Chapter 9 (2/2)

I grabbed one of my hairpins and tried to spy in the crack between the door and doorframe, my body glued against the door plank as I listened for sounds of movement. My hand was using force too, squeezing the long, thin hairpin through the cracks before wiggling it up and down. After a long while, I unlocked the door.

Heheheh, it’s true what they say about practice makes perfect. I quietly glided through the door.

Just by using the lantern in my hands, I could see the bedcovers were messily pushed aside. Not far away was a pale yellow light emanating from behinda folding screen.

There was even the sound of pouring water.

— [Most up to date translations for this series can be found on volaretranslations.]

It seems like he was taking a bath. I immediately bent down, tiptoeing to the cabinet in front of the bed and sizing up the bottles and flasks there. I narrowed my eyes.

Hn.

I was blank.

Should I get the Ten Perfect Essence Green Tea, or the Nine Condensations of Jade? But the Thousand Creations Sacred Water had strong recuperative properties as well…just that using it to relieve some swelling seemed like a waste.

My fingers slipped over each bottle as I fumbled along.

I got mixed up with the time.

Suddenly, the sound of pouring water behind the screen stopped, and the reflection upon the water’s surface grew extremely clear. The outlines of that person’s face also became increasingly distinct as he turned his head to look my way.

Startled, I quickly lowered my head and blew out the light in my hands. But it was already too late…

“Shao’er, is that you?” a voice carried over from behind the screen, the sounds of a spring bath sure and distinct.

Aiyayayaya~

I panicked, picking up my robes with gritted teeth.

Seriously, this was like trying to steal a chicken only to lose the grain used to bait it. To try and gain an advantage, only to end up worse off. I felt like I was choking, but I stubbornly refused to make a noise.

Squatting down, I relaxed my body and decided to start crawling. As long as I made it to the door, then I could sneak away. He wouldn’t try to catch someone without putting on some clothes, right?

As it turned out, I was wrong again.

There was a sound of splas.h.i.+ng water. Droplets scattered against the screen, and the painting of mountains and water[4]…was really changed into a literal mountains and water painting. I saw the candle flame wavering behind the screen. His long, graceful figure must have been reflected against the water there, and it must have been extremely beautiful.

By this point, I didn’t even have the energy to try crawling anymore.

“Shao’er, you came at the perfect time. Help me bring my clothes over.” His hand brushed against the screen almost helplessly, while his body descended back into the tub. With a long and gentle breath, he spoke, “I think I put it in the wardrobe next to the bed.”

— [Most up to date translations for this series can be found on volaretranslations.]

This guy…

He didn’t even bring a change of clothes with him when taking a bath.

If I had come any later, wouldn’t I have seen a beautiful naked man walking around the room? …simply thinking about it was just…

I took a deep breath and put on a long face.

Seriously, what timing. I didn’t dare try stealing any more pills, but obediently found him a robe and carried it with both hands behind the screen.

“Yifu… …here.”

While I was still saying ‘here,’ he suddenly extended a hand and gripped my wrist, the scattered water soaking my sleeves. I blinked a few times, and before I could react…

…I felt a sudden force dragging me over.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, what’s going on now?! Save me…I don’t want to spy on an old guy like you bathing!

-o- [Most up to date translations for this series can be found on volaretranslations.]

[1]taels (兩) －liang, also Chinese for the number 2, in this case it’s an ancient unit of weight equal to 40grams, or 1.3oz of silver.

[2]short table (案) －specifically an an, as seen in these images.

[3]like a thief (賊頭賊腦) －zeitou zeinao means to have a crafty head and wicked brain, an idiom for behaving, well, like a thief.

[4]painting of mountains and water (山水畫) －shanshui hua, a genre of Chinese painting that focuses on landscapes. Its literal name is “mountain water painting”, probably since both are popular subjects.