"Jiajia, come here."

The man sitting on the bed was wearing a bright yellow straight-jacketed court dress with a gold silk-hooked python belt of the same color around his waist. He was quite tall and had beautiful features, but his face could not be seen clearly in the flickering candlelight.

Li Baojia bit her lower lip slightly as she slowly walked to the man.

The man caressed her lips with his hand, which were somewhat moistened from her bite, and gently rubbed them. As harmless and intimate as it looked, she still flinched as though she were scared.

He laughed lightly and seemed extremely pleased. "Now you're scared? Why would you do this when you knew I would punish you? Hmm?"

He trailed off the last word as if he were interested in the subsequent 'punishment.'

His hands were on her waist, tightening little by little as if the hunter had finally captured his prey.

Li Baojia pressed her hand against his chest. Her eyelashes trembled slightly with her eyes closed. "I...I'm not..."

The man's hand clamped roughly on her chin and pressed her head while he leaned in.

"Ah!"

Li Baojia opened her eyes violently. Her fair face was already seeping with cold sweat. Her body trembled slightly, and her face was pale.

With a creak, the door opened.

A maid in a green dress with a lapel came in with a night lamp and lit the candle.

She picked up Li Baojia and touched her forehead with her hand. "Miss, did you have a nightmare again?"

Li Baojia seemed to be still immersed in the nightmare she had just had. She closed her eyes and panted slightly.

The maid carefully wiped her sweat-drenched forehead with a handkerchief and gently said, "Miss, Taotao is right here. You can sleep now. I'll stay here with you."

Hearing this, Li Baojia lay down and closed her eyes, but she couldn't fall asleep again.

It had been several days since her rebirth and return. In the past few days, she had been having nightmares about her previous life.

Sometimes it was a dream featuring his unparalleled arrogance and condescending manner. Other times, it was one where he forcibly kissed her after getting drunk.

She was the youngest lady of the Grand Preceptor's Hall. In her previous life, she was arranged to marry the prince.

The prince was not as gentle and modest as the rumors had suggested. If anything, he was somewhat ridiculous. At first, she thought that the prince did not like her, but he chose to spend almost every night with her. People all said the prince was very partial to her, and, over time, she became convinced too.

It was only later, by coincidence, that she learned that she was merely a substitute for Side Concubine Su, the one the prince really loved.

Everything he did was meant to win her heart.

She knew that she would be abandoned outright once the prince ascended the throne because she was no longer needed.

However, just one day prior to his ascending, she had trouble sleeping that night, so she went to the riverside to feed the fish, only to fall into it and die a tragic death, which was also one of the most hilarious deaths in the century at the time.

She reckoned he must be thrilled to hear about her death because he had long wanted to get rid of her.

The funny part of the story was that her father, the Grand Preceptor of the prince, won the marriage for her from the emperor.

She had not the slightest idea of how the prince himself perceived this association.

Her father needed her to strengthen the ties between the Li family and the East Palace. At the same time, her mother wanted her to be the most honored woman in the world, believing that she would be able to overpower Madam Qin, who was favored by her father.

But no one asked her opinion. No one cared whether she wanted to get married or not or whether she liked the prince or not.

She dared not say no because she knew they would accuse her of being rebellious and disobedient.

Now it occurred to her that the prince might also be dissatisfied with such an arranged marriage.

Li Baojia was overwhelmed with thoughts like this and gradually fell asleep.

The next morning, she was shaken awake by Taotao.

"Miss, it's time to get up."

Li Baojia opened her eyes in a daze and was helped up by several maids, who were ready to clean her hands and face.

She was then positioned at the dressing table before they dressed her.

She finally became sober and asked in confusion, "What's the matter?

Taotao smiled happily. "Miss, you must have forgotten that today is the day you go to the crown prince's residence to deliver the soup. So you have to look your best."

She now remembered.

In the past, her mother always asked her to spend more time with the prince and wanted her to bring him some angelica and wolfberry soup every few days and say she made it herself.