Chapter 9: The Cheap Husband

  "Your Ladyship, the water has cooled down." Xiang Ju wore a light purple short jacket and walked into the steam-filled bathroom barefoot. Her face was steamed red and looked very cute. She quietly approached and placed the silk sleeping gown she was holding on the stone platform beside the bathtub.

  "The maid ordered the servant to pour in the hot spring water. If Your Ladyship feels it's too hot, just call out to me."

  Qing Xia leaned against the edge of the pool, her eyes slightly closed, and even her pale cheeks had a hint of rosiness. Her snow-white skin was as smooth as silk, and in the soft light, it had a porcelain-like beauty. Her raven-black long hair floated half on the water, while the other half curled around her snowy spine like a black snake, looking unusually alluring.

  The faint footsteps gradually faded away, and the bathroom was filled with the fragrance of high-quality orchid incense. The scent wafted gently, inducing sleep. Qing Xia remained still, her eyes closed as if she had fallen asleep, except for her dense eyelashes occasionally twitching slightly, revealing that she was still awake.

  She had been listless for nearly half a month, and Qing Xia was dazed every day, unaware of the outside world. Fortunately, she was in the imperial palace, where someone took care of her, so she didn't starve to death. After half a month, it turned out that this originally weak body had been nourished to be much more plump and fair.

  Time is indeed a good medicine, after a period of quiet recuperation, Qing Xia finally calmed down slightly. At this moment, she leaned on the shore of the huge hot spring pool Baiyu Pool, and felt that past events were replaying in front of her eyes, many familiar and unfamiliar faces slid through her mind one by one. She knew she was no longer the 21st-century special agent 003, nor was she the little orphan girl with nothing to her name in the orphanage. Now, she had a status, a name, and even a husband.

  Life is full of miracles.

  "Hmph", a faint sound of footsteps suddenly came from the corridor, the voice was extremely light, as if the person didn't want to be discovered. But Qing Xia's hearing was incredibly sharp, back when she escaped in the Afghan jungle, even a mouse running within 100 meters couldn't escape her ears. At this moment, in such a quiet bathroom, it was impossible for her to miss anything. However, the person not only moved with extremely light footsteps, but also the guards outside didn't make a single sound. So there were only two possible explanations: one was that the person's skills were exceptional, and the guards outside couldn't even react in time. The other explanation was that the person's status was noble, and the guards followed orders without blocking them.

  The two explanations were soon to be answered. The approaching footsteps were heavy, belonging to a man. His breathing was long and even, indicating that he had practiced martial arts for self-defense. As he walked, the rustling of his sleeves sounded at a single frequency, suggesting that one hand was swinging freely while the other might be resting on the hilt of a sword at his waist. The soft and smooth sound of his sleeves rubbing together indicated that the fabric was expensive, likely high-quality silk or satin, revealing that the person's status was not low. Qing Xia slightly wrinkled her nose, detecting a pleasant fragrance that wasn't the orchid scent from the bathhouse. The aroma was long-lasting, heavy, and ancient, suggesting a blend of dragon's blood incense and sandalwood incense, as well as a hint of dry ink, indicating that the person had recently read or written something. His boots were soft-soled, making no sound as he landed, likely made from deerskin.

  Qing Xia quickly calculated in her mind, the answer was about to come out, it was hard to distinguish between friend and foe, but there was no threat in front of her. Qing Xia slightly relaxed, a faint smile slipped across her lips, she still leaned against the pool, without even opening her eyelids.

  A feeling of being peeped at suddenly rose from the bottom of her heart, Qing Xia knew that this man was standing above her, looking down at her with his head bowed, but she didn't make any movement, still seeming to be unaware, her face relaxed, a smile playing on her lips, a picture of complete enjoyment.

  Time passed slowly, the air was quiet and serene, only the sound of water could be heard continuously. Suddenly, the water stopped, Qing Xia knew that Xiang Ju had blocked the mouth of the hot spring, the temperature was warm but within the normal range that the human body could bear. Qing Xia took a deep breath, then opened her red lips and exhaled gently. Her full and plump breasts moved back and forth in the flower-filled water, revealing traces of her skin, her slender figure looked even more charming.

  A faintly discernible heaviness suddenly overflowed from the crown of her head, yet Qing Xia still gently lowered her head, a hint of mockery flashing across the corner of her mouth. The snow-white nape of her neck curved out in an elegant arc, like the neck of a swan, and under the dim light, it shone with a dazzling radiance. The white butterfly bone at her shoulder seemed to be a butterfly about to take flight, stirring up beautiful wings and presenting a perfect curve. Drop by drop, water droplets rolled slowly down her neck, disappearing into the faintly visible ** space.

  "You're really enjoying yourself, aren't you!" A low voice suddenly sounded above my head, like a stone thrown into the depths of a lake, splashing water and rippling out in circles.

  However, the sudden voice did not make the woman who was bathing panic. Chu Li was somewhat surprised to see Qing Xia smiling and turning around, elegantly opening her eyes, and smiling faintly at him, saying: "Yes, it's so enjoyable, thanks to you!"

  Chu Li was slightly surprised, looking at the calm and composed woman in front of him, he was momentarily taken aback. His narrow eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked at Qing Xia in the water with a hint of playfulness, saying lightly: "You knew I came in long ago."

  The green lotus does not distinguish between right and wrong, a faint smile. Turning around leisurely, leaning against the edge of the pool, her long black hair tightly attached to her back, with an indescribable temptation.

  A splash of water lightly splashed up, wetting Chu Li's snow-white boots. Chu Li stood upright beside the pool, his eyebrows gradually furrowing, and his handsome face under the lamp light showed a hint of anger. His voice was calm, but his tone had a hint of cold impatience. He said in a low voice: "Do you know that turning your back on the ruler of a country is a great disrespect?"

  "As you know," Qing Xia said slowly, her voice as soft and fluffy as a cotton ball, with the moist and long-lasting tone that only Jiangnan women had. "Lately, I've indeed committed many serious sins. Committing one or two more won't make much difference."

  With a "plop", water splashed everywhere, wet petals flew all over the place, and Qing Xia's dense and long hair was suddenly grasped tightly by someone, exposing her curvaceous upper body to the slightly chilly air.

  The handsome man knelt by the pool, his clothes soaked in water, with a golden dragon embroidered on them, its ferocious pattern visible. His face was cold and sinister, his mouth curled up in a sly smile. He slowly released his grip on Qing Xia's hair, his hand sliding down to her neck. "Is it because I haven't been to the Lan Ting Temple for too long, that you've forgotten the etiquette of serving an emperor?" he asked in a low, cold voice. "Or do you think those barbarians can really break through the walls of my great Chu kingdom, and let you go back to being your prince's consort?"

  Qing Xia's eyebrows furrowed, and a wave of unbearable pain came from the back of her neck. She couldn't help but feel a slight anger in her heart, and she turned around with a sharp gaze.

  "What a strong-willed woman, how could I not have noticed it at first? No wonder that sea barbarian couldn't forget her." Chu Li's eyes turned darker and darker, as if a storm was gathering in his eyes. His hands suddenly tightened, and he pinched Qing Xia's neck fiercely, but his lips curled up into an evil smile. He coldly looked at Qing Xia who was having trouble breathing and said: "Zhuang Qing Xia, since you came to Nan Chu, you are just an ant under my control. I decide whether you live or die. You actually thought of using the crazy trick to escape? I advise you not to waste your energy!"

  Qing Xia's eyebrows were tightly knotted, her face was crimson red, and her breathing became increasingly difficult. Her eyes blazed with anger as she stared at the evil man in front of her, her heart burning with rage. Suddenly, Qing Xia grabbed Chu Li's legs under his clothes, the bathroom floor was slippery, Qing Xia used all her strength, and pulled violently.

  With a loud crash, a huge wave suddenly rose up. Chu Li was shocked and never thought that the little woman who had been crying in the South Chu palace for a year would have such a big temper, not only daring to resist but also counterattack. However, when he reacted, his whole body had already fallen into the bathtub with his head down, and countless hot water rushed towards him from all sides, pouring into his nose, eyes, ears, and mouth in an instant. Chu Li struggled to get up from the bathtub, wiping the water off his face, and lost all dignity. Just as he was about to rage, a white object suddenly flew towards his face, and Chu Li dodged too late, crashing again into the luxurious bathtub.

  When Chu Li stood up from the pool, coughing loudly, Qing Xia had already tied the last ribbon of her sleepwear. She looked at the current crown prince of Nan Chu State, who was powerful and influential, and smiled brightly, saying in a crisp voice: "I'm warning you, in the future, you'd better be polite to me, or else you'll see what happens! I have a good reputation, I mean what I say, and I don't scare people for nothing. If you don't believe it, just try!"

  Having said that, Qing Xia put on her silk slippers, wrapped herself in a cloak, turned around and walked out of the spacious bathroom with a gentle swaying motion.

  Chu Li emerged from the pool, drenched and dripping wet, his previous elegance and composure gone. He let out a thunderous roar. The guards outside saw Qing Xia walk out with a smile on her face, but they had already sensed that something was amiss. When they heard Chu Li's furious bellow, they rushed in hastily, almost tumbling over each other. Seeing Chu Li's peculiar attire clinging to his body, they didn't even dare breathe loudly.

  "Go, I want all the information about Lan Fei in Qi Guo and Jin Gong for the past year. No matter how big or small, no matter how trivial, I order you to give me a most detailed report before dawn tomorrow!" After finishing his stern shout, Chu Li, the prince of Nan Chu, shook off the sleeves that were full of hot water and walked out.

  "Your Highness! Your Highness! It's cool at night, change into another set of clothes before going out!"

  The servant's cry echoed back and forth in the empty great hall, Chu Li's normally calm face twisted into a scowl, his eyes blazing with fury as he strode rapidly towards the bedroom of Lanting Hall.

  Sorry, I changed the name a bit and accidentally deleted it. This chapter has been released before, so just skip over it, everyone~~~