Chapter 002: Shared Bathing

Little did she expect so much; of course, she fled without a second thought. Who would have known that her skirt would be torn by Huo Chen? She stumbled and fell to the ground, her bones hitting the floor, causing her to grimace in pain

Mu Wanqing's eyes widened at that moment, in this bathroom? In this pool? With this man?

Mu Wanqing watched as the key was tossed into the pond, sinking down. Her heart sank along with it, and her face was filled with anger: "What exactly do you want? I have gathered all twelve jade beads, and you casually threw them into the pond. Not only have you failed to keep your promise, but you also threw the key away. Are you deliberately making things difficult for me?"

Seeing the astonished expression on Mu Wanqing's face, Huo Chen smiled softly and lifted her chin, saying, "No one is stopping us; since our marriage, we have yet to consummate it."

The dangerous and ambiguous atmosphere spread between the two, and Mu Wanqing could no longer afford to feel shy; she turned around in a panic, wanting to escape.

At the time in the courtyard, she had already been squatting for over an hour searching for the jade beads, and now she was being asked to go into the pond to retrieve them. Huo Chen was being excessively unreasonable!

She was extremely embarrassed and angry, tears almost streaming down her face, and shouted: "What do I owe you?! Don't touch me! You scoundrel!" As she yelled, she slapped his hands that were restraining her and kicked her feet, but Huo Chen seemed to have gone mad, completely ignoring her struggles, still obsessively biting her skin

Humiliated by him in such a manner, Mu Wanqing's face had already turned red. If it were in modern times, she would definitely sue him! However, at this moment, she was like a fish on the chopping board, unable to resist. Yet she still did not forget to say: "Yes! I am indeed a loose woman. Since I am so filthy, just don't touch me!"

"My lord, how can a woman as unclean as she is enter the pool to collect the jade pearls?" Ying Ji glared at Mu Wanqing, her expression filled with disdain.

"Do not be afraid, your complexion is pale and unappealing." Huo Chen touched her cheek and traced down to her defined collarbone

"Are you really going to just watch your maid die of thirst and hunger? You crashed into the wall and fell unconscious for three days and three nights; it was she who stayed by your bedside the entire time. If it weren't for your frail condition, she wouldn't have gone to steal the medicinal herbs from Ying Ji, nor would she have been locked in the woodshed. Mu Wanqing, how can you be such a heartless and ungrateful person?" The figure of Huo Chen sounded behind her, causing her to pause momentarily, but her whole body couldn't help but tremble. Although she was being humiliated by Huo Chen now, how could that compare to everything Zhi Ning had done for her?

However, Huo Chen grasped her hand and pulled her into his embrace, his heated chest pressing against her back, kissing her neck in a flurry as his hands did not pause for a moment, surprisingly moving down towards her lower body.

Mu Wanqing had not yet turned around when she heard a splash of water behind her. A sharp pain shot through her waist, and looking down, she saw a white cloth wrapped around her waist. With a sudden pull from behind, she was yanked backward, falling to the ground, rolling a few times before plunging directly into the bath, creating a large splash of water

Mu Wanqing stared intently at the bunch of keys; once she had the keys, Zhineng would be able to be released

Mu Wanqing had just touched the stone by the edge of the pond, raised her head, and took a deep breath of air. As she turned around, unexpectedly, someone pressed down on her shoulders. She looked up in surprise and saw Huo Chen, who was much taller than her, staring intently at her. At that moment, she felt the air grow thin, and in her fright, she dropped the key back into the water.

What are you trying to do? Still pretending to be a fierce woman? You are the most shameless woman in the world! Do you have any idea how many women wish to climb into my bed?" Huo Chen pressed her against the edge of the pool, one hand already reaching down.

Mu Wanqing felt a sudden panic in her heart, but she met his gaze and said, "I didn't know before, but I know now"

Mu Wanqing trembled all over upon hearing Huo Chen's words, feeling a chill in her heart. If she were not the daughter of the Prime Minister, perhaps Huo Chen would have long since removed her from this world. She had been wronged before her marriage, making her a laughingstock in the eyes of the world. He wanted to drive her to her death, but she was no longer the original Mu Wanqing. How could she possibly concede defeat?

She gritted her teeth and then submerged into the water, feeling for the string of keys.

"But this king does not wish to give it to you." He smirked and tossed the key into the pool again

Mu Wanqing looked at the pool of concubines; even if she was no longer pure, she was still better than them. She let out a cold laugh: "The prince is fickle, so I shall take my leave." After saying this, she turned around and walked barefoot on the cold floor, which was truly uncomfortable. She did not want to let Huo Chen trample on her dignity any longer

Falling into the warm pool, Mu Wanqing choked on a few mouthfuls of water, splashing around before standing up. The water reached just to her chest, and as she brushed her hair off her forehead, she finally saw Huo Chen's cold expression. Her nose felt a bit sour, and at that moment, she longed to cry. However, she slowly walked towards the edge of the pool. Just as she was about to reach the stone steps, she heard a jingling sound. She numbly turned her head and saw Huo Chen holding a set of keys in his hand. Her nose felt a bit sour, and at that moment, she longed to cry. However, she slowly walked towards the edge of the pool. Just as she was about to reach the stone steps, she heard a jingling sound. She numbly turned her head and saw Huo Chen holding a set of keys in his hand.

In the warm water, she opened her eyes, seeing a hazy scene, and noticed the scattered emerald beads at the bottom of the pool. She resurfaced to take a breath and then dove back down, feeling around for quite a while before finally grasping the string of keys. A sense of secret joy filled her heart as she swam towards the edge of the pool.

Mu Wanqing was exhausted from searching for the key in the water. After finally climbing up, she was caught off guard when Huo Chen followed closely behind, grabbing the hem of her skirt and coldly saying: "Mu Wanqing, you dare to escape?!"

Huo Chen maintained a calm expression and said: "This prince simply does not like you. The sight of you is repulsive. You are so unchaste and impure; why do you not die even when you hit the wall? Why must you linger and obstruct my view? The key has already been given to you; if you want it, go and take it yourself."

How bold! How dare you be so disrespectful to the prince!" Ying Ji glared at Mu Wanqing.

"This is the key you wanted." Huo Chen shook his head at her, along with the *illustration* book

"Even if you escape to the ends of the earth, I can still bring you back, for this is what you owe me, and you will never be able to repay it in your lifetime!" A trace of coldness flashed in Huo Chen's dark eyes, and he casually tore away the excess fabric from her body, causing her to cry out in panic. Huo Chen looked at her figure, his breath becoming somewhat hurried.

She immediately broke out in goosebumps, struggled to rise, splashing countless droplets of water, and shouted, "What are you doing?!"

Huo Chen was taken aback, not expecting her to say such a thing. Seizing the moment of his distraction, she quickly pushed him away and dove into the water, swimming towards the stone steps.

Huo Chen gently approached her, his upper body bare, while she was completely soaked, her curves fully visible. It was only then that she wanted to escape, but to her surprise, she noticed that the concubines behind him had long since vanished!

Where can you escape to? Hmm?" Huo Chen dropped the torn piece of cloth in his hand and slowly walked towards her. Mu Wanqing felt completely sore and weak; she propped herself up halfway but found that Huo Chen was completely undressed. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look again. It made sense; after all, who takes a bath while still wearing clothes.

"This prince remembers that you cannot swim". Huo Chen's piercing gaze seemed to see through her.