008 Feigned Emotions

Taking a deep breath, Yun Xueyan lowered her gaze and turned away, her tender lips bitten into a deep mark. “This servant will go at once. Please wait a moment, Your Highness.” Bowing her head, she walked past Duan Nanyu.

But she had not expected to stumble straight into a broad and sturdy chest. Her petite body began to tremble uncontrollably. “Your Highness, I still need to fetch water. Please do not let me delay your bath.”

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s, yet Yun Xiyin, lying upon the bed, heard every word with perfect clarity. The gentle expression that had been on her face a moment ago flashed with cold cruelty, and she cursed Yun Xueyan bitterly in her heart.

Long, slender fingers gripped her pointed chin. Duan Nanyu glanced at the scar on Yun Xueyan’s forehead before finally releasing her. “Hurry up and get it done! Don’t waste any more time!”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Instinctively, she took several steps back before leaving the room.

As she passed by the bedside, she felt a chilling gaze upon her. She knew it was Yun Xiyin—she had never liked her.

Carrying her buckets, Yun Xueyan returned to Junyu Pavilion and poured both buckets of water into the bathing pool.

Duan Nanyu merely stood to the side, his brows tightly furrowed. He had not expected this woman before him to be able to carry in two buckets of water. Though her frame wavered a little, it was already far beyond his expectations.

What on earth did she do in the Yun family to be able to carry two buckets this far with such ease?

Ignoring Duan Nanyu’s scrutinizing gaze, Yun Xueyan turned and walked out once more. She had to fill the entire pool and needed to quicken her pace.

Otherwise, the hot water would soon turn cold.

If that happened, Duan Nanyu would surely find fault with her again. At the thought, her steps unconsciously grew quicker.

In the blink of an eye, Yun Xueyan returned again with two more buckets, pouring them into the pool. After completing these tasks, she went to fetch more, while Duan Nanyu simply watched in silence.

Only when he occasionally caught sight of the scars that were inadvertently revealed did a look of disgust cross his face.

On the bed, Yun Xiyin huddled under the covers, contemplating how to lure Duan Nanyu back to her side.

“Your Highness…” she called softly, her sweet and alluring voice melting into the air. Yun Xueyan happened to pass behind the screen at that moment and could not help but frown at the sound.

The elegant and domineering mistress of the Prime Minister’s residence was nowhere to be seen in Yun Xiyin now. Her false demeanor made Yun Xueyan feel inexplicably uncomfortable, and she could not help but sigh inwardly—perhaps all men in the world preferred such women.

But she could never learn to be like that, nor did she have the means to.

“Yin’er, what is it?” Duan Nanyu asked gently, taking a few steps from the side chamber to her bedside, gazing at Yun Xiyin with doting affection.

“Your Highness, please don’t make things difficult for my sister. No matter what, I am her elder sister. Seeing her like this, I cannot bear it,” Yun Xiyin whispered. At first hearing, even Yun Xueyan almost believed her sincerity.

With a cold laugh, Yun Xueyan deliberately ignored their words and hurried her steps, buckets in hand.

“Yin’er, you truly are so kind. Very well, I will do as you wish. But I must punish you for it.”

“Hm?” Not understanding what she had done wrong to deserve punishment, Yun Xiyin looked at Duan Nanyu in confusion. “Your Highness, I know I was wrong.”

A gentle smile lifted Duan Nanyu’s handsome features. “You’ve made the same mistake again.”

“Did I not just tell you? You are to call me Nanyu.”

Only then did Yun Xiyin realize her mistake, and she quickly smiled sweetly. “Nanyu, you nearly frightened me just now.”

Speaking obediently, Yun Xiyin nestled shyly into the covers, gazing at the man before her. Though everyone said he was a cold and ruthless prince, she did not think so. To her, he was always gentle and indulgent.

She did not know why.

But she did not need to know. As long as he favored her, she was qualified to be the mistress of this princely residence.