Li Jiǎo returned to her natal home but didn’t get to see Old Madam Deng or Third Miss Li. Not wanting to meet with Lady He either, she ended up having her meal with Second Madam Liu.

Lady Liu was in no better mood.

She still hadn’t sorted out her mess of troubles – how could she have the leisure to dine with a distant niece who had become a concubine?

However, since none of the residents’ masters were going out these days, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her not to accompany Li Jiǎo.

Lady Liu secretly glanced at Li Jiǎo and pressed her lips.

Concubines were just troublesome. Instead of staying properly in the prince’s residence at this time, what was she coming back for?

“Second Aunt looks thinner,” Li Jiǎo said with apparent concern.

Of the four young ladies in the West Residence total, she had entered the prince’s residence, Li Zhao was engaged to Marquis Guanjun, leaving only Lady Liu’s two daughters without prospects. It was understandable that she felt suppressed by her stepmother and unable to hold her head up.

In that case, she and this second aunt could get along well.

Lady Liu smiled upon hearing this: “I suffer from summer heat.”

She had no interest in idle chatter with the eldest miss.

Summer heat? Li Jiǎo’s smile almost couldn’t hold.

Spring had just arrived – what summer was there to suffer from?

Fine, this meal was inedible anyway. She might as well go see Third Brother. Calculating the time, today happened to be Third Brother’s day off.

Li Jiǎo sent her maid Xing’er to request a meeting with Li Hui. Not long after, Xing’er returned with a message: “Miss, Third Young Master says you are an honored person of the prince’s residence. Times are different now, and even though you’re blood siblings, it’s improper to meet privately. He asks that you return early.”

Xing’er spoke diplomatically, but remembering Third Young Master’s expression when he said this, she sighed inwardly.

Li Jiǎo’s face alternated between green and white. Unable to stay any longer, she returned to Prince Rui’s residence with suppressed anger.

Prince Rui had been eagerly waiting and came over immediately upon hearing Li Jiǎo had returned.

“Is Third Miss Li still not going?”

“Yes, Grandmother is feeling unwell, and Third Sister must attend to her illness. She has no mind for going out to banquets.” Li Jiǎo lied without changing expression.

She didn’t want to honestly say she hadn’t seen Li Zhao, lest the prince send her again. If Li Zhao still refused to go then, she would lose face.

Prince Rui stood up.

“Your Highness, I’ve prepared tea—”

Prince Rui waved his hand: “No need. I still have matters to attend to. Drink it yourself.”

“Your Highness—” Li Jiǎo couldn’t even catch Prince Rui’s sleeve and could only watch helplessly as he walked away. In anger, she swept the teacups on the tea table to the floor.

Xing’er hurried in and carefully called out: “Concubine—”

Li Jiǎo glared fiercely at Xing’er: “Are you made of wood, just standing there? Hurry up and clean this!”

“Yes.”

Listening to Xing’er cleaning up, Li Jiǎo felt vexed and irritated. She pounded her pillow hard and stood up.

She couldn’t continue like this. If the prince hadn’t touched her when she was still new, wouldn’t there be even less hope in the future?

Li Jiǎo went out and wandered in the garden. Suddenly, she heard low voices from behind some flowers and trees. Catching the words “Prince Rui,” she couldn’t help but stop and listen.

Speaking of it, that newly entered concubine is pitiful. At such a flower-like age, yet she guards an empty room night after night…”

“I’m puzzled too. If His Highness doesn’t like the new concubine, why did he bring her into the residence?”

The first speaker chuckled low with a meaningful tone: “His Highness doesn’t dislike her at all—”

The voice stopped, making Li Jiǎo clench her fists in frustration.

What did this person mean? Could there be other reasons why the prince wouldn’t touch her? Why didn’t they continue?

“Oh my, if you put it that way, does His Highness like the new concubine? I don’t believe it. If His Highness liked her, would he not enter the new concubine’s room? I remember when Concubine Yun entered the residence over a year ago, His Highness spent three months sleeping in her quarters.”

Li Jiǎo listened secretly, her face burning red with shame.

She had seen that Concubine Yun – her beauty was far inferior to her own. She was said to be a silk-washing girl whom the prince encountered by chance during a spring outing.

Even such a person could keep the prince in her quarters for three months, yet she still hadn’t consummated with the prince…

What was the reason?

Li Jiǎo closed her eyes, wanting to rush in and ask.

Fortunately, under the other person’s curious questioning, the speaker continued: “His Highness doesn’t dislike the new concubine – he’s willing but unable—”

“Hiss, are you saying His Highness is impotent?”

To her surprise, Li Jiǎo accidentally stepped on a dry branch. Luckily, it was covered by the other person’s exclamation, but she broke out in a cold sweat.

“I work at the medical bureau, you know. His Highness takes medicine every few days to regulate that aspect.”

Li Jiǎo suddenly understood upon hearing this.

No wonder the prince always carried a faint medicinal scent – so that was it!

“Can His Highness still recover?”

“Of course he can. It’s just that taking that medicine dampens interest, because being pure-hearted and ascetic allows proper body nourishment. I heard the physician say His Highness’s body is somewhat weak. After another year or two of care, he won’t need this anymore.”

“Then isn’t the new concubine doomed? After two years, will His Highness even remember who she is?”

“Exactly. His Highness has abstained from women for almost a year. After conserving energy for so long, this is the easiest time for conception, but unfortunately, none of the concubines in the residence have that fortune…”

“Enough, we shouldn’t discuss His Highness’s private matters. Be careful someone hears us – we’d lose our lives.”

The two walked away with rustling sounds. Li Jiǎo slowly emerged, her face calm as a deep pool, but flames danced in her eyes.

The next day, Prince Rui finally received word through Chi Can that Marquis Guanjun would attend the banquet, but his mood wasn’t good.

Using up a favor like this was a huge loss, but he had promised Sixth Brother he would invite Marquis Guanjun. If he failed, he would lose face.

Forget it – a favor was used. With Scholar Li’s connection, he needn’t worry about lacking opportunities to get close to Marquis Guanjun in the future.

Prince Rui comforted himself and headed to Li Jiǎo’s quarters.

Seeing Prince Rui approach, Li Jiǎo was secretly pleased.

“What’s that scent?” Prince Rui sniffed lightly.

“It’s blended incense I brought from my natal home. If Your Highness finds it unpleasant, I’ll change it.”

“No need, it smells quite nice. By the way, yesterday you mentioned making tea. Could it be that Jiǎo-niang is skilled in the tea ceremony?” Thinking of his coldness toward Li Jiǎo yesterday, Prince Rui felt somewhat pitying.

“I wouldn’t say skilled – I’ve just dabbled a little. If Your Highness would like tea, I’ll prepare it for you.” Li Jiǎo felt everything was going perfectly. Even if Prince Rui hadn’t brought it up, she would have steered the conversation toward tea.

“Good.”

Li Jiǎo took out tea implements and began demonstrating the tea ceremony.

The young lady was still as a virgin, and amid the curling tea fragrance, every gesture displayed elegance. Prince Rui couldn’t help but become entranced.

“Your Highness, please drink tea.” Li Jiǎo lowered her brows with a gentle smile as she offered the fragrant tea.

Prince Rui accepted it and drank. Looking at the picture-perfect young lady before him, the fire in his heart suddenly erupted uncontrollably, burning ever more fiercely.

He reached out and grasped Li Jiǎo’s wrist.

“Your Highness—” Li Jiǎo cried out but didn’t dodge. She gazed with watery eyes at the man so close before her and courageously pressed her crimson lips forward.

For a moment, red waves rolled, and after the initial storm of passion subsided.

Li Jiǎo saw Prince Rui open his eyes and lowered her head bashfully: “Your Highness, you’re awake.”