Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 372: Still Strangely Alluring

Arriving at the bathhouse, a few people were already soaking inside. Some traveling merchants from next door heard the news and paid silver to open the back door, just to come and take a look.

The steam filled the room, and wearing a thick cotton jacket, it didn’t take long to break a sweat.

Liu Ji carried Gongliang Liao and led the way, followed by Qi Xian, looking around nervously for no apparent reason.

Behind them were Shi Tou and another guard, holding half a bolt of cloth, tying the corners to a stick. They found a less crowded spot, dipped the cloth into the pool, and created a curtain for privacy.

At this point, Qi Xian felt more at ease, undressing and entering the warm pool. He looked up to see Liu Ji and his teacher Gongliang Liao already naked, wearing only shorts, sitting on the steps of the pool, sipping cold tea, and enjoying the pickled meat sent by the staff.

Suddenly, a mischievous thought crossed Qi Xian’s mind, and he asked, "Junior, where’s your wife? We’re here enjoying a bath, leaving your wife all alone in the guest room. Isn’t that a bit inconsiderate?"

Liu Ji, who had a piece of pickled meat in his mouth, froze. He immediately put down his teacup, jumped out of the pool, and said, "Teacher, I’ll be right back!"

He grabbed the cotton jacket hanging on the wall and rushed out while putting it on. In the blink of an eye, his figure was nowhere to be seen, leaving Qi Xian dumbfounded.

Facing Gongliang Liao’s dangerous glare, Qi Xian explained quietly, "Teacher, I was just saying it offhandedly. Did the junior really need to react so strongly..."

Gongliang Liao sighed, "Ah," without the third one, the remaining ones seem so proper, truly dull.

However, he didn’t have to endure the dullness for long because the third one quickly returned. While undressing and jumping back into the pool with a splash, he laughed and said, "All settled, all settled. Now we can soak leisurely without any rush."

Meanwhile, the staff knocked on Qin Yao’s room door. She got up to open it, and the staff smiled eagerly, "Here to bring hot water for the lady."

With that, he waved his hand, and two staff members carrying hot water buckets entered the room, filled the tub, and then closed the door before leaving.

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, "Smart choice."

Soaking in the large pool was refreshing, but there was no women’s pool here, so using a bathtub was a decent alternative.

Outside, snowflakes were fluttering, and inside, two basins of charcoal kept the room warm. Qin Yao soaked her entire body in the hot water, with only a shoulder and her head exposed, gradually relaxing.

The year’s fatigue seemed to be cured by this one bucket of hot water.

Thinking to herself that she should set up a bathtub at home to soak in whenever free, Qin Yao closed her eyes, fully indulging in the comforting steam.

Until the sound of footsteps came from outside, her seemingly asleep eyes snapped open.

The door was pushed but didn’t budge because she had bolted it.

Outside, Liu Ji listened and, hearing no response, thought she was already asleep. He called softly, like a thief, "Darling, darling, open the door."

Suddenly, Qin Yao remembered something—they were supposed to share a guest room tonight.

"Darling, darling, open the door..."

The door creaked open from inside, and there stood Qin Yao, fully dressed with her head wrapped in a towel. Startled, Liu Ji jumped back.

Realizing it was her, he laughed at himself for being scared, quickly slipping inside from the cold outside into the warm room, and automatically bolted the door.

He placed the dirty clothes he had changed out of onto the table, swiftly removed his outerwear, letting his freshly dried long hair fall, and glanced at the bed, then lifted the thick blanket and laid down directly.

"Darling, come to bed." Liu Ji even shifted inward to make space for her.

Qin Yao looked at him and couldn’t help but laugh, "You think you’re worthy of sleeping in my bed?"

"Get off and make a bed on the floor," she said calmly, clearly in a good mood after the bath.

Liu Ji pulled the blanket over his head, pretending not to hear, not hearing...he didn’t hear....

With a "whoosh," the blanket was mercilessly pulled off, and the cold air swept through, freezing Liu Ji so much that he jumped up, quickly wrapping himself in the cotton jacket he had just taken off, looking at her pitifully and innocently, "Darling, you have a cruel heart."

Qin Yao glanced at him, with a peculiar charm that would be hard for most to resist.

But she was from the second team!

Flicking the blanket disdainfully to shake off the scent it had absorbed, only then did she lie back on the bed.

"I’ll give you fifteen minutes. In fifteen minutes, I’ll turn off the lights and sleep. I can’t stand any noise."

With that, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Liu Ji stood there, his eyes bulging with grievance, but he dared not delay. Quickly, he shouted for the staff to bring a thicker quilt.

The fifteen minutes were up, and the lights went out promptly.

Late at night, the sound of wind and snow outside grew louder. Someone on the floor rustled, climbing into bed.

Only to hear a scream, "Ah!," and then everything returned to silence.

As daylight broke the next day, the couple went downstairs together to have breakfast with Qi Xian and the others.

As soon as he saw Liu Ji’s face, Qi Xian’s eyes widened, "Junior, what happened to your eye?"

Hearing this, Gongliang Liao looked up, and the elder’s breath caught, almost choking him. Shi Tou quickly patted his back to help him breathe and handed him hot water. The old man finally recovered, pulled at the young apprentice who was about to dig deeper, and said, "Don’t meddle in others’ family affairs."

Qi Xian puzzledly uttered an "Oh," but couldn’t resist taking another look. He saw that Liu Ji’s handsome face, usually dazzling with sparkling eyes, now had one swollen eye.

Although Liu Ji tried to cover it with an embroidered cloth to look like a pirate, the flaw was too obvious for anyone to miss at a glance.

Combined with his attempt to act composed and serious, Qi Xian couldn’t hold back any longer and let out a "pfft" of laughter.

Shi Tou sighed helplessly; their young master rarely laughs, unless it’s uncontrollable!

The subject of laughter, expressionless, picked out dishes his lady didn’t like and placed them before her, "Darling, eat more." As if it was none of his concern.

Qin Yao calmly finished her breakfast, and seeing the snow outside had melted, everyone set out on their journey.

The rest of the journey had no comfortable relay stations to stop at. For two nights, they stayed at inns, which had basic facilities, insufficient charcoal braziers, and high prices; Liu Ji still slept on the floor.

Finally enduring the journey to the Prefecture, they encountered no bandits along the way, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon entering the city, government officers promptly informed Prefect He. The He Family sent someone to receive Qi Xian and extended an invitation for Qin Yao and her husband to stay at their residence.

Qi Xian looked at Qin Yao expectantly, "Madam, why don’t you come with us?"

Liu Ji was eager to agree—it would save a few nights’ accommodation costs!

But he had no say in the matter.

Qin Yao insisted, "We came in a hurry and haven’t tidied up yet. It’s improper to visit without preparation. We’ll settle at the tavern first, then formally send a greeting card and visit."

Having said that, she explained again to the He Family servant who came to greet them. They understood and didn’t insist on inviting them.

The two groups temporarily parted, and after seeing Qi Xian and the others off, Qin Yao redirected her attention and instructed Liu Ji to drive the carriage to find an inn.