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

"My little girl..."

Someone was speaking in her ear, their voice low and carrying an indescribable meaning.

She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as heavy as lead.

A hand landed on her waist, kneading it gently.

She trembled, trying to pull away, but he pulled her back and held her tightly in his arms.

"What are you hiding from?"

The voice was close to her ear, and the hot breath inside made her scalp tingle with an itch.

"I'm not going to eat you."

She finally opened her eyes.

He was met with a face that was breathtakingly alluring.

He had deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips slightly upturned, looking at her with a half-smile.

Xiao Yunzhao leaned over her, his black nightgown hanging loosely on his shoulders, a few strands of dark hair falling down and tickling her face.

"Awake?" he asked in a low voice, his voice hoarse from just waking up, with an indescribable languor and an indescribable danger.

Shen Nannan opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but no sound came out.

"Had a nightmare?" His long, slender fingers traced her cheek, slowly sliding down her face. "You were screaming so loudly."

Shen Nannan wanted to shake her head, but his hand had already slid to her chin, gently pinching it and forcing her to look up at him.

"Last night," he said slowly, "I didn't serve you well?"

Shen Nannan's face flushed red instantly.

She remembered last night—

He pressed her down on the couch and kissed her inch by inch.

From forehead to lips, from lips to chin, then to neck, and then...

"You remember now?" He looked at her flushed face and chuckled softly. The sound was muffled in his chest and made her heart tingle.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked knowingly, his fingers starting to wander again, sliding down her chin and stopping at a certain spot, where he gently pressed.

Shen Nannan let out a muffled groan and bit her lower lip.

"Don't bite." He gently bit her chin, forcing her to release her lips. "I love to hear that."

His fingers twitched again.

Shen Nannan finally couldn't hold back and let out a soft sob.

He smiled with satisfaction, his lips moving towards his earlobe.

"My dear, do you know—"

His tongue gently licked her earlobe.

"The more you act like this, the more I want to bully you."

Shen Nannan trembled all over.

His hand reached down, scooped up one of her legs, and pulled her towards his waist—

"Your Highness!"

She finally cried out, her voice soft and trembling, tinged with sobs.

He paused.

He looked down at her.

Moonlight streamed through the window screen, falling on her face. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her lips trembled slightly as she looked at him.

He stared into those eyes for a long time.

Then he leaned down and pulled her into his arms.

"What are you afraid of?" he said sullenly, his voice suddenly losing its previous dangerous tone and instead carrying an indescribable, almost weary softness.

"I'm not really going to kill you."

He held her even tighter.

"You are my destiny."

-

Ah Chao stood in the shadows, looking at the window whose lights were already off.

The moonlight stretched his shadow very long.

He spoke, his voice so low it was almost inaudible:

"Mo Bai."

A very faint rustling sound came from the shadows. The next second, a figure in black appeared silently behind him, kneeling and bowing his head.

"master."

"Investigate. Which princes in the capital have had contact with the Shen family!"

Mo Bai paused for a moment: "What does Master mean..."

"all."

Ah Chao turned around, the moonlight falling on his face and illuminating a pair of unfathomable eyes. "Crown Prince Xiao Jing, Prince Rui Xiao Yunting, and all those with titles, investigate them one by one."

Mo Bai lowered his head: "Yes."

"Find out the details of every single one of those princes who saw her. When they saw her, where they saw her, how long they met, and what they said—"

He gritted his teeth and continued speaking.

"Especially, has anyone spent time alone with her?"

He paused, then added in an even lower voice.

"……how long."

Mo Bai looked up at his master.

My lord seems a little different tonight.

But he didn't dare ask any more questions, and only replied, "Yes."

He vanished into the night in a flash.

Ah Chao stood there, looking at the window.

The moonlight was very bright, illuminating the entire courtyard clearly.

But he still couldn't see through the person behind that window.

I can't figure out why she's afraid of him.

He couldn't understand why she was so good to him.

He couldn't see through her eyes; sometimes when she looked at him, it was as if she were looking at a different person.

Your Highness.

In her dream, she called out to the prince.

He looked at his fingertips and slowly clenched that finger into his palm.

-

The next morning, when Shen Nannan woke up, her head was still a little dizzy.

She sat in front of the dressing table, and Qiu Yu combed her hair.

"Didn't you sleep well last night, Miss?" Qiu Yu asked.

"Yeah, I had a dream," Shen Nannan replied casually.

"What kind of dream was it?"

Shen Nannan remained silent.

What did you say? That you dreamt about that madman from your past life?

She shook her head, trying to banish these chaotic thoughts.

After combing her hair, she pushed open the door and went out.

Under the eaves, A-Chao stood there respectfully.

Shen Nannan glanced at him.

He seems a little different today.

I can't quite put my finger on what's different, it's just... a feeling.

She walked past him, then suddenly stopped.

Look back at him.

He kept his eyes down, his face expressionless.

"Ah Chao".

"exist."

"Were you on watch last night...?"

Ah Chao looked up and glanced at her.

That glance was very short and quick.

"Yes," he said.

"Did you sleep well last night, Miss?"

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat.

Why is he asking this?

She tried to appear calm: "It's...it's alright."

Achao nodded.

"That's good."

His voice was even lower, as if squeezed out from his chest:

"This servant thought that Miss was dreaming again."

"Does the person in your dream...scare you?"