Xie Jiang became slightly more lucid.
She didn't miss the disgust in his eyes when the Prince of Yu was mentioned.
"Yi Yangen?" That was the name, wasn't it?
"Hm?"
He hadn't even changed his surname.
The Prince of Yu's surname was Xia.
The relationship between this father and son, who had come together later in life, didn't seem very harmonious.
Or rather, it was unilaterally disharmonious.
The information her subordinates had gathered about the Prince of Yu's mansion did not mention this.
It only stated that the Prince of Yu and his son were the most trusted individuals by the current Emperor.
The Prince of Yu led troops in the field, holding all the military power of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion from back then, making him the true king of the northern border.
The heir apparent, Yi Yangen, controlled the court, and there had always been rumors that the Emperor intended to enfeoff him as Regent.
But he had refused them all.
It was all a tactic.
Refuse a few times, then reluctantly accept.
Xie Jiang, lying by his side, chuckled inexplicably, as if she had thought of something amusing.
Yi Yangen looked at her, "What are you laughing at?"
"No one is here to serve me, so it's perfect for you to help me bathe."
"Can't you just yourself..."
"No! I can't move." Xie Jiang, frail and helpless, pointed at Steward Zhang on the ground, "Otherwise, let him help me wash."
Steward Zhang immediately trembled even harder. This young man was even more venomous than the woman before!
Why were the master's preferences so... so... why did he favor such venomous, cruel women!
Weren't delicate flowers more appealing!
"Then how about him..." Xie Jiang, in her magnanimity, let Steward Zhang off the hook and pointed at Shan Bai.
Shan Bai: "..."
Yi Yangen, with a dark expression, picked her up and headed towards the bathing room.
Xie Jiang, lying on his chest, said, "Never served anyone before? It's okay, practice makes perfect. I'm not picky..."
Yi Yangen directly placed her into the bath, "You'll have to manage on your own for a bit..."
He was about to leave, but she grabbed the hem of his clothes.
If it were truly impossible, he...
Yi Yangen's face stiffened, adopting a stern and solemn expression.
He turned his head away and saw the clothes on the soft couch. Thinking of something, his face became even more unnatural.
Xie Jiang understood, "Your clothes?"
"You wear these for now, I'll have someone prepare yours immediately. Do you want women's clothes, or..."
"I'm a boy, how can I wear women's clothes? Ah, so you like that kind of thing? It's not impossible though..."
Yi Yangen pulled his hem from her grasp and fled quickly.
Xie Jiang, leaning on the edge of the pool, wore a smile that was both unrestrained and slyly cunning, which then quietly disappeared from her lips.
The heir apparent of the Prince of Yu, the soon-to-be Regent, wielding immense power in court, was quite amusing.
Yi Yangen stopped in the corridor, leaning against a pillar with his eyes closed.
The wind fluttered his sleeves, and his hands repeatedly clenched and unclenched.
Finally, with a silent, tragic smile, he thought,
Why still struggle?
Hadn't he already made his choice?
Even if he had only a breath left, he would spit out the waters of oblivion.
...
Seeing Xie Jiang emerge from the bathing room, Steward Zhang jumped up in shock, trembling with his fingers as if he had seen a ghost, "You, you you you..."
Before, she had been practically glued to the master. It was only now that Steward Zhang saw her face. Wasn't this that venomous woman!
She, she she, she she she how did she get entangled with the master again?!
What was going on?!
Xie Jiang was not surprised by Steward Zhang's terrified expression, which was identical to that of the guards.
She had indeed forgotten some things.
But it shouldn't have anything to do with the people of the Prince of Yu's mansion.
Xie Jiang had no interest in delving deeper.
Since she had forgotten, it was as if it had never happened.
Why should she care about others' feelings? Especially since Yi Yangen was the son of her enemy.
Being played with until crippled and useless was his ultimate fate.
It wasn't bad that he was already submitting to her from the start; it was going to happen sooner or later anyway.
It didn't matter if it was feigned. With mutual ulterior motives, wouldn't things be more interesting?
"Where is Yi Yangen?"
Xie Jiang wrapped herself in the excessively large clothes, her wet hair casually loose. She yawned and slowly climbed onto the bed to lie down.
She took a deep breath.
Mmm~
It was all that man's scent.
Not bad.
"The master is busy with state affairs, he's occupied," Steward Zhang glared at her, flustered and unsure what to do.
Xie Jiang glanced at him, "Will you help me dry my hair?"
Not wanting to suddenly die of illness, Steward Zhang stammered, "I, I'll go ask the master for instructions..."
He stumbled away for a long distance. Seeing Yuan Liu still banging his head against the wall, he quickly changed course and ran over, grabbing Yuan Liu's arm, "What exactly is going on? When did this woman come to the capital? How did she get entangled with the master again?!"
After hearing Yuan Liu's indignant description, Steward Zhang's eyes widened in fury, "A trap! It must be this woman's trap! Oh, where is Master Xu? Invite Master Xu to exorcise the demon!"
When Yi Yangen entered, Xie Jiang was already asleep.
Asleep, she looked exceptionally docile and soft, curled up in the blankets like a child, revealing slender, fair, tender arms and legs.
Yi Yangen helplessly tucked her arms and legs back into the covers, then meticulously and patiently dried her hair bit by bit.