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

Suddenly, Qin Jiuchen raised his hand, his slender fingers picking up the handkerchief.

The handkerchief feels smooth and warm to the touch; it is indeed made of the finest material.

He casually glanced at it in his palm; the pine tree embroidery was quite elegant, and the silver thread shimmered with a subtle, refined luster under the candlelight.

"This is Shu brocade," he said casually.

Seeing that he accepted it, Yun Nian immediately nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, naturally Nian'er will find the best for the prince."

Qin Jiuchen gave a faint "hmm" and turned around.

He raised his hand to remove the Buddhist prayer beads from his wrist, preparing to begin chanting.

However, he discovered that the person behind him had not left.

He paused slightly, turned his head, and his gaze fell back on Yun Nian.

The girl, who had been standing perfectly fine just moments before, was now swaying slightly and her steps were unsteady.

She gently touched her forehead with one hand, her delicate brows furrowed, and all the color drained from her face, leaving only a pitiful paleness.

She felt weak all over and was about to fall backward.

Qin Jiuchen stretched out his long arm, embraced her slender waist, and steadily pulled her into his arms.

Yun Nian naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her entire weight on him.

Her weak breath brushed against his ear: "I feel so dizzy, Your Highness, perhaps my vertigo is acting up again..."

She tilted her head up, gazing at him with dreamy eyes. "My medicine is in the purse at my waist. Could you please get it for me...?"

The girl's soft, fragrant body was in his arms, and even through a layer of clothing, he could feel the softness and fragility beneath her slender waist.

Qin Jiuchen lowered his eyes and saw her pale but still beautiful face. He didn't say anything and reached out to her waist as instructed.

The moment his palm touched her waist.

"Um……"

Yun Nian couldn't help but let out a soft moan.

She instinctively hugged him tighter, her cheeks involuntarily burying against his neck, revealing only her alluring pink earlobes.

Qin Jiuchen paused, turning to look at her.

Yun Nian then realized her lapse in composure, hurriedly raising her eyes, her cheeks flushed, her voice barely audible, filled with utter embarrassment: "Your Highness, I'm a little ticklish..."

Her appearance was truly... pitiful to behold.

The blush on her skin from shyness made her beautiful in a lively and charming way.

A hint of amusement flashed in Qin Jiuchen's eyes, and a teasing smile appeared on his lips.

"Miss Yun's overly eager embrace could easily lead to misunderstandings."

Yun Nian pursed her delicate lips. "I don't care what others think. But I just hope that Your Highness won't misunderstand."

"Oh?"

Qin Jiuchen raised an eyebrow, seemingly quite interested in her answer.

He leaned closer to her, his warm breath enveloping her. "Since when have my thoughts become so important to Miss Yun?"

The two were very close.

Yun Nian felt that the eyes beneath the long eyelashes were too deep and dark, as if they could suck in your body and soul, and eventually shatter you to pieces.

She took a deep breath and smiled.

"The prince is a pillar of the Great Jin Dynasty, a hero who strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies, and naturally, an object of admiration for countless young women."

Qin Jiuchen narrowed his eyes, his scrutinizing gaze like the sharpest blade, as if trying to peel away her layers of disguise and reach the deepest part of her heart.

"Miss Yun,"

His voice was slightly cold, "Don't forget who you are."

Yun Nian met his gaze, her face revealing a hint of sadness and resignation.

She lowered her head. "Yes, Your Highness. Nian'er has never forgotten her identity. Nian'er is deeply in love with the Prince, and now her wish will finally come true. She is about to marry into the Prince's mansion. Nian'er... is overjoyed."

As she spoke, her fingers unconsciously tightened around the fabric of Qin Jiuchen's shoulder, the slight trembling betraying her insincere grievance.

Upon hearing this, Qin Jiuchen let out a soft, ambiguous hum, it was impossible to tell whether he believed it or not.

He stopped asking questions, casually took the purse from her waist, and handed it to her.

"Take it."

Yun Nian quickly took the purse, hurriedly opened it, poured out the pills, and swallowed them.

Just then, a clear sound of footsteps, mixed with low voices, came from outside the hall, heading towards the main hall.

Yun Nian froze.

She suddenly grabbed Qin Jiuchen's wrist, turned around, and pulled him behind the huge Buddha statue in the hall.

Caught off guard, Qin Jiuchen was actually pulled along by her, and in a few steps they disappeared into the cramped shadows behind the Buddha statue.

The space behind this Buddha statue is extremely narrow, barely enough to fit one person.

The two stood face to face, their bodies almost touching.

Qin Jiuchen could feel the soft curves of her chest and her rapid, heaving breaths due to nervousness.

Her delicate and subtle fragrance wafted into his nostrils.

Qin Jiuchen's brows furrowed suddenly.

Just as he was about to speak, a small, cool, and soft hand suddenly covered his lips.

"Shh!"

Yun Nian tilted her head back, her other hand still tightly gripping his wrist.

Her beautiful eyes were wide open, filled with pleading and fear, and she shook her head silently at him.

She listened intently to the sounds outside, her attention focused on the approaching footsteps, completely unaware of how inappropriate and audacious her actions were.

Qin Jiuchen lowered his eyes, looking at the face so close to his, his eyes filled with darkness.

This is the second time.

This ignorant and arrogant woman dared to cover his mouth with her hand.

Seeing her current appearance, as nervous as a frightened bird, her beautiful eyes were fixed on the outside.

Is she really that afraid of being seen with him?

This realization inexplicably stirred a sense of displeasure within Qin Jiuchen.

Even that day in the meditation room, so what if someone found her in his room?

Why should Qin Jiuchen need to explain his actions to others?

Anyone who dares to utter a single word will be killed.

No one in the world dares to gossip about Prince Ningxiang.

Thinking this, a sense of hostility rose within him. His aura turned cold, and he prepared to break free from her restraints and walk out.

The cramped space and the shameless couple outside disgusted him.

However, the moment he moved, Yun Nian seemed to sense his intention.

In a moment of urgency, she quickly wrapped her other arm around his strong waist and pressed her body against him to stop him from moving around.

She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears, and mouthed a pleading look: "Please, don't go out, I don't want anyone to find out..."

Her body trembled slightly with tension and fear, her soft touch pressed tightly against his.

Qin Jiuchen's movements inexplicably stopped.

He couldn't explain why, but seeing her eyes that seemed about to shatter at any moment, his displeasure and anger were strangely suppressed.

He actually didn't move again, just letting her hold him.

The two were face to face, trapped in the narrow, dark crevice behind the Buddha statue, listening to the increasingly unbearable noises outside.

A woman's voice, tinged with a hint of coquettishness, said, "Second Master, why are you in such a hurry? This is in front of the Buddha statue, isn't this inappropriate...?"

Then came a slightly impatient and deep male voice: "What are you afraid of? It's the middle of the night, Buddha is already asleep! We can do whatever we want, baby, I've missed you so much..."

Immediately following was a rustling sound of clothes being rubbed off, accompanied by the woman's half-hearted moans and the man's heavy breathing.