Chapter 33: Bathing

"Do you know your place?"

Yan Xi looked timid, her face pale and cold. Seeing him arrive, she was already deeply frightened. When he asked such a clearly distant question, she was momentarily at a loss for how to reply, nor did she understand his true intent. Her voice was delicate and soft, barely audible, and clearly laced with fear—a far cry from the headstrong demeanor she had shown back in Chang'an. "You... what are you trying to say?"

"What am I trying to say?"

The man deliberately drew out the final syllable. As he spoke, he sat slowly into the grand armchair nearby, raised his eyes, and with his thin lips parted only slightly, he spoke in an unhurried, indifferent tone: "I want you to serve me."

Yan Xi turned as he did, having already slowly pivoted to face him, her expression brimming with unshed tears. She knew he had come for that purpose. By asking her this now, forcing her to remember her status, he was emphasizing the relationship between them—telling her that from this day forward, she was his concubine. And as his concubine, she was naturally expected to serve him.

Just as she was caught in this suffocating tension, before she could speak, she saw the man smile. He leaned forward, his gaze fixed on her face, and with a gleam in his eyes, he lowered his brows and spoke again: "Do you know how to serve others?"

Yan Xi answered quickly, shaking her head piteously. "I don't..."

She naturally did not know how.

Lu Zhi chuckled again, then continued, "No matter. I will teach you slowly..."

With these words, he called for water to be prepared. Several maids filed in, entering the washroom, and within moments, the sound of water could be heard. During this time, the candles in the room flickered, the lamps were lit, and the curtains were drawn.

Yan Xi remained motionless, still standing where she was, her head bowed for the most part. Two clouds of crimson flushed her pale cheeks, and her face grew increasingly hot; the phrase "I will teach you slowly" seemed to linger incessantly in her ears. She said nothing—indeed, she could not—and simply stood there, dazed.

Lu Zhi leaned back in his chair, his gaze wandering over her, his fingers circling his thumb ring with profound meaning. After a while, a maid reported, "My Lord, everything is prepared..."

Lu Zhi lazily raised a hand, dismissing them. The young girl opposite him was clearly even more anxious, and only then did she finally raise her eyes. Her gaze was misty, appearing pure and innocent as she looked at him timidly. Lu Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head to gesture in a certain direction.

Yan Xi followed his gaze and realized it was the washroom. A look of panic immediately appeared on her face, as she roughly understood his intentions. Was he not asking her to serve him while he bathed? Her voice was soft and trembling: "...I, I don't know how to serve someone while they bathe... can you manage on your own?"

Lu Zhi arched a brow. "What do you think?"

This was a clear refusal. Having said that, he gestured again, more slowly. His attitude was unmistakably firm, the tone of command unmistakable.

Yan Xi braced herself, filled with trepidation, and only after a long moment did she finally take a step forward.

The washroom was not small, filled with warmth and dimmed by the glass-covered lamps, which cast a hazy light throughout the room. As soon as she entered, a wave of moisture rushed to meet her. Yan Xi’s heart hammered against her ribs, her head buzzing; she was in front, he was behind, and she did not even know how she had walked inside. She only knew he was following very closely; if she paused her step even for a second, her body would brush against his. In this manner, she finally stepped inside.

Yan Xi turned around immediately, retreating a step to stand facing him. After glancing up at him, she lowered her head again, her breathing growing rapid. Her mind was in a chaotic whirl, no different from being a fool. Just then, she saw the corners of the man’s lips curl. His large hand rose unhurriedly, gripping the girl’s small hand, pulling her a step closer. Guiding her hand with his, he slowly led her slender fingers to touch his clothes—first the lapels, then sliding downward to his waist sash...

Yan Xi’s lips trembled. Once he had finished his "lesson," she blushed deeply and obediently raised her hands, lifting her small face, her breath as fragrant as an orchid, as she began to undo his clothes little by little. When her fingers touched his waist sash, the girl felt even her eyelids grow hot. Her delicate, scallion-like fingers trembled several times before she managed to undo it. Then, the man’s clothes fell away layer by layer, revealing his strong, sturdy shoulders and tightly mus