Volume One, Chapter 13: Bathe Me

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Lilan cast a single glance at the small vial of medicine, and her face immediately flushed deeply.
“Ahem, let’s hurry and leave,” she tugged at him.
The merchant, however, smiled broadly and explained, “My lord, this is no ordinary tonic pill. This pill is incredibly potent; just one can keep a person invigorated throughout the night. Even the current emperor takes it!”
Upon hearing this, Kedashi grew even more intrigued by this pill from the Central Plains.
Without hesitation, he bought three large bottles.
The merchant cheerfully packed them for him and, looking at Lilan, congratulated, “Madam, you are truly blessed.”
Lilan wished she could bury herself into the ground. This man appeared clever and strategic, yet at this moment, he was acting so foolish.
Kedashi took the vial handed to him and turned to find the woman behind him with cheeks flushed, her gaze tinged with... grievance.
“Do you want some too?” he asked.
Lilan shook her head frantically; she had no desire for this cursed thing.
Kedashi said, “Bahu will be back soon. He loves practicing martial arts; this will make a perfect gift for him.”
Relieved, Lilan exhaled deeply. As long as he wasn’t using it, she was fine.
Just then, the merchant called out to them again, “My lord, you are discerning indeed. I won’t be stingy. I’ll give you a treasure from my stash.”
With that, he handed Kedashi a box, covering a smile as he left.
Lilan glanced inside and instantly wished for death.
People around were coming and going, and Kedashi calmly took out the contents.
“I’ve often seen your people from the Central Plains wear jade pendants that are especially small and exquisite. Why is this one such an odd shape?”
Lilan looked at the long jade piece in his hand, rounded at the top, and blushed, averting her eyes.
But when she looked up again, the man had already fastened it around his waist.
Lilan was speechless...
People nearby kept glancing over, and Lilan hadn’t been so embarrassed in a long time. At this moment, she just wanted to get far away from this barbarian.
Kedashi quickly caught up to her and, in full view of everyone, scooped her up horizontally.
“Why are you running?” he said impatiently.
Lilan struggled a few times but couldn’t break free, so she closed her eyes and feigned unconsciousness.
The jade piece hanging at his waist jingled with every step, and despite covering her ears, Lilan heard the jeering from those around them.
Finally back inside the main tent, Lilan, cheeks still burning, changed into her menstrual band, intending to check on the Crown Prince. Yet Kedashi ordered servants to bring in a bathing tub.
The steaming water filled the tent with damp vapor. Lilan was about to say she couldn’t bathe now, but the man had already settled into the tub himself.
Previously, he would simply wash in a nearby river, so why the elaborate fuss this time?

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Lilan was puzzled when the man beckoned her over.
“Come here.”
Through the misty steam, his powerful arm rested on the edge of the wooden tub, his sculpted chest exposed above the water, the rest submerged.
Lilan forced herself not to look and pretended not to hear.
Kedashi clicked his tongue impatiently. “Bring the Central Plains man from the stable inside.”
Lilan’s heart jolted, and she hurried to the tub’s side.
Kedashi patted her head in satisfaction.
“Wash me.”
Lilan circled behind him and gave him a sharp glare where he couldn’t see.
She took her time picking up the bathing cloth and started scrubbing, while the man closed his eyes in comfort.
“Front.” He called out.
Gritting her teeth, Lilan moved to his front.
His chest muscles were firm but covered in countless scars. Lilan dared not look, keeping her eyes tightly shut, her lashes trembling.
His deep eyes locked onto her, and this woman’s seemingly fearless attitude pleased him greatly.
He mischievously reached out to guide her lower.
Lilan cursed him a thousand times in her heart.
After what felt like an eternity, the bath was done. Lilan tried to step back, but the man held her hand firmly.
“Look, doesn’t this place remind you of that hot spring?”
Lilan closed her eyes and nodded vaguely.
Unsatisfied with her response, Kedashi suddenly lifted her onto the tub’s edge.
Lilan felt dizzy; when she recovered, she was sitting on the rim of the tub.
The water soaked her skirt, the man’s large hand pressed on her head, sealing her lips.
“You still owe me once.” He said.
Lilan pressed her hands against his wet shoulders and instinctively asked, “When did I...”
He silenced her, grabbing her hand and guiding it to touch something identical in shape to the jade piece.
Lilan struggled to pull away, and in desperation, bit his lip, drawing blood.
Kedashi hissed and released her. Amid the mist, the crimson stain on his lips looked intoxicatingly wild.
“Seems you need someone watching you to focus.”

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Saying so, he ordered them to bring Pei Qizhou inside, tied up.
Lilan was on the verge of tears, repeatedly trying to approach and kiss him to appease him, only to be pushed away.
Pei Qizhou was dazed, bound to a wooden post inside the tent.
He looked utterly ill, his head drooping, breath faint, utterly lacking the vigor he once had.
Lilan was desperate to untie him but dared not move.
She feared enraging the man before her.
Kedashi tossed a riding whip to her casually.
“If you want to escape, you must first learn to ride. The whip must crack loudly for the horse to run swiftly. Practice until I’m satisfied, then stop.” He gestured toward the bound man.
Lilan understood and trembled, dropping the whip to the ground.
Kedashi kindly picked it up and handed it back to her.
“Go.”
Lilan, holding the whip, shuffled to the post. Pei Qizhou’s face was pale, lips utterly colorless.
“Lan’er...” he summoned all his remaining strength to call her name.
Lilan sobbed softly, unwilling to strike.
He was nearly lifeless, yet this barbarian refused to relent!
The whip was coarse; a single lash would tear flesh.
Lilan bit her lip hard, trying to imitate her earlier gesture in the cave to please the barbarian, but he remained unmoved.
The man, now dressed and attended, stood tall behind her.
“Can’t bring yourself to do it? Want me to help?” He took the whip from her.
Lilan cried, begging him not to, but he raised the whip high.
The force was immense, as if one lash could kill.
In a flash, Lilan lunged forward to shield the man tied to the post.
Kedashi’s eyes darkened. Although he restrained the whip’s force, it still tore through Lilan’s clothes, leaving a bloodied mark on her pale back.
His expression turned grim.
“Take this Central Plains man outside and whip him ten times.”
Lilan ignored the pain and knelt, begging him.
Kedashi’s face was cold, his dark gaze suffocating her like a noose.