Chapter 29: Beauty Emerging from a Bath

Chapter 29: Beauty Bathing

The night was as thick as ink. On the covered walkway from Tingzhu Garden to Lanyue Pavilion, only a few dim corner lanterns were lit.

Liu Qingci followed behind Fu'an, walking with very soft steps.

After passing through the last moon gate, the main hall of Lanyue Pavilion came into view.

The interior of the hall was brightly lit, a stark contrast to the dim covered walkway outside. The warm yellow light spilled through the latticed windows, yet it exerted an intangible pressure on Liu Qingci.

Fu'an went in for a moment, then silently withdrew, lowering his voice further.

"Young Master Liu, His Highness requests your presence."

Inside the hall.

Xiao Yan was restlessly fiddling with the chess pieces on the small table.

He felt that this plot mission was becoming harder and harder to handle—how was he supposed to survive this?

Half an hour ago, the system had issued a mission: "Summon Liu Qingci to your chambers."

The mission name looked simple, but the actual requirements were a long and complicated list.

The first item: "Summon Liu Qingci for three consecutive nights, and do not allow Liu Qingci to leave Lanyue Pavilion within those three days."

In fact, Xiao Yan remembered this plot from the book.

Having been frightened at the banquet, Prince Yu had vented his anger on Liu Qingci. Although he had already punished him publicly, the Prince was still not appeased.

He felt that Liu Qingci was not showing submission, so upon returning to the residence, he confined the man in his bedchamber and tormented him night after night for three days.

This was not only physical torment for Liu Qingci but also a complete destruction of his spirit and dignity. It was a key angsty plot point in the original plot and accelerated Liu Qingci's longing for Xiao Jing to rescue him.

But when he had read the book, this scene hadn't been fleshed out in the book.

For example, the second requirement: "Personally undress Liu Qingci, and as he violently resists, violently rip his clothes off!"

Excuse me?

That part was definitely not in the book he had read!

Xiao K explained it like this: "In order to maintain a green and healthy online environment, the original novel employs appropriate artistic treatment and leaves some details to the imagination. The tasks issued by our system are based on the complete world logic and the necessary plot events that are generated by the original character's behavioral motives! (◕ᴗ◕)✧"

Xiao Yan: "..."

What the hell kind of 'necessary plot' is that?!

This was clearly the system sneaking in its own agenda, maliciously writing extra scenes!

He fought the urge to flip the table and continued reading the task requirements.

Third requirement: "During the mission period, achieve daily skin-to-skin contact of at least five minutes (Note: This skin contact is different from previous physical contact! It must be intimate touching of bare skin!)"

Xiao Yan pondered over this requirement for a moment.

Suddenly, it dawned on him where this requirement came from.

First, strip off the clothes, then skin-to-skin contact...

Xiao Yan: "Five minutes? I mean, is the original body really that weak? He finishes in five minutes?"

Xiao K: "..."

Why does the host always fixate on the weirdest things?

Xiao K eagerly explained: "After all, the original isn't exactly potent... and besides, he uses some tools for that purpose. But since I'm a green and healthy system, it's hard to specify the details in the task (⸝⸝ᵕᴗᵕ⸝⸝)"

Xiao Yan: "...You call yourself green and healthy?"

Ignoring the host's doubt, Xiao K continued: "Host, if you think five minutes isn't enough for you, you can go for ten or twenty minutes. As long as it's not less than five minutes, it's okay!"

"Shut up!" Xiao Yan could no longer bear it.

He tossed the chess piece back into the pot when, at that moment, the hall doors were pushed open.

Liu Qingci's figure appeared at the entrance.

He was wearing a simple, soft thin robe, making his figure appear even more slender and frail. Standing at the threshold of light and shadow, he seemed like a trace of moonlight that could dissipate at any moment.

That moonlit figure lowered his eyes, his expression calm and cold, but his slightly hurried footsteps betrayed his unease.

As he approached Xiao Yan, Liu Qingci was about to kneel and pay his respects: "Greetings to Prince Yu..."

"Enough, get on the bed."

Before his knees could bend, Xiao Yan directly interrupted him.

Once is strange, twice is familiar. So Xiao Yan directly led the man to the bed and sat him down.

Once again, there was an awkward and silent atmosphere as the two faced each other in silence.

No, it should be said that Xiao Yan was the only one staring; the one being stared at did not even dare lift his head.

After looking for a while, Xiao Yan began to ponder where to start or whether he should say something.

He asked: "You... have you bathed?"

The atmosphere seemed even more awkward...

But Liu Qingci did not seem bothered by it.

He lowered his head even further and replied in a flat tone: "There wasn't enough time, Your Highness. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

"Then go and bathe first." Xiao Yan, as if relieved to have found something to do, turned and called out loudly, "Fu'an, prepare hot water!"

At this command, people outside quickly began busying themselves.

Beyond the screen, eunuchs carrying a large purple sandalwood bathtub and maids bearing trays filed in.

Billowing steam mixed with the scent of elegant herbal incense cakes soon filled the entire warm chamber.

"Host, procrastinating like this won't work. You must complete the clothes-tearing task tonight!"

"I know, I'm not delaying." Xiao Yan stubbornly denied it. "Isn't bathing a necessary step?"

Xiao K covered its face: "Oh, how embarrassing!"

Xiao Yan: "..."

He just felt that to commit such an atrocious act, he needed to mentally prepare himself.

Everything was ready inside the warm chamber, and the servants kept their heads bowed.

Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "I don't need any servants. Everyone out."

"Yes."

Little K: "Host, I still need to remind you, the original host usually doesn't speak like this."

Xiao Yan: "What?"

Little K: "The original host would just say 'All of you, get lost!' He wouldn't bother explaining! Although this small thing won't cause OOC, host should still be more careful!"

Xiao Yan: "...Fine."

The servants left, and the system fell silent.

He turned to look at Liu Qingci.

"Still standing there?" Xiao Yan tried to imitate the original host's tone, but seeing Liu Qingci's instantly tense expression, he added stiffly, "The water is getting cold."

Liu Qingci was stunned for only a moment, then began to move, getting up and walking into the warm chamber on his own.

Behind the screen, he was alone.

Liu Qingci took a deep breath, the warm air, scented with incense, filling his lungs, yet it only made his heart heavier.

Outside the screen.

Xiao Yan stood by the window of the bedroom, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the window frame in a restless rhythm.

He seemed to be admiring the moonlight outside the window, but in reality, every sense in his body was heightened.

The screen was very wide, but it only blocked sight, not sound.

He stood as far away as possible, yet he could still make out the faint sounds of water rippling, occasionally the sound of a cloth gliding across the water's surface.

Xiao Yan could even vividly picture the scene behind the screen through these sounds.

He pictured how Liu Qingci submerged himself in the water, how he wiped his slender shoulders and neck, his arms...

This overly specific imagination made his throat tighten, and his tapping fingers suddenly stopped.

Do not listen to what is improper, do not listen to what is improper.

Xiao Yan silently recited to himself, deliberately blocking out his hearing.

Soon after, the sound of water stopped.

Perhaps Liu Qingci was afraid that His Highness Prince Yu would lose his temper from waiting too long, so he didn't dare delay.

Footsteps echoed in the empty bedroom as Liu Qingci walked over.

A stunning image of a beauty emerging from a bath suddenly burst into Xiao Yan's field of vision.