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

Qin Jiuchen's breathing became slightly erratic, and his eyes were as dark as night.

He suddenly rolled over and pressed the hot, soft body behind him deep into the bed.

Caught off guard, Yun Nian let out a soft gasp, but Qin Jiuchen silenced her with a look.

He easily grasped her two slender wrists with one hand and pressed them firmly against the sides of the brocade pillow.

With his other hand, he quickly reached into his robes and pulled out a jade medicine bottle.

He deftly bit open the bottle stopper with his teeth.

"you……"

Yun Nian looked at him blankly and in a panic, the burning sensation in her body making it impossible for her to think.

Qin Jiuchen not only uncorked the bottle, but also held the bottle opening to her slightly parted lips and poured the cool medicine inside directly into her mouth.

"Hmm!"

Yun Nian choked, the bitter medicine filling her mouth and sliding down her throat.

She instinctively wanted to cough, but Qin Jiuchen released his grip on her wrist at just the right moment.

Yun Nian immediately covered her mouth with her freed hand, only letting out a few extremely suppressed groans, staring at him with surprise and uncertainty.

"Antidote."

Qin Jiuchen replied in a low voice.

Yun Nian was stunned for a moment, then swallowed subconsciously.

But then, a cool sensation rose from my lower abdomen, and the heat in my body quickly subsided.

His mind suddenly cleared.

She hurriedly gathered her soaked and disheveled clothes and curled up in the corner of the bed.

Outside the screen, Qin Senyao was saying, "Perhaps there are other schemes," when he suddenly heard a sound coming from behind the screen.

He immediately became alert, stopped talking, and tentatively asked, "Father? Father? Are you... alright?"

Before he could finish speaking, the door to the meditation room creaked open again.

A pale yellow figure rushed in; it was Qin Jiaxue.

She waited and waited in her room, but neither Qin Senyao's plan succeeded nor Yun Nian made a hasty retreat. Her anxiety grew.

Hearing a commotion coming from his father's side, he couldn't resist and went to find it himself.

Upon entering, he first saw his elder brother kneeling on the ground, and then glanced at the strange man next to him, who was being held captive by Chen Sha and looked ashen-faced.

Qin Jiaxue's heart skipped a beat, and she knew something was wrong.

Did the plan go wrong?

And her father found out?

She forced herself to remain calm, her gaze quickly sweeping across the room, but she couldn't see her father anywhere.

When Qin Senyao saw her come in, he quickly winked and gestured towards the screen with his lips.

Qin Jiaxue composed herself.

She immediately bowed towards the screen, "Daughter greets Father. Is something the matter? I went to talk to Sister Nian'er earlier, but couldn't find her. I was worried about her, so I came out to look for her. I heard some noise here, so I came to check."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at the screen, vaguely seeing the outline of a figure, but the heavy gauze curtains obscured her view.

Silence reigned behind the screen; no one responded.

Qin Jiaxue's heart pounded. She turned to Qin Senyao and asked, feigning surprise, "Brother, what's going on? Who is this man...?"

She pointed to the man who was being held captive.

Qin Senyao received her look and immediately replied, his voice indignant.

"This is a reckless thief who dares to trespass into Father's meditation room. I heard a strange noise and, worried about Father's safety, rushed over to investigate. I was just about to apprehend this man for questioning."

As he spoke, he secretly winked at Qin Jiaxue, implying that the situation had changed.

Qin Jiaxue immediately covered her mouth with her hand, feigning horror: "Heavens! How could there be such a daring thief? Brother, you must interrogate him thoroughly to see if he has any accomplices!"

Her eyes darted around, and she steered the conversation back to Yun Nian, tentatively asking, "It's strange, Sister Nian'er, it's so late, I wonder where you've gone. It's really worrying. Could you have been kidnapped by those thieves' accomplices too?"

As she spoke, she kept her eyes fixed on Qin Senyao.

Qin Senyao was sweating profusely with anxiety, and silently mouthed, "Father is inside!"

Qin Jiaxue was startled.

Could it be that Yun Nian is in her father's bed?

Her courage suddenly grew, and she raised her voice, addressing the screen, "Father, why aren't you saying anything? Are you unwell? Or is something troubling you? Let me come in and serve you?"

Without waiting for a response from inside, she lifted her foot and walked behind the screen.

She walked around the screen and eagerly peered into the canopy bed.

Suddenly, her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed red. She immediately turned her back to him.

A panicked voice escaped from between her fingers: "Father... Father... I didn't know... you were changing your clothes."

Standing tall beside the bed, Qin Jiuchen appeared composed and unhurried.

He was only wearing a snow-white undergarment that was not yet fully fastened, with the collar open, revealing his muscular chest.

He had been entangled by Yun Nian, and his front was already soaked through by her wet clothes, so he had to change them again.

At this moment, he simply lowered his eyes, his slender fingers slowly and gracefully tying the sash of his inner robe.

Then he took the dark robe that was draped over the screen and put it on.

With a flick of his sleeves, he was already impeccably dressed.

Qin Jiaxue only dared to slowly lower her hands from her face when she heard the rustling of clothes stop, but she still didn't dare to turn around. However, she couldn't help but glance at the bed curtains out of the corner of her eye.

The bed curtains were completely closed, making it airtight.

"What's wrong?"

Qin Jiuchen's icy gaze fell on Qin Jiaxue's stiff back, his voice carrying an invisible chill, "Rushing in here in such a hurry, are you here to catch us in adultery?"

Qin Jiaxue trembled, turned around, her face turned pale, and knelt down on the ground, shaking her head repeatedly.

"Xue'er wouldn't dare. I was just worried about Father's safety and concerned about Sister Er's whereabouts. In my anxiety, I lost my temper and offended Father. Please forgive me!"

She spoke very quickly, her voice trembling; she was genuinely afraid.

Father's words were clearly pointed at something; could it be...?

Does he know everything?

Qin Jiuchen stopped looking at her, only letting out a soft hum from his nose, and walked steadily past her, stepping out of the screen.

Qin Jiaxue remained kneeling until the oppressive aura receded before daring to breathe slightly.

She bit her lip, glared at the bed curtains again with resentment, but ultimately didn't dare to do anything more. She stood up sullenly and followed them out.

Outside, Qin Senyao was still kneeling on the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Chen Sha held Wang Jun still, not moving.

Qin Jiuchen walked straight to the armchair in the main seat, lifted his robe and sat down. His posture was relaxed, yet he possessed an aura of unapproachable majesty.

His cold gaze swept over Wang Jun, who was bound on the ground.

"Chensha".

Qin Jiuchen spoke, "Initiate the torture. Find out who's behind this."

"Yes!" Chen Sha replied.

Upon hearing the words "punishment," Qin Senyao was so terrified that his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground.

Qin Jiaxue also gasped.

Wang Jun was so terrified that tears streamed down his face, and he screamed like a pig being slaughtered: "Your Highness, spare me! I don't know anything! I just... I just took the wrong path!"

He cried out and looked at Qin Senyao for help.