Chapter 11

There was no morning court today. When Jun Zechen woke up, he quietly looked at the woman still sleeping in his arms.

She had her back to him, her smooth white skin like fine jade, pressed closely against his chest.

His gaze slowly moved downward. He had never thought that one day, he would lose control like that in bed.

Back when he was with Ling Yue, although she was bold in personality, she was still shy in that area. She was easily embarrassed, and he had never pushed her.

But last night… though this woman clearly didn’t want to, under his pressure, she still gave in and unwillingly responded to him.

He had wanted her to fall with him—into passion, into desire.

But in the end… did she really fall?

Or was it just him—unable to control his body, unable to stop the pounding of his heart?

From the very first time he saw her, he had been stunned by her beauty. Though he didn’t want to admit it, his body had honestly reacted—desire had been immediate.

But he wasn’t just some beast. His feelings weren’t just based on her looks.

After that, Jun Zechen had purposely ignored her, wanting to see if she was just like the other women in the palace—cold, cunning, only caring about status and power.

He tested her again and again.

And again and again, she kept her head down and accepted it all. All he saw in her was kindness, patience, understanding, and someone who always thought of others first.

In the end, he realized—it was he who was small-minded and mean.

And somehow, without even noticing, his attitude toward this woman had completely changed.

He wanted her to truly become his woman.

But Jun Zechen didn’t want to admit that his feelings for Ling Yue had already changed.

He had always hated how his father had so many concubines in the palace. Since he was young, he had wished his father would love only his mother.

So when he chose Ling Yue, he silently promised himself that his wife would receive his one and only love.

But now, the woman in his arms had shaken the beliefs he’d held for over ten years.

At this moment, he didn’t even know what “liking someone” really meant anymore.

He thought he liked Ling Yue, but his body was telling him—he could like someone else, too.

So what exactly is liking someone?

Is it the crazy, uncontrollable desire he felt for Su Jingyao, or the guilt-filled pain he felt for Ling Yue?

All these feelings twisted inside his heart, but none of them could shake his calm mind. Jun Zechen was rational. He was strong.

He would only choose what was best for him.

Ling Yue and Su Jingyao—they were both his women. As long as he let go of his inner struggle, the two of them didn’t have to be a problem.

 “Mm…”

A soft sound came from the woman. Her eyes slowly fluttered open like butterfly wings, still hazy from sleep. Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she was uncomfortable.

Her delicate eyebrows were knitted in a way that showed her displeasure.

Su Jingyao could feel the man’s warm hand gently moving along her waist and stomach. It made her feel a bit uneasy.

Maybe because she was still half-asleep, she grumbled in a soft, raspy voice, “Move your hand.”

Her voice was sweet and a little hoarse, like it came from deep in her throat, with a sleepy tone that almost sounded like she was being cute without meaning to.

As she spoke, she tried to pull away from him. But just as she moved, the man’s strong arm suddenly tightened, pulling her even closer.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

His deep, magnetic voice sounded right behind her, so close it felt like his lips were brushing against her ear.

His warm breath tickled her skin, making her shiver.

Su Jingyao flinched slightly, then quickly turned to face him, her watery eyes staring straight at him.

“Your Highness…”

There was confusion and a hint of shyness in her gaze.

Lying in his arms, her fair skin glowed softly under the morning light.

Scenes from the night before flashed through her mind.

Even though it felt good, she had to pretend she didn’t want it. She had to act like her body was being pulled into it against her will.

It was exhausting.

Jun Zechen saw her surprise, and noticed the faint pink blush spreading across her delicate face.

He reached out his long fingers and gently lifted her chin, a soft yet possessive gesture.

He was so close now, his breath brushing her face, his low voice ringing right in her ears.

“What are you thinking about?”

Su Jingyao snapped back to reality, her eyes gleaming slightly.

“I thought Your Highness had already gone to court… I didn’t know you were still here.”

“It’s my day off. I didn’t know my consort liked to sleep in this late,” Jun Zechen teased.

Hearing his teasing words, Su Jingyao frowned, her pretty eyebrows slightly knit, her eyes shooting him a little glare.

“I don’t! I usually sleep early and wake at dawn. It’s just that last night, Your Highness…”

Her voice trailed off, and her face turned even redder. The blush spread from her cheeks all the way to her ears, so red it made people want to kiss her.

Jun Zechen seemed to enjoy seeing her like that. A faint smile flickered in his deep eyes, and he continued to press her:

“What about last night?”

Su Jingyao bit her lip. Her lips were pink like flower petals. She clearly couldn’t match his shamelessness.

She just gave a soft reply and then quickly hid under the blanket.

Jun Zechen, satisfied with her shy reaction, smiled slightly and didn’t tease her further.

“It’s already mid-morning. Let’s get up and eat.”

Then he let go of her waist and got dressed.

Hearing movement, Anshun entered the room. Su Jingyao was lying on her side, her beautiful face peeking from behind the bed curtains as she watched Jun Zechen change his robes.

After getting dressed, he glanced back at the lazy, beautiful woman resting behind the red veil. He suddenly thought of how she looked last night—she truly had a natural charm that could drive a man mad.

He felt himself start to lose control again. Taking a deep breath, he calmed the fire rising inside him and walked out of the room.

Once he was gone, Su Jingyao slowly sat up. Her long hair flowed down like a waterfall, swaying slightly with her movements.

“Master, you finally made it. The clouds have parted and the moon is shining,” said Miaoyun, supporting her with an excited smile.

She helped Su Jingyao up, and couldn’t help but blush when she saw the marks all over her mistress’s body—red marks like blooming flowers on her flawless white skin.

Even as a fellow woman, Miaoyun was flustered.

She couldn’t believe the Crown Prince had been able to resist such beauty for so long during their time in the Xiyan Palace.

Su Jingyao got up slowly and threw on a light robe. It floated around her like drifting clouds, giving her a fairy-like aura.

With Miaoyun’s help, she walked unsteadily to the dressing table and sat down.

That dog of a man had truly shown no mercy last night. It was like he hadn’t touched a woman in 800 years—he had taken everything from her with crazy hunger. Her legs were still shaking.

Not to mention the green and purple marks all over her body—each one seemed to tell a story of the passion and wildness from the night before.

Su Jingyao quietly looked at herself in the mirror. Even without trying, her eyes gave off a hint of charm. Her eyes sparkled like spring water, her face soft and lovely—she was truly beautiful enough to steal hearts.

Then she casually picked a small purple jar from the many ointments on her dressing table.

Miaoyun, standing beside her, had a strange look in her eyes.

Was her mistress really trying to avoid pregnancy?

Though Miaoyun was curious, she had served Su Jingyao since she was little and had learned her ways. She knew—if the mistress didn’t explain something, she shouldn’t ask.

Su Jingyao gently opened the small jar. Inside was pearl powder, but hidden underneath was a small pill.

Carefully, she used tweezers to take the pill out, wiped it clean, and swallowed it without hesitation.

Of course she wouldn’t get pregnant now. Her child must be born when Jun Zechen was full of joy and truly looking forward to it.

Besides, now wasn’t the right time. If she got pregnant now, what excuse would Jun Zechen have to betray Ling Yue? What reason would he have to keep visiting the Xi Yan Palace?

Thinking of that, Su Jingyao chuckled softly to herself.

She really was considerate—she was even helping that “dog man” save face. Otherwise, how could Jun Zechen keep lying to himself?

After washing up a little, Su Jingyao slowly walked to the dining room.

Jun Zechen was already sitting upright, looking dignified and calm, giving off a natural air of authority.

When Anshun saw her arrive, he quickly and smoothly arranged for her breakfast to be brought in.

Su Jingyao walked gracefully to Jun Zechen’s side, gave a polite bow, and then sat next to him.

But once she sat down, an awkward feeling filled the space between them, like an invisible wall making things uncomfortable.

Jun Zechen looked down slightly and began eating. Su Jingyao sat quietly, not picking up her chopsticks.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Jun Zechen finally broke the silence, glancing her way.

“My breakfast is different. Miaoyue is preparing it—it’ll be here soon,” she replied.

Jun Zechen remembered then that her meals always seemed a bit special.

About fifteen minutes later, Miaoxia and Miaoyue came in carefully, holding her food.

Miaoyue gently placed the dishes in front of Su Jingyao: jasmine tofu soup, lotus-flavored cakes, and honey-covered pear blossom pastries. Miaoxia followed behind with a pot of peony tea.

Jun Zechen looked at her food—all made from flowers, each dish delicate and beautiful.

The jasmine soup was in a small, elegant bowl, giving off a soft floral scent. The lotus cake looked like a real blooming flower, and the honey pastries were so pretty they looked like art.

Even a skilled chef would need at least one or two hours to make these three dishes.

“Does my Consort Su always eat such fancy food for breakfast?” Jun Zechen asked, half teasing, half curious.

“Don’t tease me, Your Highness. These may be flower dishes, but they taste great. Would you like to try?” Su Jingyao smiled and offered him a spoonful of the jasmine tofu soup.

“This one’s made from tofu and jasmine. It tastes good and is good for the skin too.”

Jun Zechen could tell her dishes were all about beauty and health. She clearly cared a lot about her appearance.

He took a bite—at first, his face was blank, then a bit surprised. It was much better than he expected: light, fresh, and flavorful.

“Not bad,” he nodded.

Seeing that he liked it, Su Jingyao smiled even brighter and gave him a piece of the honey pastry.

“This one is also made with jasmine and brushed with honey. It tastes good and also helps keep your skin soft and healthy.”

The more he heard, the more curious he got. He stopped eating the food Anshun had brought and started trying each of her flower dishes.

He picked up a piece of lotus cake and tasted it carefully.

“This lotus cake seems different from the usual kind?” he asked.

“It’s made from a special kind of lotus called ‘low-light lotus.’ Its petals last longer, and eating it can keep your breath smelling sweet. When I had it made into a cake, I asked the cook to keep the flower’s original taste, so the method and ingredients are very specific.”

She explained patiently, her eyes focused and serious.

“There’s no one this skilled in the Eastern Palace. Who makes your food?” he asked.

“Most of it is made by Miaoyue,” Su Jingyao replied, looking toward her maid.

Miaoyue lowered her head shyly.

Jun Zechen looked at Miaoyue and gave a small nod. “Not bad.”

Then he asked, “How do you know so much?”

He was truly curious. This little woman always brought him surprises and showed him sides of herself that stood out from others.

“I just liked reading since I was young. Has Your Highness never heard this: ‘In the morning, drink dew from magnolia petals; in the evening, dine on the fallen blossoms of autumn chrysanthemums. Thus, one’s spirit becomes as pure as jade, standing out from the ordinary.’”

Su Jingyao quoted with a smile, her eyes bright with playfulness.

Then she teased, “Of course, someone like Your Highness—already handsome and extraordinary—doesn’t need to eat flowers like me to stay beautiful.”

Jun Zechen knew he was good-looking, but no one had ever praised him so directly before.

“So handsome there’s no one like him in the world.”
Did she really think that highly of him?

He stared at Su Jingyao deeply. In his eyes, she was the one who truly fit the phrase:
“Out of a crowd, she shines with just one look; compared to her, all other beauty is like dust.”

He wanted to tell her—someone as beautiful as her didn’t need to force herself to eat those flower-based foods. But then he thought, maybe she actually liked them, and that in itself was a kind of pleasure.

For someone like her, almost like a fairy, it actually made perfect sense for her to eat such delicate, elegant food.

Why should ordinary food ever touch such a pure person?

“Do you like flowers?” he asked.

“Of course I do,” she replied, smiling brightly as she looked into his eyes.

“In two days, it’ll be the Flower Festival in Jun Country,” he said.
“That day, the whole capital will be filled with flowers, and there won’t be a curfew at night.”

The Flower Festival was a big celebration in Jun Country. Many unmarried men and women would use the day to confess their love, and there were also traditions of praying for good fortune. The whole country would be lively and joyful.

Jun Zechen had once promised Ling Yue that he would take her out of the palace every year on that day.

But this year…

He glanced lightly at the woman sitting beside him.

When Su Jingyao heard “Flower Festival,” her smile faded a little, and she looked slightly disappointed.

Seeing her expression, Jun Zechen frowned slightly and said in a calm voice,
“If you want to go out, I’ll take you out of the palace on that day.”

Su Jingyao lowered her head. Her long eyelashes fluttered like little fans. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“Don’t you need to be with your consort that day?” she asked softly.

Jun Zechen’s eyes flickered. He had indeed promised Ling Yue that he would accompany her every Flower Festival.

But…

His gaze fell on the quiet woman beside him. There was something complicated in his eyes.

“I’ll take both of you out. What’s the problem?” he said flatly.

“I just worry that Consort Ling might not be happy,” Su Jingyao replied, concern in her voice—but her thoughts were very different.

She lowered her eyes, and a trace of sarcasm flickered deep within them.
So the dog of a man had finally tasted what he wanted and now felt bold enough to openly two-time.

“Does Consort Su really think that your presence could affect the bond between me and the Crown Princess?” Jun Zechen narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice cold and sharp.

Even if there were a hundred women around him, it wouldn’t change his feelings for Ling Yue—so he believed.

“I wouldn’t dare think that,” Su Jingyao replied quietly.
“As long as I can carry Your Highness’s child and fulfill His Majesty and the Empress’s hopes, I will be satisfied. If Your Highness is willing to take me out for the Flower Festival, I’m truly grateful.”

She slowly lifted her head and looked at him calmly, her face respectful and obedient.

“Good. As long as you understand. I’ve finished eating—I still have government affairs to handle,” he said.

With that, Jun Zechen stood up, fixed his clothes, and walked out.

Su Jingyao rose and bowed.
“I respectfully see Your Highness off.”

After watching him leave, she sat back down. Her whole posture relaxed, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

She picked up her chopsticks and continued enjoying her meal.

She would make sure to give the “main couple” an unforgettable memory on the Flower Festival.