Forget it. We're both men anyway!
What's the big deal?
Having reasoned it out, Shen Yangge rustled as he lifted his robe and relieved himself.
But once he had finished, before he could straighten his clothes, that suffocating feeling struck again!
His eyes widened as he suddenly remembered that he was still being punished-and with that bizarre skin-hunger punishment, at that. If he went too long without touching someone, he would suffocate to death!
It was as though heaven had played some tired old joke on him.
What am I supposed to do now?
A deafening roar suddenly filled his ears, and his vision blurred. Gasping for breath, he managed to cry out, "Your Highness!"
Then he could no longer support himself and pitched forward. Just then, a strong hand caught him around the waist. He fell into an embrace, his hand touching the other man's, and a sensation spread through his arm.
Scorching breath washed over his neck.
Shen Yangge gradually found relief from the suffocation. Once the dizziness and blurred vision eased, he took a deep breath and let it out. He had recovered considerably before he realized that he was still slumped in a certain Crown Prince's arms.
He struggled a little and said, "Your Highness, I'm all right now."
But the hand around his waist had no intention of letting go. Instead, the Crown Prince turned and led him toward the bed, then settled him on it and examined his complexion.
"I'll have someone summon the imperial physician."
"There's really nothing wrong with me..."
Despite his words, the Crown Prince did as he pleased. He called in a servant and sent for the imperial physician.
When someone shook Physician Liu awake from his blissful dreams, the old man was utterly bewildered. He asked, "Who sent you?"