For a moment, the atmosphere in the room stagnated.
After Zhao Baozhu heard this, he too was stunned. He merely had occasional chest pains and an itchy throat at night, how had it become this serious?
“Doctor Qi,” Zhao Baozhu looked at the doctor in surprise, “this… I don’t really feel any discomfort. Could it be a misdiagnosis?”
No doctor liked having his medical skill questioned, much less by a patient who did not follow medical instructions. Upon hearing this, Doctor Qi immediately frowned and turned to look at Zhao Baozhu with great seriousness.
“This old man has practiced medicine for decades. How could I misdiagnose?” he said gravely. “My lord must not rely on your youth and neglect proper care. When stagnant emotions knot together internally, recovery and regulation become extremely difficult. If a root of illness is left behind, over time it will become palpitations.”
Hearing him speak so severely, Zhao Baozhu no longer dared say anything.
Suddenly, the sound of sobbing came from inside the room. Zhao Baozhu raised his eyes and saw Ah Long’s face completely pale as several teardrops pattered down from his eyes. He immediately dropped to his knees on the ground, both hands grabbing Doctor Qi’s robe hem: “Doctor, please save our old master!”
He had been frightened badly and cried a complete mess as he pleaded with Doctor Qi: “O-Our old master is an extremely good person. Everything he does is good deeds. His lifespan absolutely cannot, cannot…”
Ah Long could not even say those few words aloud. His face was covered in tears as he lowered his head and rubbed his eyes hard with his sleeve, his entire face crying red.
Watching this, Zhao Baozhu’s heart ached. He wanted to climb up from the couch, yet the moment he propped himself up, a hand pressed him back down.
Zhao Baozhu fell backward onto the couch with his face tilted upward and abruptly saw Ye Jinghua’s face.
His right shoulder was pinned down. Then an arm wrapped around him, drawing half his body into an embrace. Zhao Baozhu’s face pressed against clothing tinged with faint threads of cold fragrance as he heard Ye Jinghua’s voice sound above his head:
“Doctor Qi, do you have a method of treatment?”
The moment this voice entered his ears, Zhao Baozhu suddenly froze. He did not know if it was his imagination, but just now he had faintly heard a trace of trembling in Ye Jinghua’s voice, as though he were afraid.
How could that be?
Zhao Baozhu felt somewhat dazed. In his heart, Ye Jinghua had always been a steady and calm person, gentle and courteous, someone who would remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. How could he possibly be afraid?
He wanted to raise his head to look at Ye Jinghua’s expression, but his shoulders were tightly restrained, leaving him utterly unable to move.
Hearing this, Doctor Qi pondered for a long while before saying: “Treating it is not difficult. There are two methods. One is for this old man to prescribe several formulas for gradual warming and nourishment. The second is acupuncture. Once the stagnant blood is vomited out, the illness will be more than half cured.”
“Although the warming and nourishing method will not injure the skin or flesh, recovery will be slow. My lord is still young. It would be better to let this old man administer acupuncture. The illness will be removed more thoroughly, and there will also be fewer bowls of bitter medicine to drink.”
Leaning in Ye Jinghua’s embrace, Zhao Baozhu shifted slightly upon hearing that acupuncture would be used, yet he was immediately pressed down again by Ye Jinghua.
After a moment of silence, Ye Jinghua’s deep voice sounded within the room: “I ask Doctor Qi to administer the acupuncture.”
This Doctor Qi was not from the Ye residence, but rather a well-known wandering physician in the capital. He had studied under the current Chief Imperial Physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau. His medical skill was extremely superb, yet he did not easily serve the powerful and noble. This time, when Ye Jinghua was assigned away from the capital, Madam Ye and Noble Consort Chen from the palace were worried, so they specially used the Chief Physician’s connections to have Doctor Qi accompany him in order to prevent accidents in a remote place like Qingzhou. Who would have thought that after Doctor Qi had endured the exhausting journey and had not even warmed his seat at the Qingzhou prefectural office, he would be hurriedly brought by fast horse to the even more remote Wuya County. And the patient was not Ye Jinghua, but the magistrate of Wuya County.
However, Doctor Qi possessed the benevolent heart of a healer and did not disdain the poor conditions inside the county yamen. In order to completely clear the stagnant blood from Zhao Baozhu’s chest in one attempt, he even brought out the silver-patterned needles passed down from his master.
Because Ah Long was young and crying noisily, Doctor Qi drove him out. At this moment, only Zhao Baozhu and Ye Jinghua remained inside the room.
Doctor Qi took the needles and looked up. The movements of his hands paused as he looked at Ye Jinghua sitting by the couch with Zhao Baozhu gathered in his embrace, hesitation appearing on his face.
“Second Young Master Ye.” After hesitating for a moment, he finally walked a little closer and quietly said to Ye Jinghua: “When this old man administers the needles, this lord will vomit stagnant blood. The filthy blood will not be clean. Second Young Master should—”
Before he could finish speaking, Ye Jinghua said: “No need.”
Doctor Qi choked on his words. Seeing this, he stopped trying to persuade him. If he wanted to hold him, then let him hold him. He turned back to prepare things for a while, then handed a small bowl to Ye Jinghua and continued: “I ask Second Young Master to loosen this lord’s collar somewhat.”
Ye Jinghua first removed his own outer robe from Zhao Baozhu’s body. Afraid he would be cold, he also pulled the blanket up, making certain not a trace of wind could blow in before finally loosening Zhao Baozhu’s collar.
On one side, Zhao Baozhu was bewildered, while at the same time embarrassed. When he saw the needle tip in Doctor Qi’s hand, he became somewhat afraid and unconsciously struggled twice.
“Don’t be afraid.” Ye Jinghua’s hand immediately stroked his forehead as he bent down and said warmly, “Be good. Doctor Qi’s medical skill is superb. It’ll be over in an instant.”
Hearing Ye Jinghua’s gentle voice again after so long, Zhao Baozhu’s nose suddenly turned sour amidst his embarrassment, and he nearly shed tears. For a moment, he even forgot to be afraid. Obediently, he relaxed his strength and lay in Ye Jinghua’s embrace.
Doctor Qi thus stepped forward. After glancing at Ye Jinghua and receiving the latter’s nod of permission, he held the needle and lightly inserted it into Zhao Baozhu’s throat.
“Mmn.”
Under the sting of pain, Zhao Baozhu gave a soft hum. He immediately felt the hand Ye Jinghua had placed on his forehead stiffen forcefully for a moment, after which it gently began stroking his forehead again and again.
“Don’t move, hm?” Ye Jinghua’s voice was soft as water, yet his arms tightly circled Zhao Baozhu’s body, making him unable to move in the slightest. “The doctor is administering the needles. Our Baozhu is the most obedient. Endure it a little and it’ll be fine.”
Actually, Zhao Baozhu was rather capable of enduring pain. Besides, Doctor Qi’s medical skill was excellent, so it did not hurt much to begin with. But he was intoxicated by Ye Jinghua’s gentleness and quickly shut his eyes tightly, his brows knitted hard, afraid that if he could not endure it, tears would fall.
Yet when this appearance fell into Ye Jinghua’s eyes, he thought Zhao Baozhu was in terrible pain. Instantly, his heart ached unbearably. His brows furrowed tightly, and even his breathing became disordered.
Doctor Qi had keen ears and sharp eyes. Seeing this, he lightly coughed and silently sped up the movements of his hands. Before long, Zhao Baozhu had been turned into the appearance of a hedgehog.
Doctor Qi softly let out a breath and stepped back. To Ye Jinghua, he said: “Second Young Master, this old man is about to remove the needles.”
Ye Jinghua’s eyes were dark and deep as he nodded.
Doctor Qi turned his head, reached out, and pinched the silver needle that had first been inserted into Zhao Baozhu’s throat. With a slight exertion of force, the needle was pulled out.
The instant the needle tip was removed, Zhao Baozhu immediately felt a fishy-sweet rush of blood surge up from his chest. He abruptly turned his head and, with a “wah,” vomited it out.
Ye Jinghua had already been prepared. With one hand, he held the small bowl at Zhao Baozhu’s lips. Watching him vomit mouthful after mouthful of filthy blood, his own complexion turned pale inch by inch as well.
Doctor Qi watched from the side and, for a moment, could not tell which of the two was actually the patient. He almost wanted to take the Second Young Master’s pulse as well.
Zhao Baozhu vomited five or six mouthfuls of blood in one go before finally stopping. A trace of blood hung at the corner of his lips as Ye Jinghua supported his shoulders and let him recline back into his embrace.
“This means it is cured.” Doctor Qi swiftly removed the remaining needles from Zhao Baozhu’s body as well, then said to Ye Jinghua: “This old man will prescribe a formula. Let this lord take it twice daily. After two months of warming nourishment, he should more or less recover. It is only that during the period of taking medicine, he must avoid certain foods, and absolutely must not grow angry all the time.”
Ye Jinghua was currently wiping away the bloodstains at Zhao Baozhu’s lips. Hearing this, he lifted his head and said: “Ye shall keep Doctor Qi’s instructions firmly in mind. Today, you have been troubled by a weary journey. Please go drink a cup of hot tea.”
The moment his words fell, two servants waiting at the doorway opened the door and respectfully said to Doctor Qi: “This humble one and the others have prepared a meal. Please go rest, Doctor.”
Doctor Qi had witnessed the earlier scene and already understood things in his heart. He packed away his needles and turned to follow the Ye family servants out. This Second Young Master Ye possessed a body worth a thousand gold, and even after being sent away from the capital to become an official, he still had crowds of servants around him. Cooks, attendants, and the like had all been directly brought from the main household. Today, he too had benefited a bit from it.
After the servants escorted Doctor Qi out, they shut the door.
For a moment, only Ye Jinghua and Zhao Baozhu remained inside the room.
Doctor Qi’s medical skill was brilliant. After Zhao Baozhu vomited the filthy blood, his body immediately felt much lighter.
He lightly coughed a few times and opened his eyes, just in time to see the bloodstains on Ye Jinghua’s sleeve. The filthy blood was especially conspicuous against the moon-white cuff. Zhao Baozhu’s heart jolted, he had dirtied young master!
“Y-Young master—”
Zhao Baozhu wanted Ye Jinghua to stay farther away from him and not be tainted by the smell of blood. Yet the moment he raised his eyes, he suddenly felt the hand around his shoulders and back tighten. Immediately afterward, his entire body was pressed against a warm chest.
Ye Jinghua’s arms tightly encircled him. His handsome face was deathly pale, and he said nothing.
Leaning against his shoulder, Zhao Baozhu struggled to lift his head and look at Ye Jinghua.
Yet the instant he raised his eyes, he saw Ye Jinghua’s eyes tightly shut, his long lashes trembling nonstop. Suddenly, a tear fell from the corner of his eye.
That tear slid down the man’s peerlessly handsome face, lingered for an instant at his jawline, then dripped down, landing directly on Zhao Baozhu’s chest.
Zhao Baozhu instantly panicked. His heart seemed to be crushed into pieces: “Young master, don’t cry! It’s all my fault. You, you mustn’t be sad…”
He immediately wanted to raise his hand and wipe away the tears on the man’s face, but he was held even tighter, leaving his arms unable to move. Then warmth spread across the right side of his face, and a sigh sounded beside his ear.
Ye Jinghua bent down, pressing against the youth’s slightly cool cheek. As though his heart ached terribly, he slightly curved his back and gathered Zhao Baozhu’s entire body into his embrace, holding him tightly without the slightest gap.
Listening to the man’s somewhat heavy breathing beside his ear and feeling the rise and fall of the warm, solid chest, Zhao Baozhu completely stiffened. His mind went blank, and he could not say a single word.
A long while later, with his eyes still tightly shut, Ye Jinghua’s throat moved before he finally said in a hoarse voice: “Seeing you suffer like this, how could I not be heartbroken?”
The moment he heard these words, Zhao Baozhu’s heart immediately clenched in pain, and his eyes reddened at once: “Young master…”
Holding him, Ye Jinghua lightly rubbed his cheek against Zhao Baozhu’s temples and sideburns before finally lifting his head. His glazed eyes were full of tenderness and pity: “When you were sick, why didn’t you properly take your medicine?”
Then after a pause, he lowered his eyes and stroked Zhao Baozhu’s forehead with endless tenderness: “Our Baozhu suffered so much, yet wouldn’t even tell me.”
If this continued, it would pierce straight into his heart. Zhao Baozhu felt terribly guilty and hurriedly raised his head to say: “Young master, don’t be angry. I-I was careless. I thought it wasn’t anything serious, so I didn’t tell young master, ” He paused, saw that Ye Jinghua’s expression looked poor, and proactively raised his hand to tug at the man’s sleeve, shaking it slightly. His movements carried a hint of coaxing. “From now on, I’ll listen to everything young master says. I’ll definitely take my medicine properly and won’t make this mistake again.”
Holding him, Ye Jinghua listened to these words without saying anything. He only stroked Zhao Baozhu’s back again and again with his hand.
After a long while, he deeply sighed, hugged the person in his arms tighter, and rested the side of his face against the youth’s dark black hair.
For a time, silence fell between the two. Zhao Baozhu’s heart was both guilty and uneasy. Leaning in Ye Jinghua’s embrace, his heart thumped wildly.
Things had already reached this point, even he could sense that something was wrong.
Young master had always treated him very well, but perhaps because he now understood his own feelings, he could sense a somewhat unusual tenderness within Ye Jinghua’s gentleness. He had only vomited a few mouthfuls of blood, how could it make young master ache for him this much?
Zhao Baozhu’s heart felt both sore and warm. Heat gradually spread across his cheeks. For a moment, even his breathing softened, afraid that if he made too much noise, the Ye Jinghua before him, gentle as water, would disappear.
How had young master come to Qingzhou?
Leaning against Ye Jinghua’s shoulder, Zhao Baozhu secretly examined his profile. According to common sense, every top scholar who entered the Hanlin Academy would not come out again for two or three years. Yet counting from the spring examinations, it had not even been half a year. How had Ye Jinghua suddenly come to Qingzhou to become the prefect?
This Qingzhou was small, remote, and lacking in scenery. Although the post of prefect could not be considered low-ranking, it was still ultimately a local official’s position. To others, perhaps it was not a bad appointment, but for someone like Ye Jinghua, an imperial relative and noble, it was completely different. Minister Ye, Madam Ye, Noble Consort Chen in the palace, and even His Majesty, how could they bear to send young master to a place like this?
The more Zhao Baozhu thought about it, the more alarmed he became. Yet he did not dare think toward the direction he suspected. Slowly, worry furrowed his brows.
The instant his brows faintly knitted, Ye Jinghua’s voice sounded: “What’s wrong?”
Zhao Baozhu lifted his head and saw Ye Jinghua frowning: “Does your chest hurt?”
Zhao Baozhu quickly shook his head and said: “No, I…” He seemed hesitant to speak.
Ye Jinghua’s expression immediately changed. His eyes darkened as he coldly said: “You are not allowed to hide anything from me.”
Zhao Baozhu’s whole body stiffened. He hurriedly said: “I was only thinking, how did young master end up being assigned here? This Qingzhou is extremely remote, and because the previous prefect colluded secretly with the You family, oppressing the common people and leaving livelihoods desolate… it really cannot be considered any sort of good place. How could young master come here?”
The more he thought about it, the more he felt Ye Jinghua should not be here. In his mind, Ye Jinghua was an immortal from the jeweled forests of the heavenly palace. He ought to remain within mansions inlaid with gold and jade every day, surrounded by beautiful maidservants like drifting clouds, with servants above and below to command. Such a noble young master, with learning so excellent, who had just won first place in the imperial examinations and received the emperor’s deep favor, how could he suddenly be sent to a place like this?
Zhao Baozhu frowned and looked worriedly toward Ye Jinghua: “Young master, what exactly is going on? D-Did His Majesty become angry? Why would the emperor send you to a place like this?”
Zhao Baozhu was full of worry, thinking that Ye Jinghua’s repeated refusals to participate in the spring examinations had angered Emperor Yuanzhi, and that was why he had “banished” Ye Jinghua to a place like Qingzhou.
Yet after hearing these words, Ye Jinghua abruptly opened his eyes and lowered them toward Zhao Baozhu.
“A place like this?” Ye Jinghua stared fixedly at him, his tone somewhat cold. “If you can come to a place like this, why can’t I?”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu choked and looked speechlessly at Ye Jinghua.
He had never thought of it that way before. But, but how could Ye Jinghua be the same as him? He had been born poor and had long been accustomed to suffering since childhood, but Ye Jinghua… how could he… be the same?
Seeing the stunned look on his face, Ye Jinghua’s brows trembled slightly, and a burst of anger immediately surged through his heart. Taking into account that Zhao Baozhu was still sick, he endured it again and again, but in the end still could not hold back: “So you also know this place shouldn’t be come to.”
Zhao Baozhu immediately felt the hand around his shoulders tighten further, gripping him painfully. When he raised his head, he saw gloom appear between Ye Jinghua’s brows as he stared heavily at him: “Since you knew this place shouldn’t be come to, you still insisted on coming, and left without saying a single word. Do you know that I…”
Halfway through speaking, Ye Jinghua suddenly stopped, as though he had exhausted all his strength just to restrain himself. Because he was clenching his teeth tightly, a sharp line sprang out along his jaw.
Seeing Zhao Baozhu looking at him in surprise and slight fear, Ye Jinghua’s brow twitched. He forcibly suppressed his anger and slightly turned his head aside: “Let’s not talk about this anymore.”
This time, Zhao Baozhu truly did not dare speak anymore. He felt that this meeting with Ye Jinghua had revealed many changes in him. Perhaps because he had grown thinner, his thick brows and refined features appeared even sharper. Compared to before, there was more solemn gravity between his brows and eyes, and less of that detached aloofness from the mortal world. Instead, his bearing seemed even more imposing.
Zhao Baozhu felt extremely guilty about leaving without saying goodbye that day, so he did not dare argue back with Ye Jinghua. In truth, what he thought in his heart was: that had been an imperial decree. If he had not left, would he not only have implicated Ye Jinghua as well?
He was not someone incapable of reading the room. He knew saying such distant words would displease Ye Jinghua, so he obediently held them back and did not say them aloud.
Ye Jinghua held Zhao Baozhu like this and remained quiet for a long while before finally pulling himself out of his emotions.
Zhao Baozhu had just undergone acupuncture and was not suited to getting out of bed and moving around. Ye Jinghua therefore ordered people to bring several easily digestible dishes of fine porridge and vegetables and fed Zhao Baozhu personally. Zhao Baozhu was overwhelmed by the favor. This was not the first time Ye Jinghua had fed him food, but in the past it had mostly been teasing him for amusement. Today, however, there truly seemed to be an intention of caring for him.
Zhao Baozhu watched as he pulled over a chair and sat beside the bed, lightly stirring the porridge in the bowl with a porcelain spoon. Only after it cooled did he scoop up a spoonful and bring it to Zhao Baozhu’s lips: “Eat. Be careful, it’s hot.”
Zhao Baozhu sat there restless and shocked, staring at the porcelain spoon by his mouth: “Young master, there’s truly no need. I can eat by myself, ”
How could Ye Jinghua do this sort of servant’s work! Zhao Baozhu thought. Besides, he had merely undergone acupuncture. It was not as though his arms or legs were broken. He could completely eat on his own,
Zhao Baozhu felt both awkward and shy, yet Ye Jinghua did not withdraw his hand. He steadily held the spoon, his expression unmoving: “Quickly eat. It’ll get cold in a while.”
Zhao Baozhu had no choice. Unable to bear making Ye Jinghua keep holding the bowl like that, he could only open his mouth and eat. Ye Jinghua’s expression eased somewhat. Lowering his head, he scooped another spoonful and brought it to Zhao Baozhu’s lips: “If you think it’s hot, say so, understood?”
He was so gentle and attentive that Zhao Baozhu felt both awkward and shy. His cheeks flushed red as he nodded vigorously. He only felt that even the salty porridge in his mouth carried threads of sweetness, leaving his whole person dizzy and disoriented, not knowing heaven from earth.
Ye Jinghua clearly had never done this sort of caregiving before. At first, his movements were unfamiliar. Yet he was intelligent and quick-witted, with meticulous attention to detail, and very quickly his actions became practiced. After feeding a few mouthfuls of porridge, he would pick up a few bites of vegetables and feed them to him as well, taking such good care of Zhao Baozhu that he became completely docile.
After finishing the meal, Ye Jinghua had someone bring in sleepwear. The moment Zhao Baozhu saw the style, he knew it was the sort he had always worn at the Ye residence.
“Today the doctor administered acupuncture to you. Rest early and properly sleep to recover some spirit.”
Ye Jinghua picked up the sleepwear and spoke to Zhao Baozhu. Yet at the same moment, Zhao Baozhu watched several servants carry in a large tub of hot water, with a towel hanging over the side. Staring blankly, he saw Ye Jinghua pick up a cloth and immerse it into the hot water. Astonished, he asked: “Y-Young master, what are you doing?”
Ye Jinghua’s movements paused as he turned around: “The doctor administered acupuncture earlier. It’s not suitable for you to bathe today, so I’ll wipe you down instead, ”
“What?” Zhao Baozhu was horrified and shrank farther into the bed. “Young master, I can do it myself!”
Hearing this, Ye Jinghua’s brows faintly furrowed, but he still set the cloth back down. Seeing Zhao Baozhu’s cheeks bright red, his round catlike eyes wide open as he clutched his collar and shrank against the bedhead, he found it somewhat amusing and curled his lips slightly.
“What are you embarrassed about?” Ye Jinghua’s anger had dissipated, and his brows and eyes softened again. “It’s not as though I’ve never taken care of you before.”
Zhao Baozhu froze at this, then realized Ye Jinghua was referring to that time he had gotten drunk before. Instantly, a wave of embarrassment surged through him, his blood rushing to his head.
At that time, he had not yet understood his own feelings and could still behave openly and naturally. But now that he understood he harbored improper thoughts toward Ye Jinghua, he instead became awkward and shy.
“Young master!” Zhao Baozhu was so embarrassed he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into as he glared at Ye Jinghua.
Seeing him like this, Ye Jinghua thoughtfully hid the smile at the corners of his lips and smoothly turned to leave.
Only after watching him close the door did Zhao Baozhu slowly let out a sigh of relief. He climbed out of bed and quickly wiped himself clean. Turning around, he picked up the clothes Ye Jinghua had brought. Sure enough, they were the work of the Ye residence’s seamstresses, light, convenient, and warm to wear.
He had just changed into the sleepwear and climbed back onto the bed, pulling the blanket over himself, when he heard Ye Jinghua’s voice from outside the room: “Baozhu, are you finished changing?”
The moment Zhao Baozhu looked up, he saw Ye Jinghua’s silhouette reflected against the paper window. It had not even been half the time it took a stick of incense to burn, which meant Ye Jinghua must have been waiting right outside the door the entire time without leaving at all.
Zhao Baozhu hurriedly called toward the door: “I’m finished changing!”
The moment his words fell, Ye Jinghua pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Zhao Baozhu obediently changed and lying on the bed, the expression on his face softened somewhat. Walking over, he reached out and touched Zhao Baozhu’s forehead: “Are you cold?”
Zhao Baozhu’s cheeks were crimson as he shook his head. A brazier was burning in the room, making it very warm.
Hearing this, Ye Jinghua nodded, withdrew his hand, and said: “It’s late today, and you’re sick. I’ll stay here tonight.”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu’s eyes instantly lit up, and he immediately nodded. They had only just reunited, so naturally he could not bear to part. It was best if young master could stay.
Yet in the very next instant, he saw Ye Jinghua turn around and, with his back facing him, remove his outer robe.
Zhao Baozhu froze, and his heart immediately began pounding wildly. He thought to himself that it was normal enough, of course the outer robe had to come off,
Yet next, he saw Ye Jinghua’s hand move downward to his belt. After a rustling sound of clothes, only a thin layer of inner garments remained on him.
Those inner garments were extremely thin, sewn from white cotton thread, clinging to Ye Jinghua’s shoulders and back. Beneath them, the color of his skin faintly showed through.
Zhao Baozhu’s face exploded red with a “boom.” Dumbfounded and panicked, he cried: “Y-Young master! You–!”
“Hm?” Wearing only his inner garments, Ye Jinghua turned around to look at Zhao Baozhu. “What is it?”
The moment he turned, Zhao Baozhu was caught completely off guard and instantly glimpsed the chest exposed through the opening in his inner robe. His breathing halted. This time, his entire face turned red as he hurriedly lowered his eyes, not daring to look: “Y-Young master, why are you taking off your clothes?”
The moment these words came out, the room fell silent for a moment. Then the man’s somewhat puzzled voice sounded: “If I don’t take off my clothes, how am I supposed to wipe myself clean?”
Zhao Baozhu froze, then suddenly understood. So that was it, but, but, he bit his lip and still did not dare lift his head. Even the tips of his ears were red: “Young master is washing here?”
Ye Jinghua fell silent for another moment before saying: “If not here, then where?”
This question completely stumped Zhao Baozhu. His county yamen was crude and simple. In the rear courtyard, only this room had a brazier burning. If he asked Ye Jinghua to wash somewhere else, he feared the cold wind would make Ye Jinghua catch a chill, but…
Zhao Baozhu’s heart pounded nonstop, and he could barely catch his breath. For a moment, he could not say anything at all. Seeing that he had stopped speaking, Ye Jinghua turned back around again. Zhao Baozhu lowered his head desperately, only daring to look at the floor. In the next instant, within his field of vision, he saw the thin inner garment suddenly fall and pile at the man’s feet in layered folds.
Before long, the sound of water echoed through the room.
Zhao Baozhu stared fixedly at the ground, so nervous that sweat formed on his forehead. All he could see before his eyes was Ye Jinghua’s shadow cast upon the floor by the lamplight.
The candlelight in the room was dim. Aside from the sound of water, there was no other sound at all. Yet it was precisely that tiny bit of water noise that seemed to sweep across Zhao Baozhu’s heart like a light feather.
Though he did not dare profane Ye Jinghua, he nevertheless harbored improper thoughts in his heart. The person he loved was right before his eyes, and in this sort of “vividly sensual” scene, he resembled Tang Sanzang who had fallen into a demoness’s cave.
Zhao Baozhu’s heart pounded violently, and his breathing became quicker and quicker. His pair of catlike eyes darted around in panic. If, if he only looked once, then it would not really count as rude, right?
Both hands clutching the blanket tightly, Zhao Baozhu’s heart pounded furiously. Taking a deep breath and mustering all his courage, he decided to go all in and abruptly raised his head to look.
Ye Jinghua’s figure instantly appeared before his eyes.
He had removed his clothes and was standing slightly sideways, using a cloth to wipe his arm.
Zhao Baozhu immediately heard a “rumble” beside his ears. Then all the blood in his body rushed straight to the top of his head, and in his eyes there remained only the lines of the man’s flexed arm.
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