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

Shen Nannan didn't hear the sarcasm in his words at all.

All she knew was that his lips were moving, opening and closing, and it looked beautiful.

She leaned in to kiss him, but he turned his head away. She chased after him again, but he dodged again.

"Don't hide..." Her voice was as soft as water, tinged with aggrieved sobs, "Ah Chao... don't hide..."

Ah Chao tilted his head and didn't move.

She could only cling to his neck, her burning cheeks rubbing against his cold, hard jaw, her wet lips haphazardly kissing his Adam's apple and chin, whimpering in a tearful voice, "Ah Chao... cold... I want it cold..."

Ah Chao felt her soft lips brush against his chest. Looking at the person in his arms, whose eyes were glazed over and whose face was flushed, the jealousy in his eyes grew like wildly spreading vines.

With her like this, what man could resist?

But ironically, she had just been in another man's arms!

I'm so angry! I'm so annoyed!

To hell with the big picture!

Screw your plans!

All he knew was that if anything happened to the little girl today, he would go crazy! He would want to overthrow the entire dynasty!

The little girl in his arms seemed unaware of just how alluring she was at that moment.

"It's hot...so hot..."

She squirmed in his arms, tearing at her collar. Her already loose clothing, under her tugging, revealed half of her breasts, a glimpse of her alluring figure.

"Ah Chao... I feel so bad... Hug me... Hug me..."

Her sweet, soft voice brushed against his ear.

Was that how she asked Xiao Yunting to hug her just now?!

He raised his hand, his large palm covering her soft flesh.

"Was this... touched by Xiao Yunting?"

Shen Nannan trembled, went limp in his arms, and sobbed, "No...no..."

His hand continued downwards, caressing the bottom of her skirt.

"Or...here?"

Driven to the brink of madness by the effects of the drug and his torment, she trembled uncontrollably. "No...no...Ah Chao...I feel unwell..."

"No?" He chuckled softly, a laugh devoid of warmth, filled only with an unyielding obsession.

"What about here? Is it there or not?!"

Wherever his fingertips touched, they carried a raging fire, yet also a restrained coolness, driving Shen Nannan almost mad.

She trembled all over, like a fish out of water, wriggling in his arms, wanting more, but he wouldn't give in to her wishes. He stood there, motionless, staring at her with his dark eyes.

"Ah Chao... help me..." she cried as she grabbed his collar, her fingertips trembling violently. She ripped his shirt open, revealing his lean chest. She pressed her face against his, the cool skin against her burning cheek making her sigh with pleasure. Her tongue unconsciously licked his chest.

Ah Chao's muscles tensed, but the jealousy in his eyes didn't diminish at all. He gripped her waist with his other hand, preventing her from moving, and said in a deep and harsh voice, "Is Miss so desperate for pampering?"

"You'd take anything that was cooled down by someone?"

Shen Nannan was held captive and unable to move. The burning sensation from the drug made her vision blur, and her tears fell even more fiercely in her distress.

"If you won't help me... I'll find someone else..."

These words instantly ignited the pent-up madness that Ah Chao had been suppressing all along.

He suddenly grabbed her waist and pressed her against his body, the force so great it felt like he was embedding himself into her bones.

His eyes were red as he lowered his head, his nose brushing against hers, his hot breath spraying onto her face. His voice was hoarse and strained, filled with an almost manic obsession: "Find someone else?"

"Who is Miss looking for? The Third Prince? Or that man surnamed Pei?"

His hand slid down her waist, the movement a punishing kneading, his breath hot and menacing: "This servant never said I wouldn't help Miss."

"Miss, aren't you just treating me like a living, breathing instrument to counteract the effects of this medicine?"

He leaned down, his lips brushing against her earlobe, his voice low and seductive, yet tinged with a sourness like vinegar: "It's okay."

"Please use it, Miss."

Shen Nannan felt a sharp pain in her heart from his sinister words. Although the medicine had made her delirious, a sense of grievance rushed straight to the top of her head.

She held back her surging tears, grabbed the gold hairpin from her hair, and stabbed herself in the process.

Ah Chao reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her away forcefully. "What are you doing?!"

Shen Nannan was so angry she was delirious. "You didn't come when the Crown Prince bullied me, and now that someone has saved me, you're accusing me! I don't want you to save me anymore! I don't want you! Get out!"

Ah Chao tightened his grip on her wrist suddenly, then loosened it just as quickly, as if afraid of crushing her delicate white wrist.

He watched her cry until her face was red and her lips trembled from biting them. The jealousy, madness, and resentment that had surged up all the way here shattered instantly when she said "I don't want you," leaving only overwhelming panic.

In his life, he had braved countless dangers and witnessed countless conspiracies and schemes, and he had never been afraid of the power struggles of the imperial court. The only thing he feared was her crying, and that she would abandon him.

"I'm not leaving." His voice was hoarse. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, letting her fists pound against his chest without flinching. "This servant is not going anywhere. I'll stay right here with Miss."

"open."

"I won't let go."

"I told you not to touch me..." She raised her hand to hit him, slapping him on the chest, again and again.

Her little pink fists felt like a massage on his body; they didn't hurt, but they hurt him inside. He let her hit him without flinching.

She hit him a few times, then ran out of strength. She placed her hand on his chest, panting, tears streaming down her face.

"You're bullying me..." Her voice was hoarse. "You always bully me... You were just avoiding me... You even framed me... How can you be so unreasonable..."

"Hmm," he responded, his voice muffled. "This servant is unreasonable."

"You're an idiot."

"Yeah, you bastard."

"Go away, I don't want you anymore."

Ah Chao's arms tightened suddenly, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"No." His voice trembled. "This won't do."

He looked at the person in his arms. Her almond-shaped eyes were wet and filled with his image; there was no room for anyone else.

He sighed deeply, a sigh filled with helplessness and a sense of indulgence at the inability to do anything about her.

He lost.

From the moment he first saw her in the cage, he was utterly defeated.

All those grand revenge plans and power struggles became utter nonsense in the face of her single tear.

He lowered his head and carefully kissed away the tears on her face, then took the gold hairpin from her hand.

"Don't cry," he coaxed in a hoarse voice, gently stroking her hair with his fingertips.

"It was the servant's fault."

"This servant should not have been harsh with Miss, should not have avoided Miss, and should not have wronged Miss."

His kisses traveled down her cheeks, finally landing on her reddened lips. This time, he didn't pull away, gently taking her lips in his mouth and licking away the saltiness. His voice was terribly hoarse as he whispered against her lips:

"This servant will help Miss. Give her whatever she wants."

He said coldly to the outside:

"The arrangements at the General's Mansion are complete."

"Go—underground."