Yuwen Wuji and his accompanying officials stayed overnight at the Jokhang Temple because it was getting late.

Drinking alcohol and eating meat are forbidden in the temple. The ministers have also had enough of dry rations and roasted meat from the recent hunting trips, so they are quite satisfied to be able to eat some vegetarian food now.

"I never imagined that the Prince and Princess were so loving. We are ashamed of ourselves."

"This concerns Your Highness's reputation, so we should refrain from speaking."

"Hehehe, just treat these romantic escapades as a joke."

With so many people suddenly in the Jokhang Temple, Song Yaozhu, who had originally planned to digest her meal, had to stay in her room. Sharing a room with Xie Liwei made her feel incredibly awkward.

How could Xie Liwei kiss her? How could he kiss her!

But then she thought, in Xie Liwei's eyes, she was just a woman who looked like his older sister. If he were a normal man, it would be understandable that he would be eager to prove himself after hearing what she said.

Logically speaking, it was all her fault for being so sharp-tongued. But emotionally, she couldn't accept it!

From her perspective, Xie Liwei was the little brat she raised! Now that the little brat has grown up and is old enough to woo women, he's ended up with someone who looks so much like his older sister!

Doesn't he feel awkward?

Doesn't his conscience hurt?

How could he bring himself to do that!

What about his morals?!

Caijin and Caiyin looked at their princess's face, which was growing darker and more distorted, and exchanged a glance.

Could it be because the prince is impotent and the princess doesn't want to live a life of widowhood, so she's angry?

The prince is really something else. The imperial physicians have already warned against sexual intercourse, yet he still forced himself on the princess while the emperor was present. That's outrageous!

Meanwhile, their prince, having just finished beating Xie Mingyue, was squatting on the back hill roasting a rabbit.

Xie Mingyue clutched her bluish lower abdomen and wailed, "I only asked Xiaoyue to change Peng Si's pulse to worsen his symptoms. How was I supposed to know that Peng Si had kidney deficiency and ruined your reputation! This is not my fault, it's Peng Si's fault! He's so young and already has yang deficiency! Ouch, my back! Let me tell you, if I hurt my back, your sister-in-law will never forgive you!"

Xie Liwei snorted coldly and slashed at the rabbit's body a few times with his dagger, making Xie Mingyue feel uneasy.

"You have a wife, but I don't? Have you ever thought about how my wife would view me?"

Xie Mingyue was speechless for a moment, and then said with difficulty, "Isn't this because your own body is not healthy? The imperial physician diagnosed you today that you are deficient in both qi and blood!"

Xie Liwei laughed in exasperation. Anyone who stayed in that cell for nine days, without proper food, drink, or sleep, would suffer from qi and blood deficiency!

"Oh dear, I was wrong. I just caught a rabbit to help you recover and make amends!" Xie Mingyue chuckled awkwardly. "If that doesn't work, I'll explain to your wife tomorrow!"

"No need!"

The more you try to explain, the worse it gets.

Thinking of Song Yaozhu, Xie Liwei felt much better. He poked at the campfire, propped his chin up with one hand, and covered the corners of his mouth that were turned up in a smile.

It wasn't that I was really angry with her today. It was just that the way she looked beneath me was so arousing.

That was a scene he had never dared to dream of, but in a moment of impulsiveness, he kissed her.

But recalling that scene only intensified Xie Liwei's feelings of embarrassment and resentment. How could their first kiss have been so rushed and hasty, failing to even leave a good impression on her!

Oh no! When Song Yaozhu thinks back to this scene in the future, will she think that he was too rude?

And considering what the imperial physician said today, could she really believe he's impotent?

Seeing him venting his anger by poking at the fire, Xie Mingyue, who was standing to the side, shrank back in fear.

It's all Peng Si's fault! Oh dear~ his stomach~

After eating, I returned to my room, only to find it empty.

"Where is the princess?"

The guard replied, "Just now, the Dowager Consort's people invited the Princess over for a talk."

Xie Liwei frowned. The Dowager Consort wasn't someone who didn't know her place. Why would she send someone to find Song Yaozhu at a time like this? Then he remembered that Yuwen Wuji was also at the Jokhang Temple today. His phoenix eyes narrowed, a faint killing intent flashing within them.

Yuwen Wuji is really persistent!

Song Yaozhu, accompanied by colorful gold and silver and a group of servants, numbered roughly ten. Suspecting that it wasn't the Empress Dowager herself who had summoned her, she took precautions.

The group arrived at the courtyard where the Dowager Consort resided, and sure enough, there were many guards at the entrance. One guard stepped forward and said, "His Majesty and the Dowager Consort are talking inside; the Princess Consort may go in alone."

Song Yaozhu chuckled and said, "I didn't know the Emperor was here. Since the Emperor is here, I will come to see the Consort tomorrow."

She was about to leave after she finished speaking when the guard was taken aback and didn't know what to say.

"Your Highness, please wait!"

Li Wei jogged forward, whisking his whisk. Oh dear, this carefree princess! I don't know whether to call her stupid or cunning!

Song Yaozhu sighed, looking up at the sky. This dog emperor was like a leech, impossible to shake off!

"Your Highness, please follow me." Li Wei gestured for her to follow.

Song Yaozhu closed her eyes, turned around, and stepped inside.

Xie Liwei disappeared after dinner. It's true what they say, if you can rely on a man, pigs can fly!

Li Wei led Song Yaozhu to a side hall. Song Yaozhu lowered her eyelids, pretending not to understand, and asked, "Eunuch, why did the Dowager Consort summon me to the side hall?"

Li Wei wiped away his sweat guiltily, turned around and closed the door.

Your Highness, this servant is only following orders!

The moment the door closed, Song Yaozhu's face turned cold.

Yuwen Wuji emerged from within, his tall figure half-shadowed. He stared at Song Yaozhu's retreating back like a ferocious wolf eyeing its prey, taking step after step forward.

The woman in front of him seemed unaware of her current predicament, still curiously peering out from the doorway.

Yuwen Wuji thought to himself, "As an emperor, what can't I get? She's just a subject's wife. If I want her, my servants will just deliver her to my room!"

Besides, her husband is practically no different from someone else now. Rather than live a life of widowhood, she'd rather stay with him!

Inside the main hall, the Dowager Consort knelt before the Buddha statue, chanting sutras with her eyes closed. The old nanny was extremely anxious; cold sweat soaked her back.

The guards outside blocked the door, claiming it was for the safety of the imperial concubine, but in reality it was to imprison her!

"Your Highness, we won't die, will we?" the nanny asked, trembling with fear.

The Empress Dowager has been worshipping Buddha at the Jokhang Temple for so many years without any trouble, so why won't the Emperor let them go?

The Dowager Princess silently recited the scriptures, but inwardly she felt utterly ashamed.

As a woman confined to the inner quarters, she naturally understood what Yuwen Wuji wanted to do.

But her abilities were limited; she struggled to protect herself, let alone others.

After reciting the last line of scripture, she opened her eyes and bowed devoutly to the Buddha statue.

May Buddha protect us.

May the nation remain stable and the country unchanged; may Yuwen Wuji die young and be reborn.

If he dies, she will definitely recite the Rebirth Mantra for him for forty-nine days.

As for the carefree princess...

"Ah Yao, a woman's beauty is always a curse."

If anyone's to blame, it's that she looks too much like Xie Wanqing.