Chapter 323: Voyeurism, what does she want to see? (1/2)

Chapter 323: Voyeurism, what does she want to see?

“Why take a bath?” Han Yunxi asked Su Xiaoyu, perplexed.

Su Xiaoyu blinked her innocent eyes as she replied sincerely, “Esteemed wangfei, don’t all rich people like you take baths when they get out of bed? To preserve your skin?”

Han Yunxi smiled wryly. “Where did you hear that from?”

“The older beggar sisters told me that. They even say you rich people scatter flower petals in the water and use very, very pricey essential oils for massage,” Su Xiaoyu said earnestly, as if she’d seen it happen with her own eyes.

Han Yunxi didn’t know what to say. But Su Xiaoyu’s words were right. High class nobles of the imperial clan loved their baths–both women and men. If it wasn’t for the little girl’s words, Han Yunxi would’ve nearly forgotten about the luxurious hot spring in Long Feiye’s sleeping quarters. That was an entirely different realm from Su Xiaoyu’s simple ‘bath.’

“I like to soak in baths in the evenings,” Han Yunxi grinned.

A sly look flashed through Su Xiaoyu’s eyes, before she hastened to offer, “Then Xiaoyu will serve esteemed wangfei in the evening.”

Han Yunxi smiled wordlessly. She hadn’t been sleeping in the study at all, but reading through all the records in the detox system regarding the Beauty’s Blood. The results had been disappointing. The written accounts were sparse, and their contents were things she already knew. Beauty’s Blood had to be raised in a special female body. Once 300 slow-acting poisons were ingested, the woman’s blood would undergo a qualitative change. Common medical principles stated that changes in a person’s blood would take their life, but it was obvious that Beauty’s Blood was an anomaly to begin with.

Han Yunxi sat on the courtyard swing and decided she’d do more research once she observed the interactions of all the different poisons in Baili Mingxiang’s body. Long Feiye should know more about Beauty’s Blood too, but there was no telling when he’d return.

Su Xiaoyu settled by Han Yunxi’s side and asked, “Esteemed wangfei, Zhao mama said that all the plants in this courtyard are poisonous. Is that true?”

“You don’t believe it? Go and touch one,” Han Yunxi grinned.

Su Xiaoyu hastily shook her head. “I don’t dare.”

“Then that’s right. Those poisons are hypertoxic,” Han Yunxi wasn’t joking. If anyone touched the root of those plants with their bare hands, their hands would be a goner.

“Esteemed wangfei, I won’t touch them, but I can water them everyday,” Su Xiaoyu offered. But how could Han Yunxi leave such a dangerous task to a little child?

“No need, I can take care of them myself.”

Han Yunxi was preoccupied with her thoughts, but Su Xiaoyu then asked, “Esteemed wangfei, what kind of poisonous plants are you growing?”

Children were always the curious types, but hadn’t Steward Luo taught Su Xiaoyu that servants of the Hibiscus Courtyard should look and listen more, not talk? It was a good thing this girl was staying by her side. If Long Feiye ever ran into her, he’d probably kick her out if she so much as asked a random question.

“Children don’t need to know so much,” Han Yunxi still felt they were friendly enough for her to add on, “Little Yu’er, do you know what to do if you meet His Highness once day?”

“His Highness Duke of Qin?” Su Xiaoyu suddenly turned nervous.

“Of course. His Highness Duke of Qin lives here too. You’ll definitely run into him,” Han Yunxi grinned. Long Feiye was such a cold and lofty man. There’s no way he’d want to destroy such a little girl too, right?

“They say His Highness Duke of Qin is really scary,” Su Xiaoyu said seriously.

Han Yunxi nodded with equal seriousness. “That’s right. So if you see him in the future, don’t ask him any questions. Understand?”

Su Xiaoyu nodded her head like a head of onion.

When night fell, Han Yunxi really did make her way lazily to the bath. Since Long Feiye was out of the estate these few days, she could use his hot springs without any scruples.

“Zhao mama, make some preparations. I’m going to have a bath!”

“It’s a shame that His Highness isn’t coming back tonight…” Zhao mama secretly sighed as she readied the things. Su Xiaoyu flitted at her side, eager to help out, however, Han Yunxi didn’t usually use things like flower petals or essential oils. Even in her world, the most she’d done was soak in the tub. It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford it, but things like that took too much time. Zhao mama was an old hand, so as soon as Han Yunxi reached the door to Long Feiye’s quarters, she and Su Xiaoyu were already waiting with a pile of things in hand. The doors to Long Feiye’s quarters weren’t locked when he was out, but there were always no less than 10 guards watching over the place.

Actually, none of Long Feiye’s secrets were hidden in his rooms. This was only a place for him to sleep. He hated it when people came in and out as they pleased. If Zhao mama hadn’t come with Han Yunxi, she’d be hard pressed to find a way in, much less Su Xiaoyu.

As soon as Su Xiaoyu entered the rooms, she was struck by its extravagant space. Even though the space around them was dusky and dim, the two tall stone pillars standing in the space before them was already an imposing sight. The entire air was filled with His Highness Duke of Qin’s irrevocably respectful air. Su Xiaoyu turned docile and didn’t say a word the whole way to the hot springs.

Zhao mama gave Su Xiaoyu a big basket of rose petals and had her scatter them in the water, while she herself placed the essential oils on one side. There was also a large bath towel and a set of clean clothes. Su Xiaoyu scattered the petals as she stole looks at Han Yunxi, as if waiting for something. Still, all Han Yunxi did was sit by the edge of the pool without making a move.