Shocking! The actress was dragged to the regent's bedchamber every night.

Chapter 241 The Prince Doesn't Like Crowds

Before he could finish speaking, he choked on his words.

Su Wuli sat in his lap, her waist weak, and she even doubted how much longer she could sit there.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could almost see the skin around her heart rising and falling.

With just a quick glance, she saw Yu Chen, who spoke, "So fast?"

Upon hearing this, Su Wuli's face burned intensely. She slid her hand down to cup his face and lift it up.

"You did it on purpose."

He looked at her without saying anything.

His gaze moved down from her eyes, landed on her chest, and then moved back to her eyes.

Su Wuli gripped the mattress beneath her, crumpling it into a ball.

My breathing stopped for a moment.

He didn't continue, but instead said, "I have important business to attend to today."

He looked up at her, the darkness in his eyes still lingering.

Su Wuli looked at him with tears in her eyes.

Her mind was still stuck in that swamp, she hadn't pulled it out.

She stared at Yu Chen for a moment, then understood.

Her eyes instantly filled with a hint of grievance.

"You—" She wanted to curse him, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

She bit her lip and then let go.

She raised her hand and punched his chest, but more urgently than in the morning.

The next moment, Yu Chen grabbed her wrist and leaned down to push her off his arms onto the bed.

"Don't rush."

He bent down and placed his hands on either side of her.

Yu Chen lowered his head and whispered three words in her ear.

Upon hearing this, Su Wuli's ears burned as if they were on fire.

He removed his hand from her wrist.

Her eyes widened, and she hadn't even had a chance to stop her...

His fingers gripped the mattress, then loosened, then gripped it again.

Yu Chen rested his other hand on his side, looking down at her.

Su Wuli's face turned bright red, and she turned her head away, burying her face in the pillow, not daring to look at him.

Her eyes were closed, and her eyelashes were trembling violently.

His breathing was rapid and shallow, like a fish washed ashore.

Her fingers unconsciously rose up and grasped the hand that was supporting her from the side.

A few minor scratches were left on it.

………………

Her hand slipped from his and hung limply at her side, resting weakly on the mattress.

Su Wuli opened her eyes and stared at the bed curtains above her head, her gaze unfocused.

The pupil has no focus.

Yu Chen rubbed his thumb against her knee.

Su Wuli lay there panting, her chest heaving.

He reached out and brushed the sweaty stray hairs from her forehead, and her eyelashes fluttered.

Then they saw the man stand up, walk to the clothes rack, pick up his outer robe, put it on, and fasten his belt.

She could hear the sound of fabric rubbing together and the sound of water running as she washed her hands.

Yu Chen walked to the bedside and gently wiped her still slightly sweaty face with the back of his hand. "Come back tonight."

After Yu Chen left, Su Wuli lay on the couch, her breathing gradually calming down.

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow again.

She took a breath and then exhaled.

My face was still burning hot, and my heart was pounding.

I glanced down at my knee; the skin there was no longer any visible marks.

Her face flushed again, so she turned over and pulled the blanket up to cover her face.

It was pitch black under the covers, and she couldn't see anything except for the sound of her own breathing.

I huddled under the covers for a long time.

Su Wuli slowly sat up only after the burning sensation on her face subsided.

She glanced down at the open collar of her undershirt, noticing a red mark on her collarbone.

She gathered her collar and tied the ribbon.

My fingers were still trembling a little, and it took me a couple of tries to tie it tight.

After getting off the bed, I walked to the clothes rack, put on my clothes, and tied my belt.

After washing up, Chuhe helped her comb her hair into a bun.

Qiaosheng brought in breakfast.

Su Wuli sat down at the table and took a spoonful of porridge.

"Chuhe."

"girl."

"I haven't explored this mansion yet," Su Wuli said softly. "You can show me around later."

"Yes."

Su Wuli finished the rest of the porridge and stood up.

Chuhe followed behind, and the two of them left the courtyard.

The palace was much larger than she had imagined, with corridors connecting corridors and courtyards within courtyards.

After several turns, it was already impossible to tell which way to go.

Su Wuli's legs were a little sore after walking for a while, so she sat down in a pavilion.

The pavilion is well-ventilated on all sides, and the stone benches are covered with soft cushions.

She leaned against the railing, looking at the artificial hill and pond in the distance, where several koi carp swam slowly.

They look so relaxed.

Several maids passed by outside the pavilion, carrying baskets filled with vegetables.

When they saw Su Wuli, they immediately stopped and bowed their heads in greeting.

Su Wuli nodded, and they straightened up and continued walking forward.

"Have you prepared those dishes for the next few days?" the maid in front asked.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was quiet outside the pavilion, so Su Wuli heard it clearly.

"Everything on the list is ready, except for the fish. The kitchen said they're worried it won't be fresh by then, so we'll buy it again that morning."

"Okay, tell Aunt Liu that none of the dishes on the list can be missing."

The maids walked away, and their voices faded into the distance.

Su Wuli leaned against the railing, watching a red koi swim to the surface, its mouth opening and closing before sinking back down.

The maid's words just now sounded like some kind of day was approaching.

She turned to look at Chuhe, "What day is it in a few days?"

Chu He paused for a moment, then lowered her eyes.

Su Wuli looked at her expression and her heart stirred.

Chuhe hesitated for a moment, then looked up and replied, "It is the Prince's birthday, Miss."

Chuhe added, "However, the prince never holds extravagant ceremonies, nor does he mention them much. Every year, the kitchen prepares a few extra dishes."

Upon hearing this, Su Wuli remained silent.

I couldn't help but recall what Yu Chen had told me about his childhood.

His father taught him to read, his mother made him osmanthus cakes, and the family enjoyed the moon together in the Imperial Garden on Mid-Autumn Festival night.

Those days are long gone.

His birthday... probably no one celebrates it for him anymore.

"Does he do this every year?"

Chu He nodded, "The prince doesn't like crowds."

She paused, then lowered her voice, "On his birthday every year, the prince does the same thing as usual, doing whatever he's supposed to do. Sometimes he's so busy that he even forgets to eat."

Su Wuli's heart tightened upon hearing this.

When I was little, my mother would cook me a bowl of noodles with a poached egg in it for my birthday.

After her mother passed away, she stopped celebrating her birthday.

Right now, it's just a token gesture, posting photos for fans to see.

She thought it didn't matter if she didn't celebrate her birthday; life would go on as usual, and she wouldn't miss a single day.

But now that she heard that Yu Chen also doesn't celebrate his birthday, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat, as if something was pressing down on her.

Su Wuli stood in the pavilion, her fingers resting on the edge of the stone table.

The koi carp in the pond swam over and crowded together again.

She looked at the fish, but her mind was wandering to other things.

"Chuhe."

"girl."

"Does the manor have any rope?" Chuhe explained, "The kind used for making bracelets."

Chuhe thought for a moment and nodded.

"Yes, what color would you like, young lady?"

Su Wuli recalled the clothes Yu Chen usually wore, each one a darker shade than the last.

He probably wouldn't be able to accept bright colors.

"black."

"Yes," Chu He replied, then turned and left.

Su Wuli stood in the pavilion and waited.

The wind blew by, ruffling the water in the pond.

The shadows of koi fish swayed in the water.

She stared at the water and remembered the bracelets her mother used to make for her when she was little.

Red string.

A small bead is strung on it, said to bring good luck and protection.

Later, the rope broke, and the beads rolled under the bed and couldn't be found anywhere.

She lay on the ground and cried her heart out, and then stopped wearing it.

Chuhe returned quickly, carrying a roll of black rope.

Su Wuli took it, touched it, and found the rope to be soft and not prickly.

Back in Yu Chen's courtyard, she sat down at the stone table.

Chuhe sat down next to her, picked up the rope, and began to teach her.

Braiding bracelets doesn't seem difficult.

Cross, entwine, tighten.

Su Wuli watched it twice and tried it once.

It's over.

I tried again, but it was still loose.

Chuhe held her hand and guided her through the weaving.

Su Wuli composed another verse herself, and her fingers gradually found their rhythm.

Let's begin the formal editing process.

The rope twisted and turned between her fingers, as if it had its own will.

Before starting, Su Wuli placed the rope on the table.

She raised her hand to touch the end of her braid and pulled out a small strand of hair.

Her hair was very black, and it shimmered like satin in the sunlight.

She took the scissors from Chuhe and cut off her hair.