Li Ji put on his clothes and got out of bed.

He found a small medicine bottle and poured out a pill.

Hua Manman looked at the pill offered to her and asked in a hoarse voice.

"What is this?"

Li Ji explained patiently.

"This is a birth control pill made from a formula provided by Feihua Zhenren.

If you take it, you won’t get pregnant for a short while.

It’s very gentle and won’t harm your body, so you don’t have to worry."

Hua Manman took the pill but didn’t swallow it right away. Instead, she looked up at Prince Zhao.

"Do you want children?"

Li Ji didn’t answer her question directly. "Having children too early would be bad for your health."

Hua Manman thought so too.

’This body is only sixteen. It’s not the best age for childbirth.’

Seeing Prince Zhao’s natural expression, it was clear he saw no issue with contraception, which put her at ease.

She put the pill in her mouth. ’Even if I can’t wait until I’m twenty to have kids, I should at least wait until I’m eighteen.’

’Once my body has developed a bit more, having a child will be safer.’

Li Ji brought a cup of warm water to her lips.

Hua Manman swallowed the pill with the warm water.

Li Ji got up, went out, and had someone bring hot water.

He personally helped Manman wipe her body clean.

The sticky feeling on her body was finally gone. Hua Manman couldn’t hold on any longer, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

Li Ji used the remaining hot water to take a quick shower himself.

He put on clean clothes, pushed open the door, and immediately saw He Family standing under the veranda.

He Family looked at him with disapproval.

"Manman is still injured."

Although she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, Prince Zhao and Manman had been alone in the room for so long, and they had even asked for hot water and clothes.

As an experienced woman, He Family immediately understood what was going on.

He Family thought they were simply being reckless.

No matter how good the young couple’s relationship was, they shouldn’t have done *that* kind of thing at a time like this.

What if they had aggravated Manman’s wounds?

’Prince Zhao is so inconsiderate.’

Li Ji, shedding his usual arrogance and willfulness, obediently lowered his head and admitted his mistake.

"I’m sorry. I was impulsive."

Since he had already humbled himself and apologized, He Family couldn’t keep pressing the issue. She could only change the subject and ask.

"How is Manman?"

Li Ji: "She’s asleep."

"And her injuries?"

"I checked them all. They’re fine."

Only then did He Family relax.

After a moment’s thought, she couldn’t help but add another warning, "Don’t be so reckless again in the future."

’You have your whole lives ahead of you. Why be so eager for just a day or two?’

Li Ji: "I understand."

Hua Manman slept until evening, waking up just in time for dinner.

She was too lazy to move, so she just lay in bed and let Prince Zhao feed her by hand.

He Family had originally thought Prince Zhao was inconsiderate, but now seeing that Manman even needed him to feed her, she suddenly felt Manman was being too spoiled.

She couldn’t help but speak up. "Manman, can’t you eat by yourself?"

’How dare she make Prince Zhao serve her food? Manman is getting too bold.’

Hua Manman was still chewing her food.

Hearing this, she didn’t think much of it and reached for the bowl and chopsticks in Prince Zhao’s hands.

But Li Ji dodged her hand.

"It’s fine. I like feeding Manman."

He Family hesitated. "But... isn’t that against etiquette?"

She was afraid that if anyone saw this, they would gossip that Manman was arrogant because she was doted on and had no manners at all.

Li Ji said dismissively, "In this Prince Mansion, I am the rules. If I say it’s okay, then it’s okay."

After speaking, he brought a piece of fish, with all the bones carefully removed, to Manman’s mouth.

Hua Manman immediately opened her mouth and ate it. Her movements were crisp and clean, showing no sign that she thought being served by Prince Zhao was against etiquette in any way.

He Family, who witnessed this scene: "..."

’Forget it.’

’There’s a lid for every pot.’

’As long as those two are happy, I won’t butt in anymore.’

Perhaps because they had shared the most intimate contact, Hua Manman was now exceptionally relaxed around Prince Zhao. She acted spoiled when she wanted to, and played coy when she felt like it.

After eating and drinking her fill, she flopped back onto the bed, once again entering her "salted fish" state.

If this had been before, she would have definitely cooed and showered him with over-the-top praise to express her gratitude for being taken care of by Prince Zhao.

But now, she just wanted to lie there and not move.

Li Ji didn’t think much of it yet.

Until it was time to sleep that night. As usual, he went to hold Manman, but she mercilessly dodged him.

Manman grumbled, "It’s too hot. We’ll sweat if we sleep cuddled together."

Li Ji: "But we slept cuddled together last night."

’It’s hot tonight, so it wasn’t hot last night?!’

Manman muttered under her breath, "I wanted to say it was too hot last night, but I was too embarrassed to say anything."

Li Ji: "Then how come you’re not too embarrassed to say it tonight?"

Manman giggled cheekily.

"Well, we’ve already slept together, so what’s there to be embarrassed about? Right?"

Li Ji: "..."

He suddenly had the feeling that after they’d slept together, he had become worthless.

Seeing him silent, Hua Manman tried to push her luck.

"How about we sleep in separate beds? It would be cooler."

Li Ji sneered. "In your dreams!"

With that, he ignored her protests and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

’I can’t be too lenient with this woman!’

Hua Manman cried out indignantly, "Don’t you feel hot?!"

Li Ji: "I like the warmth."

Hua Manman: "But I don’t!"

Li Ji: "You’ll get used to it."

...

「The next morning.」

The first thing Hua Manman wanted was a sponge bath.

Li Ji happily obliged her request.

He personally gave her a thorough wipe-down from head to toe.

Let’s not mention the various liberties he took during the process.

Anyway, after the bath, Hua Manman was flushed a faint pink from head to toe, like a boiled shrimp.

Li Ji’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and his gaze on her was predatory.

It was as if he would pounce and devour her whole in the next moment.

Manman warily pulled the sheet over herself.

"I’m still injured. Don’t you try anything."

Li Ji said in a raspy voice, "I can be careful."

Hua Manman shrank back. "No, no, no, it’s not good to do this sort of thing so early in the morning. We have to practice restraint. We absolutely must not indulge in carnal desires."

Li Ji: "I’ve only done it once. One more time would only be twice. That doesn’t count as indulgence."

Hua Manman said, heartbroken, "Isn’t once enough? You’ve changed! You’re no longer that innocent boy who could be satisfied with just a kiss."

Li Ji: "..."

He Family, who had just reached the door and was about to enter: "..."

’What did I just hear?’

’What did she mean by ’satisfied with just a kiss’?’

’Was that Prince Zhao’s persona before?’

’Th-that doesn’t match his appearance at all!’

Li Ji noticed He Family standing at the door.

He Family thought he would be embarrassed.

But he wasn’t.

Li Ji greeted her with perfect composure.

"Good morning, Mother-in-law."

As long as he wasn’t embarrassed, the embarrassment would fall on others.

He Family’s smile was stiff. "G-good morning."