Waaah, I'm being forced into loving my yandere wife's brain.

"Miss Lin is awake?"

At this moment, a soft female voice sounded from outside the tent, "My name is Qingwu. Your Majesty instructed me to serve you in your washing and grooming."

Lin Zhiyao subconsciously pulled the blanket tighter around her, looked at the bowed figure outside the bed, and retreated further into the bed: "I can do it myself."

His voice held a hint of wariness.

Qingwu didn't move, but her voice was even lower: "Miss Lin, please don't make things difficult for me. His Highness gave the order that if I don't do it properly, I'll lose my head."

Lin Zhiyao stared at the shadow outside the tent.

Qingwu knelt down, her forehead pressed against the cold ground: "Please have mercy, Miss."

Lin Zhiyao remained silent for a moment, feeling reluctant, but still lifted the curtain.

Qingwu immediately crawled forward on his knees and helped Lin Zhiyao off the bed by supporting her arm.

The movements were extremely light and steady.

Lin Zhiyao stopped and then realized that this was a girl who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.

She has a round face, dark eyes, and a light blue birthmark on one side of her cheek. Her appearance is quite ordinary.

"Miss, please wash your face first."

Qingwu brought over a copper basin, wrung out a handkerchief, and handed it to him, his manners and actions extremely proper.

Lin Zhiyao took the handkerchief and patted her face; the water temperature was just right.

Qingwu then brought over salt and willow twigs to help her rinse her mouth.

Lin Zhiyao didn't say anything during the whole process, and Qingwu didn't say anything either, and they were very efficient.

After doing all this, Qingwu pushed open the lattice door of the inner room.

Lin Zhiyao looked over and saw a black lacquered sandalwood clothes rack, covered with dresses ranging from crimson to pale yellow, from light silk to brocade, at least a dozen pieces.

"The Ninth Prince said that Miss came in a hurry and didn't bring a change of clothes, so he asked me to prepare some in advance." Qingwu stood to the side with her hands at her sides. "Miss, take a look, which one do you like?"

Lin Zhiyao glanced at everything from beginning to end and walked straight to the corner.

There hung a light blue gauze dress, the hem of which was only embroidered with a few clusters of silver orchids, the neckline overlapping to the collarbone, the sleeves reaching the wrists, the fabric covering her completely.

Unassuming, unremarkable, and very conservative.

"This one."

"Yes, Miss." Qingwu responded, took it off and shook it out. It was obviously made of very fine material, and it rippled with light blue light.

Lin Zhiyao turned her back, and Qingwu stepped forward to untie the sash of her inner garment.

Lin Zhiyao's body stiffened slightly.

But Qingwu's fingertips only quickly brushed across the back of her neck, folded the clothes she had changed out of and draped them over her arm, and then tied the ties of her ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) for her. The movements were swift and smooth, without any unnecessary touch or pause, as if he had not seen the marks all over her body at all.

Lin Zhiyao then slowly relaxed.

Qingwu knelt down to straighten her skirt, then took a half-step back as she stood up. After examining her for a moment, she smiled and said, "Miss, you look so beautiful. This light blue color makes your skin look even whiter and clearer."

Lin Zhiyao turned her head to look at the bronze mirror.

The woman in the mirror had long, loose hair, and her light blue dress did indeed make her complexion look better. She must have slept soundly last night, because there were no dark circles under her eyes, but rather a rosy glow from a good night's sleep.

Only a faint red mark was visible on the side of her neck, hidden at the edge of her collar.

It seems to exist but not truly exist.

Lin Zhiyao raised her hand to adjust her collar.

Qingwu immediately handed over a comb: "Shall I style your hair, Miss?"

"Need not."

Lin Zhiyao took the comb and gathered her long hair to her shoulder, combing it simply. "Please take me to see your Ninth Prince."

Qingwu hesitated for a moment, but finally bowed and replied, "Yes."

Lin Zhiyao paused when she reached the door and glanced at the clothes rack.

Beneath the crimson dress lay a half-open sandalwood box, revealing several glittering golden hairpins inside, their jewels shimmering.

It was probably prepared for her by Shen Jin.

But she didn't want to dress so flamboyantly.

Lin Zhiyao withdrew her gaze, her thick eyelashes drooping slightly to conceal her eyes, and pushed open the door to leave.

Qingwu quickly lifted the bamboo curtain for her, letting in the sunlight.

At the corner at the end of the corridor.

Shen Jin was leaning against a pillar, standing there for an unknown amount of time.

He changed into a dark-colored casual outfit, rolling up the cuffs to reveal his wrists.

He held a few fish food pellets in his palm and casually tossed them into the lotus pond.

Hearing footsteps, Shen Jin turned his head and his gaze fell on Lin Zhiyao.

Qingwu consciously retreated to a distance.

Shen Jin's hand, which was holding the fish food, was still hanging over the surface of the pond, while countless koi carp below opened their mouths wide to snatch the food.

He didn't look at the fish, but beckoned to Lin Zhiyao with his other hand, a very casual gesture, like calling a cat.

"come over."

Those fox-like eyes were fixed on her. Because they were a bit far apart, Lin Zhiyao couldn't see their expressions clearly, but she felt inexplicably nervous, and her palms were sweaty.

Shen Jin's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, but when no one came over, his smile faded.

He loosened his grip on the fish food, and crumbs fell into the pond, where koi thrashed and scrambled for them, splashing water onto the edge of the pond.

"Miss Lin..."

Shen Jin tilted his head, still looking at her with a half-smile, but his voice was low and tinged with coldness, "Didn't you want to see me? Why haven't you moved since you arrived?"

Lin Zhiyao's heart tightened, and she lowered her eyes to compose herself, but inwardly she thought to herself that she was in a terrible state and cursed herself for being so foolish.

Having just woken up, her mind was still foggy, and she was only concerned about the safety of her father and brothers and the situation at home, so she blurted out that she wanted to see Shen Jin.

But now, standing under the eaves, looking at his deep-set eyes, she suddenly realized that she had no idea what to say when they met.

Should I beg him? Should I beg a ruthless, cunning, and powerful eunuch to take pity on me? Or should I ask him what he plans to do with me?

They didn't seem like questions that someone could ask while still alive.

Lin Zhiyao pinched her palm, suppressing the surging panic in her stomach. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as she walked towards him.

Lin Zhiyao felt a little regretful.

But Shen Jin didn't give her much time to think. As soon as she walked up to Shen Jin and stood still, before she could even speak, her waist tightened.

Shen Jin wrapped his long arm around her, pulling her close to his chest, and then pinched her chin with his other hand, his fingertips slightly cool.

The force wasn't strong, but it was impossible to break free.

Lin Zhiyao's heart skipped a beat.

Not knowing what he was going to do, her eyelashes trembled with fear.

They even wondered if they were going to be pushed into the pond to be fed to the fish.

Who would have thought?

Shen Jin simply lowered his head, his fox-like eyes carefully sweeping over her porcelain-white face, slid inch by inch from her eyebrows to her slightly swollen lips, and lingered for a moment.

"Um."

A lazy laugh escaped Shen Jin's throat. "Looks like you've had a good rest."

Lin Zhiyao froze in his arms, her back pressed against the corridor pillar, with nowhere to retreat.

She lowered her eyelids, her gaze falling on the dark gold python pattern embroidered on his black robe, and mumbled a reply: "...This concubine, this concubine thanks Your Highness for your care."

"care?"

Shen Jin chuckled briefly, his fingertips slowly stroking her chin. His fox-like eyes were deep, and his voice was ambiguous and lingering. "Last night, I washed your body, applied medicine, and changed your bedding. I didn't close my eyes until the early hours of the morning, but you slept soundly. I... did take good care of you."