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

Chapter 95 I knew you couldn't let go, Second Brother.

Seeing that his second brother had relented, Jia Rong, whose eyes had been dull, suddenly beamed with joy, his watery eyes sparkling as if they were filled with stars.

"Ha! I knew you couldn't let it go, Second Brother!"

Jia Rong laughed loudly.

Zhao Yunzheng, who was seriously considering the situation, said: "..."

I was ridiculed!

Seeing his second brother's face darken, Jia Rong, fearing it would backfire, immediately stopped smiling and became serious: "Ahem, well... as for how to verify it, second brother, let me think about it..."

As he spoke, Jia Rong thoughtfully stroked his chin: "How about this..."

After listening to Jia Rong's explanation, Zhao Yunzheng narrowed his eyes.

Tsk…

When did Jia Rong come up with such a comprehensive plan in such a short time?

It seems this young lady came prepared, intending to reveal her plan.

Jia Rong really went to great lengths for Xu Jiao Jiao!

Zhao Yunzheng knew exactly what was going on, but he didn't expose it, since he really wanted to know Xu Jiaojiao's feelings.

Thinking of this, he pretended not to know and nodded slightly: "Alright, then so be it."

"Great!"

Upon receiving the news, Jia Rong cheered with joy.

Not only that, she went even further: "Um, second brother, can I still go to Sister Jiaojiao to change my clothes now?"

Zhao Yunzheng glanced at Jia Rong sideways and chuckled helplessly, "Whatever."

Seeing that his second brother agreed, Jia Rong jumped up from his chair with joy and gave Zhao Yunzheng a big hug.

Although Zhao Yunzheng disgustedly pulled Jia Rong off him, the curve of his eyes and eyebrows softened considerably.

"Yay! I can go to Sister Jiao Jiao's place for pastries and tea again!"

Although his second brother was disgusted, Jia Rong couldn't help but grin from ear to ear, his smile practically reaching the sky.

Hearing Jia Rong's words, Zhao Yunzheng shook his head helplessly.

It's reasonable to suspect that Jia Rong is helping Xu Jiaojiao simply because he's greedy.

"Jia Rong!"

Just as Jia Rong was about to step out the door with great excitement, he heard his second brother's voice.

She stiffened and cautiously turned around: "What are you doing?"

Could it be that Second Brother is going to back out?

The second brother stood up, took a piece of gold-threaded soft armor from the shelf, and walked towards him: "The hunting grounds are dangerous. Take this to Xu Jiaojiao, but don't say it's a gift from me."

Seeing his second brother's unnatural expression and slightly reddened ears, Jia Rong winked teasingly.

"Tsk tsk tsk, sharp tongue but soft heart~"

Before her second brother's face fell, Jia Rong grabbed the clothes and skipped away.

Her clear, cheerful voice echoed in the wind: "Second Brother~ Wait for me to bring you some pastries~"

In the courtyard, Youde, holding the maid's clothes, watched Jiarong leave, a hint of doubt slowly appearing on his chubby face.

so?

Do you still want these clothes?

……

Inside Yuhua Courtyard.

Xu Jiaojiao sat in the hanging basket, basking in the sun with a blank expression.

Since waking up, she has been like a lost soul, her mind and heart empty.

Lianye saw this and was anxious.

Although the master has been confined to his home for quite some time, he has been doing well recently, eating and sleeping well, and even making pastries and picking osmanthus flowers to make wine when he has nothing to do.

After the prince arrived last night, the master seemed like a different person; he neither spoke nor smiled.

I wonder what happened between the master and the prince last night?

Lianye was extremely anxious, racking her brains to find some little trinkets to amuse her mistress, completely unaware that Xu Jiaojiao's distraught state was not due to sadness, but rather to self-doubt.

Thinking of the look in Prince Chen's eyes last night, Xu Jiaojiao felt a sharp pain in her heart.

She's fallen for him?

How could she possibly be moved?

If you're tempted, how can you focus on making a fortune without distractions?

Just as she was still in a daze, she saw the courtyard gate be pushed open a crack, and a person sneaked in like a dog.

Xu Jiaojiao: "?"

She blinked hesitantly, then looked closely: "Jia Rong?!"

The servants in the courtyard also noticed Jia Rong's presence, and they were all taken aback, kneeling down to pay their respects.

"Shhhhhh!"

Jia Rong frantically closed the courtyard gate, putting his hand to his mouth and frantically signaling everyone not to shout.

She had finally managed to distract the two door gods at the entrance, but if they were discovered, it would cause unnecessary trouble.

Although her second brother tacitly approved of her coming, it was still not good to attract too much attention.

Everyone understood the situation and immediately fell silent.

Jia Rong placed the gold-threaded soft armor in her hand on the stone table, then ran over to Xu Jiaojiao's side: "Sister Jiaojiao, I secretly ran out of the palace to see you!"

Xu Jiaojiao's lips twitched.

This is the first time someone has spoken so openly about sneaking out.

She smiled helplessly: "Trying to get hungry again?"

Jia Rong raised his hand, pinched it in mid-air, and chuckled, "Well, I'm just a tiny bit tempted~"

Xu Jiaojiao chuckled and took Jia Rong's arm as they entered the small kitchen: "Your Highness, please wait for me. I'll make a simple peach shortbread first, and while you eat, I'll make some other pastries."

Jia Rong felt a little embarrassed that he always had to sit and wait to be fed.

She rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward to help: "Sister Jiaojiao, let's do it together. Maybe I have a talent for making pastries too!"

Xu Jiaojiao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded slightly: "Alright, I'll teach you..."

The two chatted as they made pastries.

Watching the peach shortbread being placed into Xu Jiaojiao's homemade oven, Jia Rong's eyes lit up, and he steered the conversation toward the autumn hunt.

"The autumn hunt is in a couple of days. With Second Brother here this year, it's sure to be a spectacular one."

Xu Jiaojiao asked curiously, "Really?"

Jia Rong nodded and showered his second brother with praise: "Of course! My second brother is a war god! In the past few years, he was always fighting on the front lines, giving those weaklings in the capital a good beating. This year, with him around, no one in the capital can be his match!"

Xu Jiaojiao believed this.

Zhao Yunzheng's bravery is indeed unmatched.

While these words sound impressive, the sacrifices and efforts Zhao Yunzheng made for them are unparalleled.

Thinking of Zhao Yunzheng's scars, Xu Jiaojiao felt a pang of heartache.

"Your Highness is indeed brave and decisive, but it's a pity I won't be able to see it."

Jia Rong's eyes lit up, and she immediately said, "Sister Jiao Jiao, do you want to see?"

Perhaps it was Jia Rong's bright eyes that made Xu Jiaojiao feel dazed for a while.

Jia Rong is Zhao Yunzheng's sister. The two siblings are practically inseparable. No matter how good her relationship with Jia Rong is, it can't compare to the blood ties between the two siblings.

Could she say she didn't want to in front of Jia Rong?

Xu Jiaojiao forced a smile and said, "Of course I want to."

Jia Rong grasped Xu Jiaojiao's equally flour-covered hand with his own flour-covered hand, patting it excitedly: "Jiaojiao, if you wanted to go, you should have said so earlier! You should have called me! I would have helped you!!"

Xu Jiaojiao: "??"

Jia Rong is being way too extravagant!

They practically had "I'm here to take you to the hunting grounds" written all over their faces!

With her hand, which Jia Rong wasn't holding, she waved away the flour flying in front of her and gave a dry laugh: "Your Highness is too kind. Although I would like to go, since the Prince has confined me to my quarters..."

"Hey!" Jia Rong raised his hand to cover Xu Jiaojiao's mouth, stopping her from continuing. "Sister Jiaojiao, don't worry about so much. Just tell me, do you want to go?"

Xu Jiaojiao opened her beautiful eyes wide and nodded blankly.

Seeing this, Jia Rong smiled with satisfaction: "Alright! Leave the rest to me! I will personally come to pick you up from the manor in two days!"