My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

Last night, the Qin Prince's mansion was bustling with noise to its peak.

A night banquet that shocked the court and the public saw the most powerful dukes of the Tang Dynasty completely abandon their reserve after witnessing the true immortal's abilities.

Especially Yuchi Jingde and the reborn Qin Qiong, the two of them drank heartily while holding wine jars, and finally passed out drunk in the hall of the Prince's Mansion.

It wasn't until late at night that these cornerstones of the Tang Dynasty were haphazardly carried onto carriages by their own guards and returned home.

As the commotion subsided, the Qin Prince's Mansion returned to its usual tranquility.

The next morning.

The winter sun pierced through the thin clouds, shining through the carved window frames and onto the large, soft canopy bed in the main hall's bedroom.

Li Chen lay sprawled out in bed, fast asleep.

As a powerful cultivator in the Golden Core stage, he had long since transcended the need for grains and didn't require the sleep of ordinary people to restore his energy. But he simply loved the lazy feeling of being wrapped in a warm bed and sleeping until he naturally woke up.

What is this called? This is called enjoying life, this is called maintaining a mortal heart!

Just as Li Chen was having a wonderful dream, dreaming that he had signed for some peerless magic treasure in his soul space,

A series of soft footsteps drifted in from the outer room of the bedroom.

The footsteps were exceptionally soft, as if afraid of waking the owner of the house, each step taken with utmost care.

Immediately following was the faint sound of running water and the small noise of a towel being wrung out.

Although Li Chen, who was still asleep, did not deliberately release his divine sense, his instinctive vigilance as a Golden Core cultivator remained.

He frowned, still half-asleep.

"Old Deng, he drank so much last night, how come he's up so early today?"

Li Chen muttered something to himself in annoyance.

In his view, there wasn't even a servant in the Qin Prince's mansion. The only person who would dare to sneak into his master bedroom so brazenly without knocking was that shameless Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, who came to freeload every day.

The footsteps grew closer and closer, finally stopping beside his bed.

Li Chen could even feel a gaze fixed on his face.

"That old man, what prank is he trying to pull to scare me now? Does he really think I don't have morning grumpiness?"

Li Chen took a deep breath and suddenly opened his eyes!

He gathered his strength, opened his mouth, and prepared to unleash a torrent of profanity.

"Li Lao Er! Are you out of your mind...?"

however.

The insult was only half-sent out when it was as if someone had choked it, leaving it stuck in the throat!

Li Chen stared wide-eyed at the person standing by the bed.

He was not at all the smug, bearded Tang emperor he was portrayed as.

Instead, she was a beautiful young girl wearing a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with her hair styled in double buns, possessing an exquisite appearance and exuding a gentle and refined charm!

at this time.

The girl was holding an exquisite brass basin, with a clean, hot towel draped over its rim. She was slightly bent over, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, filled with a hint of shyness and trepidation as she quietly looked at Li Chen, who had just opened his eyes.

It was Qin Wan'er, the eldest daughter of the Qin family, who had just sworn a blood oath yesterday to stay in the Prince's mansion!

Holy crap!

An extremely... no, an exceptionally exaggerated exclamation burst from the mouth of this Great Tang Protector True Immortal.

Li Chen was so frightened that he shrank back abruptly.

He gripped the silk quilt tightly with both hands, retreating to the innermost part of the bed, wrapping himself up like a silkworm cocoon, with only his messy head showing.

He stared wide-eyed at Qin Wan'er by the bedside, his face filled with terror.

"You... what are you doing in my room?!"

Li Chen was stammering, looking like he'd seen a ghost; he had no trace of the demeanor of a Golden Core stage cultivator.

Qin Wan'er was also startled by Li Chen's overreaction.

She quickly put down the basin of water in her hand, took half a step back, and two alluring blushes instantly rose on her beautiful cheeks, so red that they seemed to bleed.

"Your Highness...Your Highness..."

Qin Wan'er nervously twisted her hands together, her voice barely audible, tinged with panic and shyness.

"Last night, Wan'er made a solemn vow to stay in the Prince's residence and serve Your Highness. Now that it is already bright, Wan'er... has prepared some warm water to help Your Highness wash and change."

Upon hearing this explanation...

Li Chen hid under the covers, helplessly covering his forehead with his hand.

Last night, he was put on the spot by Li Shimin and Qin Qiong's gang, and out of a moment of weakness, he agreed to take in the Qin family father and his two sons.

But he thought that these three people would at most run errands or something.

Who would have thought that this delicate young lady from a military family would actually treat her like a personal maid, sneaking into his master bedroom early in the morning with a basin of water!

If word got out that this man and woman were alone together, what would become of his reputation as the number one immortal in the Tang Dynasty?!

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Li Chen stretched out a hand from under the covers and waved it repeatedly.

"Miss Qin, I appreciate your kindness. But I'm used to being carefree and take care of myself. I don't need anyone to serve me!"

Li Chen said firmly, "Put the basin down and leave. From now on, you are not allowed to enter this main hall's backyard without my permission. Go back now!"

Li Chen's original intention was to have her go back to the outer courtyard as soon as possible, so that she wouldn't be left in the master bedroom and make things awkward.

but.

These words, however, took on a completely different meaning in Qin Wan'er's ears.

The girl's originally blushing cheeks instantly turned deathly pale.

"Your Highness...is Your Highness trying to send Wan'er away?"

A layer of mist quickly filled Qin Wan'er's clear, beautiful eyes.

She was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Yi, and was pampered and spoiled by her parents since childhood.

To repay her father for saving her life, she mustered all her courage, put aside her status as a pampered young lady, and willingly came to do the menial tasks of serving tea and water.