The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Servant

Xia Wenjin’s extremely quiet yet delightfully happy laughter burst beside his ear, and she had already swept down gracefully like a swallow.

Observing his surroundings, Huangfu Jingchen gritted his teeth silently, determined to settle the score sooner or later.

A patrol was just ten feet away.

But Xia Wenjin, as light as a swallow, landed in the shadow of the trees without disturbing the patrol.

Huangfu Jingchen, suppressing his fury until his face turned red, had to admit that Xia Wenjin picked the right timing and the perfect spot to land.

He pressed down his anger, lowered himself slightly, landing silently behind Xia Wenjin.

Xia Wenjin turned back with a smile, her eyes sparkling like stars in the night, and whispered in his ear, ”Isn’t this fun?”

Huangfu Jingchen glared at her.

Xia Wenjin paid no attention, instead, she praised, ”Brother Huang, calm under pressure, not startled by anything, graceful and decisive in action, calm and steadfast, truly impressive!”

Huangfu Jingchen huffed, but being praised like that did lift his spirits a little.

At that moment, the patrol’s gaze happened to be fixed in their direction, so the two couldn’t move in the shadows under the tree. They kept their voices low, speaking softly like insects, as these patrols might be skilled, but not able to hear the fall of leaves or the bloom of flowers.

Xia Wenjin blinked at Huangfu Jingchen and asked with a smile, ”Brother Huang, if you’re not out enjoying the scenery or following me, what are you doing?”

Huangfu Jingchen replied coldly, ”None of your business!” They were close, and as she spoke, her breath tickled his ear, making him uncomfortable. Earlier, when her hand touched his face, her fingertips felt like warm jade, a curious sensation that left Huangfu Jingchen unsure whether he was embarrassed and angry, or simply annoyed by the peculiarity, causing his breathing to become heavier.

The air carried a faint, cool fragrance, it was unclear if it was floral or something else.

Huangfu Jingchen took a step aside, putting some distance between them.

Suddenly, Xia Wenjin moved, like a shadow or a wisp of smoke, swiftly slipping to the shadow of a flowering tree ahead. Although the two places were more than ten feet apart, she completed the move in just two breaths.

Another well-timed migration.

Although irritated by Xia Wenjin’s shamelessness, Huangfu Jingchen couldn’t help but secretly admire her alertness, timing, calmness like a still pond, and darting motions like a fleeing rabbit, though he refused to admit it.

At this moment, the patrol’s gaze shifted again, preventing him from moving.

Soon, the patrol looked elsewhere, and Huangfu Jingchen seized the opportunity to move under another tree.

Along the way, they evaded patrols, maneuvered around guards, occasionally bantering, usually leaving Huangfu Jingchen flustered by Xia Wenjin’s bold words and shameless actions.

In less than half an hour, they successfully returned to the room.

Zhang Quan wasn’t there, and Li Hai was still sleeping.

Actually, he wasn’t really asleep; it was just that Huangfu Jingchen had tapped his sleep acupoint when he left.

Huangfu Jingchen took off his shoes, got into bed, and snuggled under the covers.

Xia Wenjin, leisurely removing her shoes, also got into bed and smiled at Huangfu Jingchen.

Huangfu Jingchen warily asked, ”What are you doing?”

Sitting there without a care, Xia Wenjin absentmindedly performed a curtsey, her expression aloof yet her tone earnest, ”From now on, I am your servant. As a servant, I am very conscious of my duties. How about I warm the bed for you?” With that, she made a move to pull his covers.

Huangfu Jingchen flipped back abruptly in fright, nearly crashing into the wall, muttering angrily, ”Get lost!”

Innocently, Xia Wenjin blinked and said, ”Young master, I am a servant, and servants have dignity too. You shouldn’t casually tell someone to get lost; it’s hurtful to my pure heart! However, since I’m a servant, I won’t take offense or consider you impolite. But young master, why are you angry when I’m just performing my servant’s duties?”

Huangfu Jingchen clutched the blanket tightly, gritting his teeth, ”Stay away from me, I don’t need you to warm the bed!”

”Really not needed? I could do it!” Xia Wenjin blinked her innocent eyes, sincerely and naively asking, ”Young master, honestly, it’s my first time being a servant, so I lack experience. But I heard that a servant’s duties include bringing water and meals, making beds, warming the bed, accompanying eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing! Don’t you need any of these?”

”I don’t need them!”

”No bed warming, so how about bringing water and meals, dressing, making beds, accompanying eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing? Not needed either?”

Huangfu Jingchen nearly ground his teeth to dust, squeezing out three words, ”I don’t need them!”

”But you said it, a gentleman’s word!”

Huangfu Jingchen gritted his teeth, ”Even four horses can’t catch it!”

”Then I’m relieved!” Xia Wenjin chuckled and quickly burrowed into her own spot under the covers, extending a small paw from under the blanket to wave at him, ”I’m going to sleep now, see you tomorrow!”

Huangfu Jingchen: ”...”

He felt that this girl had some scheme, but he had no proof!

Watching Xia Wenjin comfortably settle down, soon breathing evenly in sleep, Huangfu Jingchen moved away from the wall, intending to sleep, yet wary of her sudden awakening.

Finally, he moved his blanket closer to Li Hai’s side, maintaining a two- to three-meter distance from Xia Wenjin.

Only after confirming that Xia Wenjin was truly asleep did he dare to close his eyes for a nap.

Early the next morning, the door was banged upon loudly.

The banging outside was forceful, as if delaying any longer, the person would kick the door down.

Xia Wenjin and Huangfu Jingchen had just fallen asleep, but they both opened their eyes as the first knock sounded. Huangfu Jingchen discreetly extended his fingers to release Li Hai’s sleep acupoint.

Li Hai rubbed his eyes as he sat up, heard the knocking, and quickly scrambled out of bed, not even bothering to put on shoes, rushing to open the door. ℴ

At the door, Qiao Xi stood with arms akimbo, furious, ”Why did it take so long?”

Li Hai smiled apologetically, ”Accidentally overslept, Miss Qiao Xi, please don’t blame us!”

Qiao Xi peered inside, Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin pretended to sleep, unmoving.

She snorted and arrogantly instructed Li Hai, ”Wake those two up, they need to be at the South Courtyard in a quarter-hour, no delays, understand?”

Upon hearing ’South Courtyard’, Li Hai’s face turned pale, nervously asking, ”Weren’t the newcomers supposed to go there in a few days...”

Qiao Xi turned up her nose, rolling her eyes, ”They look good, miss wants them to serve sooner! What, are you jealous?”

”I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare!”

Qiao Xi glared at him again, then reluctantly glanced inside before leaving with her people.

Li Hai quickly shut the door, ran back to the bed, and urgently said, ”This is bad, bad, wake up. Something’s happened!”