Chapter 170 Take Off Your Clothes

Faced with Hua Rong's earnest and innocent gaze, Gu Yan truly could not understand the question she posed, feeling momentarily speechless.

However, he still nodded. "I have caught them. But his talent was far superior to yours; he was not as opportunistic as you."

"Am I not just making a fool of myself..." Hua Rong felt a slight wave of embarrassment. She had originally thought that fellow had also spent half a day trying to catch fish, only to realize the clown was none other than herself!

Twitching the corner of her mouth, Hua Rong was at a loss for words. She looked up and asked, "Then what shall we study next?"

For some reason, she had suddenly developed an interest in martial arts, perhaps having just tasted the sweetness of success. At this moment, her enthusiasm was growing increasingly intense, filled with a palpable eagerness to try.

Faced with these words, Gu Yan shook his head. "There is no need. You should go back and rest first. Today is quite enough. Change into a fresh set of clothes; if you accidentally catch a cold, it will be difficult for me to give the Emperor an account later."

Having dropped these words, Gu Yan departed with exceptional elegance. With a single bound, his body soared directly into the air, leaping several meters high, drifting like a light, fluttering leaf—a truly enviable sight.

"So this is legendary lightness kung fu! Isn't this just too incredible?"

Hua Rong swallowed hard, truly unable to control her surging excitement. She tentatively took a little hop on the ground, only to find that she could not even jump a tenth as high as him.

"Sigh, it seems I really must study hard!" Sighing softly, having tasted her first slice of a sense of achievement, Hua Rong found herself growing increasingly expectant of the days ahead.

Returning to the Xuanji Palace, Hua Rong bathed and changed her clothes simply.

Looking at the water inside the wooden tub, she involuntarily recalled the events of the day, suddenly feeling a lingering fear of water and subconsciously shivering. "Please don't ever make me catch fish again..."

Slightly turning her neck, Hua Rong immersed herself in the water. Unlike her usual playful habit of scattering rose petals, she only felt a severe, aching soreness in her arms, making even lifting them feel like a tremendous effort.

"Your Ladyship, would you like me to attend to your bath?"

"No need. This palace does not have such a habit. Isn't it just scrubbing oneself? I can still manage it myself." Hua Rong shook her head, feeling that such behavior was far too embarrassing.

After dismissing everyone, she found herself inadvertently dozing off inside the comfortable wooden tub. After a little less than half an hour, the water gradually grew somewhat cool, and Hua Rong only then belatedly got up.

As a gust of cold wind swept past outside, chilling her body, a bone-chilling coldness radiated from the inside out.

"Why is it so freezing? And nobody came to call me..."

Drawing her arms slightly inward, Hua Rong hurried out from the tub. Only after putting on her clothes did she feel much more comfortable, though the aching sensation in her arms remained impossible to ignore.

Right at that moment, a round of knocking suddenly came from outside.

"Who is it? Come in."

Hua Rong absentmindedly fussed with her half-draped garments, assuming it was one of the palace maids.

However, as she watched the door push open and Jun Yeli's figure came into view, she panicked instantly. Flustered, she hurriedly clutched her clothes and stood by the water, a look of apprehension crossing her face. "Why has the Emperor arrived so suddenly without giving advance notice?"

Faced with this flustered and panicked attitude, Jun Yeli was slightly surprised as his gaze fell upon the skin faintly visible through the woman's collar.

In the chill of the deep night, he felt an uncontrollable impulse surging within him. Swallowing hard, he spoke again, "Did I not say I would come to check your results? I had no free time earlier, so I chose this moment."

He certainly knew how to pick his moments. Now, with the moon hanging high in the waning night, she had already gone to sleep, yet he had rushed over to inspect such matters.

Hua Rong did not know how to respond for a moment, and could only nod in compliance. "Since the Emperor wishes to inspect, then this concubine naturally ought to cooperate. It's just that I don't know how you wish to test me. Shall this concubine catch some fish for you once more?"

Her tone carried a hint of banter.

Jun Yeli was slightly startled, then could not help but burst into a laugh. "Your boldness is growing by the day; you even dare to tease your Emperor. But looking at your state, you must have successfully passed the master's test, haven't you?"

As he spoke, the man walked over to a seat, sat down, poured a cup of tea, and handed it directly to Hua Rong. "Quickly drink this cup of warm tea. I heard you soaked in the water for quite a long time."

His arrival had been impeccably timed; Hua Rong had just stepped out and was in the midst of dressing.

He feared that after frolicking in the water for so long and soaking in it besides, she might catch a chill later, which would be troublesome.

Hua Rong looked surprised at the handed tea, yet she cradled it and obediently drank it down.

Feeling a warm current welling up, her body relaxed considerably. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Setting down the cup, the two of them sat in mutual silence once more, the atmosphere suddenly turning somewhat awkward and leaving one at a loss for what to do.

"Um, Your Majesty, it is already the dead of night. I wonder how precisely you intend to inspect?"

Hua Rong moved her lips, yet she had no intention of inviting him to stay the night.

Who would have thought that Jun Yeli's next words would come completely out of nowhere, outright displaying rogue behavior: "Take off your clothes."

"What? Take off my clothes? Your Majesty, isn't this somewhat inappropriate? This concubine is not yet prepared for such a thing..."

Hua Rong shook her head repeatedly. Although receiving imperial favor was an immense honor, her mind was currently blank, and she could not even remember what had happened in the past. How could she possibly accept this man before her, who was both unfamiliar and familiar?

Seeing Hua Rong's terrified expression, Jun Yeli could not help but let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples as if he had a headache. "What on earth goes through that mind of yours all day long? If you don't want your arms to be completely ruined by tomorrow, hurry up and take off your clothes. I will apply medicine for you."

It was not as though he had never caught fish before. Back when he was studying under his master in his passionate youth, he had spent plenty of time catching fish as well; his arms had felt almost dislocated, as though they no longer belonged to him.

"Apply medicine?" Hua Rong stared at him blankly, still feeling something was amiss, suspecting this fellow was simply finding excuses to take advantage of her.

Jun Yeli did not notice her peculiar gaze and simply busied himself with the ointment in his hands. "You are quite fortunate. Back when I was studying the arts, my master paid no attention at all. Where was there anyone to apply medicine? We simply had to endure it."

As he spoke, Jun Yeli pulled the unmoving Hua Rong to his side and pressed her down to sit on his lap. "Don't move around!"

Carrying a hint of warning in his tone, the man unhesitatingly parted Hua Rong's garments. The slightly cool medicine touched his palm and massaged into her shoulders.

The instant relief was so pleasant it was almost unforgettable.

Hua Rong's pupils dilated slightly, and she actually found it somewhat addictive. "What miraculous medicine is this!"