Young men in their prime, having tasted the pleasures of intimacy, truly know its flavor.
But it’s also true that such activities can’t be done every day.
Between men, things are different. After the first time, there was soreness in the waist and back, as well as certain… discomforts not suitable to mention to others.
The little marquis’s seat cushion was immediately increased by several layers, all made of the finest down, soft and comfortable.
Shen Ziqin declared he wouldn’t do it again, not for some time.
Chu Zhao naturally went along with this. As long as they could lie in the same blanket, kissing, touching, and cuddling was good too.
Prince Qin was true to his word-when he said cuddling, he meant just cuddling, absolutely not deceiving.
Although cuddling could also make someone melt just the same.
Shen Ziqin, covering his mouth with reddened ears, was cuddled until his limbs were weak. As he swayed unsteadily, he felt… this wasn’t much different from going all the way.
Chu Zhao, using the excuse of caring for an ill person, gained free vacation days and spent several days being affectionate with Shen Ziqin in the prince’s residence. This continued until Emperor Cheng’an, short of manpower, issued an imperial edict ordering him to return to work.
What’s so good about working? Chu Zhao thought contentedly with his beauty in his arms. Life’s true essence is surely found in leisure.
But with matters still unresolved and Shen Ziqin having had enough of his evening cuddling, he blushed and urged Chu Zhao to hurry to work.
Chu Zhao left reluctantly.
Shen Ziqin, drinking tea, felt the world finally quiet without the other’s warmth beside him. But in this quietness, he felt empty, as if something was missing.
…They had just parted, wasn’t it a bit exaggerated to call it longing?
But Shen Ziqin found himself unable to stop thinking about Chu Zhao. As soon as he left, Shen Ziqin was already wondering when he would return home.
Holding his teacup, Shen Ziqin suddenly realized: I’m the one with love-sickness!
This wouldn’t do!
Shen Ziqin deeply reflected on himself.
Then his mind flashed with images of Chu Zhao’s handsome, gallant appearance, his kindness toward him, and the burning warmth in their mandarin duck blanket.
Shen Ziqin: …
…Perhaps it wasn’t so bad after all?
Shen Ziqin took another large gulp of tea from his cup. Only then did he notice the tea tasted different from usual.
Shen Ziqin looked down and saw that there were no leaves in the cup, only clear tea soup with a rich layered flavor and a sweet aftertaste, unlike what a single type of tea leaf could produce.
Shen Ziqin: “What tea is this? The flavor is particularly different.”
Xiao Zhen poured him another cup: “In reply to the marquis, it’s Eight Treasures nourishing health tea, which nourishes yin, strengthens yang, and benefits the kidneys and liver. Steward Meng instructed that Mingyue Pavilion should use more of this type of tea recently. Does the marquis like it?”
Shen Ziqin: “…”
Steward Meng was indeed very thoughtful, feeling that Shen Ziqin needed proper nourishment, from tea to food, nothing could be overlooked.
It seemed fine for Shen Ziqin to be nourished, but-
Shen Ziqin asked with a strained voice: “Has the prince also been drinking nourishing tea recently?”
Xiao Zhen, who specifically served the master of Mingyue Pavilion, naturally didn’t know. He shook his head, then added: “But when the prince was here these past two days, he drank the same tea as you.”
Shen Ziqin’s hand trembled slightly.
“When he comes today, prepare a different teapot for him with cooling and heat-clearing tea,” Shen Ziqin thought for a moment, feeling it wasn’t enough. “Also send some to the prince’s courtyard and have him drink more of it.”
Seeing how they both cared so much about each other’s daily needs, arranging things for each other, Xiao Zhen was deeply satisfied and went to make preparations.
Bai Xiao received a carrier pigeon from the courtyard. Different letters used different message containers, some of which the guards could open directly. Bai Xiao opened one and bounded to Shen Ziqin.
“Marquis, news from the palace. The Imperial Preceptor has made his move.”
Shen Ziqin nodded: “Good.”
Once the Imperial Preceptor had administered the first dose to the emperor, there was no turning back-he was completely on their side.
After experiencing two upheavals, the court needed time to stabilize, even though they had quickly cut through the chaos. It was best to have a smooth transition of power. If the imperial succession was accompanied by widespread bloodshed, it would be detrimental to the entire court situation.
Therefore, having Emperor Cheng’an gradually fall ill and lose strength before passing away-one person’s demise bringing happiness to thousands of families-was the most prudent approach.
After Bai Xiao finished reading the letter’s contents, he eagerly leaned on Shen Ziqin’s table. Shen Ziqin, puzzled by his puppy-dog eyes, asked: “What’s wrong?”
Bai Xiao blinked: “Marquis, recently I haven’t been assigned night duty in the residence. Did I do something wrong?”
Shen Ziqin nearly choked.
…That was certainly because there might possibly perhaps be sounds at night that wouldn’t be appropriate for him to hear.
Although Bai Xiao had read countless storybooks, it didn’t change the fact that he was still an innocent child.
Facing the child’s clear eyes, Shen Ziqin felt strangely guilty.
“You haven’t done anything wrong,” he stroked Bai Xiao’s head soothingly. “It’s just a rearrangement of the duty schedule. From now on, you can follow me all day during daytime.”
Bai Xiao: “Wow, that works too!”
Shen Ziqin used his final move: “Good boy, have some candy.”
Bai Xiao was easy to please. With a few words and some candy, any troubles were instantly forgotten as he happily chewed his candy.
Shen Ziqin sighed in relief.
Children were simple, much easier to appease than the prince.
Especially a prince who could never go back to how he was before, body and soul-pleasing him was quite taxing for the consort.
How did everything lead back to thoughts of Chu Zhao?
Shen Ziqin took another sip of tea, reflecting again while glancing at the sky.
It was still half a day before Chu Zhao would return from work.
Shen Ziqin hadn’t expected that the cooling and calming tea he had Xiao Zhen prepare would actually come in handy after Chu Zhao returned.
“There was a conflict at the border market between Donglin and Great Qi?”
Shen Ziqin was surprised.
After returning to the residence, Chu Zhao headed straight to Mingyue Pavilion. Holding his teacup, he nodded: “Even if there are conflicts at the border markets, they’re usually minor skirmishes. But this time, with twenty garrison soldiers dead or injured combined, it can’t be ignored.”
Great Qi shared borders with neighboring countries on all four sides. To the east was Donglin, with only a small area where the two countries shared a land border, while the rest was separated by a bay.
Besides land-based markets, Great Qi and Donglin also have commercial ports, benefiting each other through trade.
Donglin is also considered a major power. When both countries are strong, they tend to avoid friction because conflict would likely harm both sides, ultimately benefiting their watchful neighbors.
Therefore, Great Qi’s eastern border is relatively peaceful compared to other regions, with no major disturbances in recent years.
However, the border garrison maintains high vigilance. Such a powerful neighbor is fine as a friend, but should relations sour, they would become the most formidable enemy.
Shen Ziqin pondered: “In the original story, Donglin only took action years later when they saw an opportunity. Is this market conflict merely an accident, or are they truly beginning to stir?”
“Hard to say.”
Chu Zhao’s gaze was distant, glinting with cold light: “Since I started creating certain things, the world’s landscape has already changed. Take the explosives I used before-though I’ve guarded the formula rigorously, once used on the battlefield, people will certainly collect scorched earth remnants, attempting to discover the formula.”
He was confident in his modern knowledge but never underestimated the wisdom of the ancients.
When certain innovations emerge, they signal the tide of an era rolling forward. Once the wheel starts turning, whether it stops or continues, what path it takes is no longer determined by the person who first pushed it.
Chu Zhao could only ensure that during his lifetime, Great Qi would stay ahead, developing far beyond other nations, becoming powerful enough to guarantee at least a century of peace. As for how the world might change after a hundred years, that was beyond his control.
A conflict involving dozens of people might seem trivial to some court ministers, but a marshal overseeing the four borders would have keener instincts about military situations. This market conflict gave Chu Zhao an ominous feeling.
Shen Ziqin poured him tea: “Don’t worry. If there’s anything to investigate or instruct, send a message to the eastern garrison.”
“I think the problem may not emerge from the east. Donglin truly has no reason to completely break with Great Qi openly at this time. I should also alert the people in the Western Regions and the north.”
Chu Zhao took another sip of the cooling tea: “The tea is good… Hmm? Why are our teas different today?”
Shen Ziqin put down the teapot, his gaze shifting slightly: “Mine is Eight Treasures tea with sugar. I was afraid you wouldn’t like it, so I prepared something different for you.”
Chu Zhao had just asked casually and didn’t think much of it. He nodded and took another sip, feeling refreshed and comfortable after drinking it.
Chu Zhao exhaled deeply. After their conversation, he felt he might be overthinking, but necessary arrangements couldn’t be neglected-caution ensures lasting safety.
He borrowed Shen Ziqin’s study to write letters to several frontier commanders, sealed them, and had guards deliver them.
Before the ink dried, Shen Ziqin reached out to massage his brow: “Stop frowning.”
Chu Zhao took his hand.
Though Shen Ziqin hadn’t lived well at the marquis’s residence, he never did manual labor. At the prince’s residence, he lived in luxury. His fingers were delicate and lustrous. Chu Zhao massaged them joint by joint, turning the fair fingers pink.
“You care about the frontier,” Shen Ziqin said softly. “After transmigrating, you initially disliked this place. Was it because of what you saw at the frontier that your thoughts gradually changed?”
Chu Zhao slowly caressed Shen Ziqin’s hand, lowering his usually commanding eyes: “I saw many things.”
Loyal bones buried on the battlefield, bodies wrapped in horsehide.
“One general’s success built on ten thousand bones” has always been a realistic verse.
Not everyone in military camps is a fearless warrior. Most are ordinary people. Chu Zhao had seen newly recruited soldiers, scheduled for battle the next day, crying miserably at night, trembling.
Did their tears make them cowards? No, fear is natural. Who would choose to visit death’s door if they could live peacefully?
Then there were the frontier people, sharing the fate of the soldiers.
“The first time I killed someone, I vomited terribly and couldn’t touch meat for a month,” Chu Zhao brought Shen Ziqin’s clean hands to his lips and kissed them. “Having too good a memory can be a curse. I remember their dying eyes and expressions with perfect clarity.”
Shen Ziqin’s hand tightened, his heart aching terribly.
How young was Chu Zhao then? Originally a child raised peacefully in the modern world, sitting by a clean window with a book, his hands meant to carry the scent of ink, instead he took up a sword on the battlefield, his hands forever stained with blood.
Shen Ziqin: “Do you still remember now?”
Chu Zhao: “I remember, but I don’t dwell on it. Having made my decision, I can’t be hesitant.”
He looked up at Shen Ziqin and smiled: “Do you feel sorry for me?”
He added: “There’s no need. Being pitied feels strange.”
But Shen Ziqin didn’t find it strange. Chu Zhao was a year younger-what was wrong with caring for him?
Shen Ziqin leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on the corner of his eye: “How about if I care for you like this?”
Prince Qin, adaptable as always, immediately decided he needed the care: “This is acceptable.”
Shen Ziqin tapped his nose.
Finally… his care reached Chu Zhao’s lips.
Shen Ziqin embraced him, his voice tender and affectionate: “When enemies violate our land, they deserve to be fought. Why remember their eyes and expressions? I forbid you to remember. Look at me instead-I’m more beautiful than they are.”
Chu Zhao laughed softly, his chest vibrating as he held Shen Ziqin: “Yes, my consort is the most beautiful person in the world.”
Shen Ziqin pressed his forehead against Chu Zhao’s, their noses brushing, kissing for a moment, their eyes filled with passionate yet gentle emotions, connecting their hearts.
Chu Zhao asked hoarsely: “Tonight… would it be all right?”
Shen Ziqin’s fingers tightened. The kisses had warmed him, but he couldn’t answer immediately. Chu Zhao’s deep, magnetic voice teased his ear: “Care for me, hmm?”
…That wasn’t the kind of care I meant.
But Shen Ziqin, completely softened by the voice in his ear, surrendered and agreed: “…All right.”
With one act of compassion, Marquis Shen had offered himself up again.
The cooling and heat-clearing tea might not be enough to quench the fire that Prince Qin had ignited.
“…Wait,” came Shen Ziqin’s suddenly clear voice, “this is the study!”
“I’ll help you once first, then we’ll continue in the bedroom.” This was the voice of the very dexterous Chu Zhao.
Among flowers and beneath the moon, another victory was added to the study’s record.
Carrier pigeons bearing Chu Zhao’s letters flapped their wings and flew to the frontier. His letters were always taken seriously by the generals, who remained vigilant.
Unexpectedly, three days later, Chu Zhao’s premonition came true.
A large-scale disturbance erupted at the eastern market, while in the north, the White Wolf tribe led over ten thousand troops to attack Great Qi’s Yueshan Pass. Moreover, the gunpowder they used for attacking the city, though far inferior to Chu Zhao’s formula, was somehow several times more powerful than before.
The military report was sent urgently to the court.
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(advanced chapters available on kofi)
