In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

Once he reached a suitable spot, he first took off his outer garment and kicked off his shoes, then stepped out from behind the screen.

Inside the bathtub, steam rose, making the figures somewhat blurry.

It was a beautiful back as smooth as silk, with long, wet hair clinging to her skin, and water droplets constantly sliding down her delicate shoulder blades.

With just one glance, Li Yuanchang's heart began to race.

He crept forward and suddenly hugged Situ Lan, who was taking a bath, from behind.

"ah!!"

A sharp, high-pitched scream pierced the sky, startling the stray cats in the east courtyard.

What was that sound?

Situ Lan, who was leading people to set up the room not far away, frowned and quickly led her people over.

In the bathroom.

Li Yuanchang was dumbfounded.

Why does the sound sound off?

The woman in the bathtub turned pale with fright, turned around in terror, and clutched her chest tightly with both hands.

She was stunned when she saw Li Yuanchang.

Their eyes met, heat rose, and time seemed to stand still.

It was actually... Qin Keyu!

After her initial panic, Qin Keyu saw Li Yuanchang sneaking in, disheveled. Overwhelmed with shame and indignation, she was about to call for help.

"Shh!"

"Shhh!!"

Li Yuanchang covered her red lips tightly, and as she struggled, water splashed everywhere, making the underwater scenery incredibly alluring.

"Stop shouting, stop shouting."

"I didn't mean it! I thought you were the princess!"

"If you shout again, they're coming!"

"I swear, I absolutely did not mean to be disrespectful!" Li Yuanchang explained awkwardly.

Qin Keyu was filled with shame and indignation, struggling incessantly, sobbing, "Get out..."

But then, the sound of footsteps made them both freeze in shock.

"Sister Keyu, Sister Keyu." Situ Lan's voice rang out from outside the door, but she did not barge in directly.

In an instant, both Li Yuanchang and Qin Keyu tensed up.

Especially Qin Keyu, if Situ Lan were to see her, she would surely be misunderstood. How would she explain that?

The two looked at each other, seemingly understanding each other's thoughts.

"Sister Situ, I... I'm taking a bath, don't come in!" she said, grabbing Li Yuanchang's hand and her voice trembling.

Li Yuanchang was so nervous that he didn't dare to breathe.

I inexplicably had a feeling of being caught in the act of adultery.

"I just heard you scream, is something wrong?" Situ Lan asked worriedly, her shadow reflected on the door and window.

"Oh, I... I'm fine. I just mistook a belt for a snake. It was just a false alarm."

"I'll be right out." Qin Keyu felt like she wanted to die. She was submerged in the water and dared not move. The flower petals were able to cover her body a little.

"Are you really alright?" Situ Lan felt something was off.

"Really, no."

"Alright then, I'll wait for you outside," Situ Lan said.

"good!"

Qin Keyu replied.

Immediately afterwards, the people outside left one after another.

Only then did Li Yuanchang breathe a sigh of relief and wipe away a bead of sweat.

"Give me my clothes!!" Qin Keyu gritted her teeth, her anger mixed with shame.

Li Yuanchang said awkwardly, "Okay."

As he spoke, he went to fetch it.

At this moment, Qin Keyu suddenly realized that she was still wearing her underwear.

"No need, you should go!"

"I'll take it myself."

Li Yuanchang stopped and turned to look at Qin Keyu, who was curled up in the water with only her neck showing, her face full of anger and shame.

"All right."

"But I really didn't mean it just now."

"Stop talking and let's go!" Qin Keyu said angrily, her voice low.

Li Yuanchang smiled bitterly and had no choice but to leave by climbing out the window the way he came.

After Li Yuanchang left, Qin Keyu was still blushing and her mind was in turmoil.

She slowly emerged from the water, the sound of rushing water filling the air. A beauty emerging from her bath, blood boiling, a top-notch performer.

She quickly put on her clothes, not even daring to wipe herself.

This short moment felt like an eternity, casting an ambiguous shadow over their otherwise good relationship.

Li Yuanchang went straight back to his bedchamber, but his mind was filled with images of Qin Keyu taking a bath.

The perfect waistline, the alluring curves subtly revealed, are like a persistent leech, impossible to shake off.

"Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha."

He repeated it several times before forcibly erasing the image temporarily.

After a while.

Situ Lan is back.

Li Yuanchang's expression was slightly unnatural, even a little nervous. If Qin Keyu didn't believe him and complained to Situ Lan, he would really be in a situation where he couldn't clear his name no matter what.

Adding to the awkwardness was the fact that Qin Keyu was Situ Lan's best friend and a guest she had invited back.

"Madam, why are you back so early?"

He stepped forward and even helped Situ Lan dust off her clothes.

Situ Lan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled gently.

Seeing that smile, Li Yuanchang instantly felt relieved.

"My sister Keyu left suddenly just now. I saw her off and then came back."

"Gone?" Li Yuanchang asked.

"Yes, I don't know if it's because I'm not feeling well, but I look a little strange."

As she spoke, her bright eyes also looked strange: "Your Highness, why do you look so odd?"

"Are your clothes still wet?"

Li Yuanchang glanced at his sleeve, which must have gotten wet accidentally when he was tugging at Qin Keyu earlier.

"Oh, I accidentally got this wet while drinking tea earlier."

"Madam, let's go to sleep."

"it is good."

"By the way, Madam, when you left just now, did Miss Qin say anything, or cry or anything?" Li Yuanchang asked tentatively.

He had just seen half of the person's body, from back to chest, which would be considered very private even in later generations, let alone in ancient times with its strict social norms.

A woman who is suicidal might actually commit suicide.

Situ Lan asked in confusion, "Your Highness, why do you ask that?"

"Just asking casually. I heard that Qin Dongjia reprimanded her," Li Yuanchang said evasively.

Situ Lan recalled: "He didn't say anything, and he didn't shed any tears."

"But his eyes were a little red, and his expression didn't look very natural."

"I had already agreed to let her rest for two days, and she agreed, but suddenly she wants to leave."

"Your Highness, do you think something really happened to her?"

Li Yuanchang felt a little guilty, thinking he would apologize to her later: "Maybe... I'm just in a bad mood."

"It's alright, I'll ask Master Qin when I meet him another day."

Situ Lan nodded, knelt on the ground to take off Li Yuanchang's shoes, and raised her head, revealing her gentle demeanor.

"By the way, Your Highness, how's the wine you made and the distillation equipment coming along?"

"all the best."

"Tell everyone that it was brewed by the madam, and the servants in the manor are learning how to use it. From now on, you will be in charge of all matters related to distilled spirits."

"Just collect the money and keep accounts."

"I still have many official duties to attend to in Liangzhou, so it is inconvenient for me to engage in business directly," Li Yuanchang said.

Situ Lan nodded: "Your Highness, rest assured, this is my duty."

"Then you'd better be prepared. Once business picks up, there will be a lot of money," Li Yuanchang said with a smile.

"How much is 'a lot'?" Situ Lan asked, her beautiful eyes wide with curiosity.

"I'll keep it a secret for now, but you might become the richest woman in Liangzhou by then." Li Yuanchang chuckled mischievously and pinched her cheek.

Situ Lan smiled gently, her calm conversation radiating happiness.

"Then I'll wait."

"..."