In the Jade Blossom Palace, it was quiet.

The Crown Prince entered the inner chamber and looked around, finding no one present.

“Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince turned around to see Su Xin holding a white porcelain jar.

“Where is Rong Rong?”

“Miss Rong Rong heard that you took Prince Yuanbao to the Fengyang Palace of the old lord, so she went to bathe. I was just taking flower petals to her.”

The Crown Prince extended his hand.

Su Xin hesitated for a moment, then understood and handed the porcelain jar to the Crown Prince, quietly retreating. It seemed she would be waiting outside all night to serve.

At that moment, Rong Rong was sitting in the bath barrel.

Usually, in the evenings when she had to care for Yuanbao, she would simply rinse herself and never soak in the tub.

But today, the old Duke had said he would put Yuanbao to bed himself, which Yuanbao naturally refused.

Since the old Duke appeared stubborn, she didn’t know how long it would take before Yuanbao would be returned.

She took this opportunity to enjoy a bath.

Originally, she didn’t plan to soak for long, but Su Xin insisted on advising her to take a flower petal bath.

Although Rong Rong was reluctant to trouble herself, she agreed upon thinking about the fragrance of the petals.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Rong Rong assumed it was Su Xin returning and said, “The water is getting cold, please add another scoop of hot water.”

Su Xin didn’t reply but complied, adding two scoops of hot water from a nearby bucket.

A bath is all about maintaining warmth.

Rong Rong felt comfortable and asked, “Have the petals arrived?”

The person behind her didn’t respond.

As Rong Rong was about to turn around, suddenly, a shower of petals fell from above, filling the air with floral fragrance.

Su Xin was right; a bath must include flower petals.

Rong Rong shrank further into the bath, leaving only her head exposed, closing her eyes to relax.

She found it strange that Su Xin had been chattering nonstop while washing her hair earlier, but now was so silent.

As she pondered, the “Su Xin” behind her suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder and began to knead it perfectly.

The massage felt quite good.

Just as Rong Rong was about to praise, she felt something off—the fingers were too long.

Su Xin was not taller than her, so how could her fingers be so elongated?

Startled, she turned around abruptly and let out a scream.

Rong Rong, who had been sitting in the bath barrel, stood up instinctively with the scream, suddenly exposing herself.

Even though she tried to cover up the next moment, she couldn’t prevent the exposure.

The Crown Prince grunted heavily, immediately leaping into the bath barrel and holding her tightly.

Rong Rong’s mind was completely dazed, completely unprepared.

After a brief entanglement in the bath barrel, the Crown Prince emerged, carrying Rong Rong to the side of the bed.

“Liu Zhen, you said… you said… you wouldn’t touch me before our wedding.” Rongrong, slightly regaining her clarity, shouted loudly and tried to hit him.

He naturally ignored her feeble resistance and moved faster, throwing Rongrong onto the silk quilt.

He sneered, “I did say that, but who told you to dress like this and tempt me?”

Tempt?

He’s really talking nonsense.

She just wanted to make some soup, and he came in secretly. Now he’s falsely accusing her of tempting him?

Rongrong wanted to curse him for being shameless, but he wouldn’t care about her curses.

She could only bite her lip.

Seeing she wasn’t speaking, the prince quickly moved to restrain her and pressed against her.

“Be good. It’s going to happen sooner or later. We’re doing it today, and you’ll be happy sooner.”

Rongrong wasn’t an ignorant girl; she knew this day would come.

Although she had hoped it would be delayed and had worked hard for it, she wasn’t very scared now that it was actually happening.

After all, they had a past together and had done everything that should or shouldn’t be done.

But she had promised the empress not to cross boundaries with him before their wedding.

She really didn’t want to risk her life again.

“No, you get off, you get off! Liu Zhen, if you don’t get off, I… I’ll hate you for a lifetime!” For two lifetimes, three lifetimes, forever!

“Stop making a fuss.” The crown prince showed no hesitation.

Rongrong knew she couldn’t push him away.

As her defenses were being broken down, she suddenly felt something was wrong.

“Get off, Liu Zhen, get off!” Rongrong started hitting and kicking him.

The crown prince initially thought she was just making a scene, but when he saw her panicked and distressed expression, he realized something was wrong and finally got up.

“What’s wrong?”

“I… I think my period has started.”

The crown prince almost choked and paused before awkwardly moving her aside.

Indeed, he saw the red stain on the apricot-colored quilt.

Rongrong was held by him and couldn’t see the quilt’s condition, so she pitifully asked, “Is it?”

The crown prince, irritated, threw the quilt to the ground and muttered angrily, “Damn it!”

Rongrong felt a bit of pain in her abdomen. Hearing his angry words, she felt aggrieved and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Why are you crying?”

“Why are you blaming me? If you want it so much, there are many women in the Eastern Palace. Just go after one of them!”

“I’m not blaming you. Even if I want it, I want it with you.”

Hearing this, Rongrong calmed down a bit and sobbed, “If it’s not my fault, why are you scolding me?”

“I’m not scolding you.” The Crown prince was already uncomfortable, and his tone was impatient.

He glanced at Rongrong, feeling more parched, and grabbed a silk quilt from the side to cover her.

Rong Rong hurriedly wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, feeling a bit warmer.

However, hearing his impatient tone made her feel extremely aggrieved, and she couldn’t help but cry even more.

The Crown Prince saw her like this and wanted to comfort her, but the more he approached, the more restless he became.

He gritted his teeth, got out of bed, put on his outer garment, and said, “Bring in some water.” He then headed towards the bathing room.

Fuquan and Su Xin, who had been waiting outside, heard the Crown Prince’s order.

Fuqian pushed open the door, and seeing Rong Rong curled up on the bed crying, he exchanged a glance with Su Xin.

Su Xin noticed the embroidered blanket on the floor and quickly went over to pick it up.

Upon turning it over, she saw the red marks on it.

Fuquan saw it too.

So it was done?

Su Xin nodded slightly, mentally calculating.

The young lady and the Crown Prince had finally become a couple, but it seemed a bit too soon…

No wonder the Crown Prince’s tone was so bad earlier. Such haste… who wouldn’t be frustrated?

It was a pity for the young lady… Listening to Rong Rong’s low sobs, Su Xin felt sorry for her.

Clearly, it was the Crown Prince’s issue, yet he took his anger out on her.

Su Xin sighed, took the soiled blanket, and quietly left.

Fuquan squinted his eyes.

The red marks meant the deed was done, but it was a bit too quick…

He remembered how strict the crown prince was when Miss Jing Rong was in the Eastern Palace.

How did things turn out like this now?

Could it be that since Miss Jing Rong left, the lord has become impotent?

Fortunately, Miss Rongrong had also left the marks, so even if the lord were impotent, it wasn’t completely so.

Fuquan sighed as well and quickly waved to have the eunuchs outside bring in the water to serve.

He had initially planned to find a way to comfort the Crown Prince, but as soon as the water was placed down, he was driven out.

Fuquan thought, the Crown Prince still cared about his dignity.

The Crown Prince, unaware of Fuquan’s thoughts, took a cold shower.

After pouring three buckets of cold water over himself, the warmth finally left his body.

He dried off, changed into his nightclothes, and returned to the dragon bed.

“Still crying?” He lay down beside her and asked softly.

Actually, after he went to take a cold shower, Rong Rong had already gotten up, changed her clothes, and tidied herself up.

Seeing him approach now, she said, “No, just go away. I’m on my period; stay away from me.”

It is commonly believed that menstruation is unlucky.

When a woman is on her period, men should not stay in the same room to avoid contaminating themselves with impurities.

“I’m sleeping here tonight.” The Crown Prince said as he lay down.

Rong Rong quietly turned her head to see him behaving normally and sighed in relief.

“You took a cold shower?”

“Yes.”

She was aware of his earlier state and was surprised he could endure a cold shower after everything that had happened.

It was mentioned in the books of the Respectful Affairs Office that such actions were bad for the body.

“You… why don’t you find a palace maid to help you calm down?”

The Crown Prince turned his head with irritation and replied, “I have a lot of anger, but not just anyone can help me calm down.”

Rong Rong’s face flushed, and she turned back around, facing away from him.

The room fell silent, with only Rong Rong’s heart beating rapidly.

“You… do you really only want me?”

Rongrong’s voice was very low, weak, and gentle.

But to the prince, it sounded like a thunderbolt, startling him.

He suddenly sat up, staring intently at Rongrong.

She felt a surge of fear under his gaze.

Had she said something wrong?

Her words must sound ridiculous to him, right?

A humble maid daring to ask the noble crown prince if he only wanted her…

“I didn’t ask anything.” Rongrong felt like crying again, but she knew she couldn’t cry in front of the prince.

She quickly turned around and wrapped herself tighter in the quilt.

“It’s late. Your Highness, please go to sleep.”

The crown prince watched her curl up like a wrapped dumpling, trembling in fear. She looked like a little deer caught in his arrows, shivering in the woods.

She must be very scared.

She had only asked a question. Why was she so frightened?

The crown prince suddenly felt uncomfortable.

He lay back down and held her tight from behind.

“Fool, of course, I want you.”

Rongrong was stunned.

Even the tears that had just welled up seemed to freeze.

Was she imagining things?

“Your Highness, you…”

“Call me by my name,” the prince said seriously.

“Liu Zhen.”

“Hmm.”

It was as if a seed had been planted in Rongrong’s heart, quickly taking root, sprouting, growing leaves, and blooming.

“Liu Zhen?” She called his name again.

“Hmm.”

“Liu Zhen?”

“Hmm.” The prince answered patiently, his voice growing softer, “You really are a fool.”

Foolish?

She was indeed foolish.

At least right now, she didn’t understand what was happening or what Liu Zhen truly meant.

She only knew that, at this moment, she was very happy.

“If there’s anything else you want to say, just say it.”

“I… I have nothing to say…”

“Nothing to say? Then do you have any questions? Ask quickly, or you’ll miss your chance.”

Is that so?

Miss her chance?

Rongrong forced a bitter smile, “Then… Liu Zhen, am I dreaming? Are you the Liu Zhen from my dream?”

The crown prince was slightly stunned. For the first time, he realized how insecure this woman beside him was.

Her heart was filled with countless doubts waiting for him to answer, but he had never spoken about them.

Liu Zhen, Liu Zhen, you really are… a fool.

A suffocating wave overwhelmed him, almost making him lose his senses.