Shen Yangge was led into the little bamboo house. Before he could gather his wits, Chu Xuanzhen pressed him down onto a bamboo bed that looked brand-new.
Before Shen Yangge could examine it any further, Chu Xuanzhen started stripping him. Startled, he hurriedly clutched his clothes and stammered, "Your Highness, I... I feel this is inappropriate."
Chu Xuanzhen's expression conveyed nothing but urgency. "Scribe Shen, I merely wish to see where you are injured. What is inappropriate about that?"
Wrong. This was very wrong.
If you really wanted to know where I was injured, I could just tell you! Why would you need to look?
You're clearly just...
Shen Yangge's ears reddened slightly. He wore bright red wedding robes and light makeup, a look rarely seen on him.
Chu Xuanzhen's gaze deepened. He caught the porcelain-fair hand gripping his wrist and pulled it toward him, his expression utterly sincere. "Scribe Shen, we are both men. What is inappropriate about this?"
Fuck, if I didn't know you... I might actually believe what you're saying. Shut up!
No, no, no...
Shen Yangge lowered his head slightly, avoiding Chu Xuanzhen's gaze as though deliberately dodging the subject. But avoidance did him no good.
"Your Highness, there really is no need to examine me. My injuries aren't serious."
He forced a smile, then launched into his performance with a solemn, respectful expression. "If I dare deceive Your Highness, then you may..."
Chu Xuanzhen finished for him. "Execute you on the spot?"
Shen Yangge's respectful expression cracked. He hesitated for a moment. "...Ah, no. I meant that if I deceive Your Highness, you may send me back to Capital City alone!"
Being sent back to Capital City counted as a punishment, didn't it?
If he happened to die along the way, wouldn't that complete his