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

Ah Chao didn't respond.

He lowered his head and pulled Shen Nannan closer to his chest, wrapping his outer robe tightly around her to cover her open neckline.

Her face was pressed against his chest, burning hot; he could feel the abnormal heat even through her clothes.

"Fourth Prince," Xiao Yunting called out again.

"After all these years, don't you have anything you want to say to me?"

Ah Chao finally raised his head and glanced at him.

Those eyes were dark and deep, like a stagnant pool of water, without any ripples.

"Your Highness has mistaken me for someone else. This servant is a guard from the Shen family."

Xiao Yunting stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Alright, guard."

He patted his robe. "Then, sir, you owe me a favor. Remember to pay it back."

A-Chao ignored him and stood up while holding Shen Nannan.

Shen Nannan stirred in his arms, clutching his clothes, and mumbled sleepily, "Ah Chao..."

"Hmm." He lowered his head, his lips brushing against the top of her head. "Your servant is here."

She nestled in his arms, her body burning hot, her face pressed against his neck, her hot breath spraying onto his chest.

"Ah Chao..." she called again, her voice as soft as water, "You've come..."

"Mmm." His voice was a little muffled. "It's here."

"I thought you weren't coming..."

"Won't."

She reached out and touched his face. Her fingers traced up his jawline, stopping at his lips.

She gently brushed her fingertips against his lips, as if confirming something.

"It's cold," she mumbled groggily. "So cold."

"Miss," he said softly, "don't touch me."

She didn't listen. Her fingers slid down his lips, touched his Adam's apple, paused, and then slid down to his collar.

"Miss," he called again, his voice a little hoarse.

She didn't respond, but instead hooked her fingers around his collar and pulled it down.

She pulled open her collar, revealing a small patch of lean skin below her collarbone. She pressed her face against it and rubbed against it, like a cat being affectionate.

"So cool..." she sighed comfortably, "So comfortable..."

Ah Chao's breathing became heavier, and he hugged her a little tighter.

"Don't move." His voice was a little hoarse.

She couldn't hear him; her body was pressed against his skin, making his heart clench with heat.

----

Just as I took two steps, a figure emerged from the shadows, dressed in a moon-white palace gown, with only a white jade hairpin in her hair.

Consort Shu.

She stood in the moonlight, her stunningly beautiful face expressionless, but her eyes flickered slightly when they saw Shen Nannan in A Chao's arms.

She walked up to A-Chao, bowed her head, and stood respectfully, a stark contrast to the scheming, aloof imperial concubine she had been at the banquet.

"master."

Ah Chao didn't look at her; his gaze remained fixed on the person in his arms.

"Yunniang." He spoke, his voice not loud, but Consort Shu's expression changed slightly.

He rarely called her by that name. When he did, it meant he was about to say something harsh.

"You didn't handle things well this time."

Consort Shu lowered her eyes and offered no explanation.

"I told you to keep an eye on her," Ah Chao's voice turned cold, "not to watch her get drugged."

Yunniang knelt down, her knees hitting the bluestone slab with a muffled sound.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. It was my oversight; I did not expect the Empress to take action personally."

"Didn't expect that?" Ah Chao repeated the three words, a slight, cold smile playing on his lips. "You've been in the palace for so long, what tricks haven't you seen? Didn't expect that?"

Yunniang dared not speak.

Ah Chao looked down at her.

"Considering your current position, I won't punish you." His voice was flat. "But if there's a next time—"

He paused, then his voice became even softer.

"Go underground and join your family. It seems you don't want to avenge this."

Yunniang's body trembled violently, and her forehead hit the ground.

"Don't worry, Master, there won't be a next time."

Ah Chao didn't say anything more and carried Shen Nannan forward.

After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

"The Crown Prince should be deposed." He didn't turn around. "You know what to do."

Yunniang knelt on the ground, raised her head, and looked at his back.

"My lady," her voice hesitated, "are we really going to... plan ahead for a woman?"

Ah Chao paused for a moment.

A night breeze blew by, causing his clothes to sway gently. Shen Nannan in his arms stirred again, burying her face in the crook of his neck and mumbling something indistinctly.

He looked down at her; in the moonlight, her face was flushed, her lips were red, and there were still wet tears on her eyelashes.

"You talk too much," he said.

Yunniang lowered her head: "This subordinate is being nosy."

Ah Chao ignored her and carried Shen Nannan out.

"Is the carriage ready?"

"It's ready," Yunniang's voice came from behind. "At the back door."

A-Chao didn't say anything more. He carried Shen Nannan through the moon gate, through the passageway, and out of the palace through the side gate.

The carriage stopped outside the palace gate, its curtains drawn, completely obscuring the view.

Ah Chao carried Shen Nannan into the car.

He wanted to put her on the soft couch first, but Shen Nannan clung tightly to his collar and wouldn't let go.

Climbing up his waist, the snake coiled around his body like a snake.

"Ah Chao..." Her voice was as soft as water, and her hot breath tickled his neck, making his scalp tingle.

He didn't move.

Shen Nannan nestled against his chest, her nose rubbing against his chin, her lips pressing against his Adam's apple, nuzzling him gently.

She gripped his collar and tugged at it, as if complaining that he was wearing too many clothes.

"Hot..." she muttered, reaching up to pull at her collar.

Ah Chao grasped her hand and pressed it down.

"Miss," his voice was a little hoarse, "please wake up."

She can't hear.

She felt like she was on fire, and all she could do was stick to him. His skin was cool and felt comfortable against her.

She pressed her face against his neck, rubbed against it, and let out a satisfied sigh.

Ah Chao's Adam's apple bobbed violently.

He removed her hands from her collar and placed them on her sides.

She struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free, so she snuggled closer into his arms.

"Ah Chao..." she called his name, her voice trembling with a hint of a sob, "It hurts..."

"You know you're suffering, yet you still run around?" His voice was muffled, with a hint of gritted teeth. "I told you not to let Miss go to the palace, but you insisted on going."

She couldn't hear what he was saying, only that he felt cool and comfortable against her skin.

He neither pushed her away nor responded.

He just sat there, letting her kiss him haphazardly in his arms.

Shen Nannan kissed him for a while, but then became dissatisfied.

She reached out to touch his face, her fingertips gently caressing his lips, then leaned in and kissed him.

Hot lips pressed against mine, carrying the scent of wine and the heat of medicine.

Her tongue clumsily licked his lips.

Ah Chao closed his eyes and clenched his fingers tightly around the soft cushion beneath him.

She didn't stop.

She kissed him for a while, then pulled back a little, then leaned in again, this time kissing him more deeply, her tongue prying open his lips and teeth, probing inside.

Ah Chao abruptly turned his face away.

Shen Nannan's lips landed on his cheek, and she made a muffled "Mmm" sound before chasing after his lips again.

"Miss." His voice was hoarse. He reached out and cupped her face, making her look at him.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, falling on her face. Her eyes were wet, her pupils unfocused, filled with desire.

She looked at him, but not as if she knew him; rather, she looked at something that could relieve her burning desire.

"Ah Chao..." she called his name, but the name came out of her mouth softly, with a hook.

Ah Chao stared at her, then suddenly smiled.

That smile held no warmth, only jealousy.

"Miss," he said, stroking her lips with his thumb.

"Were you like this when you were holding the Third Prince just now?"