Chapter 30: You Bathe With Me

Before long, Wei Nian arrived.

He wore a grey round-collared robe, was in his early thirties, had a fair complexion, and possessed a strong scholarly air.

He had not changed much from the appearance in Nan Xueyin's memory, only today there was no splashing fresh blood on his face, save for a small scar left on his jaw.

After just one glance at him, Nan Xueyin quickly lowered her eyes.

Although she had used a Human Skin Mask, her eyes were too difficult to change. Many people's deepest impression of her came from these eyes; she was not sure if Wei Nian still remembered her, so for the sake of safety, she had to avoid him as much as possible.

Wei Nian performed a salute and noticed the palace maid beside the Crown Prince.

He paused, then took another look.

Xiao Youlan set down his bowl and spoon, picked up a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth, and said, "Go to the Dou family."

Only then did Wei Nian withdraw his gaze.

Xiao Youlan's voice was flat and slightly cold, "Tell the Imperial Uncle Dou to keep a close watch on his daughter."

Wei Nian acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Before leaving, he glanced at Nan Xueyin again.

When he returned to the Eastern Palace to report, the study was quiet, with only Xiao Youlan sitting upright before the desk.

Wei Nian looked left and right, but did not see the figure he had seen that morning.

"Looking for Doukou?" Xiao Youlan asked slowly.

Wei Nian was taken aback.

"You looked at her several times this morning, what is it," Xiao Youlan raised his eyelids, his expression unreadable, "have you finally blossomed, and taken a fancy to a little palace maid?"

Wei Nian's ears turned red, "How would this subordinate dare!"

Xiao Youlan: "Then let us discuss business."

Wei Nian felt embarrassed, acknowledged the order, and honestly reported the matter of going to the Dou family, then spoke of Imperial Uncle Dou's response, saying: "The Imperial Uncle said that Miss Dou has been spoiled by her family and does not know the measure of things; from now on, he will invite a training Momo to have Miss Dou learn the rules properly at home."

This meant house arrest, and it was also the Crown Prince's subtext. He had understood it.

Xiao Youlan nodded slightly, "Good, you may go."

Wei Nian, however, did not move.

Xiao Youlan raised his eyes again, "Is there anything else?"

Wei Nian took a deep breath, "This matter... concerns Doukou."

Xiao Youlan:?

"Two years ago, this subordinate encountered an attack in Lianzhou; this subordinate survived, and also remembered the appearance of that Assassin."

"I am aware of this matter," Xiao Youlan's reaction was quick, "do you think Doukou is that Assassin?"

Wei Nian said: "This subordinate cannot be certain, because the appearance is quite different, but this subordinate feels that Doukou's eyes are very similar to that Assassin's."

Xiao Youlan said calmly: "Just a pair of eyes proves nothing."

Wei Nian paused and said: "This subordinate heard that Lord Shu discovered that Prince Duan had planted an Assassin in the Eastern Palace. Prince Duan raises countless Assassins and Hidden Guards, and the top one is not only efficient at killing but also skilled in disguise. If it is truly her who has come to the Eastern Palace, we must be on our guard."

Xiao Youlan was silent for a moment, then said: "I have tested her many times and found nothing suspicious. Besides, if she wanted to kill me, she could have done so many times."

That day on Ziwei Street when the donkey cart went out of control, if she were an Assassin, she could have stood by and watched, ending his life without drawing a sword.

But she did not.

"Your Highness, do you remember Lin Yi?" Wei Nian said sternly, "He was made drunk and let slip that Your Highness suffers from a hidden ailment. All these years, Prince Duan has been eyeing the Eastern Palace like a tiger, and no one can guarantee whether this news leaked to him, or if he sent someone to infiltrate the Eastern Palace just to uncover this secret of Your Highness."

Xiao Youlan's brows furrowed deeply.

"Since two years ago, this subordinate has been searching for a way to see through a Human Skin Mask. Before the new year, this subordinate obtained a potion that can melt a Human Skin Mask. If Your Highness is determined, find an opportunity to let Doukou's face come into contact with this potion. If everything is fine, that is for the best, but if her mask peels off or the edges lift..."

Wei Nian's voice sounded heavy, "I believe Your Highness has your own way of dealing with it."

What other way could there be to deal with it?

It would be nothing more than interrogating, torturing, and finally killing her, just like the other spies caught in the past.

That night, the night was already deep.

Feihong was all smiles as he came to the door of Nan Xueyin's room, "Miss Doukou, His Highness the Crown Prince wants you to come over."

Nan Xueyin acknowledged the order.

She thought that the Crown Prince summoning her over was nothing more than two things: either the Crown Prince was still in the study and wanted her to do something, or the Crown Prince was in a good mood tonight and was summoning her to attend to him in bed.

However, Feihong led her directly to the door of the bathing room.

Nan Xueyin showed a puzzled expression.

Feihong smiled and said: "His Highness the Crown Prince said that today, you are to serve him while he bathes."

Nan Xueyin was slightly stunned.

"Miss, go on in, His Highness is inside; it would not be good to keep His Highness waiting."

"... Very well."

Nan Xueyin caught her breath, pushed the door open, and stepped into the bathing room.

The room was filled with mist, and the bathing pool was already filled with hot water.

Through the hazy white mist, Nan Xueyin saw the tall Crown Prince standing to one side, his outer robe half undone.

Nan Xueyin walked forward, "Your Highness, let this servant do it."

Xiao Youlan gave a flat "Mm."

Nan Xueyin felt that he seemed to be in a bad mood, yet she also felt that there was nothing unusual about him.

This was truly quite strange.

Had Wei Nian recognized her?

But if that were the case, why would the Crown Prince have her come over?

Her thoughts were in turmoil; she took off her outer robe and hung it on the screen to the side, when suddenly she heard Xiao Youlan ask: "I had someone pull your service contract. The twentieth of the fourth month, is that your birthday?"

His voice remained clear and mellow, yet it sounded as if it were separated by a vast expanse of mist, ethereal and unreal.

Nan Xueyin replied calmly, "It was the twenty-second of the fourth month. They all say that this servant was an obedient child from a young age; I waited until Mother had finished making breakfast for Father and Brother and washing the clothes, and the chickens and ducks were fed, before my stomach began to ache. Later, the delivery went very smoothly, and within half an hour, I was born healthy and strong."

She asked softly, "Why did Your Highness examine this servant's contract of indenture today?"

Xiao Youlan, however, did not answer.

Nan Xueyin tactfully did not press the matter, lowering her head to focus on untying his sash.

Her movements were slow, but Xiao Youlan did not urge her, his gaze lingering on her face for a long time as he said, "You are healthy and strong, but I am not."

Nan Xueyin did not look up, "Your Highness is a favored son of Heaven, how could you not be healthy?"

Xiao Youlan's voice was deep and slow: "I have a hidden ailment."

Nan Xueyin looked up in astonishment.

"This kind of illness cannot be cured by any divine doctor or physician in the world, yet it is also very fatal; if it were known to outsiders, perhaps I would no longer be able to remain this Crown Prince."

Having finished speaking, he waited quietly for her response.

After a good while, Nan Xueyin knitted her delicate brows slightly and asked, "Your Highness, does it hurt?"

Xiao Youlan was taken aback.

"When this servant was small, I fell ill and it was always very painful. Those illnesses would get better after a few days, and then it would no longer be painful. But Your Highness's illness cannot be cured. In that case, does it hurt very much often?"

Whether it was the rising steam or some other reason, Nan Xueyin's eye sockets grew slightly moist.

Xiao Youlan frowned, and after a long time, his throat moved slightly, "... Continue undressing me."

"Yes."

The sash was finally untied.

The Crown Prince looked lean, but beneath his robes were strong, firm muscles with smooth, distinct lines, quite pleasing to the eye.

The next thing to remove was his undergarments.

Just as Nan Xueyin was about to kneel down, Xiao Youlan suddenly gripped her wrist, "Do not take these off."

Nan Xueyin obediently withdrew her hand.

Xiao Youlan did not let go of her, and added, "You will bathe with me."

Nan Xueyin recalled that there was also a bathing pool at the Duan Prince Mansion, slightly smaller than this one in the Eastern Palace, where Xiao Mingyu liked to bathe with beauties. Nan Xueyin would often stand guard outside the door, listening to those gasps and groans rising and falling, eventually dissipating along with the mist in the pool.

At this moment, she stood by the bathing pool of the Eastern Palace.

As if only just realizing it, she said in a small voice, "Your Highness, this servant has not yet taken off her clothes."

"You do not need to take them off."

Xiao Youlan's voice betrayed neither joy nor anger as he gripped her wrist, "Come here."

Nan Xueyin's voice was perfectly obedient and submissive, "Very well."