Just after the curfew bell rang at the Hour of the Boar, a gentle drizzle began to fall from the sky. Within a quarter of an hour, the rain grew heavier, gradually drowning out the liveliness in the front yard.
On the bed in the main hall of Yuncheng Residence, Lin Wanyu knelt tremulously in a corner, wearing a thin gown.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open. A gentle breeze blew into the bedroom, stirring the cyan silk curtain on the bed.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, Lin Wanyu, lying on the bed, trembled even more violently. The suppressed heat in her heart also grew stronger.
In the dim light, a pair of slender, fair hands lifted the silk curtain in front of her.
Lin Wanyu raised her eyes and met the man's deep, bottomless eyes. Frightened, she quickly bowed her head. "I pay my respects to Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Her soft voice carried a faint tremor that was hardly noticeable.
"Why are you here?"
Lu Huaijin lowered his eyes and glanced at the woman in front of him. His cold and sharp eyes showed no emotion, making it impossible for others to guess his thoughts.
"I..."
Lin Wanyu knelt there, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
But even if she didn't say anything, Lu Huaijin could probably guess. "Did the Wang family send you?"
As he said this, a hint of teasing smile appeared in his jet - black eyes.
At the birthday banquet of the Princess of Xiang today, in order to please the princess, the Wang family specially invited a famous musician from the Drunken Flower Tower in Yangzhou, a renowned musician in the south of the Yangtze River.
Among them, only the woman in front of him played the pipa so exquisitely that the lingering sound echoed in the air. She received rewards from both him and his mother.
Unexpectedly, as soon as night fell, this pipa virtuoso was sent to his bed.
His deep voice carried an imposing aura that made Lin Wanyu shiver involuntarily.
"Your Highness, please forgive my trespass."
The sweet voice slowly reached Lu Huaijin's ears. Unconsciously, his hand holding the silk curtain tightened.
His eyes subconsciously fell on her faintly visible skin. His Adam's apple rolled, and a suppressed heat wave seemed to surge up from his heart, making him feel parched.
"Go and pour me a cup of tea!"
Hearing this, Lin Wanyu let out a sigh of relief. She quickly responded and got up to pour the tea.
After a while, she walked to Lu Huaijin's side with a jade tea cup in her hand and presented the tea respectfully. "Please have some tea, Your Highness."
The woman had a graceful figure and a soft voice. Her skin hidden under the thin veil glowed with a fair and moist luster. She was indeed a rare beauty.
Lu Huaijin's eyes darkened. Unconsciously, he grabbed her slender wrist. The suppressed anger in his heart suddenly erupted and spread through his body.
By now, he understood everything.
His eyes slowly moved up along her slender neck, and the obscurity in his eyes became deeper.
The woman's long hair cascaded over her shoulders. A peony flower at her temple made her delicate face look even more charming.
"Your Highness."
The man's hands were hot. One hand grasped her wrist tightly, and the other landed on her waist.
When Lu Huaijin pulled her into his arms, Lin Wanyu subconsciously held his hand and looked up at him.
Her bright, watery eyes seemed to be able to capture one's soul.
Before she could say anything, Lin Wanyu felt dizzy. She was pressed onto the couch.
Her black hair scattered, the corners of her eyes turned red, and the peony flower at her temple was thrown aside by the man.
Although Lin Wanyu was once the top performer in the Drunken Flower Tower in Yangzhou, she only sold her art, not her body. Being inexperienced in such matters, she couldn't help but feel flustered.
When her fingertips dug into the man's back, the man's cold eyes were deep, and his black pupils were swirling. "The Wang family sent you here, but didn't they teach you how to serve?"
The cold tone and the man's hot breath made Lin Wanyu's eyes filled with tears. Her hands on his back slowly dropped.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Lin Wanyu bit her lower lip tightly. She knelt and took off her gossamer - thin silk dress. Her charming face and cold - white skin continuously spurred the effect of the medicine in Lu Huaijin's body.
The ambiguous atmosphere gradually rose, and the room was filled with amorous feelings.
The red candle on the table beside them had burned halfway. The woman's soft moans gradually drowned out the curfew bell from outside.
Lin Wanyu now felt a heat wave surging through her body. Her breathing became heavier, and she gradually lost control.
Her voice was full of tenderness and pity.
Lu Huaijin grabbed her slender waist and leaned over to kiss her earlobe. His deep eyes were now filled with desire.
He considered himself not a person who was indulgent in such things, but the so - called tonic he drank tonight had such a strong effect.
The warm breath sprayed on Lin Wanyu's neck, making her feel a little itchy.
She tilted the corners of her eyes and wrapped her arms around his waist. It seemed that only by feeling the warmth of his body could she feel better.
At the height of passion, Lin Wanyu trembled all over in pain, and her eyes turned red.
It was not until the Hour of the Ox that Lu Huaijin finally let her go.
Lin Wanyu lay limp in the bed, sweating all over as if she had just been fished out of the water. Even a slight movement made her cry out in pain.
This was not the same as what the sisters in the Drunken Flower Tower had said before.
But no matter how painful it was, she had to endure it.
Nanny Li of the Wang family had told her that after serving the Crown Prince, she should leave as soon as possible and was not allowed to stay in the Crown Prince's room overnight. This was the rule.
Thinking of this, Lin Wanyu struggled to get up. She lifted the silk curtain and looked up at the man who was drinking water. Seeing that he wasn't looking in her direction, she bent down to pick up her undergarments and thin veil on the ground.
Although there were few clothes, it was better than nothing.
"You can stay here tonight."
The man held the tea cup and took a sip of tea. His eyes fell on the brown soup bowl on the table. He didn't look at her, but his words were directed at her.
Lin Wanyu's body trembled slightly. She paused for a moment and replied in a low voice. "Thank you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Although Nanny Li had taught her so, this was the Xiang Palace. A wise person knows when to yield. She should listen to the Crown Prince in front of her first.
However...
Lin Wanyu knelt on the bed and lowered her eyes to look at the glaring red stain in front of her. She felt at a loss.
The familiar fragrance lingered in her nose. Before Lin Wanyu could react, she was picked up and carried towards the side door.
Lu Huaijin's bedroom was connected to the hot - spring hall. In front of her was a jade screen depicting a green mountain and a blue sea. After walking around the screen, there was a large pool.
The pool was now filled with water, and there were even some floating flower petals. The sweet fragrance filled the air, making one's impetuous heart calm down a lot.
Nanny Li had never taught her how to serve Lu Huaijin during his bath. So after she got into the water, she stood quietly on one side, looking at the man in front of her, waiting for his instructions.
Lu Huaijin looked up and saw that in the white mist, she was standing there quietly, staring at him with her wet eyes. Her shameless look was actually a bit cute.
"Do you find me good - looking?"
Lu Huaijin rarely felt in the mood to tease her.