Chapter 45: This Damned Bodily Reaction

Shen Zhao gazed at the bath barrel, steam billowing white, and remembered the ambiguous looks on the servants' faces as they left. She forced out, "Um... perhaps you should bathe first?"

The words had barely escaped before regret tinged her thoughts.

She couldn’t bring herself to wash Chu Mu’s body.

But Chu Mu was now in her body!

The idea that Chu Mu would use her body to bathe made her wish she could dig a hole and bury herself.

Though they were husband and wife, why was it so mortifying?

She simply couldn't bring herself to untie her own robes; the thought of touching or seeing places she shouldn’t made her unconsciously clutch her clothes tighter.

She had seen Chu Mu's body countless times.

But this was different—she was now the master of this body!

Heavens, why was her face suddenly burning so fiercely?

Chu Mu’s face, veiled in steam, looked even more bewildered.

Were they really going to bathe?

Could they not?

But even if they didn’t bathe, he still had to face Ah Zhao’s body!

Unless he neither ate, drank, nor relieved himself!

The idea of baring all with Ah Zhao’s body made him unconsciously clutch his already disheveled robes.

That only made things worse—when his hands brushed against places they shouldn’t, his whole body froze.

He jerked his hands away as if electrocuted.

...

Neither moved for a long while.

They stared at each other as the steam from the bath barrel began to dissipate.

Gritting her teeth, Shen Zhao finally steeled herself. This had to be faced. She looked at Chu Mu and, after a moment’s hesitation, said, "How about I wash you and you wash me? That way we can avoid... avoid..."

She wanted to say avoid embarrassment.

But how could it be avoided? Not at all!

So, let’s bathe together!

Shen Zhao was the first to shed her robes, her face blazing red. "Take off your clothes. We’ll bathe together! No wild thoughts, just bathe quickly, understand?"

"Alright," Chu Mu replied softly.

...

When at last they finished bathing, both blushed furiously and silently put on their underclothes.

"Ahem... get... into bed," Shen Zhao said, recalling their shared bath. Her cheeks flushed even deeper.

She was the first to lie on the bed, quickly closing her eyes.

Let her die!

Just now, Chu Mu’s body had reacted as any normal person would.

She could swear that reaction was not hers.

It was merely the body's natural reflex.

---

Chu Mu, just as mortified, lowered his eyes and quietly extinguished the lamp.

He crawled toward the inside of the bed.

He had no choice; Ah Zhao had taken the outside, so he could only crawl inward.

He tried to hurry.

But haste breeds mistakes.

His hands slipped, and he landed atop Shen Zhao.

As luck would have it, his soft lips brushed Shen Zhao’s as he fell.

Boom!

Shen Zhao’s eyes flew open, her mind momentarily blank.

She scrambled to push Chu Mu off.

Let him die!

The more she panicked, the more mistakes she made.

A ripping sound tore through the air.

Chu Mu’s clothes split, revealing a fragrant shoulder and creamy skin, alluring beneath the night’s shadows.

Especially with Chu Mu’s bewildered, deeply blushing expression—it stirred something within.

Shen Zhao took a deep breath.

She suddenly shoved Chu Mu toward the inner side of the bed.

Quickly, she pulled the brocade quilt over them both.

"Close your eyes. Sleep! No wild thoughts." Damn it! Did Chu Mu’s body have a mind of its own?

It was completely beyond her control!

Silently, she recited, “Lust is emptiness, emptiness is lust…”

Chu Mu lay unmoving on the inside of the bed.

Just now, he had sensed Ah Zhao’s unease.

His hands hovered, unsure where to rest.

He dared not fix his torn underclothes, fearing he’d touch places he shouldn’t.

Neither slept a wink that night; dawn crept across the sky.

Shen Zhao suddenly sat up.

She flung back the quilt, checked herself, and her cheeks grew hot, reddening to the point of bleeding.

She hurried to dress and get out of bed—she needed to relieve herself!

Chu Mu, of course, knew what Ah Zhao’s reaction meant!

She was going to the latrine!

At the thought, Chu Mu’s cheeks flushed as well.

He, too, needed to relieve himself!

Shen Zhao emerged from the latrine, face drawn.

She kept reminding herself, you’re in a man’s body, a man’s body, a man’s body!

To hell with a man’s body!

She kicked a stool across the outer chamber.

Chu Mu heard the commotion and immediately turned to face the wall, feigning sleep.

He had no idea how to face Ah Zhao now.

---

Entering the inner chamber, Shen Zhao no longer felt like lying lifeless on the bed. After a miserable, sleepless night, it was finally time for morning court.

Seeing Chu Mu stiffly pretending to sleep, she decided not to expose him.

She quietly dressed in her court robes and, before leaving, said, "Today the old woman... your mother won’t send anyone to look for you, because from now on it’s your monthly day to go out and check the shop accounts. Today, go first to the two shops on Vermilion Bird Street—one is Golden Jade Pavilion, which sells women’s jewelry and is managed by my personal maid, Zi Su. The other is Elegant Study, which sells scholarly items. Remember not to slip up in front of Zi Su."

With that, she hurried away.

Today, Lin Jiaojiao hadn’t come to intercept her, nor had Deputy General Zhang been summoned to fetch her.

How rare.

Such peace and quiet.

She had no idea Lin Jiaojiao had already been summoned by the old lady’s people.

She had no time to block Shen Zhao.

The second madam, Lady Liu, had also been summoned by the old lady.

Putting aside the morning’s discomfort, Shen Zhao felt rather pleased.

She wondered how Xie Yuheng had fared yesterday at Yiyun Academy, demanding funds.

She had barely entered the main hall when a gust of wind rushed at her.

Shen Zhao quickly stepped back.

Who dared to be so bold, attempting violence in the Golden Throne Hall?

As she steadied herself, a face loomed before her—pale and tearful.

Damn!

That gust had been Xie Yuheng.

But who had the audacity to beat Xie Yuheng into such a state?

Seeing Shen Zhao, Xie Yuheng’s nose twitched. He paid no heed to the assembled ministers; after all, the emperor had not yet arrived, and he could complain to Brother Chu.

"Brother Chu..."

Xie Yuheng called out pitifully.

He had botched Brother Chu’s task.

His father had dragged him home by the ear in front of everyone, shaming him all the way.

Shen Zhao looked at Xie Yuheng, bruised and with his arm in a sling, and asked sympathetically, "Yuheng, what happened to you? Who beat you?"

Xie Yuheng pouted. It hadn’t been one person—it had been a group beating.

He fumed, "Yesterday I went to Yiyun Academy to take back—no, to properly reclaim our capital’s military funds. Who would have thought I’d run into the Third Prince and his entourage? Hmph, they had no sense of honor, ganged up, and gave me a beating.

I’m so aggrieved—my father didn’t side with me, and... Ow, stop twisting..."

As Xie Yuheng complained, a hand reached out and twisted his ear.

Instantly, his screams echoed through the hall.

Chu Mu looked at the man.

It was Duke Xie Zhan.

Xie Zhan’s tiger-like face radiated authority, his eyes wide with fury, and he kicked at Xie Yuheng.

"You’ll apologize properly to the Third Prince later, or I’ll break your legs when we get home!"

After reprimanding Xie Yuheng, he glared at Shen Zhao, "You’re the one who encouraged my rascal to go to Yiyun Academy for the funds!"