“Damn Luo Tingshi,” Yu Zhi muttered, his cheeks puffed out in annoyance.
After wrestling on the bed for a while, he was drenched in sweat, dotted with traces of bodily fluids, leaving his entire body sticky and clammy. A peculiar scent lingered between the sheets.
Lying amidst this mess, Yu Zhi felt increasingly uncomfortable.
Earlier, he had passed out from exhaustion, but Luo Tingshi hadn’t. Yet, instead of helping him bathe and clean up, or even sending someone to tidy the messy bed, Luo Tingshi had done nothing.
He even claimed he’d stay by his side to care for him.
Was this Luo Tingshi’s idea of care?
If Luo Tingshi really did care for him, Yu Zhi could already imagine what his future days would be like.
Hmph. Just like an emperor—a pampered man who couldn’t be relied upon at all.
Not knowing when that bastard would return, Yu Zhi couldn’t bear it any longer. He propped himself up with his elbows, attempting to sit up.
“Ugh—” The moment he rose, an unbearable wave of numbness and pain struck him, sending him crashing back onto the bed with a gasp.
A sharp ache shot through his lower back, radiating down his spine and throughout his body. He went limp, like a snake with its bones removed, sprawling helplessly on the bed.
A hollow ache deep within his lower abdomen throbbed with an inexplicable itch.
A hot surge flowed from within him.
A thin sheen of cold sweat broke out on Yu Zhi’s forehead. Just then, the faintest sound of footsteps drew near. He lifted his gaze toward the doorway.
The next moment, Luo Tingshi pushed open the door and walked straight toward the inner chamber’s bed.
Yu Zhi frowned, asking unhappily, “Why did you take so long to return?”
“Magistrate Lin wasn’t available earlier, so I was delayed for a while.” “ Luo Tingshi’s dark eyes sparkled with amusement as he crouched beside the bed, taking Yu Zhi’s limp hand in his own. ”What’s wrong?” he asked softly.
Luo Tingshi was amused by his own imagination, a quiet satisfaction stirring within him.
He reached out to wipe the sweat from Yu Zhi’s forehead, asking patiently, “Are you feeling unwell?”
“And you finally noticed?” Yu Zhi snorted in displeasure, flinging his hand away. “I feel utterly miserable. I need a bath.”
“Very well.” Luo Tingshi had fully embraced his role as husband, offering a doting smile to his beautiful “little wife.” “I’ve already instructed the servants to bring water. Your Majesty, please wait a moment.”
Yu Zhi felt uneasy under Luo Tingshi’s gaze. Those eyes, usually cold as ice, were now brimming with tenderness, like a lake reflecting boundless affection.
His movements carried an inexplicable strangeness.
It was too unusual.
Yu Zhi snapped, “Don’t look at me like that.”
Luo Tingshi’s thin lips curved slightly. “Very well.”
Yu Zhi: “…”
Abnormal behavior must have an explanation. Could Luo Tingshi have been possessed by some demonic entity?
Yu Zhi: “Luo Tingshi, act normal.”
Luo Tingshi looked genuinely puzzled, his expression earnest. “Your Majesty, where exactly do you find me abnormal? I shall change.”
This is already highly abnormal!
Yu Zhi: “Behave toward me as you always have.”
Luo Tingshi suddenly understood: “Your Majesty prefers me to be a bit rougher?”
He leaned forward, his tone and gaze shifting instantly. Like a lone wolf lurking in the night, poised to strike, he radiated a dangerous aura.
Alarm bells rang in Yu Zhi’s heart. He hurriedly protested: “You… Mmm.”
He was silenced by a kiss.
The assault on his lips grew fiercer, the man ravaging him with reckless abandon.
Yu Zhi went limp, his hands landing weakly on Luo Ting’s chest in feeble resistance.
The pressure was soft and yielding, less like refusal and more like a tease.
Yu Zhi felt suffocated, his tongue numb. As Luo Tingshi kissed deeper, he bit down hard, his mouth instantly filling with blood.
Luo Tingshi recoiled in pain.
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He raised a hand to wipe his lips, touching a slight indentation where blood gushed forth.
“Spit…”
Luo Tingshi’s face darkened, his gaze freezing like the harshest winter. Had any minister of the Sheng Kingdom witnessed this, they would have trembled and begged for mercy.
Yu Zhi’s heart lurched. He glanced at Luo Tingshi’s bitten lip, panic flickering in his eyes.
Moments ago, he’d nearly fainted from the kiss and had bitten Luo Tingshi instinctively. He hadn’t expected… He had only asked Luo Ting to behave normally, not to commit indecent acts against him.
Yu Zhi met the man’s gaze and forced himself to speak. “Who… who gave you permission to kiss the Emperor? Kneel before me… and slap… slap yourself.”
They locked eyes for a moment.
Luo Tingshi gathered his robes, knelt with a thud, and raised his hand to strike his own cheek.
“Smack—”
The sharp slap echoed loudly, startling Yu Zhi into closing his eyes. Moments later, he peeked open his eyes. The man remained kneeling, a deep handprint etched across his right cheek.
Yu Zhi felt a wave of unease wash over him.
He hadn’t expected Luo Tingshi to actually go through with it.
No man would willingly endure such humiliation. Yet Luo Tingshi had shown remarkable resilience.
What was his true purpose?
Yu Zhi watched helplessly as Luo Tingshi raised his hand, poised to strike him again. It seemed he wouldn’t stop this punishment unless Yu Zhi spoke.
Yu Zhi opened his mouth, wanting to stop Luo Tingshi.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door: “Sir, I’ve brought you water.”
Yu Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and seized the moment to say to Luo Tingshi, “Get up. What will people think if they see you like this?”
At those words, Luo Tingshi rose and walked to Yu Zhi’s bedside. His tall, silent figure stood before Yu Zhi like his most loyal guard.
The servants carried the bath tub into the room, placed it behind the screen, and bowed before withdrawing.
Luo Tingshi bent down, gently lifting Yu Zhi out from beneath the covers. One hand pressed against his back, the other cradling his hips, he carried him toward the tub.
Yu Zhi lay completely unclothed, the sensation of skin-to-skin contact intensely vivid. Unavoidably, memories of their intimate moments surfaced, causing Yu Zhi’s cheeks to flush. He buried his face into Luo Tingshi’s chest.
Luo Tingshi remained perfectly proper at this moment, his hands refraining from any transgression.
Upon reaching the tub, Luo Tingshi looked down at the person in his arms.
Yu Zhi buried his face in Luo Tingshi’s chest, his body shyly curling up, his porcelain-white skin flushing with a faint blush.
Luo Tingshi asked him, “Your Majesty, would you like me to attend to your bath?”
“No need. Wait behind the screen.”
Luo Tingshi complied, setting Yu Zhi down before turning to the screen and waiting silently.
Yu Zhi settled into the tub. The hot water enveloped his weary body, easing some of his exhaustion.
“Huh…” Yu Zhi exhaled softly, turning his head to look at the dark silhouette standing by the screen, his emotions tangled.
What exactly was Luo Tingshi trying to do?
Was he willing to endure humiliation just to stay by his side by any means necessary? Was he planning to steal Yu’s military secrets?
–
On the other side of the screen, Luo Tingshi stared intently at his right hand. His palm was damp, covered in watermarks as if it had just been submerged.
Luo Tingshi lifted his palm and brought his nose close to inhale.
A faint, sweet, and salty scent filled his nostrils. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, yet it carried an allure potent enough to drive a man mad.
He turned his head toward the opposite side of the green gauze screen.
His dark eyes slowly shifted, expressionless as they repeatedly traced the slender silhouette. His gaze, deep and unfathomable, held a cold, ruthless indifference tinged with an unnatural possessiveness.
Yu Zhi’s hand, skimming the water’s surface, paused slightly. That feeling of being targeted by a predator returned.
No need for words—it was Luo Tingshi, of course.
Yu Zhi submerged himself beneath the water, bubbling up a small string of bubbles.
He’d see what tricks Luo Tingshi had up his sleeve.
A quarter of an hour later, Yu Zhi propped himself up, carefully gripping the bucket’s rim to stand. He addressed Luo Tingshi: “I’m done bathing. Carry me out.”
The floor was wet; he couldn’t afford to fall.
“As you command.”
Luo Tingshi answered verbally, yet his feet remained rooted to the spot. His dark eyes fixed intently on the figure behind the screen.
The youth had a small frame and a slender build; even with the pregnancy, he showed no signs of bulkiness. Countless droplets rolled down his chest, sliding toward the rounded belly. They swayed slightly before plopping down, dripping into the water.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming?” Yu Zhi grew impatient.
“Coming.”
The man’s voice was low, as if suppressing something.
Yu Zhi looked up. Luo Tingshi was stepping out from behind the screen, walking towards him. Yu Zhi’s gaze inevitably fell upon the man’s conspicuously prominent feature, leaving him rather speechless.
Yu Zhi complained, “Lift me higher, don’t bump into me.”
Luo Tingshi responded in a deep voice. He bent down to lift the youth, placing him on a nearby round stool before picking up a soft silk cloth to wipe away the water marks.
Though they had done everything together and the man had seen this body countless times, Yu Zhi still felt a bit embarrassed.
Not to mention, this man…
Yu Zhi glanced down at Luo Tingshi, curling his lip. Luo Tingshi was probably insulting him in his head right now.
Yu Zhi felt offended.
He kicked Luo Tingshi’s calf and growled, ” “Dare not harbor impure thoughts toward this Emperor.””
Luo Tingshi’s hands never stopped moving. “Understood.”
Yu Zhi still felt deeply uncomfortable and urged him, “Hurry up.”
At his command, Luo Tingshi swiftly dried Yu Zhi off, picked up clean garments, and helped him dress. The man fastened Yu Zhi’s jade belt with meticulous care, then lifted him, intending to carry him to the bed.
Yu Zhi shot Luo Tingshi a glare. “Not the bed—it’s filthy. Lay me on that small couch over there. Summon Physician Zhang.”
Luo Tingshi shifted his steps, changing direction to carry Yu Zhi to the small bed in the side chamber. He placed him down gently and fetched a soft pillow to cushion his head.
Only after settling Yu Zhi properly did he rise to his feet.
Yu Zhi turned his head, meeting Luo Tingshi’s gaze directly.
Yu Zhi: “…”
He couldn’t take it anymore: “Can you make that thing go down?”
Luo Tingshi spoke apologetically: “I’ll try my best.”
Yu Zhi had suffered from this before and knew it probably wouldn’t go back anytime soon. Resigned, he waved his hand: “Go behind the screen and do it.”
Luo Tingshi obediently retreated behind the screen.
In that instant, Yu Zhi suddenly understood what his father had once described as a “sensual voice.”
Yu Zhi covered his face, cursing silently within.
Damn Luo Tingshi, don’t think I can’t see through your intentions—
You’re seducing me.