Once she had collected herself, Gu Qingwan glanced back at Chu Yuan in the bathtub. In the misty steam, his delicate face was flushed red, looking indescribably handsome in her eyes. For a moment, she truly felt the impulse to jump into the tub and steal a kiss.
As for Chu Yuan, his eyes were still closed, and his complexion was much better than when he had first entered. The medicinal energy was still circulating through his meridians, like porridge simmering halfway—not yet ready.
However, the imperial command was hard to defy. He could only frown and open his eyes, lifting his gaze to meet that of his childhood sweetheart. As their eyes met, Gu Qingwan guiltily lowered her head. In that moment of looking down, she noticed her sleeves were completely soaked, clearly splashed with water when she added the medicine. The cuffs and front of her robe were stained with water, clinging to her skin and feeling somewhat cold. She reached out to wring them dry, but the more she tried, the messier it became, and an indescribable sense of regret welled up inside her.
Biting her lip, Gu Qingwan swallowed her little thoughts and said, “Let’s go! It’s time for the auction.”
Chu Yuan stood up, supporting himself on the edge of the tub, and stepped out. Water droplets slid down his back, leaving deep and shallow marks on the floor. Taking advantage of Gu Qingwan’s momentary distraction, he had already draped the Phantom Ethereal Dharma Robe over himself again.
Just then, the guards pushed open the door, bringing in a set of luxurious attire. Seeing the fine fabric of the folded garments, Gu Qingwan hesitated. “This is…?”
The lead guard explained, “This is a brocade robe specially prepared for Young Master Yuan by the Crown Prince, for him to change into for the event.”
Hearing this, Gu Qingwan frowned slightly. Clothes prepared for A-Yuan? A-Yuan isn’t that Highness’s possession, so why should he wear clothes she prepared? Isn’t this implying that A-Yuan is her property? This Crown Prince and her little schemes!!! Gu Qingwan gritted her teeth in frustration.
Before she could think further, the guard looked at Chu Yuan in the room and urged, “Young Master Yuan, Her Highness the Crown Prince is already waiting for you in the main hall. Please change quickly and come over!”
“Alright!” With that, Chu Yuan reached out to take the clothes.
Unexpectedly, Gu Qingwan snatched them first. “Let me do it! A-Yuan is still weak right now. With one more person helping, we’ll be faster!”
Huh??? Her words left not only Chu Yuan but also the guards outside speechless.
The guards suddenly recalled their earlier gossip. The women’s gazes toward the two in the room gradually grew strange. Chu Yuan felt extremely uncomfortable and quickly declined, “No need! Wan’er, I’m not a child anymore. I can put these clothes on myself!”
But Gu Qingwan insisted, “Oh? Are you sure? The robe Her Highness prepared for you is quite intricate. Are you sure you can manage it alone? If you delay and displease the Crown Prince, it won’t be good!”
Hearing her explanation, Chu Yuan didn’t think much of it, but the guards all shuddered. Others might not know, but they were well aware of how the Crown Prince looked when angered. As the ones originally responsible for the medicinal bath, they dared not be negligent. The lead guard immediately clasped her hands. “Then we’ll trouble Fairy Gu! Please help Young Master Yuan dress quickly!”
With that, the women swiftly closed the door again. They didn’t care what had happened between this childhood sweetheart pair inside the room, as long as Gu Qingwan could help them complete their task.
Seeing this, the blush on Gu Qingwan’s face deepened, but she remained firm in her decision. The reason was simple: the more the Crown Prince tried to claim her childhood friend, the more she had to seize every opportunity to resist. Gu Qingwan absolutely refused to let the lover who was willing to go through fire and water for her be led away by someone else.
Returning to their moment alone, she held the brocade robe and walked toward Chu Yuan. “Come on, A-Yuan, don’t just stand there!” As she spoke, she placed the attire on a nearby table, unfolded the fabric, and began dressing him.
During the process, Gu Qingwan’s jade-like hands moved back and forth, causing him to break into a sweat. Especially when tying the belt, the beauty knelt before him. Chu Yuan looked down and could see his childhood sweetheart concentrating intently below him. Her clothes were thoroughly soaked, revealing her fair, rosy skin, which looked increasingly moist and alluring. The more Chu Yuan looked, the drier his mouth became, and he repeatedly recited the Clear Heart Mantra in his mind.
Fortunately, Gu Qingwan soon stood up, adjusted the jade ornament at his waist, and placed her delicate hands on his chest to straighten his collar, resembling a virtuous wife. Faced with such an enticing childhood sweetheart, Chu Yuan kept swallowing his saliva.
“Does it look good?” Suddenly, Gu Qingwan’s glistening cherry lips parted, her watery eyes looking at him shyly. As she spoke, her jade-like hands caressed his chest.
Chu Yuan’s heart raced wildly. Having lived two lives, he quickly realized that if not for the shadows of the guards stationed outside the window, there were moments when he would have tightly embraced his childhood sweetheart’s slender waist and made a mistake. In the end, he took several steps back to the bronze mirror and stammered, “G-Good! This outfit looks really good!”
Seeing her childhood friend so flustered, Gu Qingwan covered her lips with a light laugh but didn’t expose anything.
Feeling awkward, Chu Yuan quickly turned to look at himself in the bronze mirror to distract himself. Truth be told, the person in the mirror had delicate features and clear, bright eyes. The brocade robe the Crown Prince had prepared for him was indeed of excellent quality. Chu Yuan ran his hands over the fabric and couldn’t help but marvel: the collar and cuffs were embroidered with silver thread cloud patterns, the belt was made of fine mutton-fat jade, and it was adorned with a patterned pendant. Dressed in this robe, even his delicate features took on a dashing and elegant air.
Just then, the guards outside knocked on the door. “Are you ready, Fairy Gu?”
Gu Qingwan nodded. “Yes! We’re coming out now.”
Hearing this, Chu Yuan noticed she was still damp and couldn’t help but remind her, “Wan’er, your clothes are wet too. Aren’t you going to change?”
She tidied her hair and said lightly, “There’s no time. Let’s go.” With that, Gu Qingwan pushed the door open and stepped out first. Even though her clothes were still wet and her hair slightly disheveled, her graceful figure was enchantingly alluring. Chu Yuan felt dizzy just looking at her.
Before he could linger further, the guards quickly led the childhood sweetheart pair to the main hall of Gu Manor.
In the main hall, Ji Xuanyuan sat upright in the main seat, idly toying with the lid of her teacup. Hearing footsteps, she lifted her eyes, and a group of people entered her field of vision.
“We pay our respects to Your Highness!”
Chu Yuan walked at the front, the brocade robe making him look as handsome as jade, truly resembling a young master from a noble family. But her gaze lingered on him for only a moment before shifting to the graceful figure behind him.
Gu Qingwan walked half a step behind Chu Yuan, her clothes still damp. With her hair slightly disheveled, her jade-like face was flushed from exertion, as if she and Chu Yuan had already done everything they should and shouldn’t have in the bathhouse.
Ji Xuanyuan frowned slightly. What exactly did these two do in the bathhouse just now?
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