Not Your Typical Villianess - Chapter 202

Su Liya’s pavilion

Su Liya held on to Rong Rong’s arm as support as she climbed up the small step leading to the rim of the bathtub. She paused briefly at the last step just a few inches away from the rim of the bathtub, stretched out her legs and stepped into the water until she was fully submerged in the water.

She sighed as she came in contact with the warm water. She felt laid back, lips tugged up as she felt the warm soothing water sip into her skin and untangle the nuts inside her. It was a beautiful feeling, she felt light-hearted and calm, her mind relaxed as sleep began knocking at her psyche. It was heartwarming, Su Liya pulled herself into a more comfortable position, her head resting on the side of the bath while her body was fully immersed in the water.

Her eyelid got heavier and heavier until she could barely keep awake. Fighting nature wasn’t easy, minutes later, she finally gave in to her body’s natural need. She shut her eyes and let herself fall into a serene sleep. Rong Rong controlled the temperature of the water, pouring in soothing scents and herbs to help her mistress relax.

Rong Rong stepped out of the screen and looked towards the food as she heard Footsteps, the footsteps sounded nothing like Baozhai’s footsteps. She bowed her head as soon as she caught sight of Lu Yaozhu, “Your Highness!”.

Lu Yaozhu glanced at the shadow reflected on the screen behind the maid and smiled. “You are dismissed!” He said in a quiet tone and walked forward.

Rong Rong looked up with wrinkled brows, “what about her highness… Bath. I can’t_”

“Don’t worry, I will handle that” he replied interrupting her.

“Yes”, she bowed and retreated. Boazhai and Yu Tao both retreated with her until it was only Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya in the room. He shrugged his outer coat off his shoulder and hung it on the free cloth hanger opposite the hanger where Su Liya’s dressing gown hung. He rolled up his sleeve until his elbows as he walked behind the screen, his gaze softened as her serene expression came into view.

He liked how at peace she looked, he picked up the basket containing the sponge and soaps as he walked to the bathtub picked up the sponge, poured in the rose-scented liquid soap and began to gently sponge up her body. He was so careful not to wake her, however, the feel of warm water on her shoulder drew her away from dreamland. She opened her eyes halfway, she saw a hazy glimpse of big male hands on her shoulder.

Her eye shut as her sleep-filled head cleared slowly, after a few more tries she finally got her eyes to open halfway. She felt as a wet liquid dropped on her hair, the sweet smell of peaches registered in her mind. which quickly reminded her confused brain of the familiarity of the scent. She smiled and shifted into a good position muttering in a slurry voice, “easy there, Rong Rong. Don’t let the soap enter my ear”.

She felt hands rub her scalp and hair gently, “ahh that feels so good!” She leaned backwards eyes closed, lips spread into a wide smile. “Now this is good”.

Lu Yaozhu chuckled and glanced down at her. He watched her brow wrinkle but continued washing her hair. Su Liya finally opened her eyes wide and pulled out of his reach. “Yaozhu!” She glanced around the room, “how come it is you? Where is Rong Rong and Baozhai?”

Lu Yaozhu bent forward smirking, he glanced down at the hand Su Liya use to cover her breast. “I have seen it already, why cover yourself?”

“You!”, She swiped some water at him with hands into the water and glared at him. Lu Yaozhu saw that coming and stepped back, laughing softly.

“Hold on with the waterworks, I haven’t finished rinsing your hair,” he said making her pause and raise her hands to her hair. Her action revealed all that she kept hidden previously but he didn’t draw her attention to that. He placed both hands on his waist, “don’t be so upset about this, we are married. It is okay to get a little intimate with each other, it is alright to enjoy this”.

“ahh! You_ Lu Yaozhu! Get out” she shouted rising out of the water and pointing at the door. When Lu Yaozhu failed to budge and instead grinned down at her eyes locked at her. She followed his gaze, gasped and brought down her hands to cover herself.

“Please don’t do that on my account” Lu Yaozhu teased, which earned him a near assault with a wooden scoop. He bent low as soon as he saw it coming at him a stepped said. The force from the scoop coupled with the weight of the scoop tore through the screen. Lu Yaozhu stood and walked to the screen, he ran his finger through the hole on the screen.

He glanced from the hole to Su Liya, an eyebrow raised. Lu Yaozhu rolled her eyes and sunk back into the water. He smirked at her, “that was quite the throw wife, your aim is….Very accurate”.

“Shut up! You keep asking for trouble!” She hissed at him, feeling her hair, it indeed felt soapy. “I guess he wasn’t lying, she thought glaring at him, her eyes couldn’t narrow any further but it would have if that was possible given his rather annoying face. ‘He has a lot of nerve smiling so innocently. What a handful’ she thought glaring at him.

“There is still ladder on your back, let me help you wash that off”, he said walking closer but paused when he saw her raise a tray. “or maybe not”, he smiled at her. They got into a silent battle of will for a new seconds before she gave in. “I will leave you to clean up here while I wait outside for you, Wife” he smiled as he left the room but not before blowing her a kiss.

Su Liya could barely hold in her laugh, she laughed softly and muttered, “rascal!”

Lu Yaozhu chucked ad he left, he knew that she wouldn’t stay mad for long. Rong Rong and Baozhai heard the squabbles inside the bathroom room but pretended otherwise. They exchanged a gaze as he left before going back into the bathroom to help their mistress.

Twenty minutes later Su Liya walked into the living room dressed in a simple gown, with her hair packs high and braided into a loose single braid. A ribbon was intertwined with the sulky strands of her hair as her hair was braided. Lu Yaozhu glanced over the cup of tea close to his lips and watched her walk in.

Su Liya sat on the cushioned seat next to his and leaned on her side lead resting on her raised hand. His lips tugged up as he glanced at her pout, he took a sip of tea before returning the cup to the tray on the table between their seats. He leaned closer and inhaled deeply, “you smell nice, I like that.” He glanced at Baozhai who stood father away by the side, “Baozhai, whoever is responsible for this scent deserves a reward”.

“Thanks, your Highness”, Baozhai replied without a single shift in her expression.

Su Liya didn’t respond and instead just rolled her eyes at him. “silly man”, she muttered picking up the fresh cup of tea that had been poured out as she got seated by Rong Rong.

Lu yaozhu leaned to the other side of the chair and watched her while rubbing his chin gently. Su Liya glanced at him and blushed, “why are you looking at me that way. Are you enchanted by me?”

“Yes, I can not stop thinking how someone could look so innocent yet be scary at the same time_ ahh!” He rubbed his arm, hissing. His smile fell as he watched Su Liya flex her wrist eyes locked on him. “Stay calm, Yaya. We have company!” He said shifting out of her reach.

“Shut it or I will dive at you”, she glanced at her two maids and Yu Tao who both had straight-faced as they looked away from them. “They have followed us for so long, what haven’t they seen?”

“True”, he replied. “I heard about the fire at the temple? You two were not caught in there, right?”

“No, the fire was already put out when we arrived” she flexed her hands.

“Good, Sister-in-law should be careful as should you. You still haven’t given birth to a grandchild yet?”

Su Liya glared at him, “And whose fault is that? You must be out to fight today!”

“Wait don’t get mad, I was only kidding. I like the time we have to ourselves, but don’t let mother hear that!”

“Sure, I won’t” she smirked at him.. A chill ran down his spine as he watched her smile down at him coldly.