Yan Bei held the bar of soap tightly, his entire body tense, not daring to move.
Why had he never noticed before that this little emperor was this good-looking?
The word “good-looking” in Yan Bei’s mind was a genuine compliment. The young emperor’s features were exquisitely refined, attractive without being feminine. His delicate face and milky-white skin, flushed a rosy hue from the rising steam, made him look downright appetizing.
Wei Xicheng had no idea what was going through Yan Bei’s mind, but he did notice something.
He didn’t believe that his lover in this world would feel nothing for him. Instead, he was convinced that the general in this world was just—pretending to be proper.
They were already on the verge of complete exposure, separated by nothing more than a flimsy scrap of cloth, yet this blockhead still hadn’t made a move. Wei Xicheng was thoroughly unimpressed with this world’s clueless Yan Bei.
He glanced at the soap, clenched so tightly in Yan Bei’s hand that it had deep imprints on both sides. This only confirmed his suspicions further.
There was no way his charm had diminished.
“Dear minister, pass me the soap.” Wei Xicheng patted the water, sending a small splash onto Yan Bei’s chest.
Yan Bei felt as if the water droplets splashing onto his chest were scalding hot. The little emperor even stretched his dazzlingly fair arm out of the water, ten slender fingers reaching toward him, making his mind waver—he had the sudden urge to lean in and take them into his mouth.
I can’t be this reckless.
Yan Bei shook his head, forcing out the inappropriate thoughts crowding his mind. His face remained cold and impassive as he calmly placed the soap into the young emperor’s palm.
“As expected of a general, your strength is greater than most,” Wei Xicheng said with a smile, lifting the soap to show Yan Bei the deep imprints his fingers had left.
It was just an ordinary remark, but Yan Bei’s ears twitched slightly. The heat in the room must be too high—his ears felt a little warm.
He leaned against the stone wall of the bath, savoring the faint coolness pressing against his back. Only this way could he suppress the fire stirring within him and keep his mind clear.
This wasn’t a natural hot spring but an artificial one. The little emperor, having grown accustomed to luxury, had made sure to fully utilize a place like this after finally ascending to the throne.
Yan Bei had never been fond of such indulgences, but now, watching the young emperor casually glide the soap across his skin, he found himself thinking otherwise.
Someone as delicate as him should be pampered, shielded from any hardship.
Wei Xicheng noticed that Yan Bei seemed a little more at ease than before. His heart stirred.
“My dear minister, I can’t quite reach my back.”
The meaning behind his words was clear. He turned around, presenting his back to Yan Bei, lifting an arm slightly with the soap resting in his palm, looking as though he was waiting.
Yan Bei lowered his eyes and stepped forward.
Just as he reached out to take the soap, Wei Xicheng, growing impatient from waiting, suddenly turned around. The soap slipped from their hands, plunging into the water with a small splash before vanishing beneath the surface.
…
Earlier, Yan Bei had thought the young emperor was merely good-looking, but he had only glimpsed him through a veil of steam. Now, at this zero-distance proximity, he realized with a jolt—Wei Xicheng wasn’t just good-looking.
Even his gaze carried a bewitching allure.
His slightly upturned eyes sparkled, and if one looked closely, they could see their own reflection within them. Tiny droplets of water clung to his flawless face, making him seem almost too beautiful to be real.
They were so close that the fleeting admiration in Yan Bei’s eyes did not escape Wei Xicheng’s notice. A deeper smile flickered across the emperor’s face as he slowly bent down, reaching for the soap.
Yan Bei’s breath involuntarily grew heavier.
The untouchable, arrogant little emperor was now bending over right in front of him, revealing his elegant butterfly bones and a slender waist that looked as if it could snap with the slightest force. His long, jet-black hair, damp from the water, slid over his back, with a few stubborn strands clinging to his glistening skin.
They were both men, ruler and minister, yet a secret sense of fulfillment bloomed in Yan Bei’s chest—followed by an even deeper emptiness.
“Can’t find it. Just have them bring in another one.”
Wei Xicheng could see Yan Bei’s reaction from the corner of his eye, and a sly glint flashed through his gaze before disappearing.
He straightened up and was about to call for someone.
“Your Majesty—” Yan Bei’s voice was hoarse as he quickly interrupted, clearing his throat twice before saying, “I’ll go get one.”
“That would trouble you too much, General.”
“It’s no trouble.”
In just those two brief exchanges, Yan Bei had already stepped out of the water and wrapped himself in a bath towel.
Earlier, he hadn’t given much thought to having someone fetch the soap, but now, there was no way he would allow another person to enter.
The young emperor was still unaware of how enticing he was and what kind of filthy thoughts he could provoke in others.
The mere idea of anyone else in the palace coveting this body made the heat in Yan Bei’s chest dissipate completely, leaving behind only a chilling coldness in his eyes.
Even the eunuch guarding the door felt his legs go weak. Please don’t let His Majesty have angered this killing-god of a general again…
Even as a mere gatekeeper, he could sense the general’s cold, murderous aura. He could only hope their emperor had the good sense to tread carefully.
Yan Bei glanced at the young eunuch standing outside—Xiao Taozi, who was holding a fresh set of robes.
Thin, frail, and pale-skinned, without an ounce of masculinity.
Yan Bei nodded. This one probably wouldn’t attract his attention.
He gestured for Xiao Taozi to hand him the robes, but unexpectedly, the eunuch bowed and said respectfully, “Lord Yan, His Majesty has always been accustomed to having us serve him when dressing.”
The words had barely left his mouth before Yan Bei’s gaze turned even colder.
Xiao Taozi was always quick-witted. The moment the general’s aura shifted, he realized something was wrong.
Cold sweat trickled down his back as he replayed his words in his mind.
He had meant nothing else by them—truly! The ease of life in the palace had dulled his instincts. He just hoped the general wouldn’t misunderstand and think that it was His Majesty who had demanded to be served while dressing.
Just as Xiao Taozi was about to correct himself, the man before him reached out and took the robes directly from his arms.
Before turning back into the room, Yan Bei spat out a cold, clipped sentence:
“I’ll do it.”
Xiao Taozi was doomed.
His face crumpled in despair—General Yan definitely misunderstood.
Anxiously, he paced in circles outside the door. Their emperor genuinely couldn’t dress himself! It wasn’t that he was trying to tease the general!
If he botched this task and caused Yan Bei to resent the emperor… even if His Majesty spared him out of old friendship, the Empress Dowager definitely wouldn’t!
Meanwhile, inside the room, Wei Xicheng remained blissfully unaware of his personal eunuch’s distress.
Moments later, Yan Bei returned, holding a new bar of soap.
This time, he didn’t hesitate.
He tore off his bath towel and stepped directly into the water, heading straight for Wei Xicheng.
Before the emperor could say anything, the cool bar of soap pressed against his back.
“Mm…”
Wei Xicheng shivered at the sudden chill, letting out an involuntary sound.
At that moment, the hand behind him paused briefly before the smooth sensation resumed, sliding from the nape of his neck, down over his butterfly bones, and slowly tracing the line of his spine.
Wei Xicheng was not the type to sit still.
The atmosphere was perfect, the setting was intimate, and his clueless yet tantalizing lover was right beside him—how could he possibly remain composed?
He glanced downward, then suddenly reached back and grabbed the hand gliding over his skin.
“That’s enough. I’ve soaked long enough. Minister Yan should enjoy his bath now.”
With that, he took a few steps forward, letting the water wash over his back.
Even as he busied himself, Wei Xicheng kept a close eye on Yan Bei.
This “playing hard to get” strategy—he thought he was executing it flawlessly.
After all, he was the emperor. He couldn’t afford to do anything too undignified.
If Yan Bei, a high-ranking general with real power, ever wanted to force himself upon him, it would be far too easy…
Wei Xicheng stifled a laugh and snuck a glance backward.
Come on, General Yan, take the bait.
But the sight that met his eyes left him utterly speechless.
Yan Bei had already turned away and was… genuinely just soaking in the bath.
…Idiot.
Irritated, Wei Xicheng huffed and stormed out of the water, not even bothering to shake off the droplets clinging to his skin.
He reached for his towel—only for a strong arm to pull him back.
A deep voice murmured against his ear.
“I shall serve Your Majesty in dressing.”
Wei Xicheng’s eyes widened.
Finally.
Yan Bei’s tone carried not a hint of impropriety—if anything, it was cold and businesslike. Yet somehow, Wei Xicheng still heard in it a deeply repressed desire.
He finally felt reassured—his charm was still as effective as ever.
“General Yan, what is the meaning of this?” He made an effort to maintain the demeanor of an innocent yet proud and noble emperor.
“Does Your Majesty not already know?”
Yan Bei lowered his head, pressing close to Wei Xicheng’s neck and taking in a deep breath. He had little experience in matters of romance, but as a normal man, he understood all too well what every action of this little emperor tonight had meant—and he also knew exactly what he himself wanted.
He was not a man prone to indulgence, and yet, just one careless remark from that eunuch had made him lose control.
Who knew what kind of person the one before him actually liked? Maybe he preferred those frail, weak little eunuchs, pale as plucked chickens.
Thinking of this, Yan Bei’s gaze darkened. If that was the case, then why was the little emperor provoking him? Was it for the military power in his hands?
Yan Bei knew this was wrong, yet he was still so easily bewitched.
“Yan Bei! How audacious!” Wei Xicheng suddenly shouted, his voice full of righteous indignation.
“Your Majesty?” Xiao Taozi’s voice came from outside the door.
“Mm…” Feeling himself being grasped, Wei Xicheng turned around in shock to look at Yan Bei. Who would have thought? This man seemed like a block of wood, yet in reality, he was a man of action.
There was no way he could let the eunuchs outside see him in such a situation with the empire’s great general. Gritting his teeth, he forced out a response. “It’s nothing.”
Yan Bei flexed his wrist, feeling the tremors in the person before him. Satisfied, he curled his lips into a smile.
Author’s note: I truly am a loving mother.
