Imperial Tutor Xu brought the assassin back to the capital first, expecting You Rong to use this as an excuse to return as well. To his surprise, he chose to stay.
Lin Qinghe was quite pleased with this.
Using her injuries as leverage, Lin Qinghe pushed her advantage during a meal with You Rong. She thought to herself that her right arm was injured, and with a glint in her eye, she fumbled the spoon she was holding, letting it drop onto the table.
You Rong looked over. She bit her lip and said with an air of annoyance, "It's nothing, I can manage myself..."
Lin Qinghe reached for her chopsticks again to pick up some food. Her hands still trembled, and the chopsticks dropped the food onto the table again. Wang Jiang was about to step forward to serve Lin Qinghe, but she narrowed her eyes and shot him a warning glance. Wang Jiang quickly lowered his head, pretending to be oblivious, murmuring to himself, I see nothing, I see nothing.
Lin Qinghe dropped her food several times while trying to pick it up. She secretly glanced at You Rong from the corner of her eye. He ate leisurely, his expression calm and unhurried. Lin Qinghe was filled with a sense of grievance.
She had put on such a show, and he was diligently pretending to be blind.
After all, she had gotten injured saving him. Any observant person should have offered to help her serve food!
Even though she was faking it... You Rong's behavior was truly ungentlemanly!
Lin Qinghe instantly lost her appetite and put down her chopsticks heavily, about to declare she was full. Suddenly, You Rong looked up at her and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is injured and finds it inconvenient to dine alone. I shall serve you."
Lin Qinghe's eyes lit up. "Alright! Then I'll trouble Prime Minister You."
You Rong picked up a piece of meat and placed it in Lin Qinghe's bowl. After watching her finish it, he continued to pick up other dishes for her and personally fed her half a bowl of soup.
Lin Qinghe's earlier frustration vanished. She felt You Rong was quite receptive, and although the progress bar hadn't moved, their intimacy had clearly increased.
Lin Qinghe's eyes curved into a smile, and she continued, "That... the stuffed meat earlier was quite delicious. I want some more..."
You Rong served Lin Qinghe the stuffed meat, and her smile grew even brighter.
You Rong lowered his eyes, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corners of his mouth.
He had seen it all. She could clearly hold chopsticks, yet she deliberately pretended to be unable to. She repeatedly pretended to be unable to pick up food in front of him. When Wang Jiang stepped forward to serve her, she glared at him. He chose to feign ignorance. She was clearly a little angry, full of disappointment, yet said nothing.
As if guided by some unseen force, his thoughts hadn't even caught up when his body moved first, and he offered to serve her. Seeing her eyes light up instantly, he had unknowingly followed her lead, serving her whatever dish she requested.
After dinner, Lin Qinghe and You Rong sat on a soft couch. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and, with nothing else to do, began to miss the hot springs at the imperial villa.
That day, in her efforts to orchestrate a scene for You Rong, she hadn't been able to fully enjoy the comfort of the hot springs.
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered. She said to You Rong, "Neither you nor I had a chance to use the hot springs that day. It's a pity to come all the way to the imperial villa and not enjoy them. Let's go now, shall we?"
You Rong frowned. "Your Majesty, you are still injured and cannot touch water."
Lin Qinghe dismissed his concern. "It's fine. The wound is near my shoulder. As long as I don't go into the deeper parts of the pool, the wound won't get wet. Let's go, it's so cold today, soaking in a hot spring will surely be very pleasant!"
You Rong was about to protest further, saying that soaking in hot springs was not advisable with an injury, but Lin Qinghe completely ignored him. She called for Wang Jiang and ordered him to make preparations.
Lin Qinghe was excited, while You Rong's brows furrowed tighter, a look of worry on his face that he himself hadn't noticed.
Once everything was ready, Lin Qinghe eagerly approached the hot spring pool and said to Wang Jiang, "Alright, Prime Minister You and I will soak here. You all may withdraw and wait at a distance."
"This... Your Majesty, you are still injured. Perhaps it would be best to have a few servants remain nearby to attend to you?"
"No need! All of you, withdraw."
Wang Jiang had no choice but to lead the palace attendants away to wait at a distance. Lin Qinghe looked up and smiled at You Rong, saying, "Prime Minister You, let's each take a side. You go over there, and I'll be here. Don't worry... I have no other intentions. I just think the hot springs are comfortable, and I wanted you to enjoy them too."
With a wooden board separating them in the middle, they both entered the water clothed. Lin Qinghe felt there was nothing for You Rong to be reluctant about.
You Rong pursed his lips and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
Lin Qinghe paid no further attention to You Rong and was the first to enter. She sat by the edge of the pool, immersing herself in the warm, comfortable water. Lin Qinghe let out a sigh of comfort.
Indeed, soaking in the hot springs was the most comfortable!
Lin Qinghe stood up, intending to move to a deeper part of the water for even greater comfort. Unexpectedly, her foot slipped, and she stumbled forward. She thought she was bound to fall into the water, but at the critical moment, You Rong flashed over and caught her, his brows furrowed. "Your Majesty! You are injured, you shouldn't be moving to deeper water."
Lin Qinghe was stunned. She hadn't expected You Rong to move so quickly to catch her.
She said, "I... I just thought it would be more comfortable to soak in deeper water. I didn't expect to slip. Thank you, Prime Minister You. Otherwise, I would have fallen into the pool and swallowed some water."
You Rong frowned. "Your Majesty should return to where you were sitting. You must be careful with your injury."
"Alright, I understand."
You Rong grasped Lin Qinghe's wrist with one hand and led her back. As they reached the edge of the pool, he was about to return to his side when Lin Qinghe grabbed his hand. "Prime Minister You, why don't you just stay here and soak with me?"
You Rong remained silent, gazing at Lin Qinghe intently.
Lin Qinghe, feeling a bit guilty, explained, "Don't misunderstand! I truly have no other intentions. I just think since we're both clothed, it's fine to soak together. We can talk, can't we?"
You Rong saw Lin Qinghe fidgeting restlessly, her injured arm almost submerging in the water. He couldn't help but press his hand on Lin Qinghe's shoulder. "Your Majesty, please sit down. If you keep moving, be careful your wound touches the water. I will stay here with Your Majesty."
Lin Qinghe's eyes curved into a smile. "Good! I won't move anymore. Prime Minister You, please sit down too."
You Rong nodded and sat down at a distance from Lin Qinghe, his gaze straight ahead, his back erect as he soaked in the hot spring water.
No one knew that his peripheral vision was involuntarily drawn to Lin Qinghe, a fact he himself was unaware of.
Lin Qinghe's conversation with You Rong consisted of her asking a question and him replying with a few brief words, leaving Lin Qinghe with no topic to pursue.
Lin Qinghe narrowed her eyes, a plan forming in her mind.
She needed to make a physical effort to seduce You Rong!
In this pool, both of them were wet. A man's heart would surely stir with such an opportunity for a "leap into his arms," wouldn't it?
Lin Qinghe pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised her hand to rub her temples, muttering to herself, "Have I soaked for too long? My head feels a little dizzy..."
Lin Qinghe stood up, swaying slightly, as if unable to stand steady. She staggered forward, falling directly ahead.
She had originally intended to fall onto You Rong, but she feared that if she made it too obvious, You Rong would become suspicious. Since he was concerned about her wound touching water, he would always catch her.
Just as Lin Qinghe had anticipated, You Rong quickly caught her. "Your Majesty! Are you alright?"