Heart-shaped Birthmark

The person swam very quickly and soon reached Wei Lan’s side. Wei Lan felt herself being grabbed, and then, with a sudden force, she was yanked out of the water. She gasped for air and coughed violently a few times.

Once she had finally recovered, she lifted her head and met the eyes of the person who saved her. She froze for a moment.

“It’s you?” Wei Lan exclaimed.

Zhu Ciwen didn’t answer; he merely smiled slightly and reached out to gently wipe Wei Lan’s cheek. His finger instantly became black, while Wei Lan’s face revealed a fair mark, which was her original skin color.

Zhu Ciwen laughed heartily. “So you smeared your face with black mud!”

Wei Lan instinctively covered her face, and a suspicion rose in her heart. Was her falling into the water just an accident, or was someone behind it?

She recalled the beauty mud from Mingyi she had applied to her face, which, while water-resistant, couldn’t compare to modern makeup products. After being submerged in the water for so long, the thin layer of powder had loosened, and with a gentle swipe, it had come off completely.

Though Wei Lan felt a little awkward, she maintained composure. She stood up, her wet clothes clinging to her body, making her appear even more disheveled. She pulled out the letter from her pocket, but as soon as she opened it, she found that the paper had become wrinkled and the ink was smudged.

In a panic, she quickly said, “Your Highness! I came here to request a favor!”

Zhu Ciwen simply smiled, reached out, and snatched the paper from her hand. Without even glancing at it, he tore it into pieces and casually waved his hand, letting the fragments fall like snowflakes on the lake.

He looked at Wei Lan’s soaked form and, half teasing and half disdainful, said, “I know why you’re here. Go take a bath first. Coming to see me like this, you’re not worried about losing your manners?”

Wei Lan looked at herself—drenched, curves exposed—and quickly hunched her back. But then she realized that after staying in the ancient world for so long, she had become quite conservative. In modern times, she could wear a bikini and play volleyball on the beach—what was the big deal?

After thinking for a moment, Wei Lan straightened her back and bowed slightly. “As you command!”

She followed a maid to the bathing room. The bathing area in this royal mansion had quite a special design. Upon entering, she saw that the walls were made of smooth, polished blue stones, and the floor was paved with square tiles. In the center was a massive bath tub made of redwood, emitting a faint scent of wood.

The tub was already filled with hot water, and petals of jasmine, white orchids, and a few lotus leaves floated on the surface.

As Wei Lan stepped into the bathing room, several maids surrounded her. Each of them was delicate and graceful. Together, they reached out to help her undress.

Wei Lan felt embarrassed, surrounded by so many beautiful women. She instinctively covered her chest, forcing a nervous smile and said, “Sisters, please go outside. I can manage by myself.”

Seeing this, the maids froze for a moment and then stepped back. However, one of the maids stepped forward and gently said, “Miss Wei, let me help you scrub your back.”

Wei Lan looked up and saw that this maid was stunningly beautiful, with delicate features and flawless skin. She was wearing a water-red, cross-collared blouse and a moon-white pleated skirt, tied with a light pink silk belt, which made her look fresh and elegant.

Wei Lan’s heart moved. This maid’s demeanor was exceptional, so she must be one of the personal attendants of Prince Ji. She smiled and asked, “May I know your name, sister?”

The maid took a graceful step forward, approaching Wei Lan, and whispered, “My name is An Xiang. I am the prince’s personal chambermaid.”

Wei Lan recoiled slightly. “An Xiang, actually, I don’t need anyone to assist me. I can handle it myself.” But before she could finish, An Xiang grabbed her wrist, gently pulling her, her hand almost pressing against Wei Lan’s knee but stopping in mid-air.

“Miss, see, your hand can’t even reach your knee,” An Xiang said, as her fingers slid upward along Wei Lan’s thigh.

Wei Lan was about to protest when An Xiang suddenly circled behind her. Her arms, soft as if boneless, wrapped around Wei Lan, and before Wei Lan could react, her arms were swiftly raised above her head, with her palms pressed down firmly on her lower back.

“Ouch! Ouch!” Wei Lan couldn’t help but grimace in pain, hearing the sharp cracking sound of her joints.

After a few moments, An Xiang smiled softly and said, “Miss Wei, it seems I should help you scrub your back after all.”

Wei Lan rubbed her sore shoulders and couldn’t help but complain, “Those two moves you just did… I doubt most people could pull that off! I’ve never practiced yoga!”

However, after An Xiang released her, Wei Lan realized her previously stiff shoulders had become much more relaxed. The sudden comfort made her exclaim in admiration, “An Xiang, your technique is amazing! Did you learn it professionally?”

Having been in the Ming Dynasty for so long, this was the first time she’d experienced such a satisfying massage—it was incredibly soothing!

An Xiang had already undone Wei Lan’s belt. “I studied massage techniques for a few years.” She said, pulling Wei Lan into the bath tub.

As the warm water rose to her chest, Wei Lan couldn’t help but let out a soft hum. An Xiang’s fingers expertly pressed on the spaces between her shoulder blades, and the feeling of soreness surged straight to her head. When her fingers reached the tailbone, Wei Lan shuddered as if shocked by an electric current, and heard a light laugh from behind, “Miss, your body is as stiff as wood.”

Wei Lan turned her head and tried to explain, “That’s because I’m not used to others touching me…” Then she laughed and said, “If you press more often, An Xiang, I’ll become very flexible.” A mischievous smile curled on her lips.

But An Xiang turned her face back, placing her warm palm on the back of her neck. “This acupoint is called ‘Mute Gate.’ Pressing it hard can render a person speechless.” As her fingertips gently pressed, Wei Lan felt a deep, tingling sensation spreading from the back of her neck, and the teasing words she had been about to say turned into a soft groan.

An Xiang’s fingers traveled along her spine, and Wei Lan’s forehead pressed against the edge of the tub as she gasped. Each acupoint first brought aching pressure, followed by a surge of heat that spread throughout her body. Wei Lan became dazed, surrendering to the sensation, her eyelids heavy as her body felt as if it were being gently lifted by clouds, swaying into a peaceful sleep.

“Miss?” An Xiang gently moved her wet hair away from her neck. The voice was more like a lullaby.

When Wei Lan finally drifted off to sleep, An Xiang carefully inspected her body. As her finger brushed over Wei Lan’s arch, she noticed a red birthmark on the sole of her foot in the shape of a peach heart.

Wei Lan had been exhausted these past few days and slept especially deeply. In her dream, she lay on soft clouds, rolling around happily. The sun was warm, and the air was filled with a light fragrance. Just as she was enjoying herself, the sound of a guqin began to play in the distance.

The music became clearer and clearer, gradually waking Wei Lan. She opened her eyes, realizing that the music wasn’t from her dream—it was real. As she sat up, An Xiang immediately pulled back the curtains and entered.

Wei Lan saw An Xiang take various gold and silver jewelry from a dressing box. The jewel-toned items seemed to weigh heavily on her head, giving her a headache. She quickly waved her hand and said, “An Xiang, there’s no need to be so troublesome.”

She remembered that her hairpin had fallen into the lake, so she picked the most simple-looking one, quickly arranged her hair, and asked, “Where are my clothes?”

An Xiang pulled out a silver-threaded moonlit gown from the dressing box. The dress shimmered with a faint glow, embroidered with intricate patterns like winding peonies, butterflies fluttering through flowers, and light clouds and mist patterns that looked almost ethereal when the skirt swayed.

Wei Lan instinctively touched the hairpin on her head and couldn’t help but worry: She probably couldn’t afford this seemingly ordinary hairpin, let alone this luxurious dress. So she insisted, “I’ll wear my own clothes.”

An Xiang’s voice was calm, “The laundry room has taken your rough cloth shirt; it’s probably already been turned into a rag.”

“What!? You’re not trying to trick me, are you?” Wei Lan’s eyes widened in shock.

“Miss Wei, you’re just as interesting as His Highness said,” An Xiang chuckled, covering her mouth. “Since we threw away your clothes, this one will be considered as a replacement.”

Wei Lan reluctantly changed into the moonlit gown. Standing in front of the mirror, she couldn’t help but feel that the outfit seemed like a gilded cage.

An Xiang gently urged, “Miss Wei, His Highness is waiting in the side hall.”

When Wei Lan entered the side hall, Zhu Ciwen was leaning on an intricately carved red sandalwood couch, flipping through a book. The soft light from a horned palace lamp illuminated the pages of the book, making the gilded title “The Complete Woman’s Health Guide” sparkle in the light.

Zhu Ciwen looked up, and the candlelight reflected off the fair skin of the young woman. Her previously dark face was now as smooth and radiant as fresh snow, and her almond-shaped eyes shone brightly under the moonlit dress. Her hair was loosely tied, with a few stray strands falling, adding a touch of casual charm to her graceful appearance.

Though Zhu Ciwen had seen many beautiful women, even he couldn’t help but be dazzled by her appearance.

Wei Lan took a larger step, but the long hem of the moonlit gown tripped her, causing her to stumble. She quickly grabbed the edge of a nearby table to steady herself and then awkwardly bent to perform a half-bent curtsy: “This humble woman greets His Highness.” This gesture was something An Xiang had just taught her, and it was still awkward.

Zhu Ciwen frowned slightly, his mouth twitching. This woman, when still, was somewhat pleasant to the eye, but once she moved, everything became chaotic. Such a pity for her talent. He waved his hand and said indifferently, “Forget it, no need for formalities. Let’s eat first; you can’t learn such manners in a short time.”

Wei Lan finally noticed that the table was covered with a dozen or so dishes: braised pigeon, marinated duck feet, steamed perch, and a few delicate vegetarian dishes like stir-fried silver beans and cold lotus root salad, with a steaming bowl of bird’s nest soup in the center.

However, Wei Lan had no appetite at all. “Your Highness, I…”