Shen Mingzhu gave Xie Lang a half-smile look. Seeing the momentary look of guilt in his eyes, she couldn't help clenching her teeth. "No need," she said, lowering her eyes and subconsciously avoiding Xie Lang's gaze. "Chun Tao can handle this."
Chun Tao was standing at the door. Hearing this, she subconsciously took a step back. Just as she looked up, she saw Xie Lang beside her give her a cold look. His eyes showed little emotion, but somehow it made Chun Tao take another step back and leave the room directly.
Shen Mingzhu had already walked into the bathing room. Thinking that Xie Lang had left on his own, she reached out to untie her outer robe.
"Chun Tao?"
She tentatively called out to the outside. "Come in and help me undress."
There was a figure behind the screen. Shen Mingzhu glanced at it subconsciously but didn't pay much attention.
Xie Lang was still outside, looking at Chun Tao. Seeing this, Chun Tao subconsciously lifted her foot to walk in, but unexpectedly, Xie Lang also took a step forward and closed the door in front of her, leaving only a crack.
"What does the son-in-law mean by this!"
Chun Tao lowered her voice and said to Xie Lang. "Please let this servant in quickly."
Xie Lang leaned against the door. After a moment of silence, he continued. "Wait a minute!"
After saying that, Xie Lang actually raised his voice and said to the inside. "Your Highness, I'll serve you."
Shen Mingzhu stopped in her tracks. Surprised, the outer robe in her hand slipped to the ground. "Let Chun Tao come."
Xie Lang remained calm. "Chun Tao is not here now. If you insist, I'll have to go find her."
Shen Mingzhu was silent. Then she continued. "Do you even know how to serve someone?"
Did this mean she was about to give in?
Chun Tao held her breath and secretly cursed Xie Lang for being so scheming. Then she watched helplessly as the door closed in front of her. Through the door came Xie Lang's somewhat proud voice.
"Of course."
As he said this, he continued to ask Shen Mingzhu. "Then, Your Highness, may I come in and serve you?"
Shen Mingzhu hesitated for a moment. "Come in."
The air was filled with steaming water vapor. Through the screen, the atmosphere was only a bit ambiguous. When Xie Lang stepped in with his long legs, Shen Mingzhu saw him looking at her calmly and saying. "I'll serve Your Highness today."
These words were rather ambiguous. As Xie Lang said them, a faint smile appeared on his face. He subconsciously took off his shoes to one side and then walked forward. When he reached the wooden bucket, he said to Shen Mingzhu. "Please undress, Your Highness."
Shen Mingzhu glanced at the faint smile on Xie Lang's face and said indifferently. "No need. I'll just take a quick bath today."
Looking at the expression in Xie Lang's eyes, Shen Mingzhu suddenly thought that she must be out of her mind to let this man in. But when Xie Lang spoke in a low voice, there was an indescribable charm that somehow bewitched her.
A handsome man can be a curse! A handsome man can be a curse!
Shen Mingzhu despised her own lust in her heart. But on her face, she still kept a straight face and said. "Turn around."
Hearing this, Xie Lang turned around and said to Shen Mingzhu. "I'll do as Your Highness says."
They were husband and wife, and Xie Lang's obedient demeanor at this moment was really alluring.
The room was filled with heat. She subconsciously looked up at Xie Lang's back. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His outer robe hadn't been changed yet. It was torn by a tree branch, but instead of looking shabby, it added an indescribable feeling. The coldness combined with the atmosphere at this moment made it even more ambiguous.
Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. She could hear her own accelerating heartbeat. Subconsciously, she lowered her eyes and took off her shoes and socks. Then, when she turned around, she saw Xie Lang looking at her intently, with a somewhat dark look in his eyes.
"Don't worry."
Xie Lang's voice was a bit hoarse, indescribably seductive. "You were injured today. I'm not a brute."
Suspicion filled Shen Mingzhu's eyes. She glanced at him and said nothing.
Seeing this, Xie Lang took a step forward and supported Shen Mingzhu. "Hurry up. Take a bath and then go to sleep. Are you shy?"
As he said this, Xie Lang unexpectedly took off his outer robe. Looking at Shen Mingzhu, he said. "See, I'm not being coy."
Shen Mingzhu gritted her teeth.
[Forget it. I won't tease her anymore. It should be enough to vent my anger. If Shen Mingzhu acts so recklessly next time, then I...]
Shen Mingzhu: "..."
"I won't tease you anymore."
Xie Lang quickly put on his outer robe and said to Shen Mingzhu. "I have to take a bath quickly too. I'll wait for you."
After saying that, he raised his voice and called out to the outside. "Chun Tao!"
Seeing Chun Tao push the door in, Xie Lang left. Before leaving, he gave Shen Mingzhu a meaningful look.
Chun Tao came in. Seeing that they seemed to have done nothing, she was immediately surprised and said. "This..."
Shen Mingzhu was even angrier. Gritting her teeth, she said. "Xie Lang is really a scheming merchant. He's best at keeping people on tenterhooks."
First, he tempted her with his good looks, and then he ran away just when she was getting shy.
Now that Xie Lang had had his fun teasing Shen Mingzhu and his anger had subsided, Shen Mingzhu was extremely frustrated. She glared at him when he closed the door.
Chun Tao hesitated to speak.
After Shen Mingzhu finished bathing and returned to the room, she saw Xie Lang sitting on the bed looking at her.
Drowsiness gradually came over her. Shen Mingzhu didn't even have the patience to talk anymore. She just sat down and propped her head up, waiting for Chun Tao to help her dry her hair.
Chun Tao had just come in when the cloth for drying hair was taken from her hand by Xie Lang. He said. "Let me do it."
Shen Mingzhu looked at him indifferently and didn't bother to argue.
A comfortable feeling came from her hair. Xie Lang actually knew how to dry hair. Shen Mingzhu subconsciously closed her eyes and gradually fell asleep.
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's expression, Xie Lang knew that she was extremely sleepy. So he gave a soft laugh. When he saw that her hair was almost dry, he wrapped the cloth around her hair and carried her to the bed.
Shen Mingzhu had already closed her eyes.
She hadn't slept all night. Now she was extremely tired. Moreover, Xie Lang had just lit the sleeping incense. So now she was sound asleep.
Xie Lang covered her with the quilt. A faint smile appeared in his eyes. Seeing Shen Mingzhu sleeping defenselessly, his heart softened inexplicably.
Sighing, Xie Lang moved a bit closer and covered himself with the quilt, sleeping beside Shen Mingzhu.
...
When she woke up, it was already the next morning.
Shen Mingzhu was woken up by hunger. When she opened her eyes, she was in a daze for a while. Then she met Chun Tao's eyes, who was guarding by the bed. She was surprised and said. "How long have I slept?"
She had slept for too long. When Shen Mingzhu propped herself up, she swayed a bit. Chun Tao quickly stepped forward to support her and said. "Your Highness, move slowly. It's already noon of the next day. The son-in-law said he's waiting for you to have lunch."
Hiss. Why did she sleep for so long?
When Shen Mingzhu got up, she felt a sharp pain in her leg. Looking down, she saw that the bandage from yesterday had been changed.
"The son-in-law changed it for you."
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's gaze on her leg, Chun Tao explained.
"By the way, Your Highness." Seeing that Shen Mingzhu had finally come to her senses and was a bit more sober, Chun Tao said. "The relatives of the Empress Dowager have come."
What was going on? Didn't the Empress have a strained relationship with those people? Why did they suddenly come to the door?