SBMT Chapter 53

After Chu Zhao received his undergarments, they prepared to take turns bathing in the bathroom at the back.

 

“Oh, right.” Before his bath, Chu Zhao pulled out the two books Zhou Danmo had given him. “Master Zhou and Lord Bai’s latest works. He gave me two copies, so you can keep one.”

 

Having spent so much time together, Chu Zhao knew Shen Ziqin liked to read storybooks to pass the time. Sometimes when he finished his shift at the patrol camp, he would bring Shen Ziqin a couple of books from roadside stalls if he saw interesting stories.

 

Shen Ziqin took it as an ordinary storybook: “Thanks.”

 

A while later, both had finished bathing.

 

Shen Ziqin, feeling comfortable after his bath, sighed contentedly: “Bathrooms are truly a great invention. You bringing this to ancient times deserves a like.”

 

Chu Zhao took pillows and blankets from the cabinet: “Great Qi’s bathhouses are really inconvenient-so far from the bedrooms. In winter, after bathing, you still have to cross the courtyard. And if you want hot water, you have to wait for it to heat up. If you need more during your bath, someone has to stand by with ladles and buckets. I’m just not used to it.”

 

The couch was long enough for Chu Zhao’s long legs, but it wasn’t wide, making it difficult to turn over. Fortunately, Chu Zhao didn’t toss and turn in his sleep, so it wasn’t a big problem.

 

After turning off the lights, they each lay in their own places. As the room darkened, the quiet night enveloped them. Both the excitement of finding a fellow transmigrator and their rapidly spinning thoughts while perfecting plans gently settled in the darkness.

 

Everything became soft and peaceful, and they unconsciously lowered their voices.

 

“Your plan is good,” Chu Zhao said. “Dealing with them in advance might also help improve second brother’s mental state.”

 

Shen Ziqin, lying flat in his blankets, gave a soft sound of agreement.

 

Chu Zhao stared at the ceiling beams: “We’ve talked so much, but haven’t gotten to you yet.”

 

Shen Ziqin looked at the patterns on the bed canopy: “In the original story, Shen Ziqin didn’t have much of a role. His health was poor, and I don’t know how he fared later.”

 

Chu Zhao: “What about yourself?”

 

“Me? I’m just an ordinary office worker, a small cog in modern society. Nothing special, no interesting stories.”

 

Chu Zhao put his arm under the back of his head: “When I first arrived, I desperately wanted to go back. Later I realized that frustration wouldn’t help-I couldn’t conjure a portal on the spot-so I gradually learned to let go.”

 

Shen Ziqin slowly blinked, his dark eyelashes trembling slightly, his eyes showing little emotion: “I don’t have much to miss. I’m fine anywhere, which saves me from worrying. It’s just that without internet, phones, or computers, indoor entertainment is greatly reduced. I wasn’t used to it at first, but adapted after two or three days.”

 

Hearing this, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but turn his head slightly toward the bed.

 

If one had loving parents, friends, or a partner, they wouldn’t be so detached from their original life. Shen Ziqin’s indifference suggested he hadn’t had a good life in the modern world.

 

Shen Ziqin stopped there, clearly not wanting to delve deeper into his modern experiences.

 

Chu Zhao had no intention of reopening wounds. Whenever Shen Ziqin wanted to talk about it in the future, he could be Shen Ziqin’s confidant.

 

Night talks were indeed magical. In the darkness, there was no need to deliberately look at each other. The slightest changes in tone or breathing became amplified, yet emotions flowed so tenderly. Shen Ziqin’s voice was like a gentle stream, slowly immersing Chu Zhao’s heart.

 

It made one feel completely relaxed, inside and out.

 

Chu Zhao looked away: “Mm, it’s not so bad once you get used to it.”

 

Shen Ziqin: “By the way, what else have you created?”

 

“Hmm… I have a small house outside that’s been converted into a laboratory. It’s in a very remote location. If you’re interested, I can take you to see it. Oh, and I’ve also created guns.”

 

Shen Ziqin suddenly turned over, his beautiful eyes widening in the darkness: “You’ve made guns!?”

 

The night the guns were first assembled, Chu Zhao hadn’t felt much accomplishment, but Shen Ziqin’s tone somehow made Chu Zhao’s nonexistent tail wag. The lion lifted his chin and said with dignity: “Yes.”

 

“It wasn’t easy-finding mines, metallurgy, manufacturing-each step was a major undertaking, and we had to hide it from the emperor. Just the preparation took several years, with countless failures. Even now that we can mass-produce them, we can only make about ten or twenty.”

 

“That’s still very impressive,” Shen Ziqin said sincerely. “You’re much more skilled than I am. Calling you Great Qi’s guardian isn’t wrong at all.”

 

Although Chu Zhao was somewhat elated by Shen Ziqin’s praise, he didn’t get carried away: “Different fields, different expertise. I could never come up with your strategies. You’re better at this than I am. That night at the hunting grounds, your mind worked so quickly-I was thinking, wow, that’s amazing.”

 

Shen Ziqin: “No, you’re more impressive.”

 

Chu Zhao: “It’s you.”

 

“No, no, it’s you.”

 

“It’s clearly you.”

 

Shen Ziqin insisted: “You.”

 

Chu Zhao wouldn’t yield: “You.”

 

They went back and forth with “you” for a while, then suddenly fell silent.

 

A moment later, two soft laughs echoed in the room.

 

Shen Ziqin: “Pfft.”

 

Chu Zhao: “Haha, are we planning to keep this up until dawn?”

 

Shen Ziqin, smiling, snuggled deeper into his blanket: “I’d rather not.”

 

“I’ll compromise too-let’s call it a tie,” Chu Zhao laughed. “We’re both impressive.”

 

Shen Ziqin suddenly wanted to see Chu Zhao’s expression. He turned his head to look. The palace lanterns in the courtyard and the moonlight cast a faint glow, but it was too dim to see clearly. Shen Ziqin couldn’t make out Chu Zhao’s face.

 

But he knew that at this very moment, Chu Zhao was also looking at him.

 

An unspoken intimacy suddenly crept in. Though Shen Ziqin couldn’t discern anything clearly, his heart was gently stirred.

 

During the day, when Chu Zhao looked at him too intently, he would look away, unable to bear it. But in the indistinct darkness, boundaries blurred, and secret tendrils quietly grew, wrapping around him with both restraint and boldness.

 

Midnight whispers beside the pillow, whose heart’s intentions are hard to measure.

 

If Chu Zhao dared to look at him like that normally, what kind of gaze would he have now?

 

Shen Ziqin pressed his lips together. Before his eyes were the dim shadows of the room; in his mind was the image of Chu Zhao staring at him in the lamplight.

 

Just then, Chu Zhao softly asked: “Ziqin, are you asleep?”

 

His deliberately lowered voice was overflowing with pheromones, pulling at the tendrils wrapped around Shen Ziqin’s heart-

 

Shen Ziqin abruptly turned his back, burying his face in the pillow, and made a muffled sound of agreement.

 

It was hasty and brief, not sounding like he was sleepy, but the pillow muffled all the little marquis’s sharpness, making him sound especially… soft.

 

Chu Zhao took a deep breath, restraining his fingers that wanted to pet the cat.

 

“If you’re tired, sleep well. Good night,” Chu Zhao said hoarsely.

 

Shen Ziqin: “…Good night.”

 

Why did Chu Zhao’s voice sound even more magnetic!

 

Shen Ziqin, with reddened ears, angrily pulled up his blanket: Sleep!

 

Outside, the guards on night duty had nothing to do and secretly began to place bets.

 

Guard A: “How long do you bet?”

 

Guard B: “You dare bet on the masters? You’re really bold. I bet one hour.”

 

Guard A: “That’s too conservative. I’ll bet two.”

 

Guard C: “If we’re playing, let’s go big. I guess the whole night!”

Everyone immediately looked at him.

 

Guard C raised his proud head: “The prince has waited so many years, and they might not stop at just once. I think the marquis’s health is quite good now, so what’s wrong with battling all night?”

 

The others: “Hmm, that makes sense!”

 

So they began to wait with anticipation.

 

From when the lights were on until they went out, from dusk till dawn.

 

Quiet as mice.

 

No creaking of wooden boards, no moaning and groaning.

 

The guards’ hearts, suspended all night, finally died at dawn.

 

They looked at each other in bewilderment: Huh?

 

N-nothing happened?

 

Sunlight broke through the clouds, but it couldn’t illuminate the guards’ defeated hearts. It could only pass through the windows to brighten others.

 

Chu Zhao had to attend morning court, so naturally he woke earlier than Shen Ziqin, his biological clock very precise.

 

Chu Zhao got up and folded the bedding, arranging it into a standard military-style square block, and put it in the cabinet.

 

He changed his clothes, rolled his eyes around, and tiptoed to the bedside to look at Shen Ziqin.

 

Shen Ziqin was sleeping sweetly.

 

Looking from left to right, he was handsome from every angle. Being able to see such a beautiful face first thing in the morning was a feast for the eyes.

 

Chu Zhao was in a good mood. He reached out and gently poked Shen Ziqin’s face with his knuckle.

 

He didn’t want to disturb Shen Ziqin’s sleep, so his touch was very light, but the sleeping Shen Ziqin suddenly moved and let out a soft moan.

 

Chu Zhao was startled and immediately withdrew his hand: Had he woken him up?

 

He held his breath, staying quietly by the bed, and saw Shen Ziqin rub his cheek against the pillow and make another “mm” sound, his face slightly flushed.

 

Chu Zhao immediately thought of how Shen Ziqin had burned like a charcoal stove on their wedding night. Alarmed, he quickly reached out to feel Shen Ziqin’s forehead.

 

Phew… it was fine, his temperature was normal, no fever.

 

As long as he wasn’t sick, he was probably just dreaming.

 

Unfortunately, he couldn’t poke Shen Ziqin’s face again. If his dream was light and he really woke up, that would be a great sin.

 

Chu Zhao tucked in the blanket corners for him and silently asked Shen Ziqin’s face: So when will you confess to me, little marquis?

 

Once he confessed, he could openly pet the cat.

 

Chu Zhao tucked in the blanket and backed away, not knowing that Shen Ziqin was still dreaming.

 

In his dream, he had been floating comfortably, but at some point, it seemed like a warm hand was poking and pinching him here and there, and then… kneading him all over.

 

Shen Ziqin was kneaded until he felt soft and dazed, wanting to protest: Wait, are you kneading dough!?

 

But… it also felt quite comfortable.

 

On the bed, Shen Ziqin’s mouth opened slightly, his body suddenly trembled under the covers, and then the flush on his cheeks faded. His brow relaxed, and he continued his sweet, deep sleep.

 

By the time Shen Ziqin woke up, the sun was already high. He had just comfortably stretched and looked at the empty couch, thinking “Chu Zhao has already gotten up,” when he suddenly realized something was wrong.

 

Shen Ziqin froze, his eyes widening slightly.

 

He sat up in shock, reached out with a trembling hand, and slowly lifted his blanket.

 

After seeing the state under the covers, Shen Ziqin quickly pulled the blanket back over himself and sat dumbfounded at the head of the bed, incredulous.

 

He had actually… in his dream.

 

Inside the blanket was the irrefutable evidence!

 

Shen Ziqin himself was very indifferent to desire, and Shen Shizi’s body, due to years of illness, had been forced into indifference for many years.

 

Now that the transmigrated soul had nursed the body back to health, the cold body was functioning again. After years of accumulation, it had taken advantage while its owner was unaware and made a big mess in a dream.

 

It didn’t even give Shen Ziqin a chance to take a cold shower, sneakily running ahead.

 

Calm down, calm down, it’s just a normal physiological reaction. This body had been sick for years, so now it’s just reacting a bit strongly.

 

It had nothing to do with the other person in the room last night.

 

Absolutely nothing!

 

In his dream, he only felt a warm hand; he didn’t even see a face!

 

Shen Ziqin took a deep breath. Regardless, he needed to go to the bathroom first and take a shower, changing out of the sticky undergarments.

 

Shen Ziqin rushed to the bathroom and thoroughly washed himself, but when he came out, he found Xiao Zhen was already in the room.

 

Not only in the room, but already starting to tidy up the bedding.

 

The evidence-Xiao Zhen had seen it all.

 

Shen Ziqin: !!

 

Yes, this was the time when Xiao Zhen was supposed to come and attend to him. To avoid sleeping too deeply and not waking up when called, Shen Ziqin had given Xiao Zhen special permission to enter directly after knocking if there was no response.

 

Shen Ziqin could face normal physiological conditions calmly, but having someone wash the bedding he had soiled-he couldn’t remain indifferent!

 

But Xiao Zhen had already bundled up the bedding and was carrying it away. If he rushed over to stop him now, it would only put himself in an even more awkward position.

 

Shen Ziqin tried to keep his face calm, while his hands, hidden by his sleeves, trembled slightly.

 

Xiao Zhen turned around with the bedding and saw Shen Ziqin after his bath, his complexion rosy and radiant.

 

Last night must have gone well.

 

Xiao Zhen: “Is the marquis feeling well?”

 

Shen Ziqin remained composed from all angles, showing no trace of weakness: “Mm.”

 

It seems the prince had been gentle and considerate.

 

Xiao Zhen was completely satisfied and carried the bedding out.

 

After he left, Shen Ziqin let out a big sigh of relief.

 

Good, Xiao Zhen hadn’t made a fuss, so this page could be turned. Nothing happened, nothing…

 

Outside in the courtyard, the guards, dejected, were preparing to switch shifts with their daytime colleagues.

 

Last night, Hei Ying had Bai Xiao sent away to prevent the child under fifteen from hearing anything inappropriate.

 

But nothing had happened all night.

 

Hei Ying was also preparing to change shifts when they all saw Xiao Zhen come out carrying the bedding to be washed.

 

The guards, whose hopes had already died: ??

 

Wait, what’s going on?

 

They were responsible for guarding Mingyue Pavilion and knew that Xiao Zhen had prepared new bedding just yesterday. It shouldn’t need changing today unless there had been an accident that soiled the bedding.

 

But they really didn’t hear anything last night?

 

Guard A: “I’m not deaf, am I?”

 

Guards B, C, D, and all the others shook their heads: “You heard us talking just fine.”

 

Hei Ying stared at the bedding, lost in thought.

 

Under his comrades’ watchful eyes, he slowly said: “Perhaps the sounds were too quiet.”

 

The others: Hmm?

 

“On their wedding night, the prince and marquis deliberately made more noise so the eunuchs by the door could hear clearly,” Hei Ying analyzed. “Last night they didn’t need to put on a show, so they might have finished very gently.”

 

The guards perked up: That’s right, it’s possible!

 

They hadn’t positioned anyone directly above the bedroom on the roof-they were all at adjacent locations, the courtyard walls, and other places. They couldn’t even hear clearly when the masters were talking inside, so if they were quiet while doing the deed, it made sense the guards wouldn’t know!

 

Their dead hopes revived!

 

Let’s give a round of applause for the prince who finally turned raw rice into cooked rice!

 

At the patrol camp, Chu Zhao let out a big sneeze.

 

“Achoo!”

 

Who’s talking about me behind my back!

 

#

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)