Snap
After two days of trial and error, Gu Jinghong had basically grasped Xiao Chengyan's bathing routine.
Just as Zhixin said, Xiao Chengyan disliked having anyone close to him while he was bathing, regardless of whether they were male or female.
That would be best, as she could take the key while she was at it and then retrieve the Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass from the secret chamber.
At six quarters past the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the night was already deep.
Gu Jinghong used the excuse that she had slept too much during the day and wanted to go for a walk to digest her food, easily avoiding Zhixin's attention. She changed into the most inconspicuous dark maid's dress and, using the shadows of the pillars, stealthily made her way towards the west side hall.
The bathhouse on the west side was hidden behind a grove of green bamboo. The faint sound of water could be heard from afar. Only two eunuchs stood guard at the entrance of the bathhouse, leaning against the pillars, seemingly dozing off.
Gu Jinghong walked around to a small, half-open ventilation window on the side of the bathroom. She lightly flipped over and landed silently.
The bathroom was filled with steam, blurring the view. The strong aroma of pine and cypress bathwater mixed with the warm, humid air wafted over. A huge white marble bathtub occupied the center of the room, with ripples in the water and rising steam.
Her goal was extremely clear—to lie in wait here until Xiao Chengyan came to bathe, took off his clothes, and casually placed his key on the shelf next to the bathtub. Then she would secretly take the key. The water during the bath would perfectly conceal Gu Jinghong's actions, and since he had been returning home late every day for the past few days, he should be tired and wouldn't notice.
Just then, with a creak, the door was pushed open, and Xiao Chengyan, dressed in dark-colored casual clothes, entered the bath room.
The border had been harassed for the past few days. The emperor had been discussing strategies to repel the enemy with him for a long time. He looked tired and didn't even notice that there was an extra person in the corner of the bathhouse.
He tested the water temperature in the pool, took out the key from the hidden pocket and placed it on the shelf, then took off all his clothes, shoes and socks, leaving only his underpants, and slowly walked into the white marble bath.
As the sound of showering began, Gu Jinghong crawled around from behind the screen, seized the opportunity to slowly approach the shelf, and easily reached for the key. The process was even smoother than she had imagined.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Chengyan was seen sitting in the pool, the water rippling, his body firm and fair, his thin skin with smooth lines—what a beautiful "Beauty Bathing Picture".
As a prince in charge of military affairs who occasionally led troops into battle, Xiao Chengyan's skin, aside from a few scars, was remarkably healthy. Unfortunately, Gu Jinghong didn't have much time to admire him; she had already obtained the key, and once she stepped out of this door into the secret chamber, she wouldn't be far from completing her mission!
Just as she was about to turn around and exit through the window, a voice, magnetic yet tired and cool, tinged with the unique quality of moisture, rang out from behind her: "Have you seen enough?"
Gu Jinghong's blood froze instantly, and he stood frozen in place, his eyes involuntarily darting around—were they talking about me?
Seeing that Gu Jinghong did not react, Xiao Chengyan said again, "I'm talking to you, Gu Jinghong!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Jinghong slowly turned around.
In the bath, Xiao Chengyan was already sitting facing him, leaning against the edge of the pool. Water droplets slid down the chiseled contours of his face, flowed over his broad, muscular chest, and then "drip" into the water.
The misty steam blurred his face, but it fixed his deep, cold eyes on her!
He did not get up, but simply clasped his hands together in front of his chest and quietly looked at her.
Gu Jinghong smiled and said, "Your Highness."
Xiao Chengyan's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the sound of water, "Gu Jinghong, how dare you trespass into my bathhouse? What kind of behavior is this?"
Gu Jinghong's mind went blank.
How did he notice so quickly?! He didn't notice when there was no noise when she came in, but now he noticed it amidst the sound of water? She was so quiet... so very quiet!
Gu Jinghong instantly switched back to her infatuated yet fearful demeanor, kneeling down on the slippery ground with a thud, her voice trembling with sobs and boundless "grievances."
"This humble woman, this humble woman deserves to die! But, but I haven't seen Your Highness for the past few days... This humble woman, this humble woman misses Your Highness so much that, that's why I dared to..."
As she spoke, she subconsciously raised her head, her gaze involuntarily falling on the figure in the bathtub.
The air was misty, and the candlelight flickered.
Water droplets slid down his well-defined pectoral muscles and disappeared into the firm and powerful lines of his waist and abdomen... His extremely impactful male body, with its wild and powerful beauty, assaulted her vision without reservation.
Gu Jinghong's accusations came to an abrupt halt.
Without any backbone, her Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably, and she swallowed a large mouthful of saliva. The sound was particularly loud and...embarrassing in the quiet bathroom.
Her entire face flushed bright red instantly, even her small earlobes turned a vibrant, blood-red color, and she wished she could disappear into the ground immediately.
Looking at Gu Jinghong's flustered yet somewhat adorable appearance, Xiao Chengyan suddenly felt that today's feeling was slightly better than when she looked back and forth at him that day. Her originally unfathomable eyes were a little calmer, and even her slightly furrowed brows were a little relaxed.
Gu Jinghong was stunned—was this for real? Why did the murderous aura on his body seem to have subsided a bit?
Xiao Chengyan still knew very well why Gu Jinghong had sneaked into the bathhouse, so he repeated her words, "So you're so eager to see me? That's why you're willing to become a thief and sneak into my bathhouse?"
He slowly rose from the water, splashing water everywhere, his tall figure exuding an imposing aura.
He casually grabbed a large bath towel from the edge of the pool and wrapped it around his waist. Barefoot, he stepped onto the edge of the pool and walked step by step toward Gu Jinghong, who was kneeling on the ground. Water droplets flowed down his long, slender legs, leaving wet marks on the ground.
"Gu Jinghong, stop with your tricks. You and I both know very well that you infiltrated this place not to spy on me. Speak! What exactly is your purpose?"
Gu Jinghong's heart pounded, and all color drained from her face. She instinctively held up three fingers: "Your Highness, please understand! This humble woman... this humble woman truly only admires Your Highness, and there is nothing more!"
Xiao Chengyan seemed to sigh softly, then interrupted her without any politeness, "Gu Jinghong, why... can't you tell the truth? Do you insist that I spell it out instead of confessing yourself? You're after the key I have, aren't you?"
"From the moment you entered the manor and approached me, you schemed and plotted, all for that secret room in the warm pavilion, didn't you?"
The voice was actually quite gentle, but Gu Jinghong felt a chill run down her spine.
But she gritted her teeth and looked at Xiao Chengyan with teary eyes: "I really didn't steal the key. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can search me."
Gu Jinghong was certain that a man like King Jin would disdain touching other women, especially since she, his ambiguous white moonlight, had repeatedly committed "rebellious" acts, and he would surely feel disgusted with her.
Under such circumstances, Gu Jinghong shamelessly brought up the matter of "body search" again, and it is likely that Xiao Chengyan will throw her out of the bathhouse in the next second, and then go back to the bath to wash herself thoroughly.
Gu Jinghong was even quite pleased with herself – this way, she would have time to steal the medicine herself and then quickly escape this awful place!
Xiao Chengyan's eyes were icy cold. He was about to call Changfeng in to search the room when his gaze inadvertently swept over his lower body, which was only wrapped in a bath towel, and then over Gu Jinghong, who was kneeling on the ground, dressed in thin clothes, with the outline of her skin slightly visible due to the moisture.
To have another man search a disheveled woman kneeling in his bathroom in front of him?
Even if it's a trusted confidant, this scene is just too... indecent!
Xiao Chengyan stepped forward, his tall figure completely enveloping Gu Jinghong, carrying with him warm steam and a strong masculine aura.
His voice deepened, "A body search? That's a good idea... I'll do it myself."
Gu Jinghong looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with genuine shock, "Your Highness?"
Xiao Chengyan stopped talking and leaned down. His hand, still hot and strong despite being damp, grabbed Gu Jinghong's hands behind her back and pressed her body against the bathroom wall. He then reached into her soaked clothes.
"Ah!" Gu Jinghong cried out in surprise, instinctively wanting to fight back, but silently suppressing it.
At that moment, the warmth of that hand burned through the damp, cold fabric against her skin, carrying an irresistible force.
Gu Jinghong was also a martial artist, and she could intuitively sense Xiao Chengyan's power. She also knew that if they fought directly on Xiao Chengyan's territory, she would have no chance of winning.
Fortunately, Xiao Chengyan's actions were not rough; in fact, they could be described as efficient and businesslike. But it was precisely this cold "efficiency" that made Gu Jinghong feel even more humiliated and fearful.
His fingertips traced the ties of her outer garment, the seams of her blouse, and reached inside, carefully searching every possible hiding place.
The cold fingertips inevitably touched the delicate skin on the side of her neck, glided past her collarbone which was heaving violently with tension, and even brushed against the edge of her close-fitting undergarment...
Each touch felt like a faint electric current, causing Gu Jinghong's body to tremble slightly.
She bit her lower lip hard to keep from letting out a humiliating sob escape her throat.
She could clearly feel the calluses on his fingertips, the hot, moist male body temperature, and the vibration of his steady, powerful heartbeat transmitted through his palms... All of this made her scalp tingle, her blood rush to her head, and her cheeks burn.
Xiao Chengyan's feelings at this moment were equally complex.
The fabric felt cold and damp to the touch, but beneath it lay a woman's warm, delicate, and slightly trembling skin.
The touch... was unexpectedly soft, with a fragile yet resilient quality.
When his fingertips traced her delicate collarbone, he could clearly feel her muscles tense instantly and her pulse quicken.
She carried a scent that was a mixture of medicine, moisture, and a very faint, indescribable cool fragrance, which seeped into his nostrils. The scent wasn't strong, but it inexplicably made his heart beat at a different rhythm.
What startled him even more was that, as he searched the inside of her bodice, his fingertips seemed to... barely brush against an extremely subtle, warm, and soft curve. That fleeting touch made him feel as if he'd been burned, and his fingertips curled up almost imperceptibly.
He abruptly withdrew his hand, the movement even carrying a hint of haste that he himself was unaware of.
Xiao Chengyan's breathing became almost imperceptibly heavy for a moment, and then his expression became even colder and sharper.
He quickly checked her sleeve pockets, waist belt, and even lifted her arm to check her armpits—actions that were still "efficient." But only he knew that every inch of warm skin his fingertips touched was challenging his proud self-control.
No, there wasn't anything hard at all!
Gu Jinghong closed her eyes tightly, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind, her cheeks so red they almost bled, and tears of humiliation finally streamed down her face.
With a "slap," Gu Jinghong almost uncontrollably reached out and slapped him. At the same time, for some reason, she felt angry, but tears were definitely welling up in her eyes!
Then the two looked at each other and fell silent...
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