271 Taking a Bath

After another month of traveling, the convoy finally returned to the Imperial Capital before New Year’s Eve.

Yan Nanguan waited at the city gate with the Eagle Guards in advance. As soon as they saw Duke Lang’s carriage, they immediately went forward.

“Greetings, Your Highness and Princess Consort!”

Yan Nanguan said, “Your Highness, it’s a long journey. It’s been hard on you.”

The wind was cold. They waited near the city gate for a long time. Their noses were red from the cold.

Xiao Juan rode on the horse and said to them.

“You guys go back first. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. I’ll give you a day off. Go home and celebrate with your relatives. See you at the Justice Department the day after tomorrow.”

The Eagle Guards were delighted and replied in unison.

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Lo Pingsha, Meng Xizhou, Yan Nanguan, and the others left while Yu Niaoniao and Xiao Juan returned to their residence.

Granny Xiu Yan had long ordered someone to warm the room. As soon as Yu Niaoniao entered, she felt like she had instantly transitioned from winter to spring. She took off her cloak and outer clothes and sat in the rocking chair. She sighed comfortably.

“Home is still the most comfortable!”

Granny Xiu Yan asked solicitously.

“I’ve already asked someone to boil hot water. Do you want to take a hot bath first?”

In order to hurry back, Yu Niaoniao had not taken a good bath for a while. Hearing this, she immediately replied.

“Alright, I’ll take a bath now!”

There was a bath in Langjun Imperial Palace, but Xiao Juan never liked to enjoy it. He usually bathed quickly and rarely used the bath, so this bath was idle all year round.

Things were different now. Ever since the Duke’s Palace had Yu Niaoniao as its mistress, the bath could finally play its rightful role.

Yu Niaoniao took off her clothes and let her body slowly sink into the warm water.

She leaned back against the wall of the pool and narrowed her eyes. The faint fragrance of essential oils filled the air.

At this moment, every pore on her body had opened up. She was very relaxed and felt extremely comfortable.

Granny Xiu Yan walked in with tea and snacks.

She placed the refreshments beside the bath and asked.

“Do you need me to wipe your back, Princess Consort?”

Yu Niaoniao said, “Okay, okay!”

She turned around and turned her back to Granny Xiu Yan.

Granny Xiu Yan squatted down, rolled up her sleeves, and wiped her back with a soft wet handkerchief.

“County Princess, I didn’t see Dang Gui just now. Where did she go?”

Yu Niaoniao fiddled with the petals floating on the water and sighed. “She went home.”

Granny Xiu Yan was confused. “Went home?”

Yu Niaoniao explained how Dang Gui lost her memory and then regained it.

Granny Xiu Yan sighed.

“I didn’t expect Dang Gui to be the daughter of General Zhengyuan. I originally thought that she was just an ordinary little girl.”

Yu Niaoniao said, “She’s staying in Xiangtai now. She probably won’t return to the Langjun Imperial Palace in the future.”

Granny Xiu Yan said, “But you can’t have no one to serve you. I’ll get some maidservants to come over later. You can choose two that you like.”

Yu Niaoniao nodded. “Sure.”

At this moment, Xiao Juan’s low voice sounded outside the door.

“Is the bath being used now?”

The servant guarding outside the door replied truthfully, “The Princess Consort is using it.”

“Then I’ll come back later.”

Xiao Juan was about to turn around and leave when Granny Xiu Yan hurriedly ran out to stop him.

“Your Highness, please wait!”

Xiao Juan turned to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

Granny Xiu Yan smiled kindly. “Since you’re here, come in and take a bath together. Anyway, you and the princess consort are husband and wife. There’s nothing to avoid.”

When Yu Niaoniao heard this, she was shocked.

Holy shit, was Duke Lang going to come in and take a bath with her?

No, no! Absolutely not!

Yu Niaoniao immediately put down her half-finished tea and scrambled out of the bath.

Outside the room, Xiao Juan politely declined.

“No need. I still have something to do. I’ll leave first.”

Granny Xiu Yan said, “You’ve already walked so far. You definitely have to take a bath. Don’t be in a hurry to leave. The hot water inside is ready-made. You can soak in it now.”

She knew Duke Lang’s temper. This person was very boring. He did not know how to sweet-talk or please girls.

Who knew how many years it would take for someone like him to have a child?

She had to help him!

Seeing that Duke Lang still did not move, Granny Xiu Yan could not help but urge.

“The Princess Consort is still waiting for you inside!”

Xiao Juan was surprised. “Is she really waiting for me?”

Granny Xiu Yan nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes! The Princess Consort also wants to take a bath with you.”

Yu Niaoniao, who was preparing to put on her clothes, was speechless.

“Granny, don’t do that to me…”

“When did I say such a thing?”

In a moment of desperation, Yu Niaoniao accidentally slipped and fell forward, her head hitting the screen.

Bang!

“Ah! It hurts!!”

Outside the house, Xiao Juan and Granny Xiu Yan heard the sound and hurriedly walked in.

At this moment, Yu Niaoniao was squatting on the ground, covering her head with one hand and pulling her clothes with the other.

She frantically wrapped her clothes around herself. Her wet long hair hung down her sides, and her cheeks were white and red from the heat. Her eyes were red from the pain, and there was a crystal-clear tear at the corner of her eye.

Xiao Juan quickly walked to her side, squatted down, and reached out to touch her forehead.

“What’s wrong? Did you hit your head? Let me see.”

Yu Niaoniao was embarrassed and in pain now. Her voice was trembling.

“I’m fine. I accidentally bumped into the screen just now. You guys go out first.”

Xiao Juan noticed that she was only wrapped in thin innerwear.

The water droplets on her body wet her inner clothes, and her graceful figure could be vaguely seen.

Xiao Juan felt as if his pupils had been burned. He hurriedly retracted his gaze, not daring to look further.

He quickly took off his coat and wrapped it around her.

“I’ll send you back.”

With that, he carried Yu Niaoniao horizontally and strode out. At the same time, he instructed Granny Xiu Yan.

“Call the physician.”

“Yes.”

Yu Niaoniao was sent back to the bedroom.

Xiao Juan placed her on the bed.

She immediately pulled the blanket over and wrapped it around her, revealing only her wet head.

Xiao Juan looked at her forehead carefully. There was a small bump. Fortunately, her skin was not torn.

“Why were you so careless?”

Yu Niaoniao did not dare to say that she fell and hit her head because she was afraid that Xiao Juan would come in to take a bath with her.

She said resentfully, “It won’t happen again.”

After physician came, he checked Yu Niaoniao’s injuries and said, “It’s not a big problem. Just apply some medicinal wine.”

The physician gave them a bottle of medicinal wine and left.

Xiao Juan picked up the bottle and poured the medicinal wine into his palm. After rubbing it warm, he wiped it on Yu Niaoniao’s forehead.

Yu Niaoniao screamed in pain.

In order to prevent her from moving, Xiao Juan had no choice but to hold her firmly with one arm.

After applying the medicinal wine, the two of them broke out in a thin layer of sweat.