Chapter 14

An shun, along with a group of disguised guards, moved anxiously through the crowd, asking people for information. His urgent expression showed his determination to find every possible clue. Even though Su Jingyao wore a veil, she still stood out in the crowd. Her graceful posture and elegant movements carried a unique charm that made people turn their heads to look at her.

Before long, several people mentioned seeing a woman in a green dress at Linlang Street. When Jun Zechen received the news, he immediately rushed to Linlang Street without hesitation. His face was cold and serious, and he did not say a word.

“Master, according to past investigations, Second Madam’s brother used to take her to admire the red blossoms under the Bodhi tree at the end of Linlang Street every year. Today, many people saw a woman in a green dress there. She is likely under the Bodhi tree now.”

Hearing Anshun’s report, Jun Zechen strode toward the Bodhi tree. He was familiar with this place—last year, he had brought Ling Yue here. When he arrived, the place was as lively as ever, filled with people talking and laughing. A large crowd had gathered around a stage, excitedly discussing something.

Jun Zechen frowned, feeling a wave of unease. With so many people here, how could he find her? Just as he was thinking about this, he looked up—and there she was, standing on the stage. At that moment, Su Jingyao had just won three rounds of the Flower Game. A respected elder on the stage announced her victory and granted her the right to hang her wishes on the Bodhi tree.

The elder, with a kind smile, walked up to Su Jingyao and said,

“Young lady, you have great knowledge. Since you have won three rounds, you may choose three colors for your wish papers.”

“Red, yellow, and blue, please. Thank you,” Su Jingyao replied.

Her voice was sweet and clear, like a silver bell. Taking the wish papers from the elder, she smiled brightly. Even though her face was partly hidden by the veil, her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky. Su Jingyao stepped off the stage. Si Nanyu, who had been waiting for her, had already pushed through the crowd to stand at the front.

She saw him and grinned, proudly waving the wish papers in front of him.

“I got them!” she said cheerfully.

Si Nanyu was momentarily stunned by her dazzling smile, as if enchanted by the starlight in her eyes. He quickly regained his senses. Jun Zechen, who had been planning to go to her, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

She wasn’t coming toward him. Instead, she walked straight to another man. His gaze darkened instantly.

Anshun, standing beside him, saw this too and felt his heart skip a beat. Oh no, this is just making things worse!

Jun Zechen’s expression turned even colder as he saw the relaxed and happy way Su Jingyao interacted with the man. His fists clenched, veins bulging on his arms as he struggled to control his emotions. The powerful aura he emitted was so intense that the people around him instinctively backed away, afraid of angering him.

Meanwhile, Su Jingyao accepted a cup of flower tea from Si Nanyu. The tea, served in a delicate porcelain cup, sent wisps of steam into the air, carrying a light jasmine fragrance. Si Nanyu had bought the tea for her while she was competing—it was a tradition. Every year at this time, Su Jingyao would drink jasmine tea.

She took the cup and smiled warmly, her face radiant like the sun in spring.

Her crescent-shaped eyes sparkled with gratitude.

“Thank you, Mr. Si”

She took a small sip from the cup and then walked with him toward the Bodhi tree, where the other winners were hanging their wish papers.

But Jun Zechen was already there, waiting.

Dressed in a black robe, he stood tall, exuding a cold and intimidating presence that made people keep their distance. Sensing the pressure in the air, the surrounding crowd instinctively stepped back, not wanting to get involved.

As soon as Su Jingyao saw Jun Zechen, she froze in place. Her body stiffened, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. The moment their eyes met, she felt her heart skip a beat in shock. Her hands trembled, and the teacup slipped from her grasp.

The tea spilled, soaking the hem of her dress.

“Miss Su, are you alright?”

Si Nanyu, who had been watching her closely, immediately stepped forward in concern. He had not noticed Jun Zechen at first. But seeing Su Jingyao staring at something, he followed her gaze—only to see the cold-faced prince standing there. His expression changed slightly, a mix of surprise and helplessness flashing in his eyes.

Realizing the situation, Si Nanyu quietly took a step back, putting some distance between himself and Su Jingyao. The look in the prince’s eyes was terrifying. He did not want to make things worse for her.

He sighed internally.

I wonder how she is living in the Eastern Palace… The prince is so cold and distant, while Su Jingyao was raised in comfort and affection. How could she endure such treatment?

Su Jingyao felt a bitterness rising in her heart as she met Jun Zechen’s icy gaze. She slowly stepped forward, her movements hesitant and careful, until she stood before him.Her heart pounded in her chest, and she spoke in a soft, trembling voice,

“H-husband…”

Her voice was as delicate as a flower swaying in the wind. Jun Zechen’s eyes remained emotionless.

“You still remember I am your husband?” His tone was calm,

but the chilling coldness in his voice was unmistakable.

“Did you sneak out during the Flower Festival just to meet another man?”

His aura was suffocating, as if he could freeze the entire world.

Si Nanyu followed behind Su Jingyao and cupped his hands in greeting to Jun Zechen.

“I just happened to meet Miss Su under the bodhi tree. Please don’t misunderstand, Your Highness.”

His voice was respectful, but there was also a hint of helplessness.

Jun Zechen felt anger rising in his heart when he heard Si Nanyu’s words defending Su Jingyao. However, he kept his expression calm, though the atmosphere around him became tense and oppressive.

“My husband, I come here every year to admire the red leaves under the bodhi tree. Today was just a coincidence,” Su Jingyao said softly.

She lifted her head slightly, looking at Jun Zechen with determined eyes. Her clear, innocent gaze resembled that of a deer.

Jun Zechen knew that Su Jingyao would never dare to secretly meet another man. However, seeing her smile so freely and happily at Si Nanyu made him feel deeply jealous. It seemed that she had never smiled like that in front of him—so genuinely, so openly.

“Mr. Si Nan, you should leave now. My wife and I have things to discuss. It would not be appropriate for outsiders to be present,” Jun Zechen said coldly, leaving no room for negotiation.

Si Nanyu could hear the rejection in Jun Zechen’s tone. He did not dare to go against the prince, so after giving Su Jingyao a worried glance, he cupped his hands in farewell and left.

As soon as Sinan Yu was gone, Jun Zechen grabbed Su Jingyao’s hand and started to walk away. His grip was so strong that it felt like he was crushing her bones. Su Jingyao felt pain in her wrist and struggled to free herself.

“Husband… it hurts… Where are you taking me?”

“Home, of course. Where else do you want to go?” Jun Zechen’s voice was as cold as ice, his gaze emotionless as he looked at her.

“I just want to hang my prayer note on the bodhi tree. Can you wait for me?”

Tears welled up in Su Jingyao’s eyes, making them misty and pitiful. She looked at Jun Zechen with hope and pleading in her gaze. Jun Zechen’s eyes moved from the prayer note in her hand to her delicate, sorrowful face. His dark eyes were deep and unreadable.

Feeling his grip loosen slightly, Su Jingyao quickly took the chance to pull her hand free from his grasp. She lowered her head, her thick eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings.

 “Thank you, husband,” she said softly.

Then, she walked toward a nearby table where ink, brushes, and paper were prepared for people to write their wishes. Jun Zechen followed behind her, his cold presence looming over her.

A scholar who had been sitting at the table noticed the beautiful woman approaching and wanted to strike up a conversation. But the moment he saw Jun Zechen’s icy expression, he immediately shut his mouth in fear.

Su Jingyao picked up a brush, ready to write, but she could feel Jun Zechen’s gaze fixed on her. She bit her lip and turned to him.

“Husband, if someone sees the wish, it won’t come true.”

Her tone carried a hint of playful complaint, clearly telling him not to look. Jun Zechen stared at her for a moment, then turned away silently, giving her his cold back. Su Jingyao let out a quiet sigh of relief. Her expression relaxed as she carefully wrote her wishes on each piece of paper.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she focused on her writing, each stroke filled with sincerity. Once she finished, she gently held the prayer notes in her hands and climbed a small ladder to hang them on the bodhi tree. Her movements were careful, as if she were afraid of disturbing something.

Jun Zechen memorized the exact spot where she hung her wishes, then quietly waited for her to come down. When Su Jingyao climbed down, her steps were unsteady. Seeing this, Jun Zechen immediately reached out to hold her hand.

Su Jingyao tried to pull away.

“Husband, I can walk on my own. Can you let go?”

“Walk on your own? So you can run away again?” Jun Zechen’s voice was laced with sarcasm.

Su Jingyao was speechless, unsure how to respond. She bit her lip and sighed.

“Husband, my dress is wet…”

It wasn’t a big deal to have wet clothes outside the palace, but once she returned, she couldn’t afford to look messy in front of the servants. Jun Zechen glanced at her dress. It had gotten wet earlier when she spilled her tea in shock upon seeing him. The damp fabric was slightly stained, making her look somewhat disheveled.

Knowing that Su Jingyao cared about her appearance, he said,

“There’s an inn called Mofeng Tower ahead. I’ll take you there to freshen up.”

Then, he turned to Miaoyun, Su Jingyao’s maid, and ordered,

“Go prepare a set of clothes.”

Miaoyun knew exactly what fabrics and styles suited Su Jingyao best, so she quickly left to handle the task.

Jun Zechen held Su Jingyao’s hand tightly and led her toward Mofeng Tower. As they approached, Su Jingyao glanced up at the inn’s signboard. A flicker of unreadable emotion passed through her eyes.

The innkeeper eagerly welcomed them inside and led them to an elegant room.

With a flattering smile, he said,

“My lord and lady, this is a special flower tea prepared for the Flower Festival. Please enjoy it.”

His words seemed to carry a hidden meaning, but Jun Zechen was too absorbed in his own frustration to notice. He sat down with a cold expression, his face dark with anger, ignoring the innkeeper completely.

Su Jingyao, on the other hand, smiled warmly, her expression as gentle as a spring breeze.

“Thank you. I love flower tea. I’ll give it a try.”

She gracefully picked up the tea cup and took a small sip. Su Jingyao walked lightly behind the screen, preparing to take off her stained dress. The waiter, seeing the lady drink the tea, turned to the silent Jun Zechen and continued flattering him,

“Young master, your wife is truly beautiful. You will have a good time tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Jun Zechen frowned even more, his voice filled with anger.

“Young master, today is the Flower Festival. Many young couples come to the MoFeng Pavilion to drink tea and enjoy romance. The tea here has a little something extra to help set the mood. You should just enjoy it,” the waiter said with a sly smile.

Jun Zechen’s expression changed instantly. His eyes widened in shock.

“What did you say?”

The waiter noticed Jun Zechen’s anger and panicked.

“Young master, isn’t she your wife? I heard her call you ‘husband,’ so I thought you two came here for… That’s why…”

Jun Zechen’s face turned cold as he shouted,

“Get out.”

The waiter, realizing he had made a mistake, quickly responded,

“Yes, yes!” He hurriedly left, muttering under his breath,

“Aren’t they husband and wife? This special tea is only given to those who book the best room in MoFeng Pavilion.”

Jun Zechen had excellent hearing and caught the waiter’s words outside. His expression became even darker.

Su Jingyao, however, knew the rules of MoFeng Pavilion on the Flower Festival.

This place was run by Li Jing, and everything—spilling tea on her dress to make Jun Zechen bring her here, drinking the tea with the added substance—was all part of her carefully planned scheme. At this moment, she felt a heat rising inside her body. She had just removed her outer dress and was now only in a white inner robe.

Her breathing became heavy, her face flushed, and her red lips parted slightly. She let out soft, seductive moans.

“Mmm… Why is it so hot…”

Hearing her voice, Jun Zechen’s body tensed up. He clenched his fists, struggling with his emotions. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly stood up and walked toward the screen with heavy steps. Su Jingyao, now dizzy from the effects of the tea, reached out her fair arms and swayed as she moved toward him.

“Your Highness, Yaoyao feels so hot…” Her voice was sweet and alluring.

Jun Zechen wrapped his arms around her waist. His eyes were deep and unreadable, his entire body tense as he tried to suppress his desire. He had promised to spend the Flower Festival with Ling Yue, who was still waiting for him at Zui Xiao Pavilion.

“I’ll take you back to the palace and call the imperial doctor,” he said.

Su Jingyao’s delicate body pressed softly against him. She found the coolness of his body comforting. Jun Zechen’s eyes darkened as he firmly held her restless hands.

“Be good. Stop moving.”

But Su Jingyao wasn’t about to behave. She kept clinging to him, her small hands teasing and tempting.

…

Jun Zechen’s gaze grew even darker.

“You seduced me, now you must face the consequences.”

His voice was deep and filled with desire, making Su Jingyao’s heart race. She was looking forward to it.