A Bath for Lovebirds

Shen Tingjue wiped away his tears with one hand and reached for Xie the Grand Secretary's hand again with the other. His gaze was earnest, his voice choked with emotion. "I beg you, Grand Secretary, fulfill my wish—and the wishes of scholars across the realm. Should you have any command for me in the future, I will devote myself wholeheartedly until death, refusing neither hardship nor sacrifice."

"..." Xie the Grand Secretary's hand hurt from being gripped so tightly. He wanted to pull it free, but could not. With a stiff smile, he said, "There is no need for this, Young Marquis. This old man had long wished to share the books in his collection with the students. Being able to take them out now is, in fact, you fulfilling this old man's wish."

Shen Tingjue parried smoothly, biting his lip as he sighed. "There is no need for such insincere words, Grand Secretary. If you are unwilling, I will not force the matter or make things difficult for you."

Xie the Grand Secretary felt as though his brow had turned black with ill fortune. Hearing the murmurs around them, he nearly forced the words out through gritted teeth. "This old man speaks from the heart."

"So the Grand Secretary is willing to lend out his books?" Shen Tingjue was overjoyed. He vigorously shook Xie the Grand Secretary's hand. "I knew it. My kind heart was bound to move you."

Xie the Grand Secretary stared fixedly at him with his aged, clouded eyes, his beard trembling faintly with rage.

Shen Tingjue went on with heartfelt sincerity. "Could the Grand Secretary go one step further and have the other great families lend out their books as well? If that could be done, I would be endlessly grateful, forever indebted, and prostrate myself in thanks."

The moment Xie the Grand Secretary heard him spitting out four-character phrases one after another, his headache worsened. He yanked his hand free again, then, mindful of the crowd, had to maintain an air of dignity. Standing with his hands behind his back, he said steadily:

"The books held by great families are exceedingly precious. It would be understandable if they chose not to lend them out. However, this old man will ask. If the Young Marquis has no other business, this old man has urgent matters to attend to and will take his leave."

You insatiable little brat!

Shen Tingjue rubbed his hands together. "The books, then..."

Xie the Grand Secretary closed his eyes and steadied himself, seemingly suppressing his temper. "This old man will have someone sort them out over the next two days. The academy has not yet been completed anyway, so there is no hurry."

"There is. When I do things, I like swift and decisive action. I cannot delay even for a moment."

Shen Tingjue said, "I am already deeply grateful that the Grand Secretary is willing to lend the books. How could I trouble anyone else further? You are returning to your residence now, aren't you? Why not let me go with you? It is only moving books; it is not difficult. I can find servants to help myself. Otherwise, who knows how long these so-called two days will drag on? What if you are just making empty promises to me? So I'll go move them now. Can I? Can I? Can I?"

Xie the Grand Secretary: "..."

Shen Tingjue blinked his large eyes at him, feeling that in the next instant, Xie the Grand Secretary might flare his beard and curse—yet somehow managed to swallow it all back down.

Naturally.

No one could refuse the request of someone as kind as him, and no one would have the heart to scold him.

See? Hadn't he gotten exactly what he wanted?

News traveled swiftly through Chang'an City. In less than half a day, word reached Xiao Jinhong's ears. Then, passed from one to ten and ten to a hundred, the tale gained ever more embellishments, its plot becoming increasingly dramatic. Listeners were moved to tears, and Shen Tingjue's virtuous reputation rose to even greater heights.

Xiao Jinhong: So angry he was going bald!

Snowflakes landed on the flagstones and melted in an instant. Shen Tingjue suddenly turned his head and sneezed. "Is someone cursing me?"

Xiao Hanye had returned from martial training at the drill grounds, reeking of sweat. He was now soaking in the bath pool with his eyes closed, resting. When a familiar voice drifted in from outside, he immediately turned his head and saw Shen Tingjue emerge after rounding the screen.

Xiao Hanye's temple twitched.

"Don't ask who let me in. None of them dared stop me." Shen Tingjue possessed not the slightest awareness that he ought not to look. He was not a scholar, after all, and did not understand restraint or propriety. Besides, they were already an old married couple. He had seen every inch of him—and even touched him.

Shen Tingjue crouched by the bath pool, gazing at this picture of a beautiful man bathing. His eyes stared straight beneath the water as he licked his lips, delight mingling with smugness. "Do I look like a lecher?"

Xiao Hanye casually scooped up a ladleful of water and splashed it straight over his head.

Everyone loved beauty. Shen Tingjue did not think himself vulgar in the least. His eyes remained fixed on Xiao Hanye's solid back, beaded with water, shining brightly as he good-naturedly wiped his face. "Since we have nothing to do, why not have a bath for lovebirds?"

Xiao Hanye ignored him and reached for the clothes hanging on the screen.

Shen Tingjue was a step faster. He snatched the clothes, scrunched them into a ball, and tossed them in a perfect arc onto a couch some distance away. "Hehe, you can't reach them."

Xiao Hanye: "..."

His fist clenched.

Shen Tingjue took a bottle of floral oil from a nearby shelf and poured the whole thing into the bath pool with a loud glug. A beautiful man had to bathe like this, so he would smell nice.

Xiao Hanye could not stop him in time. As the heavy, pungent floral scent spread everywhere, he held his breath, his head throbbing painfully. It felt as though Shen Tingjue had come specifically to murder him.

Shen Tingjue himself sneezed twice from the choking fragrance. Rubbing his nose, he leaned his head closer. "Didn't I handle the academy construction quite well? Is there a reward?"

Xiao Hanye gave a cold laugh. "How much money did you contribute?"

"Showing my face was enough." Shen Tingjue touched his cheek. "His Majesty, my mother, and the others only donated because of my face. They could not bear to let me spend money, and there is nothing I can do about that. Besides, I need to save my money to marry the Crown Prince someday."

Xiao Hanye flicked a string of tiny droplets onto his face, his gaze turning dangerous. "What did you say?"

Shen Tingjue was utterly fearless, with lofty ambitions. "I said I want to marry you."

Xiao Hanye grabbed him and dragged him into the water.

Shen Tingjue promptly shut his mouth and did not choke. He surfaced with wet hair at his temples, teasing expectation brimming in his upturned eyes. "Are you going to get rough with me?"

Xiao Hanye rolled his eyes at him.

When Xiao Hanye moved to climb out and get his clothes, Shen Tingjue hurriedly threw his steaming, wet body against him, utterly reluctant to let this vision of a beautiful man bathing end. He buried his whole face in Xiao Hanye's chest and sniffed, sneezing as he spoke. "You smell so good—so good I could die. Your Highness is truly irresistible."

Xiao Hanye pinched the back of his neck and pulled him away slightly. "Get lost. Don't sneeze at me."

Shen Tingjue rubbed his nose, choking yet delighted. His mind was filled with nothing but a set of Secret Illustrations of Spring Nights. Both hands roamed over the other man's body, trying to stir something up. Why wear clothes at all? Wouldn't it be better for them to bare themselves and have some fun together?

Mist filled the bath pool. At the slightest disturbance, ripples spread across the entire surface. The sensations in the water differed from usual; everywhere his fingertips passed was suffused with heat.

Xiao Hanye's shoulders and back tensed faintly. His soaked bangs hung loose over his forehead. The rising mist heated him as though he had been drinking, and he felt that every time he was with this addle-brained secret guard, all his composure and restraint were cast aside, turning him into a young man indulging in pleasure.

After being teased like this, it was impossible not to give in.

Amid the sound of flowing water, the pool's damp steam enveloped them in ambiguity. It drifted softly with the movements of those in the water, sending rings of ripples spreading outward.