After the divorce, I was adorned in a phoenix robe, while my ex-husband's entire family dug up

Pei Yi felt as if he had been electrocuted, his whole body tingling and numb. He groaned in surprise, then immediately shut up and widened his eyes.

He was panting, but tried to remain calm, saying, "This jade pendant has a warming effect, it's meant to ward off the cold, that's why I wore it to sleep. Did I offend you?"

Wei Zhaoning laughed heartily, "So that's how it is. You weren't asleep, were you pretending to be asleep just now?"

Without thinking much of it, she withdrew her hand and exclaimed, "It really is huge."

Pei Yi pinched his own skin hard. "Hmm, it's very big."

"It's for warming up. I'll let you wear it sometime when you have the chance."

Wei Zhaoning: "You're stingy. There's still a chance. Once you get the treasure, you wear it yourself until you've had enough before giving it to me."

"Why don't you give it to me now?"

Pei Yi's blood was boiling; this back-and-forth was probably going to shorten his lifespan.

Seeing that he was silent again, Wei Zhaoning said, "It was just a joke."

The atmosphere between the two of them had been quite awkward, but this unexpected interlude made her feel much more relaxed. She even made a joke, hoping to relax a bit when she fell asleep. However, he suddenly fell silent, and the conversation went cold.

After a long while, Pei Yi sighed, "Go to sleep, Ningning. I'll definitely give it to you later. When that time comes, you can't refuse."

Wei Zhaoning laughed and said, "Okay, I will wear it on my body at all times and never let it leave my side."

"If you catch a cold, just wear it to bed. I'm not afraid of it getting irritated. My back has been a bit sore these past few days, so the pressure will make me feel more comfortable. Go to sleep."

Where she couldn't see, Pei Yi's face was already flushed, and the desire in his eyes was unfathomable.

"Um."

Heaven knows how Pei Yi spent that night.

He didn't dare to get up. After Wei Zhaoning fell asleep, he felt relaxed all over and even put his legs on him to sleep.

He struggled with this internal conflict all night, and as soon as dawn broke, he rushed out.

"Your Highness, you're taking a shower so early?" Yun Ce regretted asking as soon as he finished speaking. He realized something was wrong and pursed his lips, not daring to look Pei Yi in the eye.

The last time Your Highness took a shower was... the last time.

Pei Yi glanced at him, and that single glance sent chills down Yun Ce's spine.

"roll."

"Alright, hurry up." Yun Ce forced a smile and disappeared from Pei Yi's sight as if fleeing for his life.

Pei Yi took several showers, but the fever didn't subside.

His mind was filled with the image of him sleeping with this "jade pendant" against Wei Zhaoning's lower back last night. He had wanted to turn Wei Zhaoning over and bully her many times.

Just thinking about this made the jade pendant tense, and even the coldest water couldn't stop it.

He stopped resisting and instead slowly descended, releasing his desires.

Cool water flowed down the bluestone-paved bathhouse, and the steam washed over his well-defined shoulders and back, wetting his dark hair and sticking it to his smooth forehead and neck.

He raised his hand to wipe the water droplets from his face, his fingertips tracing his sharply defined jawline. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, his voice low and suppressed.

The water flowed down his firm chest, outlining the smooth lines of his muscles, and each drop of water seemed to carry a scalding temperature as it fell.

He closed his eyes, his brows furrowed, and her image uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

Desire grew wildly like vines, spreading through the blood to every part of the body, and low, hoarse groans escaped from the throat.

The usual coldness had faded from his eyes, leaving only an intense, unyielding desire, and his strength unconsciously increased.

He asked himself if he had ever been so out of control before; he had never even masturbated in his entire life.

He prided himself on his exceptional self-control, having abstained from sexual desire for so many years. But the moment he encountered Wei Zhaoning, the cage holding the wild beast in his heart was violently smashed open, leaving him unable to control himself, and the damage was irreversible.

What happened today is truly... absurd.

When he came out of the bathhouse, he happened to run into Wei Zhaoning, who had already gotten up. Pei Yi cursed himself inwardly as a beast, but his face remained calm.

"You're awake."

Wei Zhaoning nodded, no longer feeling so awkward. "My husband gets up so early every day."

Pei Yi lowered his head. "Well, I was held up by something today and didn't have time to bring you breakfast. Try the food from the manor; it's not as good as what you get outside, but it's still edible."

Wei Zhaoning slept very well last night and smiled as she pulled Pei Yi to have breakfast.

*

The Eastern Palace.

"Come on, come on, come on!"

"The turtles we have here like to wear neck ornaments..."

"Shut up!"

The crown prince, his face full of anger, shouted at his advisor.

A young man pouted. "Oh dear, what is it now, Your Highness?"

"Mr. Fang, last time I went to the Regent's Palace as you instructed, but he didn't make a sound at all! It's obvious he doesn't take me seriously, and you still have the leisure to sing these inhuman, ghostly tales!"

Fang Min waved his hand, "Don't be in such a hurry, you can't rush things."

"I've already helped His Highness the Crown Prince return to the capital, and you still don't believe me?"

"Tell me then, what would happen if I killed his trusted confidant at the border? He didn't react at all! And the border forces have been reinforced. How are we supposed to fight like this?"

Fang Min: "The Regent is just a hypocrite. He wouldn't even blink if the sky were to fall, but he'd probably be terrified inside."

Strengthening border troops is a good sign.

The crown prince narrowed his eyes. "You seem to know him very well?"

Fang Min smiled. "Does Your Highness suspect me?"

He paused, then said, "At this time, the capital's military strength is insufficient, and that widower can be put to use."

"Who?"

"Lu Zhufeng."

The Crown Prince slapped his forehead and let out a heavy sigh. Why was it so difficult to talk to Fang Min?

*

The three-day homecoming day had arrived, and Pei Yi and Wei Zhaoning went to the Duke's mansion early in the morning.

The Duchess was both respectful and satisfied with Pei Yi; no matter how you looked at him, he was much more pleasing to the eye than Lu Zhufeng's type.

Only the Duke had opinions about the Regent, but he dared not show them. On the surface, he still flattered the Regent with words of praise.

However, he still made a few sarcastic remarks about Wei Zhaoning, which were unsurprisingly all retorted by Pei Yi.

Wei Zhaoning was actually pleased to see her father's discomfiture.

They were having a pleasant meal when Butler Feng suddenly barged in, behaving completely rudely. He had to bow while panting.

"Master! Good news! You didn't go to court today, so you don't know, but your son-in-law has been promoted!"

The whole capital is now buzzing with the news that His Majesty intends to give him an important position!

The Duke's eyes lit up. "I knew it. Jia Ruo's judgment is never wrong."

The Duchess and Wei Zhaoning exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Wei Zhaoning felt uneasy again. What reason would His Majesty have to give Lu Zhufeng, that good-for-nothing?

She looked at Pei Yi, who was casually sipping his tea, a smile playing on his lips as he put down the cup.

Pei Yi squeezed her hand, but said nothing.