Chapter 34: Hot Spring

She completely forgot about Wen Renlin and didn’t expect him to stay for a bath!

I wonder if it’s still time to go to Fengchi now…

Pondering, Zhao Yan took a step back as if nothing had happened, ready to slip away.

“You promised to serve this king for a day, and it’s already evening,” Wen Renlin said, blowing out the fire in his hand and turning to look at her. “Is Your Highness going back on your word again?”

Wen Renlin was unpredictable and deeply scheming. If things didn’t go as he wished, he could always dig out new pitfalls for her to fall into.

So Zhao Yan turned back, hesitated, and asked, “Does the Prince Su also want to bathe to detoxify?”

Wen Renlin raised an eyebrow, and Zhao Yan knew she had asked a silly question. It was said that the spring below this palace came from deep within the dragon veins, blessed by the gods. The water could cure all kinds of illnesses. Since they were already here, why wouldn’t they bathe?

Wen Renlin slightly opened his arms, obviously expecting her to help him with his clothes.

Didn’t things go smoothly at the Hegui Pavilion before? But today, it seemed like she had suddenly become clumsy. Zhao Yan lowered her eyes and reluctantly moved forward.

As her fingers touched the jade buckle at his waist, Zhao Yan couldn’t help but remember what this warm jade was originally used for. She guiltily averted her gaze, furrowed her brows, and struggled with the buckle.

It took her a long time to untie the belt, and then she struggled with the knots of his clothes.

After a while, Zhao Yan finally deflated, her shoulders drooping as she lifted her slightly red and moist face, innocently saying, “It’s tied in a tight knot.”

Wen Renlin raised his sleeve and looked at the unsightly knots on his waist. For a moment, his expression changed slightly.

“Your Highness is truly noble, naturally accustomed to being served,” he remarked.

For some reason, when Zhao Yan heard him say “being served,” it seemed like he was implying something else.

“I’ve never served anyone in my life, so I’m a bit clumsy.”

Although she was a princess used to luxury, she wasn’t incapable of untying a knot. She just knew that if she did too well and too obediently, she might face even more manipulation in the future.

Can’t things be done both poorly and well? She didn’t believe that if she showed disappointment, Wen Renlin would still be in the mood to continue whatever he was doing.

Sure enough, Wen Renlin grabbed the knots and with a twist, the knots broke, emitting a harsh tearing sound. Wen Renlin brushed his hand against Zhao Yan’s waist, and the loose outer robe immediately slipped off and piled at her feet.

Zhao Yan was wearing a thin undergarment, her bound chest barely visible. She stared blankly for a moment, unable to clearly see what he had just done. Wen Renlin hung the outer robe on a lacquered wooden rack and took off his inner garment, wearing only a pair of underpants as he stepped barefoot into the pool.

As the water rippled open, the fragmented light filled the pool, obscuring the scene beneath the clear water.

Petals stuck to Wen Renlin’s chest and arms. He raised an eyebrow imperceptibly and brushed them away as if disgusted. Leaning against the carved dragon on the edge of the pool with one arm, Wen Renlin closed his eyes, letting the water droplets slide along his well-defined palms and drip into the pool.

Zhao Yan observed for a long time and found that Wen Renlin, soaking in the hot spring, didn’t sweat at all. His complexion remained frosty and pale, as if he were carved from ice jade, impervious to the warmth of the world.

Last winter was the same. He had people bring over a dozen charcoal braziers to the Chongwen Hall. Zhao Yan was sweating profusely, but he didn’t even have a hint of heat, looking clean and refreshed, unlike an ordinary person.

For a full quarter of an hour, Wen Renlin remained motionless in the hot spring.

Suddenly, Zhao Yan had a ridiculous idea. Unable to resist, she propped herself up on the edge of the pool, creeping closer like a cat, trying to observe more closely.

Despite being just inches apart, Zhao Yan could hardly see the contours of Wen Renlin’s chest rising and falling. She only vaguely sensed that his complexion had returned to normal and his lips had regained their usual pale color. It was very strange.

While focusing intently, a wet hand suddenly reached out from the pool, grabbing Zhao Yan’s wrist.

Startled, Zhao Yan nearly fell into the pool. Her other hand desperately sought support, grasping Wen Renlin’s chest. Wen Renlin was slightly surprised, his gaze falling on the slender white hand on his chest.

Zhao Yan bit her lip, wanting to pull back, but it was too late.

Just as Zhao Yan was about to become impatient, as Liu Ji had been waiting for long time, barged in with clothes in her arms, pushing open the door angrily. “We agreed to bathe together, Your Highness, but you left me and Liu Ying over there and enjoyed yourself alone here. It’s so boring!”

There was no time to stop Liu Ji now, and Zhao Yan couldn’t let her see her and Wen Renlin’s relationship like this.

In her panic, Zhao Yan instinctively pushed Wen Renlin’s head and shoulders, urging, “Quick, hide in the water!”

“…,” Wen Renlin narrowed his eyes dangerously.

But Zhao Yan didn’t care about that anymore and forgot that she was still playing the role of a maidservant or concubine. She used all her strength to push him!

With a splash, wet petals slapped against the edge of the pool.

“My body is not something anyone can see. Liu Ji doesn’t have that privilege…”

Liu Ji chattered incessantly as she pulled back the curtain, looking at the chaotic waves in the pool with astonishment. After a while, she exclaimed, “Is Your Highness, causing chaos in the pool?”

Zhao Yan waded into the pool amidst the drifting petals, trying to conceal her nervousness by kicking the waves and forcing a smile. “The water temperature is just right, so I couldn’t help but play for a while… Does Liu Jihave something to tell me?”

Before she could finish speaking, she felt a sharp pain in her submerged toes, as if she had been bitten by a water monster.

Clearly preoccupied, Liu Ji, who usually kept an eye on everything, didn’t notice Zhao Yan’s abnormal behavior and only lifted her chin, humming, “Your Highness promised to bathe with me.”

“Oh, about that…”

Feeling embarrassed, Zhao Yan hesitated. “I’m not feeling well these days, so I can’t bathe together now. How about postponing it for a couple of days?”

Liu Ji understood immediately and couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

Worried that Liu Ji might bring up something like “bathing together” again, Zhao Yan changed the subject, “I passed by the market earlier and brought you some fresh flowers and sachets. They’re in the Guanyun Hall. Why don’t you take a look?”

Upon hearing about the gifts, Liu Ji’s eyes lit up, raising her eyebrows, “Then I’ll wait for you for two more days.”

Turning to leave, Liu Ji suddenly turned back halfway, “Oh, by the way.”

Startled, Zhao Yan asked, “What is it?”

“I just saw someone from the Prince Su’s entourage leaving here. He’s ruthless. Your Highness should stay away from him.”

After saying this, Liu Ji left with the clothes, heading to see the gifts.

As soon as her footsteps faded away, Zhao Yan immediately reached out and pushed aside the petals on the water’s surface, nervously asking, “Prince Su?”

Pushing aside one layer after another of petals, the water surface swayed incessantly, making it impossible to see the bottom of the pool.

Could he have passed out? 

“Grand Tutor?” Zhao Yan called out again.

Still no response.

Oh no, she might have unintentionally eliminated a threat to the country!

Zhao Yan leaned on the edge of the pool, nervously reaching into the water. Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed, and before she could scream, she was pulled into the water.

With a splash, water splashed everywhere.

Heat flowed from all directions, and Zhao Yan felt like she was just a reed floating with the current, unable to find solid ground. She couldn’t hold her breath and her breathing became erratic. She struggled clumsily until she was pulled into a broad embrace.

Her lips stung, as if being punished for her bold and disrespectful actions. Then something soft pressed against her, prying open her clenched teeth and giving her a chance to breathe.

Dazedly opening her eyes, Zhao Yan saw candlelight shattering on the surface of the pool, making Wen Renlin in the water appear strange and surreal. She felt as if she had encountered a water demon sucking away her vitality, her body imprisoned, her breath in disarray, and even her soul almost seized.

She regretted her treatment of Wen Renlin just now, but she had already received the “scariest” punishment.

Petals swayed with the waves, occasionally small bubbles emerged from the bottom of the water, breaking amidst the rippling waves.

When she emerged from the water, Zhao Yan felt as if she had died once, only able to futilely cling to Wen Renlin’s shoulder and gasp for breath. Her hair was wet, her clothes were wet, and even her eyes seemed filled with watery light, all feeling damp and fragile.

Her scattered gaze gradually focused, and Zhao Yan wanted to hit Wen Renlin, but she had no strength left. For a moment, she thought she would really drown in the entanglement at the bottom of the pool.

Wen Renlin held her with one hand, his eyes staring at her slightly parted, beautiful lips, and he said in a low voice, “Your Highness has quite the courage. Those kicks just now, were they to vent your anger?”

“You… didn’t you pull me into the water too?”

Defiantly opening her eyes, Zhao Yan gasped, “Now we’re even.”

Her undergarments clung to her body, dripping with water, and her mouth still hurt. It must be cut.

Wen Renlin chuckled softly, but his smile now was more unsettling than not smiling.

Knock, knock, a sudden knocking sounded at the door.

“Your Highness, there is news.”

The voice of the guard outside the palace deliberately lowered, Zhao Yan remembered, his name was Cai Tian. The tense atmosphere eased slightly, Wen Renlin’s gaze shifted away, and after a while, he released his arm.

As soon as he let go, Zhao Yan couldn’t help but slide back into the water, frantically paddling to the shore to stabilize herself. As she looked up, Wen Renlin had already stepped onto the shore, leaving a trail of dripping water as he climbed the stone steps.

His tall and sturdy figure disappeared behind the screen, and when he emerged from the other side, he had changed into dry clothes.

He walked leisurely, his face looking very calm, but Zhao Yan inexplicably felt a bit uneasy, and hurriedly asked, “Where is the Grand Preceptor going?”

Oh, now she’s calling him “Grand Preceptor” again.

“The moonlight is beautiful tonight,” Wen Renlin picked up a dark outer robe and draped it over himself, his voice incredibly gentle, “When dealing with troublesome people, one must be decisive.”

Who is he going to kill?

The suspects related to the case, or who caused trouble just now?

The more Zhao Yan thought about it, the more she felt the latter was possible. She argued, “Ignorance is not a crime. I was just panicking, and it has nothing to do with the people around me.”

Wen Renlin chuckled.

Anxiously lowering her eyes, Zhao Yan raised them again, pushing aside the wet hair stuck to her lips, “How can someone calm down Prince Su?”

With his moist eyelashes half lowered, Wen Renlin methodically fastened his wrist guard, his cool gaze drifting towards the graceful girl floating in the pool.

“If Your Highness also gives a sachet or sachet, and diligently offers baths, perhaps I might calm down.”

He chuckled softly, “Who knows.”

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