They had finished their meal leisurely while the tents were going up. It seemed they were almost done, but one of the guards came over to the Captain and whispered to him. They both glanced at the two who were sitting casually waiting. The Captain waved the man off and came over to the pair of them.

"Your Majesty, it seems someone has tampered with Lord Du's things while we were at the Lord Gong's residence." He decided not to hide the matter at all from the Emperor.

"What? How?" Jian Jun's eyebrows lowered menacingly and he looked at the Captain expectantly.

"Someone has cut up his tent and destroyed most of his sleeping gear. We would not have noticed until we reached our next campsite, as they cleverly folded everything to the inside." He sneered as he replied. The hatred that he was feeling for the Gong family increased.

The Emperor was caught between feeling somewhat pleased, and quite angry. He focused on his anger first. It was going to be the easier of the two to deal with that evening. He got up and turned to look back down the road at the residence where they had most recently been insulted.

"Burn it down. If Our bride has nowhere to sleep, then they shall not either." He intoned decisively. Du Fen stood up in alarm and grasped his sleeve.

"Your Majesty! There are innocent children there. They do not deserve such punishment. What if they cannot get out?" He was worried at the decree, wondering if the little ones would be able to escape the flames. The Emperor looked down at him with a doting look.

"Relax, my dear. They will be warned. My men will start with the outer buildings and they will have plenty of time." Jian Jun told him, patting his hand. Du Fen was conflicted. He was happy that his husband-to-be avenged him, but did not really like the idea of burning down others' homes.

"It is a reality of war and ruling, Lord Du. If he does not punish the Gong family for their actions, then others will think they may do the same without incurring his wrath." The Captain saw the boy's hesitance and sought to teach him.

"I know... I trust... that the Emperor knows what he is doing." Du Fen finally said. He looked up at the man he was going to marry, and was embarrassed to see him staring back with a pleased face.

"Good. You can trust me, Du Fen. Go and take care of it, Captain." He did not look away from his bride while he said the last. The Captain bowed and went to get a few of the best men gathered to carry out the order. They seemed to be a little more eager than was seemly, but set off with a leisurely pace.

"What shall I do for tonight? Maybe I can borrow..." Du Fen scrunched his brow at the thought of sleeping on another man's bedding, even for one night. Jian Jun's face darkened and he made a decision immediately.

"Would you be alright sharing with me? I have promised not to do anything without your permission, and I would feel more comfortable if you didn't sleep on another man's bed." Jian Jun squeezed his hand gently and Du Fen realised they had been holding hands the whole time. He blushed and gulped.

"I... we... should we do that before we are married? I'm not sure what..." He stammered his response with nervousness.

"It is alright, Du Fen. I am the Emperor. If I say it is alright, there is no one who can say otherwise." He grinned at him mischievously. Du Fen rolled his eyes at him and grinned back with a warm feeling.

"Ah, then if the Emperor says it is alright... I won't be too polite." He said modestly. He let the man lead him over to the tent already set up, looking to the side where his tent lay. It was in tatters, brutal slashes running along the sides and roof fabric with jagged edges. His mother had it made for his wedding journey specially, and he frowned at the loss.

They both turned as the sky brightened on the horizon with evidence of the Gong family's punishment. Part of Du Fen felt satisfaction, now that he had seen how wantonly violent his own property had been treated. They had insulted him in public, and made his tent irreparable. Such bullies had gotten what they deserved.

"I'm sorry I did not bring my official travelling tent gear. It would have been much bigger and more comfortable for you." The Emperor said remorsefully. He had been in such a hurry to leave that he didn't want to bring anything that would slow him down.

"That you are willing to share with this humble servant..." Du Fen mumbled with a shy look. Jian Jun tipped his head up to look at him in the half-light of the moon and distant fires.

"May this Emperor be your humble servant this night." He replied with smile. He bent down to capture those plump tempting lips before him as Du Fen stared at him in shock. Their kiss was gentle, then exploring slightly as he nibbled on Du Fen's upper lip and licked along the seam.

Du Fen was dazed when they both pulled away reluctantly. Jian Jun grinned and pulled him into the tent where a lantern hung so they might see where they walked. It was not very big inside, with just a low table to one side and a pallet on the other. Du Fen gulped as he stared at the bedding.

"Do you prefer a side?" Jian Jun asked gently. Du Fen shook his head silently. The Emperor grinned internally at the nervous glance of his wifey. He stepped back and began to loosen his waist belt. Du Fen looked shocked and turned aside with his hand up over his eyes.

"What are you doing!?" He squeaked. Jian Jun turned to look at him with a raised brow.

"What do you mean? I am taking off these fancy outer robes so I can get some sleep in comfort. You should do the same." He gestured to the embroidered robes that Du Fen was wearing for the banquet earlier. Du Fen wasn't looking though, as he was just trying not to hyperventilate at the thought of his husband-to-be undressing right next to him.

"I... I... Don't look!" He huffed as fully faced the other direction. He could hear the rustling of the emperor's robes that were being removed. He moved to his own waist belt hesitatingly, and then recalled that the man had already seen him in his underclothes.

It didn't make him feel better, but he did manage to convince himself that it would be more comfortable that way. He took off his own belt and slipped the outer robe delicately off his shoulders.

He carefully folded it up and looked around for a second before depositing it on the small table, then folding his belt up and placing it on top. He turned to find the Emperor had taken the further side of the bedding.

"Could you turn out the light before you get in?" His deep voice made Du Fen shiver a little in his underclothes.

"Ah, yes." He walked over to the light, unconscious of how it illuminated his figure beneath the thinner fabric of his under robe for the Emperor. Jian Jun gulped as he glimpsed the boy's long legs and curved buttocks beneath the material. The light went out but the image was burned into his brain.

Du Fen scrambled into the covers that laid on the pallet, trying not to think about the large man who laid next to him now. He could feel the heat of Jian Jun's body, and tried to stay close to the edge of the pallet. He was near falling off the thing, truthfully.

"Come closer, I am chilled." Jian Jun's voice purred in the darkness. He felt an arm slip over his shoulder and turn him towards the warmth on the other side. The Emperor pulled his waist forward so that his face was right in the man's chest and his arms curled against him.

Du Fen's heart was thundering in his chest and ears, his face and his ears prickling hot from his blush. He felt stiff with nerves as he laid in the man's arms. He could feel the steady breaths of the other man, and then he felt another speeding heartbeat under his hand.

Was that the Emperor's heartbeat? It was going pretty fast too. He relaxed a touch at the thought. Maybe he was almost as nervous as Du Fen? He tilted his head up to look at the man's face and see if he was sleeping yet. His eyes met another pair of eyes in the darkness.

He could not see well enough to determine the man's mood or thoughts. Jian Jun could not control himself though, and dipped his head down to lightly kiss the youth in his arms. The lips were soft and pliant under his. They both sighed at the wonderful feeling.

Jian Jun tilted his head and moved forward just a bit, and plundered them with his tongue at the opportunity. Du Fen gasped, his head tilted back and his mouth open to receive him. It brought forth the hazy memories of his heat, and the passion he had felt then.

"Du Fen... my sweet Du Fen... please say I may touch you. This Emperor is willing to beg you to let me please you." He groaned when he pulled away. Du Fen was panting from lack of air and could feel the way Jian Jun strained to keep control.

He reached up and pulled the man back down for another heated kiss. It felt so good. Having the man press him down was surprisingly comfortable and stirring. His weight was alluring to the senses. His hands held him firmly and yet gently. His mouth moved with the other's in a seductive dance that left them both breathless.

It was obvious that the Emperor wanted him. Him! He didn't have to marry him. He didn't have to invite him in his tent. He didn't have to pull him towards him. He wanted to. This emperor was willing to beg for his favours. It may sound pathetic to some, but it made him feel... powerful.

"Jian Jun.... you may... you may touch me." He whispered softly, praying he did not regret his decision. He thought the man would pounce on him directly with the scary passion that he had seen before. He did not. Jian Jun sighed out in relief and buried his face into the crook of his neck.

"Thank you, my sweet Du Fen, for trusting me." He murmured against the sensitive skin there. Du Fen shivered even though he was warm. He felt the delicate kisses that painted his neck and then down towards his shoulder. He felt a hand loosen his ties carefully, and slowly.

He thought that maybe the man would just want to touch him down there, but instead he felt the warm hand that touched him start at his neck and stroke down over the smooth skin of his shoulder to expose it. He gulped.

Jian Jun bent down and let his lips continue where they had left off before, kissing the crook of his neck and trailing them over the shoulder he had just exposed. His hand moved down over the youth's lean chest, and his mouth followed the path to settle on the pert bud that lay there.

Du Fen arched and his breath shuddered at the feeling of those wet lips as they plucked at the puckered skin. It made his skin crawl with electricity that shot down to his gut in an uncomfortable itch.

"J-jian Jun-n... that feels... it's weird..." He whined in a small breathy voice that just seduced the elder man with it's begging tone. He huffed a laugh against the taut muscles and used his teeth on the sensitive bud. Du Fen jerked in surprise and let out a mewl.

Jian Jun continued down then, spreading the fabric open in the darkness and feeling the warm body that laid beneath him. He never imagined it would be so arousing to touch a man like this, but perhaps it was all Du Fen's fault. Perhaps it was just this man who aroused him so.

He kissed over to the other bud and lathered it with his attentions, pleased at the whimpers, moans and gasps that he could hear leave Du Fen's lips. He could feel the youth squirm beneath him and his manhood was soon up and poking his leg as he teased him.

He stroked over the man's waist, legs and around to squeeze the globes of his buttocks as he arched against him. He raised his head to kiss the misty eyed youth, who was clumsy in returning it from his distracted passion.

Jian Jun was breathing heavily. Part of him wanted to ravish the boy this very moment. He had made a promise though, and he shook his head decisively to clear it a little. He opened his own robes and pressed his front against the lad's.

Du Fen unconsciously spread his legs a little, sliding them along the strong legs of the man who hovered over him. Jian Jun closed his eyes, and reached down to clasp their stiffened rods together. Du Fen moaned, his arms coming up over his shoulders to hold onto him.

Jian Jun began to stroke them as one with one hand as he braced with the other. He leaned down and kissed him, both of them lost in the sensations. Du Fen pumped his hips into the man's hand as he got closer and closer to the edge of his explosion.

"Please... Jian... Jun..." Du Fen mumbled as he tried to speed the pace with his hip thrusts. Jian Jun shuddered over him as the words washed into his conscious.

"Help me." He ordered in a husky voice. His hot breath tickled Du Fen's ear, and he hesitantly reached down with his hand to place it next to Jian Jun's. The larger hand wrapped him around and then gave a little pressure. "Like this."

He began to stroke, and Du Fen copied his movement until the larger hand left to wrap the other part. They were pressed together now and the skin slid back and forth sensually over them. Du Fen was finding it hard to concentrate and his movements became jerky.

"That's it... a little more..." the deep voice in his ear coaxed him, and then he was tumbling into ecstasy as he shot his seed onto his own chest. Jian Jun looked down to watch as the youth painted himself. The sharp yet sweet smell of the boy's passion filled his senses and he closed his eyes to enjoy it.

He felt himself tense over Du Fen, and his mouth attached to the soft place next to his neck, clamping down with his teeth as the waves of release washed out of him and sprayed his own seed over the chest of his lover. He relaxed and kissed over the abused skin gently, falling to the side in exhaustion.

"Let me get a cloth." He murmured, not taking a second to rest but to get something to make the youth more comfortable. He wiped down the dirtied chest with gentle strokes of the cloth meant for his bathing in the morning. Du Fen still looked dazed, and barely reacted to the gestures.

He set them both a little bit more to rights first, he then hugged the youth close to him once more. He liked the feeling of having Du Fen in his arms. It felt right, and was very comfortable. He could feel the boy relaxed and boneless as he lay there, and felt touched with his trust of him.

Du Fen on the other hand, could not believe what they had just done. The Emperor, his husband-to-be, had just stroked him off! He had never been intimate with another person before in his life, and moments ago had been covered in... that! His brain was fried from it.

He had... he had really liked it. He gulped and came a bit more back to himself. He was relaxed and laying in the man's arms now. He could feel the racing heart of Jian Jun beginning to slow down, and glanced up at the closed eyes and relaxed face.

"Get some sleep, my love." The half-awake voice told him gently. He blushed and tucked his head down. He felt the man pull him a little bit closer and his head rested against the warm, firm chest. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the soothing sound of heartbeats.

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