After I Learned My Lesson, the Prince Regretted It

I knelt on the cold bluestone tiles, listening as Xiao Jue reprimanded me yet again for the sake of his secondary consort, Liu Qingwu.

"Shen Nianci, when will your jealousy and viciousness ever end? Qingwu is frail. She only wanted to use the plum blossoms in your courtyard as a reference for a painting, and you actually ordered your people to drive her out?"

In the past, I would have cried and made a scene, desperately trying to explain myself, hoping he would believe me just once and look at me a little longer.

But not this time.

I simply bowed my head in a calm kowtow, my forehead against the bone-chilling ground. My voice was utterly steady.

"Your Highness is right. It was my fault."

He seemed to freeze...