Chapter 94 – His Highness’s Childhood

As Jian Mei spoke, he finally noticed that the Crown Prince beside him had been silent for a long time.

He looked at Lu Xingwang with puzzlement and hesitantly asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

Sitting beside him, Lu Xingwang took the prescription Jian Mei had written for him and glanced at it before speaking, “You’re barely twenty now and still studying. Future matters can be considered, but there’s no need to worry too much. If there’s any hardship, I’ll naturally be there.”

Naturally, I’ll be there.

When these words were spoken, Jian Mei felt a slight astonishment.

Rarely would someone give such a promise to another, a promise about the future. Although the future was still distant and uncertain, Jian Mei knew that while others might break their promises, the person in front of him wouldn’t.

However, just as Jian Mei was about to respond, Lu Xingwang suddenly changed the subject, “So, you’re still young, and there’s no need to consider marriage and children too early. Focus on your studies.”

Jian Mei stuttered, “Uh…”

Without giving him a chance to argue, Lu Xingwang set the prescription aside. “When you’re completely settled, we’ll talk about those matters.”

Jian Mei nodded gently. “Okay.”

After the conversation ended, they noticed the sound of rain outside, gently tapping on the glass windows, creating a slightly noisy atmosphere. Accompanied by the faint sound of thunder, it seemed like the rain was quite heavy.

Jian Mei looked outside and asked, “Is it raining?”

Lu Xingwang nodded. “Yes, it’s pouring.”

A Ruo, who had been waiting outside, walked in and greeted respectfully, “Your Highness.”

“Is the rain heavy outside?” Lu Xingwang asked.

A Ruo replied, “It just started pouring, quite heavily.”

Lu Xingwang turned to Jian Mei and said, “The rain is too heavy, and the roads are not safe to travel. Stay here tonight.”

Jian Mei didn’t quite understand because it wasn’t his own car, so he instinctively looked at A Ruo.

A Ruo was also flustered, as the car could handle rain or even hail without issue, but since the Crown Prince had said so seriously, she quickly agreed, “Yes, and it is not safer for the driver too.”

Jian Mei nodded. “Okay, thank you.”

A Ruo smiled in response.

Lu Xingwang, obviously more experienced, calmly said, “No trouble. Stay here without worries. I’ll have someone prepare dinner, and you can take a bath first.”

Jian Mei obediently said, “Okay.”

He stood up but then remembered something, “Where am I going to sleep?”

The Crown Prince’s private palace was built extravagantly, with a hall that seemed endless, surrounded by screens and filled with precious jewelry and antiques. In this luxurious atmosphere, Lu Xingwang said, “You’ll sleep in my bed.”

Jian Mei exclaimed, “Huh?”

“I only have one bed here,” Lu Xingwang said, raising his eyebrows and emitting an aura of authority. “Where else would you sleep?”

Jian Mei’s mind couldn’t keep up, so he just went along with it, nodding, “Um, okay then.”

Lu Xingwang turned to A Ruo and said, “Take him to the bathroom.”

A Ruo snapped out of her shock, as she had never imagined that the Crown Prince, whom she had watched grow up, would suddenly come up with such a tactic. Despite countless guest rooms outside the sleeping quarters, the Crown Prince could still nonchalantly make such a statement. She had worried unnecessarily about the Crown Prince ending up lonely in his old age; now it seemed she had been overly concerned!

……

Jian Mei followed A Ruo to the bathroom, once again witnessing the grandeur of the palace along the way.

A Ruo explained, “The places where the Crown Prince usually bathes are special spiritual springs. This spring connects to the divine water of the mountain behind, and its water can strengthen the body and relieve fatigue.”

Jian Mei marveled, “So magical.”

A Ruo led him to the outside of the spiritual spring and pointed inside, saying, “Just walk towards the inside from here. These are the clothes for changing.”

Jian Mei took them gratefully, saying, “Okay, got it. Thank you.”

A Ruo smiled, “You’re welcome.”

It was Jian Mei’s first time soaking in such a spiritual spring. He had been to hot springs back home, which were somewhat similar, but he had never expected to find a private bath like this here.

After undressing, he carefully descended the stone steps. The water temperature of the spiritual spring was surprisingly normal, and once he immersed himself, he felt a relaxing and soothing sensation throughout his body. Jian Mei couldn’t help but sigh in contentment as he soaked in the water, feeling drowsy and almost drifting off to sleep.

Suddenly—

“Beep”

The communication device on his wrist rang abruptly, snapping him out of his daze.

Jian Mei sleepily opened the message to see one from Lu Xingwang: “It’s not good to soak for too long, don’t fall asleep.”

Jian Mei’s face flushed unconsciously—he had indeed fallen asleep. He hurriedly replied, “No, I didn’t fall asleep, I’m coming out now.”

Just waking up, he stood up, and the warm spring water made his head dizzy for a moment. Jian Mei was careless as he climbed the steps, bumped into something, and fell back into the water, creating a huge splash.

From outside, Lu Xingwang’s voice came, “Jian Mei, are you okay?”

Jian Mei didn’t expect Lu Xingwang to be right outside and quickly replied, “I’m fine, I’m fine!”

Lu Xingwang, who was about to enter, stopped in his tracks, turned around like a gentleman, and didn’t step further inside.

Inside, Jian Mei, hearing the voice, panicked a bit. He grabbed the clothes A Ruo had given him, hurriedly put them on, and ran out. When he reached near Lu Xingwang, his fair face was flushed, and his voice fragile, “I’m done washing.”

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

Jian Mei shook his head, “No.”

In truth, his leg still hurt a bit.

Lu Xingwang nodded, then said, “That’s good. A Ruo has already prepared dinner outside; you go eat first.”

Jian Mei responded, “Okay.”

His mind was still a bit foggy from just waking up, so naturally, he agreed to whatever Lu Xingwang suggested and thoughtlessly walked out.

Halfway there, he belatedly remembered his hands were empty—what about the school uniform he had changed out of? It seemed he had forgotten it by the hot spring. Jian Mei,panicked, he quickly turned back, walking through the mist, and said, “Da Zhuang ge, I think I forgot my clothes…”

His words abruptly stopped.

The man standing by the edge of the hot spring had already removed half his clothes. Through the mist, he turned around, also surprised to see Jian Mei.

Jian Mei was standing in a position where he could see everything clearly.

Lu Xingwang opened his mouth, “You…”

Jian Mei’s face suddenly turned as red as a boiled shrimp. He quickly turned around and said loudly, “I didn’t see anything.

Lu Xingwang paused but didn’t seem flustered. The prince picked up the robe on the ground and draped it over his upper body. Being in the military for years had kept him in excellent shape, and even just wearing the coat couldn’t conceal his straight and strong figure. After putting on the robe, he asked, “Are you here to get your clothes?”

Jian Mei nodded softly, “Yes.”

Too shy to turn around, he heard some rustling behind him.

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

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

Seeing his reddened ears, Lu Xingwang found it somewhat cute. With a slight smile, he said, “I’m dressed.”

Only then did Jian Mei turn around to take the clothes. He didn’t dare to lift his head to see Lu Xingwang’s expression, but he felt it necessary to explain, so he spoke up, “I didn’t mean to peek. I just forgot my clothes.”

Lu Xingwang responded, “Hmm, I know.”

Jian Mei breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good, as long as you’re not angry.”

“It’s okay, you don’t need to be so nervous,” Lu Xingwang felt like Jian Mei was about to boil himself into a shrimp in this mist. Seeing the embarrassed look on the child’s face, he couldn’t help but smile. Just as Jian Mei relaxed and was about to leave, he heard Lu Xingwang’s calm voice beside him, “Even if you were really peeking, I wouldn’t be mad at you.”

“….”

!!!!!

Jian Mei couldn’t believe his ears!

He turned around in disbelief, meeting Lu Xingwang’s deep, dark eyes. Though his handsome face seemed to carry a teasing smile, Jian Mei, feeling teased, had never seen this side of him before and immediately fled in panic.

Outside, A Ruo, who was waiting, saw Jian Mei rush out as if he had seen a ghost.

A Ruo asked, “What’s wrong ?” Jian Mei’s face was as red as if he had just been intimate with someone, so she couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s nothing,” Jian Mei whispered, “I’m just… just feeling hot from soaking in the hot spring for too long.”

A Ruo felt a bit disappointed, “I see.”

Seeing that A Ruo didn’t ask further, Jian Mei breathed a sigh of relief.

From various objective perspectives, he wasn’t lying because he was indeed feeling hot all over from the hot spring.

A Ruo, noticing Jian Mei’s discomfort, speculated that it might be related to the Crown prince and said, “You are the first friend His Highness has ever brought back to stay in the palace.”

Jian Mei’s attention was immediately captured: “Really?”

“Yes,” A Ruo felt it was necessary to assist the crown prince and explained, “His Highness was strictly raised by the Empress from a young age. He has had friends, but none were truly sincere, so he hardly made any real friends, let alone brought anyone back to the palace.”

Jian Mei couldn’t imagine what Lu Xingwang’s childhood was like and said softly, “It’s a bit hard to imagine.”

A Ruo had been Lu Xingwang’s wet nurse since he was a baby, and after the Empress passed away, she continued to care for and accompany the prince. Her status was high, and in the palace, she was considered more than just a servant. Though it was never explicitly stated, Lu Xingwang always respected her greatly, treating her almost like a mother. She understood him well and had observed that Lu Xingwang’s heart belonged to someone.

Seeing Jian Mei’s curiosity, A Ruo smiled and said, “If you’d like, I have a small photo album. Would you like to see it?”

Jian Mei was thrilled and nodded continuously, “Yes!”

Predicting that Lu Xingwang would still be bathing for a while, A Ruo gestured to Jian Mei, “Come.”

Jian Mei eagerly followed A Ruo to a chair, where she opened her digital device and brought up an album. In it appeared images of Lu Xingwang as a young boy, wearing a silver-white prince’s uniform under a large tree.

Pointing to the picture, A Ruo said, “This was His Highness at two years old, the first time he wore a prince’s uniform.”

Jian Mei’s heart melted: “So cute.”

“Yes, indeed.” A Ruo laughed, “It was the first time he wore the uniform. The palace sent two sets over, and one was mistakenly a girl’s outfit, but he insisted on wearing it and wouldn’t let go.”

Hearing this, Jian Mei laughed nonstop, “Really? That’s hilarious.”

The two chatted enthusiastically, completely lost in their conversation.

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

Translator’s Note-Guys don’t forget to support and comment your views(^-^)