Chapter 225: Chapter 225 Hot Spring Bath
The Second Prince quickly finished his dinner.
Usually, after the meal, he would stay in the main room and chat with Lin Wanyi for a while before leaving.
But today, as soon as the Emperor put down his chopsticks, he immediately said,
"Your son has to return to practice calligraphy, so I shall take my leave now. Please forgive me, Father."
"Hmm, diligence is a good thing. You have much to catch up on in your studies, so focus more on them."
"Yes, I shall remember, Father."
Then he turned to Lin Wanyi and said, "Lady Lin, your son bids farewell."
Lin Wanyi nodded and gave a few more instructions before letting the Second Prince leave.
The Second Princess and the servants left along with him.
As a result, the room returned to a situation where the two were alone together.
Not to mention the Second Prince, even Lin Wanyi felt a bit uncomfortable.
Used to being alone, suddenly having an Emperor around felt somewhat disruptive.
However, Lin Wanyi would not utter such words carelessly.
Thus, she asked,
"Your Majesty, it’s been a tiring journey. Should Mr. Qiu prepare hot water for a bath to ward off the chill?"
The Emperor agreed and, after thinking for a moment, said,
"I remember there’s a hot spring behind Ruiyang Pavilion, let Qiu Ming arrange it."
His gaze finally landed on Lin Wanyi, the meaning unmistakable.
Since he returned secretly, naturally, not many people should know.
So, the task of attending to his bath fell upon Lin Wanyi.
Though they had lived as husband and wife, attending to him in the bath was a first.
Lin Wanyi laughed awkwardly, feeling like slapping herself.
Why create trouble for herself out of nowhere?
But she only dared to think such thoughts. When she reached the hot spring, she gathered her courage and went in with the Emperor.
Outside, Xia An whispered,
"Is it alright with just Lady Lin? Should Mr. Qiu go in to assist?"
Qiu Ming glanced sideways at the anxious Xia An, feeling that this usually bright maid was not using her head this time.
Going in to assist would be a quick way to bring trouble from the Emperor!
So he pulled Xia An along and whispered,
"Don’t worry, Miss Xia An, only our lady’s service can win the Emperor’s favor in Ruiyang Pavilion."
Although he maintained his usual seriousness, there was a rare hint of humor.
Xia An immediately understood.
She had always thought the concern was that her lady was inexperienced in attending to baths.
Now she realized that this attendance was not quite what she imagined.
No wonder her lady had a look of... facing doom when she followed the Emperor inside!
Thinking of this, she quickly kept silent, focusing inwardly.
Standing with Qiu Ming in the snowy night, they began to enjoy the night scenery.
In the hot spring pool, the Emperor wore only his undershirt.
Ordinarily, the material was not waterproof, so once in the water, it clung closely...
Lin Wanyi’s face flushed with embarrassment, unsure where to start as she looked at the Emperor.
After some thought, she said,
"Allow me to loosen your hair first, and soak it with flower water for easier washing later."
"Hmm."
Perhaps it was the comfort of the hot spring, the Emperor’s voice carried a hint of softness.
He seemed to shed much of the stern emperor’s mask.
Lin Wanyi carefully moistened the Emperor’s hair with gardenia flower water, which she often used for her hair care, making it easy for her.
Her fingers gently combed through his hair, smoothing and wetting it, before finally massaging his scalp for a while.
Her skills had always been excellent.
The Emperor, savoring the long-lost warmth and comfort, felt it particularly pleasant with Lin Wanyi attending him.
During the past few months away from the palace, many things had changed.
Only Lin Wanyi remained as composed as ever.
After thinking for a moment, he said,
"Lin Guifei and Prince Zhan are staying at the Taishan Palace and won’t be returning anytime soon."
Lin Wanyi paused as she heard these words while focusing on the Emperor’s hair.
Then she asked,
"Your Majesty, has something happened?"
The Emperor didn’t hide anything, recounting all that transpired at Taishan.
When Lin Wanyi heard that Prince Zhan intended to use the scenic Taishan to implicate the main branch of the Lin Family and the Dong Family, she snorted coldly, a clear anger in her eyes.
"You don’t hide anything."
"I’ve never held a good impression of the second branch, Imperial Concubine, including Princess Rongkang and Prince Zhan Mansion. They repeatedly set me up and my family, so... I overstepped."
This was not the first time Lin Wanyi revealed such thoughts to the Emperor.
But openly expressing dislike or even disdain was unprecedented.
"In front of me, you can be unreserved."
As he spoke, the Emperor turned to look at her.
Though Prince Zhan’s plan did not succeed, and thus the main branch of the Lin Family and the Dong Family hadn’t suffered substantial harm.
Nonetheless, malicious intent was still malicious, hence Lin Wanyi’s increased resentment towards them.
After a moment, she spoke somewhat defiantly,
"Since Imperial Concubine is at the Taishan Palace, then concerning Princess Ming Ruo... Your Majesty, please don’t send her to Ruiyang Pavilion, as I’m afraid I might take my anger out on the child."
Hearing her childlike reasoning, the Emperor couldn’t help but chuckle.
"What are you thinking? I’ve long decided Princess Ming Ruo will be raised by the Empress Dowager. You just take good care of yourself, the Second Prince, and the Second Princess. No one else will bother you again."
Lin Wanyi pouted slightly.
The previously good mood vanished into thin air.
The task at hand naturally stopped.
Seeing this, the Emperor rose from the pool.
Compared to Lin Wanyi, who was squatting by the pool, he now stood at a higher vantage.
The steam from the pool rose with him, making him appear shrouded in mist.
His gaze, due to the warmth, seemed a bit heated.
"Qianqian, many matters involve deep connections between the court and the harem. Without absolute certainty, I won’t easily move against Prince Zhan. So please bear with it, until..."
The words lingered at his mouth, but he didn’t say them aloud.
"Though I am Emperor, I have my helpless moments and fears. But I promise, I won’t let you suffer indefinitely. Prince Zhan, Imperial Concubine, Princess Rongkang, and all those involved will meet their due retribution!"
The Emperor spoke earnestly, and Lin Wanyi listened attentively.
Prior to this, she had never placed hope on the Emperor.
The Imperial Concubine remained because of Princess Rongkang and Prince Zhan Mansion’s support, along with Prime Minister Lin.
Hence, she never believed the Imperial Concubine would fall from grace, unless she committed an unforgivable act.
Could it be, Prince Zhan was so bold as to harbor treacherous thoughts?
That’s why the Emperor hesitated?