Pet Ancient Husband

Chapter 18: The Clear Water Spring

"Master! The items you asked for have been prepared by Yue'er. If there are no further instructions, Yue'er will take her leave," a pretty girl dressed in a light purple dress said as she walked out of the courtyard. A flash of resentment crossed her eyes as she looked at me, but she quickly hid it and respectfully lowered her head.

Yan Yan gently placed me on the main seat, affectionately stroked my hair, and turned indifferently, "Mm! Come and meet the lady!" He turned to me with a light smile.

"Yes! Yue'er greets the lady," the girl named Yue'er walked obediently to the front of me and knelt down. But I could tell she wasn't as docile as she appeared. I jumped off the chair, intending to help her up, but she quickly dodged my hand. I pouted and smiled, thinking, "If you won't let me help, I won't bother either!" I walked past her to Yan Yan and cooed, "I feel all sticky and uncomfortable!"

"What does my little Ruo'er want to do?" He looked at me affectionately, seeming to understand my intentions, and smiled.

I glanced at Yue'er, who was still kneeling and watching me out of the corner of her eye. I deliberately threw myself into Yan Yan's broad arms and hugged him, saying, "I want to take a bath! And it has to be with fragrant flowers!" Hmph! Just to annoy her. I gave Yue'er a victorious smile.

"You!" He lightly tapped my nose, carried me into the inner hall, and placed me on a chaise lounge. He said to Yue'er in the outer hall, "Yue'er, ask Xing'er to prepare the Clear Water Spring. Remember to have her pick some fragrant Yue Lan flowers to put in the spring for the lady's bath, and then prepare some wine and dishes to bring over."

Yue'er looked up in surprise, uncertainly asking, "Master, Yue Lan?"

"Are you questioning my words?"

"Yue'er wouldn't dare!" Her voice came from the outer hall, and her footsteps faded away.

"Are you jealous, Ruo Ruo?" Yan Yan's face softened, and he looked at me tenderly.

I pouted, "So you already have such a beautiful girl by your side! No wonder you rushed back so quickly!" I lay on the lounge, deliberately twisting the fact of his departure.

"You little*** (jealousy pot)! Although this jealousy is unreasonable, I like it," Yan Yan looked at me with deep affection. "Let's go! I'll take you to take a bath."

"What is the Clear Water Spring?" I curiously stretched out my hand, signaling him to hold me, longing for his warm embrace.

He picked me up and walked briskly towards the door, "The Clear Water Spring is a natural hot spring located at the back of the Mirror Flower Valley. It changes temperature with the climate and will make you reluctant to get out of the water."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and nestled my face comfortably against his chest, once again savoring the feeling of being pampered. Along the way, I saw many people dressed in green clothes bowing to us, and I couldn't help but ask, "Yan Yan! Just now there were blue-clothed people, and now there are green-clothed people. Do these colors of clothing have any special significance?"

"Indeed, the Mirror Flower Valley is divided into four layers under my command. The ones wearing light yellow clothes at the bottom are the servants and maids of the valley. Above them are the five-colored flags: red, blue, green, orange, and black. Above them are the star and moon managers in light purple and dark purple, and above the star and moon are my three personal guards: Chase Wind, Chase Sun, and Thunder Bolt."

Oh! So Yue'er is a manager, huh? Humph! No wonder she acts so high and mighty. "Then why do I only see the blue and green clothes?"

"That's because the Blue Flag is responsible for preventing external enemies, while the Green Flag is in charge of internal security."

"What about red, orange, and black?"

"You're quite curious, aren't you?"

"If you don't want to say, just say so. Are you afraid I'm a spy?" I pouted in complaint.

"If you were a spy, I'd have to accept it. Besides, the entire Mirror Flower Valley is yours. You have the right to do whatever you want. I just thought you might get bored listening to it."

"Haha～! I knew Yan Yan was the best! I'm not bored! I want to hear more, I want to hear more!" I hugged his neck and cooed.

"Alright! I'll tell you. The Red Flag is in charge of rewards and punishments. Anyone who violates the valley's rules or intrudes into the Mirror Flower Valley is judged by them. The Orange Flag is responsible for gathering information, and the Black Flag consists of loyal assassins."

Suddenly, the light in front of me dimmed, and I realized we had entered a small cave. The cave was filled with mist, and as soon as we entered, I could feel a wave of heat. I struggled to jump out of his arms and skipped to the spring in the middle of the cave. "Wow! Your Mirror Flower Valley is truly a heavenly paradise, Yan Yan!" I reached out to test the water temperature, and the just-right warmth spread through my fingertips. Every cell in my body was crying out for a bath. I couldn't wait to get in.

"Xing'er, come and meet the lady," I realized a girl dressed in dark purple was standing respectfully nearby. She walked over and bowed to me upon Yan Yan's call.

"Xing'er greets the lady."

"Get up, please! Stop kneeling all the time."

"Thank you, lady." A sweet smile appeared on Xing'er's face.

Phew! So cute! "Xing'er, you're so adorable!" I couldn't resist pinching Xing'er's round cheeks. Xing'er was startled by my sudden action and seemed at a loss.

"Lady!"

"Ruo Ruo! You startled Xing'er," Yan Yan walked over and embraced me, his tone slightly displeased.

Could it be he's jealous? I smiled at him, "Xing'er, you attend to the lady's bath. I'll go out first." Yan Yan felt a bit embarrassed under my gaze, threw out a sentence, and hurriedly left.

"Lady, let Xing'er help you change."

"No need! I can do it myself," I protested loudly, clutching my clothes and jumping away.

"Haha～! I didn't expect the lady to be so lively," Xing'er pursed her lips and smiled.

I smiled awkwardly, loosened the ribbon holding my hair, and let my straight black hair fall to my waist. "I'm just not used to it. Self-reliance is the way to go!" This quote was from Chairman Mao.

"Then let Xing'er scatter the Yue Lan petals into the spring for the lady," Xing'er walked to the stone table by the spring, picked up the bamboo basket, and began scattering the sky-blue petals into the water while looking at me enviously, "Lady, you are the most beautiful woman Xing'er has ever seen. No wonder the valley lord dotes on you so much."

I walked behind the screen, undressed, and smiled happily, "Why do you think he dotes on me?"

"Lady, you don't know? Yue Lan is an extremely rare flower. When its petals are crushed into juice, it can cure all poisons. When applied to wounds, it can stop bleeding and accelerate healing. It's a priceless medicinal herb. Usually, even if someone comes to ask for it, the valley lord might not be willing to give it. But now he's using so much for the lady's bath. When Yue'er asked Xing'er to pick it, Xing'er thought she had heard wrong!"

No wonder Yue'er was so surprised earlier. It's such a precious flower! It feels like a waste to use it for a bath. I feel a bit guilty using something meant for saving lives just to bathe. I thought to myself, feeling a mix of guilt and sweetness. "I won't use such precious herbs for a bath next time. Ordinary fragrant flowers will do just fine."

Xing'er put the empty bamboo basket back on the stone table and waited by the spring. "Lady, you don't know. Besides being a rare medicinal herb, Yue Lan petals can also make your skin crystal clear when used in a bath. But you're already so beautiful; it doesn't make much difference whether you use it or not," Xing'er's sweet voice echoed in the cave.

I smiled and said, "Well, let's not be so extravagant next time." I wrapped myself in the white gauze Xing'er had prepared and stepped out. I slowly entered the warm spring water, which shimmered with a blue glow, and the faint fragrance filled the cave. I leaned against the edge of the spring, picked up a Yue Lan petal, and whispered, "This quiet bath is truly one of life's great pleasures."

"The Clear Water Spring is the valley lord's private pool. No one else is allowed to bathe here except for the master. You're the first one, lady!" Xing'er said mysteriously.

"He sure knows how to enjoy himself."