My Prince said he'd break my legs.

Pei Yue reached out to help her up, a gesture that sent chills down Liang Zhiyi's spine.

"Why are you kneeling all the time? I don't eat people."

Liang Zhiyi nodded. "Yes, it doesn't eat people, but it kills them!"

"I understand."

Are we just going to let her go like that?

However, she realized the next moment that she was overthinking things.

Pei Yue lay back down, extremely languid: "Aren't you very familiar with the Women's Precepts? Recite them for me first."

Recite the Precepts for Women once?

Have some decency, you son of a bitch!

She stood still, resolute in the face of death: "I can't carry it."

Despite Pei Yue's sidelong glance, she gritted her teeth and said, "Your Highness, I can understand the contents, but I cannot memorize it word for word."

"Internal training?"

"Won't."

"The Analects?"

"...No, not either."

"Oh....."

Pei Yue couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, his tone ambiguous: "Pretty good."

Good?

Liang Zhiyi took a half step back; that bastard was definitely up to no good.

really.......

Pei Yue tilted his chin towards the table beside him, his tone nonchalant: "Since you can't memorize it, then just copy it for now."

Liang Zhiyi pursed her lips and stood there awkwardly for a while, but still obediently went over to the desk to copy the text.

Pei Yue, however, was handling official business at some point.

The atmosphere inside was unusually "harmonious".

As the sun set and her stomach growled with hunger, Liang Zhiyi, for reasons unknown, threw down her pen and stopped writing.

She looked up and saw Pei Yue's profile, then pouted.

Nuwa is so unfair! This person's face is already exquisitely beautiful, and the lines of his profile are exceptionally beautiful. Even his fingers, with their distinct knuckles, are so fair and slender. He is as perfect as a work of art.

He was quietly and attentively annotating an official document, his long eyelashes drooping down to cover his starry eyes, making him appear indifferent and aloof.

It's a pity that such a good-looking person is actually extremely cruel.

She had witnessed him kill someone. Pei Yue had just leaned back there lazily, eating grapes as he watched his men torture someone to death, as if he were watching a play.

He was so terrifying that it sent chills down her spine.

Just as he was about to look away, Pei Yue suddenly raised his head and unexpectedly met his eyes.

It was so sudden that she didn't have time to retract the look in her eyes.

"What kind of look is that?" Pei Yue raised an eyebrow. "Are you disgusted with me?"

Liang Ruyi scrunched up her face and said pitifully, "Your Highness, I'm hungry."

Pei Yue laughed in exasperation: "It's a waste of your talent that you're not an actor."

Liang Ruyi lowered her brows and dared not utter a sound.

Pei Yue was in a rare good mood, so he didn't say anything more. He waved his hand and had someone bring her food. Only after she had eaten did he let her go home.

It was late at night when she returned to the Liang residence. The Liang family left the door open for her. Liang Zhiyi had been frequently punished over the past few months, and the Liang family had gotten used to it.

The next morning, she had just gotten up and finished washing up.

Then Zhang, the old woman who served Madam Gao, came out and hurriedly greeted her: "Fourth Miss, Madam invites you to have breakfast."

Lady Gao only gave birth to her eldest daughter Liang Qingwan and her fourth daughter Liang Zhiyi, and did not have a son. Liang Huaijing, on the other hand, attached great importance to offspring, and Aunt Qiu usually acted arrogantly in the mansion because she had given birth to the eldest son born out of wedlock.

If it weren't for the Gao family contributing a large amount of money to Liang Huaijing every year so that he could use it to smooth his way in officialdom, the power to manage the household would probably have already fallen into the hands of Aunt Qiu.

The eldest daughter, Liang Qingwan, was sent to the Sixth Prince's residence by Liang Huaijing. Only Liang Zhiyi remained by Gao Shi's side. Since Liang Huaijing did not like Gao Shi, all of Gao Shi's attention was on Liang Zhiyi.

To be honest, Gao really treats Liang Zhiyi well; he always puts Liang Zhiyi first in everything he does.

Although she was not favored, the Gao family was wealthy and was Liang Huaijing's first wife, so Liang Zhiyi, as the second legitimate daughter, lived a very comfortable life.

Liang Zhiyi nodded: "I understand."

She got up and followed Granny Zhang to the main courtyard. As soon as she stepped into the house, she was stunned. Liang Huaijing was actually in the main courtyard. He was here so early in the morning, which meant that he had stayed in the main courtyard last night. That was rare!

Actually, Gao was quite beautiful, with a gentle appearance and a soft voice. She was a typical woman from Jiangnan, more than a match for Liang Huaijing.

However, her personality was just like her appearance—weak and easily bullied.

Liang Zhiyi stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Father and Mother."

"You're here, please have a seat," Gao greeted her.

As soon as he sat down, Liang Huaijing said, "The gatekeeper reported that you came back late again yesterday?"

Liang Zhiyi lowered her head and said, "Yes."

"Why are you being punished again?" Liang Huaijing valued his children's studies very much and could not tolerate them neglecting their studies.

"While you weren't particularly outstanding in the past, you weren't punished so frequently either. Why has it been like this in the last few months?"

Why?

Liang Zhiyi gritted her teeth and poked at the porridge in her bowl with her chopsticks. It was all because of that bastard!

Seeing her lower her head and remain silent, Liang Huaijing became even angrier, feeling utterly disappointed in her.

"If you don't want to study, then come back. You've come of age this year, so I'll find you a good marriage so you won't embarrass yourself outside."

marriage?

No wonder Liang Huaijing came to rest at the Gao family's place; he was waiting here.

It's likely that he's already found someone special. It's obvious without much thought that the family Liang Huaijing has chosen for her is definitely part of the Sixth Prince's faction.

He was a supporter of the Sixth Prince. If the Sixth Prince could eventually take that position, she would be fine no matter who she married.

But if the Sixth Prince loses, then all of his faction will be skinned alive by Pei Yue, and she will face certain death no matter who she marries.

Liang Ruyi lowered her eyelids and asked in a low voice, "Is it marriage, or becoming someone's concubine?"

Liang Huaijing raised an eyebrow and said, "You've actually chosen one?"

Just as Liang Zhiyi was about to retort, she heard Gao's voice.

"master."

Gao was usually quiet, so this time he made a rare sound.

"You only have two legitimate daughters. One of them has already entered the Sixth Prince's mansion as a concubine. No one's family background is higher than the Sixth Prince's. If Zhiyi were to become someone else's concubine, our Liang family would be laughed at."

Gao's words struck a chord with Liang Huaijing. He always valued his reputation and the legitimate daughter. He had also considered this matter. It would indeed be inappropriate for his second legitimate daughter to become someone else's concubine.

Seeing Gao's submissive appearance only fueled his anger, and he brought up old grievances again: "Isn't it all your fault? You couldn't even give birth to a legitimate son."

Liang Zhiyi didn't like hearing his wife blame him for not being able to give birth to a son. She muttered something, not loudly, but loud enough for them to hear.

"If you want to give birth to a legitimate son, you'll have to come often, otherwise where will Mother give birth?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Huaijing flew into a rage.

"Madam Gao, look at the fine daughter you've raised! How can a young lady say such things? She's truly lacking in discipline. From today onwards, you're no longer required to attend the academy. Stay in the manor and don't go anywhere. Hire a nanny to teach you manners."

After saying that, he threw down his chopsticks and walked away.

"I understand." Madam Gao glared at her reproachfully, but she wasn't truly angry. She shook her head helplessly: "You..."

(The male lead is set in his twenties. In ancient times, people married young, so it's impossible to expect a crown prince to be a virgin. The male lead is impure in the early stages but becomes pure later.)

This is a classical Chinese novel. The male protagonist's behavior and mannerisms are consistent with ancient settings; please do not project a modern perspective or mindset onto him.

And don't even mention Ning Jingqiu sacrificing herself for their love; they had already made a deal before Liang Zhiyi even appeared.

Seriously, I'm speechless. (Just spouting nonsense)