Again... Ye Jiao chuckled silently. Since when had Li Ce become so bold? This man, who used to blush at the slightest approach, now tried to frighten her with every opportunity. Did he forget that she had never feared anyone? In any case, she was well-fed and brimming with energy.
"Alright!" Ye Jiao rose to her feet, mentally replaying the scenes from romance novels where noble ladies met gallant young men in secluded gardens. Then, she reached up and removed her hair ornaments.
Since taking up the post of Martial Marquis, Ye Jiao had simplified her appearance. Her hair was loosely tied in a half-up bun with a single ornamental hairpin for decoration and two golden hairpins securing stray locks—nothing more. This made her look crisp and spirited, drawing the martial officers' attention directly to her face during work, ensuring her commands were clearly heard and obeyed.
Now, as she removed the hairpins, her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Her delicate peach blossom eyes shimmered with emotion as she tilted her face upward, gazing longingly at Li Ce.
"Where would Your Highness like to begin?"
Li Ce: …
Ye Jiao stepped around the dining table and took Li Ce's hand, drawing close. "Shall we start with the lips? They're softer."
She tiptoed and brushed her supple lips against his chin. His jawline was exquisite—clean-shaven, yet tinged with a faint shadow that added a masculine tension. And his ears... were turning red, as expected.
Ye Jiao suppressed a triumphant smile and was just about to kiss his neck when her body was suddenly lifted off the ground. She was cradled horizontally in Li Ce's arms.
Having been seduced, Li Ce finally decided to strike back.
The beauty in his arms thrashed playfully, begging for mercy, but he strode purposefully toward the bed.
"You little enchantress!" he growled through gritted teeth, as though ready to devour her whole.
"I was wrong! I surrender!" Ye Jiao flailed her arms wildly and accidentally grabbed his belt. He wore a black belt with nine white jade rings today. As her fingers tugged at the clasp, the belt loosened and slipped free.
His meticulously arranged robes fell open, revealing the white inner garments beneath. He froze, looking down at Ye Jiao's face.
"This doesn't look like someone admitting guilt," he murmured, placing her onto the bed.
Li Ce didn't follow her up. He remained standing beside the bed, leaned down, and gently kissed her crimson lips.
Ye Jiao rolled away from the kiss, retreating deeper onto the bed.
"You haven't married me yet!" she accused.
"I'll marry you soon," Li Ce said, gazing at her intently. In his clear eyes bloomed the smile she wore like a flower in full bloom.
"And with what? Have you a betrothal gift?" Ye Jiao asked like a mischievous kitten, crouching on the bed and staring at him.
Li Ce smiled and nodded, reaching for the red cloth draped over the end of the bed.
Only then did Ye Jiao notice it—something large and square, covered in red fabric, bigger than a dressing table. She peered curiously as Li Ce gave the cloth a gentle tug.
The fabric tumbled down, revealing neatly arranged wooden boxes. Each was about three inches high and a foot wide. Though their colors varied slightly, every box was finely crafted and clearly valuable.
As someone who frequented the gold shops, Ye Jiao instantly recognized them.
"These are golden hair ornaments!" she exclaimed, eyes curving into delighted crescents.
She opened the topmost box and found inside a pair of dangling ornaments, a pair of hairpins, three combs, and five forehead decorations. The ornaments were fashioned with golden blossoms, the hairpins shaped like phoenixes, the combs inlaid with multicolored gems, and the forehead pieces were all the rage in the capital this season—plum blossoms.
"Do you like them?" Li Ce asked gently, watching her closely, his tone tinged with nervous anticipation.
"I thought so!" Ye Jiao closed the box with a flushed face, shooting him a glare. "No wonder the gold shops in the capital were all sold out—you hoarded them all!"
"Do you like them?" Li Ce asked again, straightening his back nervously.
"I…" Ye Jiao leapt up from the bed and threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and nestling into his embrace. "I do."
Her eyes grew slightly misty. "But all this gold… it can't buy me."
"I don't intend to buy you," Li Ce murmured, kissing her silky hair, "All I want in exchange is your smile."
"I remember…" Ye Jiao mused, "I first noticed the shops were emptied of golden ornaments the day you refused that marriage proposal."
"Mm," Li Ce held her close, "That was the day I planned to petition the emperor for our marriage."
But because of the birthday incident, he rejected the match. The emperor grew angry and withheld the decree.
"After the ancestral rites," Li Ce said, "When Father is in a good mood again, I'll ask once more."
"Good," Ye Jiao smiled up at him. "So… do you still want to eat me tonight?"
Before she could say another teasing word, Li Ce bent down and kissed her deeply, conquering her lips until she gave a soft, muffled moan. Only then did he release her.
"You little minx." He gently set her back down. "Zhao Prince's Manor is too shabby. I'll bring you into Chu Prince's Manor—then enjoy a true feast."
"Who says Zhao Prince's Manor is shabby?" came a sudden voice from outside.
It was Li Jing.
Thankfully, he had the tact not to barge in uninvited. To give Ye Jiao time to fix her appearance, Li Ce stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
"What is it?" Li Ce asked.
Li Jing gave him a sidelong glance and tapped his chin.
"What's this?" he teased. "Drinking human blood in secret?"
Li Ce realized immediately that Ye Jiao's lip rouge had stained his face. He raised a hand to wipe it off and turned, pretending to walk away.
"Do you actually have something to say?"
Li Jing chuckled.
"Yes, actually. You're overseeing the repairs at the Temple of Heaven tomorrow. Your sister-in-law blames me for it and insisted I assign you some guards. Same ones who accompanied you to Mount Li. Thoughtful of me, right?"
Li Ce's expression softened slightly. He shook his head. "Thank my sister-in-law for her concern, but there's no need. That place is peaceful. I'll be fine without them."
Li Jing didn't press. "Frankly, praying to Buddha is quite costly. I've spent a fortune in incense offerings. Can't even afford all those guards anymore."
"Praying isn't costly in silver," Li Ce corrected him, "It costs brothers."
Indeed. Because of Li Jing's religious endeavors, both Li Ce and Li Chen had been sent to repair the Temple of Heaven.
Li Jing gave a dry laugh and clapped Li Ce on the shoulder.
"Ah, Little Nine," he said gravely, "Do your best out there. I've raised you for over half a year. Think of it as a trial by fire. Fourth Brother finally gets a chance to shine before the emperor. He must be ecstatic."
Prince Wei, the Fourth Prince Li Chen, was not exactly ecstatic. He simply knew—his chance had come.
His advisor said, "Before now, Your Highness has only handled clerical tasks for the ministries. But this—officiating a grand ancestral rite—if done well, it will surely earn you the emperor's favor."
He could no longer play the fool, relying on acupuncture and massage to serve the emperor. If he wanted to compete for the crown prince title, he had to outshine all his brothers.
A crown prince must bear the seal of state, command the army, govern the realm. He must be intelligent, decisive, discerning, and virtuous.
And more than that—he must be cunning, devious, and possess a keen insight into the ways of the world, able to navigate every storm with calm precision.
But Li Chen did not respond to his advisor's words. He only turned to the man seated at his right.
"What do you think, Cong Zheng?"
Today's council at Wei Prince's Manor included Yan Congzheng.
This was Yan Lian's arrangement.
As Yan Lian had said, if Prince Wei truly intended to fight for the throne, the Yan family could no longer stay uninvolved. Better to see his intentions firsthand than be caught off guard.
"Father knows you dislike it," Yan Lian had said, "But even if it's just for your own protection, you ought to go."
So Yan Congzheng came to Wei Prince's Manor. He said nothing the entire time, quietly sipping wine and nibbling at his food.
Compared to some displeased advisors, Prince Wei's demeanor remained cordial throughout...