Chapter 0229: Impressive Xie Shoujun, Unskilled at Coquettishness Xie Chengze

Nightfall.

The bedchamber of Cheng Huan Palace was veiled in mist, the steam so dense it beaded the window paper with a thin layer of moisture. Behind the screen in the inner chamber, Xie Shoujun lay submerged in an antique wooden tub, eyes closed. The clear water, devoid of flower petals, revealed his robust and sculpted physique—every inch of muscle carved as if by divine craftsmanship, flowing and taut.

Such leisurely baths were rare for him. In the military camp, he typically rinsed with cold water by the well. Even in Wu De Hall, he merely made do with a quick wash, never indulging in such a tranquil soak.

A knock sounded at the door. Xie Shoujun opened his eyes, hearing Xie Chengze’s brisk footsteps. Soon, the door opened and closed, and the footsteps drew nearer to the screen.

“Big brother! I’ve brought your change of clothes!” Xie Chengze’s cheerful voice approached as he carried a wooden tray of garments, intending to deliver it. Abruptly, he heard Xie Shoujun rise from the water. “Wait! Don’t come over yet!”

Wait for what?

Xie Chengze moved swiftly; even as he halted abruptly, his head had already peeked behind the screen. There, Xie Shoujun’s bare, sun-kissed torso was hastily draped with a bath towel. Though the towel was sizable, it barely covered parts of his chest and abdomen, leaving much exposed.

Why was the towel wrapped around his upper body instead of the lower?

Xie Chengze naturally let his gaze drift downward, then raised an eyebrow and whistled. “Big brother, impressive!” He gave a thumbs-up, offering a compliment understood among men.

In the barracks, others had teased Xie Shoujun similarly, but he’d never felt embarrassed. Yet, staring at Xie Chengze’s strikingly beautiful and lively face, Xie Shoujun’s cheeks burned as if on fire, a tangled emotion stirring within. Silently, he stepped forward and turned Xie Chengze’s head away. “Go to the bed.”

The phrase felt odd to Xie Chengze. As Xie Shoujun reached out to take the clothes, Xie Chengze retreated behind the screen and mused, “Big brother, we’re siblings—no need to be shy. If you feel shortchanged, you can take a look at me too.”

“Cough, cough—” Xie Shoujun choked on his saliva, coughing violently. Once he recovered, he scolded, “Stop fooling around!”

Does he act like this with other brothers too? No wonder he got bitten.

Chastised, Xie Chengze rubbed his nose, surprised by Xie Shoujun’s conservatism—so unlike a soldier.

Setting down the tray, Xie Chengze tossed out the used foot-washing water. Passing the screen, he noticed Xie Chengze dressing leisurely and couldn’t resist sneaking another peek, cautiously leaning his head out.

Though he’d only caught a fleeting glimpse earlier, he thought he’d seen something on Xie Shoujun’s thigh…

His head had barely emerged when Xie Shoujun’s palm covered it. “So fond of peeking?”

Xie Chengze chuckled. “Don’t be so stingy. A look won’t make you lose any flesh.”

He secretly glanced at Xie Shoujun’s thighs, but they were already concealed by inner garments, revealing nothing.

“Naughty.” Xie Shoujun shook his head helplessly. Glancing down, he noticed Xie Chengze’s pale ankles were flushed red from the cold. He bent down and hoisted him over his shoulder, carrying him toward the bed. “Rest early. Court duties are draining, and you seem severely sleep-deprived lately—dark circles are showing.”

Xie Chengze initially struggled to break free, but upon hearing about the dark circles, he hastily raised both hands to feel beneath his eyes. He then clicked his tongue. “Seems I need to resign soon.”

Otherwise, the title of “Finest Beauty Under Heaven” would fall to Sheng Yiren.

Or perhaps he could assign Sheng Yiren more tasks? Make her develop dark circles alongside him?

Seemed like a splendid idea! Hehehe, what a devil he was~

Meanwhile, at the Sheng residence, Sheng Yiren sneezed violently.

Xie Shoujun tucked Xie Chengze into the blankets, then flicked his fingers—the candlelight on both sides dimmed and extinguished. He lifted the covers and slipped in himself. Seeing Xie Chengze lying stiffly straight like an obedient child, he couldn’t help but turn on his side.

“If your feet are cold, stretch them over here.”

The man’s voice was deep and steady, laced with unmistakable tenderness. “As your elder brother, I understand that a decade apart has inevitably created distance between us. There are many things you might feel too embarrassed to ask for now, but… you could act a little more spoiled.”

When they were young, Chengze had loved coaxing him openly, claiming the privilege of warming his feet—because he was his elder brother, the only one he could rely on, the only one who let him be the younger sibling. Whereas with Jinyu and Zimiao, who were his younger brothers, Chengze had to uphold his role as the responsible elder brother. Thus, he never asked anything of them, only gave.

Xie Shoujun had once believed himself special, even feeling fortunate that he was Chengze’s only elder brother.

But that night when he was drunk, he saw Xie Jinyu rise from bed and use his inner energy to warm Chengze’s legs and feet after he’d kicked off the blankets.

Not only that—in Liaozhou, Shen Yuan, Wuhen, and Wuji had all warmed his feet for him too.

The once irreplaceable had long been replaced.

Xie Shoujun didn’t mind being replaceable. What bothered him was that whenever Chengze asked him for anything now, it was always from a position of equality—not the simple, spoiled demands a younger brother would make of his elder brother.

He could have just asked directly, instead of watching his expression, unwilling to even make a small request like he used to.

Hearing Xie Shoujun’s words, Xie Chengze froze.

Even if he’d suspected he might be the original soul, without definitive proof, he’d never dared to step into the childhood role to mend their strained brotherly bond. It would make him feel like a despicable thief—not only usurping another’s place but also shamelessly trying to exploit the relationships that predecessor had built to serve his own ends.

He preferred to nurture connections through his own habits.

And in his life experience, acting spoiled was useless—it never earned reciprocation nor yielded the outcomes he desired. He’d long grown accustomed to using money or equivalent benefits to secure friendships.

So when Xie Shoujun told him to act spoiled, his instinct was to resist, and he had no idea how to respond.

Seeing Xie Chengze just lying there silently without moving, Xie Shoujun sighed and proactively stretched his own leg over.

After his trouser leg was lifted, the sturdy calf pressed against those cool feet, warmth slowly transferring like a continuously heating charcoal brazier. Xie Shoujun patted his head, “Sleep now.”

Xie Chengze nodded slowly, his chest inexplicably tight and his eyes moist.

Was this what having an elder brother felt like?

A reassuring presence—an elder brother who would embrace him regardless of whether he lived up to expectations.

Xie Chengze closed his eyes, his mind chaotic and somewhat adrift. When he regained focus, he recalled something and gently opened his eyes again.

In the darkness, he gazed at Xie Shoujun, whose closed eyes suggested he was already asleep, and softly whispered, “Elder brother, are you asleep?”

The man gave no response, not even a flutter of his eyelashes, only his steady breathing audible.

He must be asleep.

Xie Chengze slowly released a breath of relief. His gaze drifted downward, past the chest and abdomen, finally settling on Xie Shoujun’s legs.

Come to think of it, when Xie Shoujun was bathing earlier, he seemed to have noticed…