Lin Wanyu was slightly stunned. Her fair little face instantly flushed. With a look of difficulty on her face, she tried to hide but accidentally missed a step and fell headfirst into the pool.
The pool was quite deep. That's why Lu Huaijin had previously placed her on the shallow - water steps. This time, when she lost her footing and fell in, the water immediately submerged her head. The overwhelming sense of suffocation instantly enveloped her.
Just when she thought she was going to die there, a pair of big hands hooked around her waist and fished her out.
Lu Huaijin's skin was burning hot. Their bodies were intertwined, and their breaths mingled. The passion that had previously subsided seemed to grow wildly like unburned weeds.
Through the mist, Lin Wanyu stared into his eyes, which were like a whirlpool, gradually drawing her in.
Holding the charming and tender beauty in his arms, Lu Huaijin suddenly had the thought of having her stay with him forever.
"Your Highness..."
The soft and delicate words instantly brought Lu Huaijin back to his senses. His previously calm face darkened a bit more.
He picked Lin Wanyu up and carried her horizontally, then stepped out of the pool.
When they returned from bathing, the bedding on the couch had already been replaced with new ones.
Lin Wanyu nestled inside, nervously clutching the quilt. She didn't even dare to breathe loudly, for fear of displeasing the person beside her.
It was well - known that Lu Huaijin, the heir of the Prince of Xiang, was a cold - blooded killer. Anyone who offended him would end up badly.
According to the maids of the Wang family, when he had a competition with the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery before, he almost broke the marquis's leg. The marquis was so scared that he still avoided Lu Huaijin whenever they met, for fear of causing any more trouble.
It was always right for her to be cautious.
Miss Wang of the Wang family had promised her that as long as she completed today's task, she would return her contract of servitude and give her freedom.
Lin Wanyu took a deep breath. As long as she could hold on until dawn, return to the Wang family and report, she could get away and go back to Yangzhou.
Although the wealthy families were good, there were also many dirty things. She didn't want to waste her time here.
Now that she had been redeemed, after returning to Yangzhou, she could find a music hall or a teahouse, play the musical instruments and dance steadily, earn some silver, and support her younger brother in his imperial examinations.
Thinking like this, Lin Wanyu fell asleep unconsciously.
Hearing the gentle breathing of the person beside him, Lu Huaijin's previously irritable heart inexplicably calmed down a lot.
Those charming and gorgeous eyes were truly extremely beautiful, like the spring rain on the distant mountains, where all the lush greenery and vitality of the mountains were reflected in them.
Just after the watchman struck the watch at dawn, Lin Wanyu woke up.
As soon as she moved a little, her whole body ached terribly, as if she had been rolled back and forth by a stone roller.
The person beside her was still sleeping. She carefully sat up and glanced down at him, unexpectedly getting lost in thought.
The man had a handsome face and gentle eyebrows, exactly like the elegant young master described in the storybooks. He was more good - looking than any man she had ever seen.
He was elegant and noble, nothing like the god of death in the rumors.
However, although Lu Huaijin was excellent, he was still out of reach for someone of her status.
Lin Wanyu took a deep breath and gently tried to get out of bed. When she passed by Lu Huaijin, the man suddenly woke up. His porcelain - white hands instantly grabbed her neck. His jet - black eyes were now full of vigilance.
"Your Highness, it's me."
Lin Wanyu was terribly frightened and quickly explained.
The hand that Lu Huaijin had on her neck loosened slightly. When he saw who was in front of him, he finally let go.
Seeing this, Lin Wanyu quickly knelt down on one side to plead guilty. "I've disturbed Your Highness's rest. Please punish me."
Lu Huaijin sat up and leaned against the couch. His eyes were much clearer.
He looked down at her and slightly hooked the corner of his lips. There was a hint of mockery in his eyes.
It was really generous of the Wang family to send such a beautiful girl over.
"You'll serve me from now on for a few days."
Lin Wanyu didn't expect Lu Huaijin to keep her in the mansion against the rules. Her body trembled, and she almost lost her composure.
Seeing that she didn't say a word, Lu Huaijin sneered with a curl of his lips. "What, you're not willing?"
The cold words, with a hint of veiled threat, lightly landed in Lin Wanyu's ears. Scared, she quickly knelt down and bowed. "I'll follow Your Highness's orders."
Hearing her words, the faint smile in Lu Huaijin's eyes widened a bit.
Although it was not uncommon for a family to send a concubine - in - waiting in a noble family, the Wang family was really stupid to try to test him like this before their daughter was even married. They thought they could get away with it.
Since that was the case, he naturally couldn't refuse the Wang family's "kindness".
"Get dressed and come with me to the front courtyard to pay respects to the Princess."
Lin Wanyu was a bit incredulous when she suddenly heard this. "I..."
She had only been in the capital for a few days and hadn't learned many etiquette rules. How could she go to meet the Princess?
Lu Huaijin sat up and gave her a look. Lin Wanyu quickly went to the side to get his outer robe and served him to change clothes.
After getting dressed neatly, Lu Huaijin took Lin Wanyu out of the bedroom and ordered the guard Si Chen to get a set of women's clothes for her to change into.
"Just follow me later."
There had to be an explanation for what happened last night, and he didn't want it to happen a second time.
Since she couldn't decline, Lin Wanyu obediently agreed and carried the clothes back to the bedroom to change.
In a short while, Lin Wanyu walked out lifting her skirt.
It was the first time she had worn such fine clothes, and she was a bit unaccustomed. She felt like a pheasant wearing a phoenix's feathers or a person in a dragon robe but not looking like a crown prince.
Lu Huaijin was sitting at the table. Hearing the sound, he glanced sideways.
The woman in front of him was wearing a white pleated skirt embroidered with plum blossoms, covered with a scarlet brocade cloak embroidered with magnolias and flying flowers. A golden belt around her waist made her figure even more graceful, showing a sense of elegance and nobility.
He composed himself, stood up, gave an order, and strode out.
"Carry the soup bowl on the table."
Lin Wanyu responded and carefully carried the brown soup bowl on the table and followed him out.
The Prince of Xiang's Mansion was very large, with carved beams and painted rafters everywhere, and flying eaves and green tiles. But Lin Wanyu didn't dare to look around too much. She always behaved herself and followed Lu Huaijin closely.
When they reached the front courtyard, Lu Huaijin stopped, looked back at Lin Wanyu, took the thing from her hand, and then turned around and walked into the courtyard.
Over the years, his mother had stuffed countless concubines and maids - in - waiting into his courtyard, for fear that there would be no one to take care of him and that he would neglect himself.
She had tried all kinds of tricks, but he didn't expect her to use this one last night.
She had even put the drug in the tonic he drank.
Just thinking about last night, Lu Huaijin's throat felt a bit itchy, and a wave of heat slowly rose in his heart.
He always believed that one should marry someone he liked. Marrying someone he didn't like would only make him feel annoyed. What was the use of it?
Just like his father, who didn't like his mother in his heart but still married her for the so - called family heir and power. After marriage, he let his mother fight with the concubines in the courtyard.
Later, tired of it, he threw a pile of mess and went to the mountains to avoid the trouble.
Over the years, only his mother knew her own sufferings, and the root cause of all this was, of course, his father.
He didn't want to be like his father.
This marriage with the Wang family should not continue, but...