With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

"Miss Yun's massage technique is indeed excellent."

He paused, his tone becoming more playful, "It just easily sparks people's imaginations."

Yun Nian was stiff all over, held in his arms, unable to move, her nostrils filled with his strong masculine scent.

Her eyes quickly reddened. "Your Highness, Nian'er really just wanted to make you feel more comfortable..."

"Oh?"

Qin Jiuchen's smile deepened, and his handsome, almost demonic face drew even closer.

His deep eyes locked onto her, churning with emotions Yun Nian couldn't decipher.

His warm breath brushed against her lips, bringing a strange and heart-fluttering tingling sensation.

Yun Nian's breath hitched, and her heart began to pound uncontrollably.

She cursed inwardly: This damned man, with his appearance and imposing presence, is more intoxicating than the strongest liquor and more dangerous than the sharpest knife.

She forced herself to remain calm, her eyes brimming with tears that seemed about to fall, making her appear even more pitiful and vulnerable.

Qin Jiuchen seemed to enjoy her flustered yet forced composure, his smile deepening as he spoke in a seductive, husky voice: "Then... Miss Yun, tell me, how would you like to make me more comfortable?"

Yun Nian unconsciously swallowed, her face flushing red.

She shrank back, avoiding his overly intense gaze. "Your Highness, this is really... inappropriate."

Qin Jiuchen chuckled, tightening his arms around her waist to hold her more firmly in his embrace.

She bit her lower lip and turned her head sharply to the side, trying to avoid his hot breath and piercing gaze.

Just as she turned her head, her gaze inadvertently swept across the desk surface.

There, an imperial edict was laid out.

As she looked up at the memorial, several words, still wet with ink, clearly caught her eye—the Ministry of Personnel's list of candidates for promotion and merit review.

Yun Nian's heart skipped a beat.

Isn't this the list that Yun Duantao forced her to steal?!

Her gaze seemed to be drawn in by a magnet, involuntarily trying to focus...

However, a large hand suddenly closed the memorial and casually tossed it onto the other end of the desk with a soft "snap".

Yun Nian was startled and turned around abruptly.

Qin Jiuchen was still smiling, but his eyes were sharp as knives, as if he could peel away her skin and examine her layer by layer.

Yun Nian felt a chill run down her spine from his sudden change in gaze, and a strong sense of crisis welled up in her heart.

She broke free from his grip, shoved her hands against his chest, struggled to stand up from his lap, and staggered back two steps.

She lowered her head. "Your Highness, please have some self-respect!"

Qin Jiuchen leaned back lazily in his large chair.

He watched with great interest as she reacted like a startled deer.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at the memorial tossed aside. "What?"

"Is Miss Yun also interested in this list of promotions from the Ministry of Personnel?"

Yun Nian quickly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, her voice filled with fear.

"How could Nian'er, a mere woman, dare to be interested in matters of state?"

"Yeah?"

Qin Jiuchen chuckled softly, then suddenly stood up and walked towards her.

Yun Nian leaned against the bookshelf, with nowhere left to retreat.

He reached out and gripped her chin, forcing her to look up and meet his gaze.

Qin Jiuchen leaned closer to her, their breaths mingling, his voice low and slow.

"If Miss Yun wants to see, she can simply say so."

His gaze lingered on her face, from her trembling eyelashes to her tightly pursed lips. "Why go to such lengths, and why offer yourself as the price?"

Yun Nian pursed her lips, a surge of indescribable humiliation and anger welling up inside her.

She shook off his hand that was gripping her chin.

She straightened her back, raised her head, and met his cold, scrutinizing gaze without fear.

"Your Highness, Nian'er doesn't know what you're talking about. Nian'er came here today only to express gratitude for Your Highness's previous help and kindness in taking me in. If Your Highness finds Nian'er an eyesore, Nian'er will leave immediately. Why humiliate me like this?"

Her eyes were red and swollen, tears welling up, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Qin Jiuchen looked at her, his enigmatic smile still captivating, chillingly profound.

He's like a master hunter lurking in the shadows, elegant and dangerous. You never know whether he'll strike with his claws or simply enjoy watching you struggle.

The two faced off in silence.

Qin Jiuchen suddenly spoke.

"Well, but..."

He nodded slightly. "Your massage technique is indeed quite good."

Yun Nian's face still showed a docile yet timid expression.

She slightly bent her knees and softly suggested, "If Your Highness finds it acceptable, may I give you another massage?"

Qin Jiuchen raised his eyes and gave her a half-smile.

He replied slowly and deliberately, "That's enough for today. I still have official business to attend to."

He paused, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, "Come again tomorrow if you're free."

Yun Nian lowered her head and respectfully replied, "Yes, Nian'er obeys. Then Nian'er will take her leave without disturbing Your Highness's official business."

Qin Jiuchen simply nodded slightly and stopped looking at her.

Yun Nian slowly left the study and closed the door behind her.

Only after she walked out of Canglang Pavilion did she take a deep breath and slowly exhale.

The sunlight under the eaves was still dazzling, but she felt a chill on her back.

The brief but thrilling exchange with Qin Jiuchen had almost exhausted all her mental energy.

That man...

Amazingly perceptive.

It was as if every subtle movement she made, every change in her expression, could not escape his eyes.

He teased and tested her in an ambiguous and dangerous way, like a cat playing with a mouse, enjoying the pleasure of watching its prey struggle in its grasp.

But isn't this exactly what she wanted?

Yun Nian steadied herself and slowly walked down the steps.

Not far from Canglang Pavilion, after passing a moon gate, a graceful pink figure came into view.

It was Qin Jiaxue.

Upon seeing Yun Nian, Qin Jiaxue took the initiative to greet her: "Isn't this Sister Nian'er? What a coincidence to meet you here."

She smiled sweetly, "Is your health much better, sister? It's all thanks to Sister Nian'er's ability to stay at the Prince's Mansion to recuperate."

That sounded rather sarcastic.

Yun Nian stopped and curtsied slightly: "Thank you for your concern, Sister Xue'er. I am deeply grateful to the Prince for his kindness in allowing me to recuperate in the Prince's residence. My illness has improved considerably, and I am truly grateful."

In the end, Qin Jiuchen kept her in Qin Senyao's name. Qin Senyao accepted this honor without hesitation, for the sake of his image as a loving husband.

Upon hearing the phrase "the Crown Prince's favor," Qin Jiaxue's fingers tightened as she held the flower branch, and her perfect smile froze for a moment.

Qin Senyao's eventual agreement to let Yun Nian stay left a thorn in Qin Jiaxue's heart.

She suppressed her displeasure and asked, feigning concern.