That day and night was a sight better than the last. The two were more harmonious than before, if still not talkative. It was strange to the others how they suddenly seemed on pleasant terms from one day to the next.

In the early afternoon they encountered a small group on horses. A rather large stomached man sat panting on his equally exhausted horse, with four guards that did not look winded in the slightest.

"Forgive me for stopping you. I am Lord Gong that lives just to the east on your way back. I heard rumor of your travels through our humble county, Your Imperial Majesty, and thought to intercept you for some kinder accommodation on your way." The bloated man bowed awkwardly to the group.

"Thank you for your kind offer. Let me consult with his majesty." The captain replied with a suspicious look at the man. He turned subtly to the Emperor and in a low tone asked. "What is your will sire?"

The Emperor thought about it, considering his group's skill and then looking at his bride-to-be with a careful gaze. The boy did look tired, and perhaps a proper bath and warm bed was just what they both needed.

"We agree to stay at the Lord's residence for the night only. We leave at first light." He murmured to his captain.

"Lead the way, Lord Gong." The captain said loudly enough that the group could hear him. The fat Lord smiled widely, pleased that his proposal was accepted. He turned his horse with difficulty and proceeded to go back the way they had come down the road.

Du Fen wanted to snigger at the way the fat Lord rode his horse, as though he was about to topple from the back at any second. He exchanged a silent look with the Emperor, whereupon both smiled secretively and looked away with nonchalance.

It took them the better part of the rest of the afternoon to reach Lord Gong's estate, and they were weary from both the trip and the formalities that were forced upon them the moment they walked their horses in the gate.

The men and women of the household lined up and bowed and scraped before the guests. The servants swarmed them with gifts and bowing, and cheers for the Emperor's safe travels. They were led to the main house and introduced to every member of the Lord's family.

"Do you have to deal with this every time you go out?" Du Fen whispered carefully from just behind the Emperor's elbow. His eyes were wide at the effusive praise and attention that the family showed him. The grovelling was enough to make him sneer.

The Emperor did not change his impassive look but shot the boy a meaningful look. Du Fen nodded thoughtfully and followed the entourage as they were finally led to their accommodations at the request of the Emperor.

"Hot baths for all of my traveling companions." He stated without preamble. "And hot food within two hours." He waved a hand and the household seemed to scurry about to fulfill his requests.

"Your men may use the bathing house at the barracks for their baths, Your Imperial Majesty. This lowly servant will have someone take them over to it now if that is acceptable." The fat Lord bowed for the nth time.

"Suitable. Private baths for us, however." Jian Jun replied impassively. The Lord's servant came and led the guards to the bath house, but only half of them went.

"Why do only half of your men go, Your Imperial Majesty?" The Lord seemed confused. "Do they not want to bathe?" He pointed to the remaining men. The guards looked over at him like he was stupid.

"My men never leave me completely alone, Lord Gong. Do not take it personally." Jian Jun replied as he sat to wait for his private bath. Du Fen thought back to when he was visiting their family.

He had been alone on at least one occasion. When they were in the garden, it had just been the two of them. He did not realise the significance of the gesture until that moment. It meant that the Emperor trusted his family and him to this extent, did it not?

"There is only one bath being brought in. Where is the bath for my bride-to-be, Lord Du?" The Emperor looked at the Lord with a critical gaze.

"Oh. Will he not be bathing with the other Lords? I didn't realise." The fat Lord said with a surprised look. The Emperor's brows lowered and he said in a cold voice.

"Would you send your wives or daughters to bathe with their guards?" His mocking tone left no doubt of his scorn for the Lord. The fat man was sweating and realised his mistake.

"Ah, no no. Of course not. My humblest apologies to Your Imperial Majesty and his bride-to-be. The Lord Du is such a strong youth, I did not think...." He bowed and scraped to the Emperor while the group now frowned at him.

"I may not appear a feminine Ger, Lord Gong, but that does not mean I am one of the guards either. Please see to a private room for me to bathe." Du Fen said to him without hesitation. The Lord gave him a quick glance and then bowed his acquiescence.

The Emperor's bath was ready in the next minute, but he gestured to Du Fen first. The others were surprised at the Emperor's actions, that he would give his bath to him. Du Fen was very grateful, since it had been weeks since he had seen hot water outside of meals.

"Go and take Our bath, Lord Du. We can wait for the next private bath to be ready. You must be weary from our journey." His conciliatory words and warm look made the young Ger blush and bow slightly to him.

"Thanking His Majesty for his kindness." He replied sweetly before following the maidservant to the bathing area. There were half a dozen women awaiting the Emperor to serve him, and he frowned at their confused looks when he arrived.

"Where is the Emperor?" One brave girl asked in a not so quiet voice. She was shushed by another, but Du Fen gave them a sideways eye.

"The Emperor will take the next bath. You may go. I wish to bathe by myself." He dismissed the confused girls. They hesitantly filed out of the room, leaving him soaps and linens to dry himself.

He sighed in relief when they had gone. It was awkward to be bathed by men or women servants in his condition. He was too manly to feel comfortable with the women, and too vulnerable to feel comfortable with the men unless he knew them well.

The only ones to bathe him growing up was his old caretakers, a rather long standing servant couple he had grown up with. They had no children of their own, and had doted on him greatly until they retired at a very old age. He considered them like grandparents though.

Too often in the past he would see the eyes of the men looking over him, or the curious stares of the women when they were around him. It was the curse of being a handsome man and Ger. In fact, all his closest friends at the school had been those that didn't appear to care about it one way or the other.

He sank into the water with a sigh and let the steaming bath soak away his thoughts and cares. His eyes closed and the face of his husband-to-be drifted into his thoughts. That man was so handsome that he was sure to have a similar problem.

Du Fen frowned at the thought of all those women waiting to bathe his husband-to-be. No, as the Emperor he would have it worse. There would be many vying for his attention and seeking to birth his sons.

He blushed at the thought of what they had done in the tent together and the enormity of the Emperor's attention seemed to finally hit him. Though he had never seemed interested in any other Ger before, the Emperor did feel passion for him that night.

He recalled the kisses and feeling of being pressed by that large male body, and his flushed face and body felt overly hot in the bath now. He panted and got up out of the water to sit on the edge of the tub to cool himself slightly.

His manhood was at attention and he pressed his lips with mortification. He glanced around the unfamiliar room just in case, but there was no one there. Then he took himself in hand and quickly rubbed it as he leaned it over the edge of the basin.

His eyes closed, and his head tilted back slightly as he thought back to those strong hands that had caressed him. He touched his lips with his fingers in remembrance of the strong lips pressed to his.

The pleasant feeling of his fingers through his long hair made him shiver in recollection. It was the memory of his voice caressing his ears though, the deep resonance of his name spilling from the Emperor's lips, that finally had him spilling his essence.

"Jian Jun..." He sighed the man's name as he spurted over to the floor in relief. His cheeks pinked up and he sank back into the hot water. He washed his hands quickly and then covered his face until he recovered his composure.

Gods, he was too embarrassed to have done such a thing. Thank goodness there was no one there watching to see his shame. He shook his head and scrubbed himself with the lightly scented soap he had chosen and then rinsed himself off.

When he stepped out of the bath to dry himself, he noticed a small pile of his clothes sitting just inside the door to the room. He looked at them with wide eyes and looked over at the doorway in concern.

Just when had someone put those there?

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