Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Young lady, please come with me.”

Someone called softly by my ear.

I came back to myself, dazedly remembering what year it was, what night this was.

But the cup in my hand had already been drained.

The hem of my skirt had been splashed wet as well.

A bad feeling sank through me.

Why couldn’t I have come back even one cup of tea earlier?

A wave of heat surged up from inside me.

I dug my nails hard into my palm and rose with the maid.

Just as we were about to reach the side room, my steps went unsteady and my body swayed.

I threw myself into the courtyard pond.

In my previous life, after the maid led me into the side room, I had stumbled dizzily toward the bed.

Only to fall by accident into a solid embrace.

Perhaps the commotion was too loud, because the man was startled awake by me.

His voice was low and hoarse.

“Whose family are you from?”

My eyes were clouded. I couldn’t tell who he was at all.

I only felt that his lips were red, his teeth white, his features strikingly beautiful.

When he spoke, there seemed to be the faint scent of wine on his breath.

“Wait. Don’t!”

His hand shoved at me and brushed against my cheek.

My mind was in chaos. I only felt that it was cool, so cool, and terribly comfortable.

I couldn’t help moving closer, craving more of it.

Before he could get up, I pressed him back down onto the bed.

My body and mind were both awash in pleasure.

I had no sense of how much time had passed.

Then, all at once, there came a creak.

“Zhao’er, why have you run to your elder brother’s room again?”

“Have you sobered up at all?”

Princess Consort Yan pushed the door open and walked in.

Only to see me straddling Yan Zhao.

His robe had fallen wide open, and my hand had already slipped deep beneath his inner garment.

“You… you two!”

I was instantly shocked. My vision went black, and I collapsed dizzily against his chest.

When I slowly woke again and remembered what I had done…

Good heavens.

I had only recently followed my father to the capital after his promotion.

The very first time I was invited to a banquet, I was inexplicably drugged.

Just let me keep fainting.

But Princess Consort Yan’s voice came from beside me.

“What happened today is entirely the fault of our prince’s manor for failing to keep proper order. Your daughter was dragged into this for no reason and given such a vile drug. I truly feel terrible about it.”

“However, since the children have already had intimate contact, why not choose an auspicious date? Though it happened by accident, it has still brought about a fine marriage.”

My mother’s smile was faint. She pressed her lips together and agreed.

“Since matters have come to this, that would be for the best.”

I instinctively looked toward Rong Zhen, who stood at the foot of the bed.

The corners of his eyes were flushed red, and his lips trembled slightly, but in the end, he said nothing.