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

Shen Nannan's hand, which was rubbing her neck, suddenly froze.

Her gaze fell on A-Chao's hands, which had distinct knuckles.

Their fingers were long and slender, with calluses on the base of their thumbs; it seemed as if these hands would immediately climb up to her neck if she nodded.

Like the cold, giant python in my dream last night, it tightened its grip on her.

In his previous life, he was in the Regent's Palace.

Xiao Yunzhao loved to grab the back of her neck and force her to tilt her head back to receive his violent yet deep kisses.

When he's in a good mood, he's like someone gently squeezing a cat;

When he was in a bad mood, he would take a bite and not let go until he tasted blood, then press his lips against her trembling back and whisper in a hoarse voice.

"My dear, you are mine, even this piece of your skin belongs to me."

"No need!" Shen Nannan refused reflexively, even unconsciously shrinking her neck back.

She forced herself to maintain the air of a spoiled young lady and glared at him.

"I'm a delicate person, don't let the smell of chickens from your hands bother me."

A shadow of gloom flashed across A Chao's eyes as he stared at the jade-like nape of the neck, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

The red marks left there last night should have faded by now, but the memory on his fingertips remains as vivid as ever.

Ah Chao took half a step forward.

He was extremely tall, and when he pressed down on her, Shen Nannan was completely enveloped in his shadow.

"Killing chickens is indeed dirty."

He chuckled softly, his voice so magnetic it sounded like he was whispering in her ear.

"But I've been washing my hands all night, my skin is all red from scrubbing. May I smell them, Miss?"

As he spoke, he actually raised his hand and reached towards Shen Nannan's nose.

"Ah Chao!"

Shen Nannan gritted her teeth, her voice carrying a soft tremor that she herself didn't even realize.

"You've overstepped your bounds!"

He turned to leave.

This person is acting very strangely today!

But Ah Chao didn't give her a chance to escape.

With a long stride, he appeared as a ghost blocking the doorway.

As the distance suddenly closed, an aura mixed with a crisp medicinal fragrance and a very faint smell of blood swept over them.

"Miss is afraid of pain, please be gentle..."

Ah Chao gently pinched the soft flesh of the back of her neck with his fingers, precisely pressing on the acupoint that was most sensitive to her and most prone to numbness.

"Ugh—" Shen Nannan groaned, and half of her body went limp instantly.

Ah Chao scooped her up smoothly, supporting her waist and half-holding her in his arms.

He casually placed the tray on the stone platform beside the pillar, making a soft sound.

"Miss didn't sleep well last night; her muscles are all tense."

He leaned down, his hot breath spraying onto the nape of her neck, the spot where the giant python had coiled in his dream.

"Are you not comfortable with being served by your servant?"

Shen Nannan felt half of her body go limp.

This feeling was exactly the same as those absurd yet tender afternoons when he imprisoned her in his previous life.

Xiao Yunzhao always liked to wrap his arms around her from behind, reviewing those memorials that determined life and death while torturing her with his calloused fingers.

"My dear, why is your body always so weak?" In his past life, he would bite her earlobe and murmur fiercely.

"So soft I want to knead you into my bones, so no one can see."

Now, that hand is just as hot, just as domineering.

Shen Nannan gritted her teeth to keep her embarrassing moan from escaping.

"Ah Chao, are you trying to... rebel against heaven?" Her palms were sweaty.

"This servant wouldn't dare. This servant only wishes to make Miss comfortable..."

Ah Chao lowered his head, but his eyes were fixed on her slightly trembling shoulders, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes.

Suddenly, she pressed hard on a sore acupoint on her hand, and Shen Nannan couldn't help but let out a soft groan.

The voice was delicate and soft, with a slight nasal tone.

The movements behind him suddenly stopped.

Ah Chao stared at that fair and delicate neck, so white it was dazzling.

The tiny red mark left last night

It was like a silent invitation to him.

As if possessed, he slowly pressed himself against her...

"Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

Linglong burst in, panting, "Miss! Something's happened! The Tong family—"

She clutched her knees, gasping for breath: "Tong... Tong Jian's body was dumped in the Tong family's courtyard!"

Shen Nannan's pupils suddenly contracted.

"What?"

------

Second room, main courtyard.

The room was in complete chaos.

Just now, Tong Jian was thrown like a dead dog at the back door of the second room.

He was covered in blood and had turned into a puddle of mud.

His lower body was stained dark red with blood.

He wasn't quite dead yet; strange gurgling sounds came from his throat. Even more horrifying, all ten of his fingers had been smashed inch by inch, hanging limply at the ground.

Tong screamed, her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.

"Five hundred thousand taels...where are my five hundred thousand taels of silver notes?!"

She scrambled over and frantically searched Tong Jian's mangled body, but found nothing.

Everything was gone! Tong felt her vision blur and her blood freeze.

"Who did it...who did it!" Tong gritted her teeth, her features contorted like a demon from hell.

"It's that little bitch Shen Nannan."

She spoke each word with gritted teeth, "It must be him! She had Ah Jian killed and stole the silver notes—"

"Madam," the old woman began cautiously, "but how did the young lady... how did she acquire such methods?"

Tong was taken aback.

Yes.

That idiot Shen Nannan couldn't possibly have such methods! Shen Run is nothing but a brute!

"Mother..." Shen Yin cried from the side, "My cousin is crippled, what about our plans? The spring outing is coming soon, how am I supposed to marry Brother Pei..."

"Shut up! How did I give birth to such a wanton, infatuated girl? The sky is falling and you're still thinking about getting married!!"

Tong suddenly looked up, a crazy, desperate gamble flashing in her eyes.

Five hundred thousand taels are gone. If the Crown Prince makes trouble, the entire second branch of the family will die!

Since Tong Jian is useless, let's just go all the way!

Crown Prince Xiao Jing was notoriously incompetent and lecherous, and his greatest pleasure was collecting beauties from all over the world.

Although Shen Nannan was a noble lady from the capital, her parents had always claimed that she was frail and sickly in order to protect her, and deliberately avoided all occasions where the Crown Prince was present.

Therefore, the crown prince had no idea.

What kind of stunningly beautiful woman is hidden in this general's mansion?

"you go,"

Madam Tong gripped the old woman's hand tightly.

"Find the best painter. And send another letter to the Crown Prince..."

"Tell me... about the spring outing to Peach Blossom Valley in half a month, I'd like to present His Highness the Crown Prince with... a grand gift he absolutely cannot refuse!"