Two large bowls of spicy hot pot were steaming hot, giving off a rich and alluring aroma.

Rain beat on the banana leaves, candlelight dimly lit, Tao Ti and Pei Yan sat opposite each other, each with a bowl of spicy hot pot and a cup of osmanthus honey tea.

"Your Highness, try this and see if it's too spicy. If it is, I'll make bone soup next time, which will be lighter in flavor."

Tao Ti looked at Pei Yan expectantly while he ate, and she didn't hesitate either. She picked up a fresh fish ball and put it into her mouth. This purely handmade fresh fish ball was very chewy, and paired with the spicy hot pot soup, it had a unique flavor.

Pei Yan picked up a small green vegetable, which was the last one to be cooked. It was boiled just right, not overcooked at all, and the leaves were soaked in rich soup. When he put it in his mouth, the delicious and spicy taste stimulated his taste buds. When he chewed it carefully, the sweet and refreshing taste of the green vegetable neutralized the spiciness just right.

"The soup base is great. Green vegetables can be made so delicious. A'ti's cooking skills are getting better and better." Pei Yan nodded.

"Don't just eat vegetables, eat more meat. This beef slice is very fresh. It's a pity that we didn't have time to fry the dough sticks. The crispy dough sticks would be especially delicious when eaten with the soup!" Tao Ti said with a little regret.

The next moment, she raised her eyebrows and said, "When the weather gets colder, we can still eat hot pot. I will prepare a large table of dishes and ask Xiaowu, Xiaoliu, and Qinghe to come and eat."

Pei Yan smiled warmly, "Okay."

Seeing that he was still as elegant and graceful as ever, Tao Ti suddenly thought of something and looked at him, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.

Pei Yan stopped using his chopsticks, his cold, dark eyes showing a hint of gentleness, "What's wrong?"

Tao Ti was in a daze, pursed her lips, and said softly, "Your Highness, are you pretending to be so gentle to others?"

She was a little confused. From the first time she saw him, he had always been as gentle as jade, and she had never doubted it before.

But he suddenly told her that all this was just an act? She didn't know whether to say that she was too stupid or that his acting was too good.

If his madness and stubbornness that night were his true self, then what about his gentle appearance now? Is it real or just an act?

Pei Yan lowered his eyes slightly, and for a moment, he stared at her and said frankly, "After I fell in love with you, I stopped pretending."

Tao Ti was surprised at first, then her heart skipped a beat and her heart began beating wildly.

He did not deny that he had been in disguise, and he also stated that he had removed the disguise for her.

She licked her lips uncomfortably, lowered her head, and thought: He is still gentle.

As if he had guessed what she was thinking, Pei Yan added, "It's not really true. I was just pretending, pretending to be a gentleman... I thought you liked it that way."

Tao Ti choked, and her bright black eyes met his gaze.

Pei Yan raised his lips and smiled a little absentmindedly, his dark eyes carrying a hint of fiery danger, "I wouldn't have pretended if I had known."

What's the good of being a gentleman? He wastes so much good time with others.

Tao Ti was stunned for a moment before she understood the deeper meaning of his words. Her ears turned red and she quickly buried her head and continued eating the spicy hot pot.

I don’t know if it was because of the spiciness or the arousal of the words, but her fair cheeks turned red.

Pei Yan handed her the handkerchief and said casually, "I met Ashina Qi in the afternoon."

Tao Ti coughed suddenly and was almost choked by the chili pepper. She looked at him in surprise, her big black and white eyes silently asking, why did you go to see her?

Pei Yan said, "I didn't bother him."

Taoti asked softly, "So what did you say?"

Pei Yan narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark and unclear.

He thought of the scene when he met Ashina Qi in the afternoon, which was on the palace road to the Zichen Palace.

…

Ashina Qidu had a broken leg, but he was determined to go to the Zichen Palace on a crutch to express his gratitude.

After the two met, Pei Yan didn't want to pay any more attention, but unexpectedly Ashina Qi stopped him and wanted to talk to him alone.

Pei Yan glanced at his crutches and did not refuse.

The two of them went to a pavilion together. It was windy and rainy, and the sky was gloomy.

Fu Xirui watched from a distance and felt that the aura between the two was not right. He thought worriedly: Can they not fight later? But it should be okay if they fight. Although His Highness is weak, Prince Rongdi has a broken leg.

One is sick and the other is disabled, so they are evenly matched?

Ashina Qi looked him up and down, raised his eyebrows and said, "The prince looks well."

Pei Yan had a cold expression and remained silent.

Ashina Qi sighed and said, "If the Crown Prince is unhappy about my close relationship with the Crown Princess, there is no need to be. I don't have any romantic feelings for the Crown Princess. I like men. The Crown Princess is like a little sister in my eyes..."

Although Tao Ti had already said this last time, Pei Yan frowned silently when he heard a grown man say that he "liked men" with his own mouth.

When he looked at Ashina Qi again, there was an indescribable sense of wariness in his eyes.

Ashina Qi pulled the corner of his mouth, "You don't have to look at me like that. Not to mention that a friend's wife should not be bullied, even if I like men, I like obedient little brothers. I can't have someone like you who can only be admired from afar and not played with."

She couldn't help but complain in her heart: Only someone as stupid as A-ti would rush to a man and directly pick a high-level lover. But looking at the prince's reaction, it was obvious that he was also attracted to A-ti... So, this is a case of one thing conquering another?

Ashina Qi stood up and said, "I don't want to see you two quarreling over this matter, so I think it would be better to explain it."

Just as she was about to leave, Pei Yanchen's cold voice suddenly came from behind her, "You and her...were good friends in your previous life? Were you sisters?"

Ashina Qi's back stiffened, and his first reaction was, that fool Ati has revealed everything?

She calmed down, turned her head, and smiled, "I don't quite understand what your Highness is saying."

Pei Yan stared at her sharply. After a long while, he curled his lips and said, "I know."

He bowed to her and softened his attitude. "I was impatient about the startling incident. I apologize to you."

Ashina Qi's expression froze, and he didn't care about his plot against him. He was thinking: What did he know? Shit, did A Ti tell him, or did he guess it himself? So how much did he guess?

Pei Yan saw her serious expression and said calmly, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to hurt A'ti."

After hearing this, Ashina Qi's expression improved a little, and he snorted, "Then you'd better remember what you said."

She has always been negative about her best friend falling in love with an ancient man. There were many rules in ancient times, and the man in front of her is the prince. What if he has three harems and six courtyards in the future, and A-ti and other women share the same man, how uncomfortable would that be? Wouldn't it be nice to find a cute little guy in modern times to have a one-on-one relationship?

But from what I can see now, although this man in front of me is stubborn and a bit crazy, he is sincere to Ati.

As for how long this sincerity can last, it is difficult for her, an outsider, to make a conclusion.

But she believed that if there was a crisis in the relationship, Ati would make the right decision.

"The Crown Princess is a good girl, treat her well."

“It’s natural.”

"If you treat her badly, she can leave you at any time. She can live without a man."

“…”

The memories came to an abrupt end, Pei Yan's eyes regained focus, and in front of him was Tao Ti's beautiful face.

He flexed his fingers slightly and said calmly, "He said he likes men."

Tao Ti was stunned, "..."

They are good sisters indeed! We have the same ideas!

Pei Yan didn't say anything more, he took a sip of the honey osmanthus tea. The honey was moist and sweet, and the osmanthus was fragrant, as if the whole autumn was melted in the cup.

Seeing that the misunderstanding was resolved, Tao Ti ate the remaining spicy hot pot neatly in a happy mood.

The raindrops rustled against the window lattice, and the night was exceptionally quiet. Under the warm yellow candlelight, Pei Yan saw that her lips were slightly red and swollen from the spiciness, just like she had been kissed by him last night.

His throat rolled up and down, he stood up, walked to her side and took her hand.

Tao Ti looked at him puzzledly, wondering if he was going for a walk, and said softly, "It's raining outside."

Pei Yan said, "You've been sitting in the car for most of the day. Aren't you tired? Take a shower and rest early."

Tao Ti answered honestly, "I'm not very tired after lying down for a whole day. If you are tired, go take a bath first. I will play with Yuanbao for a while."

It’s been three days since she last petted the cat. The cat is feeling lonely and her hands are itching.

Pei Yan gently kneaded her soft and boneless little hand, lowered his eyes, and said in a low voice, "You have plenty of time to accompany Yuanbao during the day, so stay with me first now."

Tao Ti looked up at him and was about to say "Don't you want to take a bath?", but the next moment she met his dark and deep peach blossom eyes and seemed to understand something.

She hated it! She had too much theoretical knowledge, and became a girl who understood everything in a second. She couldn't even pretend to be innocent!

"You, you... I'll accompany you later, you go take a shower first..." She stammered, trying to play dumb.

Pei Yan stretched out his arm, held her slender waist, narrowed his black eyes, leaned over and said, "Ati, you understand."

Tao Ti: No, I don’t want to understand!

But the man's gaze was so hot that it burned her face and made her throat tight.

He asked, "Shall I carry you?"

Tao Ti took a deep breath and said, "I will go by myself."

Pei Yan smiled, let go of her hand, turned around and went out to ask someone to prepare hot water.

………

The air was filled with smoke and the water temperature was just right, but Tao Ti was swollen all over, her delicate skin was glowing a light pink, and all ten of her toes were curled up.

It seemed like she had spent some time in the bathtub last night, but she was so sleepy that her consciousness was blurred. Apart from a few humming sounds when she was getting heavy, the rest of her consciousness was hazy, as if she was in a cloud of mist.

But now that she was awake, everything was different.

The space is limited, the postures are limited, but being small also has its advantages, as they fit tightly together and are seamless.

"You wanted to punish me last night, you can continue today." Pei Yan's voice was hoarse. He turned her over like a child and hugged her face to face.

Her whole body went limp. She still had some strength at first, but then she was completely exhausted. She no longer cared about being reserved and slumped softly on his shoulders, her tone aggrieved but coquettish, "I can't take it anymore, oooo..."

Pei Yan pinched her little face and laughed hoarsely, "Useless little thing, is this all that matters?"

Tao Ti was embarrassed by his teasing, lowered her head and bit his shoulder, "You're still laughing at me."

As she spoke, she twisted her waist and tried to stand up.

As she twisted and struggled, Pei Yan felt as if he had lost half his life. Veins bulged on his forehead and he held her waist and pressed it down.

He seemed to have endless power, and his hands on her waist were shaking a little, excited, agitated, and uncontrollable.

I don't know how long it was, but Tao Ti was picked up like a limp noodle.

She half-closed her eyes, and in her hazy vision she could see the man's broad shoulders and narrow waist. He was not particularly strong, but his muscle lines were very smooth and beautiful, like a carefully carved statue.

The statue has some minor flaws, though—a few scratches on his back and a tiny tooth mark on his shoulder.

Pei Yan lay down beside her. She leaned lazily in his arms, stroked his shoulders with her fingers, and said softly, "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt." He kissed her earlobe and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

Fortunately, the curtains were drawn and it was dark inside the bed. Her blushing face was not noticeable. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "It doesn't hurt."

Except for some discomfort at first, it became quite comfortable afterwards.

He is fierce but not rude. He can always arouse her emotions and make it a wonderful thing that both of them enjoy.

Thinking about this, Tao Ti suddenly realized a problem -

"Your Highness, have you ever had..." She bit her lip and was unable to ask.

"No." Pei Yan bent his slender fingers and tapped her forehead. "Don't let your imagination run wild. You are the first and only one."

Tao Ti blushed, "You performed, well, quite skillfully..."

Pei Yan said, "I think you are complimenting me."

He closed his eyes and said casually, "Go to sleep."

As for the fact that I had flipped through a few fire avoidance books in private, there was no need to tell her much. We could slowly explore the tricks in them and practice them together in the future.