Chapter 23: Serving His Highness

Little Bamboo was stunned!

How could it be her again?

Hiding outside the door, Little Bamboo had thought she had narrowly escaped disaster, only to discover, to her dismay, that the Heir Apparent had locked his sights on her once more...

Surely, His Highness was doing this on purpose?!!

Her pretty face flushed red, and she panicked, her hands and feet trembling in confusion.

Nearby, two other handmaidens paused, exchanging a quiet glance; in each other’s eyes, they saw a glimmer of jealousy.

Could it be that His Highness... had truly taken a liking to this new little girl?

For the past two days, the Prince had specifically named her to assist him in dressing, and now, he even wanted this little girl to attend to his bathing?

The two handmaidens felt a mix of relief and petty envy.

"Your Highness, is this really appropriate?" one of the handmaidens asked in a low voice. "Little Bamboo has only just arrived and is not yet accustomed to things. If she fails to serve you properly..."

Lin Jiangnian waved his hand, cutting her off. "It is fine. This Prince has a preference for this. You may leave."

Though the two handmaidens were hesitant, they dared not say more. After setting down their items, they retreated from the room.

"Don't just stand there. Be careful and serve His Highness well!"

Little Bamboo, who had been hiding by the door, was pushed inside. Then, the handmaiden outside considerately closed the door behind her.

"Bang!"

Little Bamboo’s heart leaped into her throat. Her face burned, and her heart pounded wildly.

Inside the dim, warm bathhouse, the air was filled with a faint, clean fragrance, creating a hazy, ambiguous atmosphere.

Lin Jiangnian looked with interest at the little maid standing in the room, looking utterly at a loss. For some reason, every time he saw her cautious, fearful expression, he couldn't help but feel an urge to tease her.

"Why are you still standing there?" Lin Jiangnian said playfully. "Aren't you going to come over and help this Prince undress and bathe?"

Little Bamboo looked up at Lin Jiangnian, then quickly lowered her head. After a moment of hesitation and inner conflict, she moved her feet and cautiously approached him.

In the misty air, the little maid’s delicate, slightly chubby face was adorable. Her flushed skin, blooming like a young girl’s spring tide, was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Y-Your Highness..."

At this moment, Little Bamboo was incredibly nervous. She had never served the Prince in the bath before and had no experience whatsoever. Thinking of what might happen now that he had kept her behind alone... her face felt as if it were burning with fire.

Nervous and flustered, her bright eyes were filled with shyness. She took a few deep breaths, trying hard to calm herself down.

*Calm down, Little Bamboo... you can do this! You are a maid of the Prince’s residence; serving His Highness is your duty. You were saved by Sister Zhiyuan; you must work hard to repay her...*

Thinking of this, Little Bamboo gradually steadied herself.

"This servant will help you undress and bathe..."

Little Bamboo said softly. She approached Lin Jiangnian and, with trembling hands, began to help the Prince undo his garments. Her movements remained clumsy, and due to her nerves, her trembling fingers struggled for a long time to undo the fastenings.

Lin Jiangnian looked down at those pale, small hands fumbling over his chest... it didn't look like she was helping him undress; it looked more like she was taking liberties with him.

Finally, after a flurry of fumbling, she managed to undo the clothes. Lowering her head, blushing with shyness, she helped the Prince remove his outer robe.

Just as she took a deep breath and prepared to continue helping him undress, Lin Jiangnian suddenly stopped her.

"Forget it. Stop there."

Little Bamboo was startled. Subconsciously, she looked up at Lin Jiangnian, only to see him shake his head and sigh. "You are too slow. By the time you finish, the water will have gone cold..."

Little Bamboo’s face turned bright red, but then, thinking of something, her expression shifted to one of pale panic. "Your Highness, this servant, this servant..."

She tried to explain, but Lin Jiangnian had already waved his hand. "Forget it. Go back and practice, then come back. Get out! This Prince wants to bathe!"

From the beginning, Lin Jiangnian had only wanted to tease her; he hadn't truly intended for her to serve him.

Little Bamboo was stunned. *Out? Go out?* The Prince didn't want her...

"What? Do you still want to stay here and peek at this Prince?" Lin Jiangnian glanced at her.

"Ah? No, it's not..."

Little Bamboo shook her head, blushing furiously. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Lin Jiangnian suddenly begin to remove his own clothes.

"Ah..."

Little Bamboo caught a glimpse, gasped, and turned around, instinctively wanting to run.

"Remember to close the door!" came Lin Jiangnian’s leisurely voice from behind.

"..."

By the time she reached the outside of the door, Little Bamboo was still breathing rapidly, her heart feeling as if it were about to jump out of her chest! The image she had just glimpsed filled her mind, leaving her in a state of chaos, her face red enough to bleed.

But as she gradually calmed down, Little Bamboo suddenly thought: Wait, that's not right!

*Didn't the Prince want me to serve him? I am his maid... how can I just run out? If I run out, who will serve him? Will the Prince be angry?*

Thinking of this, Little Bamboo’s face changed again, and she began to tremble.

...

Inside the bathhouse, Lin Jiangnian stripped off his clothes and stepped into the pool.

As his body submerged in the hot water, the comforting sensation made him close his eyes.

*Comforting!*

The hot water was infused with a faint fragrance, as if some calming spices had been added. As it soaked into his skin, Lin Jiangnian felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation; it was as if every pore in his body were opening up.

He felt entirely at ease.

Except for...

Lin Jiangnian looked down.

He sighed, thinking of something. *I've wronged you!*

In his mind, the image of the little maid’s shy, nervous face quickly surfaced—that trembling, submissive look of a girl waiting to be picked.

The little maid probably didn't know that the more shy, weak, and helpless she appeared, the more it stirred a man’s primal desires.

Lin Jiangnian considered himself a gentleman, yet he had almost lost his composure. For a moment there, he had indeed harbored wicked thoughts.

As the