Ji Chongyi returned to his study, kicked off his shoes, and collapsed onto the couch, falling into a deep sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, he woke up groggily, feeling a splitting headache and a parched throat.

“Water—” he mumbled.

A cup touched his lips. Without thinking much, Ji Chongyi drank a few sips, but it only made him thirstier. He struggled to open his eyes and grabbed the cup, drinking large gulps.

“Young Master, be careful not to wet your clothes,” a soft, fragrant body leaned close to him.

Feeling feverish, Ji Chongyi tugged at his collar, only to find that his outer robe had been removed at some point, leaving only his snow-white undergarment.

He finally looked at the person speaking. It was one of Qiao Niang’s maids.

The young maid’s eyes sparkled with a faint smile.

Ji Chongyi, not thinking much of it, placed the teacup on the bedside table and asked, “Did the Young Madam send you?”

The maid lowered her head, exposing a slender, fair neck. “The Young Madam cried all afternoon, then fell asleep… This servant thought the Young Master might be thirsty after drinking so much, so I came to check…”

Ji Chongyi glanced down at his clothes.

The maid quickly explained, “This servant was afraid the Young Master would be uncomfortable sleeping in his outer robe, so I removed it for you. The Young Master won’t blame this servant, will he?”

“It’s fine. You may go now,” Ji Chongyi said, still feeling a fire burning in his internal organs as he got up from the couch.

But the soft body leaned in closer. “Young Master, let this servant help you.”

“That won’t be necessary—” Ji Chongyi pushed the maid away, but his body swayed.

“Young Master, be careful!” The maid pressed her entire body against him, her voice soft and enticing.

Ji Chongyi frowned and was about to push the maid away when the door suddenly burst open.

Qiao Niang stood at the doorway holding a bowl of hangover soup, her face deathly pale.

“Qiao Niang—”

The bowl in Qiao Niang’s hands fell to the ground, shattering into pieces with a loud crash, spilling soup everywhere.

She turned and ran.

Ji Chongyi, still groggy from the alcohol, was stunned for a moment before hurrying after her.

The maid leaned against the door, her face pale. She was finished before she could even accomplish anything, caught by the Third Young Madam!

Qiao Niang ran back to her room and fell onto her pillow, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ji Chongyi entered the room and looked at Qiao Niang, who was crying so hard she could barely breathe. He said helplessly, “Qiao Niang, you’ve misunderstood—”

Qiao Niang suddenly sat up, glaring at Ji Chongyi through tear-filled eyes. “Tell me, what have I misunderstood?”

“That maid only brought me a cup of water, nothing else…”

Qiao Niang wiped her tears and laughed coldly. “If it was just bringing a cup of water, why were your clothes removed? I’m not blind, I saw clearly what you two were doing just now!”

Ji Chongyi also became irritated. He grabbed Qiao Niang’s wrist and said dissatisfied, “I drank too much, and you didn’t even come to take care of me. Instead, you’re making wild assumptions. In your heart, am I someone who would be so fickle?”

Qiao Niang had been detained by Madam Wei and couldn’t attend today’s luncheon. Knowing that Ji Chongyi would meet the Princess Consort of King Yan, she was already feeling insecure. Later, when she heard from the servants that the Princess Consort was a great beauty, her heart became even more uneasy.

She waited and waited, only to be greeted by a half-drunk man.

Perhaps it was the accumulation of days of grievances that finally exploded at this moment. Qiao Niang grabbed a pillow and threw it at Ji Chongyi, hitting and cursing him: “If you’re not fickle, why did you drink so much? It’s clearly because you saw how beautiful the Princess Consort of King Yan is, and you regret breaking off the engagement with her—”

Ji Chongyi suddenly covered Qiao Niang’s mouth and angrily said, “Stop making a scene. Do you know what the consequences would be if such words were to spread?”

Qiao Niang struggled and cursed, “Feeling guilty? You regret it, that’s why you’d rather sleep in the study than stay here. Maybe when that cheap maid was seducing you, you were even imagining her as the Princess Consort—”

Ji Chongyi slapped her, his eyes red with anger. “Qiao Niang, how have you become so vulgar?”

Suggesting that he had feelings for the Princess Consort of King Yan—if such words spread, it would bring not only shame but also trouble to the Duke’s manor!

Ji Chongyi was truly angered by Qiao Niang’s words.

The scene she had witnessed in the study had stimulated Qiao Niang to lose all reason. She tilted her chin up and retorted, “I’ve always been a country girl, haven’t I? It’s not like you just found out now. After all, you’ve seen the Princess Consort’s beauty and now find me distasteful everywhere. You think that cheap maid is more appealing than me, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do find that maid more appealing. Is that what you want to hear?” Ji Chongyi snapped.

Qiao Niang threw pillows and blankets at Ji Chongyi in a fury. “Then go sleep with her! Go on! Why did you come to my room?”

“Is that what you’re saying?” Ji Chongyi asked, his face dark.

“Am I wrong?” Qiao Niang challenged.

Ji Chongyi gave Qiao Niang a deep look and brushed off the handkerchief that had fallen on his shoulder. “Then I’ll do as you wish.”

He turned and strode away.

Qiao Niang took a few steps to follow, then stopped, leaning against the wall and covering her mouth as she sobbed bitterly.

The maid was still in a daze in the study.

She had seduced the master but was caught by the mistress before anything happened. The master surely wouldn’t protect her now.

How would the Third Young Madam punish her?

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and the night wind gusted in.

“Young… Young Master?” the maid stuttered.

Ji Chongyi strode over, pulled the maid up from the ground, and threw her onto the couch. He then pressed himself on top of her and began to kiss her wildly.

His kisses were filled with anger, particularly intense.

The maid went from initial shock to utter joy. Her arms were tightly wrapped around the waist of the man above her as she began to respond.

Ji Chongyi suddenly rolled over, pushing the maid off.

“Young Master?” she questioned, confused.

“Get out!” he ordered.

“Young Master—”

“If this happens again, I’ll have the steward sell you off immediately. Get out of here!”

The maid shuddered in fear. She dared not say more and hurriedly left with her head bowed.

The study fell silent.

Ji Chongyi sat on the low couch and smiled bitterly.

Even in his anger, he still couldn’t bring himself to be intimate with a woman he didn’t like.

As the night deepened, the headache from his hangover set in, accompanied by a sense of uncertainty about the future.

Ji Chongyi tossed and turned, silently staring at the door.

Qiao Niang never came, even though he had threatened to sleep with that maid.

In the quiet night, the chirping of insects outside the window became increasingly clear.

Ji Chongyi closed his eyes and let out a sigh.

He might… truly regret it now…

In the Jiaoyue Residence of the Princess’s manor, Cui Mingyue sat expressionless, repeatedly stabbing a maid’s back with a thin, long needle.

The maid didn’t dare to dodge. She bit on a handkerchief, not even daring to cry out in pain. Finally, when Cui Mingyue was tired of stabbing, the maid knelt and begged for mercy.

“Miss, this servant won’t dare to do it again. Please spare me.”

The young lady had ordered her to set a trap using rose water. She had been greedy and secretly poured some out for herself. As a result, due to King Yan’s interference, it couldn’t be concealed…

“You worthless slave, with such shallow schemes. I should be stabbing your eyes instead!” Unable to successfully plot against Jiang Si, Cui Mingyue’s anger raged, and she took it out on the maid.

The maid trembled, no longer daring to beg for mercy, and closed her eyes in despair.

The young lady was becoming more and more terrifying. What should she do in the future?

No, once the young lady marries Prince Xiang’s manor, she will surely control her temper. Just endure a little longer.

Marry into Prince Xiang’s manor? Jiang Si gently fanned herself with a silk fan, her gaze cold.

Cui Mingyue probably wouldn’t have that chance anymore!