What This Seat is More Interested In is Madam

"Moon Pavilion has arrived. Didn't you invite me for tea, Madam? I have been looking forward to your tea ceremony quite a bit." He looked out the window, where the elegant gates of Moon Pavilion were already in sight.

Tang Yuehua felt a wave of relief, yet her vigilance did not waver in the slightest. The Crown Prince's words and actions today were far too abnormal, placing her under unprecedented pressure.

"Your Highness, please." She rose first, preparing to exit the carriage with elegant poise, while her mind raced to calculate how to deal with this Crown Prince who had clearly "come with ill intent."

The carriage came to a smooth stop, and the door opened. Ye Yang watched Tang Yuehua's graceful back as she stepped out first. The waist wrapped in her palace attire was slender, and her footsteps were composed yet carried a trace of imperceptible tension. The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.

Tang Yuehua turned to lead the way, her posture impeccable. Her skirt brushed against the polished floor without making a single sound.

"This way, Your Highness." Her voice regained the composure and clarity unique to the mistress of Moon Pavilion.

Ye Yang looked around with great interest, his gaze sweeping over the priceless yet understated furnishings before finally settling back on Tang Yuehua's retreating figure.

The waistline outlined by her palace dress was slender, swaying with a mature charm as she walked, creating a strange tension with the sense of distance she deliberately cultivated.

The two passed through a corridor and arrived at a quiet room overlooking the water.

Outside the window lay an exquisite courtyard with rockeries, flowing water, and a few stalks of bamboo, adding to the tranquility.

The room was sparsely furnished with a sandalwood tea table and two cushions. A set of bone china tea sets, white as jade, was already prepared on the table, and the charcoal in the small stove nearby glowed red, the water in the silver pot already emitting a faint sound like the sighing of pines.

"Please sit, Your Highness." Tang Yuehua knelt on the cushion, her movements fluid and natural, fully displaying the demeanor of a noble lady.

Ye Yang sat down as requested. His posture appeared casual, but his gaze remained locked on Tang Yuehua, carrying an undisguised playfulness.

"Your tea ceremony, Madam, is truly well-deserved of its reputation," Ye Yang began, his voice low, breaking the quiet of the tea fragrance.

"Every gesture is a scene in itself. It is no wonder that the young nobles of Heaven Dou City consider it an honor to receive your guidance."

The hand Tang Yuehua used to hold the pot paused imperceptibly.

The other party's gaze felt tangible, making her feel like an antique being appraised.

She steadied her mind and placed a cup of clear, fragrant tea steadily before Ye Yang.

"Your Highness is too kind. It is merely a superficial skill; to be tasted by Your Highness is this tea's honor." She lowered her eyes, avoiding that scorching gaze.

Ye Yang did not immediately reach for the teacup. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping past the cup to look straight into Tang Yuehua's eyes, which were struggling to remain calm.

"The tea is good, but what interests me more at this moment, Madam, is you."

He curled his lips into a meaningful smile. "You said in the carriage just now that your 'heart is in the Pavilion, and you dare not harbor thoughts of elsewhere.'"

"Yet, I observe a knot of sorrow between your brows, like a cage of light mist. Does this 'quiet place' of the Pavilion actually hold matters that trouble you?"

He extended a finger, not touching the cup, but lightly brushing the edge of the fingertip Tang Yuehua had placed on the table while serving the tea!

Tang Yuehua felt as if she had been struck by a weak electric current. Her fingertips recoiled sharply, and she quickly pulled her hand back into her sleeve, her breathing faltering for a beat.

She looked up, a flash of clear indignation finally crossing her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a suppressed panic.

This Crown Prince's words and actions had crossed the line into near-vulgarity!

"Your Highness!" Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling as she struggled to maintain her final shred of dignity.

"As the mistress of Moon Pavilion, my thoughts and concerns naturally pertain to the affairs of the Pavilion and the lessons of my students. These trivial matters are not worth mentioning, and I dare not trouble Your Highness to worry about them."

She took a deep breath, mobilizing her unique domain power—the Noble Circle—which could soothe the hearts of others.

However, the moment her domain power touched Ye Yang—

"Hum!"

An indescribable, supreme, and majestic will, as if an ancient god had been disturbed from its slumber by an ant, suddenly awakened from within Ye Yang's soul!

Although it lasted only for a fleeting moment, that imperial authority—which stood above all living beings, commanded the five elements, and ruled over light—recoiled like an invisible tsunami!

"Ugh!" Tang Yuehua let out a muffled groan, her face turning as pale as paper.

The mental blow left her vision blacking out.

"Clatter!"

The exquisite bone china teacup slipped from her hand, falling onto the hard sandalwood table and shattering instantly!

The clear tea splashed everywhere, staining the table and soaking the hem of Tang Yuehua's moon-white skirt, leaving dark tea stains.

"Oh my, Madam, why are you so careless? Let me help you wipe it up."

Ye Yang acted as if nothing had happened, looking at the scene with surprise as he took out a silk cloth he carried with him, making a move to step forward.

"No." Tang Yuehua endured the headache and quickly spoke to stop him, her tone somewhat hurried. "There is no need to trouble Your Highness; this Concubine will handle it herself."

With that, Tang Yuehua stood up as if fleeing and walked toward another room.

Seeing this, Ye Yang slowly sat back down, a playful smile on his lips. So, this Tang Yuehua actually wanted to test him.

Ye Yang glanced at the messy tea table and withdrew his gaze. A short while later, Tang Yuehua walked back out.

When Tang Yuehua reappeared at the entrance of the quiet room, she had changed into a pale green palace dress of a similar style but more elegant in color.

She walked to the opposite side of the tea table but did not sit down, merely looking down at Ye Yang, who was still sitting leisurely on the cushion.

"Your Highness," Tang Yuehua began. "I have lost my composure and offended your eyes; I am truly filled with trepidation."

"It is just that I am slow-witted and truly cannot understand: did Your Highness come to Moon Pavilion today to discuss tea and philosophy, to appreciate the elegance..."

"Or to take the opportunity to insult me?"

Clearly, Tang Yuehua had reached her limit; otherwise, she would never have spoken such words.

Ye Yang, however, remained completely indifferent. He shifted his posture, his eyes scanning Tang Yuehua up and down as he replied with a playful tone, "My lady, you have misunderstood this Crown Prince."

"Was it not you who invited me first? I merely felt a sense of admiration upon seeing how beautiful you are. If you mind, then why don't you teach me how I should have spoken instead?"

He stood up and bowed to Tang Yuehua with great solemnity. His posture was impeccable, yet his eyes still held that smile that sent a chill down one's spine.

[Ding! Advance by retreating, Acting +1, Mental Power +1]

Tang Yuehua felt a surge of blood rush to her head, and her vision began to blur. This Crown Prince was truly shameless—was this really the benevolent Crown Prince she once knew?

This was no request for guidance; it was a clear attempt to forcibly bind her, the mistress of the Moon Pavilion and the eldest daughter of the Clear Sky Sect, to his side as a plaything for his leisure.