"I'm here to serve Your Highness for bathing," Lin Wanyu said softly with a calm look in her eyes, which made Lu Huaijin look up at her.
"Come down!"
The deep and solemn voice rang in her ear, making Lin Wanyu's heart tremble.
She responded in a low voice and slowly walked down the steps.
The steam was billowing all around, and Lu Huaijin gradually couldn't clearly see the face of the person in front of him.
He leaned forward slightly, hooked her waist, and tore off the thin gauze wrapped around her. His fingertips moved up along her back and picked open the several ribbons that held up her undergarment.
Lin Wanyu bit her lower lip tightly. Suddenly, she felt a sense of shame. When the rough big hand rubbed against her waist, a shiver ran down her spine involuntarily.
"Your Highness..."
Lu Huaijin's eyes were cold. He hooked her waist and leaned over to kiss her red lips.
The strong smell of wine assailed her nostrils.
Lin Wanyu frowned slightly and subconsciously wanted to step back.
Lu Huaijin noticed her movement. A sudden surge of nameless anger welled up in his heart, and his actions became more and more unrestrained.
With a "splash" sound, Lu Huaijin carried Lin Wanyu out of the small hot spring pool, walked around the screen on one side, and laid her on the beauty couch in front of him.
On the half - person - high round table beside the beauty couch, there was a purple - gold censer. At this moment, the fragrant smoke was slowly rising and billowing.
The strong sandalwood smell gradually covered the smell of wine on Lu Huaijin.
Lin Wanyu's back was cold, but her front was burning hot.
The man's heavy breath puffed in her ear. His big hand grabbed her waist and slowly slid down, exploring the deepest place...
The fragrant smell all around stirred up the deepest desire in Lin Wanyu's heart. Gradually, it germinated and grew wildly, gradually entwining her heart...
The woman's gentle groans were like a catalyst, plucking at Lu Huaijin's heartstrings.
"Your Highness, it hurts..."
The man grabbed her slender waist, and his fingertips rubbed against her slightly swollen lips. He said with a double meaning, "If you're afraid of pain, be obedient!"
Lin Wanyu thought he just told her not to move around. She tightened her grip on the edge of the couch a bit more.
"Yes..."
Those eyes were pitiful and pure. At this moment, besides the mountain mist after the spring rain, they also hid his figure.
Lu Huaijin curled the corner of his lips slightly, kissed her eyes, and pulled her into the whirlpool, sinking together.
Lin Wanyu knew very well that Lu Huaijin would surely not forgive her for running away. At this moment, she could only bear his punishment...
Afterwards, in a daze, Lin Wanyu felt herself being carried into the small hot spring pool.
This was the second time Lin Wanyu had spent the night in Lu Huaijin's bed.
Exhausted both physically and mentally that day, as soon as she touched the bed, she fell asleep in a daze.
Lu Huaijin sat beside her. Looking at the ambiguous marks on her delicate collarbone, his eyes darkened slightly.
The wind blew in through the window, dispelling the last bit of drunkenness left in him.
Guilt welled up in his eyes.
"Lin Wanyu, you should understand that staying by this prince's side is the best choice for you!"
In a noble family, a maid like her who had lost her virginity had only one way out, which was to be a dowry maid and die by her master's side. She would never be able to marry in this lifetime.
If she met a more jealous mistress, how could she tolerate a woman who had had a physical relationship with her husband walking in front of her every day!
He had heard too many such things at drinking parties...
He thought Lin Wanyu could understand the pros and cons!
...
The next day, when Lin Wanyu woke up, the sun was high in the sky.
As soon as she moved a little, her whole body ached terribly, as if she had done heavy work for a long time.
The bedside was empty, and the entire bedroom was also completely silent, eerily quiet.
A sense of uneasiness immediately welled up in her heart, prompting her to quickly throw off the quilt and prepare to get out of bed.
When the brocade quilt slipped off and her body full of hickey marks was exposed to the air, she only then realized it. She quickly reached out to pick up the quilt and blocked it in front of her. Her ears couldn't help but turn red.
"If the girl is awake, this old servant will help the girl change clothes," a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the gauze curtain, scaring Lin Wanyu. She took a deep breath before responding.
"Thank you, Granny Qin!"
Hearing her words, Granny Qin stepped forward, hung up the gauze curtain, picked up a set of clothes from one side, walked up to Lin Wanyu, and began to serve her to dress.
"His Highness has gone to the morning court and ordered this servant to serve the girl with breakfast before going back."
"Thank you, Granny Qin!"
After getting dressed, Granny Qin personally helped Lin Wanyu do up her hair and put on hairpins.
"Granny Qin, isn't this against the rules?"
Lin Wanyu sat in front of the bronze mirror, looking at herself surrounded by all kinds of jewelry, feeling at a loss!
In the past few days, she had observed carefully that the ordinary maids in the prince's mansion only wore a plain hairpin, and those of a higher rank could wear a silver hairpin.
Just like the former concubine Feng Yunyun, she only wore a few low - key silver and jade hairpins, nothing like her today... so ostentatious!
She didn't look like a maid but rather a young lady from a wealthy family!
"This was ordered by the prince. The girl doesn't need to worry!"
Granny Qin supported her and walked to the outer hall. There were already many delicate and delicious dishes on the table, which made one's mouth water.
Lin Wanyu sat down. Granny Qin picked up the medicine from one side and handed it to her.
"Please drink the medicine first, and then have breakfast!"
The yellow - brown medicinal soup in front of her smelled exactly the same as the contraceptive medicine that day...
Without any hesitation, Lin Wanyu picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp!
The endless bitterness spread in her mouth and all the way to her heart.
Granny Qin brought the preserved fruits to her and said, "The girl can have a preserved fruit first!"
"Thank you, Granny."
After breakfast, Granny Qin sent her back to the Flowing Flower Pavilion and then left.
Chun Qiao quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This subordinate failed to take good care of the girl. Please punish this subordinate!"
Lin Wanyu already felt sorry for her in her heart. Now hearing her words, she felt extremely ashamed.
"It was I who harmed you. It's I who should apologize to you."
Chun Qiao was ordered to watch over her, but she ran away quietly. Presumably, Lu Huaijin would not spare her lightly.
Thinking of this, the guilt in Lin Wanyu's heart became even stronger.
Before Chun Qiao could explain, the courtyard door behind them was knocked.
Lin Wanyu's heart skipped a beat, and the face of Granny Zhou immediately appeared in front of her eyes.
Just as she turned around to open the door, Chun Qiao had already stepped forward one step ahead of her and opened the door.
A woman in a pink brocade dress came into view. She had an oval face, almond eyes, and blushing cheeks. With a slight smile, she was like the warm spring sun, making people feel extremely comfortable...
The woman was holding a pipa. She stood outside the door, bowed, and then raised her eyes. Her gaze fell on Lin Wanyu.
"I'm sorry to bother you. I heard that there's a pipa master living in the Flowing Flower Pavilion. I've been practicing the pipa but haven't made much progress. So I'd like to come and ask elder sister for some advice. I wonder if it's okay?"
"Miss Lin doesn't receive guests. Please go back, Miss Zhou," Chun Qiao said seriously, blocking the door and rejecting the woman without any hesitation.
Seeing this, the woman was not discouraged. She continued, "I'm also from Yangzhou. I've always heard from my father and elder brother that Miss Wanyu from the Drunken Flower Tower was extremely skilled at playing the pipa. I've always yearned to meet her but never had the chance. Yesterday, I received a letter from my father. In the letter, he mentioned the current Drunken Flower Tower again. Alas, it's really a pity..."