Chapter Ten: The Young Lord Wants You—Will You Give In?

“Ah?!”

Hearing the familiar voice by her ear, Xiaozhu’s once flushed face instantly turned pale, and her delicate body trembled sharply.

In a flurry of panic, she struggled to rise from Lin Jiangnian’s embrace, taking two steps back and turning around.

When she saw Sister Zhiyuan standing at the doorway, Xiaozhu’s cheeks burned fiercely, and in a panic, she quickly lowered her head and stood aside. “Sister Zhiyuan, I, I…”

It was over!

Sister Zhiyuan had seen everything!

Just now, she had accidentally fallen into the prince’s arms, but would Sister Zhiyuan think she had seduced him on purpose?

The little maid trembled, wanting to explain something, but when she opened her mouth, she stammered without uttering a word.

Nervous and on the verge of tears.

Zhiyuan’s sudden appearance at the door did startle Lin Jiangnian for a moment.

But he quickly recovered, glancing at her standing there, his gaze gradually growing indifferent. “What brings you here?”

His tone was neither cold nor warm.

Last night, the woman in red had brought Lin Jiangnian crucial information.

The Crown Prince of Lin was not on good terms with Zhiyuan!

Though nominally master and servant, their relationship was tense. Previously, the Crown Prince had opposed her at every turn within the mansion, and Zhiyuan harbored no fondness for her supposed lord either!

Though she hid it well, the constant respectful distance she maintained, as well as her instinctive aloofness, was evident in her words and demeanor.

Having understood this, Lin Jiangnian quickly assumed his role. But after yesterday’s lesson, he deliberately showed only a faint expression.

Lin Jiangnian’s reaction was fully caught by Zhiyuan’s observant eyes.

Standing at the door, she glanced at him, a flicker of something unusual passing through her gaze.

Today, the prince seemed much more normal.

Then she looked at Xiaozhu beside her, who was nervously and pitifully lowering her head. With her flushed face, it was clear she had been taken advantage of by the prince.

“Xiaozhu, come here.”

Zhiyuan spoke calmly.

“Oh…”

Lowering her head in nervousness, Xiaozhu shuffled over beside Sister Zhiyuan, whispering as if to explain. But Zhiyuan waved her off lightly and said, “You may leave for now.”

Xiaozhu was stunned. She had expected to be punished, but instead she was told to leave?

Though confused, she felt as if nothing was wrong.

Relieved, she looked gratefully at Sister Zhiyuan, stole a quick glance at Lin Jiangnian a short distance away, then swiftly turned and fled, face burning red.

Left inside the room were only Lin Jiangnian and Zhiyuan.

Just as Lin Jiangnian’s heart tightened with anxiety, worrying that she might suspect something, Zhiyuan approached slowly, glanced at him, and suddenly spoke calmly, “Xiaozhu is still young, Your Highness. Please wait two more years... If Your Highness requires, I can arrange for someone else to attend you.”

Lin Jiangnian was taken aback.

Arrange?

Such a convenient offer?

But then, he immediately grew wary.

Could it be a trap?

His gaze fixed on Zhiyuan’s composed and exquisite face. Suddenly struck by a thought, he narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her, a meaningful smile curling on his lips: “What if I want you?”

Lin Jiangnian suddenly recalled the rumors outside that the Crown Prince of Lin was a notorious womanizer, a confirmed lecher, as the woman in red had confirmed last night... Not only did he have designs on the maids in the mansion, he frequented brothels. How could he be a gentleman?

For a prince openly living under the protection of his royal uncle, how could he let such a young, beautiful maid go untouched?

Their relationship might be strained, but Lin Jiangnian didn’t believe she had no feelings for him at all.

Perhaps the Crown Prince’s poor relationship with this maid was connected to this matter...

So, Lin Jiangnian turned the topic toward her, partly as a test.

As expected, upon hearing this, Zhiyuan showed little emotional reaction.

She was clearly accustomed to it.

Her gaze remained calm, but her expression bore a faint cold rejection as she changed the subject: “Your Highness still has a marriage engagement with the Princess. Before the wedding, you must keep yourself pure and not indulge excessively.”

“Then why did you just say you could arrange for someone else for me?” Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes and asked back.

Zhiyuan’s expression remained serene: “I was merely speaking casually.”

Lin Jiangnian: “...”

If this were any other maid, daring to speak this way to her master, she would have been dragged out and beaten to death on the hill by now.

Lin Jiangnian sneered, “Are you mocking me?”

Zhiyuan did not respond. Standing before Lin Jiangnian, she reached out and fastened the last button on his chest garment, then stepped back, lifting her eyes to gaze calmly at him.

Her eyes were clear and cold, beautiful to behold; her pupils deep and dark like a starry night sky.

Her delicate, radiant face, flawless pale skin, unadorned yet exquisite features, and thin, lightly pursed lips gave her a gentle and refined air.

Yet there was also a hint of the sharpness of a seasoned wanderer.

She was nothing like a mere maid—more like a noble lady of impeccable grace and refinement.

Whether it was a trick of the mind or not, being so closely scrutinized by her made Lin Jiangnian uneasy. He felt unnatural all over, as if his true identity could be uncovered at any moment.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Jiangnian was unsure just how rotten the original Crown Prince had been, but now the arrow was drawn and he had to keep up the act.

“You haven’t answered my question... If I want you, will you comply?”

Zhiyuan lowered her gaze and replied coolly: “Your Highness should ask the Prince. If he agrees, I naturally have no objection.”

Lin Jiangnian was stunned again.

So as long as the Crown Prince consents, she’s willing to serve in bed?

Wait...

She was sent by the Crown Prince to watch over the prince, nominally a maid, so how could she let the Crown Prince lay a hand on her?

So it was just an excuse!

Realizing this, Lin Jiangnian burst out angrily, “You shameless woman, don’t use my father to pressure me! He’s not home now and can’t control me!”

“The Crown Prince of Lin is quick-tempered, moody, and fears the Prince. Though he usually disguises himself as a refined gentleman, he often loses his temper and speaks harshly to Zhiyuan...”

Lin Jiangnian almost perfectly portrayed the Crown Prince’s character flaws as he vented.

Yet, despite this, Zhiyuan remained indifferent, unaffected by Lin Jiangnian’s anger.

“It’s late; Your Highness must be hungry. Breakfast is ready. Please come dine with me,” she said calmly.

With that, Zhiyuan turned and left without looking back at Lin Jiangnian’s flushed, angry face.

Lin Jiangnian stood frozen, only relaxing once her figure disappeared beyond the doorway.

Acting is exhausting!

Pretending to be a dissolute, lecherous prince is even more tiring!

But thankfully...

Recalling Zhiyuan’s reactions carefully, she had shown no slip-ups and no further suspicion.

It seemed his disguise was holding up.

Relieved, Lin Jiangnian suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

This maid was not to be underestimated.

During their conversation, he had been on edge, fully alert—one wrong answer and suspicion would arise.

Especially after arousing her doubts yesterday, she would certainly be more vigilant today.

Every step he took had to be as careful as walking on thin ice, but for now, he had managed to get through it...

Outside the door.

Zhiyuan stepped out of the room but stopped after only a few steps.

Her eyes lowered slightly, a trace of puzzlement crossing her face.

The prince...

Today seemed rather normal!

Lecherous, irritable, childish...

It appeared the prince’s strange behavior yesterday was merely a confused reaction to some shock.

But then, a flicker of bewilderment returned to her beautiful eyes.

For some reason, she felt the prince was somewhat strange.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on it!

Though all his reactions seemed normal, something about him felt unfamiliar.

Zhiyuan lowered her gaze to her hands, her slender, translucent fingers pale and delicate.

She stared blankly, deep in thought.

At that moment, hurried footsteps broke the silence.

Zhiyuan looked up to see a figure rushing toward her.

“All the people have been caught and brought back!”

The confusion in Zhiyuan’s eyes vanished completely, replaced by a cold, murderous intent.