The clingy concubine ran away, and the sickly prince lost control.

娶？

Everyone was taken aback.

The old lady was surprised that Pei Shiyuan suddenly changed his mind.

Cui Chengxuan was also taken aback. Pei Shiyuan wasn't going to break off the engagement again; he was going to marry his third sister? Alas, what a pity for his third sister; she might end up a widow for the rest of her life.

Luo Qingyan's expression didn't change much. I knew it! It's just that the young couple is having a tiff. As long as it's not directed at her, she doesn't care.

She was just a concubine kept to have children. Cui Rou was married to Pei Shiyuan as his wife, but that didn't affect her being a concubine.

Only Cui Rou was the most surprised, her mouth agape.

Didn't Pei Shiyuan insist on not marrying her? Yet in a moment he said he wanted to marry her.

She didn't really want to get married; she just wanted to keep Pei Shiyuan's heart.

"Cousin, didn't you say you wouldn't marry anyone but me?"

Seeing Cui Rou frozen in shock, Pei Shiyuan pressed her for answers, a barely perceptible hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

Cui Rou didn't really want to marry him.

"Yes, in this life, I only wish to marry my cousin." Cui Rou felt everyone around her looking at her with longing eyes, her mouth agape as she said, "Marry him! Marry him!"

"Ah!" Cui Rou covered her ears and screamed in shock.

Is it wrong for her to have a good reputation? If anyone is to blame, it's Pei Shiyuan for being sick and affecting their marriage. Why should her reputation be affected?

It's not wrong for her not to marry; who would want to marry a dying man?

It's not wrong for her not to want Pei Shiyuan to have other women, because she loves Pei Shiyuan.

"Rou'er, what's wrong?" the old lady asked.

In desperation, Cui Rou came up with a way to have the best of both worlds—to feign illness and wait until Pei Shiyuan died.

In this way, she wouldn't have to get married, and as long as she stayed in the Duke's mansion, others would know that she was devoted to Pei Shiyuan and that it wouldn't affect her reputation.

Upon hearing the old lady's question, Cui Rou curled up and fell to the ground, closing her eyes tightly.

Pei Shiyuan curled his lips into a smile and rolled away in his wheelchair: "Cui Rou is quite the actress."

The physician rushed over but couldn't diagnose Cui Rou's illness. He inserted an acupuncture needle into Cui Rou's philtrum, which usually wakes up a person who has fainted.

The silver needles stung Cui Rou, forcing her to wake up.

Upon waking up, Cui Rou kept saying that she felt dizzy.

The physician still couldn't determine the cause of the illness.

"Aunt, I think I'll feel better after I go back and lie down for a while. I'm probably just too excited because Brother Yuan is willing to marry me." Cui Rou forced a smile.

The old lady nodded.

Inside Linfeng Residence, Luo Qingyan looked at Pei Shiyuan with pity; they were truly a pair of star-crossed lovers. He was willing to marry her, but she had fallen ill.

"Go read a book." Pei Shiyuan felt a gaze fixed on him and shifted his shoulders uncomfortably.

That incorrigible woman, Luo Qingyan, is trying to make a move on him again.

"Your Highness, dinner will be served soon. Shall I eat first and then see what's going on?" Luo Qingyan rubbed her stomach, which was rumbling loudly; she was so hungry.

"Then why don't you go help?"

Pei Shiyuan's bad habit resurfaced; he got angry with Cui Rou and took it out on her.

Luo Qingyan rolled her eyes inwardly, then left dejectedly to check on dinner in the kitchen.

Recently, the maids have been serving her so well that she doesn't have to lift a finger to do anything.

Pei Shiyuan breathed a deep sigh of relief and relaxed after Luo Qingyan left.

When Luo Qingyan stared at him, his whole body tensed up, and he couldn't relax even if he wanted to.

"Aunt Luo, dinner will be ready soon."

Upon seeing Luo Qingyan arrive, a maid immediately came forward to report.

Luo Qingyan nodded, rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to help.

"Aunt Luo, let us do it. This is all the servants' work."

A maidservant took over the job.

Luo Qingyan walked around for a while, but finding nothing to do, she sat down on a chair to the side.

Pei Shiyuan was angered by Cui Rou again, and she wasn't going to go back and risk getting into trouble.

Looking out the window, under the eaves, several baby swallows in their nest are peeking out with their round heads, looking around.

Before long, a large swallow flew back with an insect in its beak, and the little swallows cheered with joy.

Luo Qingyan looked away from her stomach. When would she be able to get pregnant? Looking at Pei Shiyuan's indifferent expression, it was difficult to even get close to him.

With a sigh, Luo Qingyan rested her chin on her hand, thinking hard. "Ah, I've got it! Pei Shiyuan was just angered by Cui Rou, so he should feel empty. Maybe I can take advantage of that."

In the past, when my mother angered my father, he would even favor his concubines whom he didn't usually like, leaving him feeling lost and empty.

She still needs to cultivate a relationship with Pei Shiyuan; she can't just rely on drugs. If she can't get pregnant the first time, she can't keep using drugs every time.

Tonight might be a good opportunity to get closer to Pei Shiyuan.

Once dinner was served, Luo Qingyan deliberately moved her chair closer to Pei Shiyuan.

"Your Highness, please try this."

Luo Qingyan served the dishes, deliberately touching Pei Shiyuan's hand with her fingertips from time to time, teasing him, and then stood up, her sleeve brushing against Pei Shiyuan's earlobe.

Sure enough, Pei Shiyuan's face gradually turned red. He felt something was wrong and kept repeating to himself: "All is emptiness."

He blamed himself for his lack of self-control, and he also blamed Luo Qingyan for thinking about that matter all day long. He wasn't much better himself. Finally, after finishing his meal, he rolled his wheelchair to the study.

Luo Qingyan entered the study shortly after, carrying a cup of tea: "Your Highness, please have some tea."

The woman's body was practically pressed against his, and Pei Shiyuan gasped.

Why is Luo Qingyan sticking to him like a leech today? She even applied perfume to her hands, and the fragrance wafted gently past his nose, making him feel itchy.

Aphrodisiac incense?

"Luo Qingyan, what's that scent on your hands?" Pei Shiyuan's face darkened immediately.

"Your Highness, it's just ordinary perfume." Luo Qingyan smelled it again, finding it pleasant. "I bought it on the way to pick up Granny Liu."

"Bring me the box that holds the perfume."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qingyan quickly retrieved the perfume box.

Pei Shiyuan put it to his nose and smelled it, then looked at Luo Qingyan's sincere eyes. There was no problem, but he felt a little hot.

Ultimately, it's my own self-control that's deteriorated, so I can't entirely blame Luo Qingyan. Getting her away from me might help.

"You don't need to serve me here. Go back and read your books. I'll check on you in a bit."

Pei Shiyuan gave the order.

"Your Highness, I don't want to read today. I'll just stay here and serve you. Please give me whatever you need." Luo Qingyan was prepared to act like those delicate concubines, clinging to the man no matter what.

She half-squatted down and blinked at Pei Shiyuan, her red lips and white teeth trembling slightly as she spoke close to him.

Pei Shiyuan immediately leaned back.

"Can't you hear me?"

His tone grew colder, and his sharp gaze glared at Luo Qingyan, sending a shiver down her spine.

Something's not right. Is Pei Shiyuan different from the others?

He has many strange quirks; not all men fall for women with just a snap of the fingers.

She wanted to climb the social ladder, but instead encountered a brick.

Luo Qingyan curtsied and quickly ran away.

Back in the side room, I was ready to sleep; I had no interest in reading.

"Sleep what?!"

A cold voice came, and Luo Qingyan rolled over and sat up. Pei Shiyuan?

"Read a book. Go to sleep at midnight."

After thinking it over, I can't entirely blame him for lacking self-control. This woman's desires are too strong, and she teases him from time to time. He needs to stay up late reading to expend his energy, think less about that kind of thing, and sleepwalk less.

Luo Qingyan can only sleep in the second half of the night because she goes to bed at midnight. Has Pei Shiyuan gone mad?

Luo Qingyan reluctantly took out her book and began to study late into the night. Even the teachers at the Imperial Academy weren't this strict!

After watching for a short while, Luo Qingyan fell asleep on the table.

The next day, at dawn, Pei Shiyuan looked at Luo Qingyan with two big dark circles under her eyes and was quite satisfied. Now she wouldn't have the energy to cause trouble in front of him.

"Aunt, Lord Cui is here. He says he wants to see you," Liu Yue reported.

Shouldn't Cui Chengxuan consult the Crown Prince if he has something to say?