Yu Lingxi squatted down, her fingertips touching his belt, and the scent of blood became even more apparent.

Looking carefully, there were even tiny splashes of blood on his dark jade belt.

Yu Lingxi had just hesitated slightly when Ning Yin pressed down on her hand.

She looked up and heard Ning Yin say casually: “Accompany me while I bathe and change.”

Yu Lingxi was stunned.

Accompany… accompany?

In the bathing chamber was an artificial bath pool made of white jade. Although not as extravagantly decorated with gold and cinnabar as in her previous life, as soon as the door was pushed open, Yu Lingxi’s eyes were still dazzled by the layers of gauze and mist.

Servants brought in clean clothes, bath towels, and other items, then quietly closed the door and withdrew.

Ning Yin casually undid his cloak and tossed it onto the couch, then opened his arms toward Yu Lingxi.

Well then. Yu Lingxi resignedly walked over and helped him undo his belt and outer robe.

The dark-colored outer robe didn’t show any stains, but after it was removed, she discovered that the hem of his inner garment was soaked with fresh blood.

Yu Lingxi’s heart skipped a beat.

She steadied herself, then carefully undid the ties of his inner garment, revealing his strong, pale upper body.

His ink-black hair, half-draped and half-bound, fell over his broad shoulders, making the white appear even more pallid and the black even more intense, presenting a frigid yet imposing vigor.

Fortunately, although there was blood on him, there were no ghastly new wounds to be seen.

Just as she relaxed, she heard Ning Yin ask: “Do you like what you see?”

Yu Lingxi came back to her senses, realizing that her gaze had indeed been too unrestrained.

She smiled faintly and replied frankly: “Your Highness’s handsome appearance is unparalleled, naturally pleasing to the eye.”

These were words he had never heard when he was Wei Qi.

“Then come closer and look more carefully.”

Ning Yin smiled wryly, unfastening his trousers himself. His waist was narrow and his legs long; as he moved, a dark shadow flashed by.

Yu Lingxi’s fingertips trembled, and she instinctively averted her gaze.

After two lifetimes, seeing that shadowy area again still made her heart race.

Ning Yin acted as if she didn’t exist, leisurely moving his long legs toward the bathing pool amidst the shimmering water.

With the sound of splashing water, the mist rippled outward in layers. He sat down in the pool, his muscular arms resting on the white jade edge, chin slightly raised.

When the dried blood touched the water, it spread in faint red streaks that disappeared in an instant.

The mist gently enveloped him from all sides. Occasionally, a drop of water fell from Ning Yin’s too-white fingertips, creating small ripples. He looked like a handsome, evil spirit who had mistakenly entered the human world.

Seeing no movement behind him for a long time, he opened his eyes, turned his head, and asked: “Is this bathpool large?”

This question was truly peculiar.

Yu Lingxi couldn’t quite grasp his meaning. She glanced at the spacious bath pool, blinked, and said: “Very large.”

“Since it’s large, are you afraid it can’t accommodate one more person?”

Ning Yin’s arms rested on the edge of the pool as he tapped his finger, saying, “Or should I teach Lingxi how to ‘accompany’ me?”

“…” So roundabout, but this was his aim all along.

Yu Lingxi swallowed and declined politely, “That won’t be necessary. I don’t have the habit of bathing in the morning.”

She said, “Your Highness may bathe alone,” then lowered her head and went to the outer chamber, knowing that Ning Yin wouldn’t chase after her naked.

Only after rushing to the outer chamber did she realize that the fragrance sachet was still clutched in her hand; she had forgotten to place it in the tray with his clothes.

Never mind, she would give it to him personally after he finished bathing.

Yu Lingxi sat on the small couch in the outer chamber, held the fragrance sachet to her heart, and slowly raised her hand to cover her face, which had grown hot from the steam.

Strange, why was she so flustered just now?

Objects that she could face calmly in her previous life now made her inexplicably awkward when seen again in this life. Perhaps after living peacefully for too long, her skin had grown thinner.

Yu Lingxi reflected on this for a while, then got up to fetch clean water and quickly tidied herself.

There was no wind today, only snow falling silently, drifting down like willow catkins.

The outer chamber is connected to the bath pool. Because it was heated from below and covered with soft carpets, it didn’t feel cold even with the door wide open.

A maid brought tea and refreshments. Yu Lingxi reclined on the soft couch facing the carved moon gate, drinking tea while waiting and admiring the snowy scene in the courtyard.

When Ning Yin emerged from bathing and changing, this was the scene he beheld.

The outer chamber was as warm as spring. The beautiful young woman in plain clothes reclined on the soft couch, holding a cup of clear tea. Her sinuous, soft long hair flowed down along her waistline, pooling like ink on the couch. Without speaking a word, she already commanded all elegance.

Somehow, the scene before him seemed familiar, familiar to the point that it felt as though she had belonged here for a very long time.

Ning Yin fastened his belt and walked over, his fingers gently touching her cool hair.

Yu Lingxi turned her head, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly: “Finished bathing?”

Ning Yin sat down in the space beside her. His half-wet hair hung loose, making his face appear more handsome and lean, somewhat resembling the sickly flamboyance of his previous life.

“I’ve never seen a ‘gift’ who abandons her master in the bath and runs out to amuse herself.”

His voice was low and deep, carrying a somewhat chilly dissatisfaction that was half-real and half-feigned.

Yu Lingxi did not doubt that his next sentence would surely be some bizarre form of intimidation, followed by his looking down on her with pleasure at her frightened reaction.

So she smiled, poured a cup of tea, pushed it toward him, and coaxed: “In such cold weather, having wet hair in the wind can easily cause illness. Let me dry it for you?”

Ning Yin glanced at her eagerness, releasing the hair he had been fingering.

Yu Lingxi took a soft cloth, knelt on the couch, and dried his damp hair, arranging it neatly.

Ning Yin’s hair felt exceptionally good, black to the very roots. Yu Lingxi couldn’t help but comb it a bit longer, only reluctantly letting go when it was completely dry.

Ning Yin watched her fiddle with his hair, then took a three-inch short blade and tossed it beside her hand.

The short blade looked very sharp, gleaming coldly in its thinness.

Yu Lingxi instinctively tensed and asked: “What for?”

Ning Yin lifted his eyelids and pointed to his chin.

Only then did Yu Lingxi notice that after being busy without returning for a day and night, a very light blue-gray stubble had appeared on his chin.

This man was becoming increasingly demanding—not only did she have to undress him and warm his bed, but she even had to groom him and shave his beard.

Didn’t the other servants in the prince’s mansion do anything?

Despite her internal complaints, Yu Lingxi still good-naturedly picked up the short blade and moved closer.

Too close, she didn’t know where to begin.

“How do I do this?” she sincerely asked.

In her previous life, she had never done such intimate chores for him.

Ning Yin clicked his tongue and pointed to a white jade box prepared on a nearby tray. “Apply the lubricating balm first, then start. It’s less likely to cause injury.”

This procedure sounded like…

It was all because this mansion was too similar to the one in her previous life. The surroundings triggered memories, always making her recall some inappropriate intimacies.

Yu Lingxi pressed her lips together, followed his instructions by warming the balm in her hands, and applied it to his slightly rough chin. Then she carefully scraped with the small knife, inch by inch.

She was very meticulous and serious. After only shaving half, she was already sweating.

Unexpectedly meeting Ning Yin’s deep gaze, Yu Lingxi was startled.

Being stared at by Ning Yin made her hands shake, so she put down the knife and said helplessly: “Your Highness keeps staring at me. I don’t dare continue.”

“If Lingxi wishes to escape back home, now would be the best opportunity.”

Ning Yin suddenly spoke.

Yu Lingxi didn’t understand: “What?”

“No one is around. If you unexpectedly cut my throat with the blade, your chances of success would be quite high.”

Ning Yin gripped her hand, guiding her to press the blade against his Adam’s apple, and said lazily, “Like this, blood would gush out like a flower, and I wouldn’t even be able to make a sound.”

Understanding his meaning, Yu Lingxi’s expression changed from confusion to shock.

After a moment, the corners of her eyes gradually reddened with anger.

“What are you saying?”

She tried to pull her hand away. “What are you saying, Ning Yin?”

But Ning Yin laughed—low, muffled, elegant yet mad.

“Just stating facts, teaching you how to escape,” he said.

This joke wasn’t funny at all.

Yu Lingxi frowned, but couldn’t pull the blade away and feared hurting Ning Yin. She made up her mind and raised her other hand to grasp the blade, attempting to cover its sharp edge.

Ning Yin instinctively loosened his grip.

So, there were times when he was afraid too.

Yu Lingxi snorted, taking advantage of the moment to cup Ning Yin’s face, firmly fixing his arrogant, willful face in place.

“Don’t be reckless, understand?”

Her almond eyes glared at him, warning without much intimidation, “Be careful, I might hurt you.”

The soft, warm palms against his cheeks were enough to melt away all darkness.

Ning Yin’s eyes were deep yet bright; his eyes were always bright when he went mad.

“Are you afraid?”

He looked at Yu Lingxi for a long time, saying with near tenderness, “If it’s Lingxi, I wouldn’t fight back.”

Yu Lingxi no longer even had the energy to be angry.

“If it’s Your Highness, I wouldn’t bear to harm you either.”

Yu Lingxi casually picked up a pastry from the table and stuffed it into his mouth, snorting, “Behave yourself, little madman.”

So Ning Yin bent his legs and leaned back on the couch, finally quieting down.

Though his mouth was quiet, his gaze wasn’t so well-behaved, still falling on Yu Lingxi, following her movements.

Yu Lingxi wiped his chin clean, turned to put the small knife back on the side table, and felt a weight on her legs.

Ning Yin must have been extremely tired. His leaning body gradually relaxed, changing to a reclining position, using her legs as a pillow.

Yu Lingxi was surprised, a strange warmth rising in her heart.

Perhaps it was because his current behavior was so docile and peaceful, like a wild beast exposing its belly, showing trust and closeness he had never shown before.

The bit of annoyance she had accumulated dissipated completely. She leaned forward, supporting herself on the edge of the couch, reached for his belt, and after much careful effort, finally managed to hang the fragrance sachet on his white jade belt.

“Don’t move.”

Ning Yin caught Yu Lingxi’s hand and placed it beside his face, saying with closed eyes, “Let me sleep for a while.”

Rushing about for a day and night, facing overt and covert dangers, the situation was as chaotic as flowing water.

He must have been truly tired. The shadows under his eyelashes accentuated his straight nose and deep-set eyes. His lips were so thin they resembled two folded swords.

Yu Lingxi’s gaze softened. With her knee as his pillow, she gently stroked his slicked-back black hair from time to time.

The snow fell gently, and time seemed to slow down.

…

Ning Yin only slept for half an hour before waking.

He suddenly opened his eyes when his subordinate’s footsteps were still ten yards away. His eyes were black as ink, without a trace of fatigue.

By the time the subordinate announced matters through the moon gate, he had already risen and neatly tied his hair, saying: “Proceed according to plan.”

Then he disappeared for most of the day again, truly a tireless monster.

Yu Lingxi’s legs were sore and numb as if being gnawed by ten thousand ants. It took a long time to recover.

Would Ning Yin wear that fragrance sachet to court?

Yu Lingxi wasn’t sure.

The answer came early the next morning.

As usual, Yu Lingxi was awakened by pressure.

Looking back, she saw Ning Yin lying on his side on the couch, holding her waist in his arms, his warm breath falling steadily on the nape of her neck.

He must have come back directly from the palace after being busy all night, as he hadn’t yet changed out of his royal robe.

Yu Lingxi knew that yesterday’s auspicious ceremony was his investiture as a prince. Now, Ning Yin was truly Prince Jing.

Just one step away from the peak of his previous life.

Yu Lingxi had just moved slightly when Ning Yin awoke.

He forcibly turned Yu Lingxi’s body around to face him, examining her drowsy, charming just-woken face.

The movement was too abrupt, causing Yu Lingxi’s garment ties to loosen, revealing a patch of snow-white, rising and falling skin. Her delicate collarbone moved slightly with her breathing.

“When did you return?”

She was completely unaware, asking drowsily, “Do you want to sleep a while?”

Ning Yin’s gaze moved downward, lingering for a long time before he said hoarsely: “What kind of sleep?”

Yu Lingxi followed his gaze downward and was immediately embarrassed. She hurriedly shrank under the covers to close her garment, but Ning Yin held her down with one hand.

He examined Yu Lingxi’s slightly trembling eyelashes. He was never one to take the initiative, but he excelled at making prey walk into his trap.

Even just a look from him carried overwhelming pressure.

Yu Lingxi stared with her eyes open, unable to help but shiver.

The bedchamber was dim, with silver charcoal emitting fragrance.

Just then, from outside the door came the voice of a guard: “Your Highness, the young general of the Yu family requests an audience.”

Elder brother?

Yu Lingxi instinctively sat up, but her wrist was easily pinned beside the pillow.

Ning Yin turned and covered her, his fingertips tracing from her earlobe down her neck, his gaze deep as he said: “Don’t see him.”

“Your Highness?” Yu Lingxi pleaded softly.

Ning Yin’s fingertips lingered, unmoved.

After a moment, the guard returned, his steps noticeably more hurried: “Your Highness, the young general has forced his way in.”

Ning Yin frowned.

The current situation was not suitable to continue. Yu Lingxi quickly said: “Let me see him once, all right?”

Ning Yin looked at her for a long time, then released his hand.

“Go then,” he said calmly.

He was so agreeable that Yu Lingxi hesitated.

Seeing her not moving, Ning Yin laughed softly: “You painstakingly made a fragrance sachet for me to carry, wasn’t it just for this moment?”

Yu Lingxi opened her mouth, frowning, “It wasn’t entirely for this.”

“I’ll give you two quarter-hours.”

Ning Yin tucked her hair behind her ear, “Before I change my mind.”

“That fragrance sachet is…”

“One quarter-hour.”

Why was the time getting shorter as they talked?

Yu Lingxi had no choice but to reluctantly stop speaking. She dressed and left the couch at the fastest speed of her life, even forgetting to fasten her cloak, and ran toward the front courtyard.

As soon as she left, the smile in Ning Yin’s eyes faded.

“Call Li Jiu over.”

He stepped barefoot onto the cold floor tiles, summoning the guard, “Bring his bow.”