Just as her words fell, a tall figure appeared at the doorway.

Henry Faulkner immediately straightened her sleeves and quickly stepped forward to salute.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“That’s not necessary.”

It was unclear whether Brian Parker had heard what she just said, but she could clearly sense that Brian Parker seemed to be in a rather bad mood today.

As she rose, Brian Parker had already walked straight past her and entered the room.

Henry Faulkner carefully followed behind him, giving Qingrong a meaningful glance. The latter understood at once and quietly signaled the others to withdraw, leaving only herself to attend inside.

Chapter Five: The One and Only

“Please have some tea, Your Highness.”

Inside the room, Henry Faulkner obediently handed over a cup of tea.

Brian Parker glanced at her, took it, and casually set it down on the small table beside him.

“You certainly have the leisure to tend to flowers and plants here.”

His tone revealed no emotion, making Henry Faulkner tense up before she replied.

“I like to add a bit of color to the house. It makes things feel livelier and warmer.”

“The house?”

Brian Parker repeated her words, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Henry Faulkner immediately bowed again, seeming a bit flustered as if she had only just realized her mistake.

“Please forgive me, Your Highness. I misspoke. I meant my own residence.”

During their previous meetings, she had always maintained a calm demeanor before Brian Parker, but today she suddenly showed a hint of girlish nervousness. Rather than seeming petty, it actually made her appear even more endearing.

“No matter.” Brian Parker waved his hand, then seemed to take an interest and asked, “Since you mentioned ‘home,’ I’d like to hear your thoughts—what makes a home?”

Henry Faulkner looked up, a bit surprised by his question, but after a quick thought, she answered calmly.

“I believe that home is where the heart belongs.”

She didn’t say something like “wherever the Crown Prince is, that’s home”—that would have sounded too fake. But “where the heart belongs” was sincere; no matter who gave this answer, it would be appropriate.

Most importantly, she had already referred to this place as “home” earlier, so this was also a subtle way of saying that since she was in the Eastern Palace, her heart was here as well, treating this place as her own.

Sure enough, Brian Parker smiled after hearing this.

“What a fine answer—‘home is where the heart belongs.’ Then do you know why I came to see you today?”

This was a bit playful, and the atmosphere was no longer as tense as before.

Seeing this, Henry Faulkner also showed a bit of girlish playfulness, answering with a gentle smile.

“Perhaps the evening breeze last night overheard my whispers and reported them to Your Highness?”

Her brows and eyes were relaxed, her bright eyes shimmering, and a faint curve at her lips, like a crescent moon, made her look pure and charming.

Brian Parker laughed, beckoned her forward, and took her hand.

He played with it in his palm as if it were a delicate object.

Then he said,

“Such beautiful hands are not meant for planting flowers and digging in the soil. Hongzheng, I recall there’s a pink gemstone ring in the storeroom. Bring it here for Lady Fang later, and also fetch a few bolts of brightly colored fabric.”

“At your command.”

The eunuch attending Brian Parker immediately nodded.

As he spoke, his gaze quickly swept over Henry Faulkner, seeming to show a hint of appreciation.

That afternoon, Brian Parker stayed in Biluozhai and did not leave.

It was almost time for dinner anyway, so Henry Faulkner kept him company, chatting and playing chess, and thus passed the time.

Why do I say “passed the time”? Because Henry Faulkner’s chess skills were truly mediocre.

It wasn’t really her fault—being born of a concubine, she was not valued, and no one in her family ever hired a tutor for her. What little chess she knew, she had learned from studying chess manuals on her own.

However, Henry Faulkner was clever. After playing a few games with Brian Parker, she actually started to pick up some strategies, and her play became more methodical and clearly improved, which Brian Parker found quite interesting.

So even though Henry Faulkner’s chess was poor, Brian Parker still enjoyed himself.

After dinner, and after bathing and going to bed, what Brian Parker played with in his hands changed from chess pieces to Henry Faulkner’s waist.

The phrase “soft as if boneless” was perfectly embodied by Henry Faulkner. With her naturally petite frame, her waist appeared even more slender and supple. Thanks to her exercise, it was soft yet resilient, and combined with her smooth, delicate skin, it was truly irresistible.

After their intimacy, Henry Faulkner was exhausted. After washing up, she didn’t last long before falling into a deep sleep.

By candlelight, Brian Parker carefully studied the woman’s face beside him. The dim light cast a thin veil over her features, making her look hazy and alluring.

There was no shortage of beauties in the Eastern Palace’s rear court, but Brian Parker felt that those more beautiful than Henry Faulkner lacked her delicacy, and those more delicate than her lacked her charm.

This serene composure, tinged with a hint of pure desire, was truly one of a kind. Thinking of what had happened at court today, Brian Parker’s gaze on Henry Faulkner darkened a little, and there was a clear note of curiosity.

But he did nothing, and after a moment, quietly lay back down.

Only after Brian Parker’s breathing became steady did Henry Faulkner slowly open her eyes and let out a long breath.

The next morning, during the morning greeting.

Because she had attended to him last night, she was, as expected, subjected to a few barbed remarks from Grace Harris. This time, Grace Harris even had an ally—Helen Bennett, who had entered the Eastern Palace together with Henry Faulkner.