Chapter 285: Hot Springs
Chapter 285: Hot Springs
October 17, 2024
Tan Er often surprised Meng Qianqian with her unique vocabulary, but Meng Qianqian was more intrigued by her mother, who always had something extraordinary to say.
The carriage soon arrived at the Royal Hunting Ground.
During the previous dynasty, there was a small palace here, but an earthquake destroyed it. Rebuilding would have been costly, so the founding emperor of the current dynasty only built an imperial residence.
The Emperor stayed in the imperial residence.
The soldiers set up their own camps, and the Imperial Guard and Embroidered Robe Guard nearly came to blows over a spacious training ground.
High-ranking ministers were allocated a limited number of small courtyards, but due to the unique terrain, the courtyards were scattered.
Coincidentally, the Governor's Mansion and Xiang Manor's courtyards were located on either side of a small path, facing each other.
A narrow path for these rivals.
The courtyards were of the same size, but only the eastern courtyard of the Governor's Mansion had hot springs.
The Xun Clan arrived a step too late and missed out on the eastern courtyard. They had to settle for the western courtyard, which was still a decent choice as it was near another hot spring.
The eastern courtyard had a two-section layout. Yu Zichuan and Si She Jili occupied the main rooms in the first section, while Wu Ge'er and the servants stayed in the side rooms. Ban Xia and the others lived in the courtyard behind them.
Bai Yuwei and A Man shared a room, and Ban Xia and Tan Er shared another.
The other four maidservants paired up in the remaining two rooms.
Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan, along with Bao Shu, stayed in the main room.
After settling in, everyone started preparing their rooms and making beds.
Tan Er, however, was more interested in finding the hot springs.
"Hot springs! Hot springs! Hot springs!"
The hot springs were located in the back courtyard, sheltered by a wooden pavilion with benches for storing clothes.
The pool was filled with fresh water, not too large but clean.
"Hot springs! Ah, here I come!"
Plop! Tan Er jumped into the water.
"Tan Er, do you know how to swim?" Ban Xia tried to stop her but was too late, her face paling in fright.
"I know! I can swim!"
Tan Er popped her head out of the water, then dived back in, splashing around happily.
Bao Zhu Zhu stood outside the courtyard, looking at a small stream... a ditch, thinking it was the hot spring. She gathered her strength and jumped down.
Whoosh!
In mid-air, her father grabbed her.
Lu Yuan put her back on the shore.
She jumped again.
And was grabbed again.
Bao Zhu Zhu was annoyed. She pushed Lu Yuan away, not wanting him to touch her, and moved aside, trying to distance herself from her troublesome father.
On her third attempt to jump into the ditch, Lu Yuan pulled her into the courtyard.
The first day was hectic, and dinner was not lavish—some game and a few pancakes. Everyone quickly finished their meals and headed to the hot springs.
This time, Bao Zhu Zhu finally got her wish and entered the water.
Qing Shuang sat in the pool, holding a fishing rod with a net at the end, which held Bao Zhu Zhu.
"Hey, ho! Hey, ho!"
"Gurgle, gurgle!"
Bao Zhu Zhu dog-paddled vigorously in the water.
Qing Shuang's fishing rod moved with her movements, pulling her forward and backward, swimming in perfect harmony.
Soon, Ban Xia and Meng Qianqian also arrived.
After bathing, they wore thin sleepwear, and Ban Xia felt a bit embarrassed.
"We're all girls; there's no need to be shy," Meng Qianqian said.
Ban Xia stammered, "I, I'll just wait outside, in case someone comes in."
Meng Qianqian smiled, "The door is locked; no one will come in."
Only then did Ban Xia follow Meng Qianqian into the water.
Being unfamiliar with swimming and experiencing hot springs for the first time, she felt nervous and sat in the shallowest area.
Tan Er splashed around in the deepest part of the pool.
On the other side, Ji Li knocked on Si She's door. "Si She, let's go to the hot springs."
Si She did not refuse.
Ji Li clicked her tongue, "So straightforward? That's unlike you."
Si She calmly replied, "Familiarizing with the terrain will make it easier to catch people."
Ji Li's face turned dark, "It's just five copper plates a day, do you have to be so dedicated?"
When the two of them went out, they ran into Lu Yuan and Yu Zichuan.
"Hot springs," Si She said, "You're here too, there are some people I don't recognize."
Lu Yuan readily agreed, "Okay."
Ji Li frowned, "Some people?"
When they arrived at the hot springs behind the mountain, Ji Li understood the riddle the two were hinting at.
It turned out that they weren't the only ones at the hot springs.
Ji Li recognized Xun Yu and Shangguan Ling.
The other two, she had never seen before.
The two groups faced each other on opposite sides of the hot spring, and the atmosphere suddenly became eerie.
Xun Yu's gaze swept over the four of them and finally rested on Lu Yuan's face, devoid of any hint of a smile, "Oh, I was wondering who it was. It turns out to be Fourth Brother, long time no see. Sixth Brother, Seventh Brother, why aren't you greeting your Fourth Brother?"
The gentle and refined Xun Qi smiled, "Fourth Brother."
Ji Li covered her mouth with a folding fan and whispered to Si She, "Ah She, how come this person has the same eyes as you? Are you from the same place?"
Si She remained silent.
Xun Qi smiled and looked at the two of them, seemingly unaware of Si She's eye color, "The two of you must be the famous Si She Guard and You Ji Guard, I've heard so much about you."
Xun Liu was a man of few words, he only called Lu Yuan 'Fourth Brother' and then fell silent.
Shangguan Ling gave a hearty laugh, "Let's enjoy the hot springs, it'll get cold soon!"
Yu Zichuan replied, "You'll get cold, but it won't."
Shangguan Ling: "....!!!"
This hot spring was much larger than the one in the east wing, and except for Yu Zichuan, all seven of them got into the water.
The two groups took opposite sides, staring at each other intently.
Lu Yuan spoke coldly, "Whose idea was it last time?"
Xun Qi smiled, "It had nothing to do with Third Brother or Sixth Brother, it was my own plan. I heard Third Brother lost something important, did Fourth Brother happen to find it?"
Lu Yuan casually replied, "What I want most is his life."
Ji Li shook her fan, "Oh, so direct?"
A murderous aura spread among the group.
Xun Yu's gaze locked with Lu Yuan's fierce eyes without blinking.
After a while, he suddenly laughed, "Fourth Brother, you're always joking."
Lu Yuan also laughed, his lips curved, captivating and enchanting, "It's just a joke, why would I want Third Brother's life? I clearly want all of yours."
Xun Yu: "..."
Xun Liu, Xun Qi: "..."
Shangguan Ling cleared his throat, "Ahem! It's getting late, we'll get dizzy from soaking too long, and we need to get up early tomorrow. Your Highness, let's go back."
Xun Yu: "You two go ahead, I have something to say to Fourth Brother."
Shangguan Ling glanced at Xun Liu and Xun Qi, and seeing that they obediently got out of the water, he had no choice but to leave the pool, his clothes dripping wet.
Xun Yu slowly approached Lu Yuan.
Ji Li and Si She didn't move.
Instead, Yu Zichuan held the bow in his hand.
Xun Yu stopped beside Lu Yuan, "Fourth Brother, why do you insist on opposing me? You should understand, I don't want to hurt you."
Lu Yuan grabbed his hand as he reached out, "Don't touch me with your filthy hands."
Xun Yu smiled lightly by his ear, "It's not like that, I've never touched you before."
Ji Li kicked Xun Yu in the chest!
A figure flashed by and pulled Xun Yu to the shore just in time.
It was Xun Liu.
Xun Yu smiled meaningfully, spreading his arms wide, allowing the servant to drape a robe over him, and left with Xun Liu.
(End of Chapter)
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