Song Guo was frightened by the coldness in Leng Yu Yan’s voice, and said with a hint of nervousness, "Crown Princess Consort, Princess Wen Yi did visit two years ago. She had a very congenial discussion with Your Highness about state affairs and nothing else happened." No more could be extracted from questioning, so Leng Yu Yan waved her hand, "It’s fine now, you may go." Having not walked a few steps, Song Guo was called back by her, "The questions I just asked, will you tell His Highness? "I won’t, I swear I won’t say anything!" Song Guo raised his arm in oath. "Good," Leng Yu Yan nodded in approval. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽 Earlier, Song Guo had used the word "congenial", implying that both parties had identical ideas on certain topics. Since Princess Wen Yi was recognized as the Imperial Princess, and the Heir of Tiancheng could share similar strategies, it was probably normal. Could she be overthinking? Forget it, don’t think about it anymore. Soon, the meal was served in the bedroom dining room, and Leng Yu Yan dined alone. Xiaoshan stood by the entire time, silently waiting. After Leng Yu Yan finished her meal and rinsed her mouth, she saw Xiaoshan still standing and thus asked him, "Do you have something to say to me?" Xiaoshan nodded and cast a glance at the palace maids and eunuchs standing guard in the dining room. Leng Yu Yan then ordered the waiting eunuchs and palace maids to leave. After only the two of them, master and servant, were left in the vast dining room, Xiaoshan finally said, "Commandery Princess, Princess Nandian is not a good person." "She has a murderous aura." "Just now Song Guo told Commandery Princess that there are no Nandian Princes, and she is the default Imperial Princess, does Commandery Princess not see a problem here?" Leng Yu Yan smiled faintly, "Xiaoshan, I find you becoming more remarkable!" "Thank you for the praise, Commandery Princess! If you wish to contend with her, you must do so covertly." Leng Yu Yan nodded, "Well said!" She couldn’t help but take a new measure of the young man with white hair and red lips before her, "What have you been eating lately? How have you grown so quickly?" She stood up to compare their height, "I remember we were about the same height before, right?" Now, she had to look up to see him. Once, Xiaoshan, with a previously serious look, revealed a trace of innocent amusement, "How could that be? When Commandery Princess saved me, I was skinny, but I was still a bit taller than Commandery Princess." He indicated a distance less than an inch with his thumb and index finger. "Then let’s say we were about the same height, alright?" Leng Yu Yan glanced at him, then continued, "If you hadn’t been captured by bandits, and could have eaten well and slept well during that time, you would certainly be taller now." In just a year, he had grown half a head taller than her. "I will strive to grow as tall as the Crown Prince," he said. "He’s so tall, my neck gets sore looking up to speak to him." Yet Xiaoshan said, "Being taller will help me protect Commandery Princess better." Leng Yu Yan smiled, "Indeed, it’s always good for a man to grow taller." That night was quiet and still. Today her period had finally ended, after many days unable to soak in a bath, Leng Yu Yan seized the opportunity while a certain someone was away to have a good soak in the bathhouse. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter enthusiastically gathered a great number of lotus flowers, scattering the petals in the bath, looking remarkably beautiful. Incense was lit near the bath, with a cotton towel and nightgown prepared; once everything was in order, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter exited the bathhouse, allowing their Pavilion Master who disliked being attended during bathing to enter. Leng Yu Yan stripped off her clothes and stepped into the water. The temperature was just right, and she let out a pleasing moan involuntarily. Feeling instantly better, she played with the petals, scooping water blissfully. Completely relaxed, Leng Yu Yan couldn’t help but close her eyes. Suddenly hearing a "creak", she languidly called out, "Didn’t I say no need to serve me?" The only response was the sound of footsteps. Realizing something was amiss, Leng Yu Yan abruptly opened her eyes and turned, only to see an imposing figure, who moved with slow and steady steps toward her. He elegantly wore his robe with a light sash, his garment fluttering with the breeze, truly an incomparable vision of splendor. No wonder women always flocked around him. Now that they knew he had no hidden diseases, even more women gathered around. Realizing she wasn’t wearing a stitch in the water, Leng Yu Yan hurriedly scrabbled flower petals to her front, submerging her exposed shoulders beneath the surface. "Why did Your Highness return so soon?" The man, with phoenix eyes slightly narrowed as if he were the sky, replied in a voice deep as the night, laced with surprise, "You’re able to bathe now?" He’d figured out her period was over. Leng Yu Yan tugged at the corner of her mouth and honestly admitted, "As Your Highness sees." With that, she sank a bit deeper into the water, the surface level with her chin. Seeing her on guard, Ye Yiheng simply pulled up a chair by the pool and leisurely gazed at her. Leng Yu Yan really wanted to curse. Was he settling in to watch her bathe? The water, shimmering and shifting, carried petals away; heedless of his gaze, she had to continue gathering them in front of her. Ye Yiheng adjusted his seated position on the chair, but his gaze remained unchanged. Through the steaming mist, she looked delicate as a lotus, her arms as smooth as creamy jade, her skin beneath the water... At that thought, the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he suddenly stood up. "I’ve had quite a bit to drink and feel warm. I might as well join the Crown Princess Consort for a bath." He spoke as he shed his robe and stepped into the bathing pool. Leng Yu Yan froze in place, caught between fleeing and staying put. To flee would mean revealing everything under his scrutinizing gaze... But if she didn’t flee and he made advances in the water, who would she call for help? The pool was quite large, and he entered the water at the far end, some distance from her. If he just sat down where he got in, they could coexist without incident, and she could think of how to escape this awkward situation. However, to her dismay, he began walking towards her. Leng Yu Yan’s mind raced in panic, pressing her body as close as possible to the pool’s edge. Seizing a moment of inspiration, she bravely said, "Your Highness, you smell of alcohol. I do not like it. Could you keep your distance from me, please?" "Yanyan, do you dislike me, or are you just jealous today?" Ye Yiheng halted in his tracks. "I seem to smell vinegar." Leng Yu Yan’s brows furrowed. "No!" "So you mean you do like me and aren’t jealous?" His voice was teasing, his eyes alight with interest. Leng Yu Yan was speechless: "You..." He had figured out why a certain lady seemed off at the banquet earlier, and now he directly asked, "Did you think Princess Wenyi was infatuated with me, that she came to Tiancheng to choose a Prince Consort?" "She aims for the Nandian Court. Why would she consider such matters?" "Your Highness seems to be saying that I’m judging her noble heart with my petty thoughts." "Don’t overthink things." Ye Yiheng shook his head, then added, "The banquet is not over yet. I excused myself early under the pretext of feeling weak from too much wine to come accompany you. Aren’t you happy?" As he spoke, he continued to move closer. Leng Yu Yan raised her arm, palm out as if to push him away: "Your Highness, don’t come any closer!" Ye Yiheng’s brows drew together slightly: "Why?" She dropped her arms back into the water and bit her lip: "I, I’m not wearing anything." Hearing this, Ye Yiheng suddenly burst into laughter. "What are you laughing at?" Leng Yu Yan was filled with embarrassment and annoyance. Embarrassed by the current situation and annoyed that he made such a nonsensical suggestion of her being jealous. "This is easy to fix..." He slipped off his short underwear in the water and tossed it to the side of the pool, "Now we’re even." Leng Yu Yan covered her face, on the verge of tears. Was this really the end for her?