Free Web NovelChapter 10: The reward
Ru Yi felt the wires in her brain become entangled with each other. There was no way Princess Lin Yuexin just told her to strip herself in front of her.
"You want me—" she gestured to her robe, "to take off my clothes?"
Princess Lin Yuexin nodded. "I need to check if you’re really pregnant. I’m familiar with traditional Chinese medicine and I trained under a midwife once."
Could Ru Yi really trust her?
There was really no other choice for her.
She pushed the robe off her shoulder then let it fall to her feet. She tried not to look at the princess.
It wasn’t that she was shy, she’d just never undressed in front of someone else before.
"Go on, we don’t have all day," Lin Yuexin prompted.
Ru Yi removed the loose trousers she’d worn under the robe before removing the binding cloth that was tied around her chest.
Lin Yuexin tilted her head, taking in Ru Yi’s form. "Do you feel sick in the morning?"
Ru Yi shook her head.
"When was the last time you had your monthly?" the princess asked softly.
"I can’t remember."
Lin Yuexin clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth in a disapproving gesture. "You should keep note of these things if you are..." she searched for an appropriate word. "Active?"
Ru Yi looked away in embarrassment.
Lin Yuexin touched the side of her head. "Do you feel dizzy?"
Ru Yi shook her head again.
"Have you been craving anything lately?"
"Not really." Her stomach chose that time to growl. "But I guess I’m hungry right now," she finished, her cheeks turning a light pink shade.
"Can I touch your breasts?" Lin Yuexin asked.
"What?" Ru Yi blurted out, her hands instinctively going to cover her chest. "Is that necessary your highness?"
"I’m afraid so."
Slowly Lin Yuexin brought down Ru Yi’s hands from her chest then covered it with her own hands.
Ru Yi’s skin was soft and warm under her cold touch which distracted her for half a minute. "Does it hurt?"
"I..." Ru Yi was busy trying to stop her heart from beating so loudly beneath her ribs. It would be a miracle if the princess didn’t hear it.
She curled her toes, her breath starting to come out in short gasps.
"Ru Yi, does it hurt?" Lin Yuexin asked again. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
She shook her head in response.
"Use your words." Lin Yuexin’s voice was firm.
"It doesn’t..." Ru Yi held her breath, "hurt."
Lin Yuexin withdrew her hands. "I don’t think you are with child," she said, eyes still on Ru Yi’s chest. "Put your clothes back on and sit over there so I can check your pulse." freewebnovel.cσ๓
Ru Yi swallowed hard, feeling vulnerable under the princess’s heated gaze. She quickly wore her clothes before sitting across from Lin Yuexin at the table.
"Your hand."
Ru Yi put her hand out on the table, sucking in a breath when Lin Yuexin took hold of it.
Lin Yuexin’s fingers rested lightly against her wrist, unmoving for a moment.
Then her expression changed. "There’s no way you’re with a child. Your pulse is thin and very weak. There is nothing unusual."
Ru Yi let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. "You’re sure?"
Lin Yuexin nodded, eyes lingering on Ru Yi’s face. "You seem relieved."
It was only then Ru Yi could laugh. "Very relieved. The last thing I need is a child."
Lin Yuexin tilted her head to the side, observing the girl in front of her. "There’s something different about you, or were my maids wrong? You seemed to be all over the crown prince before. I thought you’d rejoice at the thought of bearing him an heir."
"A child right now would be a nightmare for me." Then she paused to think— "Shouldn’t you be furious that the crown prince and I..."
"I meant it when I said I don’t care about the engagement." She cleared her throat. "Now that your situation is out of the way and you have no reason to run away again...Did you find anything about the empress?"
Ru Yi was about to shake her head when she remembered the voices she heard at the end of the hallway in the empress’s residence.
"I wasn’t able to look around, but I believe she’s hiding something...or people," she sighed. "I wasn’t able to get a proper look."
Lin Yuexin tapped her chin. "I need more information. You must help me with this, I’ll get you an official pass to leave the palace just like we agreed."
Ru Yi shook her head, she’d already gotten in so much trouble. "I don’t think I can spy on the empress. It’s too dangerous." Especially not after their little incident, there was still Shen Yexue and the debt she was yet to pay.
"I don’t think you understand the situation." Lin Yuexin leaned closer, her voice taking on a menacing tone. "You’re just a maid, you have no choice but to do as I say."
It sent a chill down Ru Yi’s spine.
The princess’s smile turned predatory. "Do you know what happens to servants who attempt to flee the palace?"
Ru Yi already knew the answer to that.
"This can remain a secret between us." She reached out and traced a finger down the side of Ru Yi’s face. " Besides, I’m the only one that can safely get you through those gates. You can be sure that I’m on your side."
"But...there were guards. I can’t possibly—"
Lin Yuexin placed her thumb on Ru Yi’s lips. "Oh, you can. Nothing is impossible if you put your heart to it."
She started to move her finger, gently caressing Ru Yi’s bottom lip. "If you feel even a bit of guilt for getting involved with the crown prince, then do this for me."
Ru Yi found herself parting her lips.
If anything she wanted to push out her tongue a bit and taste the slender finger that was there. The skin was pale and smooth.
Up close like this, she could see the soft brown of Lin Yuexin’s eyes. It reminded her of those pretty dolls she would see on display at clothing stores.
"Will you really let me leave?" Ru Yi mumbled.
Lin Yuexin nodded. "Of course, my word is my honor."
Then she used her other hand to pull Ru Yi closer to her before placing a kiss on the thumb that was still on Ru Yi’s lip. "Consider this a part of your reward."
