Xueying took off her clothes and draped them over the screen. She stepped onto a stool and entered the bathtub. She was very tired afterward, as she had just helped Hongli wash up and was covered in sweat herself.

Soaking in the warm water felt wonderful. Xueying closed her eyes in enjoyment and used the silk cloth floating in the bathtub to wipe her body.

She faintly heard light footsteps, and a hand rested on her back. Xueying was startled and whispered, "Aluo, rub my back."

The owner of those hands picked up a silk cloth at the edge of the bathtub and gently wiped her back.

"A'Luo, I know you're angry with the Prince, but the First Princess is pregnant and in her postpartum period. She needs the Prince's care and attention, so naturally he can't come here," Xueying said calmly.

She longed for Hongli to visit her, but often there was nothing she could do.

Feeling the hand wiping her body pause, Xueying continued, "Madam, Gao and I serve the same man. Wives and concubines should be magnanimous and virtuous in their dealings with each other."

Xueying opened her eyes and stared at the red candle standing on the long table next to the bathtub. The candlelight flickered and burned, casting a faint glow in the room.

"Perhaps I am not the one the prince cares about, but I cannot be jealous of the woman he favors, especially since she is his principal wife who is pregnant with his child."

"Although my relationship with the principal wife is not very close, nor is it particularly harmonious, we keep to ourselves and each other's distance. We are always considerate of each other, and as long as the prince doesn't have to worry about his affairs, that's what we concubines should do."

The hand behind her back slightly withdrew, and Xueying, slightly dazed, came back to her senses and said, "A'Luo, why aren't you answering?"

Sensing something was amiss, Xueying suddenly turned around.

"Your Highness..." Xueying's face flushed slightly. It turned out that he had already sobered up and was already behind her without her noticing.

A'Luo left without a word, and Xueying kept her head down, feeling embarrassed.

Her snow-white body was completely exposed to Hongli's eyes. Hongli stared at her, "Xueying..." Without paying close attention, he noticed that his voice was already a little hoarse when he uttered those two words.

The woman before me possessed a pure and innocent charm, like a lotus rising from the mud, untainted by its surroundings, and unblemished by its surroundings.

Xueying quickly turned her back, "Why didn't Your Highness say a word? You startled me."

Seeing her anger and embarrassment, Hongli chuckled softly, "If she had spoken up, Xueying wouldn't have said these honest words." He then took off his clothes and stepped into the bathtub.

Xueying's face flushed red, and Hongli had already pulled her into his arms. "If Xueying is jealous, then I'll come to the East Courtyard to see you more often."

"Your Highness is smiling, Xueying won't be jealous." Xueying lowered her head, but Hongli held her even tighter.

"Don't worry, I won't let you fight over me." He sighed deeply, his breath reeking of alcohol. This was a man's promise to a woman.

He did not want to see his wives and concubines fighting each other.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and she could feel the heat of the flames. Hongli's breath wafted over Xueying's nose.

Hongli picked up Xueying and stood up, ignoring her exclamation, and stepped out of the bathtub toward the large wooden bed.

"Your Highness..." Xueying knew what Hongli was going to do, and nervously wrapped her arms around his neck.

The curtains slowly fell, and a scene of romance and intimate union unfolded.