Chapter 55#

(Revised)#

The bedroom was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, only two cautious breaths intertwined shallowly.

The sesame oil lamp burned quietly, its dim yellow light wrapping the room in stillness. Only the bedding beneath them grew tighter and tighter in his grip, crumpling into several sorry creases.

Shen Zhi knew he had received permission.

But he did not recklessly cross that line. First, he gently placed his palm over Wen Zhuo’s knee, stroking it, slowly melting away Wen Zhuo’s tense guard.

As expected, the legs that had been trembling slightly at first gradually steadied.

Once Wen Zhuo had relaxed a little, he hooked his hand behind Wen Zhuo’s knee, exerted a little force, and gently parted them to one side.

He did not encounter much resistance. The cat kept his eyes lowered, fixed on his own heart. His eyelashes, like homing birds folding their wings, were so dense they could hide all the guilt in his eyes.

He looked like a child who had done something wrong, unwilling to let anyone see his shame.

Shen Zhi’s gaze fell on his plain silk undergarment. The few bloodstains had not yet dried, sticking close to the side of his thigh, appearing especially striking against the white silk.

He steadied his breath, pinched the drawstring of the undergarment with two fingers, then raised his hand and lightly patted Wen Zhuo’s knee twice: “I’m going to untie it.”

The drawstring was pulled out from the buckle inch by inch. Wen Zhuo could clearly feel that tugging—firm and slow, beyond his control.

Finally, with a certain catch, the drawstring came completely loose. The soft silk spread over his lower abdomen, no longer binding him.

Wen Zhuo realized that lowering his eyes was no longer enough to plug his ears and steal the bell. So he simply gave up and lifted his wide sleeve to cover his entire face.

What right did he have to laugh at that fool from the Spring and Autumn period who stole the bell? Anyone would do the same.

“The undergarment is stuck to the wound. It will hurt a little when I peel it off,” Shen Zhi said with pity.

He reached out and brushed aside the loose drawstring on his abdomen, knowing in his heart that the last barrier had been breached. What lay before him now was just a bluff of soft silk.

Shen Zhi pressed his palm against Wen Zhuo’s waist, his middle and ring fingers gently sliding under the edge of the silk. But he didn’t rush to pull it down; instead, he pressed his thumb onto his flat lower abdomen, which was beaded with sweat, and gently rubbed it back and forth along the skin.

Wen Zhuo’s whole body was a shade whiter than his, making the contrast especially clear.

Only when he had calmed him enough did Shen Zhi pat his waist with his palm.

“Teacher, lift your hips.”

Wen Zhuo didn’t comply. Instead, he “swished” his sleeve up even higher, covering even his ears.

Seeing this, Shen Zhi felt both exasperated and amused.

If the little cat would only lift his hips a little, he could hook the edge of the undergarment and pull it off. Now he had to go through more trouble, touching more places.

“Alright, Teacher has already covered his ears. He probably can’t hear me anymore.”

As soon as Shen Zhi finished speaking, his hand slid along Wen Zhuo’s waist inward. His fingertips exerted force, squeezing a gap between the bedding and his back.

He lifted his wrist, easily and steadily raising that slender waist. Then, with two fingers pinching the silk, he gave a quick pull, and the soft, smooth undergarment left its owner.

The whole movement was fluid and left no room for refusal. Wen Zhuo was caught off guard, not even time for shame. First, a chill crept up between his legs, then the wound felt as if it had been soaked in salt frost—a sharp, stabbing pain exploded suddenly, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his back.

He began to tremble again, and from behind his sleeve came a few suppressed, restrained sobs.

It hurt so much!

He hadn’t expected it to hurt this much!

Shen Zhi’s brow was deeply furrowed. At this moment, he had no lustful thoughts. As soon as the undergarment was removed, a bead of blood slowly trickled down the wound.

The two burn marks, already more fragile than normal skin, had been rubbed raw, oozing beads of blood and tissue fluid.

Although it was only a superficial wound, it looked bloody and messy, with a considerable area.

Shen Zhi secretly thanked his luck for stopping in time. If he had continued riding, the wound would have been airtight, easily becoming inflamed and infected. And in this era, there were no antibiotics or sterile disinfectants.

No ibuprofen either.

If only there were, he could make it stop hurting for Wen Zhuo.

Shen Zhi wanted to wipe the tear stains from the corner of Wen Zhuo’s sleeve, but he saw that blood was still seeping from the wound. For once, he felt at a loss.

He hadn’t been this flustered even when he first went to school to report or when he went to the hospital alone for the first time. Wen Zhuo’s slightest reaction could unsettle him completely.

Seeing Shen Zhi motionless and silent for so long, Wen Zhuo felt utterly humiliated. Instinctively, he wanted to close his legs. But as soon as he exerted force, Shen Zhi’s palm pressed down firmly, holding him still.

“Don’t squeeze the wound. The skin has already broken.”

“Your Highness, this place is unsightly. Don’t look.” Wen Zhuo’s throat bobbed as he forced out the words, feeling that his last shred of dignity had been shattered. He bowed his head deeply, unable to face himself.

“How could that be? Teacher is beautiful from the tip of his hair to the tips of his toes,” Shen Zhi refuted gently, his fingertips lightly stroking his calf, the movement tender, easing his tension and pain.

Wen Zhuo barely managed to curl the corners of his lips. He didn’t believe it, but his throat was too tight with pain to make a sound.

Shen Zhi seemed to know what he was thinking and spoke slowly: “On the day we went to Chunlai Alley, Teacher must have seen the scars on my body. Some are from Nanping, some from horse training. Would Teacher think I am ugly?”

Wen Zhuo was silent; through the sleeve, he shook his head.

He harbored a different feeling. Not only did he not find Shen Zhi’s scars ugly, but he thought they had become part of him, giving Shen Zhi a depth and mystery beyond his years.

He could see through the superficial skin to something more attractive—Shen Zhi’s tolerance, compassion, and magnanimity.

Of course, the skin tempered and forged countless times was also very good—so lean and powerful.

“It’s the same for me.” Shen Zhi’s hand gradually stopped. He leaned down slightly, pulled down Wen Zhuo’s wide sleeve covering his face, and met his eyes, which were misted with tears. “Teacher has sweated a lot. Let’s clean you up, apply the medicine, and rest a bit before we go.”

Just then, from outside the door came Liu Qiyin’s voice: “My lord, the hot water is ready. Shall I bring it in now?”

Shen Zhi reached around and untied the sash of Wen Zhuo’s robe, covering his bare legs completely. Only after confirming everything was secure did he call out, “Come in.”

He got up and opened the door for Liu Qiyin.

Liu Qiyin carried in a small wooden basin, and Jiang Mannü followed behind her, carrying four buckets of hot water all by herself, her face still unflushed, her breath even.

Liu Qiyin placed the wooden basin on the ground: “My lord, the conditions here are simple. We usually wash standing in the basin. I couldn’t find a bathtub.”

“I understand.”

Liu Qiyin glanced sideways and saw Wen Zhuo leaning motionless on the bed, the tips of his ears red enough to drip blood.

She was secretly amazed. What had His Highness said to make the lord so embarrassed?

Jiang Mannü set down the buckets: “My lord, if the water isn’t enough, just call me, and I’ll boil more!”

Wen Zhuo forced himself to stay calm and cleared his throat: “It’s enough. You’re tired too. Rest early.”

“Does the lord want anything to eat? I’ll make something?”

“No need.”

“Are we really leaving then?”

“Yes.”

Liu Qiyin quickly pushed Jiang Mannü, who still wanted to ask more questions, out the door. Before leaving, she thoughtfully closed the door for them.

As the door shut, Wen Zhuo said in a low voice, “Your Highness should also rest. I can manage on my own.”

Shen Zhi didn’t move: “I would believe you if there were a bathtub. How are you going to wash like this?”

“…”

“You stand in the basin. I’ll ladle water for you.”

“This is against propriety—”

“Didn’t we bathe together in the hot spring?” Shen Zhi’s tone carried a hint of matter-of-factness. “Besides, what’s wrong with a student serving his teacher?”

“…” Wen Zhuo’s throat tightened, and he was left speechless.

After days of travel, every joint in his body ached as if it had been disassembled. The pain in his wound came in sharp stabs. He couldn’t even bend over to scoop water, let alone move his feet.

But he still resisted. He vaguely sensed that he was increasingly crossing boundaries.

Perhaps because he had come to this harsh environment, he had done many things that shouldn’t be done between men, especially with His Highness.

For example, sleeping with his head on Shen Zhi’s thigh, accidentally touching Shen Zhi’s private parts, having his undergarment untied by Shen Zhi to check the wound between his legs.

And now, was he really going to have Shen Zhi bathe him with his own hands?

“Teacher can wear his underclothes. They can cover you, right?” Shen Zhi picked up a cloth beside him, dipped it in hot water, wrung it out, and handed it to Wen Zhuo.

Wen Zhuo remained silent.

Shen Zhi offered another solution, effortlessly blocking any gap for refusal.

After a moment, he took Shen Zhi’s arm and stood up. Wearing only a thin undergarment, enduring the pain of the wound, he stiffly and slowly moved into the wooden basin.

Fish play in the rapids pile

The pain from the wound was bearable, but there was a deeper embarrassment… The undergarment wasn’t very long, just barely reaching the top of his thighs. The front could be covered, but with the fabric stretched over his backside, how much could it really conceal?

But there wasn’t much time to dwell on it. A ladle of warm water poured over his head. His hair immediately became wet, and the soft silk undergarment soaked through, clinging to his body like a spider’s web. He knew instantly what was visible.

With lightning speed, Wen Zhuo slapped both hands behind his back, fingers slightly spread.

Shen Zhi saw it clearly and couldn’t help a low laugh. What an inexperienced cat. He hadn’t thought of that. Wasn’t she deliberately drawing his gaze there?

Well… round like a jade ring, raised like a mound, smooth as fine cream, red as a rainbow—indeed, it should be properly covered.

Shen Zhi unhurriedly looked away, his tone normal: “What is it, Teacher? Do you want me to wash you with my hands?”

At that, Wen Zhuo snapped back to reality. Had he placed his hands there so that Shen Zhi would bathe every part of him?

He stiffly retracted the hand he had placed behind his back.

The whole bath left his entire body burning hot, and the air in the bedroom grew thick and sticky with heat.

Shen Zhi, however, washed with great concentration, just like that day in Chunlai Alley when he had dried his hair. He said nothing, handling him like a priceless piece of ancient porcelain, with extreme restraint and care, attending to every inch and corner thoroughly.

Wen Zhuo found it strange. Usually, Shen Zhi had a cheerful disposition and talked quite a bit. Occasionally, when the mood struck, he would casually slip into the Nanping dialect. But when he suddenly quieted down, it was like a different person.

As Shen Zhi ladled water and poured it over him, he took some soapberry and carefully washed his hair. He would also occasionally reach out and smooth the wrinkles on Wen Zhuo’s undergarment, trying to keep the fabric covering him as well as possible.

The warm water flowed over every inch of Wen Zhuo’s skin, but he felt no trace of frivolity or violation.

Yes, this was the openness of an ordinary man. Unlike him, who was awkward, embarrassed, and flustered.

When the washing was done, Shen Zhi took a clean undergarment and a middle garment from the bundle and handed them to Wen Zhuo. Then he turned around and busied himself tidying the clothes he had scattered earlier.

When Wen Zhuo was fully dressed, he turned back. Without waiting for Wen Zhuo to step out of the basin, he stepped forward, scooped him up in his arms, and carried him back to the bed.

Water droplets dripped all along the way from Wen Zhuo’s calves, leaving a wobbly trail of wet marks on the wooden floor.

With the middle garment covering him, Wen Zhuo relaxed much more, no longer as tense as before.

Shen Zhi sat down by the bed, unscrewed the medicine bottle beside him, and said to Wen Zhuo, “Lie down. I’ll apply the medicine.”

“Your teacher can do this—”

“Teacher, hurry up. It’s very late. Do I need to roll your hem up for you?”

This time, Shen Zhi didn’t even bother to find an excuse.

The moment Wen Zhuo’s fingertips touched the hem of his middle garment, Shen Zhi had already taken his ankle and bent his legs.

Wen Zhuo was startled and quickly reached out to press down on his middle garment, covering his private parts tightly. In his panic, he accidentally scraped against the wound, which made him clench his teeth in pain, his features twisting.

Shen Zhi thought to himself, this ancient little cat had too many proprieties. To have gotten this far was already his limit.

He had to manually pull Wen Zhuo’s legs apart a little: “If you spread them, the powder can be sprinkled directly on. If not, I’d have to reach in and apply it. Teacher, choose.”

“…This is fine.” Wen Zhuo turned his head away, wishing he could bury himself in the blanket.

His legs were already parted. If he chose to close them again, wouldn’t he have to experience both?

Good thing he was clever.

The cleaned wound was a very shallow red, standing out starkly against the surrounding white skin. Shen Zhi held his leg with his hand to keep him still, his fingertips touching the slender leg bone. He couldn’t help thinking that the cat was too hard to fatten up. A single grip could encircle more than half of it.

Wen Zhuo instinctively wanted to close his legs again. Seeing this, Shen Zhi simply used his elbow to gently block him, then took the medicinal powder and carefully sprinkled it over the wound.

“Hiss—” The sudden pain made Wen Zhuo inhale sharply, his toes curling.

Seeing this, Shen Zhi quickly used his slightly rough fingertip to gently rub the edge of the wound. “There, there. Bear with it. It’ll be over soon…”

But Wen Zhuo still couldn’t relax. He kept shrinking back, looking like he wanted to flee.

Shen Zhi had to grip his leg and pull him back into place, then teased, “What are you dodging? Look, I’ve pinched you red.”

Five vivid finger marks appeared on his thigh, swelling up, then slowly fading.

Wen Zhuo was dragged back in disgrace, a look of shame and annoyance on his face.

Shen Zhi rubbed it for him: “Alright. Even dodging is adorable.”

Wen Zhuo was stunned, forgetting his indignation for a moment, his lips slightly parted.

Shen Zhi had called him adorable again.

He had said he was adorable when shocked by the tomb robbing. He’d said it when, as a teacher, he fled in pain.

Where was the cuteness in a ruthless strategist like him?

His Highness had terrible taste.

Shen Zhi said, “The medicine has to be applied. How about I sing a song for Teacher to distract him?”

“Hm?” Wen Zhuo snapped back to reality, eyeing Shen Zhi warily.

He was very afraid of hearing that song “Listen to Father’s Words” right now. He absolutely didn’t want to think of Emperor Shunyuan’s face.

“It’s called ‘Rice Fragrance.’”

“Is that also a tune from the Nanping Music Bureau?” Wen Zhuo asked.

That kind of place was full of sycophants who flattered the sovereign, people without integrity. The songs they taught probably weren’t any good.

“Something like that,” Shen Zhi said, lowering his eyes, applying the medicine to his wound as he waited for the powder to absorb gradually. He began to hum, “…Remember you said home is the only illusion. Can only keep running along the river. Don’t be afraid. I know the hardships of childhood. Don’t cry. Let the fireflies guide your escape. There will always be someone to lean on forever. Your dreams must be full of beauty.”

He hummed casually, his tone clear, but his hands continued the dressing with full concentration, as if it were just a random thought, a melody he had hummed on a whim.