. Those who didn’t know him would truly think this was his nature!
From afar, Song Jiuchen watched the woman waiting for him. Recalling last night, a knowing, sinister glint flashed through his cool gaze.
Then, he curved his lips into a smile and slowly approached until he stepped into the bedchamber.
Shen Qingyao had already risen. Watching him walk toward her with a gentle, smiling gaze, she also put on a courteous smile.
“Your Highness.”
“Mm.”
Song Jiuchen responded affectionately, reaching out to pull her into his embrace. “Waiting for me?”
Shen Qingyao nodded, “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Oh?”
Song Jiuchen appeared to be all ears. “Alright, let’s return to the bedchamber to talk.”
Return to the bedchamber?
Shen Qingyao’s heart skipped a beat. She was afraid of going back to the bedchamber with him—what if he wanted to…
She quickly suggested, “How about the study?”
Song Jiuchen glanced at her. Though his gaze was light, it carried immense authority.
He still led her back to the bedchamber.
She was speechless!
This silent, unyielding command made her nerves tense up instantly.
Held by Song Jiuchen, she was guided to the edge of the bed and sat down. When he faced her, he gently brushed aside the stray strands of hair near her temples.
Then, he looked at her intently and said, “Go on, what else is there?”
She felt uneasy, goosebumps rising all over, but she held back. “Your Highness, since I am your mistress, I cannot stay here for too long. I want to go home.”
Upon hearing this, Song Jiuchen said, “Oh! So that’s what this is about!”
He smiled faintly, his tone seemingly open to discussion.
Shen Qingyao was filled with hope.
But then he said, “Perfect timing. I also wanted to discuss this with you. I’ve arranged a residence for you, just behind the prince’s mansion. I’ll give you the deed in a moment. That will be your home from now on. You can go manage your shop, but you must return every evening.”
“…” What?
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyao’s hopeful expression instantly froze.
He arranged a residence for her?
And right behind the prince’s mansion?
If it’s so close, what difference does it make from living in the prince’s mansion?
Immediately, she could no longer maintain her composure and complained, “Your Highness, didn’t I say last night that I wanted to live in my own home? And you agreed. Why are you going back on your word now?”
“Going back on my word?” Song Jiuchen seemed puzzled by these words.
He retorted, “Are you misunderstanding something? What I agreed to was for you to be my mistress, not about your residence.”
??
Shen Qingyao was momentarily stunned. What he said seemed…
No, wait. She immediately recalled the conversation from last night.
Then she realized something was off.
She quickly refuted, “I clearly said last night that I wanted to live in my own home. When you agreed later, didn’t that mean you agreed to everything?”
“Exactly!” Song Jiuchen nodded, not refuting her words.
But his reasoning was, “I’m giving you the villa. Isn’t that your own home now?”
Shen Qingyao: …
This infuriating man!
He was clearly being unreasonable.
“That’s not the same.”
“How is it not the same?”
Song Jiuchen looked at her, his emotions never showing on his face.
“I don’t like it.”
Shen Qingyao turned her face away, then frowned and added, “Only Drifting Clouds Teahouse is the home I recognize. I’m not used to living anywhere else.”
“Oh?”
Song Jiuchen glanced at her, then looked her up and down with a teasing gaze. “But weren’t you quite used to living in Punishment Mansion?”
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyao immediately turned around and punched him. “Are you trying to die?”
Who are you mocking?
“Hehe!”
Song Jiuchen chuckled lightly, not minding her disrespectful behavior. Instead, he took her small fist into his hand and patiently said, “Yao Yao, your Drifting Clouds Teahouse is very far from the prince’s mansion, and I have endless official duties to attend to every day. I cannot travel back and forth such a long distance for you.”
“Can’t we just meet every few days? Do we have to be together every single day?”
Shen Qingyao seized the opportunity to voice her true thoughts, secretly observing his reaction.
Song Jiuchen listened, showing no emotion.
He even considerately added, “Even every few days is too much. In my opinion, it would be best if you never bothered her at all.”
As he spoke, he looked into Shen Qingyao’s eyes with an ambiguous smile.
Their gazes met, and Shen Qingyao immediately bit her lip, yet she couldn’t help curling the corners of her mouth in delight at his words.
But the next moment, catching her completely unprepared, Song Jiuchen’s eyes suddenly turned cold as he gripped the back of her head.
“Ah!”
She let out a startled cry.
Ignoring her reaction, Song Jiuchen forced her closer to him. “The river hasn’t been crossed yet, and you’re already thinking of tearing down the bridge, is that it?”
He spoke coldly, the emotions he had concealed earlier now fully evident in his eyes.
“How about this—we cancel the deal, and you return to the Punishment Mansion to experience its punishments? I guarantee this time I won’t show you any leniency in secret.”