Volume 1, Chapter 30: This man is utterly shameless!

Xie Shu curled the corners of her lips. Originally, she had intended to wait for her father, brother, and elder sister to return to the capital so she could leverage the Pei family’s influence. But since a new matter had arisen, she might as well put this favor to use now.

"Very well. But I must have the item within ten days," Pei Xuanqing said, naturally unwilling to make a losing deal. "It shall be as you wish."

"It's a deal." Xie Shu was straightforward, though she added, "What are the characteristics of this item?"

"A landscape painting."

"A landscape painting?" Xie Shu was puzzled.

"A pine and rock landscape painting, personally painted by the late Emperor," Pei Xuanqing added in a low, lingering tone.

Suddenly, something flashed through Xie Shu’s mind. A pine and rock landscape painting? Had she... had she seen it somewhere in her past life? Although she could not recall the details immediately, she was certain that the painting must be within the Marquis’s estate.

"Fine. It is a promise!" Xie Shu extended her hand, hooked her pinky finger, and said, "Pinky swear."

A pinky swear? A childish game? Pei Xuanqing was stunned, but seeing the earnest expression on her face, he found himself extending his finger without even realizing it.

Their thumbs pressed together, and their pinkies entwined. The coolness of the woman’s fingertips transferred to Pei Xuanqing’s hand, and he could not help but lower his gaze to look…

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside.

"My Lady, it is time to add some hot water." Lüliu walked in carrying a bucket, fearing that Xie Shu might catch a cold from soaking too long.

Outside the window, patrolling guards were marching past; there was nowhere to hide in the small inner chamber. Relying on her strength, Xie Shu gave a sharp tug.

*Splash!* Water sprayed everywhere, the entire bathtub rocked, and the floor became drenched as if it had rained.

"My Lady!" Hearing the sound, Lüliu was startled, assuming that Xie Shu had fallen asleep from the long soak and slipped into the water! That would be a disaster!

But when Lüliu dropped the bucket and rushed in, she saw water covering the floor, and Xie Shu was sitting perfectly fine, leaning against the edge of the tub.

"My Lady, are you alright?" Lüliu asked with concern.

"I’m fine, I’m fine. I just slipped a little," Xie Shu replied hurriedly, pressing her palm down firmly to force Pei Xuanqing’s head further under the water.

Suddenly, Lüliu noticed the gauze canopy floating on the water and asked suspiciously, "Why is the canopy in the tub?"

Lüliu was just about to reach in to retrieve it when Xie Shu shouted loudly, "Don't move!"

"Huh?" Lüliu was confused, but the sudden shout made her stop in her tracks.

"I accidentally pulled it down. My hand slipped," Xie Shu explained quickly, seeing that she had startled the maid. She then glanced at the wet sleeping gown on the rack and added, "Look, my clothes are soaked through. Go and get me a clean set first."

Inside the tub, Pei Xuanqing was curled up, pressed against Xie Shu’s legs. Though the tub was large, it was quite a squeeze for two people; fortunately, the canopy provided enough cover to avoid immediate discovery.

Pei Xuanqing had been a strong swimmer since childhood. Though he had nearly choked on the water, he was able to hold his breath and endure for a moment. However, he was now too close to her. Even though his eyes were closed underwater and he could see nothing, the sensation beneath his fingertips was far too soft…

Even though the water in the tub had turned lukewarm, Pei Xuanqing felt a surge of heat rising within him, and his lower abdomen burned like a flame, making it hard to maintain his composure.

How absurd! Of all places to hide, he had to be dragged into a bathtub!

Pei Xuanqing felt displeased, yet he alone knew whether he was annoyed by Xie Shu’s impulsive behavior or his own lack of self-control.

"The water has gone cold; let me add some hot water and then I will go get the clothes," Lüliu said, her fingertips having just touched the surface and finding it quite chilly.

"No need. Just bring the clothes and I will get out," Xie Shu stopped her, unable to bear the tingling, ticklish sensation on her thigh.

What on earth was Pei Xuanqing doing? Feeling the movement against her leg, Xie Shu blushed and cursed inwardly. *This man is utterly shameless!*

Underwater, Xie Shu grabbed the hair of the man she was pinning down and gave it a harsh tug. Caught off guard, Pei Xuanqing felt a sharp pain and lost his breath, letting out a few bubbles. Fortunately, having received his instructions, Lüliu turned and left.

Only when the footsteps faded into the distance did Xie Shu pull Pei Xuanqing out of the tub.

"Shameless!" Xie Shu shoved him aside. Regarding his earlier actions, she felt he was truly beyond the pale.

However, Pei Xuanqing coughed twice, having nearly choked to death just moments ago. "If you hadn't deliberately pulled me into the water, I wouldn't have had to steady myself against your leg."

Xie Shu’s face turned bright red. "Deliberately!" she retorted angrily. "I was trying to keep you from being discovered!"

Both of them were soaked; Pei Xuanqing’s black night-raider suit was dripping water constantly. Xie Shu suddenly realized, "How are you going to leave the estate like this? You’ll be far too conspicuous."

Pei Xuanqing flipped out of the tub. He glanced down at himself, looking like a drowned ghost, and replied with a sarcastic tone, "Don't you worry about that, My Lady. You had better worry about how you're going to find that painting."

Outside the window, the patrolling guards had already passed by. Without waiting for a reply, Pei Xuanqing leaped out the window to avoid running into the maid again.

The window remained half-open, letting in a gust of cold wind. Xie Shu shivered and curled up, but upon thinking of Pei Xuanqing, who was drenched in the dead of winter, she figured he must be even colder than she was!

"Threatening me, are you? Go freeze to death," she muttered under her breath.

Before long, Lüliu returned with a grey-blue sleeping gown.

"It’s cold in this room; you should wear something thicker, My Lady." Lüliu helped her out and dried her off, sighing as she spoke, "If you ask me, with your figure and your looks, you shouldn't just be the heir’s wife—even being an Imperial Consort would be well-deserved."

Xie Shu poked her forehead and laughed softly, "You talk too much. Do you think it's easy being the Emperor’s consort?"

In her past life, Xie Shu had seen with her own eyes that the southern beauty whom the Emperor had cherished above all others ended up being dismembered by five horses. In this world, most beauties with such grace were merely sacrifices in the struggle for power.

A crescent moon hung high in the sky, and not a single star could be seen in the pitch-black night. In the absolute darkness, a ghostly figure skirted past heavy guards and finally crawled out through a dog hole in the garden wall.

Pei Jiuan, waiting by the wall, took one look at his master. Seeing him covered in mud and dripping wet, he looked utterly wretched. Pei Jiuan was momentarily speechless, let out a sharp intake of breath, and struggled to stifle his laughter before asking in a hushed voice, "Master… what happened?"