Jian Guozhi came to the bedchamber of Zhilao Mi as per his promise. He looked around and found that the chamber had dim lights. Zhilao Mi, seeing the First Prince, stood up from the chair and bowed. "Forgive me. I got busy with some work," Jian Guozhi stated. 

"Jian Ge shall not apologize," Zhilao Mi replied. "I took my supper after you sent the order," she added. Jian Guozhi nodded and went towards the bed. He sat on that. Zhilao Mi delightedly turned to him. 

Jian Guozhi smelled the pleasant scent and looked around. "Did you order to burn the incense sticks?" He then asked. 

"Yes. I thought you would love this scent," Zhilao Mi asserted. 

"Indeed. It is pleasant and unique." He removed the overcoat and put it on the bed. He lifted his hand to remove the hairpin but felt Zhilao's fingers on his hand. "Let me help," she softly said. Jian Guozhi passed her a tiny smile, thus giving her approval. Zhilao Mi removed the hairpin from the hair bun, opening his hair. 

She stepped back when Jian Guozhi caught her wrist and drew her closer. He locked her slender body between his legs and peered into her eyes. "Jian Ge," her voice had turned low. Her heart raced the moment he pulled her. Gradually, Jian Guozhi made her sit on his right thigh. However, their gazes did not leave each other. 

"It seems the incense sticks have aphrodisiacs in them." Zhilao Mi slightly widened her eyes. She felt his fingers tracing her face and stopped near her lips. "I like your calmness," she heard him.

"I am glad that Jian Ge likes it," Zhilao Mi stated. She raised her hand and placed it on Jian Guozhi's cheek, caressing it. "It is my first time touching your face," she whispered and glanced at him. 

"Same goes for me," Jian Guozhi replied. He could see how Zhilao's chest was falling up and down. "Are you nervous?" He queried her. 

"Hmm. A little. Every woman gets nervous when it's their first time," affirmed Zhilao Mi. Jian Guozhi's lips moved up as a smile formed on them. His fingers, which were near her lips, were now under her chin. Jian Guozhi leaned closer to her lips, which were glowing bright red to claim them. Heat rose on her cheeks and they flushed while the heart thumped crazily. 

'The aphrodisiac is working,' Zhilao Mi thought. 

Jian Guozhi kissed her but it was not even for seconds before he pulled away. Zhilao Mi gawked at him. 

"Do you love me?" He asked. 

Zhilao Mi hummed in response. The smile never left her lips. 

"But, I still do not love you." Right away, the smile left her lips and a befuddled expression appeared on her face. 

She still wore a fake smile on her lips. "It does not matter. I was taught that even if the husband doesn't love you, you have to love him wholeheartedly. He is your everything after marriage," Zhilao Mi asserted. 

"Such weird teachings you received!" Jian Guozhi remarked and laughed wryly. Zhilao Mi clutched her skirt and wondered why Jian was not initiating. So, she thought about taking the initiative. She closed the distance between them by capturing his lips. She pulled back and met his gaze. 

"Jian Ge," she murmured as her eyes flickered the same as an oil lamplight. Jian Guozhi moved his hand. His finger grazed her back, only to reach the bottom of her spine. He pulled her closer so that their bodies pressed against each other. At that moment, he captured her lips. The kiss was more intense this time, unlike the last time. 

Jian Guozhi pulled back from the heated kiss, gasping for air. "Jian Ge, I want to be useful to you by giving the birth of the first heir among all the Princes," Zhilao Mi proclaimed. 

"My mother wanted the firstborn from Xue Yu-Yan," Jian Guozhi stated, resulting in the disappearance of a smile again from Zhilao Mi's lips. 

"But, Jian Ge does not love even her sight," Zhilao Mi affirmed. 

"That was earlier. I promised her to give a chance to her as she repented on her mistakes," Jian Guozhi stated. 

"Jian Ge, you shall not trust her. Last time she not only created troubles for the Crown Princess but also for the Sixth Prince," Zhilao Mi opined. 

"Then, does it not go the same for you?" Jian Guozhi questioned. 

Zhilao Mi confusedly looked at him when she was pushed and thrown on the mattress. She was bewildered at how Jian Guozhi acted. He wiped the lips from the back of his palm. "Do you think you can play under my eyes?" Jian Guozhi waited for her response and stood up from the mattress. He went to the table and poured water into the glass. He sipped the water and turned to look at Zhilao Mi, who was still laid on the bed. 

"You did not give an answer," Jian Guozhi said, holding the glass in his left hand. 

Zhilao Mi sat up on the bed. She was still confused. The way Jian Guozhi pushed her away and his question worried her. She saw Jian Guozhi shaking his head because of the aphrodisiac incense stick. He moved towards the other table where a cauldron was placed. 

He halted in front of it and poured water into it. The incense sticks quenched.

"Zhilao Mi, I asked something. Do you want me to use another method to get the truth from you?" Jian Guozhi questioned her again. 

"I do not know what Jian Ge wants to know. I am indeed more trustable than Xue Yu-Yan." She stood affirmed on her point, not wanting to make Jian Guozhi's suspicions stronger. 

The First Prince put the glass on the table and went towards her. Halting in front of her he placed his hand on her neck before pressing his fingers firmly around it. "I hate lies. I know you were formulating plans to hurt Ying'er and Sheng Li." Zhilao Mi was stunned to hear that. She had no idea how and when Jian Guozhi found out about that. 

"For her and Brother Sheng, I even decided to show the true colors of my mother to the world. Then, what are you? How dare you make a fool of me when I thought to get close to you?" Jian Guozhi screamed at her and pulled her up. 

Zhilao Mi patted his hand, gesturing to him to let go of his grip from her neck. "L-l-leave," she struggled to breathe when Jian Guozhi released her hand from her neck. Zhilao Mi started coughing while holding her neck. She continued coughing and stepped back to sit on the bed. 

"Zhilao, I thought you would love me but I was wrong. I was ready to open my heart, but greed in your heart did not see my true self. I do not want the throne. My both wives ended up making my life sick," he remarked. 

"Jian Ge, but I did nothing wrong. I do not know why you are acting this way," Zhilao Mi stood up from the bed. 

"Again lying?" Jian Guozhi scowled at her. "I caught my mother's wrongdoings then what are you? Do not show me your face," Jian Guozhi warned her and walked out from there, after picking his overcoat and hairpin. 

Zhilao Mi's facial expressions turned grim. "What did he find out? I planned everything carefully! And, why does he care so much about Ying Lili? He is not his but his love for her is not dying," Zhilao Mi clenched her fists. 

Jian Guozhi halted after a few meters from Zhilao Mi's chamber. He tied the knot of his overcoat and resumed walking. The First Prince found Nianzu on the pavilion with a porcelain jar in his hand. "What is the Fourth Brother doing at this late night in the pavilion?" Jian Guozhi mumbled. 

He went to the pavilion and found Nianzu was crying. "Brother Nianzu," he called his name and went towards him. Nianzu tilted his head and smiled. Jian Guozhi stood by him and took the jar from him. Taking the scent, he looked back at Nianzu, who again started crying. 

"Why is the Fourth Brother doing this? He always refrained from wine except on special occasions," Jian Guozhi affirmed. He put the jar on the broad wooden railing. 

"I want to run away. Can I?" Nianzu asked Jian Guozhi, whose eyes turned big.