Fu Yun Xi was at his wit’s end, never imagining this little girl could be so difficult. He knew she was intelligent and reserved, not one to cause trouble, but now that she was acting wild, he was also helpless. He restrained her movements with one hand.

He wished he could knock her unconscious with one strike, but knew that the sleep acupoint he had pressed earlier was already ineffective. If he did anything now that caused the aphrodisiac to spread further, harming Han Yan’s body, it would be disastrous.

“Mmm—” Han Yan let out a low whimper. The long-unfulfilled desire was unbearable, her body felt terrible. Dimly aware that someone was restraining her movements, she had almost completely lost consciousness and couldn’t think clearly. Acting purely on instinct, she felt wronged and distressed, and began to cry softly.

Through her, Fu Yun Xi almost saw that ugly little girl from seven years ago who had cried herself into a mess. His heart unconsciously softened, and he reached out to stroke her long hair, his dark eyes containing tenderness he wasn’t even aware of.

Unfortunately, Han Yan was completely unaware and cried even louder.

Fu Yun Xi felt somewhat helpless and sighed softly. When Han Yan first returned to the manor, Fu Yun Xi ordered the maids to change their clothes. Now after she struggled, her clothes were completely disheveled, even revealing her red undergarments. Her snow-white skin against this chaotic beauty created a unique feeling. Han Yan’s hair was scattered messily across Fu Yun Xi’s pillow, her entire small face had lost its usual childishness, appearing only seductive and charming. Moreover, she kept rubbing against him – if it had been anyone else, they might have devoured her immediately.

Fu Yun Xi narrowed his eyes as he watched. He wasn’t some paragon of virtue immune to temptation, but to him, Han Yan was more like a child needing protection. At least at present, he couldn’t harbor any improper thoughts toward Han Yan. He only felt that as his Princess Consort, he had failed to protect Han Yan, allowing her to endure this suffering, and felt something unusual in his heart. This usually fearless girl, now moved by emotion, seemed more like an ordinary person with some vitality. Otherwise, a thirteen-year-old girl acting so mature daily made one unsure whether to laugh or cry.

While lost in thought, a malicious laugh came from behind: “Young Master Fu, what good fortune!”

Fu Yun Xi, with Han Yan clutching his collar and him almost lying on top of her, certainly presented quite an intimate scene to others’ eyes. He looked back and said flatly: “You’re here.”

The newcomer was a middle-aged man in official robes, about forty years old, with a small goatee, wearing a mischievous smile: “Calling me here so late at night, it’s not to watch you favor a woman, is it?”

“She is this Prince’s Princess Consort,” Fu Yun Xi said expressionlessly, his tone already carrying a warning.

The middle-aged man quickly spoke: “Oh, it’s the Princess Consort! My, Young Master Fu, why such haste, she hasn’t even officially entered the family yet…” The rest of his words were swallowed back when he saw Fu Yun Xi’s murderous gaze: “What happened?”

Fu Yun Xi pulled Han Yan’s hands away and sat up straight: “She’s been poisoned with an aphrodisiac.”

“Pfft.” The middle-aged man choked and jumped up: “I’m an Imperial Physician! You want me to treat someone for an aphrodisiac?”

“You can choose not to,” Fu Yun Xi didn’t look up, gently fastening Han Yan’s clothes, “You’ve always known my temperament, Imperial Physician Wu.”

The middle-aged man swallowed and grimaced: “I’ll take a look then.” As he stepped forward, he saw Fu Yun Xi pull over a thin blanket and thoroughly cover Han Yan, seemingly very unwilling to let Imperial Physician Wu see Han Yan in this state.

Imperial Physician Wu naturally understood his intentions – such obvious actions would be clear to anyone but a fool. He carried his medicine box forward with a dry laugh: “Let me take a look. Tsk tsk, the Princess Consort is quite pretty…”

Fu Yun Xi glanced at him, holding Han Yan’s restless hand: “Don’t say unnecessary things.”

Imperial Physician Wu rubbed his nose: “Can’t even give a compliment?” He then reached out to take Han Yan’s pulse. After a moment, his usually smiling face showed a trace of confusion. He reached out to feel Han Yan’s forehead, suddenly stood up, stepped back several paces, and bowed deeply to Fu Yun Xi: “Your Highness, forgive me, this official is powerless to help.”

Fu Yun Xi coldly watched him, saying nothing.

“This poison is called Courtesan’s Charm, used by women in brothels, worth a thousand gold pieces, extremely potent. The poisoned person’s yang energy becomes overwhelming and must be balanced through intimacy, otherwise… otherwise, they will die.” Imperial Physician Wu wiped away cold sweat, and seeing Fu Yun Xi’s unclear expression, tentatively said: “This official truly has no other solution. The Princess Consort is your wife after all, perhaps…”

Fu Yun Xi looked at Han Yan on the bed. She was only thirteen this year, not yet of age, while he was already twenty-one. In his eyes, Han Yan hadn’t grown up yet, was just a child. To do such things with a child – he couldn’t get past that mental barrier himself. Moreover, he knew Han Yan’s temperament – seeming gentle and obedient but extremely stubborn. If he had relations with her, who knew what upheaval would occur when she woke up the next day? He could see that Han Yan was someone who extremely lacked a sense of security. He was gradually gaining her trust, and if he followed Imperial Physician Wu’s suggestion, he feared all his efforts would be wasted, and Han Yan would classify him as untrustworthy.

He looked at Imperial Physician Wu and asked quietly: “No medicine can save her?”

Imperial Physician Wu hesitated, then nodded.

“Then, what about this Prince’s blood?” The cold question came as Fu Yun Xi lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes tinted with an unclear color in the lamplight, like a soft sigh. His otherworldly beautiful face flickered like an untouchable myth through long ages. Though ice-cold, his gaze was extremely gentle as he stared at Han Yan on the bed, and asked again: “Then, what about this Prince’s blood?”

“Young Master Fu!” Imperial Physician Wu suddenly stood up: “Absolutely not, you know you can’t now…”

“Isn’t it just about balancing yin and yang? Her internal fire is strong, wouldn’t this Prince’s blood be able to cure it?”

Imperial Physician Wu was extremely anxious, but knew the person before him was also stubborn by nature – once he decided on something, no one could change his mind. But he absolutely could not do this.

“Don’t take risks, Yun Xi.” His tone became anxious like an elder truly worried about a child: “This…”

“Say no more,” Fu Yun Xi interrupted him: “Something must be left.”

Imperial Physician Wu moved his lips but ultimately said nothing, only the sorrow in his eyes was heart-stopping: “Yes, your blood can save her.”

A sharp blade cut across his hand, blood flowing from his fingertips into a jade-green porcelain bowl. One drop, two drops, three drops, gradually gathering into a pool, slowly filling a large bowl of blood as Fu Yun Xi’s face grew pale.

Imperial Physician Wu bandaged his wound and sighed: “Why do you do this to yourself…”

Fu Yun Xi ignored him, picking up the bowl: “You may leave.”

“You…” Despite being so rudely dismissed, Imperial Physician Wu wasn’t angry, just gave Fu Yun Xi a meaningful look, picked up his box, and left.

Fu Yun Xi sat down beside Han Yan. After all the commotion, Han Yan was also exhausted, but her face grew increasingly red, looking quite pitiful.

He lowered his head and took a mouthful of the bowl’s contents – the metallic blood still carried his warmth. One hand supporting Han Yan’s head, he held her in front of him and slowly bent down, pressing against her lips.

The blood transferred from his lips to hers. Han Yan gradually calmed down and stopped struggling. Perhaps the blood truly had an effect – the little girl in his arms became incredibly docile. Fu Yun Xi continued this way, taking a mouthful and feeding her a mouthful, lips against lips, in an unprecedented intimate gesture.

As he finished feeding the last mouthful and was about to leave her lips, his tongue was caught by another. He was slightly startled as Han Yan had already wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed tightly against him.

Whether from the residual effects of the aphrodisiac or not, she kissed Fu Yun Xi’s lips, still somewhat clumsy. Her small tongue was warm and moist as it circled and explored. Fu Yun Xi was so stunned he forgot to stop her, letting her do as she pleased. In their warm entanglement, his tongue suddenly hurt – in Han Yan’s first kiss, she had been careless and bit his tongue.

A faint metallic taste spread in their mouths, transforming into another kind of lingering flavor. Fu Yun Xi quietly watched the young girl before him with half-closed eyes. She was like a rare little beast he had accidentally discovered – after keeping her by his side for so long, he had grown to appreciate their mutual dependence.

His eyes were unconsciously filled with warmth. “Silly,” his deep, magnetic voice created an ambiguous atmosphere in the room, “That’s not how you kiss.”

With those words, he bent down and gently captured her lips.

When Han Yan opened her eyes to the morning sunlight filtering through the carved windows, her head was still slightly dizzy. She found herself lying in an unfamiliar large bed, wearing different clothes than the day before. Some memories hazily remained in her mind – she remembered drinking a cup of wine given by the Empress Dowager in the palace, then feeling her body grow hot… she had been poisoned with an aphrodisiac, had escaped with Ji Lan and Shu Hong, and then?

Her heart tightened – where were Ji Lan and Shu Hong? Where was this place?

As she pondered, she heard the door push open with a creak, and someone walked in from outside. The person was tall and slender, wearing only a plain white inner robe, his black hair not pinned up but loosely draped behind his head, carrying a kind of lazy nobility.

It was Fu Yun Xi.

He unhurriedly walked to the bedside. Against the light, his features were indistinct, but Han Yan felt relieved upon seeing him. She couldn’t explain why, but seeing him gave her a sense of security, knowing she would be safe.

Indeed, Fu Yun Xi stopped beside her, reached out to feel her forehead, and asked: “Are you feeling better?”

Though Han Yan found his cool hand comfortable against her forehead, she didn’t forget to ask: “Where are Ji Lan and Shu Hong?”

“They were injured and seen by a doctor. They’re resting now,” Fu Yun Xi said. “What happened yesterday?”

Han Yan paused: “The Empress Dowager’s bestowed wine.” After speaking, she looked up at Fu Yun Xi. The Empress Dowager was Fu Yun Xi’s mother, and normally such words from her would seem like trying to sow discord. But judging from the Empress Dowager’s actions yesterday, she meant harm to Fu Yun Xi. Could this mother and son pair only maintain a superficial harmony? She needed to verify some things, so after speaking, she watched Fu Yun Xi’s reaction.

However, Fu Yun Xi neither showed anger nor surprise, only gave a bland “Mm,” his face showing no emotion at all. Han Yan felt somewhat discouraged but said nothing more. Suddenly remembering something, she hesitantly asked: “Last night… what happened after?”

Having lost control under the aphrodisiac’s influence, facing Fu Yun Xi, she must have done something improper. Han Yan only had some remaining images in her mind, but they weren’t very clear, and she couldn’t distinguish what was real and what was a dream. But being seen by Fu Yun Xi in such a state must have been quite embarrassing.

“You tried to remove this Prince’s clothes,” Fu Yun Xi said flatly.

Han Yan froze for a moment, her face instantly turning red. She stared at Fu Yun Xi somewhat incredulously but knew he had no reason to lie about such things, and felt extremely embarrassed. Could she have been so desperate that she… even tried to undress him? Han Yan wanted to find a hole to crawl into. What kind of thing was this, when did she become so bold? Even though they were considered husband and wife as Prince and Princess Consort, she hadn’t officially entered the family yet, and Han Yan still couldn’t think of Fu Yun Xi as her husband. Now having him mention it so casually made her feel like a child caught doing something wrong. She stammered: “Was there… anything else?”

“You threw yourself into this Prince’s arms,” he said.

Han Yan grew even more embarrassed, her small face flushed red as she stuttered: “Really? I don’t remember…”

Fu Yun Xi bent down slightly to look at her, his dark phoenix eyes swirling with hidden currents as his thin lips spoke softly: “Last night while this Prince was bathing in the Lotus Clear Pool, you burst in and attempted to take advantage of this Prince.”