A maid from the outer courtyard knocked on the door to announce their arrival.

Why is he here?

"Quick, quick, Ah Xiang, pack up the things!" Yun Duoduo hurriedly cleaned up the scene.

In Jin Jinzhi's mind, she is still suffering from lingering poison and recovering from a serious illness. He must not let her discover that the poison in her body has been completely cleared and that she is now so strong and healthy.

After much effort, I managed to use this self-inflicted injury as a ruse, making the most of it and carrying it through to the end.

She tossed her hair back, jumped off the bed, and began picking at the crumbs and fruit peels on her body.

"Help me change, quick!"

Seeing that she couldn't get all the fruit peels off her body, Yun Duoduo quickly took them off and put on clean clothes.

"Princess, quickly, rinse your mouth!"

Ah Xiang brought over a teacup and an empty teacup. She was very familiar with this process. When Yun Duoduo was little, she often pretended to be sick in order to avoid the Empress Dowager's devilish training and punishment.

As Yun Duoduo busied herself, she wondered what Jin Jinzhi was up to so late.

Could it be that matter...?

He's been holding back ever since they kissed in the cave...

That day in the cave, she clearly felt the heat emanating from his body, the hardness around her waist, and the desire within him…

Is he planning to take advantage of her illness and force himself on her?

Seeing that Yun Duoduo had suddenly froze, Ah Xiang hurriedly patted her shoulder: "Princess, quickly lie down on the bed!"

Hearing Ah Xiang's soft call, Yun Duoduo came back to her senses.

"Duoduo, how is she?"

The moment Jin Jinzhi stepped into the bedroom, Yun Duoduo sprang to her feet and lay down on the bed, feigning a deep sleep.

Tranquil and serene.

Elegant and beautiful.

They are endearing.

"I just woke up for a little while, but I'm asleep now." Ah Xiang touched her pounding heart, her voice calm yet tinged with sadness.

She had been with Yun Duoduo for over ten years, and now that Yun Duoduo was ill, it was only natural that she should show some sadness on her face.

Under Yun Duoduo's guidance, she had already practiced these superficial skills to a very high degree.

"Alright, you may leave now. Duoduo, I will stay here with you," Jin Jinzhi said softly.

"Yes, this servant will take her leave." Ah Xiang tactfully withdrew from the bedroom, closing the doors and windows behind her.

Yun Duoduo listened intently to their conversation, and then heard the sound of doors and windows closing.

[He chased away Ah Xiang from inside the house, and the maids waiting outside were also driven away. He even said he would stay with her tonight?]

Is he going to sleep here tonight?!

Yun Duoduo nervously gripped the blanket tightly.

When the thing she had dreamed of countless times, hoped for countless times, and imagined countless times was finally about to happen, she felt uneasy and tense all over.

Jin Jinzhi took off his coat, and Yun Duoduo, hearing the noise, squinted at his back.

That straight back, those broad shoulders, that suggestive posture.

Jin Jinzhi turned around and walked to the bedside, looking at the sleeping Yun Duoduo.

She lay on the bed with her eyes closed, looking quite docile, unlike her usual aggressive self.

Now that he understands Yun Duoduo's feelings, he naturally can't treat her the same way he used to.

There's no need to deliberately hide his feelings.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and smoothed the stray hairs from Yun Duoduo's forehead.

Yun Duoduo sensed his movement and tried her best not to react.

Jin Jin blew out the candles, lay on the bed, turned to her side, and hugged Yun Duoduo in her arms.

Yun Duoduo's body stiffened for a moment.

What is he/she doing?!

"Duoduo is awake? Don't move." Jin Jinzhi sensed the subtle changes in Yun Duoduo's body and whispered in her ear.

"Sleep now, I will stay here with you."

Yun Shaomu said that sick people need to be held.

This will help you recover faster.

Yun Duoduo could hear warm breaths all around her ears, and she could feel Jin Jinzhi's chest rising and falling.

This embrace is warm, reassuring, and safe.

This time, she didn't seem to feel that strong impulse and desire.

Only a warm embrace.

Gradually, Yun Duoduo relaxed, and a familiar drowsiness washed over her. She fell into a deep sleep in Jin Jinzhi's arms.

...

The next morning, the sky was overcast and the sun was nowhere to be seen, and a cold wind was howling.

Jin Jinzhi and Yun Duoduo were still in the bedroom, not yet up.

Bu Yaolian boarded the carriage with tears in her eyes. She looked angrily in the direction of the bedroom, knowing that Jin Jin had not left all night, and felt very annoyed.

But she had no choice; she looked longingly at the gate of the Prince of Jibei's mansion, reluctant to leave.

Sitting inside the carriage, Bu Yaolian was so angry that her face turned ashen.

The maid who had been walking below the carriage was shivering from the cold wind outside, so she lifted her skirt and boarded the carriage, sitting with Bu Yaolian.

"Miss, are we just going to let this go?"

Bu Yaolian's personal maid said angrily, with an expression that suggested she was enjoying the show.

"I never expected the Ninth Princess to be so cunning!"

"We clearly used croton oil, how did it turn into millipede poison?" the maid asked in confusion.

Seeing that her young mistress remained silent, she continued, "It must be that Ninth Princess's doing!"

“You’re right, it must have been that Ninth Princess who did it.” Bu Yaolian’s eyes were filled with tears and resentment.

"Your Highness, I was originally going to be the princess..." Bu Yaolian sobbed.

"To be kicked out like this, I, Bu Yaolian, have never suffered such humiliation before!"

The assassin, Bu Yaolian, had no idea what kind of punishment she would receive after returning to the manor. Instead, she was single-mindedly focused on hating Yun Duoduo and figuring out how to stay in the Jibei Prince's manor.

Her personal maidservant began to rummage around, offering suggestions.

"Miss, you are the eldest daughter of the family, and Consort Chen is a relative of our family. With this relationship, plus your reputation as a talented woman in the capital, it would be very easy for you to marry the Prince of Jibei as a concubine!"

"If it weren't for the Ninth Princess interfering, Miss would definitely have been able to stay at the Prince of Jibei's residence for a while, and this marriage might have actually taken place!"

The maidservant spoke angrily from the side, and she had her own reasons for saying so.

If Bu Yaolian marries into the Jibei Prince's Mansion, she can also accompany her there as a dowry maid.

If I use some tricks, I might be able to become a prince's concubine. That would be much better than marrying into a poor, ordinary family!

"Waaaaah... Yes, it's all that bitch Yun Duoduo's fault!"

"You brat, you've got so many tricks up your sleeve!" Bu Yaolian gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her eyes bloodshot.

"She clearly poisoned herself, but she insisted on framing me! This caused me to be kicked out."

"You brat, I really want to kill her!"