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The cave fell into an eerie silence.

Despite the roaring rain, howling wind, and rolling thunder outside, Qi Zhen could hear nothing at that moment.

Only the rapid thumping of her own heartbeat echoed in her ears.

She clenched her hands gently, considering breaking the stillness with words, but before she could, darkness obscured her vision as the man leaning against the cave wall lunged forward, sealing his lips onto hers in a deep kiss.

Qi Zhen's body stiffened initially, but then she quickly wrapped her arms around his shoulders, returning his passion fervently.

In her past life, it was she who had initiated the kiss. But this time, Xiao Yan wanted to take the initiative.

The sounds of thunder and rain drowned out everything within the cave. Only they could hear their increasingly heavy breathing and the barely audible sobs.

Qi Zhen held Xiao Yan's neck tightly.

She understood that once they left this cave, she and Xiao Yan would no longer be the nominal An Wang and An Wangfei. And she, Qi Zhen, could no longer fulfill her father and brother's expectations by changing her name and identity at the appropriate time to become another member of the Ji family in the Eastern Palace.

If she were to call for a halt, Xiao Yan would stop.

Yet Qi Zhen didn't want him to stop; let her be selfish just this once.

Outside the cave, thunderclouds roared amidst the howling wind.

Inside the cave, the intimate encounter subsided, and Qi Zhen fell asleep in Xiao Yan's embrace.

When she awoke again, the sodden bundle of clothing that he had removed from her was mysteriously back on her body, now dry.

A fire illuminated the cavern, and the man was adding more dried wood to it.

With her gaze, Qi Zhen traced the contours of his face illuminated by the flames. How could she have been unaware that the Seventh Prince of Great Yin was so strikingly handsome?

In truth, she had heard about it before, whispered among other noble ladies, who said that if the Seventh Prince had a powerful maternal clan and enjoyed better health, his appearance alone would have garnered much admiration from noble women.

Back then, Qi Zhen had never paid attention to him, so those words never registered in her mind. Even on their wedding day, her heart was filled with caution, leaving no room for thoughts about his looks.

It wasn't until the day after their marriage that she truly looked at this man. He had cut his hand to forge her maiden bloodstained handkerchief, sparing her from having to drug him, explaining that he had no intention of consummating their union.

Now, they had indeed consummated their marriage, in this crude cave, on a stormy day with lightning strikes and mudslides, driven by an uncontrollable impulse.

Feeling her gaze, Xiao Yan turned his head to look at her.

Qi Zhen pressed her lips together and asked, "What time is it? How long have I been sleeping?"

Only then did she realize how hoarse her voice sounded.

It was all due to her earlier cries and screams.

Recalling how she had wept and repeatedly called out his name, "Xiao Yan," Qi Zhen felt her ears grow warm.

"You've slept for three hours. Dawn is almost here."

She had actually slept through the entire night.

Glancing at the cave entrance, Qi Zhen noticed that the sky was still dark, but the violent rainstorm from the previous day had subsided, leaving behind only a drizzle that persisted endlessly.

Once the rain stopped, their searchers would likely find them soon.

An indescribable resistance stirred in Qi Zhen's heart. She wished that those people could come later, much later.

"Have some water. Someone will be here in another hour."

Xiao Yan offered her a cracked wooden bowl, the water inside likely boiled rainwater, still warm to the touch.

Qi Zhen was indeed thirsty and didn't mind the bowl's condition. She sipped the water slowly until it was gone.

Xiao Yan's gaze swept over her slightly swollen lips. "Are you still feeling unwell?"

Understanding his question, Qi Zhen lowered her eyelashes and shook her head. "I'm fine."

They fell silent.

Intimacy between spouses was a common occurrence. Now, they were truly married.

Xiao Yan's timing was impeccable. As predicted, someone arrived just as the hour passed.

It was a group of his covert guards. Xiao Yan positioned himself in front of her and instructed one of them to fetch a cloak. After draping it over her head, he carried her out of the cave and into a carriage.

"Wait for me here. I have some matters to attend to. I'll be back within half an hour at most."

Qi Zhen acknowledged, and sure enough, Xiao Yan returned within less than an hour.

Upon arriving at the An Wang Estate, Qi Zhen first entered the purification chamber. Since Aunt Gu did not accompany her on the trip to the countryside, she managed to avoid the disastrous mudslide. However, with the Duke and Duchess not returning home all night, the elderly maid was so worried that she couldn't sleep a wink.

Seeing Qi Zhen return, Aunt Gu's three souls and six spirits were finally restored.

But when Qi Zhen took off her clothes, Aunt Gu's regained spirits vanished once more.

"Milady, you... you..." Aunt Gu stammered, "Did His Highness do this?"

Qi Zhen's dress was torn in several places and stained with blood. Aunt Gu assumed it was a result of yesterday's perilous encounter, but upon closer inspection of Qi Zhen's marks, she couldn't help but wonder what had truly happened.

Her young lady's marriage to the Seventh Prince was merely a ruse by the Qi family to deceive Emperor Jian De. It was never meant to be genuine.

Aunt Gu was concerned that the Seventh Prince might have forced himself upon Qi Zhen.

Qi Zhen spoke calmly, "Aunt Gu, it was my own choice."

She washed her face and gazed at her reflection in the water, her voice soft as she said, "Don't ask me anything, Aunt Gu. Let me think about how I should explain this to my brother."

She had feelings for Xiao Yan and was unwilling to be sent back to Prince Qiyuan's side, nor did she want to witness Qi Zhen's family and Prince Qiyuan plotting Xiao Yan's demise.

She needed to devise a way to protect both the Qi family and Xiao Yan.

After leaving the purification chamber, Qi Zhen consumed a bowl of soft, glutinous porridge before retiring for the night.

Exhausted, she fell into a deep slumber soon after lying down on her bed, sleeping for over two hours. After dinner, Qi Zhen finished her evening grooming, but Xiao Yan still hadn't appeared even as the lights were about to be extinguished.

Grandma Gui lit a calming incense stick and asked, "Does Her Ladyship wish for this old servant to stay by your side?"

"No need," Qi Zhen replied, glancing at the curtains separating the inner chamber. "Do you know where the Duke has gone?"