Chapter 333: The East Palace's SchemeChapter 18: Bathing

Li Chen looked at her with bewilderment. "You've misunderstood...but it doesn't matter, let's bathe first..."

Saying that, Li Chen had already rolled over and got out of bed, grabbed Zhao Rui by the waist and carried her, walking straight to the next-door bathroom amidst Zhao Rui's exclamation.

Under Li Chen's orders, the palace maids had already prepared the hot water. The grand East Palace prince used a bathhouse with a huge pool filled with steaming heat. Li Chen put Zhao Rui down and raised his hand to remove her outer clothes.

Zhao Rui blushed and covered her clothes, saying: "Your Highness, I'll do it myself."

"This palace enjoys the process."

Li Chen let out a light chuckle and removed the sheer veil Zhao Rui had been wearing on the outside.

The snow-white toes stepped onto the stone platform still damp with water, a layer of crimson gauze gently falling to the ground, rolling into a heap, contrasting beautifully with the pink-hued toes.

One by one, clothes were shed, and finally, only a bellyband and close-fitting undergarments remained on Zhao Rui. She couldn't bear it anymore and desperately refused to let Li Chen take them off.

During the feudal era, the concept of female chastity was deeply ingrained in a woman's being. Even though Li Chen had legal and familial rights to Zhao Rui after their marriage, Zhao Rui, as a woman, felt instinctively shy. This shyness made it difficult for her to accept the idea of standing face-to-face with Li Chen for an "honest encounter."

"My lord, I shall do it myself... Please turn your back, my lord."

Seeing Zhao Rui's refusal to admit, Li Chen did not make things difficult for her.

Turning around and spreading his arms wide, Li Chen said, "Now it's your turn to help this prince out of my clothes."

Zhao Rui's pearly white teeth gently bit her red lips, and she raised her hand slowly to unbutton the buttons on Li Chen's shirt.

After stripping naked, Li Chen jumped into the pool. The pleasantly warm water soaked his entire body, making him sigh in contentment.

He spread his arms, propping himself against the pool wall. His body was immersed in the hot water, and through the swirling steam, he watched Zhao Rui gracefully step into the pool.

Her porcelain skin was alluringly fair, flushed with a delicate blush due to her shyness. After carefully testing the water temperature with her slender legs, she embraced Zhao Rui in her arms before slowly stepping into the pool.

With a splash, the water rippled as she was pushed. A few strands of hair floated on the surface, swaying with the waves. Zhao Ru'yi's lovely face, usually filled with playful smiles and teasing, now wore an expression of surprise and... shyness. But even this natural, unadorned look perfectly revealed the tenderness and femininity that resided deep within her bones.

That was truly impressive.

Steaming hot air rises from the water surface, Li Chen reaches out his hand.

Zhao Rui, who understood implicitly, gently pursed her lips and walked closer.

Zhao Rui opened her eyes, the misty vapor steaming, making Li Chen's face a little blurry.

"Your Highness, why don't I attend to you with your bath first" Zhao Rui pleaded.

"What's the point of wasting that time"d, “So what if it’s the Liu family Don't be impressed just because they're making a big show now. Who knows what their relationship with the Eastern Palace really is”"What kind of person is the Crown...