Night fell, and the courtyard grew quiet.
The private hot spring was still steaming, and only one lantern on the wooden corridor was still lit.
When Xie Wanqing pushed open the side door of the backyard and came out, the white lace gauze she was wearing clung to her body, and she was only wrapped in a large plain-colored cloak, which covered her completely from her collar to her feet.
She walked slowly, her colorful, gold-plated wooden clogs making a sound that was swallowed by the steam.
A person was sitting on a stone platform by the pond.
Gu Moran leaned against the stone railing, his feet soaking in the hot spring, his trousers rolled up above his knees, and a wine pot in his hand.
He heard footsteps, but assumed it was Shen Ling'er urging him to drink his medicine again, so he didn't turn around.
"Don't rush me, I've taken my medicine."
Xie Wanqing stopped behind him, her cloak billowing outwards from the steam rising from the pool.
"It's not Younger Sister Shen."
Gu Moran turned her head.
The lantern light shone from the side, and Xie Wanqing's cloak collar was slightly open, revealing a sliver of the white lace trim that clung to her collarbone.
Gu Moran's gaze fell on that line, and the wine pot in his hand stopped.
"You're wearing it?"
Xie Wanqing did not answer the question, but instead walked over and sat down beside him, sitting very upright with her knees together and her cloak wrapped tightly around her.
But when she sat down, the hem of her cloak spread out, and the steam from the pool water seeped in from underneath, making the thin gauze cling even more tightly to her skin.
Gu Moran's gaze moved from her knees to her ankles. Xie Wanqing was wearing wooden clogs, her insteps were fair, and her toes were slightly curled because the ground was slippery.
"Since we're already here, why don't we go for a soak together?"
Xie Wanqing watched the steam rising from the pool and spoke in a very low voice.
"Where did you get that poem and that piece of paper from?"
Gu Moran placed the wine pot on the stone platform, turned around to face her, one leg still soaking in the water, the other wrapped around the edge of the stone platform.
"I wrote it myself."
"You're lying." Xie Wanqing finally looked at him. "I've read through the classics and the works of countless scholars, and I've never seen such a sentence structure or style. If you've read it, tell me the source, and I won't laugh at you."
Gu Moran into her eyes, which held a look of inquiry, a seriousness, and a stubbornness that refused to admit defeat after being struck by her talent.
He smiled.
" Wanqing, what kind of person do you think I am?"
Xie Wanqing remained silent.
Gu Moran moved closer, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward, so close that she could smell the bitter scent of the medicinal wine mixed with the sulfurous odor of the hot spring on him.
They're right to be jealous.
"That poem you recited tonight," he paused, "Was indeed read only to you."
Xie Wanqing clutched the hem of her cloak inside her cloak.
"If you have such talent, why pretend?"
"Those who play dumb live longer," Gu Moran said softly. "But playing dumb in front of you is pointless."
Xie Wanqing lowered her eyes, her eyelashes casting shadows in the lamplight.
Gu Moran reached out his hand, his fingertips touching the hand that was holding the collar of the cloak. He didn't pull it away, but simply covered it.
Are you cold?
Xie Wanqing shook her head.
How could it be cold? The steam from the pool water had made her face turn red, but when that hand covered her, she felt the temperature rise even further.
Xie Wanqing's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but then she swallowed it back.
Gu Moran moved his hand up and gripped her wrist.
You're nervous.
Xie Wanqing tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't. He wasn't holding her tightly, but the angle was tricky. The more she tried, the more her wrist slid into his palm.
"Your Highness."
"Um."
"Do you always do this?"
Which way?
"Say a few sweet words, make a few flirtatious gestures, and then wait for others to come to you."
Gu Moran was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
He released her wrist, leaned back against the stone railing, picked up the pot of medicinal wine, took another sip, and smacked his lips at the bitter taste.
" Xie Wanqing, I just don't want to force any of you."
"What I seek."
"It is a harmonious resonance between spirit and body."
Xie Wanqing's face turned even redder. Gu Moran leaned closer again, this time so close that she could see the water droplets clinging to his eyelashes.
Are you willing to resonate with me?
Xie Wanqing straightened her back.
Gu Moran didn't go any closer, maintaining that distance. The steam from the pool water rose from the gap between them, wetting Xie Wanqing Qing's cloak.
"Actually."
There was a line in that poem I didn't finish reading.
Xie Wanqing's throat moved.
Which sentence?
Gu Moran lowered his voice, his breath brushing against her ear:
"Swift as a flying duck, elusive as a god. Her steps are light as a feather, her silk stockings stirring up dust."
After he finished speaking, his gaze fell downwards, landing on the part where the hem of her cloak had spread out, where the thin gauze clung to her calves, glistening with moisture from the steam.
"Pity."
"I, this king, can never capture Wanqing's beauty in words."
Xie Wanqing finally loosened her grip on the collar of the cloak.
The heat was so intense that my palms, gripping my collar, were sweaty and slippery.
Her cloak was partially open, revealing the white, openwork patterns that ran from her shoulders to her waist under the lamplight. The patterns clung to her body, outlining every curve.
Gu Moran's gaze followed the pattern for a moment.
Then he took off his outer robe, along with hers, and threw it onto the shore.
"Let's soak in the hot springs, but don't let the wind blow on us."
Xie Wanqing lowered her head, her ears turning bright red.
"Keep your voice down, I'm afraid they'll hear you."
Gu Moran smiled, said nothing, and led her to the area by the pool where the heat was strongest.
The pool water lapped against the stone wall, and the wind outside rustled through the bamboo curtain.
Xie Wanqing's mind conjured up images of the Imperial Academy, filled with books, where the teacher asked her what constituted impoliteness.
She answered quickly, "To be impolite is to lack manners."
Gu Moran now only half a step away from her.
She couldn't uphold her rules any longer.
Gu Moran's breathing became heavier, and he tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her half a step closer.
The moisture dampened her clothes and clung to her back.
There was a faint taste of alcohol between her lips and teeth, bitter yet warm, and her legs went weak from his kiss.
After a quarter of an hour of counseling.
A hundred flowers bloom in vibrant colors, yet none can compare to the jade-like trunk.
Opening my eyes for a glance, I saw the stars shining brightly.
Dreams are like the morning glow, making skin even whiter.
I dream of it every day, my heart is intoxicated like dew.
The steam from the hot spring enveloped the two of them in a cloud of white mist, making it impossible to see anything outside.
Unable to sleep, Shen Ling'er went out for a walk in the corridor. As she walked to the corner, she heard voices coming from the pond and stopped.
She listened intently for a couple of breaths, then turned and walked back, her steps lighter than when she came.
As he walked through the front courtyard corridor, he bumped into Su Yao.
Su Yao looked in the direction she came from, listened for a moment, asked nothing, and then turned and left.
Standing in the moonlight, Liu Ruyan saw the two return one after the other and said something to the maid who was keeping watch at night.
"No need to add more lights tonight. Move back a bit."
These words also reached the ears of Lin Qingdai, who was unable to sleep.
Murong Xue finished feeding the horses and ran over. Seeing several people walking back, she opened her mouth to ask a question.
Lin Qingdai reached out from the side, grabbed her shoulder, and pulled her back.
Don't go.
Murong Xue glared at her. "What's wrong? I haven't even soaked in the hot spring yet..."