When the courtyard gates were pushed open—
The scene before them made Madam Xiao erupt in fury.
“What are you two doing?!”
There, in the middle of the courtyard, Qian Sichen and Xiao Yufu were locked in each other’s embrace, kissing with complete abandon.
Until now, Madam Xiao had truly loved Xiao Yufu as her own daughter.
Although rumors about the two had occasionally circulated outside, Xiao Yufu had always managed to explain them away with convincing innocence, and Madam Xiao had never believed a word of the gossip.
But now…
The evidence was right before her eyes.
“Mother!”
Xiao Yufu finally snapped back to her senses.
Her head still felt dizzy, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.
She collapsed weakly onto a nearby chair.
“You…!”
“How could you be so shameless?!”
Madam Xiao trembled with anger.
For the first time in her life—
She raised her hand and slapped Xiao Yufu across the face.
Smack!
It was the only time she had ever struck her.
The force nearly knocked Xiao Yufu to the ground.
Fortunately, Qian Sichen caught her in time.
“Madam, it is all this Crown Prince’s fault.”
“I will take responsibility for Fu’er.”
Although he had no idea why he had suddenly lost control earlier…
Things had already reached this point.
No matter what, he had to protect Xiao Yufu.
Madam Xiao glared at him.
“Your Highness.”
“The one betrothed to you is Ge’er.”
“How exactly do you intend to take responsibility for Fu’er?”
No matter how much affection she had for her adopted daughter…
Ge’er was still her biological child.
How could she not be furious when her adopted daughter had stolen her own daughter’s fiancé?
At that moment, Qian Sichen took a deep breath.
“Since matters have come to this…”
“I may as well speak honestly.”
“The one I have always loved…”
“is Fu’er.”
“I will never marry Ge’er.”
Before anyone else could react—
A cold voice sounded from the entrance.
“Your Highness.”
“Are you intending to defy the imperial decree and break the engagement?”
Prime Minister Xiao Zhan had arrived.
His face was so dark that it frightened everyone present.
Xiao Yufu, overcome with shame, immediately fell to her knees.
“Father!”
“This has nothing to do with His Highness!”
“It’s all my fault!”
“I shouldn’t have tempted the Crown Prince.”
“I deserve to die!”
The moment she finished speaking, she rushed toward a nearby pillar.
“Fu’er!”
Qian Sichen tried to stop her—
But someone was faster.
“Elder Sister!”
Xiao Yuge caught her just in time.
The show had gone on long enough.
Now…
It was her turn to step onto the stage.
“Father.”
“Mother.”
“Elder Sister and Brother Sichen truly love one another.”
“I beg you to fulfill their wishes.”
“I’m willing to dissolve my engagement with Brother Sichen.”
“Nonsense!”
Xiao Zhan shouted immediately.
“Your marriage was personally decreed by His Majesty.”
“Breaking the engagement is an act of defying the imperial will!”
“Do you wish to lose your head?”
“And if the engagement is canceled…”
“What will become of your reputation?”
He shot Xiao Yufu a fierce glare before turning back to Qian Sichen.
“Your Highness.”
“Now that matters have reached this point…”
“Have you decided how to resolve this?”
“Will you accompany this old minister into the palace to meet His Majesty…”
“Or do you have another solution?”
The moment the words meet His Majesty were spoken—
Qian Sichen immediately lost his nerve.
His position as Crown Prince was already unstable.
If this matter angered the Emperor…
His political rivals would undoubtedly seize the opportunity.
His imperial mother would never forgive him.
After a moment of hesitation, he quickly spoke.
“Prime Minister.”
“This matter is entirely my fault.”
“I sincerely apologize to you and Madam.”
“Since things have come to this…”
“I am willing to follow the example of the ancients.”
“I shall marry both sisters.”
“Ge’er will become my Crown Princess.”
“Fu’er…”
“…will enter the Eastern Palace as my Secondary Consort.”
The instant Xiao Yuge heard those shameless words—
Her blood nearly boiled.
You filthy scumbag!
You still want the best of both worlds?
Why don’t you just die already?!
Beside them, Xiao Yufu bit her lower lip.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
She had spent years planning for this.
Yet in the end…
She would only become a Secondary Consort.
How could she possibly accept that?
Though Xiao Zhan was unwilling…
There seemed to be no better solution.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and suppressed the rage within him.
“From today onward…”
“The Eldest Miss is confined to this courtyard.”
“You are forbidden from taking even a single step outside without permission.”
“As for today’s events…”
“If anyone dares utter even half a word…”
“They will be beaten to death.”
With that, he summoned Qian Sichen to his study.
“Mother…”
Xiao Yufu looked toward Madam Xiao with tear-filled eyes, hoping to soften her heart.
But Madam Xiao deliberately turned away.
“Fu’er.”
“We have always treated you like our own daughter.”
“You have always been obedient and sensible.”
“How did things become like this…”
She sighed heavily.
“Forget it.”
“Spend these next few days reflecting on your mistakes.”
After saying that, she left in disappointment.
“Mother!”
“Mother!”
Xiao Yufu collapsed onto the ground, crying bitterly.
“Elder Sister.”
Xiao Yuge gently helped her up.
“Father and Mother are still angry.”
“Nothing you say now will change their minds.”
“When they’ve calmed down…”
“I’ll speak to them for you.”
Acting?
She could do that too.
Xiao Yufu tightly grasped her hand.
“Ge’er…”
“You have to believe me.”
“I don’t know what happened either.”
“I never wanted to steal Brother Sichen from you…”
Even now…
She was still acting like the loving elder sister.
If Xiao Yuge hadn’t lived through it all once already…
She might truly have believed her.
“I believe you, Elder Sister.”
“There are still several days before the Lotus Banquet.”
“You should use this time to practice your dance.”
“When the banquet arrives…”
“I’ll surely persuade Father and Mother to let you out.”
As she spoke, Xiao Yuge quietly withdrew her hand.
There were still many wonderful performances waiting to unfold.
Without Xiao Yufu—
How could the show possibly be complete?
The moment the courtyard gates closed—
A faint, nearly invisible smile curved Xiao Yuge’s lips.
Inside—
The sound of a flowerpot shattering echoed through the courtyard.
What a pity.
Such an expensive flower…
Destroyed just like that.
The Fairy Orchid.
A flower so rare that few could obtain even a single pot.
But it had another name unknown to most—
Passion Orchid.
When grown alone, its fragrance was elegant and refreshing.
However—
Once watered and mixed with the scent of other flowers…
Its fragrance transformed into a powerful aphrodisiac.
Had the Divine Physician Elder Wuhui not explained its true properties to her in her previous life…
Xiao Yuge would never have understood why she had suddenly lost control that day.
Back then…
Xiao Yufu had known the flower’s secret all along.
She had pretended to generously give it to Xiao Yuge.
She had even specifically reminded her to water it frequently and place it beside other flowers.
Then—
Qian Sichen had arrived.
Under the influence of the Passion Orchid’s intoxicating fragrance…
Xiao Yuge had shamelessly thrown herself at him.
She had been caught red-handed by her parents.
They were deeply disappointed in her.
As for Qian Sichen—
Who had never thought highly of her to begin with—
After that incident, he looked down on her even more.
But this lifetime…
Things were different.
Although Xiao Yufu knew exactly how dangerous the flower was…
She still brought it back.
Because she believed that as long as it wasn’t watered…
Nothing would happen.
Unfortunately—
She had no idea that the moment An Ling took the flower into her hands…
Xiao Yuge had already tampered with it.
Ironically…
If Xiao Yufu had actually watered the flower…
Nothing would have happened.
Instead—
She had been too clever for her own good.
From that day forward…
In the eyes of Xiao Zhan and Madam Xiao—
Xiao Yufu had become someone willing to steal her younger sister’s fiancé by any means necessary.
The affection they once lavished upon her slowly began to fade.
For Xiao Yuge…
Those few days of Xiao Yufu’s confinement were the perfect opportunity.
Without her constantly appearing everywhere…
She could finally begin carrying out her own plans.
Soon afterward—
She noticed Qian Sichen leaving the study.
His head hung low in obvious frustration.
There was no way to avoid him now.
She could only walk forward.
“Ge’er…”
He looked at her with overwhelming guilt.
Before he could continue—
Xiao Yuge smiled gently.
“Brother Sichen.”
“I know things aren’t what they seemed today.”
“There must be some misunderstanding.”
“Please don’t worry too much about Elder Sister.”
“Father and Mother love her dearly.”
“Once they’ve calmed down…”
“They’ll forgive her.”
She paused thoughtfully.
“Still…”
“What happened today really was rather strange…”
Her words immediately reminded Qian Sichen.
“You’re right.”
“I also felt something wasn’t right.”
“I do love Fu’er…”
“But I never intended to dishonor her before we were married.”
“So why…”
“Why couldn’t I control myself today?”
Xiao Yuge lowered her voice.
“Brother Sichen…”
“I hope you don’t mind me saying this.”
“When I was there earlier…”
“I noticed something unusual.”
“The tea in front of you…”
“The color seemed slightly different.”
“Now that I think about it…”
End of Chapter 5
Glossary Updates
New Character
- Elder Wuhui (无悔老人) — A legendary Divine Physician who, in Xiao Yuge’s previous life, revealed the true nature of the Passion Orchid.
New Terms
- Passion Orchid (多情兰) — The Fairy Orchid’s hidden name. When watered and exposed to the fragrance of other flowers, it releases a potent aphrodisiac that can cloud judgment and inflame desire.
- Secondary Consort (侧妃) — The principal secondary wife of a prince or crown prince, ranked below the Crown Princess.