Chapter 94: Bathing Together 

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3614052
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too. 

The moment Meng Chang'an followed Li Qiubai into the river, she only then realized that she had forgotten to tell the Princess that her swimming skills were actually not very good.  

The icy river water, mixed with the thick scent of blood, rushed straight into her throat, nearly making her cough uncontrollably underwater.

Meng Chang'an instinctively wanted to leap to the surface for air, but the hands gripping her waist pulled her down again, holding her as they continued swimming upstream.  

To avoid delaying the Princess' plan, the Young Master had no choice but to hold her breath, endure the pain in her chest, and use her internal energy to maintain turtle breathing*. She followed the person's signal and swam forward.

*Daoist internal cultivation method that imitates a turtle's breathing pattern to cultivate internal energy and achieve longevity— breathing slowly and retaining air for extended periods.

Perhaps it was because she had been in the water for too long, or maybe it was the hidden injury from the backlash of her internal energy acting up. Meng Chang'an had already lost track of how long she had been swimming or how far she had gone. She only felt her consciousness growing weaker and, without realizing it, loosened her grip on the Princess' hand, losing strength and sinking downward.  

Young Master Meng never expected that tonight, she would not fall at the hands of those assassins but instead succumb to this river.  

As expected, beauty truly was a downfall.

Just as Young Master Meng lost strength and sank downward, her consciousness hazy and dazed, she vaguely felt someone diving after her, tightly embracing her.  

She dared not struggle and simply kept her eyes shut, allowing that person to laboriously push her up to the surface and carry her onto the waiting boat.  

"Chang'an? Chang'an! Wake up..."  

The Princess' voice sounded urgent and flustered.  

Meng Chang'an had never seen her so shaken before. After all, even when ambushed and wounded, she always remained composed and unhurried. She had only swallowed a few mouthfuls of water—why did the Princess seem so frightened?  

She truly wanted to open her eyes and take a look at this rare moment of distress on the Princess' face, but she could not summon the strength to lift her eyelids. Even speaking was difficult. All she could do was lie there stiffly, letting the Princess' trembling voice call her name as she gently patted her cheek.  

"Chang'an, wake up..."

Before losing consciousness, Young Master Meng could still clearly feel how, in her panic, the Princess breathed into her mouth, one breath after another.  

She even had the mind to think that, at last, the Princess was being gentle with her tonight—finally, she did not bite her.  

But… the faintly salty bitterness lingering between her lips and teeth… could it be the Princess' tears?  

Before Young Master Meng could feel heartache over it, she completely lost consciousness.  

Kneeling beside Young Master Meng, the Princess was already soaked through, yet she stubbornly continued to breathe air into her mouth, one breath at a time. No one could tell whether her uncontrollable trembling was from fear or the cold.  

Seeing her so shaken, the person standing at the bow of the small boat, sword in hand, finally could not hold back and spoke up.

"Tsk, look at you panicking like that. She just choked on water and felt suffocated, she is not dead."  

Ye Wuyou had been standing on this small sailboat, specially prepared to retrieve Li Qiubai and Meng Chang'an, for some time. Helpless, she tossed a blanket—prepared in advance—over Li Qiubai’s back before stepping forward to help support Young Master Meng.  

"Do not worry, she is fine. Watch me."  

She directly pressed several acupoints on Young Master Meng's chest, then exerted force and struck her back twice. Immediately, Young Master Meng was forced to cough up the water stuck in her throat, erupting into violent coughs.  

Seeing that she was finally no longer motionless, the heavy stone weighing on Li Qiubai’s heart finally lifted. She hurriedly pulled Young Master Meng into her arms, patting her back to help her breathe. At the same time, she grabbed the blanket that had fallen to the floor and wrapped it around Young Master Meng to keep out the cold. Only then did she look up at Ye Wuyou and solemnly say, "Thank you."

Seeing the redness in the Princess’ eyes and the water still on her face, Ye Wuyou did not say anything. She just handed her a dry handkerchief and spoke in a softer tone, "They are all waiting for you. Wipe the… river water off your face. Otherwise, they might secretly laugh at you, and you will lose your dignity."  

The Princess did not refuse Ye Wuyou’s kindness, but instead of wiping her own face, she carefully tore open the fabric around Young Master Meng’s wounded left arm. She used the dry handkerchief to wrap the wound for now and asked Ye Wuyou, "How did things go? Did everything go well?”

The river route the fleet took was guarded before, but the authorities had only placed guards at a few key points along the riverbank before the fleet passed. They cleared the area to stop any accidents from delaying tonight’s grand event. Once the fleet passed safely, the guards left.

The boat picking them up was not eye-catching. It was small and could only fit a few people. Other than those in the viewing pavilion who wanted to chase them, no passersby would pay attention to the extraordinary boats on the river.  

Even if the people in the viewing pavilion saw them, it would be useless. Several small boats had gone in different directions, and no one knew which boat carried whom or where they were headed. Even if they wanted to chase, they might not be able to catch up.  

The small boat carrying the Princess and the others went against the current, smoothly avoiding the crowd and the authorities' eyes by taking a fork in the river, and heading toward a remote place.

Ye Wuyou stuck her head out and looked back, but she could no longer see any trace of the people fighting behind them. Only then did she sit back inside the boat canopy and report to Li Qiubai, “Everything you asked me to do has been taken care of. The person sent by the Prime Minister is now waiting at an inn outside the city to meet you tomorrow. Changping also succeeded and has safely brought Su Sheng to the painted boat, waiting for you. Lin Xingyang did well too. That fire will probably make that old bastard Prince of Yu, angry to death. It is just… the time was too tight. The fire did not burn strong enough. Otherwise, I really wanted that kid to burn the Prince of Yu's Manor to the ground and end it all once and for all…”  

Regret filled Ye Wuyou's words.  

Indeed, compared to the suffering Shu Yao had endured, that mere fire at the Prince of Yu’s Manor was nothing.

Thinking of the hideous scar hidden beneath half of Shu Yao’s mask, the Princess’ face grew even darker. After tying a knot with the handkerchief over Young Master Meng’s wound, she finally looked up at Ye Wuyou and said seriously, “Do not worry. There will be another chance. What about the others? How many were injured or killed tonight?”  

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3614052
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too. 

Seeing the fleeting coldness in the Princess’ eyes, Ye Wuyou merely smiled knowingly and replied, “That is good.”  

Looking at Young Master Meng, who was still unconscious, and the Princess, who could not hide her worry, Ye Wuyou deliberately joked to lighten the mood, “Everything went smoothly on our side. There is no need for you to worry. But you two—seriously, what a headache. I thought you both would be able to leave safely, but who would have thought this foolish girl would end up being the most injured? She even almost drowned! What a waste of all her martial arts skills. If I had known, I would have sent Changping with you to the banquet and let Chang’an go to the prison instead. At least that way, you two would not have ended up in such a mess!”  

Sure enough, when one cares too much, they end up in chaos.

Li Qiubai gently caressed the face of the person in her arms, her eyes full of lingering tenderness.  

Recalling this person's every frown and smile tonight, as well as her foolish appearance when she risked everything for her, the Princess only felt her heart grow even softer.  

What a contradictory heart. She loved how the Young Master recklessly risked everything for her, yet she hated that she was powerless to protect the Young Master and keep her safe.  

She clearly knew that deep feelings always made people lose their reason, yet she could not help but fall deeper and deeper for this person.  

For those in high positions, this was a great taboo.  

But the stubborn Young Master always used actions to show just how much she cared for her.  

How could the Princess bear to let her feel sad?

Li Qiubai could not help but hold the Young Master even tighter. After forcefully suppressing the strong possessiveness in her eyes, she lifted her head, curved her lips at Ye Wuyou, and teased back, “You are quite generous. If I really did as you said, my vinegar jar would tip over. If she gets angry and runs away, where would you have me go to deal with it?”  

“These words of yours, why do I always feel like you are showing off to me? Is being in love so amazing? Tsk, do not forget, if you truly want to grow old together with our little sister, you must call me Sister-in-law, right? If you make me angry, do not blame me for doing something to break up you lovebirds!”  

As if recalling the sight of the Young Master blushing and calling her Sister-in-law, and remembering how the Young Master had fought again and again for the title of ‘Sister-in-law’ in front of Ye Wuyou back in the capital, Li Qiubai could not help but laugh and say, “It is my fault. I hope Sister-in-law does not blame me.”

Seeing that Li Qiubai was in a better state than before and was even in the mood to joke with her, Ye Wuyou finally felt relieved. After responding with a smile, “That is more like it,” she continued discussing the main matter with Li Qiubai.  

After truthfully reporting the previously assessed casualties and answering some of Li Qiubai’s other questions, Ye Wuyou suddenly remembered what she had wanted to say earlier and asked, “By the way, Li Xinyi has brought people from the Prince of Yu’s Manor in pursuit. Also, people from Jinwei Camp have sent several ships in close pursuit. Yu Jin is leading people to block them. How do you want to handle these people?”  

Ye Wuyou raised her hand and made a slicing gesture across her neck, silently asking whether to kill or spare them.  

Li Qiubai shook her head. “No need. Keeping them will be more useful. Stall them for one night. Do not let them catch up tonight. Once the night has passed, send someone to deliver some news to Li Xinyi…”  

“As for Jinwei Camp, that will be even easier to handle…”

After discussing with Li Qiubai and finalizing the next plan, Ye Wuyou got up and left the cabin. She gave a few low-voiced instructions to a trusted aide of Wushang Palace, who had been waiting outside for a long time. Once he accepted the order and stepped onto the water to leave, she returned to the cabin and casually chatted with Li Qiubai.  

Fortunately, with people covering the rear, their small boat moved unobstructed all the way. Passing through several tributaries, they were the first to reach the massive painted boat anchored in the middle of Qingshan Lake outside the city.  

The painted boat was enormous, capable of accommodating hundreds of people. It had countless rooms and was fully equipped. It belonged to Wushang Palace and had been specially brought out this time to support Li Qiubai.  

As Li Qiubai carried Meng Chang’an and followed Ye Wuyou in leaping onto the painted boat, He Changping, Lin Xingyang, Yuechu, and the others who had been standing on the deck immediately stepped forward to greet them.  

“What happened to Chang’an?”  

“Is Elder Sister all right?”

He Changping and Lin Xingyang spoke at the same time, both looking straight at the Young Master, who was unconscious in Li Qiubai’s arms.  

The blanket wrapped around the Young Master covered the wounds on her arm, so they did not see them. Not wanting these people to worry too much, the Princess did not speak, and Ye Wuyou simply did not say it outright either, only reassuring them, “Do not worry, it is nothing serious. She just choked on a few mouthfuls of water and got cold, so she passed out.”  

At the same time, Yuechu had already stepped forward and draped a cloak over Li Qiubai, covering the Princess' half-damp clothes. With concern, she asked, “Your Highness, the hot water is ready. Should we take the Young Master to warm up first?”  

“Mm.”

Li Qiubai had no time to explain much to them. After instructing Yuechu to prepare some medicine for the wounds, she hurriedly carried the Young Master away under the guidance of the attendants on the boat, heading to the room that Ye Wuyou had arranged for them.  

Only Ye Wuyou remained to slowly explain the situation to them.  

Fortunately, both of them held Young Master Meng dearly in their hearts. Given the current situation, they naturally shared the same understanding as the Princess, agreeing that nothing was more important than the Young Master.  

While Young Master Meng was still unconscious, not only did the Princess have no mood for anything else, but the two of them also had no intention of reporting their respective battle results to the Princess as they had originally planned.  

Moreover, since this place was safe for now and there was no immediate threat, it was only right to wait until the Princess had settled and cared for Young Master Meng before discussing anything else.  

The unconscious Young Master Meng had no idea how much her momentary fainting in the water had shaken the Princess.

By the time she woke up, she was no longer lying on that cold deck but was instead sitting in a bathing tub, her legs curled up, her body bare.  

The warm water had driven away the chill that had once enveloped her.  

Meng Chang'an instinctively turned her sore neck. She had just opened her eyes, still groggy and trying to make sense of her current situation, when a soft moan from behind startled her, making her body stiffen in an instant, snapping her fully awake.  

“Feel…”  

Had she not recognized it as the Princess' voice, Meng Chang'an would have already drawn her blade to kill.  

Soft, delicate flesh pressed tightly against her. Even without turning around, the Young Master could still easily tell what the two soft mounds against her back were.  

“Chang'an, do not move. You are pressing on me.”

There was nothing wrong with the Princess’ words, and her tone was no different from usual, at most just a little softer. Yet, just this one sentence was enough to make Meng Chang’an’s blood surge.  

“I…”  

The Young Master’s face turned completely red. She had not even figured out how to face such an alluring sight when the fingertips that brushed past her abdomen sent a shiver down her spine.  

The sudden ticklish sensation, tingling, and numbing, instantly made Young Master Meng go weak on the spot.  

Lowering her head, she saw that the hand resting on her abdomen beneath the water belonged to none other than the Princess—her slender fingers distinct and well-defined.  

Her face flushed an even deeper shade of red.  

No way… Could the Princess really be unwilling to let her go even while she was unconscious?  

Panicked, Meng Chang’an hurriedly grabbed the Princess’ mischievous hand. Biting her lip, she turned her head to look at the Princess, her tone a mix of shame and annoyance as she asked, “Your Highness, what are you trying to do?”  

“Of course, I am wiping you down.”  

Li Qiubai withdrew her fingertips, pressing them against the white towel beneath her palm. After rubbing the Young Master’s body once more, she looked at her reddened eyes and smiled as she asked, “Chang’an, just what are you thinking?”

Author's Note:

Guess whether the Princess is a seducing bottom or a seducing top? If you guessed right, there will be an extra update tomorrow night! (If nothing unexpected happens)