She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Jiang Ruining gritted her teeth: "Twenty percent! I'll give you twenty percent more, that's the most I can give you!"

She planned to borrow 10,000 taels.

But it's all for saving her cheapskate father, so I think he'll be willing to help her pay it off, right?

Xiao Che leisurely ate his meal, ignoring her words.

Jiang Ruining reached across the table, tugged at his sleeve, and said in a coquettish voice, "Your Highness~"

The girlish tone made Xiao Che's eyebrows twitch: "Does Master look like someone who's short of money? Someone who can't even save ten taels of silver in three years, does he look like someone who can afford to pay back 20% more?"

Jiang Ruining's face fell.

All her previous coquettishness and flattery vanished, replaced by a huff as she glared at him angrily: "You think you're so great just because you have money! Poor people have dignity too, okay? You won't lend me any money, so why are you asking!"

You cheapskate!

I've never seen such an ungrateful miser!

angry.

I really want to go behind him, pretend I've lost my balance, and kick him hard. At worst, he'll hold a knife to my neck!

But then he remembered something else and decided to ask first. If he could find out something, he wouldn't kick him out.

"If you don't want to lend the money, then don't! Surely the Prince's mansion has some good wine, the kind that you can't find in the market."

Xiao Che's eyes turned cold: "What, you want me to give you wine to please your lover?"

Jiang Ruining didn't follow his train of thought and tilted her head: "What nonsense! I'm an honest and decent woman, and all I've ever slept with is you. Where did this 'lover' come from? Don't try to confuse me!"

Xiao Che sneered, "Isn't it because he knows Shao Yunting is looking for good wine to offer to his maternal grandfather?"

Jiang Ruining was stunned for a moment, feeling powerless: "Outrageous! Open the door for outrageous people!"

Xiao Che frowned: "What do you mean?"

Jiang Ruining slammed his fist on the table: "This is outrageous!"

Xiao Che: "..."

Jiang Ruining's beautiful eyes widened in anger, her suppressed voice flaring as she said, "Do you want to hear what nonsense you're spouting? What does it have to do with me that he's looking for his wine? I know you have people watching me all the time. Even if I really wanted to find wine for him, I would do it secretly, without asking you!"

"If you're going to pin a crime on me, at least wait until I've brought the alcohol to someone's door, so you can catch me red-handed! I haven't done anything yet, and you're being so sarcastic and insinuating—isn't that going a bit too far!"

Xiao Che's eyes were icy cold, revealing no emotion.

Seeing his calm demeanor, Jiang Ruining became even angrier: "It's truly pitiful for those who serve you so loyally. If even the slightest coincidence occurs, you immediately suspect them, and all their hard work and merits become meaningless—all their service was for nothing!"

"Should I submit a detailed application to you before I even catch my breath?"

Xiao Che said calmly, "It's not impossible."

Jiang Ruining was so angry that she almost couldn't catch her breath.

How could there be such a despicable bastard!

Enraged, she grabbed his arm without thinking and bit it hard.

Xiao Che's eyebrows twitched slightly, and a smile flashed in his eyes.

He enjoys provoking her.

What do you need the wine for?

Asking her is more effective than telling her to shut up.

Jiang Ruining indeed relented.

Seeing a chance to get some wine, her eyes immediately lit up: "If I ask you for wine, it's because I want to drink it myself."

"I'm clearly a noble heiress, but I'm surrounded by perverts. I'm so miserable! I'm so worried! I just want to have some drinks, get drunk, clear my head, and give myself a break."

"The ones you can buy outside all taste awful. I want to cheer myself up, so of course I need to drink something good! Of course, there are other uses for it too, but it's not for him!"

"At worst, I'll just owe you another favor!"

Xiao Che leaned against the side table, noticing the hint of guilt that flashed in her eyes. He narrowed his phoenix eyes but did not expose her on the spot.

Let's see what this scheming little coward is capable of doing!

"How much is your favor worth?"

Jiang Ruining, hands on her hips, retorted defiantly, "How can someone as smart as me be worthless!"

Xiao Che chuckled.

It wasn't too harsh, but the mockery was quite obvious.

Jiang Ruining knew perfectly well that all her cunning was less than a tenth of his, so she was powerless to refute him. Suppressing her anger, she wrinkled her nose at him and snorted forcefully, "Fine, if you won't give it to me, I'll find someone else to help me!"

He silently cursed from an angle where the other man couldn't see him: "Ungrateful bastard!"

Boom!

I felt a slight pain in the back of my head.

She lowered her head.

I found a crumpled piece of paper rolling at my feet.

"..."

This man's heart is as thin as a needle's point!

evening.

Jiang Ruining went to Zhengnan Courtyard again.

After venting his anger on Madam Jiang, he returned feeling refreshed, lay down on the bed, pulled up the covers, and went to sleep.

After finishing with the folded paper, Xiao Che leisurely got into bed: "I thought you had so much backbone, not relying on me anymore."

Jiang Ruining opened his eyes and saw the thin, soft silk nightgown clinging to his body, clearly showing his abs, pectoral muscles, and those two little dots. His gaze continued to scan downwards, and he couldn't help but swallow.

That figure is really amazing!

I really want to touch it.

Thinking this, he already reached out and touched it.

Wow!

It feels so good!

Jiang Ruining smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Xiao Che slapped her hand away: "Watch out for your claws!"

Jiang Ruining pouted: "It's not like we haven't touched it before!"

Why did she dare to crawl onto the bed?

Firstly, a man of his rank and power has his desires strictly controlled, and having seen all kinds of stunning beauties, he wouldn't have those thoughts on his mind just because they share a bed!

Besides, if she were to have some kind of relationship with such a top-tier body, she wouldn't be at a loss!

"One thing at a time, I won't make things difficult for myself! Besides, if it weren't for you, Jin Yu and Yun Mi wouldn't have to stay outside. I could have them sleep with me, why would I need you!"

Xiao Che's bright phoenix eyes narrowed slightly in the dim light: "That silly goose named Yun Mi falls asleep faster than you, and she's even sillier than you. Who's actually keeping watch while you sleep?"

Jiang Ruining: "..." This person is so annoying!

Xiao Che chuckled silently.

Perhaps out of habit, he tucked his arm under her neck.

"sleep!"

Jiang Ruining grabbed his arm and adjusted the angle, lying on her side, curling up slightly, and bringing her face to his shoulder. Finally, she turned her back, grabbed his hand, and placed it behind her back.

This sleeping position makes me feel the safest.

The room fell silent.

Jiang Ruining had a lot on her mind: how to save her adoptive father, how to deal with Cui Jingwei and the others' schemes, how to make Madam Jiang regret her actions... No matter how she thought about it, there were always obstacles and her life was in danger.

"Xiao Che".

"presumptuous."

Xiao Che's rebuke sounded like he was saying, "Well, the weather is nice."

Jiang Ruining grinned, "Calling each other by name makes us seem like good friends!"

Xiao Che: "..."

He stared at Cheng Chen with his eyes open, seemingly lost in thought.

After a while.

He opened his mouth: "Speak your mind!"