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Chapter Twenty-One

Helping Qi Jingyan Bathe?

Meng Yuning instinctively glanced at Qi Jingyan, only to meet his deep, tranquil gaze.

A scene flashed through her mind: Qi Jingyan sitting naked in a wooden tub, while she, like when bathing Yier, helped wash him from head to toe...

As the thought lingered, Meng Yuning’s eyes uncontrollably drifted down to Qi Jingyan’s waist, and her cheeks suddenly flushed with heat.

My goodness, this is just too awkward.

Qi Jingyan hadn’t thought much of it at first, but seeing the rosy flush on the young woman’s face, a strange warmth crept up his ears. His hand tightened unconsciously on his belt.

Looking into Qi Jingyan’s quietly intense eyes, Meng Yuning’s heart skipped a beat. Oh no, he wouldn’t agree to Yier’s suggestion, would he?

Back when he was the Crown Prince, he must have had palace maids tending him; perhaps having a maid bathe him was routine.

What if, on a whim, he thought her workload as a cook wasn’t enough and suddenly requisitioned her as a maidservant to provide more intimate care? It wasn’t impossible.

With that thought, Meng Yuning quickly withdrew her gaze. She crouched by the bed, took Yier’s small hand, and with a gentle but firm tone, declined: “Yier, Your Highness has an injured leg. I’m clumsy, and if I accidentally hurt you, that wouldn’t be good. So I won’t be helping you bathe.”

Having said this, she didn’t give the two brothers a chance to protest and swiftly turned to leave.

Watching her somewhat hasty retreat, Qi Jingyan fell silent for a moment, lowered his gaze, and began to undo his belt.

Yier, worried his brother might feel upset, turned to him and comforted, “Brother, once your leg heals, A Ning will help you bathe, okay?”

Qi Jingyan smiled at Yier. “No need. Let A Ning help Yier instead. Brother will bathe himself.”

Mu Yun, who had witnessed it all, silently lowered his head, dampened a cloth, wrung it until almost dry, and handed it to his lord.

---

The house was still unfinished when night fell. The guards stopped their work, gathering around several small fires in the courtyard, chatting in small groups.

Meng Yuning took the half-finished straw mat she had been weaving and sat by one of the fires to continue her work.

Just as she finished, three guards returned carrying large bundles. Everyone quickly surrounded them, helping unload their burdens while asking why they were so late.

One replied, “We should have returned earlier, but after buying supplies, as we were leaving the county, we ran into a group of constables searching for someone. The leader looked like he was from Zhang Hujun’s unit. Afraid of being followed, we had to take a longer route. That’s why we’re late.”

After a few more questions and finding no serious trouble, everyone relaxed.

The three went inside to report to His Highness and pay their respects. Having listened for a while, Meng Yuning spoke up: “Your Highness is bathing now. You’ve been out all day and must be hungry. I left some food warming in the pot. Please eat first.”

Mu Feng and the others nodded in agreement. “Yes, eat first. Miss Meng made today’s dishes, and there’s plenty for you. I guarantee you’ll be drooling.”

The group laughed heartily. The three guards cupped their hands to thank Meng Yuning, rushed to wash their hands at the spring, then eagerly grabbed food from the pot over the small fire. Each clutched a large bowl and devoured their meal.

Mu Yun came out carrying a wooden bucket of water. “Miss Meng, His Highness has finished bathing.”

Meng Yuning nodded and took out a quilt from the packages the guards had brought, entering the wooden hut.

Still flustered from her earlier inappropriate daydream, she dared not look at Qi Jingyan. She went straight to her bed and laid out the quilt.

Yier was still sitting on her bed. She gently picked him up and cooed, “Yier, will you go back to His Highness’s bed? A Ning needs to make the bed, okay?”

The small boy nodded obediently. Meng Yuning turned with him and saw Qi Jingyan reaching out his hand.

“Give him to me,” he said.

“Oh, alright.” Meng Yuning avoided his gaze, handed Yier over, then quickly turned back to spread the bedding. She then picked up his black cloak. “Your Highness, where should I put this?”

“No need. Just return it to where it belongs. Besides, my little bed is too small. If placed on my bed, I’d end up pressing on it while sleeping.”

Qi Jingyan pointed to a bundle beside his bed. “Put it there.”

Meng Yuning went over, carefully placed the cloak inside, and tied it securely.

Mu Yun entered carrying a quilt. “Your Highness, this one is thinner. It’s for you.”

Qi Jingyan agreed.

Mu Yun set the quilt beside the bed and briefly reported on the three men who had gone out. Qi Jingyan nodded without further questions.

Mu Yun left, and soon Master Tang, the physician, entered holding a bowl of medicine and a medicine box. After Qi Jingyan drank the medicine expressionlessly, Master Tang began acupuncture on his legs.

Meng Yuning watched the entire process. Seeing the long needles pierced into his legs, and although Qi Jingyan’s complexion was slightly pale, his eyebrows never twitched. Curiosity got the better of her. “Your Highness, doesn’t it hurt?”

Qi Jingyan looked up at her. The needles seemed as if they were in her own body. Her small face scrunched up like a dumpling, barely suppressing a smile. “No.”

Master Tang glanced sideways, snorted coldly, then slowly withdrew the needles. After packing up his things and lifting the empty bowl, he mumbled softly as he left, “Just good at pretending.”

Meng Yuning noticed a sheen of sweat on Qi Jingyan’s temple. She took out a handkerchief and offered it. “Your Highness, wipe your sweat.”

Qi Jingyan took it, pressing it to his forehead. “The weather’s getting hotter.”

Meng Yuning found this puzzling. It was indeed warm during the day, but the nights were supposed to be cool.

After Qi Jingyan finished wiping and returned the handkerchief, she noticed he was still clutching it as he slowly lay back, clearly not intending to give it back.

She thought she had more, so she didn’t ask, went outside, closed the two doors, then took off her shoes and lay down.

---

The cotton mattress felt much more comfortable. Meng Yuning shifted a couple of times, smiling with satisfaction.

Afterwards, she glanced towards the opposite beds and said softly, “Your Highness, Yier, good night.”

Qi Jingyan nodded. “Good night.”

Yier, already dozing beside Qi Jingyan, sat up upon hearing her, obediently returned the greeting, then lay back down.

Meng Yuning turned over and reached into the bundle at her pillow, secretly pulling out three handkerchief masks. She held them in her hand, planning to put one on once Qi Jingyan fell asleep.

Qi Jingyan had noticed her sneaky movements and spoke directly, “You don’t need to wear that mask. You haven’t spoken any nonsense in your sleep.”

Meng Yuning was stunned. How did he know the purpose of the mask?

She thought it over but remained uneasy, so she cautiously asked, “Your Highness, did I really not say anything in my sleep?”

Qi Jingyan remained expressionless. “No.”

Remembering that the Qi Jingyan in the book was a man of his word, she trusted him and relaxed, putting the handkerchief back into the bundle. Wearing it hurt her jaw, so she preferred not to wear it at all.

The torch on the wall was too bright and dazzling. Meng Yuning whispered, “Your Highness, do you still need the light? If not, shall I put it out?”

“I’ll do it.” Qi Jingyan said, then reached out his hand on the bedside, found a small stone he had picked up outside earlier in the day, flicked it. With a sharp snap, the torch went out instantly.

The room plunged into darkness. Meng Yuning closed her eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.

In her dream, she was livestreaming cooking, bustling and lively.

Qi Jingyan lay quietly, hearing the even breathing on both sides. As he gradually drifted to sleep, just as his consciousness blurred, he heard the woman on the bed near the window whisper again.

Without the mask muffling her mouth, this time it was quite clear.

“Dear family, move those lucky hands and send a triple shot. From now on, you’ll have a steady supply of homemade dishes to enjoy.”

Qi Jingyan: “…”

He knew the phrase ‘kill two birds with one stone,’ but what exactly was a ‘triple shot’?