Chapter Nine: Innocent and Easily Fooled

Morning.

Lin Jiangnian awoke from sleep, sitting at the edge of the bed in a daze for a moment before once again confirming that everything that had happened yesterday and before was not a dream.

It was real!

After a brief moment of stupor, Lin Jiangnian gradually accepted the reality.

Just as he was about to get up, he heard a woman's voice from outside the door: "Your Highness, you’re awake?"

"Mm, come in," Lin Jiangnian nodded.

The door was gently pushed open, followed by a few maids carrying hot water and towels.

"Your Highness, it’s time to change, wash up, and have breakfast."

The two maids who had served Lin Jiangnian last night stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

Behind them trailed a small, timid figure, head lowered, looking anxious and uneasy.

Lin Jiangnian’s gaze fell on her, quickly recognizing her—it was the little maid he had frightened yesterday.

What was her name? Little Zhu?

"Wait!"

Lin Jiangnian stopped the two maids from starting.

As the heir to the Prince of Lin’s title, it was natural to have dedicated maids for dressing, washing, and bathing. Though Lin Jiangnian was unaccustomed to it, he had no choice but to comply to keep his identity concealed.

However...

Lin Jiangnian squinted slightly, looking at the little maid behind them, who kept her head low as if hoping to be invisible, her nervous demeanor clear. A faint, meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"Let her do it."

He pointed at the little maid.

The two maids were momentarily stunned, instinctively glancing back at Little Zhu.

At the same time, Little Zhu quietly raised her head, and upon seeing the heir pointing at her, she froze.

What did this mean?

Your Highness wanted her to serve him?

The little maid suddenly realized something... recalling yesterday's events, her delicate body trembled slightly.

A look of terror immediately spread across her face.

Your Highness, are you really only going to help me dress?

"I, I..."

The refusal was nearly on her lips, but she swallowed it.

No, she couldn’t refuse.

As a maid, she had no right to say no, but...

Her small hands intertwined, her whole body tense, so nervous she was nearly sweating.

Your Highness, this is clearly aimed at her...

"Both of you may leave now," Lin Jiangnian said calmly.

The two maids beside him didn’t dare argue. The heir had done this kind of thing many times before; they were used to it.

It was a pity for Little Zhu, who had only been here a couple of days, now about to suffer at the heir’s hands.

Beautiful girls, after all, couldn’t escape the heir’s grasp!

...

Once the two maids left, only Lin Jiangnian and the little maid remained in the room.

The little maid’s face was flushed red, filled with fear and panic, not daring to lift her head.

She wanted to run but didn’t dare.

"What are you standing there for?"

Lin Jiangnian smiled gently at the little maid before him and said softly, "Why aren’t you helping me get dressed yet?"

"Ah? Oh..."

Little Zhu responded in surprise, took a deep breath, and cautiously stepped closer.

As she approached, Lin Jiangnian took a good look at her.

Petite and delicate, she barely reached his chest. She wore the uniform of the Prince of Lin’s household maids—a simple blouse and skirt—with braided hair. Stray wisps framed her exquisitely delicate, heart-shaped face.

Her face still bore traces of baby fat, her skin fair and smooth, features fine and symmetrical. A faint blush tinted her cheeks, with slender eyebrows like willow leaves, deep black eyes clear and bright, soft plump cherry lips, and gracefully smooth cheeks—a true beauty in the making.

Not fully blossomed yet, but already possessed a strikingly enchanting appearance.

Indeed, the quality of maids in the Prince of Lin’s household was very high.

From the kite girl to this little maid, their looks and bearing were exceptional.

Now, the little maid stood tensely beside Lin Jiangnian, her delicate face full of fear and anxiety.

She took a deep breath, trying hard to calm herself.

Little Zhu, don’t be afraid!

You can do this, it will be fine... Kite sister said if Your Highness tried anything, she could refuse and seek her help for justice...

No need to be afraid!

Silently cheering herself on, Little Zhu finally mustered the courage and extended her small hand to help the heir dress.

"Are you really afraid of me?"

Lin Jiangnian looked down at the little maid with her head lowered, her face tense and clearly fearful, and found it somewhat amusing.

"Ah? I, I’m not..."

The little maid hurriedly waved her hands to deny.

Lin Jiangnian’s gaze was indifferent as he suddenly asked, "How long have you been in the prince’s mansion?"

"Half, half a year..."

"Hmm?"

Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes. "Really?"

The little maid hurriedly explained, "Little Zhu did come to the mansion six months ago, but she was studying in the backyard, learning how to serve Your Highness... Only a few days ago was Little Zhu assigned to serve Your Highness directly..."

Lin Jiangnian was taken aback.

He had merely intended to test the little maid’s words, but as soon as he asked, she spilled everything without hesitation.

Was she just too naive?

Lin Jiangnian looked down at the little maid before him, her head lowered, face flushed and nervous.

In a place like the prince’s mansion, the maids’ backgrounds were carefully investigated, and they had to undergo strict training before being allowed to serve.

So how did such a naive little maid get in?

Did someone pull strings for her?

Or perhaps Kite had deliberately chosen her for her simple nature and assigned her to serve the heir?

That seemed the only reasonable explanation.

Having figured this out, Lin Jiangnian collected himself. It didn’t matter how she got here, as long as she was naive and easy to manipulate.

"No wonder I hadn’t seen you before. So this is your first time serving, right?"

The little maid was tense, hearing the heir mention "first time"...

What first time?

It was indeed her first time serving him today!

She had only met him yesterday!

So she quickly nodded her little head.

"I see."

Lin Jiangnian nodded, beginning to contemplate.

This simple little maid was indeed a good person to fool. Having been at the mansion for half a year, she must know quite a bit. For Lin Jiangnian, she was a useful source of information.

At this moment, Little Zhu lowered her head even more, heart pounding with anxiety, utterly panicked.

She was doomed!

Dead for sure!

How could she be so foolish and accidentally offend the heir? He must be even angrier now—maybe...

Little Zhu recalled what the other maids had said about what happened to those who offended the heir, and chills ran down her spine. Her delicate face was filled with fear and panic.

Wuwuwu...

She was doomed!

Wrapped in terror, the little maid’s hands trembled uncontrollably. Suddenly, she stumbled on the edge of a nearby table. Her already tense body seemed to collapse entirely, her legs nearly giving way as she was about to fall.

"Be careful."

Lin Jiangnian was deep in thought but reacted quickly, instinctively reaching out to steady her.

Startled, the little maid instinctively clutched the heir’s robe tightly, preventing herself from falling.

Once the initial shock passed, she suddenly realized something...

She was in the heir’s arms?!

Little Zhu’s eyes went blank as she looked down at her hand clutching the heir’s sleeve, feeling his arm around her slender waist and the warmth of the man close by, accompanied by a faint, pleasant scent.

She looked up blankly and saw a young, handsome face.

Sharp features, well-defined, with a hint of masculine vigor between his brows.

Your Highness... was actually quite good-looking?!

After a brief daze, Little Zhu quickly snapped out of it.

What was she doing?!

This was bad, very bad!

Her face instantly flushed crimson, heart pounding with embarrassment and panic as she scrambled to stand.

"Y-Your Highness... I-I'm sorry..."

Lin Jiangnian naturally noticed the change in the little maid’s expression but paid it no mind.

Just as he was about to release her, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of a figure in a blue robe outside the door.

Long hair draped over her shoulders, slender curved brows, clear, cold eyes, carrying a slightly immature yet barely blooming youthful look.

Clearly a young girl, yet she exuded an air of aloof maturity that kept others at a distance.

At this moment, she stood quietly at the doorway, her gaze indifferent and expressionless as she watched the master and servant tangled together in an intimate embrace inside the room.

"What are you two doing?!"

"..."