Chapter 131: A Kick Right to His Heart

In the dead of winter, the pond was frozen over, yet he’d gone and cut a hole in the ice just to jump in.

’Just how many screws does he have loose to do something like that?’

Xiao Li was utterly amazed, so she had him dragged over for a look.

When Shuang Han was brought over, his face was deathly pale and his lips were tinged with purple. His clothes appeared to have been changed, but even wrapped in a blanket, he couldn’t stop shivering. The water in his hair, though wiped, had frozen solid, like an ice sculpture.

In this ghastly state, where was the vigor he’d shown at the gate earlier?

"Why did you want to die?"

It had only been a short while, yet a perfectly healthy person had run off to kill himself.

"Priiiincess..." Shuang Han’s voice trembled, his eyes fixed on Xiao Li, filled with utter despair. "Princess, I... I entered the opera troupe as a child, learning all the arts of performance... I endured so much hardship to... to master these skills... I want to sing for the Princess... If the Princess doesn’t want me... then what meaning is there... in me staying alive..."

Tears streamed down his face as he finished, and he looked at her pleadingly. "Princess... even though I was sent here by someone else, my feelings for you are genuine..."

The onlookers all wore shocked expressions, as if watching a fascinating play. ’So that’s what this is all about,’ they thought, ’a ploy to win her sympathy. He wants the Princess to feel sorry for him.’

They turned to look at the Princess, who sat in the main seat, her expression cold, a wry smile on her lips. "Did you cause this scene because I told you to learn to be a steward?"

Shuang Han didn’t dare meet her gaze, lowering his head and saying pitifully, "I am too foolish, I can’t learn such complicated things. I only wish to always remain by the Princess’s side."

’To put it bluntly,’ Xiao Li thought, ’he just wants to be a pampered pet who sings, amuses me, and is showered with affection.’

’Why did I let him stay in the first place?’ she wondered. Thinking back, it was mainly to spite Lu Yanzhi.

That day, Shuang Han had been wearing heavy, dramatic makeup. Before agreeing to let him stay, Xiao Li had never even seen his real face, though she could vaguely tell he was handsome.

Keeping him here, having him dress as a woman and wait at the entrance—it was all just to sicken Lu Yanzhi.

But that was just a fleeting whim at the start. Afterward, she’d practically forgotten he even existed.

It was only today, upon seeing him, that she had a sudden thought. It might be useful to have him learn something and serve as a presentable face for the mansion in the future. She never imagined that he would immediately turn around and pull a stunt like this, jumping into a pond for a pity ploy.

’Isn’t this the kind of melodrama scheming women use to vie for favor?’

’Oh, well. To each their own.’

Xiao Li understood. She raised her hand. "Yang Jun, escort him out of the mansion. I don’t want to see him ever again."

Yang Jun knew this kid would never win the Princess’s favor. "As you command."

Shuang Han was dumbfounded. He looked at Xiao Li in a panic. "Princess, why are you sending me away?"

As Yang Jun went to grab him, he struggled fiercely. "Princess, I was only hoping for a shred of your pity! My feelings for you are real!"

Xiao Li’s expression was frigid; she didn’t spare him another glance. Yang Jun and a nearby guard seized him, effortlessly lifting his frail body and carrying him away.

Out of the mansion, and out of her sight forever.

Shuang Han panicked, filled with regret. "I was wrong... Princess, I was wrong! I’m willing to learn, I’ll study hard with Housekeeper He, I swear! Please, Princess, give me one more chance! Princess..."

Before he could finish, he was dragged past the inner gate, and his voice faded out of earshot.

Xiao Li picked up her warm tea and took a sip. As she felt the liquid slowly warm her stomach, she rose and returned to her inner chambers, not saying another word about Shuang Han.

’What was there to say?’

’He was a man who took Madam Lu’s bribe to seduce me, make me slip up, and ruin my name. I couldn’t even be bothered to hold it against him. I let him stay, didn’t mistreat or bully him, and even considered promoting him when I found him pleasant enough to look at. My kindness is so astounding I can hardly believe it myself.’

’I show a rare moment of compassion for once, and he doesn’t appreciate it. Why would I keep him around?’

’Am I supposed to respect his hobbies, let him make the Princess Mansion a bastion for the operatic arts, and then let him climb into my bed?’

’I’m not that desperate.’

’As for his petty schemes, it’s not even worth my time to teach him a lesson. Let him go. He can do whatever he wants.’

「As evening fell.」 Xiao Li was tired and ready to wash up for the night.

Someone opened the door and entered. Xiao Li assumed it was Hong Yue with water for washing, but the footsteps sounded wrong. She looked up to see a figure in black carrying a basin.

A curtain obscured his face, but that physique, that waist... ’No one is that seductive,’ she thought, ’except Lou Yan.’

And sure enough, the next moment his dangerously alluring face came into view. His gaze was fixed on her, his dark eyes reflecting the lamplight with a perilous charm.

"Princess."

He set down the basin and knelt on one knee. His tall frame meant that even kneeling, he was nearly at eye level with the seated Xiao Li. "This servant is here to help the Princess wash up."

Xiao Li had already instructed Hong Yue and the others that Lou Yan could come to her directly. After all, he couldn’t always arrive announced through official channels, which gave him ample opportunity to be audacious. He entered her room with a damnable smoothness.

Xiao Li shot him a glance, too lazy to ask why he was there. She set down her book and let him attend to her.

Lou Yan’s gaze swept over Xiao Li’s bandaged wrist, a flicker in his eyes. He bent to wring out a cloth and gently washed her face.

His hands were broad and strong, yet his touch on her face was perfectly gentle and meticulous, as if he were polishing a fragile treasure.

After washing her face, he took a fresh cloth to wash her hand, laying her palm open and cleaning each finger to the tip.

He only washed one hand, of course, not sparing a second glance at her injured one. He bowed his head, carried the water out, and returned from the doorway with a slightly larger wooden basin.

"Princess, for your feet."

With his head bowed, he lifted her foot, removed her slipper and stocking, and gently placed it in the water.

He was tall and lean with a ramrod straight back, and his features screamed of a man who was anything but kind. Yet, his posture as he bent to serve her was practiced and careful.

He was quiet today, and Xiao Li was even less inclined to speak. She just watched as he meticulously washed her feet.

’How should I put this?’ she mused. ’Having a handsome, mature man who’s exactly my type wash my feet is doing wonders for my mood.’

Even the gloom of the day began to dissipate.

The mood lasted until Lou Yan, holding her newly cleaned foot, bowed his head and pressed a kiss to it. Xiao Li’s composure finally broke. She kicked him, though not unkindly. "Pervert."

The light kick landed squarely on his chest.

Lou Yan didn’t so much as sway. He readily complied, tucking her foot against his chest before reaching for the other one.

After drying it, he put a clean stocking and slipper back on her foot. Only then did he look up at her again. "May this servant know who injured you?"

Xiao Li arched a brow. "Are you offering to get revenge for me?"

Lou Yan leaned closer, his deep, cool voice laced with a raspy, bewitching tone. "If the Princess gives the order, this servant would not dare to disobey."

Before Xiao Li could answer, he presented a slip of paper, unfolding it to reveal an address.

"This servant happened to learn of Prince Chen’s whereabouts. I was on my way to report to Your Majesty, but came to let the Princess review it first."

Xiao Li fell silent.

’This man really knows how to play me,’ she thought. ’This is a trade.’