The concubine was charming and alluring, and the ruthless prince coaxed her day and night.

Chapter 129 Even the strongest person can't withstand it.

"My beloved is different from the other women in the inner quarters; I've always known that." Zhao Yunzheng gently stroked Xu Jiaojiao's pert nose with his finger, his eyes full of doting affection, yet his tone brooked no refusal.

"You haven't rested since last night, you're exhausted, especially with a child in your belly. What you need to do now is not worry about me, but get some rest!"

Xu Jiaojiao couldn't help but touch her lower abdomen, her gaze softening with affection: "Alright, I'll rest when we get back to the Bamboo Courtyard!"

Although she didn't want to be a caged bird, Prince Chen was right. He was tall, so he could hold up the sky if it fell. She should enjoy herself while she could!

Xu Jiaojiao leaned into Prince Chen's arms again and mumbled, "Your Highness, last night at the hunting grounds, I killed Concubine Zheng."

"Hmm, it's nothing..." As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Yunzheng realized what Xu Jiaojiao had said and was immediately stunned: "You said you killed Zheng Antong?!"

The slight upward inflection in his voice revealed the shock in Prince Chen's heart.

Xu Jiaojiao blinked innocently and pursed her lips nervously: "Yes, she followed me into the hunting grounds, intending to kill me, but she failed and was instead shot dead by my arrow."

Zhao Yunzheng's pupils dilated: "Are you injured?"

Xu Jiaojiao shook her head: "I was wearing gold-threaded soft armor and was not injured. However, Concubine Zheng is still a living person, and I am worried that someone with ulterior motives might use this to make things difficult for you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunzheng gently pulled open Xu Jiaojiao's collar and saw that she was indeed wearing a gold-threaded soft armor. His heart was put at ease.

As long as Jiaojiao isn't injured, all other problems are minor.

Zheng Antong is just a nobody. He's dead, so what? Zhao Yunzheng doesn't care at all. If anyone is foolish enough to make a big deal out of this, then let them try.

More than the trouble that Zheng Antong's death would bring, Zhao Yunzheng wanted to know who had released Zheng Antong from the palace.

To avoid Xu Jiaojiao overthinking, he buttoned up her collar again and stroked her soft, dark hair reassuringly: "You can rest against me for a while. I will handle Zheng Antong's matter, so there is no need to worry."

Xu Jiaojiao nodded slightly, nestled in Prince Chen's arms, and listening to his strong heartbeat, she actually fell asleep without realizing it.

When I woke up again, it was already dark.

Xu Jiaojiao lay on a small couch in the bamboo courtyard, with candlelight flickering not far away, bringing a touch of warmth to the quiet, cold night.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at her from the side.

It was unclear when the injured shadow guards had left the room. The room was quiet, and even the faint smell of blood had been replaced by a pleasant calming incense.

On the desk where the map once sat, a small candle was lit. Prince Chen and Yingyi were discussing matters in hushed tones, pointing and gesturing at a piece of paper.

Seeing that they were discussing seriously, Xu Jiaojiao did not make a sound to disturb them. She could only vaguely hear the two talking about things like treason, rescuing the emperor, being executed, and having conclusive evidence.

By the time the two finished discussing, it was already dawn.

Looking at the man's serious profile, Xu Jiaojiao felt a pang of heartache.

Prince Chen first soaked in the cold pool, then suffered an ambush and internal injuries. Now, in order to deal with the enemy's schemes and tricks, he has to expend energy to plan step by step, and has not had a proper rest for several days.

Such strenuous work would be unbearable even for someone made of iron.

She didn't know the extent of Prince Chen's internal injuries. Once this matter was over and they returned to the palace, she would have to find a way to prepare some medicinal food to help Prince Chen replenish his body.

At his desk, Zhao Yunzheng straightened up, stretched his sore neck and shoulders, and instructed Yingyi, "Arrange this matter as soon as possible. I have been missing for so long, and it is time to reappear once everything is in order."

Perhaps it's true that bad things don't always come true, because Xu Jiaojiao was just thinking about Prince Chen's injuries when Zhao Yunzheng finished instructing Yingyi. She felt a sweet taste in her throat, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and then everything went black before her eyes, and she lost consciousness.

"Your Majesty!"

"master!"

Two exclamations rang out simultaneously.

Ying swiftly caught Zhao Yunzheng, who was about to fall, and Xu Jiaojiao got up from the couch and ran forward to check on Prince Chen's condition without even putting on her shoes.

Upon seeing her arrive, Yingyi disregarded the proper etiquette between mistress and servant and hurriedly shouted, "Consort Xu, there's a Rejuvenating Pill hidden in the desk compartment. Quickly give it to your mistress!"

Xu Jiaojiao was familiar with this medicine, so she immediately took it out and fed it to Prince Chen.

Prince Chen once said that the Rejuvenation Pill is a rare treasure in the world, worth a thousand pieces of gold, capable of healing the dead and restoring flesh to bones, and will not be used unless absolutely necessary.

Prince Kechen took two pills in just three days, which shows how serious his injuries were.

After Yingyi helped Prince Chen lie down on the couch, Xu Jiaojiao stood guard by the couch with red eyes.

Yingyi was not good with words, so she just awkwardly comforted her: "Consort Xu, don't cry. The master has taken the Rejuvenation Pill and won't die anytime soon. Shadow Guards have already gone to invite the Ghost Doctor. The Ghost Doctor's medical skills are unpredictable. As long as he arrives in the capital, the master's injuries will be healed."

Xu Jiaojiao fell silent for a moment.

Yingyi's words made her even more uneasy, but Xu Jiaojiao knew that Yingyi had already done her best.

She nodded slightly: "Okay, don't worry, I'll take care of the prince. You can focus on doing what the prince entrusted to you."

Entrusted?

Ying Yi felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his sense of responsibility overwhelmed him. He immediately nodded solemnly: "Alright, then I'll go! Please tell Master when he wakes up that I will definitely complete the task he assigned me!"

Watching Yingyi's hurried departure, Xu Jiaojiao, who had been looking worried, smiled wryly.

I can see that Yingyi is a pushover; as long as you say nice things to him, he'll give you his heart.

Looking at the unconscious Prince Chen, Xu Jiaojiao felt a pang of heartache.

It was already broad daylight, and it was unknown when Prince Chen would wake up.

He and Ying Yi had been discussing things all night, and he would definitely be hungry when he woke up.

With this in mind, Xu Jiaojiao got up and searched the bamboo courtyard carefully, trying to see what kind of food was available.

However, the bamboo courtyard was simple. Apart from some food she bought from the village yesterday and two rabbits she caught on her way back to the bamboo courtyard yesterday, Xu Jiaojiao only found a pot for boiling medicine and a stove.

Xu Jiaojiao fell silent again, feeling a sense of helplessness, like a skilled cook unable to cook without rice.

However, these are all minor issues!

Xu Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes, turned around and went into the house, drew Prince Chen's sword and went to the bamboo forest.

With such a large bamboo forest, she's sure she can dig up some autumn bamboo shoots. Autumn bamboo shoots are plump and tender, and they're delicious stir-fried or used in soups.

So when Prince Chen woke up, he saw Xu Jiaojiao with her sleeves rolled up, revealing a section of her fair wrist, sitting on the steps in front of the house peeling bamboo shoots.

To her left were a medicine stove and a medicine pot, with something bubbling inside, and a faint fragrance wafted through the bamboo courtyard.

To her right lay a sword stained with yellow mud, its blade gleaming coldly, its hilt inlaid with white jade—clearly a top-quality sword.

and many more…

A sword?

Zhao Yunzheng's pupils dilated, and he suddenly looked at the sword he had placed on his desk...