The royal palace of Zixuan bloomed to life as the maids busied themselves with their morning chores. Leng Yue still lay lazily under the sheets; the night's journey had taken a toll on his flesh. He felt weak and sore all over.
Mei, now serving as one of his maids since Yuyan's marriage, stood outside his door with a bucket of hot water. The other maids trailed behind her, ready to prepare his bath. They knocked for several minutes, but no answer came.
Mimi, bolder than the rest, stepped forward and pushed the door open. The others froze in shock. She slipped inside without permission and walked straight to the bed where the prince slept.
"Heavenly… you are so beautiful," she murmured.
Her finger brushed across his lips before she touched her own, lost in her daydream. The other maids still waited outside, holding their breath as if expecting her death any moment. Mimi tugged the sheets higher to cover him properly.
"I won't let anyone steal what's mine," she whispered. Turning back toward the door, she failed to notice the faint smile that curved his lips. Leng Yue had already awakened.
Moments later, Mei opened the door and signaled the others to follow. They slipped into the bathroom, quietly preparing the water before leaving again. Mei was just about to close the door when a firm voice echoed behind her.
"Who permitted you to disturb my sleep?" Leng Yue sat upright on his bed, his eyes sharp.
Everyone froze. Fingers instantly pointed at Mei.
He rose, crossing the space between them in long strides. His gaze locked on hers, heavy with intimidation.
"You dare disturb my sleep?" His towering figure loomed, pressing her nerves.
"I'm sorry… I won't do it again," Mei whispered, tears gathering in her eyes.
"You're sorry?" His voice deepened. "Do you think you can disturb my precious sleep, say sorry, and walk away? No… you must take responsibility."
He waved the other maids away. Mei stood rooted, unsure what she had done wrong or what had come over him. Once the door closed, Leng Yue's stare grew sharper, sending shivers down her spine.
"What punishment do you think I should give you?" he asked smoothly.
Her anger sparked despite her fear. "Then tell me—what do you want?"
"You're bold." His lips curled. "Since you are this bold, you will bathe me."
"B–bathe you?" Mei blurted out, stunned.
"Would you rather the other maids do it?" He stepped closer, his breath brushing against her face.
Her cheeks burned. "N–no, I mean… yes… I don't care," she stammered.
"What about letting other women see your man?" His tone was mocking.
Mei froze, pretending not to understand. "What are you talking about?"
"You dare feign ignorance?" His eyes glinted dangerously.
"…Fine," she muttered and marched toward the bathroom.
She waited for him, expecting he would at least wear something. But to her shock, Leng Yue walked in completely naked.
Her breath caught.
Ignoring her flustered expression, he stepped into the bathtub, leaned back, and spread his arms wide.
"Wash me." His eyes closed, voice commanding.
"You're shameless!" Mei burst out.
His soft chuckle only deepened her embarrassment. "Wash me, or I'll ask for something worse."
She had no choice. Gripping the cloth with trembling hands, Mei began to wash him, carefully avoiding certain parts of his body while her face burned red.
After she finished bathing him, Mei was about to run out of the bathroom when a sharp, teasing voice stopped her.
"Who permitted you to leave?" Leng Yue asked, stepping out of the water, still completely naked.
Mei spun around quickly, her cheeks burning.
"I need you to dress me, Mei. Now."
She froze, embarrassed, as he reached out and caught her hand. Her body stiffened at his touch. Without giving her a chance to escape, he led her toward the cabinet where his clothes were kept. He pulled out a set of robes, holding them up to block the space between them, his tone commanding.
"Dress me, Mei."
His scent—warm skin mixed with the faint trace of soap—drifted into her nose, intoxicating, dangerously tempting.
"What… what's wrong with you today?" she stammered, trying to avoid his gaze.
"Dress me," he repeated firmly.
Hesitantly, she turned back and took the clothes from him. But the moment her eyes accidentally dropped lower, they landed on the length between his legs. Her hands froze, her gaze locked there as if bewitched.
"Is it big enough?" he asked, his voice playful, wickedly teasing.
Mei snapped back to her senses, gasped, and bolted from the room. His rich, unrestrained laughter echoed around the chamber, chasing after her.
After he finished dressing. He went straight to Mei's room. He knocked lightly, and a tiny voice answered from inside.
Mei still lost in a trace about the earlier incident with Leng Yue, blinked back to reality at the sound of the knock. When she opened the door, she found him standing there, leaning casually against the frame, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. She froze in place, unsure of what to say.
"I'm going to see Yuyan. Are you interested in coming with me?" he asked, raising a brow.
At the mention of Yuyan's name, Mei's face lit up instantly. Without hesitation, she quickly went back to change her clothes and ran off to join him in the waiting carriage.
Inside, silence fell between them. The soft creak of wheels and the rhythmic trot of horses filled the air, yet Mei could feel his gaze lingering on her from time to time. She shifted uncomfortably, clutching her sleeves tighter around her hands.
"Are you still thinking about earlier?" Leng Yue's voice cut through the quiet, smooth but laced with amusement.
Her cheeks warmed. Before answering, "N-no! I wasn't—"
"Good. Because if you keep staring at me like that, I might start to misunderstand you, Mei."
Her heart skipped. She quickly turned her face toward the window, biting down on her lip to stop any reply from escaping. His low chuckle followed, soft but deep, echoing in the small carriage.
By the time they arrived, Mei was desperate for fresh air.
Yuyan's eyes sparkled with joy as soon as she spotted them. She rushed forward the moment they stepped down, throwing her arms around Mei in a tight, affectionate hug.