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

Chapter 16 The Beautiful Sister Who Saved the Hero

After the welcome-back banquet, Zhao Yunzheng spent two days sorting out all the affairs inside and outside his residence during the six months he had been away from the capital.

Today is his first day attending court since returning to the capital.

On his way home from court, a mischievous little girl suddenly blocked his path.

Upon seeing who it was, Zhao Yunzheng's face lit up with a doting smile: "Little Jiarong, what brings you here?"

Princess Jiarong threw herself into Zhao Yunzheng's arms: "Second Brother, hug me!"

Without saying a word, Zhao Yunzheng bent down and picked up Jia Rong, letting her sit on his forearm.

Jia Rong's eyes darted around, and he leaned down slightly, speaking mysteriously in Zhao Yunzheng's ear: "Second Brother, I heard that you were attacked at your residence a few days ago, and a stunningly beautiful woman took the knife for you?"

Zhao Yunzheng was both amused and exasperated: "Have you finished your studies? Why are you asking around like this?"

Even the palace knows about this; the news spreads incredibly fast.

Jia Rong pouted: "Everyone in the school is talking about this. Even if I don't want to listen, I can't help it."

Zhao Yunzheng chuckled and gave Jia Rong a light tap on the head, saying in an annoyed tone, "You probably didn't come to see Second Brother today just to ask about this matter, did you?"

Jia Rong chuckled, showing no embarrassment at having his secret exposed: "On the ninth day of next month, the Marquis of Ningde is holding a first birthday banquet for his youngest son. Second brother, would you secretly take me out of the palace to attend?"

Zhao Yunzheng laughed in exasperation: "You want to see Li Mingyu again?"

Li Mingyu was the eldest son of the Marquis of Ningde and also the betrothed to Jiarong since childhood.

Jia Rong blushed, took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom, shoved it into Zhao Yunzheng's hand, and changed the subject: "Jade Beauty Cream, apply it and I guarantee your beauty won't have any scars."

Thinking of Xu Jiaojiao's delicate, jade-like skin, Zhao Yunzheng felt a little distracted.

The Jade Face Cream is worth a fortune and is extremely rare. Xiao Jiarong's willingness to part with it this time is quite a significant investment.

Normally, Zhao Yunzheng would have dismissed it with disdain, but today he inexplicably accepted the Jade Face Cream: "This is a one-time thing, and there will be no next time."

Upon receiving the message, Jia Rong beamed with joy: "Thank you, Second Brother!"

She had been worried about how to win over her unambitious second brother. If it weren't for her maid Xiuyun hearing about what happened at her second brother's residence and asking her to send him the Jade Face Cream, she probably wouldn't have been able to leave the palace so easily.

But then again.

This was the first time she had ever seen her second brother care about a woman confined to the inner quarters of the house.

I'm really curious, what kind of woman could make her second brother, who has a heart of iron, so fond of her?

Jia Rong teased with a smile, "By the way, Second Brother, why don't you bring your beautiful sister who saved the hero from the damsel in distress to the first birthday banquet? I'm really curious~"

Zhao Yunzheng ignored Jia Rong this time, but did not refuse outright either: "If you say any more, be careful that I might change my mind."

Jia Rong stuck out her tongue, jumped off Zhao Yunzheng, and ran off in a flash: "I won't give you a chance to back out!"

Watching Jia Rong skip and hop around, Zhao Yunzheng's eyes revealed a hint of envy.

Just as he was about to leave the palace, the eunuch who had been waiting nearby stepped forward and said, "Your Highness Prince Chen, the Crown Prince requests your presence."

Bandits were causing trouble in the outskirts of the capital. Their forces were complex and intertwined, so the Crown Prince couldn't take action openly. Therefore, he sought help from Zhao Yunzheng.

This matter was thorny and could not be resolved in a day or two, so Zhao Yunzheng stayed at the camp on the outskirts of Beijing.

Although Prince Chen was not in the Prince Chen's mansion, it did not stop the women in the inner quarters from scheming against each other.

……

Xu Jiaojiao has not yet won the emperor's favor, so she keeps a low profile and focuses on conserving her energy.

Unless absolutely necessary, she stays in the hospital, spending her days recuperating, getting beauty treatments, and exercising.

Although it's difficult to win someone's heart with beauty in the long run, it's an indispensable stepping stone to attract a man's attention.

Therefore, Xu Jiaojiao cherishes her reputation very much, and she spares no effort in protecting her appearance and maintaining her figure.

Since her wounds haven't fully healed, Xu Jiaojiao controls her figure by taking walks.

That day, she was walking slowly in the courtyard when she caught a glimpse of someone and a dog peeking furtively into the courtyard from the gate.

She paused, staring intently.

The other person noticed and ran very fast, but Xu Jiaojiao still recognized him.

Chen Xi!

I heard that Chen Xi was beaten twenty times that day and demoted to a low-ranking maid in the West Courtyard.

Twenty strokes of the cane, and only a few days later Chen Xi was able to get out of bed; he recovered quickly.

Now that Chen Xi has secretly come to observe, it seems he is still harboring resentment and wants to take this opportunity to cause trouble.

Seeing that she was standing still, Lianye keenly sensed something was wrong: "Master, what has happened?"

Xu Jiaojiao looked away: "It's nothing, I just saw a maid who looked familiar."

Chen Xi only stopped after running quite a distance.

She leaned against the wall, panting, the pain from the injury on her buttocks causing her to break out in a cold sweat.

Early this morning, the person in charge urged her to get up and work, saying that it was already more than enough to let her rest for a few days because of this injury, and that maids shouldn't be so delicate, and that she wouldn't die from doing some work.

The lowly maids did all sorts of dirty and tiring work, and by the end of the morning, Chen Xi was in pain and exhausted.

Just then, she passed by Shi Nuan Pavilion and saw Xu Jiaojiao inside, wearing a long silk dress embroidered with gold thread. With a wasp waist, jade-like face, and skin as white as snow, she no longer resembled a maid at all. The jealousy and resentment in Chen Xi's heart almost drove her crazy.

If she hadn't been deceived by that vile woman Xu Jiaojiao that day, she would now have her own courtyard, maids to serve her, endless silks and jewelry to wear, and the prince's exclusive favor.

"Xu Jiaojiao, I'll make you pay! You just wait!!" Chen Xi gritted her teeth in hatred, her eyes bloodshot.

That night.

After a busy day, Zhao Yunzheng sat with the Crown Prince in the main tent, drinking and eating meat.

Just as they were drinking, a soldier came to report that the Crown Princess had arrived.

Upon hearing the mention of the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince's eyes filled with tenderness, and he immediately rose to greet her.

Zhao Yunzheng saw this and couldn't help but be moved.

The Crown Princess was gentle and kind. Although she was not the most beautiful or dignified among the noble ladies of the capital, she was the one who could best soothe the Crown Prince's heart.

The couple's deep affection for each other was known to everyone in Kyoto.

Sometimes, seeing the Crown Prince and Crown Princess so affectionate, Zhao Yunzheng couldn't help but feel a little moved, secretly hoping that such a confidante could appear by his side as well.

Although he had many wives and concubines in his harem, ...

Zhao Yunzheng felt a little stifled, so he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

With the Crown Prince's beloved wife by his side, she noticed her younger brother's troubled expression and couldn't help but ask, "I heard that you were assassinated a few days ago, and it was one of your concubines who saved you?"

Zhao Yunzheng was slightly taken aback: "That is indeed true."

The Crown Prince accepted the wine offered by the Crown Princess: "This woman is willing to risk her life to protect you; you should cherish her."

Zhao Yunzheng was shaken, and the image of Xu Jiaojiao involuntarily appeared in his mind.

I haven't seen her for a few days, and I wonder if her injury has gotten any better.

Thinking of the jade-like cream that Xiao Jiarong had given him, Zhao Yunzheng made a plan: "Brother is absolutely right..."

At that time, Shi Nuan Pavilion.

Xu Jiaojiao discovered that Chen Xi had been lurking in the corner of her wall for three consecutive days.

As the saying goes, it's not the thief you should fear, but the one who has his eye on you.

Rather than waiting to die, it's better to lure the snake out of its hole...