With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Shen Nannan suddenly turned around and looked.

She was met with the Crown Prince's sticky, smug, and determined smile.

He looked at Qiu Tong, who was slumped on the ground, then at Shen Nannan, who was leaning against the doorframe, and licked his lips.

"Both beauties are mine today."

Shen Nannan leaned against the door frame, her body limp, her vision blurring intermittently.

She bit her lip, her nails digging into her palms, using the pain to force herself to stay awake.

"Your Highness, what do you intend to do?"

"What are you doing? Miss Shen...you must be feeling unwell right now?" He lowered his head, staring at her face, his gaze sliding from her eyebrows to her lips, and then from her lips to her collar, which was soaked with wine. "Do you know how beautiful you look right now? Come, let me take good care of you."

As he spoke, he took a step forward.

"Your Highness, have you thought this through? I am the eldest daughter of the Shen family. My father has just won a battle, and the Emperor is about to bestow rewards upon him. Are you not afraid of alienating the soldiers on the frontier by harming his daughter at this time?"

The Crown Prince paused for a moment, then laughed again: "Miss Shen, are you trying to intimidate me with your father? No matter how skilled your father is, he is still a subject. I am the sovereign."

"Your Majesty?" Shen Nannan sneered. "Your Highness, you haven't ascended the throne yet."

"You...!" The crown prince suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with an air of smug satisfaction.

"Miss Shen, you've been poisoned. Your body is weak, and you can't even stand up straight." He took a step forward. "I'm doing this to save you. Once I become the Shen family's son-in-law, General Shen will only be happy. How could he blame me?"

He took another step forward.

Shen Nannan stepped back, her back hitting the door frame, leaving her with nowhere to retreat.

"Miss Shen. I have been waiting for this day for a long time." He reached out and grasped her wrist.

"Let me go." She struggled, but couldn't break free.

"Let go? I've waited so long for this day, how could I let go?"

The crown prince grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the house.

"Miss Shen, do you know? The moment I saw you, I wanted to pin you down. That night in Peach Blossom Valley, I thought I was being given to you, but instead, I received a fake. Do you know how disappointed I was? Today, I'm going to taste you for myself!"

Shen Nannan was dragged along by him, her feet leaving two marks on the ground. She glanced back at Qiu Tong—she was still lying on the ground, unconscious.

"Sister Qiu Tong..." Her voice trembled.

"Don't worry, she just fainted." The Crown Prince pushed her into the room, closed the door behind him, and said, "I'll deal with her after I've finished with you."

Shen Nannan stumbled a few steps as he dragged her, her back hitting the corner of the table, causing her to groan in pain.

The prince's hand slid from her wrist to her shoulder, from her shoulder to her collar, grabbed her collar, and ripped it open forcefully—

The sound of tearing cloth was particularly jarring in the side hall.

The collar was ripped open, revealing a patch of snow-white skin.

Shen Nannan gritted her teeth, mustered her last bit of strength, and slapped him across the face.

With a crisp "snap," it made a very clear sound.

The crown prince was knocked to the side by the blow, and five red finger marks appeared on his face. He was stunned for a moment, then turned his head back, the desire in his eyes turning into anger.

"You dare hit me?"

He grabbed her wrist and pressed it above her head, while using his other hand to pull at her belt.

Shen Nannan closed her eyes.

Ah Chao. She called his name in her heart. Ah Chao, where are you?

Just then, with a "bang," the door was kicked open.

Before the prince could turn around, a hand grabbed the back of his head and lifted him off Shen Nannan like a chick.

"who--!"

Before he could finish speaking, a palm struck him on the back of the neck.

The prince rolled his eyes, then went limp, like a lump of mud, and fell to the ground without uttering a sound.

Shen Nannan opened her eyes, her vision was blurry, and she couldn't see the face of the person who came in.

All that could be seen was a moon-white robe with a jade belt around her waist, and a tall and slender figure.

"Third... Prince?"

Xiao Yunting squatted down and looked at her.

Her face was flushed red, her lips were covered in bite marks, and her collar was torn, revealing a large expanse of fair skin.

His Adam's apple bobbed, he looked away, and took off his outer robe to drape it over her.

"Don't speak." His voice was a little hoarse. "I'll take you away."

He bent down and picked her up horizontally.

"Sister Qiu Tong..."

"Don't worry, someone will come to rescue her."

Shen Nannan nestled in his arms, her body burning hot, her consciousness beginning to fade.

She gripped Xiao Yunting's clothes, her fingers trembling.

"Ah Chao..." she mumbled sleepily.

Xiao Yunting paused, looking down at her. Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes trembling, and she wasn't uttering his name.

He lowered his eyes, picked her up, and walked out.

Stepping out of the side hall and through the moon gate, the cool moonlight streamed down from above.

Shen Nannan was radiating heat in waves, making her delirious.

She grabbed Xiao Yunting's collar, buried her face in his chest, and murmured "A-Chao" several times.

Xiao Yunting hugged her, tightening his arms a little, then loosening them again.

He placed her on the balustrade under the eaves, letting her lean against him. Her body was burning hot, like a red-hot coal, pressed against his arm, making his heart clench.

"Miss Shen," he called her name.

"Hmm..." she mumbled sleepily, snuggling closer to him.

Xiao Yunting looked down at her. In the moonlight, her face was flushed, her lips were red, and there were still wet tears on her eyelashes.

He reached out to tuck the stray hairs from her face behind her ear, but as soon as his fingers touched her face, she nuzzled against his palm like a spoiled cat.

His fingers froze.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

He withdrew his hand, clenched it into a fist, and placed it on his knee.

"Miss Shen," he said softly, "if you continue like this, I..."

She didn't hear him, leaning on his shoulder, breathing rapidly, her whole body burning up.

Xiao Yunting sat there, motionless, letting her lean against him.

He suddenly remembered the first time he met her.

She smiled at him, a smile that was neither humble nor arrogant, neither obsequious nor flattering, but clean and pure.

He had never seen a woman like this before.

"Ah Chao..." she called again.

Xiao Yunting closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Stop calling." His voice was muffled. "It's not him no matter how many times you call."

A series of rapid footsteps came from behind.

Xiao Yunting opened his eyes but didn't turn around.

"You arrived quickly."

The footsteps stopped a few steps away. In the moonlight, a tall, slender shadow fell to the ground, clad in a black robe and wearing a silver mask.

Ah Chao stood there, the moonlight falling on him, enveloping him in a layer of cold white light.

His gaze fell on the person in Xiao Yunting's arms—Shen Nannan leaned on his shoulder, wrapped in his outer robe, her face flushed, her collar open, revealing a section of her fair collarbone.

He didn't speak, but hurried forward, his steps revealing obvious anxiety.

Xiao Yunting felt a chill creeping up from behind, like a knife to his neck.

"Don't worry," he smiled. "She's fine. She's just been drugged and has a high fever."

Ah Chao walked over, squatted down, and reached out to touch Shen Nannan's forehead. It was frighteningly hot; he recoiled slightly, then pressed his finger against it again.

"Who did it?" he asked flatly.

"The Empress set off the incense, and the Crown Prince did the dirty work." Xiao Yunting paused, "I knocked the Crown Prince unconscious and saved her."

Ah Chao didn't speak, but reached out and took Shen Nannan from Xiao Yunting's arms, holding her in his own. His movements were very light and steady, as if he were taking a fragile piece of porcelain.

Shen Nannan stirred in his arms, nuzzled her nose against his chest, and mumbled sleepily, "Ah Chao..."

"Hmm," he responded softly, "This servant is here."

Xiao Yunting watched this scene, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly. The smile was tinged with bitterness, yet also with a sense of relief.

"Long time no see," he stood up, looking at Ah Chao, speaking each word carefully.

"Fourth Prince... Your Highness."