Qing Xia quickly calculated in her mind, and the answer became clear – it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe, but there was no immediate threat before her. Qing Xia relaxed slightly, a faint smile sliding across her lips as she continued leaning against the pool, not even opening her eyelids.

A feeling of being watched suddenly arose from the depths of her heart. Qing Xia knew this man was standing above her at this moment, looking down at her, yet she made no movement whatsoever, still acting as if unaware, her expression relaxed, a smile at the corners of her mouth, appearing to be completely enjoying herself.

Time passed slowly, the air quiet and tranquil, with only the continuous sound of flowing water. Suddenly, the water sound stopped. Qing Xia knew that Xiangju had blocked the hot spring’s outlet. The water temperature was warm, at a normal temperature the human body could bear. Qing Xia took a deep breath, then opened her rosy lips and gently exhaled. Her full breasts traced faintly visible, colorful patterns beneath the flower-strewn spring water, making her graceful figure appear even more alluring.

The breathing overhead suddenly carried a hint of barely noticeable heaviness, yet Qing Xia still gently lowered her head, a mocking smile crossing the corners of her mouth. Her snow-white neck curved like a swan’s neck in a beautiful arc. Under the dim lamplight, it had brilliant radiance. The pale butterfly bones at her shoulders were like a butterfly about to take flight, fluttering beautiful wings and presenting perfect curves. Drop by drop, water beads slowly rolled down her neck, disappearing between her faintly visible breasts.

“You’re certainly enjoying yourself!” A deep voice suddenly rang out overhead, like a stone thrown into a deep lake surface, landing with a thud and splashing ripples that spread outward in circles.

However, this sudden voice did not cause the bathing woman to panic. Chu Li looked with considerable surprise as Qing Xia turned around with a light smile, elegantly opened her eyes, smiled faintly at him, and said with a radiant expression: “Yes, very enjoyable. Thanks to your blessing!”

Chu Li was slightly surprised, looking at this calm and composed woman before him. For a moment, he was somewhat at a loss. His narrow eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at Qing Xia in the water with some amusement, saying lightly: “You knew I had come in long ago.”

Qing Xia neither confirmed nor denied this, smiling faintly. She leisurely turned around, leaning against the pool’s edge. Her raven-black long hair clung tightly to her bare back, creating an indescribable allure.

A splash of water lightly splashed up, wetting Chu Li’s snow-white boots. Chu Li stood tall beside the pool, his brow gradually furrowing, his handsome face showing a trace of angry wickedness under the lamplight. His voice was flat, but his tone carried a hint of impatient coldness. He said in a deep voice: “Do you know that turning your back on the ruler of a nation like this is the grave crime of disrespect?”

“As you know,” Qing Xia said slowly, her voice like a soft ball of cotton, carrying the moist and melodious quality unique to Jiangnan women. “Recently, I have indeed committed quite a few grave crimes. Adding one or two more doesn’t matter much.”

With a “splash,” water flew everywhere, wet flower petals scattering in all directions. Qing Xia’s thick long hair was suddenly grabbed roughly, along with her beautifully curved upper body, exposing them both to the slightly cold air.

Qing Xia groaned softly. She saw the handsome man half-kneeling by the pool’s edge, the hem of his robes completely soaked in the pool water. The golden dragon with bared fangs and claws on his garments rose in fierce totemic splendor, like a fierce beast reflecting its master’s displeasure. Chu Li’s expression was cold, the corners of his mouth curling with wicked intent. He released his grip on Qing Xia’s hair and slowly slid his hand down, tightly clasping around Qing Xia’s snow-white, slender neck. The man’s tone was coldly harsh as he said hoarsely: “Is it because I haven’t visited Lanting Palace for too long, making you forget the rules of serving an emperor? Or do you think those sea barbarians can really break through my Great Chu’s city walls, letting you get your wish to return as crown princess?”

Qing Xia frowned, feeling unbearable pain at her neck, involuntarily becoming angry and glaring back with fierce eyes.

“What a stubborn woman. How did I never notice this before? No wonder that sea barbarian can’t forget you.” Chu Li’s eyes grew increasingly dark, as if storms were gathering in them. He suddenly increased the force in his hand, cruelly gripping Qing Xia’s neck while wearing a wicked smile on his lips. He looked coldly at the struggling-to-breathe Qing Xia and said icily: “Zhuang Qing Xia, since you’ve come to Southern Chu, you’re just an ant in my hands. If I want you to live, you live; if I want you to die, you die. You actually thought to use the trick of feigning madness to escape – I advise you not to waste your efforts!”

Qing Xia’s brow was tightly knitted, her face flushed red, her breathing becoming extremely difficult. She stared at this wicked man before her with blazing eyes, great anger rising in her heart. Suddenly, Qing Xia grabbed Chu Li’s feet beneath his robe hem. The bathroom was slippery, and Qing Xia used all her strength to pull hard.

With a loud crash, enormous waves immediately surged up. Chu Li was greatly shocked – he never expected this little woman who had spent her days weeping in the Southern Chu palace for a year would have such audacity, not only daring to resist but also to strike back. But by the time he realized what was happening, he was already sprawled face-down in the bath pool. Countless amounts of hot water attacked Chu Li from all directions, instantly flooding into his nose, eyes, ears, and mouth. After a frantic struggle, Chu Li finally managed to stand up from the bath pool. He wiped the water from his face, no longer having any trace of dignity. Just as he was about to explode in thunderous rage, he saw a white object instantly flying toward his face. Chu Li couldn’t dodge in time – with another crash, he fell back into the luxurious bath pool.

When Chu Li struggled up from the pool in embarrassment, coughing loudly, Qing Xia had already tied the last silk ribbon of her sleeping robe. She looked at this Southern Chu prince of great power and influence, smiled brilliantly, and said crisply: “I’m warning you – you’d better be more polite in your attitude toward me from now on, or you’ll regret it. I have good credibility and do what I say – I never bluff. If you don’t believe me, feel free to test it!”

Having said this, Qing Xia put on silk slippers, draped on a cloak, turned around and gracefully walked out of the steamy, spacious bathroom.

Chu Li climbed out of the pool completely soaked, no longer having any of his previous elegance and composure, and roared angrily. The guards outside, seeing Qing Xia walk out alone with a smile on her face, had already sensed something was wrong. Now hearing Chu Li’s thunderous roar, they practically tumbled over each other rushing in. Seeing Chu Li in this strange outfit clinging to his body, they dared not even breathe heavily.

“Go! I want all the information on Concubine Lan from her time in the Qi Kingdom and her year since entering the palace. No matter how big or small, no matter how trivial, I’m giving you until tomorrow morning to provide me with the most detailed report!” After finishing his furious roar, Southern Chu’s Prince Chu Li flung his water-soaked sleeves and headed outside.

“Your Highness! Your Highness! The night wind is cold – change your clothes before going out!”

The servants’ calls echoed back and forth in the spacious hall. Chu Li’s usually calm face was twisted with ferocity, his eyes blazing with fire as he strode toward the bedroom of Lanting Palace.

In the elegantly fragrant great hall, the bright-eyed, white-toothed woman calmly finished dressing and put on a warm cloak over her outer garments.

With a loud “bang,” the door was suddenly kicked open violently. Chu Li wore a stern expression on his handsome face, his complexion cold and grey like a rainy day in June without a trace of brightness. The imperial prince in his fury was full of violent menace. He walked step by step slowly toward the plainly dressed woman on the canopy bed, his entire being like a ghost from the underworld, wickedly cold and sinister.

Qing Xia glanced at him lightly, her lips soft and warm, calm as still water. A cold wind blew in through the wide-open door, and all the lights in the room immediately swayed with it. The gauze curtains around the canopy bed fluttered about like butterfly wings, softly brushing across Qing Xia’s fair face.

Outside the door, a ground full of trembling servants knelt. Xiangju, along with all the maids, serving women, guards, and eunuchs of Lanting Palace, knelt properly outside the hall. The cold wind raged and fine rain drifted, mercilessly soaking the servants’ thin clothing.

Qing Xia paid no attention to this. The intelligent woman had long calculated everything, quietly awaiting the aftermath of that storm. She slightly turned her head, looked at the furious Chu Li with neither light nor heavy gaze, and said something that shocked everyone: “You, close the door.”

The angry man was immediately stunned by these simple words. The servants outside all had expressions as if they’d seen ghosts, staring wide-eyed at this concubine who was rumored to have gone mad.

Chu Li’s face became increasingly gloomy. In extreme anger, he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: “You, as a married woman, secretly keep another man’s belongings in the palace – promiscuous and unfaithful to womanly virtue! After that, you caused great disturbance in Lanting Palace, broke Concubine Dan’s wrist bone, and feigned madness to try to get away with it. I temporarily don’t hold you accountable for all these things, but you dare treat me with such an attitude – what audacity!”

Qing Xia slowly stood up, her phoenix eyes having the color of crystal under the lamplight. She slightly composed her expression, her face cold, and with no lack of mockery, she snorted coldly and said: “Your Highness, if your memory serves you well, you should remember that I just told you to be more polite in your attitude toward me from now on, or don’t blame me for not saving face for you.”

Chu Li flew into a rage, raising an eyebrow and shouting sternly: “You dare?”

“I’ve already done it, yet you ask if I dare – isn’t that a superfluous question?” Qing Xia immediately followed up, saying coldly: “Concubine Dan merely broke a small wrist bone that will heal completely with a month of care. There are so many imperial physicians in the palace who can easily treat it, yet Your Highness specifically offered rewards for famous doctors from across the realm to enter the palace for treatment. This serves two purposes: first, to demonstrate Your Highness’s benevolent heart, and second, to proclaim Zhuang Qing Xia’s crime of great disrespect. The crown princess died of illness, and the nation mourned for half a month. Now that the mourning period is complete, this Zhuang Qing Xia – this notorious loose woman known throughout the land – should fall into the legal net and accept punishment. Since Your Highness has already set up this killing trap, why bother rushing here to fabricate other charges against Qing Xia?”