Ch94 - His Highness's Childhood

Jian Mei was still talking when he finally noticed the Crown Prince beside him had fallen silent.

He turned to Lu Xingwang with a puzzled look and asked hesitantly, “Did I… say something wrong?”

Lu Xingwang, seated beside him, reached over and took the prescription Jian Mei had written. After glancing at it, he spoke softly, “You’re not even twenty yet, and still in school. It’s okay to think ahead, but don’t worry too much. If life ever gets hard, I’ll be there.”

I will be there.

The moment those words left his mouth, Jian Mei couldn’t help but feel a little surprised.

Promises about the future were rare—especially ones like this. The future was still far away, full of uncertainty. But Jian Mei knew: others might break their promises, but not the person sitting in front of him.

Just as Jian Mei was about to respond, Lu Xingwang abruptly changed the subject. “You’re still young—there’s no need to rush into thoughts of marriage and children. Focus on your studies for now.”

Jian Mei stammered, “Ah…”

Lu Xingwang didn’t give him a chance to respond. He set the prescription aside and said, “Once you’re truly settled, then we can talk about those things.”

Jian Mei nodded gently. “Alright.”

After their conversation, the sound of rain tapping softly against the window caught Jian Mei’s attention. It wasn’t a light drizzle—the occasional rumble of thunder and steady rhythm on the glass hinted at a heavier downpour.

Jian Mei looked toward the window. “Is it raining?”

Lu Xingwang nodded. “Mm. Someone, come in.”

Aruo, who had been waiting quietly outside, entered and gave a respectful bow. “Your Highness.”

“Is the rain heavy outside?”

Aruo replied, “It just started, but it’s coming down pretty hard.”

Lu Xingwang turned his gaze from the window and looked to Jian Mei. “The rain’s too heavy, the roads will be difficult. Stay here tonight.”

Jian Mei didn’t really get it. After all, it wasn’t his car—so he instinctively turned to Aruo.

Aruo was flustered too. Honestly, their car could handle hail without a problem. But since His Highness had said it with such a straight face, she quickly echoed him, “Yes, and driving in this weather could be dangerous for the driver.”

Jian Mei nodded. “Alright then. Sorry to trouble you.”

Aruo smiled back politely.

Lu Xingwang, clearly more composed, said steadily, “It’s no trouble. Just rest. I’ll have someone prepare dinner. Go take a bath first.”

Jian Mei nodded obediently. “Okay.”

As he stood up, something occurred to him. “Wait… where am I sleeping?”

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Jian Mei followed Aruo to the bathing chamber, once again awed by the sheer vastness of the palace as they walked.

“The place where His Highness usually bathes is a private spiritual spring,” Aruo explained. “It’s connected to the sacred spring behind the mountain. The water helps to strengthen the body and ease fatigue.”

Jian Mei’s eyes lit up. “That’s incredible!”

Aruo brought him to the outer edge of the spring, pointed toward the interior, and said, “Just walk along here and you’ll find it. These are your change of clothes.”

Jian Mei took the clothes, grateful. “Okay, got it. Thank you!”

Aruo smiled. “No need to thank me.”

This was Jian Mei’s first time in a spiritual spring. Back home, he’d been to hot springs before, which felt somewhat similar—but he’d always gone to resorts. He hadn’t expected this to be someone’s private bath.

After undressing, he carefully stepped down the stone stairs. To his surprise, the water was room temperature. Yet as soon as he submerged, he felt his whole body relax. A content sigh escaped him. Soaking in the spring, he felt warm and drowsy—he was almost ready to fall asleep.

Suddenly—

Beep.

His communication terminal on his wrist gave a sharp beep, startling him awake.

Jian Mei, feeling drowsy, opened the communication terminal and saw a message from Lu Xingwang: “It’s not good to soak for too long. Don’t fall asleep.”

Jian Mei blushed without realizing it. He had actually fallen asleep, so he quickly replied, “No, I didn’t fall asleep. I’ll get out now.”

Still feeling drowsy from just waking up, Jian Mei stood up. The warm spring water made his head feel dizzy for a moment. When he stepped up the stairs, he wasn’t paying attention and bumped into the edge, causing him to fall back into the water with a huge splash.

Lu Xingwang called from outside, “Jian Mei, are you okay?”

Jian Mei hadn’t expected Lu Xingwang to be outside and quickly responded, “I’m fine, I’m fine!”

Lu Xingwang, who was about to enter, halted in his steps. With the grace of a gentleman, he turned around and didn’t take another step forward.

Inside, Jian Mei heard the sound and became flustered. He hurriedly grabbed the clothes Aruo had left him, quickly put them on, and rushed out. He walked up to Lu Xingwang, his pale face slightly flushed from the steam, and his voice was weak: “I’ve finished bathing.”

Lu Xingwang glanced at him and asked softly, “Did you hurt yourself?”

Jian Mei shook his head, “No.”

Although, his leg still hurt a bit.

Lu Xingwang nodded, then said, “That’s good. Aruo has already prepared dinner. Go eat.”

Jian Mei responded, “Okay.”

He had just woken up, his head still a little fuzzy, so of course, he agreed to whatever Lu Xingwang said without giving it much thought and walked out.

Halfway there, he suddenly realized that his hands were empty. What about his school uniform that he had changed out of? It seemed like he had forgotten it by the hot spring. In a hurry, Jian Mei quickly turned around and walked back, walking through the mist. As he walked, he muttered, “Dazhuang-ge, I think I forgot my…”

His words abruptly stopped.

The man standing by the hot spring, his clothes already half off, turned back through the mist, clearly surprised to see Jian Mei.

From where Jian Mei stood, he could clearly see everything.

Lu Xingwang parted his lips and said, “You…”

Jian Mei’s face immediately turned as red as a boiled shrimp. He quickly turned around and shouted, “I didn’t see anything!”

Lu Xingwang paused for a moment but didn’t seem too flustered. He bent down, picked up the robe from the floor, and draped it over his upper body. Having trained in the military for years, his physique was extremely well-maintained, and even with the robe casually draped over him, his tall, muscular build couldn’t be hidden. Once he fastened the robe, he asked, “Are you here to get your clothes?”

Jian Mei gently nodded, “Yes.”

Too shy to look back, the rustling sound behind him made him realize what was happening.

After a moment, Jian Mei’s school uniform appeared in front of him, held by slender hands. Lu Xingwang’s voice came from behind, “Take it.”

If Jian Mei wanted to take the clothes, he had to turn around.

Lu Xingwang saw the tips of Jian Mei’s ears turn red and couldn’t help but find it a little cute. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he said, “I’m getting dressed now.”

Only then did Jian Mei turn around to grab his clothes, too shy to look up at Lu Xingwang’s expression. However, feeling the need to explain himself, he spoke up, “I didn’t mean to peep. I just forgot my clothes.”

Lu Xingwang replied, “Mm, I know.”

Jian Mei let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good. I’m glad you’re not angry.”

“It’s fine. You don’t need to be so nervous.” Lu Xingwang thought that, in this misty atmosphere, Jian Mei looked like he might turn into a boiled shrimp from embarrassment. The usually aloof and regal prince couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Jian Mei’s flustered state. As Jian Mei relaxed and started to leave, he heard the calm voice beside him, “Even if you really had been peeking, I wouldn’t be angry with you.”

! ! !

Jian Mei turned around in disbelief and met Lu Xingwang’s dark, intense gaze. A teasing smile seemed to play on his handsome face. However, the embarrassed young man, having never encountered such a situation before, panicked and fled in a rush.

Outside, Aruo saw Jian Mei rush out as if he had seen a ghost.

Aruo asked, “What happened?” Jian Mei’s face was as red as if he had just experienced something extremely embarrassing, prompting her to ask a few more questions.

“It’s nothing,” Jian Mei said softly. “I just… I stayed in the hot spring too long, so I’m feeling overheated.”

Aruo seemed somewhat disappointed. “Oh, I see.”

Jian Mei saw that she wasn’t going to ask more, and he sighed with relief.

Objectively, he hadn’t lied, because he really was hot. His entire body felt like it was burning with heat.

Aruo noticed Jian Mei seemed a little uncomfortable, so she guessed it might have something to do with the Crown Prince and said, “You’re the first friend His Highness has ever brought back to the palace to stay.”

Jian Mei was immediately intrigued. “Really?”

“Mhm.” Aruo, wanting to support the Crown Prince’s reputation, continued, “It’s true. His Highness was raised strictly by the Empress, and while he’s had friends, none were ever truly sincere. So, he’s never had a close friend, let alone brought anyone back to the palace.”

Jian Mei hadn’t expected that Lu Xingwang’s childhood had been like this. He frowned slightly and murmured, “That’s hard to imagine.”

Aruo had been Lu Xingwang’s wet nurse since his childhood. After the passing of the Imperial Concubine, she continued to care for and accompany him. Her status was high, and in the palace, she was no longer considered just a maid. Though not openly acknowledged, Lu Xingwang had always respected her, and she had become a second mother to him. She knew him well, and after observing him throughout the evening, she had already figured out who had captured his heart.

Seeing Jian Mei’s curiosity, Aruo smiled, pressing her lips together, and said, “If you’re interested, I have a small photo album. Would you like to take a look?”

Jian Mei was thrilled and nodded eagerly. “Yes!”

Aruo, knowing that Lu Xingwang would likely still be bathing for a while, waved to Jian Mei and said, “Come.”

Jian Mei excitedly sat beside Aruo. Aruo opened her information terminal and pulled up a photo album. One photo clearly showed a young Lu Xingwang, dressed in a silver-white prince’s uniform, standing under a large tree.

Aruo pointed to the photo and said, “This was when the Crown Prince first wore a prince’s uniform at age two, right after he started walking.”

Jian Mei felt his heart melt. “How cute!”

“Yes, yes,” Aruo said with a laugh. “When His Highness wore a uniform for the first time, the palace sent over two sets. One was mistakenly a girl’s outfit, but he clung to it and insisted on wearing it.”

Jian Mei burst into laughter. “Are you serious? That’s so lame!”

The two of them were so engrossed in their conversation, they completely lost track of time.

Just then, a deep voice came from behind them: “What’s so funny? Let me in on the joke too.”