The mountain wind swept past the eaves, carrying the cool chill of night dew.
Gu Huaiyu pushed open the door of the bathhouse. The tips of his hair were still damp, and a faint flush stained his pale cheeks—whether from the steam of the hot water or some other reason was unclear.
His expression remained cold and indifferent. Without spare glance, he walked silently toward his bedroom.
Pei Jingyi, who had been crouching nearby, stood up immediately as soon as he saw him. He followed close behind, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air—left, then right—trailing Gu Huaiyu’s every step.
Gu Huaiyu was in a foul mood, and his tone reflected it. “What are you smelling?”
Pei Jingyi breathed in the damp fragrance clinging to him, a scent now laced with a very faint hint of musk. He cast a somewhat resentful glance at Gu Huaiyu and licked his lips. “Your Excellency’s… nectar. You didn’t let me have a taste.”
The tips of Gu Huaiyu’s ears instantly flared red, but his face remained like frost. “I see your ears are itching again.”
Pei Jingyi touched the earlobe where a small scab had formed over the puncture. “My ears do itch,” he admitted honestly, “but there is somewhere else that itches much more.”
As for where that was, did it even need to be said?
Gu Huaiyu narrowed his eyes at him. “Can you speak of anything other than these filthy words?”
Pei Jingyi’s playful demeanor suddenly vanished. He stared directly at Gu Huaiyu, his voice steady and sincere. “Losing control of my feelings for you is only human nature. If I didn’t have even a bit of desire—”
“Then I’d either be a hypocrite pretending to be a gentleman, or I’d be what you called me: impotent.”
He paused for a moment, and without a shred of shame, added matter-of-factly, “You’ve personally ‘vouched’ for me. You know better than anyone whether I can perform or not.”
Gu Huaiyu would have preferred he pretend to be a gentleman. “Say things I like to hear,” he reprimanded coldly, “otherwise, I’ll sew your mouth shut.”
Pei Jingyi knew this man was more than capable of following through. He suppressed his smile and turned serious. “I went to the small temple at the foot of the mountain today. I saw the commoners have set up a longevity tablet for the Lord Chancellor. The incense is burning bright, and the fruit offerings are all fresh.”
“Even thirty miles away from the capital, people are traveling specifically to offer incense. It shows that the people are praying to the gods and Buddhas everywhere, hoping for your early return.”
Gu Huaiyu gave a faint nod. He turned and entered the room, sitting on the edge of the bed. He lifted a foot, a natural gesture for Pei Jingyi to come and serve him.
Pei Jingyi immediately knelt by his side, one hand supporting the sole of the boot while the other unfastened the laces.
Only then did Gu Huaiyu speak. “Shen Jun should arrive tomorrow.”
Pei Jingyi’s movements faltered. He looked up. “Is Your Excellency in contact with Master Shen?”
Gu Huaiyu shook his head slightly, unaware of the other man’s internal turmoil. “No contact. But I know Shen Jun; he knows my intentions and will handle things on my behalf.”
“Master Shen and the Lord Chancellor share a true meeting of the minds. This general is humbled by his own inferiority.”
Pei Jingyi applied a bit of extra force as he briskly pulled off the boot and sock.
Gu Huaiyu actually agreed with the sentiment and gave a rare, generous nod. “A talent like Shen Jun is hard to come by. That is why he is my confidant.”
Pei Jingyi’s jaw tightened, his molars grinding together, yet a loose smile remained on his lips. “If Master Shen is Your Excellency’s confidant, then what am I to you?”
Gu Huaiyu looked him up and down, then pointed a finger toward his face from a distance. “You? You are my sharp weapon.”
“Shen Jun devises strategies for me behind the scenes. You, however, are a blade that cannot be shown to the world casually. Once drawn, you must draw blood.”
Pei Jingyi felt his heart race at the gesture. His hand, which was resting on Gu Huaiyu’s ankle, began to slide upward with increasing boldness. “And what if I want to be more than just Your Excellency’s weapon?”
Gu Huaiyu didn’t move an inch. His lowered gaze was as sharp as a flame. “What do you want to be?”
“My man? Or… an intimate guest in my bedchamber?”
Pei Jingyi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He flashed a roguish grin. “Your Excellency clearly knows, yet you still ask—”
He dragged out the last word, his tone sounding almost like a pout.
Gu Huaiyu didn’t fall for it. He leaned back lazily, propping his weight on his arms against the mattress. He lifted his other leg—the one still clad in a silk boot—and pressed the toe against Pei Jingyi’s chin like one would toy with a dog. “You want to be my intimate guest? We’ll have to see if you’re qualified.”
Pei Jingyi gently squeezed the bare foot in his palm. He regretted not taking the other boot off faster; otherwise, the foot against his chin would be bare as well. “What counts as qualified?”
“Take them off.”
Gu Huaiyu’s boot-tip slid slowly down, tapping the back of Pei Jingyi’s hand, signaling for him to remove the remaining footwear. “But you aren’t allowed to touch me.”
Pei Jingyi’s eyes darkened at the command. He immediately grasped the silk boot and ripped open the bothersome laces. His movements to remove the boot, however, were meticulously cautious. He used only his fingertips to hook the heel, sliding it off bit by bit.
The soft friction of the fabric was exceptionally clear in the silent night.
He kept his fingers rigidly controlled. His pads only brushed the edge of the silk sock, coming within a hair’s breadth of that warm, delicate skin without ever making contact.
“Lord Chancellor.” His throat felt parched, a dark fire dancing in his eyes as he set the removed boot down neatly. “Am I qualified?”
