The noise outside gradually subsided, and moments later, Baohe’s hurried footsteps approached. She inquired, “Madam, the bathwater is ready. Do you want to bathe now?”
You Yuji was sitting sideways on the beauty couch, her face tilted and eyes downcast. She replied with a soft, indifferent hum.
Si Que stood at the end of the beauty couch, his slender fingers playing idly with the incense burner on the high stand.
“You came back before finishing dinner. How about eating something first before bathing?” Baohe suggested.
You Yuji shook her head, not feeling like eating.
Although You Yuji usually did not require a maid to attend her bath, Baohe considered that her hand was injured, making it inconvenient to bathe alone. She walked over to support You Yuji.
You Yuji placed her hand on Baohe’s arm and got off the beauty couch, heading outside.
“Older sister,” Si Que called leisurely.
You Yuji paused her steps but did not turn around. She said to Baohe, “You can go now. I can manage on my own.”
Baohe blinked, glanced at Si Que, and noticed he had no intention of leaving. It seemed he was planning to stay and wait for Madam to finish her bath before talking. After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, “Then I’ll go get some snacks for the princess.”
You Yuji did not stop her.
She continued to stand there, neither turning around nor proceeding to the cleansing room.
Baisui, who had run off to play, came in from outside, jumped onto the beauty couch, tilted its head to look at its wrinkled little blanket, and meowed twice at You Yuji’s back.
Only then did You Yuji turn to look, her brows furrowed as she spoke softly to it, “I made that for you…”
Baisui tilted its head at You Yuji for a moment, then turned around, its tail catching its attention, and it started chasing its own tail in circles.
Watching Baisui play with itself, You Yuji’s awkward mood gradually eased.
Soon, Baohe returned with a four-compartment fruit tray, each compartment holding different items: pastries, preserved fruits, winter oranges, and a few pieces of candy.
As Baohe set the fruit tray on the table, You Yuji stepped outside and entered the cleansing room.
Her room was warm, but it could not compete with the steam-filled cleansing room. Stepping into the cleansing room, she habitually turned to latch the door. Her slender fingers had just touched the latch when her movements froze, then slowly lowered her hand. She turned to retrieve clothes from the small cabinet in the corner.
The cleansing room was damp, and the small cabinet only held a few undergarments and nightwear.
She heard Baohe’s departing footsteps outside. Baohe was young and lively, her steps always quick. Moments later, the door of the cleansing room was pushed open.
You Yuji’s actions of retrieving clothes paused before she took out the change of clothes.
“Sister.”
“Mm,” You Yuji responded softly, trying to keep her tone casual, “Don’t do that again in the future.”
Si Que reached into the bath barrel to test the temperature, creating gentle ripples on the water’s surface. He spoke with a low, dejected tone, “Sister is angry…”
You Yuji sighed softly and stood up, saying, “Not really.”
Si Que walked towards You Yuji, opened his arms, and embraced her from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulder and said lowly, “Sister, don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that…”
He turned his face, resting his cheek on her shoulder, gazing at her profile, and said slowly, “I couldn’t help myself.”
His breath brushed against her cheek, and You Yuji couldn’t help but turn her face to the other side.
“Let go,” You Yuji whispered softly.
Si Que tightened his arms around her slim waist and said, “I can’t bear to let go.”
You Yuji felt helpless. She hadn’t realized before that Si Que was so clingy in private.
After all, she needed something from him, and she pitied his frail health. When it came to matters between men and women, You Yuji always tried to please him to avoid making him unhappy.
She stood there, letting him hold her for a while before gently pushing his hands away from her waist. She said softly, “The water will cool soon.”
“Your leg was just treated with medicine. If you sit in the water, the medicine will be wasted,” Si Que said.
“It’s fine, it’s just a little scratch,” You Yuji replied quickly and quietly. She didn’t like discussing the injury on her leg because it reminded her of what had just happened. That damp, novel feeling was something she didn’t want to recall.
But Si Que continued, “Then after bathing, I’ll have to reapply the medicine for you.”
“Perhaps I should wash you instead?” Si Que slowly wound the ribbon of You Yuji’s dress around his finger.
You Yuji’s soft lips parted, but before she could refuse, she felt a coolness on her leg as her delicate lavender silk dress fell to the ground.
Si Que let go of You Yuji and held her shoulders, guiding her to sit on the wooden bench. While Si Que turned to retrieve the clean clothes that You Yuji had just taken out from the table, You Yuji quickly glanced down at her damp undergarments.
Si Que casually picked up one of You Yuji’s nightgowns and draped it over her legs. He leaned forward, his arm circling her waist, and tied the sleeves of the nightgown at her back. As he pulled the hem of her dress from under the tied sleeves, he said, “Try to avoid getting the treated areas wet.”
You Yuji murmured a soft “hmm” and tugged at the nightgown wrapped around her.
Si Que then removed the short jacket she was wearing and moved behind her to undo the hidden clasp of her bandeau. He slowly unwound the layers of the bandeau — the same one he had personally wrapped around her that morning.
With the strap of her inner garment untied, Si Que removed her close-fitting undergarment. You Yuji crossed her arms, lightly covering her front. Her heartbeat quickened, and the flush on her cheeks wasn’t due to the warmth of the room.
Still standing behind her, Si Que turned and scooped hot water from the bucket with a wooden ladle, slowly pouring it over her shoulder. He gazed at her straight back, watching the water trickle down, gradually soaking the nightgown around her waist. He turned, scooped another ladle of water, and poured it over her other shoulder.
“Sister, be careful not to wet the wound on your palm.”
You Yuji gently curled her slender fingers, hiding her treated palm, but still didn’t lower her hands.
Hot water continued to flow down her shoulders, drenching her front and back. The nightgown around her waist gradually became soaked as well. Yet, she couldn’t care less whether the medicine on her leg was washed away by the hot water.
Suddenly, the sound of a chair being dragged across the wet floor echoed behind her, heavy and muffled.
Si Que dragged the chair behind You Yuji, sitting closely behind her. The corner of You Yuji’s eye caught sight of his legs straddling on either side of her waist.
When Si Que held a damp hot towel to wipe her back, You Yuji’s entire body stiffened. She thought she should think of something to distract herself, but her mind was blank.
She had thought she was prepared for all of this, but now she realized she was completely flustered.
Si Que re-wetted the towel and moved it from You Yuji’s waist to her front, wiping her. He held You Yuji’s wrist, not pulling her hand immediately, but waiting for a moment until her hand was no longer so stiff, then gently pulling it aside and slowly wiping her. The room was quiet, and neither of them spoke to break the silence, with only the occasional sound of water droplets falling from the ceiling.
After a long time, the sound of water droplets falling from the ceiling reached You Yuji’s ears. She looked up, gazing at the ceiling. Her previously empty eyes now had a place to rest. The confusion gradually faded from her eyes, and she leaned back slightly.
Si Que was startled, his wiping motion stopping until You Yuji’s body gently leaned against his.
Originally, she needed a child to save her mother. But at this moment, You Yuji suddenly thought that she could see having a child as more than just a duty to save her mother. Perhaps she could also enjoy the pleasure of intimacy in the process.
Si Que looked at You Yuji’s expression and saw her slowly close her eyes.
Si Que closed his eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them again. Desire is often uncontrollable. But You Yuji’s leg was injured; he couldn’t take advantage of her at this moment. Moreover, according to her, it wasn’t the right time for conception, and she probably wasn’t willing either.
Si Que looked down at You Yuji in his arms, her eyes still closed, her cheeks flushed like intoxicating wine. Si Que couldn’t help but lean closer, wanting to kiss her delicate cheeks. He moved closer but stopped just before touching her.
He lifted his eyes slightly to glance at You Yuji.
——No, he needed this vixen to kiss him first.
Baohe entered the room with freshly brewed hot tea to serve Si Que, but upon entering, she found he was not there. She suspiciously looked towards the washroom and muttered softly, “The lady and the princess have such a good relationship!”
After returning from Zhenxiu Building, the concubines each went to their respective quarters. Lin Yingying and Cuiyu, who lived in the same courtyard, were happily complimenting each other on the things they had bought today. They had bought some rouge and spices and were joyfully trying them out.
Chunxing came hurriedly, without even bringing a maid.
Lin Yingying and Cuiyu were slightly surprised. Chunxing was usually very quiet and low-key. This was the first time she had come to their place on her own initiative.
“Chunxing, come sit. Cuiyu and I are just trying out the rouge we bought today. The color of this rouge I bought is a bit light, not very suitable for me. Why don’t you try it? If it suits you, you can have it!” Lin Yingying said sweetly.
“No need,” Chunxing shook her head repeatedly.
Cuiyu and Lin Yingying exchanged a glance, both noticing the anxious look on Chunxing’s face, as if she was in trouble.
Cuiyu laughed and said, “What, did someone bully you? Could it be that the maid in your room is disobedient, and you want me to help you scold her?”
“I have something to tell you!” Chunxing looked at Cuiyu, her eyebrows furrowed in worry.
Lin Yingying immediately stood up and said, “Since you want to talk privately, I’ll leave you two alone.”
Cuiyu frowned, her expression displeased. “What is it that Yingying can’t hear?”
Chunxing shook her head vigorously. She had struggled for a long time before coming and finally said, “You… you need to be careful. The young master wants to trade you for the horse he saw on the street today…”
Cuiyu was stunned, and Lin Yingying was also taken aback.
Lin Yingying quickly asked, “Isn’t that horse the young master’s?”
Cuiyu was clearly more concerned about another question. “Trade with whom?”
“Sun Guangliang.”
Cuiyu and Lin Yingying’s faces changed instantly. When they worked in the brothel, they had encountered many dissolute young men and had heard of this Sun Guangliang. He not only loved beauties but also had sadistic tendencies.
In fact, one of their acquaintances had been taken by Sun Guangliang and didn’t survive more than half a month after being taken away.
“Who did you hear this from?” Lin Yingying asked urgently.
Chunxing bit her lip and shook her head repeatedly.
Cuiyu also stood up, her tone unfriendly. “What kind of news can someone as honest as you find out that we don’t know? Are you making this up?”
Chunxing kept shaking her head, refusing to reveal how she knew. She only said, “Anyway… I’ve told you. The young master hasn’t agreed yet, but he probably will. Don’t ask me how I know!”
Chunxing turned and ran.
She was always timid and afraid of trouble. She had hesitated for a long time but couldn’t bear it and ran to deliver the news. She pessimistically felt there was no room for negotiation but telling Cuiyu in advance at least gave her a psychological preparation.
Watching Chunxing run away, Cuiyu sat back down. She stared blankly at the table full of newly bought items, unable to smile anymore.
