“I have had Gou Hongyang prepare a bathing pool at Qinglu Palace. Go bathe first, and then rest in the hall.”
Without room for argument, Qin Xuanxiao arranged the subsequent matters and led Qin Duoye toward the inner palace.
Autumn colors always spread quickly. In just a few short days, the maple leaves that had previously only been lightly brushed with red and yellow were today completely covered by heavily made-up crimson, looking exceptionally brilliant.
Qin Duoye quietly followed behind Qin Xuanxiao, raising his head to gaze at the high, distant sky and the heavy colors.
Breathing the air of a hundred years later, in a daze, he almost felt as though he had become a person of this era as well.
The history books were not detailed, and his memories were not entirely complete. He only vaguely knew from the few passing strokes in the historical records that the golden age was no more. But fortunately, as Qin Duoye’s gaze fell upon the young man walking before him, the current emperor seemed to have good qualifications and was promising timber.
Qinglu Palace was hidden among elegant rockeries and jade bamboos. Qin Duoye felt slightly astonished because it was far too familiar.
He never would have imagined that even after a hundred years, Qinglu Palace would still follow the exact architecture and layout of his past life, right down to the surrounding scenery being largely similar. In his trance, he almost thought he hadn’t died and was still immersed in the busy state affairs of the twelfth year of Anping.
Upon drawing closer, however, he could make out some slight differences.
The bamboo-carved doors within the hall were pushed open, and a faint fragrance of flowers, fruits, and herbal medicine drifted out. Qin Duoye sniffed the scent, his expression unchanged, but he liked it inwardly.
Rounding a screen, a humid wave of heat rushed to meet them. In the center of the room was a bathing pool surrounded and paved with white jade, which still retained a warm, lustrous sheen under the hazy, mist-infused steam.
Gou Hongyang was nearby, arranging the screen, and setting out the soap pods and new garments needed for the bath.
Seeing the two of them arrive, Gou Hongyang bowed with cupped hands toward Qin Xuanxiao, backed away with a hunched waist, and conveniently chased away the surrounding attendants as well.
“The color of this pool water?” Qin Duoye looked at the pale brown warm water within the white jade pool, then turned to Qin Xuanxiao.
Qin Xuanxiao stepped forward, tugged at Qin Duoye’s sleeve to pull him right in front of him, and reached out, pressing his palm against Qin Duoye’s forehead.
“You are still running a fever,” Qin Xuanxiao lowered his hand, began untying his own outer garments, and said, “I had the Imperial Hospital prepare a medicinal bath, adding forsythia, baical skullcap, and some other herbs. The warm water and medicinal properties will help expel the cold. We need to cure your cold early. If you cannot even stand steady during the court assembly, how can this sword still point outward toward the imperial court?”
Hearing these words, a warm current surged through Qin Duoye’s heart. He raised his head to glance at the person lowering his gaze to strip off his clothes. Following the movement of lowering his head, the strands of hair at his temples fell, perfectly outlining the prominent contours of his brow bone and bridge of his nose.
A good child.
However, what was he undressing for?
Qin Duoye tilted his head and asked, “Is Your Majesty also taking a medicinal bath?”
Qin Duoye had never experienced sharing a bath with anyone else. Seeing Qin Xuanxiao casually shedding his clothes like this, he felt a rare moment of hesitation.
Qin Xuanxiao countered, “What, is there a problem?”
Qin Duoye curled his lips, “You are not even sick.”
Qin Xuanxiao: “…”
What a fine official Wen, his polite forms never exceeded a single sentence.
“I am afraid you might pass out halfway through and drown in the pool.” Qin Xuanxiao let out a cold laugh.
Qin Duoye: “…”
What a fine emperor, if only he did not have a mouth.
“I still very much like Qinglu Palace. I would not want someone to drown in here and turn it into a haunted house.”
Fine, but please just shut up.
Still, it made sense. His current body was truly frail. It would be easy to suffer from qi and blood deficiency while soaking, pass out completely, and drown in the bath, and that would be losing more than it was worth.
Therefore, Qin Duoye raised his hands to untie his outer robe, hung it on the screen, and successively peeled off his court attire, leaving only the innermost layer of undergarments.
His pitch-black hair cascaded down, forming a sharp contrast with the pure white undergarments and his slightly pale skin.
Qin Xuanxiao’s gaze was deep and dark, his line of sight shifting slowly from Qin Duoye’s eyes downward, falling from his shoulders and neck to his waist. The wide hem of his robe outlined his figure, making it faintly discernible. Remembering how, at every meal, this person would only lightly taste each dish, he suddenly spoke up, “Beloved subject.”
“Hm?” Qin Duoye did not turn his head. He was tidying his clothes and casually replied, “What is it?”
“You have lost some weight. Eat more.”
Qin Duoye frowned in dissatisfaction. He lowered his head to pinch the fleshless meat on his arms and thighs, clicking his tongue, “Indeed.”
He genuinely disliked this sickly state, as if a gust of wind could blow him over. If his body was poor and his energy lacking, how could he worry for the world and govern the state and country?
“Then I will come over for free meals in the future. I hope Your Majesty will not chase me away when the time comes.”
With a single sentence, he reaped an unexpected harvest. Qin Xuanxiao turned his back and said, “Go take your medicinal bath, and do not catch a cold.”
Following Qin Xuanxiao, Qin Duoye stepped barefoot onto the white jade steps. The warm water gradually crept over his ankles, and he walked down into the pool step by step.
The temperature of the pool water was just right.
A faint herbal fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, the water ripples were gentle, and the warm, vaporous heat rose, comforting his skin.
Qin Duoye sat down with his back against a stone platform, the buoyancy of the pool water slightly lifting his hands.
His black hair spread out, floating on the surface of the water, and his white undergarments drifted gently with the swaying of the ripples.
Qin Duoye let out a soft breath, leaned his head slightly back against the edge of the pool, and closed his eyes.
The fatigue of the past several days was swept away in one go. The warm water felt as though it were gently massaging his head, and the dizzy, heavy feeling brought on by the cold and fever eased considerably.
For a moment, the room was silent and wordless, save for the soft sound of rippling water.
Drowsiness crept up. With his depleted vitality, Qin Duoye’s consciousness gradually drifted into a haze, and he suddenly fell asleep.
Having lost all strength, and with the white jade stones of the pool having been specially polished to be round and smooth to prevent injury to the emperor, his body unconsciously began to slide downward. The warm water of the pool gradually crept over his shoulders and neck. The comfortable temperature caused the sleeping Qin Duoye to unconsciously pursue it, his legs losing tension, and his entire body sank into the water until his mouth and nose were suddenly submerged.
Sucking in water abruptly, a fierce suffocation struck. Qin Duoye started violently, jolting awake. Opening his eyes, his vision was blurry, light and shadow scattered, and the sluggish, suffocating feeling impacted his brain as darkness suddenly fell before his eyes.
The next second, a great force at the back of his neck yanked him straight out of the water, and his waist tightened as he was hoisted up and steadied on his feet.
Chilly air rushed into his nasal cavity, and Qin Duoye grasped his only point of leverage, coughing violently.
“Wen Qing He.”
A gloomy voice rang out from directly above. Qin Duoye finally managed to clear his breath, clutched his chest, frowned, and raised his head to meet a face carrying a trace of thin anger.
Qin Duoye gave a silly laugh, reaching out to wave in front of Qin Xuanxiao’s eyes: “Hi?”
“You are doing just wonderful.” Qin Xuanxiao grabbed his wrist, laughing coldly.
Qin Duoye read the gnashing of teeth in those slightly narrowed phoenix eyes.
“Alright, alright,” Qin Duoye straightened up, pulled his hand back, and patted Qin Xuanxiao’s shoulder, “Do not worry like a child. It was just a mouthful of water. I can stand up on my own anyway, it is fine.”
Qin Xuanxiao did not reply, only lowering his gaze to stare at him.
Suddenly standing up like this, the water-soaked hair cascaded down like ink, and the clothing clung tightly to his skin, outlining the contours of his entire physique. A single droplet of water trickled down his cheek, slipped into his collar, and melted into the damp clothes, disappearing in a flash.
Because of their recent movements, the two of them were extremely close, almost pressing against one another, and could distinctly feel each other’s body temperature and texture.
Realizing this, Qin Xuanxiao’s throat moved slightly. He sat back down onto the stone platform of the pool, pulling Qin Duoye into the water along with him.
The ripples rolled, isolating something, concealing something unusual, and hiding the newly sprouting seeds of intent beneath the surface waves.
Qin Duoye did not dare to sleep again this time.
If he slipped into the pool one more time, it would be too humiliating.
Qin Xuanxiao reached a long arm out of the water, picked up a golden bell placed on the nearby platform, and gently shook it. Ding-ling.
Gou Hongyang walked in from behind the screen with his head lowered, holding a wooden tray in his hands. Inside the tray were celadon jade cups containing pale brown medicinal soup, alongside a crystal-like bottle holding a pale pink liquid.
Qin Xuanxiao reached out to take the wooden tray and waved his hand. Gou Hongyang retreated with his head bowed.
The wooden tray was placed right over the bathing pool, floating on the water’s surface.
Qin Xuanxiao handed the jade cup to Qin Duoye, saying, “It is medicinal tea to nourish qi and blood. Drink it while taking the medicinal bath, lest you pass out in the pool again.”
Qin Duoye took it. The medicinal tea had a light, clean taste and was not bitter at all.
After drinking it, coupled with the warm water of the pool, he began to sweat slightly, a fine layer of sweat covering his forehead.
Qin Duoye watched as Qin Xuanxiao picked up the bottle, tilted his head back, and a sharp, spicy aroma of wine permeated the air.
In his past life, Qin Duoye had loved drinking wine, especially potent liquor that carried the taste of the frost and wind of the northern frontiers, a taste he deeply yearned for.
Pity that after becoming emperor, aside from the time he personally led the campaign, he never again had the opportunity to return to the place where he grew up, to see once more the hook-like moon, the vast grasslands, and the great desert.
Nor could he ever drink the strong wine by the blazing bonfire in the severe winter of the northern frontier again.
Therefore, in the capital, he would drink a few shallow sips to console his feelings.
He stared eagerly at the crystal bottle, “What kind of wine is this?”
Qin Xuanxiao moved the mouth of the bottle away. Perhaps having drunk a cup of wine, there was even a somewhat unyielding, care-free attitude between his brows, “Name: Peach Blossom’s Demise.”
“Give me a sip?”
“In your dreams.”
Qin Duoye rolled his eyes: “Stingy.”
“Huh?” Qin Xuanxiao put the crystal bottle back onto the wooden tray, reached out to pinch Qin Duoye’s chin, and said with a lazy, nonchalant tone, “I have not settled accounts with you for going to the tavern the other day yet. Heart disease, cold, taking medicine, running around everywhere, ignoring medical advice. Beloved subject, your life belongs to me. Do not die, I have use for you.”
“Do not worry, Your Majesty,” Qin Duoye knocked Qin Xuanxiao’s hand away, his tone lazy and casual, “Your subject will definitely live to be a hundred.”
Judging that the pool water was no longer that hot, Qin Duoye pulled himself up from the water, draped a pre-prepared bath towel around himself, and went behind the screen to change into fresh clothes.
Qin Xuanxiao, however, remained seated in the pool without moving. With deep, dark phoenix eyes, he quietly gazed at Qin Duoye’s retreating figure, barefoot, leaving wet footprints one by one on the white jade floor tiles.
His gaze followed his slightly lean ankles upward, tracing the straight, well-proportioned legs concealed within the damp undergarments.
And further up, his straight spine.
There was an inexplicable bearing to him.
Qin Xuanxiao suddenly took a deep breath, plunging his entire body into the bathing pool until he could hold his breath no longer, before breaking the surface with a splash and standing up.
He soberly realized the fact that he was captivated.
First those eyes like pitch-black ink, and then his entire person.
In the past twenty-something years, he had never experienced this before.
Lowering his head, seeing the changes in his own body, Qin Xuanxiao plunged back into the pool.
Not until the water in the pool turned completely cold did he step out, carrying a body full of chilly mist.