On the other side.
The Empress Dowager had been feeling restless ever since Ye Jingtang had caught her drawing a picture of a handsome man. She sent Hongyu to inquire and heard that Prince Jing and the Female Emperor hadn't gone to bed yet and were preparing to take a bath in Canyang Pool.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager, accompanied by palace maids, came to Canyang Pool. However, she saw the maid of Prince Jing waiting outside, and there was no sign of the imperial entourage.
Seeing that the Emperor hadn't arrived yet and there was an opportunity to be alone with Prince Jing, the Empress Dowager quickly entered the main hall.
Only a few dim lamps were lit in the hot spring pool, and the light was very dim. Apart from the sound of the spring water flowing, there was no other noise.
The Empress Dowager, dressed in a deep red dress, turned around the screen and immediately saw Dongfang Liren, all in white, floating in the middle of the pool. She was splashing the water with her hands. Probably because of soaking in the hot spring, her cheeks were rosy and she looked extremely beautiful.
"Empress Dowager, why are you here?"
"I couldn't fall asleep at night. I heard you were here, so I came to take a look. You don't need to get up."
The Empress Dowager stood by the edge of the pool and raised her hand to untie her belt, intending to jump into the pool and soak in the hot spring together.
But how could Dongfang Liren agree!
Ye Jingtang was still in the pool. If the Empress Dowager also stripped naked and jumped in, it wouldn't be as simple as a "mandarin duck bath"; it would be...
It would be a very unethical and immoral thing!
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was about to expose herself, Dongfang Liren quickly stopped her:
"Wait a moment!"
"Hmm?"
The Empress Dowager blinked her big eyes. With her hand on her belt, she looked a bit puzzled:
"What's wrong?"
"Well... The water is a bit too hot tonight. I'm afraid the Empress Dowager won't be able to get used to it..."
"Is it hot?"
The Empress Dowager bent down gracefully and squatted by the edge of the pool, wanting to test the water temperature with her hand.
But Ye Jingtang had his back to the door, and the place where the Empress Dowager was standing was directly above Ye Jingtang. When she lowered her head, she might very well spot the figure at the bottom of the pool through the hazy water mist.
Dongfang Liren's heart rose to her throat. In a rush, she could only let go of the chest she had been holding and swam forward. In the blink of an eye, she rushed to the Empress Dowager's side.
Whoosh——
The water splashed.
Dongfang Liren leaned on the edge of the pool with both hands. Suppressing the shame and indignation in her eyes, she looked at the Empress Dowager and asked in a calm manner:
"Empress Dowager, you couldn't fall asleep at night. Could it be that you have something on your mind?"
The Empress Dowager was almost splashed by the water droplets brought up by Dongfang Liren and moved back a little:
"I don't have anything on my mind either. I just came by the way... Hmm, you were in danger yesterday, and I've been worried about it. You should also have guards with you in the palace..."
Dongfang Liren's expression remained unchanged, but she gritted her silver teeth secretly:
"Don't worry, Empress Dowager. I always have them with me."
"Is that Young Master Ye who protected you yesterday also by your side?"
Dongfang Liren felt as if she was stepping on that person!
"Yes, he's currently patrolling in the palace."
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, sat sideways by the edge of the pool, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear:
"How's the patrolling going? Have you found anything unusual?"
"No, everything is normal..."
"That's good..."
...
At the same time, underwater.
Ye Jingtang was hiding his figure with his back against the edge of the pool. He couldn't hear the conversation on the water surface. In order not to offend Prince Jing again, even though he was at the bottom of the pool, he closed his eyes and waited for Prince Jing to send the Empress Dowager away.
But not long after he closed his eyes, he felt the water waves approaching. He opened his eyes slightly to take a look...
Two long legs were swinging back and forth, swimming towards him.
That extremely imposing something was completely exposed and brought right in front of him, directly pressing against the top of his head and against the white jade stone wall of the pool...
?!
Ye Jingtang was startled by the magnificent sight so close to him, but what startled him even more wasn't this.
In order to block him, Prince Jing was leaning on the edge of the pool, which was as deep as his shoulders.
And he was sitting against the wall of the pool. Directly above him was Prince Jing, and in front of him was naturally...
The crotch.
In order not to come into contact with him, Ye Jingtang could feel Prince Jing's long legs swinging in the water, creating some ripples.
Ye Jingtang turned his head and closed his eyes, not looking. His heart was pounding like a drum, constantly reminding himself to keep his mind in check and not give in to his desires.
And it seemed that Prince Jing also knew where his gaze might fall.
Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Prince Jing actually leaned forward and pressed her leg against his cheek, seemingly trying to cover his eyes so that he couldn't see.
Finding that it was pressing against his side face and that he wasn't looking around randomly, the tense muscles in Prince Jing's leg relaxed a little.
Ye Jingtang felt it was indescribable. His ear seemed to be able to touch some hair. He forced himself to calm down and waited quietly.
But the time he waited was much longer than he had expected...
...
"That Young Master Ye is really extraordinary. He has such high martial arts skills at a young age. What about his character?"
"Hmm... He's okay. It's just that he has little experience in the martial arts world and is easily deceived by others."
"Is that so..."
The Empress Dowager sat gracefully sideways by the edge of the pool. After chatting for a while, seeing that Ye Jingtang didn't seem to be告密 (telling on her), she felt more at ease.
The Empress Dowager pulled down half of her衣襟, revealing her white and delicate fragrant shoulders and a glimpse of her plump figure, wanting to take a bath with Dongfang Liren.
But as soon as she did this, Dongfang Liren's eyes slightly changed. She quickly helped the Empress Dowager pull up her collar to prevent the Empress Dowager from revealing too much:
"Don't."
The Empress Dowager was confused: "Why? I just want to come in and soak. You won't even let me?"
"..."
Dongfang Liren didn't know how to explain and quickly changed the subject:
"It's not that. I just thought of a poem. I think the Empress Dowager will like it. Could you please help me get some paper and a writing brush?"
The Empress Dowager was born in Jiangzhou, where the literary style was prosperous. She had some knowledge of poetry but wasn't very interested in it.
However, since Dongfang Liren had said so, she naturally had to listen. She turned to the outside of the hall and ordered:
"Hongyu, bring some paper and a writing brush."
"Yes."
Soon, the palace maid Hongyu ran in with a tray on which there were ink, brushes, paper, and an inkstone.
The Empress Dowager helped grind the ink, and Dongfang Liren leaned on the edge of the pool, holding a small writing brush and writing on the white paper.
In order to delay time and wait for her unscrupulous sister to notice her embarrassing situation and send the Empress Dowager away, Dongfang Liren wrote very slowly. She had to think carefully about each stroke and sentence. After writing one sentence, she had to think seriously.
"When autumn comes in September 8th... After my flowers bloom, all other flowers will wither..."
The Empress Dowager read the sentences one by one. Her casual expression gradually turned serious, and she picked up the paper to carefully appreciate it:
"This poem is really... really fierce. Who wrote it?"
"I heard it from His Majesty. It's said to be written by a talented scholar. If the Empress Dowager is interested, you can ask His Majesty."
The Empress Dowager carefully examined the poem on the paper and said helplessly:
"It's not appropriate for me, as the Empress Dowager, to ask about a talented scholar... Sigh~ You like martial arts and have met a man like Ye Jingtang with extraordinary martial arts skills; His Majesty loves poetry, songs, and fu. He has met such a talented and ambitious man..."
Dongfang Liren knew that the Empress Dowager had started feeling sorry for herself again. Just as she was thinking about what to say to comfort her, she suddenly felt her calf being touched.
?!
Dongfang Liren was startled, thinking that Ye Jingtang had finally failed to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor. But soon she felt it wasn't the case—Ye Jingtang was patting her to remind her.
What was he reminding her of...
Dongfang Liren pondered secretly and suddenly realized—she and the Empress Dowager had been chatting aimlessly for quite a while without realizing it.
People who practice martial arts have long internal breaths. Some powerful grandmasters who are proficient in the turtle breath technique can stay alive and well in the water for several months. It's not unusual for an ordinary martial artist to hold their breath for an hour or so. However, this kind of internal martial art that focuses on "cultivating internal qi" requires practice.
Ye Jingtang seemed to have high martial arts skills, but Madam Wang said that his qi channels were in disorder, which clearly showed that he hadn't practiced this kind of skill. Holding his breath in the water for so long without taking a breath, he was probably reaching his limit. If she didn't let him come up for air, he might very well pass out!
Dongfang Liren was secretly anxious. It was already very abrupt to prevent the Empress Dowager from getting into the water. She couldn't just drive the Empress Dowager out.
This damned sister of mine. Did you not notice that the Empress Dowager was here, or did you deliberately want to expose the matter and make me lose face in front of the Empress Dowager?
If the Empress Dowager saw that she was taking a "mandarin duck bath" with Ye Jingtang, she would have no choice but to marry Ye Jingtang. She might even be bestowed a marriage tomorrow.
Dongfang Liren guessed that her sister still hadn't shown up until now, and she might very well be planning to "let the Empress Dowager discover her embarrassing situation and force her to get married quickly."
Dongfang Liren wasn't against getting married, but how could she end her single life in such a humiliating way?
Moreover, Ye Jingtang already had a "sweetheart" and seemed to be deeply in love. How could she be a bad woman who used her power to steal someone else's love...