Bath

The Crown Prince had taken the initiative to visit Consort Chen in her room!

This was big news inside the East Palace.

Consort Chen was beside herself with joy.

Lady Lin of Decorous Service broke yet another teacup with a fling of her hand.

Meanwhile, the Filial Lady Guo of Excellence had gone to bed peacefully.

When Zhao Yuanjing arrived at Great Forest Court, Consort Chen was already dressed to the nines in order to welcome him.

Chen Xueyan had a gorgeous face to begin with. Now, with her red dress, the shiny jewels in her hair, her exquisite makeup, and her prettily drawn eyes, she looked alluring and enchanting.

Under the bright candlelight, she looked almost like a fairy.

Even though the palace was filled with pretty women, Consort Chen was considered one of the prettiest ones around.

"Consort Chen greets Your Highness." Consort Chen gave a curtsy. Her beautiful face couldn't stop smiling. She looked radiant.

Zhao Yuanjing allowed her to rise, then he walked briskly into the room by himself, completely ignoring the hand that she had held out to him.

The smile on Consort Chen's face froze for a moment, but she soon regained her composure.

Except for on the day when she had entered the palace, the Crown Prince hadn't stepped into her room. It had been for more than a year now. She was very excited tonight, and his little show of indifference didn't really bother her.

As her maid reached out to help her, she whispered, "I saw that His Highness was staring at you several times just now."

Consort Chen was filled with joy, and her face was full of smiles. "Let's hurry and go in."

A large group of maids escorted both of them into the room.

Zhao Yuanjing randomly found a chair to sit on.

Consort Chen then noticed the black patch of ointment on his face and had a terrible shock. "Your Highness, what's happened to your face?"

"It's nothing." Zhao Yuanjing was too lazy to explain anything. He glanced at the teacup next to him, but he didn't reach for it.

Consort Chen looked at Liu Dequan and frowned as she reprimanded him, "Don't you servants know how to take care of His Highness?"

Liu Dequan quickly replied, "The servants were careless, and we deserve to die."

"How did he hurt himself? Have you called the palace doctor yet?" asked Consort Chen.

"His Highness accidentally fell while bathing in his room," replied Liu Dequan in a low voice.

Consort Chen became anxious when she heard this and hurried over. She tried to reach a hand out to take a closer look. "His Highness, let me take a look at your injury. Did you hurt yourself anywhere else?"

But just as she drew close to him, Zhao Yuanjing avoided her hand and said coldly, "I already told you that I'm fine. Didn't you understand those words the first time round?"

Consort Chen quickly retreated and lowered her head. She said in a small, pitiful voice, "Consort Chen is just worried about Your Highness…"

"Enough. All of you can go out now." Zhao Yuanjing waved a hand at Liu Dequan and all the other maids and servants in the room.

The entire room was left empty with just the two of them.

Consort Chen looked up at the man sitting on the chair.

Even though he had ointment covering half his face, it didn't affect his handsome looks at all. In fact, it added a little wickedness to him.

This made Consort Chen's heart start pounding wildly.

Back when she had first seen him at the Duke's residence, she had fallen in love with him and couldn't stop thinking about him.

Even though she had begged her family to help her enter the palace, the Duke was too influential, and the royal family was afraid that he might try to overthrow the emperor someday, so they did not agree to the marriage.

After she could no longer bear suffering from her longing for him, she finally thought of a way and she plotted a scheme…

And that was how she finally got her wish and entered the palace.

Even though she was ranked only as a Consort, she could get to see the person she admired so much every day, and Consort Chen had never regretted doing this.

She brought over some snacks and tea and said coquettishly, "Your Highness, these are snacks that I made for you personally."

She picked up one piece and put it in front of Zhao Yuanjing's mouth.

"Leave it." Zhao Yuanjing looked her up and down and suddenly said, "Why are you still standing there in a daze? Go and take a bath."

Consort Chen's heart skipped a beat. Her face flushed crimson, and she quietly replied, "Your Highness, please wait for a while. I will go and take a bath right now."

A bathing tub had already been prepared behind a screen in the room next door.

She nervously finished bathing and looked at herself in the mirror. She steeled herself, then put on just her underwear and a thin sheer chiffon dress, and walked slowly back out to where Zhao Yuanjing was waiting.