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"You are drunk," Jingrui grunted as she heaved the Prince's masculine form towards the cold bath she had prepared.

Prince Zhanying coughed as if he were in pain. "I'm not. Even though my Qi is a mess, I'm still a God. My tolerance is well."

She raised her brows as she eyed him up and down. A sigh parted her lips. "Well, if you're not drunk, you're definitely ill." She heaved him against the bathtub before dipping her hand into the water which was colder than the Polar Abyss. She jerked her hand out and turned to him. "The cold bath should help lessen the heat. I'll take my leave now, Your Highness."

He cocked his head to the side as he swayed towards her. "Bao Bao is not going to bathe me?"

Jingrui's mouth hung agape before she furrowed her brows. How sick must he be to act like this? She sighed and reached up to touch his forehead which was as hot as fire. When she felt his amused eyes watching her, she immediately yanked her hand back.

"D-Don't be stubborn, now. Get in the bath. I'll wait outside," Jingrui told him as she turned around, but he grabbed her shoulder to wheel her back.

"Remove my clothes," he ordered, amusement ran deep in his dark eyes.

Jingrui licked her dried lips. "I-It's inappropriate."

"You can choose to bathe me or bathe with me," he told her.

Her heart thumped as she scanned down his defined muscles, and then, up at his god-like demeanor. And, suddenly bathing him didn't seem like such a bad idea. She bit her lips, tiptoed, and slid the garment off his shoulders. He smelt hot, yet sweet; like Nag Champa fused with wine. His chest rose and fell beneath the soft touch of her fingers.

She scoffed, letting his dress fall, so he was left with a thin and loose gown. Without looking, she hauled him towards the bath and helped him inside.

Jingrui sat down on the stool beside the bathtub. Grabbing oil essence from the counter, she poured it into the cold water. She could feel his amused gaze lingering on her slightest movements. His head was tilted slightly, observing her, making her cheeks turn pink.

Jingrui removed the crown on his head and placed it on the counter, letting his hair fall. She touched his forehead again to check if the cold water was helping lessen his heat.

He watched her nurturing actions with wonder in his eyes. "Do you care for me?"

"I'm your maid, and you are my Prince. Of course, I care for you."

His brows arched up, seemingly unimpressed. "That is so, but have you ever acted like a maid, Bao Bao?"

"This Bao Bao may not be as competent as the other maids around, but I have always tried my best to serve you."

His eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched. "Why do you insist on calling yourself a maid? Have I ever treated you like one?"

She swallowed and stood up from the stool. "You are always kind to me but I know my place. In the end, I am still your maid—"

She was cut short when a sudden strength attacked her arm, and because she wasn't standing firmly, with a jerk, she was hauled into the bathtub. A yelp split out of her throat as her splashes created pools on the floor. The cold water seeped beneath her clothes, wetting her garment and plastering it against her pale skin.

Jingrui coughed as she rubbed her face and blinked hard to clear the water. Once she regained her bearings, her breath hitched in her throat.

Water droplets, clear like pearls, glistened against the Prince's fair skin, and his handsome complexion lingered in the soft candlelights. The close proximity of their faces and their limbs that intertwined beneath the water flushed her with colour. Jingrui glanced down his collarbone and up to his neck, before settling on his luscious lips.

His thumb trailed over her cheeks, grazing across her lips. Softness filled the void in his eyes. "Stop calling yourself a maid, Bao Bao. Do I treat you like one?"

Fire ignited in her, and she mumbled, almost inaudibly, "What do you want me to be?"

Strong arms wound around her, pressing her so close that his lips brushed hers. "Be my Empress."

At his words, her heart melted. Beneath the cold barrier of his eyes was an emotion that pulled every string within her heart. As if the world was rid of winter, and the seasons were filled with infinite bloom, she found herself reaching for him. The time froze as she melted in his embrace, and finally, she was ascertained of the unyielding feeling beneath the torrent of her heartbeat

Love.

As long as the sea was bound to wash the sand, and the stars continued to circulate above them, her heart would be his.

She was willing to let him take her, no matter through storm or silence. Since the very first day, he had been her only companion amidst the lonely nights. He had been the only one who took her hand and guided her through the shadowed path lined with withered blossoms and thorns. He was a ladder for her to reach the moon and the stars, and he was the man who wielded his sword for her. No matter what destiny had for their future, she knew he would be the one—the only one—to lift her red veil.

She reached for him, her fingers running across the crease of his brow. Her body trembled from the cold, but within his arms, even the coldest winter would melt.

"Be my Empress, Bao Bao. Be mine," he whispered sharply as he brought her hand to his chest. "Let me be yours."

At that moment, even if she had to destroy her whole world for him, she would. She placed her hands on his chest. Their hearts connected as if the moon had blended into the sun and spring became autumn. "I love you," she breathed and looked into his dark eyes. "You will always have me."

She felt his heart skip a beat under her palms, and before he could respond, she pushed herself away from him. Her face flushed red, and she buried it in her hands. Not giving him time to restrain her, she lifted herself from the cold bathtub and onto the wet floor. "I-I'll take my leave now. I-I'm cold."

A smile came over his lips. He lifted himself from the bath, and grabbed a clean garment before draping it over his body. Before she knew it, he was right before her with a smile. "Then I'll make you hot again."

His fingers ran down her skin, roaming down her curves as he pulled the sash of her hanfu loose. Fire burned inside her as he ran his lips up her skin. He sucked her neck, kissing flames, and she angled her head to give him better access. She ran her hands into his hair as his lips progressed to her earlobe, leaving marks along her pale skin.

He dug his fingers into the board curve of her body as he brought his lips to hers. Softly, he bit her bottom lips, burning fires, deep and hot. A moan parted her lips, and his tongue slid inside. His powerful hand gripped the back of her head, pulling her closer as his tongue began to move against hers, overpowering her clumsy one.

Her hands roamed wild, his breathing intensified. He pulled her past a curtain, and without realising, she was rammed against his bed. He flipped his long hair behind him and peeled off her soaked clothes. His movements were gentle, but the fire within each and every touch was unyielding.

He kissed down her bare collarbone, and towards her breasts. Her nails dug marks into his back, and she pushed the clean garment he just put on, off.

She wanted him. She wanted to explore him, taste him, and take him deep inside her.

She needed him.

A low moan tore from her lips. "Your . . . Highness. . ."

"Zhanying," he said as he temporarily paused his movements and stared deep into her eyes. "Say it."

Her breath hitched. "Z-Zhanying."

He smiled. "I'll be sweet."

With that, he deepened the kiss. Nag Champa; sweet and intoxicating filled the air surrounding the night that tied them as one. Soaked with sweat, nails dug into skin, and fire burned in their stomachs, Jingrui felt that, for the first time since she entered the Heavenly Palace, she was truly in Heaven.