Chapter 30: Dog Bites

Wen Renlin shifted his gaze away from the drop of bright vermilion ink and glanced at Zhao Yan.

The girl had flower-like adornments between her eyebrows, snowy cheeks beneath her dark brows, and her thinly applied rouge lips were alluring. Shedding the disguise of the crown prince’s attire revealed her slender neck, slightly protruding collarbones, akin to snow-capped peaks, dazzling under the warm lamp like moonlight.

Wen Renlin, rarely showing a smile, had deep and unreadable eyes, exuding a hint of unfathomable coldness.

This time, Zhao Yan resisted the urge to avoid his gaze. She had presented herself to him in her truest form, without the need for feigned weakness.

So, she bravely met his gaze, extending a slender white finger to move the jade in the box another inch, asking, “Has the jade in the box been cleaned? Shouldn’t the Grand Tutor inspect it?”

As if just realizing it, Wen Renlin’s pen lightly brushed over the neatly arranged warm-colored jade in the box, leaving a fresh red streak. It resembled the ambiguous bloodstains from that night when Wen Renlin had tended to her wounds with his eyes covered…

The pen then traced along her delicate fingertips, stopping on the back of her tender hand, lightly tapping. Maintaining the posture of bending over to write, Wen Renlin’s face remained composed, showing no signs of embarrassment.

Zhao Yan wanted to tear off his facade of righteousness, revealing the darkness within.

“I just feel that since everything is settled, it’s better to be frank with the Grand Tutor.”

Zhao Yan tried to make her expression appear more sincere, raising her arm slightly. “Is the Grand Tutor satisfied with my original appearance?”

Wen Renlin looked at her dress, blossoming like a lotus flower, and after a moment, said lightly, “Naturally.”

Under the bright lights, with exquisite makeup, she looked far more beautiful than she did at the hairpin banquet, appearing misty and fragile. Knowing she wasn’t genuinely seeking advice, Wen Renlin gently set down his pen. As he did so, he casually held Zhao Yan’s chin, turning her face towards him.

He carefully examined Zhao Yan’s brows, eyes, and lips, until her fluttering eyelashes couldn’t hide their tremble, then casually asked, “Who did the makeup for Your Highness?”

Zhao Yan, focusing on his reaction, didn’t expect him to ask such a trivial question and was momentarily stunned.

“Liu Ying doesn’t do makeup. It was Liu Ji who helped.” She spoke the truth.

There was no need to hide such trivial matters from Wen Renlin, nor could she—there were only a few people around Zhao Yan who knew her true identity and could be of use to her.

For some reason, Wen Renlin’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. Zhao Yan even detected what seemed like a… disdainful expression in his pitch-black eyes.

Liu Ji was skilled in painting, perhaps her proficiency extended to makeup, occasionally creating exceptionally beautiful looks. Could it be that Liu Ji’s features were naturally striking and beautiful, so the makeup looked good on her, but not on Zhao Yan?

As Zhao Yan pondered silently, Wen Renlin picked up the neatly folded silk handkerchief from the desk, soaked it in the nearby bronze basin, squeezed out the excess water with one hand, and covered Zhao Yan’s face with it.

Zhao Yan’s face was covered with the wet cloth. Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but was firmly held by Wen Renlin. He covered her with his other hand, slowly wiping away the freshly applied rouge on her face. The cloth quickly turned red and white with powder.

Wen Renlin paused the cloth at the mole beneath Zhao Yan’s right eye, giving a calm instruction.

Following his command, Zhao Yan closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling.

Her eyes were beautiful, with a hint of ink at the corners, even after wiping away the powder, her complexion remained flawless, even more translucent and natural. With her eyes closed, Zhao Yan heard Wen Renlin’s emotionless voice.

Unconsciously curling her fingers, then slowly releasing them, she nodded slightly, “Yes, Grand Tutor is right. Treating someone poisoned is as normal as feeding a starving person.”

After a moment of silence, she muttered softly, “It’s just like treating a wound bitten by a dog, nothing serious.”

After a while, Zhao Yan felt the cotton pad used for removing makeup press a bit harder. Wen Renlin snorted lightly, “So, Your Highness is quite skilled at picking dogs.”

He pressed her eye corner, forcing her to open her eyes. “Right now, aren’t you afraid of being killed by me?”

Zhao Yan opened her eyes, and the bright lights in the hall gathered in her eyes, reflecting the dignity that a little princess should have.

After a moment of thought, she took out the pre-prepared script, “Not afraid. After all, Grand Tutor and I are accomplices on the same boat.”

“If the Grand Tutor decides to uphold justice and expose the fact that the princess impersonated the Crown Prince, then I will have no choice but to confess truthfully and entangle myself with the Grand Tutor. After all, committing adultery with a princess, going against one’s superiors, is a grave crime.”

Zhao Yan, still maintaining her raised chin, felt Wen Renlin’s tightening knuckles beneath her jaw. She spoke each word clearly, “Even if Father chooses to protect the Grand Tutor and execute me, paving the way for him with my corpse would be my fortune. And if Father spares my life, then it’s even better…

By then, to cover up the scandal, Father will surely marry me off to a reliable nobleman. Being able to sleep with two men at such a young age doesn’t seem like a loss either.”

She smiled slightly, reaching out to grasp Wen Renlin’s slightly cold fingers holding the cotton pad, and said earnestly, “Isn’t that right, Grand Tutor?”

Wen Renlin looked at her, his expression unchanged but with a hint of dangerous pressure.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yan became calmer. She knew she had touched a nerve.

“I’m curious.”

Wen Renlin swayed his finger against her innocent and delicate cheek, calmly saying, “Your Highness, who has enlightened you?”

Zhao Yan’s heart skipped a beat. Of course, she wouldn’t reveal Liu Ji. In fact, Liu Ji was merely a catalyst for her thoughts. She had carefully sorted out every detail during an afternoon of contemplation.

If Wen Renlin’s teasing wasn’t for the purpose of coercion but out of genuine interest…

Then, wouldn’t this be a weakness of Prince Su’s?

Understanding this, there was a glimmer of hope in this inevitable deadlock.

Wen Renlin wiped away the remaining rouge from Zhao Yan’s lips with his finger, then sat back in the chair next to the desk, pressing his temples with his fingers. “Speak, Your Highness, what do you seek from me?”

In any case, there was nothing she could hide from him.

“I want to leave the palace for a few days to clear my mind.”

“Your Highness should discuss this with the Emperor and Empress. I am not responsible for the prince’s private affairs.”

Zhao Yan nodded, her damp hair sticking to her cheeks, outlining a somewhat inappropriate tenderness.

“But, I want the Grand Tutor to accompany me.”

Thinking of the despicable things Zhao Yuanyu had done, Zhao Yan’s tone became firmer, repeating, “Many eyes are watching the Eastern Palace. For safety’s sake, I want the Grand Tutor to accompany me.”

Wen Renlin had been staying outside the city these days, and Zhao Yan naturally knew what he was investigating. She did this intentionally, putting everything on the line, to see how far Wen Renlin would retreat for her.

“It’s not impossible,” Wen Renlin said.

This time, it was Zhao Yan who was stunned.

Regaining her composure, she looked at him with a hint of suspicion, finding it hard to believe that Wen Renlin was so accommodating.

Sure enough, Wen Renlin tapped his knee with his finger and continued, “But if Your Highness asks me to do something, you must adopt the attitude of asking for a favor. For example, do something for me.”

See, I knew it!

With a slight smile, Zhao Yan said, “I’m ignorant, please enlighten me, Grand Tutor.”

Wen Renlin raised an eyebrow, “Anything?”

Zhao Yan told herself not to show any weakness and steadied her trembling legs, pondering for a moment before calmly saying, “Although I don’t like it very much, the thought of being close to the powerful Prince Su doesn’t seem so unbearable.”

She nodded to herself, affirming, “Experience makes perfect.”

At her words, Wen Renlin’s tapping finger paused.

How does that relate to anything?

But since the little princess brought up the topic herself…

Wen Renlin smirked, lifting his thickly lashed eyes, “Does Your Highness naively think that I will allow you to dominate me like last time?”

Zhao Yan was stunned, not quite understanding.

“If we’re going to play, it should be my turn.”

Wen Renlin intentionally elongated his tone until Zhao Yan nervously cleared her throat and then spoke in a low voice, “Do you know what ‘tiger step’ is?”

Feeling guilty, Zhao Yan pursed her lips, obviously confused.

Her innocent and artificially carefree demeanor was truly amusing.

Wen Renlin raised an eyebrow, understandingly saying, “Your Highness hasn’t read the essential ‘Xuan Nu Scriptures’. No wonder last time was so awkward.”

Who was awkward last time?!

Blushing with embarrassment, Zhao Yan went far from him. The rustling of fabric sounded in her ears as Wen Renlin rose from the chair. Before Zhao Yan could react, she felt herself being lifted.

Wen Renlin effortlessly carried her horizontally, his expression unchanged, calmly walking towards the inner chamber.

The fluttering of her skirt revealed two silk embroidered shoes and slender ankles. Zhao Yan’s heart raced, her nose filled with the unique scent of frost and cold from Wen Renlin’s body.

She vaguely remembered encountering Wen Renlin when she was taking medicine, and he had carried her like this… and then…

But this time, there were no drugs involved, and both were sober. Zhao Yan had prepared for the worst, but when it actually happened, she realized she wasn’t as relaxed as she had imagined.

Learning from last time’s lesson, as soon as she was placed on the bed, she immediately sat up straight. She tried to create some distance, but her wrist was grabbed, and then Wen Renlin bent his knee to press against hers, causing Zhao Yan to cry out in surprise and fall lightly onto the bed.

Her hair scattered, a few strands playfully falling around her face. She was dumbfounded, finally realizing—this wasn’t the same as last time, where the dominant one had the upper hand!

Blushing, Zhao Yan instinctively tried to get up, but a large hand pressed down on her shoulder.

“Kneel and bow,” Wen Renlin’s low and steady voice came from behind, as he demonstrated step by step.

“Then the man kneels behind and embraces her waist… Don’t move, learn properly.” As he spoke, his other hand lifted Zhao Yan’s slender waist, her long legs already kneeling on the bed, as he leaned over her.

Zhao Yan knelt, feeling a chill down her spine. This time, she truly regretted it and hurriedly tried to escape inside. But she couldn’t budge. Wen Renlin’s strength was something that she, a pampered little princess, couldn’t resist.

Her black hair gently scattered down her neck, strands trembling with her breath, revealing a fair skin and two reddened ears. She couldn’t see Wen Renlin’s expression behind her, and because of that uncertainty, she felt even more nervous.

But she was a princess and unwilling to admit defeat. Her cheeks were so red they seemed to be bleeding. She bit her lip and buried her face in the bedclothes, like a peacock trying to hide its head in the sand.

But the anticipated shame didn’t come. Zhao Yan listened for a while with her ear against the bed, then timidly lifted a watery eye, carefully peeking…

Only to see Wen Renlin leaning against the headboard, calmly looking at her.

Zhao Yan blinked, realizing she had once again lost her composure because of this man. She couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, staring at Wen Renlin with slightly labored breaths.

She was truly embarrassed, and Wen Renlin could see it.

“I’m just a dog.”

Wen Renlin reached out to tidy the stray hair at her temple, the slightly cool fingertips intentionally or unintentionally brushing against her burning red cheeks. With a hint of laughter in his eyes, he said in a low voice, “Your Highness, why get angry at a dog?”

Zhao Yan was stunned: “What does that mean?”

Wen Renlin no longer spoke, with a smile on his lips as he tidied her hair, then happily strode out of the grand hall.

Accompanying him was the box of warm jade still sitting on the table.

Finally, Zhao Yan reacted. He was referring to her remark, “Just treat it as being bitten by a dog.”

She sat on the bedding, unsure whether to be angry or amused.

Then, she lowered her eyes in annoyance.

Was Wen Renlin’s attitude an acceptance or not?

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