Shen Nian's clothes were quickly brought over by Ruan Jiqing. Along the way, meeting curious gazes, Ruan Jiqing could not help but say, with a face full of envy and a sour tone: "His Majesty has granted Marquis Zhenbei the use of the palace hot springs."
Those who had never heard of the palace hot springs did not understand Ruan Jiqing's envy; those who had were even more envious than him, and some were even indignant.
It was said that after the founding emperor established Da Qi, to show that he had not forgotten the generals and strategists who had supported his rise, he specially built a hot spring pool in the palace and often summoned old companions to bathe together.
To put it plainly—a bunch of grown men, bare-chested, squatting together in a pool, occasionally reminiscing about the harsh days of the past. If any minister had committed some fault, he would also be brought there to plead, begging the founding emperor, for the sake of shared hardships, to go easy on him.
Later, as the meritorious ministers died off, fell ill, or made mistakes, few remained who could steadily accompany the founding emperor. He had been deeply grieved at the time, sighing over the impermanence of life.
Moreover, as he grew older, it was no longer appropriate to bathe together, and so the hot springs fell into disuse.
Even so, the water in the pool was changed daily, for no one knew when the founding emperor might think of it again.
After the founding emperor's death, the practice of granting courtiers access to the palace hot springs largely ceased. Later emperors and their ministers had never been through battle together, and squatting in a bath together felt awkward—so the custom faded entirely.
Besides, an emperor could have any beauty he desired—plump or slender, all were available—so there was no need to bathe with a bunch of old officials.
It was not until the reign of Emperor Jing that the hot springs were reopened. However, he never granted any courtier the honor of bathing with him—he often bathed alone.
At the time, some said that if anyone were to be granted such a privilege, Shen Yi would certainly be among them. Unfortunately, Emperor Jing had never favored him, and no matter how great his achievements, he could not enter the palace or meet the Emperor.
So in Emperor Jing's time, the hot springs were not truly "reopened."
Until today, when Qi Junmu allowed Shen Nian to use the hot spring pool.
Surely that was the highest honor of all.
Shen Nian had not expected the Emperor to do this either. Upon hearing it, he naturally declined, saying that he had neither merit nor labor to his name, and dared not compare himself to the elders of old, nor presume to bathe with the Emperor.
Hearing this, Qi Junmu gave him an odd look and asked slowly, "What, do you find me repulsive?"
Shen Nian glanced at him, and finally steeled himself to say: "Your Majesty jest."
Qi Junmu had initially only meant for Shen Nian to soak in the hot spring. Emperor Jing had ordered it renovated, and medicinal herbs with warming, restorative properties were often added to the water. A single soak would do considerable good for one's health.
Shen Nian had spent years at the frontier and bore all sorts of wounds, big and small. Seeing him so bedraggled today, Qi Junmu had thought of the hot spring and wanted him to have a soak.
But he had not expected Shen Nian's first reaction to be about bathing together. Seeing how strenuously Shen Nian tried to refuse, Qi Junmu—who had not been particularly interested before—suddenly found himself intrigued.
Besides, the palace hot springs were meant precisely for the emperor and his ministers to share, as a display of imperial grace.
This hot spring was not far from the pavilion Emperor Jing had built, located in a hall beside it. The pool was man-made, and since Emperor Jing's time, the water had been kept at a constant temperature.
The water was quite hot, yet tolerable for a person.
In summer, soaking in this pool was not very comfortable. But in winter, one could float a grooved wooden tray on the surface, place cups of wine in the grooves, and let them drift with the current.
After a while, the warmed wine could be tipped back and drunk—a unique pleasure.
But soaking in the herbal water in summer was excellent for the body—especially for someone in Shen Nian's condition.
---
Shen Nian hesitated. At the frontier, he had bathed with others before, but with Qi Junmu, he felt ill at ease in every way.
Qi Junmu, on the other hand, had no such qualms. He had been born to the throne and raised with attendants serving him since childhood.
Had it not been for his previous life ending too quickly and too bitterly, his retinue of attendants would have been even larger.
Qi Junmu looked at Shen Nian's demeanor. After Ruan Jiqing had helped him remove his outer robes, he dismissed the attendants. The vast hot spring chamber now held only himself and Shen Nian. Qi Junmu stepped into the water wearing his undergarments.
As he had expected—soaking in hot water on a hot day was uncomfortable. Beads of sweat soon formed densely on his forehead.
Then he looked at Shen Nian, who was still standing by the pool edge without moving, and smiled: "Ruan Jiqing has withdrawn. There is no one else here. Does Marquis Zhenbei need me to help you undress?"
"No... no need." Shen Nian said hastily. To avoid the Emperor saying anything even more teasing, he entered the hot spring as quickly as he could.
Shen Nian had a fine build—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, with skin the color of bronze, and smooth, flowing lines all over his body.
Qi Junmu had let down his hair and was lounging lazily in the water, only his head visible. Seeing Shen Nian keeping his distance, he suddenly laughed: "Others say that bathing with the emperor is a great honor—how is it different with you? There are only the two of us here. If you stay so far away, do we have to shout to speak?"
Hearing this, Shen Nian swam toward Qi Junmu. The pool was not deep—at least it did not cover a person—but walking upright through the water would have felt strange.
When he was about one person's distance from the Emperor, Shen Nian stopped and leaned back against the pool edge, his fingers unconsciously stirring the water.
His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs were faintly visible through the water. The rising mist, thick with steam, partially obscured their features.
Shen Nian looked at the Emperor through the haze. At this moment, the Emperor's usual cold courtly expression had softened considerably. With his hair loose and unbound, he looked very different from the Emperor seated upon the throne in court—gentle yet commanding.
These seemingly contradictory qualities were not at all jarring when combined in the Emperor. At that moment, Shen Nian suddenly thought—how many people in all of Da Qi could claim to have seen Qi Junmu like this?
Shen Nian watched and pondered, and then his heart suddenly jolted—he lowered his gaze.
Qi Junmu knew Shen Nian was looking at him, but he did not mind.
In both his lives, this was the first time he had bathed with another person. He had thought it might feel strange, but perhaps because Shen Nian's gaze carried no aggression, he did not feel offended.
"Does Your Majesty comfort others like this too?"
Suddenly, Qi Junmu heard Shen Nian's voice. He had not caught what the man said, so he looked up and asked: "What?"
Shen Nian repeated himself, glancing around: "Like this—if a high court official is in low spirits, does Your Majesty do the same?"
"You are not them." Qi Junmu said casually. "You are my Marquis Zhenbei, my favored minister. Besides, what is there to look at among those court officials? I am particular about appearances too."
With that, the Emperor sighed and spread his hands: "It is rare to find someone in the court who is handsome, capable, and to my liking—a little extra favor is only right."
Shen Nian let out a low, muffled laugh at these words. After a long moment, he said solemnly: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing that he no longer looked so lifeless, Qi Junmu was in good spirits as well. He said: "It is nothing."
Shen Nian suited him well—if he had truly been ruined by some matter, it would have been a real headache.
Many people in this world were willing to be the Emperor's blade, but few were the right fit.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject has a favor to ask." Seeing that the Emperor was in good spirits, Shen Nian spoke up.
Qi Junmu looked at him in surprise: "What is it?"
"This humble subject would like to visit the pavilion next door afterward, if it is permitted." Shen Nian clenched his fists beneath the water, his heart rising high with anxiety.
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