Chapter 17

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

He lowered his head and brought her into his arms, his arms tightly circling her waist. “Don’t worry. No one will see us here. I will get someone to pluck out his eyes if someone sees us, okay?”

The girl in his arms stiffened at his words and stopped struggling. He leaned toward her ear, and his hot breath made her tilt her head in discomfort. “Jiajia, are you afraid?”

Then the two were soon entangled again, and the canoe swayed with their movements, seeming as though it could not support them.

However, he was still immersed in this sweet dream just now, and the next second, Zhao Yi opened his eyes and woke up at the table.

The hall was empty at this time. People had gone out for fear of disturbing him.

He rubbed his brow and thought, “Have I reached this point?”

He always had these dreams at night, and he now could even dream about them during the day.

He remembered Huang Gao’s actions in the morning and directly called him over and said, “Go to the Li family and tell them that I don’t like the soup the cook made. Ask her to make it for me personally.”

Mr. Huang smiled happily and said, “The weather is also getting hot, so this is the most suitable soup. So I’ll go right now.”

Zhao Yi asked Huang Gao to personally go because he wanted to show his attitude.

The Li family’s house.

Li Baojia ordered the maids to get hot water for her to take a comfortable bath. Then she asked Taotao for some freshly picked flowers. She crushed them, added a little balsam and honey, and stirred them together.

She undressed and lay down on the bed; only she and Taotao were in the room. Taotao was holding a white porcelain jar of freshly made beauty cream.

Taotao carefully used a flat spoon to smear the cream evenly on Li Baojia’s smooth back.

As soon as it was smeared, the strong sweet smell of flowers and honey spread, and a sweet smell filled the air.

Taotao said, “Miss Baojia, this really smells good, but does it really have such a magical effect?”

Li Baojia lay on the bed and lazily said, “Of course. The skin will be smooth and delicate with consistent use of this. It’s best to start at a young age.”

Li Baojia has loved beauty since she was young and liked to make these skincare creams. This recipe was researched by her when she was bored in her previous life.

After all, Zhao Yi could not spend the whole day with her since he was the crown prince. And in her spare time, she could not go out and did not like to spend time with those women in the palace, so she used her time to learn beauty recipes.

The recipe she selected was the most suitable for her at this age. After all, she still wanted to find a good husband.

She was exhausted every day from being busy, so it was time to take good care of herself.

Li Baojia was lying comfortably on her back, and she didn’t want to think about anything at that moment.

She hadn’t relaxed like this in a long time since she returned, and nervousness was not good for beauty.

After a while, the time was up. The beauty cream on her back and arms had turned into a solid piece. Taotao gently pulled it, and the whole piece lifted off.

The skin was faintly red after moisturizing and was so smooth that no pores could be seen. There was also a faint fragrance, and her skin looked perfect.

Taotao could not help but take another look. “It seems to have an effect. Your skin is even smoother than a newborn baby, Miss Baojia.”

Li Baojia got up and put on her lingerie. She looked at herself in the bronze mirror and felt she was getting more beautiful. Then she muttered, “That’s because my skin is already good. It’s only the first time. The effect will be obvious after a few more times.”

She was staring at the mirror when Madam Huang entered in a hurry, scaring the two.

Li Baojia asked, “Mom…why are you here?”

Madam Huang kept smiling. “Why can’t I come? His Highness sent someone to bring you a message.”

Only when she finished did she realize that Li Baojia was standing in the middle of the room wearing only her lingerie. “What are you doing? You are standing there in just your lingerie in broad daylight. Where are your manners?”

Li Baojia sighed and thought, “Why is it the crown prince again?”

She found that the crown prince liked to look for her for no reason recently.

Madam Huang urged, “Hurry up and change into your clothes. Mr. Huang is waiting in the front hall. Don’t keep him waiting for long.”

Li Baojia said, “I know. But, Mom, go out first. I’ll come as soon as I’m dressed.”

She got dressed and hurried to the front hall, where Madam Huang was already inside.

Madam Huang was at the first seat and had asked someone to get a seat for Mr. Huang, but Mr. Huang refused repeatedly.

He said with a smile, “I just came to deliver a message. I will leave after delivering the message when Miss Baojia arrives.”

When he saw Li Baojia approaching, he bowed and said, “Miss Baojia.”

Although Mr. Huang was only the chief steward of the East Palace and didn’t have a very high official position, he was the crown prince’s man, after all.

When he usually went out, even those major court officials had to be respectful toward him after seeing him.

But at that moment, he appeared very modest in front of Li Baojia.

After all, according to the attitude of His Highness, perhaps Miss Baojia could be the mistress of the East Palace in a few months.

Li Baojia also bowed and asked, “I wonder what brings you here today, Mr. Huang?”

Mr. Huang smiled kindly. “There is nothing special. Just that His Highness has not tasted the soup made by you for a long time, so he misses it.”

Li Baojia asked in her heart, “Why is it because of this matter again?”

Seeing Madam Huang’s slightly angry look at her, she was even more depressed. “But…didn’t I send that cook to the East Palace?”

Madam Huang was angry at the words. “You…”

But seeing that there were outsiders present, she paused and did not say more.

Mr. Huang said, “The East Palace has used the cook, and His Highness also drank the soup today. But it does not have the same taste. Miss Baojia, you are skilled. Although the soup was made according to the same recipe, the taste always has some differences.”

Li Baojia thought, “Are you kidding me? The soup was made by the same cook. So how could the taste of soup from the same person be different?”

Madam Huang directly pulled Li Baojia over and smiled at Mr. Huang. “She is really good at making soup. It’s her good fortune that His Highness likes to drink it. I’ll have her make it tomorrow morning and send it over.”

Li Baojia was helpless behind her mother and thought, “I am really unlucky to encounter these things!”

Mr. Huang was satisfied. “That’s good. Madam, you really have a good daughter. And His Highness always praises Miss Baojia.”

Madam Huang smiled happily. “You flatter me. She is nothing special. She’s just good and lovely.”

The two chatted for a while. Then Mr. Huang left, satisfied with his men.

Seeing that they were far away, Madam Huang turned around and patted Li Baojia’s forehead. “Baojia, didn’t I ask you to deliver the soup to His Highness every week? How could you send a cook there and then stop going?”

Li Baojia said, “I think it’s not very convenient for me to go to the East Palace…”

Madam Huang said, “What’s not convenient? That is your future husband. So it’s good for you to get close to him now.”