Lianxiang turned her head. Her face was red and pale at the same time. Her watery eyes were covered with a misty layer of moisture, and sweat covered her face.
Instead of looking awkward, she looked like a flower bud beside water, freshly blooming and touched by spring rain—pure and beautiful.
Clearly, she did not understand what the prince meant.
When Yun Suiwu first entered, all of his attention had been on her actions. Now that he could clearly see her face, especially her bright and pure eyes, his expression changed slightly.
The anger and disgust he had been suppressing suddenly melted away like ice and snow.
He lightly clenched his palm, as if trying to steady his thoughts.
“There is clean spring water in the teapot,” he said in a low, slightly hoarse voice.
Then he closed the door behind him.
Lianxiang knew about this spring water. Every morning, people specially transported it from the Ancient Spirit Spring to Prince Zhenguo’s residence. The water was pure and sweet and was reserved only for the prince and the little prince.
It was very precious.
Yet the prince was telling her to use it to clean herself.
Still, no matter how valuable the water was, it could not compare to the little prince’s importance.
Without thinking further, she quickly adjusted her clothes and carried the little prince to the table.
She poured half a pot of water into a basin and wet one of the little prince’s cloths with it.
After cleaning the skin that the baby would touch, she fed him again.
As soon as the little prince tasted the sweet milk, he immediately stopped crying.
He drank eagerly, gulp after gulp.
Anyone nearby could clearly hear him swallowing.
For a while, the room became very quiet.
Aside from the cicadas outside, the only sound was the little prince nursing.
Yun Suiwu sat down at the table.
He picked up the remaining half-pot of spring water, poured himself a cup, and slowly drank it.
Lianxiang sat curled up in a corner of the bed with her back facing him.
She was filled with embarrassment and fear, and her breathing was uneven.
Being in the same room as the prince while feeding the little prince made her extremely shy and nervous.
The tips of her ears were bright red.
When she remembered that the prince had walked in while she was holding a teacup and expressing milk for the baby, she felt so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.
Her face burned with shame.
Most importantly, she had accidentally entered the prince’s private room.
She remembered something Nurse Zhao had told her when she first arrived at the prince’s residence.
Nurse Zhao had once worked as a wet nurse for a government official and had told her the following:
“When serving as a wet nurse for noble families, having good milk isn’t enough. The most important thing is to put aside the modesty you had as a young woman.”
Being a wet nurse was different from being a maid.
Many masters would watch while a wet nurse fed a child because they cared deeply about the young master and wanted to see whether the child was eating well.
Thinking about this made her face turn even redder.
She wondered whether the prince would come over to watch the little prince feed.
What should she do then?
If the prince wanted to see whether the little prince was eating properly, she certainly could not stop him.
She had only given birth to one child and technically was not qualified to become a wet nurse in the prince’s household.
She had only gotten the position because her cousin recommended her.
Now her husband was dead, and she was a widow.
She still had a child a little over two years old at home.
As a widowed mother raising a child alone, she desperately needed this job to support her family.
Her cousin had also told her that if she did well and was allowed to remain in the prince’s residence, her own child might one day receive a good position there as well.
Such an opportunity was too valuable to lose.
No matter how embarrassed she felt, she had to endure it.
Besides, the prince was there to look at the little prince, not at her.
What was she afraid of?
She was already a widow, not an unmarried young woman.
She would likely never marry again.
So she pulled her clothing down slightly to cover herself as much as possible and took a deep breath.
She prepared herself for the possibility that the prince might come over to watch the little prince feed.
But deep down, she was still frightened and embarrassed.
She hoped the prince would not come closer.
Yun Suiwu looked toward her with dark, unreadable eyes.
She sat curled up in the corner like a delicate flower branch that seemed ready to snap under pressure.
The weather seemed to be growing hotter.
After drinking several cups of spring water, he loosened his collar slightly.
On the wall of the room, the large character for “Zen” was written in black ink.
Combined with the sound of the temple bell coming from the main hall, it created an atmosphere of peace and quiet.
Yun Suiwu slowly rubbed the rim of his cup.
Yet his heart remained far from calm.
“Slow down, little prince. Don’t rush,” Lianxiang softly coaxed the baby, who was eating too quickly.
Her face was full of nervousness and fear.
Perhaps it was because the prince’s presence was too powerful.
Or perhaps it was because of his reputation for being cold, ruthless, and deadly.
Whatever the reason, being alone in a room with Prince Zhenguo terrified her.
Cold sweat covered her body.
Her back felt chilled.
Even breathing felt difficult.
She only hoped that Taorui and Green Willow would return soon and take her away.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Lianxiang thought the maids had returned and immediately looked up.
Unexpectedly, her eyes met the prince’s dark gaze.
His eyes were like daggers in the night, making her heart tremble.
Her face instantly turned pale.
She quickly lowered her head.
Her heart pounded wildly.
She looked extremely frightened.
“Come in,” Yun Suiwu said calmly.
The manager, Aunt Pei, entered carrying a bucket of hot water along with the little prince’s clean clothes and diapers.
“Your Highness, Taorui and Green Willow mistakenly brought Nurse Shen into your meditation room. I have already punished them by making them stand in the sun for half an hour.
“The sun outside is very harsh, and the little prince is only three months old. He should not be moved back and forth like this.
“Why not allow Nurse Shen and the little prince to rest in your room while Your Highness moves to the room next door?”
Aunt Pei spoke respectfully but confidently.
Her mother had once been a personal maid accompanying the Empress, and Aunt Pei had served the prince since he was eighteen years old. She held an important position in the household.
“Mm.”
Yun Suiwu gave a brief reply and then stood up to leave.
Aunt Pei glanced at Lianxiang, who was still shrinking nervously in the corner of the bed.
“Take good care of the little prince,” she instructed.
“Yes… Aunt Pei,” Lianxiang replied softly while holding the baby.
Soon the door closed.
Lianxiang leaned against the wall and let out a long breath.
The tension that had gripped her mind finally eased.
It felt as if she had nearly drowned, only to suddenly be given a second chance at life.
Yet she could not shake one thought from her mind.
The way the prince looked at her felt strangely different.