The Tale of the Lotus Heart novel Chapter 22

I went straight to my tent after training ended. I was thoroughly surprised to see Ixia waiting for me with the bath ready. She curtsied.

"Princess," she smiled.

"Ixia, what are you doing here?" I asked as she came to help undress me. She hung my clothes up on the partition.

"Crown Prince came by Eternity Palace and asked me to continue serving you here. I saw you on the training field when I arrived so I asked to wait here for you," she explained. I stepped into the bath before Ixia started up doing my hair. After it was out of the high bun I had it in, Ixia combed my curtain of hair as I relaxed in the warm water.

"Crown Prince is worried about you. He says it's hard for a woman to adjust being with a bunch of soldiers all day," Ixia added. I knew he was worried, but there was nothing he could do. I was determined to put my own merits under my belt.

After my bath, Ixia placed a silky robe over my shoulders and set my hair on top of the fabric. I sighed as I tied the ends together to close it. I felt a familiar presence hiding in the room as I finish.

"You can leave now," I said to Ixia. She curtsied before leaving my tent. Shortly after, Yong's slightly intimidating figure dressed in black robes emerged. I knew it was him. I smiled slightly at the sight of him before remembering where I was.

"Are you trying to make it obvious that we're eloping?" I asked sarcastically. He only smiled as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Don't worry. I snuck in; no one saw me," he said cheekily before he moved a strand of my damp hair away from my face and kissed my head. I wrapped my arms around him hesitantly before resting my head against his chest with a sigh.

"Have you ever thought about what would happen if your plan didn't work?" I asked before lifting my head. He gave a puzzled look before I let go of him.

"What if I'm still punished even if you manage to get me pregnant? You are aware that the Empress doesn't like me. She doesn't like anything that has to do with your Second Brother. She has her own plan for you and won't let anything get in her way so easily," I explained as I walked away from him. He wrapped his arms around me from behind in a back hug.

"Between my Royal Father and me, what can my Royal Mother say?" He asked rhetorically. He slid the silk robe off of my shoulder before placing a kiss on my neck.

"You're a little too carefree for the Crown Prince of Heaven," I said in passing. His arm tightened around my waist as he sighed near my ear.

"I promised you I would do whatever it takes to protect you. Even without your own efforts, I will shield you by my side. I didn't come up with this plan without contingencies," he said before his hands rested on my shoulders. He started slipping my robe off further but I stopped him.

"First in broad daylight, now in the Imperial Army camp? It's like you want everyone to know of our consummation," I questioned him. He moved his arms to wrap around my waist again. Only this time, his hands rested on my stomach.