Chapter 55: Bathing Together

Chapter 55: Bathing Together

Song Zhao’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze fixed on Xiao Jingheng, flickering with astonishment.

It must be said, his features were exceptionally well-formed.

Especially his nose, straight and prominent, exuding a masculine charm.

In the dim candlelight of the palace, the sparse shadows cast upon his face accentuated the depth and strength of his features.

Xiao Jingheng’s good looks could be attributed entirely to his mother, Consort Yue.

It was rumored that Consort Yue was incomparably graceful and beautiful, the most stunning woman in the previous emperor's harem.

She rose from a mere concubine to a consort in less than a decade.

A decade might seem long, but there were many consorts in the palace who spent their entire lives without any promotion in rank.

However, Consort Yue was destined for a short life, passing away when Xiao Jingheng was only fourteen, leaving this world after a severe illness.

Xiao Jingheng's memory of his mother was not particularly profound.

Palace rules dictated that only consorts with the title of 'Fei' could raise their children themselves. Other consorts’ children were often entrusted to higher-ranking consorts for care.

When Consort Yue gave birth to Xiao Jingheng, she was just a noble lady,

The young Xiao Jingheng was raised under the care of the current Empress Dowager, then the Consort Shunyi.

By the time Consort Yue was promoted to a consort, Xiao Jingheng was already eight years old and had moved to the Princes' Residence from Consort Shunyi's palace.

As a result, Xiao Jingheng shared only a shallow bond with Consort Yue, his biological mother, but he was exceedingly devoted to the current Empress Dowager.

At that moment, Xiao Jingheng stood beside the bathtub,

A warm smile on his lips softened his imperial aura, giving off a dependable and trustworthy impression, like that of a good husband.

He gently stroked Song Zhao's forehead, soothing her like a frightened kitten, with a tender voice,

"You fear that I treat you kindly only because of what happened that day, and you're not wrong to think so."

As he spoke, his hand moved from Song Zhao's damp hair down to her porcelain white and smooth cheek,

"But that's the real you. Why shouldn't I cherish that? You treat me differently than other consorts, so naturally, my treatment of you is unique."

Xiao Jingheng's gaze was fixed intently on Song Zhao in the water,

Making Song Zhao somewhat embarrassed, she blushed, covering her chest and lowering her eyes, whispering softly,

"I understand, I was overthinking it."

"No matter," Xiao Jingheng gently pinched her cheek, "Your concern for me is why you overthink. How could I blame you for that?"

Song Zhao shyly smiled, finally daring to raise her head to meet Xiao Jingheng's intense gaze.

She asked, "Why has Your Majesty come at this time?"

Xiao Jingheng replied, "My beloved concubine has been wronged, and I have been thinking of you. Today, when you went to pay respects to the Empress, did Chen Fei give you trouble again?"

Song Zhao's thoughts shifted as she turned her gaze:

Heard about it?

Who could he have heard it from?

Could it be that the Empress thought today's incident was deliberately orchestrated by Chen Fei to trouble her, and thus mentioned it to Xiao Jingheng?

The Empress, knowing that Song Zhao is now Xiao Jingheng's new favorite, preferred to encourage his favoritism towards her, while subtly disparaging Chen Fei in his presence.

Watching them engage in conflict was the perfect opportunity for Song Zhao to benefit as the bystander.

She smiled faintly, shaking her head with an indifferent expression on her face,

"Today's incident was just an accident by Ying Xiang. Lady Chen Fei has always been magnanimous; how could she intentionally trouble me?"

Xiao Jingheng seemed very satisfied with her response, nodding and saying, "Chen Fei is magnanimous, but you are truly sincere and pure. Know that it is your sincerity and purity that I value the most."

Song Zhao shyly smiled, yet inwardly scoffed:

Look at this, isn't he just blatantly spouting nonsense again?

Speaking of innocence, Concubine Hui, ignorant even of the matters between men and women, spends her days in frivolous pursuits without a hint of scheming. Isn't she the most innocent of all? Yet why doesn't Xiao Jingheng spare her a second glance?

Ultimately, wasn't it Song Zhao's appearance that caught his eye first, leading him to discover her other virtues based on that?

As autumn chills the air, the bathtub, freshly filled with hot water, steams up. The mist gradually fills the space secluded by the screen.

Like a sheer veil, it creates an ambiguous and hazy atmosphere.

Song Zhao, watching Xiao Jingheng, blushes slightly. Her Adam's apple moves, and her fingers, well-defined, wander restlessly over her body...

Song Zhao knows what he's thinking,

And knows how to play along.

The sudden turn had splashed water, wetting Xiao Jingheng's clothes.

Pretending to have just noticed, Song Zhao quickly grabs a towel from the bathtub's edge, moving closer to Xiao Jingheng standing by the tub in the water,

"I've accidentally wet Your Majesty's royal attire. The evening breeze outside is chilly; if not dried, it might lead to a cold, and I would be worried again."

As she dries him, she moves slowly downwards until she reaches a sensitive area, then realizes something unusual.

Song Zhao's hand, holding the towel, is soft and boneless, trembling slightly before she tries to move it away,

But Xiao Jingheng suddenly grasps her wrist,

"Since it's already wet, might as well let it get completely soaked."

As he speaks, he braces against the tub with one hand, executing a graceful flip into the tub, splashing water everywhere.

The bathtub, just large enough for two, was so cramped that there was no room to hide.

Song Zhao was extremely shy, turning her back and leaning against the edge of the tub, biting her thin lips timidly and saying, "Your Majesty, your concubine..."

Before she could finish her bashful words,

She felt a forceful grip around her waist, pulling her back into a firm embrace.

Xiao Jingheng's chin rested against the tip of her nose, his warm breath tickling her face, sending a tingling sensation through her heart.

She wanted to say something more,

But as she opened her mouth, Xiao Jingheng's lips pressed against hers, skillfully parting her lips and teeth, dominantly claiming her.