Chapter 35: A Futile Resistance, Unyielding Unto Death

Lin Jiangnian spoke nonchalantly, as if posing an inconsequential question.

However, Xiaozhu’s face instantly drained of all color, turning deathly pale, her entire body rigid and trembling.

"Y-Your Highness..."

Her voice quivered. Had His Highness discovered the truth? Did he know she had gone to tip off Sister Zhiyuan?

It was over! Everything was over! She was done for!

Xiaozhu’s mind went blank, filled with trepidation and panic. She tried to steady herself, but she could not suppress the terror clutching her heart.

"I, I..."

Xiaozhu bowed her head, biting her lower lip, her voice trembling: "I... did not..."

Lin Jiangnian looked at the young maid before him without expression. She truly was not a qualified little spy. Every emotion was written plainly on her face; she wasn't even skilled at lying, and one probe was enough to expose her.

Why would Zhiyuan arrange such a maid to be by his side?

Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes, surveying the young maid up and down. The bathroom was filled with billowing steam, obscuring their vision, and the maid appeared faint and elusive within the mist.

"What? Still not admitting it?"

Xiaozhu’s delicate frame shuddered again; she kept her head down, too afraid to speak.

"Heh, that wretched woman has quite the schemes, daring to plant a spy right beside me!"

Lin Jiangnian sneered, "Tell me, what intelligence did you leak to Zhiyuan today?"

Xiaozhu was trembling violently with nerves. She stole a glance at His Highness, then quickly lowered her head again in a panic. Her mind was a void, filled with sheer terror.

She could not speak... she could not betray Sister Zhiyuan!

At this thought, Xiaozhu pressed her lips together and remained silent.

Seeing this, Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected this little maid to be so loyal. She actually dared to withhold information?

"You surely don't think I am a soft-hearted person, do you?"

Lin Jiangnian’s cold voice echoed, his sharp gaze cutting through her like a blade: "Do you truly believe that just because that wretched woman is backing you, I wouldn't dare to do anything to you?"

Lin Jiangnian’s voice was icy—not just out of anger, but to send a warning to Zhiyuan. She might doubt his identity, but Lin Jiangnian could prove to her as well... that he was indeed the Heir to the Prince of Lin!

"This is the Prince of Lin’s Mansion. You are servants of this house, yet you form cliques, conspiring to withhold information from me, even colluding behind my back. Do you have any idea what kind of crime that is?"

Lin Jiangnian’s frigid tone turned Xiaozhu’s face deathly pale.

"Thump..."

She collapsed to her knees in terror, trembling, "Y-Your Highness, S-Sister Zhiyuan... she didn't mean it..."

"Please, Your Highness, have mercy."

"Mercy?"

Lin Jiangnian looked at her meaningfully. "Stand up."

Xiaozhu knelt by the side of the bath, her head bowed, trembling and afraid to move.

"I do not wish to repeat myself."

Lin Jiangnian’s tone carried a hint of impatience.

Xiaozhu shuddered and cautiously stood up.

"Look at me."

Xiaozhu slowly raised her head. Her flushed, panicked face had lost all its composure, her teeth digging into her lower lip.

When she saw His Highness’s playful, probing gaze, she felt a strong urge to turn and run. She was terrified! She was panicked!

She dared not meet his eyes, especially now, with most of his body submerged in the bath, leaving only a handsome, refined face visible, his deep eyes watching her calmly. The little maid was terrified to the core!

Just then, Lin Jiangnian suddenly reached out and gripped her chin, forcing her to look up.

Staring at the delicate face before him, resembling a lotus rising from the water, and those panicked, darting eyes, Lin Jiangnian sneered: "I could forgive your crimes, but..."

"You must first tell me what you secretly whispered to that wretched woman today."

Xiaozhu was filled with apprehension. Under his scorching gaze, she squeezed her eyes shut.

"I... I cannot tell you..."

The maid’s voice trembled, yet it remained firm. She could not betray Sister Zhiyuan. It was Sister Zhiyuan who had saved her from the sea of fire; it was she who had given her a new life. She could not implicate her no matter what.

"Very well."

Even though she was so afraid, she remained stubborn. Lin Jiangnian realized this little maid was quite loyal—just not to him.

"It seems you truly do not know the consequences of offending me."

Lin Jiangnian watched the panicked yet defiant maid before him and nodded with satisfaction. "I admire your loyalty. However, since you are willing to sacrifice yourself to protect that woman, don't blame me for being discourteous!"

With a slow, meaningful sneer, Xiaozhu’s body jerked violently. She instinctively opened her eyes to meet Lin Jiangnian’s intense, strangely burning gaze.

In an instant, a sense of foreboding surged into her heart!

Before Xiaozhu could react, she felt herself grabbed by a large hand, her body stumbling off balance.

"Splash!"

Accompanied by a spray of water, Xiaozhu was pulled into the bath.

She was instantly soaked!

The piercing heat of the water enveloped her, making her tremble. Dazed from the fall, Xiaozhu opened her eyes wide and instinctively began to struggle desperately.

But in the next second, a hot body appeared before her, pinning her against the edge of the bath, leaving her unable to move.

Xiaozhu was forced to soak in the hot water, only her pale, panicked face remaining above the surface.

"No, don't..."

Xiaozhu’s eyes widened, as if realizing something, a look of horror appearing in them. Was His Highness going to...

It was over! He had truly unleashed his base instincts!

She whimpered, feeling his scorching breath drawing near, her soaked body trembling uncontrollably.

Once again, Lin Jiangnian’s voice reached her ears: "You have one last chance. If you don't speak, I really won't be polite anymore..."

Lin Jiangnian stared at the maid submerged in the bath beneath him. Her wet undergarments clung to her, revealing her petite, dainty form. Though she wasn't fully grown, her features were well-developed. Especially her messy, wet hair, which clung to her pale, slightly panicked face, bringing a flush of red to her skin that was exceptionally alluring.

Feeling his intense, burning gaze—and the vaguely malicious intent behind it—Xiaozhu was utterly terrified. Was His Highness truly going to...

Nervousness, fear, shyness, panic, and terror... countless emotions surged into her heart at once. Xiaozhu bit her lower lip hard, her pale face set in a look of desperate resolve.

She was terrified! Extremely terrified! She dared not lie to His Highness... but she could not betray Sister Zhiyuan.

Xiaozhu’s heart trembled, but she seemed to have reached a decision. She closed her eyes, her pale face tense yet determined.

If His Highness was this angry, then... then she would use herself to compensate him.

Watching the soaked, trembling maid in the bath—who was clearly terrified yet had suddenly closed her eyes, appearing resigned to her fate—it was obvious she intended to resist to the end.

Even at this point, she still refused to speak? Was she really that stubborn?

Lin Jiangnian was surprised, and also angry!

His gaze fell on her rosy, cherry-red lips, and he sneered: "It seems she is truly good to you..."

"To the point that a servant would dare defy my orders?"

Xiaozhu’s body remained rigid, but she said nothing.

"Since that is the case, I shall grant your wish!"

Lin Jiangnian reached out, his hand slowly descending upon the maid. When his palm touched the edge of her clothing, he could clearly feel her body shudder.

Nervous? Was it all an act?

Lin Jiangnian sneered inwardly. He wanted to see how long she could keep up the act, and how long she could endure. Tonight, he was