A voice thick with provocative intent pierced through the door panel, causing the scantily clad violet-robed noblewoman behind the door to freeze instantly, pressing her ear against the wood.

A gentle breeze wafted through, carrying a delicate fragrance to her nostrils.

Shen Ke gazed at Yu Qingwu's slightly exposed neck, a surge of desire stirring within him. He couldn't help but say, "Of course, Cousin is far more beautiful. How can that Qin woman compare? She doesn't even measure up to a tenth of your allure."

*Thump.* As soon as the words left his mouth, the door behind him suddenly shuddered.

Shen Ke jolted, realizing then that the Qin woman was still inside.

His face paled instantly. He hurriedly pulled Yu Qingwu away, saying, "You came to me to retrieve the letter?"

"Yes, has Cousin found it?"

Yu Qingwu smiled, her eyes like pools of water as she gazed at Shen Ke with tenderness. Changing the subject, she then asked, "Cousin hasn't been looking too well lately. Is it because of Uncle taking a concubine?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ke's expression darkened.

Somewhat embarrassed, he asked her, "How did you find out?"

"The Crown Prince told me." Yu Qingwu shrugged, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. Tentatively, she inquired, "I heard that Liang Ruowei's husband died three months ago. Did she, widowed and unable to bear the loneliness, end up seducing Uncle?"

"Just what is it you want to ask, Cousin?" Although Shen Ke was lecherous, he wasn't stupid.

Seeing Yu Qingwu pressing the matter, he immediately sensed her intention. His brow furrowed slightly as he warned, "Cousin would do well not to pry. Be careful not to lose your life like your mother did."

"I don't need Cousin's concern!" Shooting him a cold glare, Yu Qingwu placed the mung bean cake on the stone table and turned to leave Hongxiang Courtyard.

She hadn't expected to glean anything from Shen Ke's lips during this visit.

However, his reaction was enough to prove that something was indeed amiss.

Liang Ruowei's husband's death was likely connected to the Shen family.

Lost in thought, she returned to the Crown Prince's manor, arriving in the early afternoon.

Xie Jin Yan had taken A Yue riding in the countryside today, making the manor quieter than usual.

This afforded Yu Qingwu some peace and convenience. When Xie Jin Yan was around, she always had to sneak around to the stables. Today, while no one was around, she could properly train those horses.

With that thought, Yu Qingwu returned to her room, changed into riding clothes, and quickly headed towards the stables.

She walked through the garden, past the woodshed, and finally stopped outside the fence, rolling up her sleeves.

"Senior Sister, what are you doing?" Yu Qingwu was holding onto the nearly two-zhang-high fence, about to climb over it.

Suddenly, a deep male voice came from behind, followed by a large hand landing on her waist.

Gently gripping her slender waist, he lifted her down from above.

Before Yu Qingwu could react, she was pulled into Xie Jin Yan's arms.

He had grown a bit thinner in the half-month since she'd last seen him.

His already deep features were even more pronounced, appearing somewhat sharp, yet even more handsome and devilish...

He hooked his lips, his phoenix eyes leisurely scanning her, a teasing glint in his gaze as he chuckled, "Trying to steal a horse?"

"Stealing a man." Yu Qingwu rolled her eyes at him, saying in annoyance, "Wasn't Your Highness accompanying A Yue riding in the countryside? Why have you returned?"

Xie Jin Yan lightly brushed the dust from his riding clothes, raising an eyebrow as he said, "Thinking that Senior Sister might be lonely alone in the manor, I came back to keep you company."

"Who needs your company?" Yu Qingwu gazed at the man's handsome face, feeling inexplicably irritable. She forcefully broke free from his embrace and glanced at a maid walking by in the distance carrying firewood, taunting, "Did A Yue fall and injure herself again?"

"Alright, go look after your A Yue. I'll return to my room." Casting a reluctant glance at the stables, Yu Qingwu turned to leave.

"Senior Sister..." Just as she took a step, the man behind her suddenly called out to her.

Yu Qingwu turned back, looking at him with a cold face. "What is it?"

"Want to go riding?" Xie Jin Yan stepped forward, grabbing her and pulling her into his arms. He leaned in close to her ear, his warm breath tickling her skin, and said, "If you don't want to ride a horse, you can ride me..."

"..."

"Shameless!" Yu Qingwu glared at him, her cheeks flushed with red.

Her ears also burned as she avoided his gaze, saying, "My body hasn't fully recovered. It's not convenient for me to engage in those overly strenuous activities."

A double entendre, both refusing to ride a horse and refusing to… ride him.

Seeing Yu Qingwu's refusal, Xie Jin Yan wasn't angry. He just held her, walking forward as he said in a gentle voice, "Senior Sister, wait for me in the bathroom tonight. Let's continue where we left off last time."

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingwu froze, her face turning deathly pale.

Although she had known for some time that the man that night was Xie Jin Yan, that event remained a nightmare that she couldn't shake.

Yu Qingwu's lips trembled slightly, but she didn't respond.

However, the look of fear in her eyes betrayed her.

Xie Jin Yan keenly noticed the change in her expression and leaned closer to ask, "Senior Sister, are you afraid?"

Yu Qingwu pursed her lips, still not responding.

In a daze, the two had already reached the back garden.

"Your Highness, Crown Prince, that..."

At that moment, Xie Jin Yan's servant Feng Yuan suddenly ran up, panting for breath. He seemed to want to say something, but upon seeing that Yu Qingwu was also there, his expression changed instantly as he said, "Your Highness, that… Miss Gao is having another tantrum. She refuses to take her medicine, and the imperial physician said that with her new injuries on top of her old ones, if she doesn't take her medicine, it could be life-threatening."

Upon hearing this, the man who had been all smiles just moments before suddenly darkened, frowning as he asked, "Why won't she take her medicine? Who has angered her again?"

"N-no one has angered her." Feng Yuan looked troubled, glancing hesitantly at Yu Qingwu as he stammered, "That… Miss Gao said that the Chunfang Pavilion is stuffy and not suitable for recuperation. She wants to move to Qingning Courtyard..."