TL: Hua
Occasionally, gusts of cold wind blew outside, making the quilt feel especially warm. Xu Yanqing, half-asleep, opened his eyes and habitually snuggled against Yin Yanjun.
Some small habits are truly hard to break once formed. In the past, the salted fish young master didn’t have the habit of burrowing into someone’s arms every time he slept.
But ever since his heat cycle lingered, and he moved to Hanliang Palace to sleep with the Taoist master, he became this clingy within a few days.
Yin Yanjun originally had no habit of napping. He merely lay on the bed with the young master, dozing off for a while. He woke up early, quietly sat up, leaning his upper body against the pillow, allowing the young master to lie on his waist and abdomen. His warm palm gently stroked the young master’s sleepy face. Yin Yanjun used his fingertips to rub the young master’s smooth jaw: “Awake?”
“Mmm.” Xu Yanqing felt like he had completely turned into the legendary lazybones; even moving felt exceptionally tiring. He lazily raised one hand and placed it on the Taoist master’s waist: “Don’t want to get up.”
The young master’s nineteenth birthday was celebrated in the palace. Since it wasn’t a round-age birthday[mfn]Round age refers to an age that is a whole number without decimals, usually referring to birthdays that occur every ten years (such as 10 years old, 20 years old, 30 years old, etc.).[/mfn], there wasn’t a grand celebration.
Instead, they simply invited the Empress Dowager, Marquis, and Madam of Wu’an to a family meal at Hanliang Palace.
The already nineteen-year-old young master, freshly awoken, still carried a hint of youthful innocence. Yin Yanjun moved his hand, gently kneading the young master’s shoulders, and spoke with his usual indulgence towards the young master: “Then doze off a little longer.”
He couldn’t sleep anymore. Blinking and lying on the Taoist master’s abdomen, Xu Yanqing slowly asked, “How do you plan to celebrate the baby’s full month’s banquet?”
“Qingqing misses Yuanchen?” Yin Yanjun’s clear and handsome eyes held a hint of lingering tenderness and a smile: “The birth of imperial bloodlines of Daliang is usually announced at the full month banquet. Only when they reach a hundred days will they be officially recorded in the imperial clan genealogy. Therefore, for the full-month banquet, we only need to inform the ministers three to five days in advance.”
“Mmm.” The salted fish young master nodded to show understanding. Then, as if he remembered something, he slightly raised his body, his face full of teasing: “So Taoist master was just fooling me when you said you’d record the baby in the clan genealogy before!”
“I never deceived Qingqing.” Yin Yanjun shook his head calmly. Although he had some unspoken intentions that day, it was all for the sake of the young master: “While Yuanchen won’t be immediately recorded in the clan genealogy at the full month banquet, his birth mother and identity will be announced.”
The Taoist master’s nature was too reserved and subtle. Even when caught in a slip, he could vaguely explain it away in a few words. Xu Yanqing wasn’t bothered by this; he just understood everything in his heart.
Casually tugging at the Taoist master’s robe, Xu Yanqing changed the subject: “How is the Empress Dowager’s health recently?”
Because of his lingering heat cycle and the summoning of imperial physicians, the Empress Dowager had come out of Yunhe Palace. After that, she had several minor relapses, but each time she recovered more quickly than the last.
After the little cub was born, the Empress Dowager seemed to have a great attachment in her heart. The baby was less than a month old and couldn’t be exposed to the wind, so the Empress Dowager could only run to Hanliang Palace all day long.
These past few days, Xu Yanqing had returned to Marquis Wu’an’s residence, and the Taoist master was busy with state affairs, so it seemed the only person to take care of the child would be the Empress Dowager.
“The imperial physician has examined Imperial Mother’s pulse. Now, her medication dosage is decreasing, and with Yuanchen, she seems much more energetic than before.” Yin Yanjun chuckled, “Today, when she learned that you invited me to rest at the hot spring estate, she proactively moved her luggage to the side hall to take care of Yuanchen.”
Two days ago, the Grand Princess entered the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Seeing the Empress Dowager’s intense fondness for the little prince, she jokingly remarked that the Empress Dowager now had only her little grandson in swaddling clothes, no longer her own children, in her heart.
The Grand Princess was overjoyed that the Empress Dowager, who had been self-imprisoned in confusion for so many years, could finally regain clarity.
Therefore, she was wholeheartedly grateful to Young Master Xu and genuinely fond of the little baby, Yin Yuanchen.
The two continued to lie on the bed and chat for a while. Yin Yanjun finally pulled the salted fish young master up.
The others had gone off to play somewhere. Xu Yanqing was pulled by the Taoist master to stroll around the outer edge of the forest.
A small breeze blew, instantly waking up the young master, whose head felt like it was filled with mush. The ground was covered with fallen dry branches and leaves, making a crisp crunching sound when stepped on.
Xu Yanqing seemed to have found something fun. He pulled the Taoist master over to step on the fallen leaves.
When Xu Yanqing was tired of playing, Yin Yanjun led him to the hot spring pool. The servants had already prepared clean nightwear and all the necessary items for soaking in the hot spring.
Dressed only in a thin undergarment, Xu Yanqing pattered over and slowly immersed himself in the scorching hot spring water.
A faint scent of sulfur hung in the air, not unpleasant, likely due to special treatment. Once accustomed to the temperature of the hot spring, Xu Yanqing casually moved his arms in the water. He leaned lazily against the edge of the pool, propping up his chin, his gaze fixed on the slender figure of the Taoist master.
The Taoist master was always dignified and self-possessed, and his clothes were always meticulously neat. Even when he took off his outer robe and wore only his undergarments, he showed no signs of decadence. He remained as ethereal and graceful as an immortal, like a clear breeze and bright moon.
The pure white undergarments made him appear even cooler and more transcendent. Xu Yanqing lay by the edge of the pool, silently blinking, then shifted his gaze to the Taoist master’s waist.
Whenever the Taoist master accompanied him for an afternoon nap, the Taoist master would always wake up while he was still deeply asleep.
So the Taoist master would often place two ancient books by the bedside, and when he woke up, he’d sit up and read, with Xu Yanqing’s head resting on his firm, strong abdomen.
Xu Yanqing rarely saw Yin Yanjun practice martial arts, but his well-defined muscles indicated that he wasn’t a weak scholar.
The young master’s fervent gaze fell upon him, making Yin Yanjun lower his eyelashes, adjusting his undergarments. A barely perceptible hint of shyness flashed in his dark eyes, and his earlobes slowly flushed with warmth.
“Taoist master, come quickly!” They were just going to take a bath in the hot spring pool together. The shameless Xu Yanqing didn’t have the slightest bit of embarrassment on his face, directly waving to the Taoist master who was about to enter the water.
His snowy white sleepwear became wet, revealing the young master’s jade-like chest beneath. The young master had plump limbs and a chubby face, but little flesh on his body, making him appear a bit more childish and younger overall. Yin Yanjun slowly entered the hot spring pool, wading through the water that reached his waist, walking over to the young master, and habitually circling Xu Yanqing’s waist with one arm.
The hot spring water was hotter than the water in Hanliang Palace’s baths, but even so, Xu Yanqing could still feel the warmth of the Taoist master’s hand on his waist. He slowly blinked and looked at the Taoist master with curiosity: “Has Taoist master ever taken a hot spring bath with anyone else before?”
A faint smile appeared on Yin Yanjun’s stern and distant brows. He shook his head, “Naturally, never.” No one would be so bold as to bathe with the emperor.
“Oh,” Xu Yanqing nodded. In his previous life, he was a true northerner, and in the freezing winters, he had indeed gone to public baths.
However, the water in those baths didn’t look very clean, so he always chose private rooms and had never bathed with others.
This feeling of being so openly exposed was new to Xu Yanqing, especially since the person who brought him this novelty was the Taoist master.
So Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but prop himself up, creating a small distance from the Taoist master, and gently placed a hand on the Taoist master’s chest.
Beneath his palm was the Taoist master’s warm and vigorous heartbeat. Xu Yanqing looked up and saw the Taoist master’s increasingly deep eyes. Due to his slightly large movement, water droplets splashed onto Yin Yanjun’s ethereal face.
Xu Yanqing’s hand slowly moved upwards, his fingertip naturally landing on the Taoist master’s cheek, gently wiping away that mischievous water droplet.
As their eyes met, Yin Yanjun also raised his hand and slowly placed it on the back of the young master’s hand. His smooth forehead rubbed against the young master’s fingertip, off and on. The young master’s fingertips moved down to the Taoist master’s straight nose and warm lips.
Xu Yanqing continued to raise his upper body further, leaning towards Yin Yanjun. His other hand reached behind Yin Yanjun’s head. The corners of his lips curved upwards, and his beautiful eyes sparkled. The next moment, he removed Yin Yanjun’s hairpin, and his dark hair cascaded down onto both of their shoulders.
The ascetic, immortal-like figure was pulled down to the mortal world by his mischievous devotee. His black hair cascaded down, obscuring Xu Yanqing’s slowly approaching lips.
A long while later, Xu Yanqing sat up high, patted his own thighs, and pulled Yin Yanjun over to lie down on his lap.
Yin Yanjun’s deep eyes slowly softened, becoming utterly helpless. Finally, he could only lie back on the young master’s lap.
Taking the special soap paste and comb placed by the hot spring, Xu Yanqing leisurely combed Yin Yanjun’s long hair, his movements light and gentle, his fingertips occasionally brushing against the Taoist master’s temples.
A tingly sensation spread across his scalp. The indulgence in Yin Yanjun’s eyes for the young master seemed to melt into a pool of water, overflowing uncontrollably.
The unique fragrance of soapnut, mixed with a hint of coolness, slowly permeated the hot spring. Xu Yanqing meticulously massaged the Taoist master’s dark hair, and under his fingertips was a mass of snowy white, delicate foam.
“Taoist master, close your eyes.” Xu Yanqing scooped water with a ladle and rinsed away all the fine foam from the Taoist master’s hair.
Yin Yanjun obediently closed his eyes, his dark, slender eyelashes casting a small, dark shadow beneath. Xu Yanqing’s lips curved as he slowly lowered his head.
Just then, Yin Yanjun, who had been closing his eyes, opened them instead. He instinctively lifted his chin slightly, and his lips met those of the young master, who was leaning in.
Soon, water splashed in the hot spring. Yin Yanjun had already sat up, pressing the mischievous and unruly young master beneath him, his fingertips using a little force to caress the very sensitive skin on the back of the young master’s neck.
When his sensitive spot was touched, Xu Yanqing trembled uncontrollably, yet his arms remained firmly wrapped around the Taoist master’s strong waist.
A drop of water fell into the young master’s thick hair. It was unclear whether it was hot spring water from Yin Yanjun’s hair or sweat dripping from his heated body.
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