“So… you mean I can bathe in this hot spring too?”
Lin Lin’s eyes lit up with delight. But when he nodded, a hint of awkwardness crept over her face.
“But…”
They were alone—a young man and woman. Even if she desperately wanted to wash up, how could she do so in his presence?
She was still an innocent young maiden, after all.
She hesitated to speak her mind, feeling as if dark lines and cawing crows were floating above her head.
Her eyes had already betrayed her thoughts, and Xiao Fusu grinned broadly, flashing her a bright, carefree smile.
“Don’t worry—I’ll just sit over there with my back turned so I won’t see you.”
His expression was completely open and honest, giving no hint that he could be some kind of peeping tom or lecher.
Still… why did this still feel so strange?
His smile was so bright it was almost unnerving, making him seem like a consummate actor—hard to trust completely.
“I… I’m scared.”
She still felt uneasy, and for safety’s sake, shook her head and backed out. “Maybe it’s better if I don’t.”
Having him nearby made her feel even less secure.
Yes… he was probably the most dangerous person around her! How could she possibly feel comfortable bathing with him nearby? It was simply too embarrassing and frightening!
Xiao Fusu’s smile froze on his face. He wasn’t exactly angry or scowling, but his expression became thoughtful and calculating.
He said nothing, but studied her as he circled around her. Suddenly, he scooped up a ladle of water from the pool and splashed it directly onto her without hesitation.
“Ah!”
She cried out as her clothes became thoroughly soaked.
“What are you doing?!”
She shouted at him, feeling both angry and wronged. Ever since she’d come to this wretched place, it seemed she’d been nothing but bullied.
“Alright—now wash up.”
Having achieved his goal, his amorous peach-shaped eyes looked at her with a half-smile as he spoke softly, then tossed the ladle back where it belonged.
If he wanted her to bathe, she would do so whether she liked it or not.
Lin Lin felt tears of frustration welling up.
How could he be so mean?! Always picking on her like this!
“Aren’t you cold? Your clothes are completely wet—if you don’t get in the hot spring to warm up soon, you’ll probably get sick.”
He spoke calmly, then turned and sat down on a round-backed chair not far away, positioned so his back was to her.
“I promise I won’t peek. Hurry up and wash—do you want to sleep on the floor from now on? I can’t stand having dirty people around me.”
As he spoke, he picked up a wine jug from the table, poured himself a cup, and began drinking as if no one else was there.
With things having come this far, refusing would make her seem ungrateful. Besides, even if she insisted on saying no, she couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t think up some other way to make her comply.
Her puffed-up cheeks finally deflated as she let out a defeated sigh.
“Sigh.”
She let out a soft breath. “Fine—but you have to keep your word! Don’t you dare peek at me! I… I’m getting in now, and I’ll be quick.”
Soon he heard the sound of her carefully stepping into the water.
As if he hadn’t heard a thing, he continued sipping his wine slowly.
Lin Lin had climbed into the pool still wearing her wet nightdress. After running and falling all day, her body was covered in dirt and sticky sweat, and the water he’d splashed on her had made the fabric cling uncomfortably to her skin. Only once she was submerged in the warm spring did she begin to feel better.
But bathing with her clothes on was inconvenient, so she stole a glance toward Xiao Fusu. Seeing him still sitting with his back to her, quietly drinking his wine, she let out a sigh of relief and grew a bit bolder.
Moving gently so as not to disturb him, she slipped off her nightdress and placed it on the edge of the pool.
Free and carefree like a fish in water, she felt her fatigue wash away along with the dirt on her body. After washing her hair as well, she leaned against the side of the pool, the warm water making her drowsy and relaxed.
She’d completely forgotten he was there, and didn’t notice when he came to stand behind her.
It was only when he looked at her strange-looking dress that he spoke up.
“Just who are you? Why are your clothes and mannerisms so unusual?”
It was as if she wasn’t from this world at all.
He furrowed his brows, his eyes clouded with a heavy sense of concern.
She was a complete mystery. If she really was an assassin, how would he deal with her?
Kill her? For some reason, the thought made him reluctant.
His suddenly cold voice sounded to Lin Lin like something out of a ghost story—terrifying and ominous.
“Ah!”
She screamed, quickly covering her chest with her hands as she turned to look at him with tense wariness. She backed away into the misty water, sinking lower to hide her body.
“You’re the Crown Prince—how can you go back on your word like this?!”
Her small face flushed bright red as she looked up at him, puffing with anger.
“I didn’t peek,” he retorted lightly. “I was looking openly and honestly—how is that going back on my word?”
“You scoundrel! You’re terrible!”
She couldn’t match his quick wit or argue with his twisted logic, so she could only curse him to vent her frustration.
“Turn around right now!”
She urged him in another startled cry, feeling mortified beyond belief!
“Fine.”
He responded lazily, then surprisingly did as she asked and turned his back to her.
“Hey—do you really want to wear that strange dress of yours again?”
He thought it over—if she continued wandering around the Eastern Palace (or worse, ran outside) in such eye-catching clothes, it would only lead to more questions he’d have to answer.
Better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
He reached over to a clothes rack, grabbed a set of his own garments at random, and tossed them to her.
“Your dress is already wet and dirty—you can’t wear it anymore. Make do with this for now. Tomorrow I’ll have someone bring you proper women’s clothes.”
He’d actually made quite a thoughtful arrangement. After speaking, he found himself picturing her blushing, bashful form in his mind—a rather intimate image.
The tips of his ears reddened unconsciously, and his throat moved as his voice grew slightly hoarse. “Since you’re done washing, get dressed quickly. I’ll wait for you back in the hall.”
With that, he turned and strode away.
Only when his figure had completely disappeared from sight did Lin Lin let out another breath of relief. She looked down and touched her racing heart, her cheeks flushing once more.
Steadying her nerves and pushing aside her chaotic thoughts, she climbed out of the water, dried herself off, and picked up the clothes he’d given her.
After a bit of study, she put them on by imitation—just like the characters in historical dramas she’d watched before.
The clothes were loose and spacious, similar to the plain white undergarments he’d worn after bathing. They carried the same faint, clean scent as he did—surely his own clothes, washed with the same fragrance.
She was wearing his nightclothes?
The thought made her shiver as if electrified. Flushing bright red, she pushed the idea out of her mind and ran out of the hot spring palace with her heart fluttering wildly like a deer’s.