It was already afternoon when I woke up. Once my mind cleared from the drowsy state, I realized I was in the Study Hall instead of the bedroom. More importantly, I was cleaned and dressed while the Prince held me in his lap.

"Finally awake?"

A flash of our previous night of passion made my entire face flush red.

"Are you hungry?" The Prince chuckled softly.

My stomach answered with a rumbling sound. The Prince laughed while I buried my face into his chest.

"My Ruyi is hungry"

The Prince teased me with a soft kiss on my cheek. Feeling more embarrassed, I hid my red face in his robe while he stood and carried me out to the connecting tea room. Once he sat me down, I was faced a table filled with food. When the Prince begins to gather some fish and lotus roots in a bowl, my stomach rumbled again. Chuckling softly, he set the bowl in front of me and rubbed the back of my head.

"Eat"

So I ate.

"Wang Fei and I will be going to the Marquess home, help Wang Fei into appropriate attire"

After our meal, the servants were clearing the table while the maids were cleaning my hands. When the Prince suddenly gave his order, I turned to him, wondering if I heard correctly.

The Marquess' home?

"Your father is expecting us for dinner"

I don't want to go.

"Only today... never again after today" He said gently.

I shook my head, unable to voice my fear. I don't want to go.

"Ruyi" He took hold of my hand. "Don't be afraid.

I tried to pull my hand out of his.

"Ruyi"

He held on my hand tighter and pressed a kiss on my forehead.

"Go change"

I didn't have a choice but to follow the maids out.

"Are the gifts prepared?"

Wu Jian waited until Ruyi left the room before he asked.

"Yes your highness"

Seventeen golden chests were brought in. Seventeen years that Ruyi lived in the Li Estate. Each chest was worth more than the Marquess' yearly earnings. Wu Jian glanced at the chests of gold, silver, pearl, silk, rubies, and ginseng.

"Take them to Marquess Li" The sight of the golden chests revolted Wu Jian.

They weren't even close to the price of one of Ruyi's lovely fingers.

"Yes your highness"

Wu Jian smirked while the guards carried the chests out. He knew the old fox's eyes would bulge out to the gifts, thinking he won the lottery. It was predictable and boring - disgustingly so. The Marquess had always put value on physical items while losing the real treasure. Cherishing physical beauty and the materialistic worth of gold, he had completely missed the true value of his youngest daughter. If the Marquess gave Ruyi the care and love of a father, he would have gained the most valuable thing in the world - her heart and loyalty.

Instead, the Marquess neglected Ruyi to the point where he's unaware of her mother - his concubine poisoning her. For a scholar, a father, and a man with a life time of experience, the old fox was just another greedy official - ones Wu Jian knew too well.

"Prepare my robe"

Wu Jian set the empty cup of tea aside and stood. The grin on his face scared the servants who followed after him.