She had forgotten about Wenren Lin, completely failing to anticipate that he would stay to bathe!

She wondered if it was still possible to go to the Phoenix Pool…

Lost in thought, Zhao Yān casually stepped backward, preparing to slip away.

“You agreed to serve this prince for a day, and it’s only evening now.”

Wenren Lin extinguished the fire starter in his hand and turned to look at her. “Is Your Highness breaking your word again?”

Wenren Lin was capricious and inscrutable. If things didn’t go his way, he could always dig new pits for her to fall into.

So Zhao Yān turned back, dragging her feet as she approached, and asked, “Does Prince Su also want to bathe in the hot spring to remove toxins?”

Wenren Lin raised his eyelids, and Zhao Yān realized she had asked a redundant question. It was said that the spiritual spring beneath Yuquan Palace came from deep dragon veins, blessed by celestial deities. The pool water could cure all ailments. Having come all this way, how could one not bathe?

Wenren Lin slightly spread his arms. This posture indicated that he wanted her to help him undress.

She had done it so smoothly at Hegui Pavilion, but today she acted as if she had no hands. Zhao Yān lowered her eyes and grumbled inwardly, forcing herself to step forward.

…

…

Her fingers touched the chi-patterned jade hook belt at his waist. Remembering what this warm jade was originally used for, Zhao Yān self-consciously averted her gaze. She frowned as she struggled with it for a long time, making it tighter rather than looser.

Wenren Lin had excellent patience. He watched as the small prince’s soft, fluffy hair bobbed in front of his chest, allowing her slender white fingers to struggle with the jade hook belt.

After a considerable effort, she managed to undo the belt, only to find herself battling with the clothing ties.

Eventually, Zhao Yān finally slumped her shoulders in defeat and lifted her slightly flushed, moist face with an innocent expression, saying, “It’s turned into a dead knot.”

Wenren Lin raised his sleeve to look at the unsightly tangle of clothing ties at his waist. His perpetually unchanging expression finally showed a moment of astonishment.

“Your Highness truly is a person of noble birth, naturally born to be served by others.”

For some reason, when Zhao Yān heard him say “served by others,” it seemed he was implying something deeper.

“I’ve never served anyone else in my life, so I’m inevitably clumsy at it.”

Though she was a princess accustomed to silk clothes and jade dishes, she wasn’t so helpless that she couldn’t untie her clothing. She simply knew that once she started doing something too perfectly and obediently, the days of being controlled would only increase.

If she couldn’t do a job well, couldn’t she do it poorly? She didn’t believe that being so disappointing would leave Wenren Lin in any mood to continue whatever he had planned.

Sure enough, Wenren Lin grabbed the knot of clothing ties and twisted it slightly. The knot immediately burst open with the harsh sound of tearing fabric.

Wenren Lin swept his hand across Zhao Yān’s waist, and the loose outer robe immediately slid off, piling at her feet.

Zhao Yān wore a thin undergarment with her chest binding faintly visible. She was bewildered for a moment, unable to see clearly how he had moved just now.

Wenren Lin draped the outer robe on a lacquered wooden rack, removed his inner clothes himself, and entered the pool wearing only his underwear, barefoot.

Waves of water rippled outward, and the fractured light from the entire pool reflected on his clearly defined, muscular upper body, like a handsome male spirit wading through water.

Had his chest always been so solid, his waist and abdominal muscles so defined? One couldn’t tell when he was clothed.

And those arms, so full of explosive power—no wonder he could effortlessly draw a bow requiring the strength of seven stones…

Suddenly, fragments of memory flashed through her mind. At Hegui Pavilion, Zhao Yān remembered that even with all ten fingers, she couldn’t grasp Wenren Lin’s arm clamped at her waist. Unable to push him away or escape, she finally whimpered and bit down, only for the tensed muscle to make her jaw go numb from the recoil.

Realizing what she was recalling, Zhao Yān abruptly turned her face away, driving all memories of that defeat from her mind.

She forced herself to recognize their respective identities. Calming herself slightly, she took the basket of moistened petals beside her and poured them all into the pool. The beautiful red and white fragrant petals immediately floated across the surface, concealing the scene beneath the clear rippling water.

Petals stuck to Wenren Lin’s chest and arms. He raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, lifting his hand to brush them away, seemingly annoyed.

Wenren Lin rested one arm on the back of a carved dragon on the pool’s edge, closed his eyes to rest, allowing water droplets to flow along his long hand with its prominent veins, then drip from his fingertips back into the pool.

After observing for a long time, Zhao Yān discovered that Wenren Lin didn’t sweat even while soaking in the hot spring. His skin remained frost-white and cold, as if his entire person were carved from ice jade, unable to feel the warmth of the world.

It had been the same last winter. He had ordered people to bring more than ten braziers into Chongwen Hall. While Zhao Yān was drenched in sweat from the heat, he showed not the slightest sign of discomfort, remaining clean and fresh, unlike an ordinary person.

For a full quarter of an hour, Wenren Lin soaked in the hot spring without moving at all.

Suddenly, Zhao Yān had an absurd thought. Unable to resist, she supported herself on the edge of the pool and crawled closer like a cat, trying to observe more carefully.

Just a foot away, Zhao Yān could barely see the outline of Wenren Lin’s chest rising and falling. She only vaguely felt that his complexion had become somewhat more normal, and his lips had returned to their usual pale color. How strange.

As she concentrated on her observation, a wet, large hand extended from beneath the hot water and grabbed Zhao Yān’s wrist with a splash.

Zhao Yān was startled and nearly fell into the pool. Her other hand desperately sought support and found it on Wenren Lin’s chest.

Wenren Lin was slightly startled, his gaze falling on the slender white hand on his chest.

Zhao Yān bit her lip, wanting to withdraw, but it was already too late.

Liu Ji, who had been waiting for Zhao Yān for a long time, burst in with clothes in her arms. She irritably pushed open the hall door, saying, “We agreed to bathe in the hot spring together, but Your Highness threw me and Liu Ying over there while enjoying yourself alone here. How inconsiderate!”

There was no time to stop Liu Ji, nor could Zhao Yān let her see her relationship with Wenren Lin in this state.

In her panic, Zhao Yān couldn’t think clearly. She instinctively pressed down on Wenren Lin’s head and shoulders, saying, “Quick, hide underwater!”

“…” Wenren Lin narrowed his eyes dangerously.

But Zhao Yān couldn’t care about that now. She had even forgotten that she was still pretending to be a maidservant or concubine. She used all her strength, hands, and feet together to push down!

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

“Not everyone can see my body; Liu Ying doesn’t have that fortune…”

Liu Ji entered, chattering incessantly, and was stunned by the chaotic, uneven waves in the pool. After a moment, she exclaimed, “Is Your Highness Nezha, causing havoc in the sea?”

Zhao Yān had her feet immersed in the petal-strewn pool water. To cover up, she kicked at the ripples and forced a smile, saying, “The water temperature is just right, so I couldn’t resist playing in the water for a while… Did Liu Ji need something from me?”

Just as she finished speaking, a sharp pain shot through her toes immersed in the pool, as if bitten by a water monster.

Liu Ji was preoccupied; normally observant, she failed to notice Zhao Yān’s unusual state. She merely lifted her chin and snorted, “Your Highness promised to bathe with me.”

“Ah, about that…”

Zhao Yān said with difficulty, “I’m indisposed these few days and can’t bathe. Can we postpone it for a couple of days?”

As soon as she said this, Liu Ji understood and couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

Fearing that she might suggest “just soaking our feet together” or something similar, Zhao Yān changed the subject, saying, “When I passed through the marketplace, I brought you some fresh flowers and sachets. They’re in Guanyun Hall—don’t you want to see them?”

Hearing there were gifts, Liu Ji’s eyes lit up again. She raised her eyebrows and said, “Then I’ll wait for you for two more days.”

She turned to leave, and Zhao Yān quickly looked at the gradually calming pool surface. Unexpectedly, Liu Ji turned back halfway, saying, “By the way.”

Zhao Yān was startled and asked, “What is it?”

“I just saw Prince Su’s men leaving from here. He’s a ruthless person; Your Highness should stay far away from him.”

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

When the footsteps faded into the distance, Zhao Yān immediately reached out to part the flower petals on the water surface, anxiously saying, “Prince Su?”

She pushed away one layer of petals only for another to appear. The waves continued to ripple, making it impossible to see the bottom.

Could he have fainted from holding his breath?

“Grand Tutor?” Zhao Yān called again.

Still no response.

Oh no, could she have inadvertently eliminated a threat to the country?

Zhao Yān leaned over the edge of the pool, anxiously feeling around in the water. Suddenly, her wrist was gripped tightly, and before she could cry out, she was pulled entirely into the water.

With a splash, water sprayed in all directions.

Hot currents came from all sides. Zhao Yān felt like a reed drifting with the waves, floating without finding solid ground. She couldn’t hold her breath; her breathing immediately became chaotic. She could only flail her limbs irregularly until she was pulled into a broad embrace.

A pain shot through her lips, seeming like punishment for her bold and disrespectful action earlier. Then something soft pressed against them, prying open her teeth when she could no longer hold her breath, giving her a chance to breathe.

Zhao Yān opened her eyes in confusion, seeing only the candlelight splintering on the water’s surface. Wenren Lin in the water also appeared distorted and strange. She felt as if she had encountered a water spirit that absorbed human essence—her body restrained, her breathing chaotic, even her soul nearly seized completely.

She somewhat regretted treating Wenren Lin that way earlier, but she had already received the most “terrifying” punishment.

The flower petals drifted with the waves. Occasionally, two tiny strings of bubbles rose from the bottom of the water, bursting amid the rippling waves.

When she emerged from the water, Zhao Yān felt as if she had died once, able only to futilely cling to Wenren Lin’s shoulders, gasping for breath.

Her hair was wet, her clothes were wet, and even her eyes seemed to be filled with water, a picture of moist fragility.

As her scattered gaze gradually focused, Zhao Yān wanted to hit Wenren Lin, but she had no strength left. For a moment, she truly believed she would drown in the entanglement at the bottom of the pool.

Wenren Lin supported her with one hand, his ink-black eyes fixed on her slightly opening and closing, vibrant lips. He spoke in a slow, deep voice: “Your Highness is very brave. Those kicks—were they not venting personal anger?”

“Didn’t you… Also, pull me underwater?”

Zhao Yān opened her eyes unwillingly, panting as she said, “We’re even.”

Her undergarments clung wetly to her body, dripping with water. Her mouth still hurt; it was bruised.

Wenren Lin gave a low laugh, but at this moment, his laughter was even more unsettling than his silence.

Knock, knock—an abrupt knocking sound came from the door.

“Your Highness, there’s news.”

The deliberately lowered voice of the guard came from outside the hall. Zhao Yān remembered his name was Cai Tian.

The tense confrontation eased slightly. Wenren Lin shifted his gaze and, after a moment, released his arm.

As soon as he let go, Zhao Yān couldn’t help but slide back into the water. She hurriedly floundered to the edge of the pool to steady herself.

Looking up, Wenren Lin had already climbed the stone steps out of the pool, leaving a trail of dripping water.

His muscular, tall figure disappeared behind the folding screen. When he emerged from the other side, he was already dressed in dry clothes.

He walked at a measured pace, his expression extremely calm, but Zhao Yān felt inexplicably uneasy and quickly asked, “Where is the Grand Tutor going?”

Hmph, now she was calling him “Grand Tutor” again.

“The moonlight is beautiful tonight.”

Wenren Lin picked up a dark outer robe and put it on, his voice incredibly gentle. “Killing those who get in the way would surely be satisfying.”

Kill whom?

The suspects related to the case, or Liu Ji, who had just interfered?

The more Zhao Yān thought about it, the more she believed it was the latter. She argued forcefully, “Those who don’t know have committed no crime. It was my panic; it has nothing to do with the people around me.”

Wenren Lin snorted with derision.

Zhao Yān lowered her eyes anxiously, then raised them again, brushing the wet hair from her lips as she asked, “What would it take for the Grand Tutor to calm down?”

Wenren Lin’s moist eyelashes were half-lowered as he methodically fastened his wrist guard, coolly glancing at the graceful young woman floating in the pool.

“If Your Highness also sends a sachet, a fragrance pouch, and diligently offers to bathe with me, perhaps this prince might calm down.”

He chuckled softly. “Who knows?”