The Devoted Second Male Lead Decided to Favor Someone Else - Chapter 76.2

I’m a Professional at Inner Palace Fights

Li Chong didn’t know what happened, so he hurried over in his sleepwear. He felt strange when he saw Lu Shijin’s disheveled clothes and reddened eyes, along with the two maids kneeling on the ground.

“What happened now? You can’t even let Zhen rest assured while bathing.”

“Emperor-gege, they wanted to take off my clothes!” Lu Shijin complained with hurt.

Li Chong didn’t expect this, “This… How can you wash without taking off your clothes?”

“B-But mother told me that only a man’s wife can take off his clothes!”

Li Chong smiled slightly, joking, “How old are you, already guarding your body like jade for your future prince consort?”

“Of course!” Lu Shijin lifted his chin, “Also, this younger brother will be 17 next month, emperor-gege, you can’t treat me like a child!”

“Yes yes yes, our Jinjin is all grown up.” Li Chong motioned for the two maids to leave, then pointed to the eunuch, “Since you don’t want the maids’ help, what about an eunuch?”

“No.” Lu Shijin shook his head. Li Chong frowned with worry. “Do you want to wash up by yourself? That works too, I’ll have people watch outside, call for them if you need anything, Zhen will leave first.”

“Don’t.” Lu Shijin tugged on Li Chong’s sleeve, “Emperor-gege, don’t leave. It’s too big in here, there’s even an echo. This younger brother is scared.”

Li Chong asked patiently, “Then what do you want?”

Lu Shijin blinked, hesitating. “What if… emperor-gege, can you help me wash?”

The eunuch beside Li Chong felt beads of sweat on his forehead. This prince was so fearless, telling the master of the empire to help him wash. If it was anyone else, they would’ve immediately had their heads chopped off.

“Will you?” Lu Shijin pulled on Li Chong’s sleeve, saying coquettishly, “Emperor-gege often washed with this younger brother before. This younger brother loved it when emperor-gege rubbed my back.”

Li Chong wanted to refuse, but his character setting didn’t allow it.

“Sure, Zhen will help you wash.” Li Chong couldn’t do anything and spoke to the eunuch, “Everyone can leave.”

The eunuch responded hesitantly, “Emperor… This servant can do it. Your body is as valuable as gold, how could you do such…”

“Leave!” Lu Shijin grabbed Li Chong bossily, “I don’t need your help, I just want emperor-gege!”

“It’s fine, it’s just a bath.” Li Chong waved his hand, “You all go wait outside, Zhen will call you if we need anything.”

Everyone else left and only Lu Shijin and Li Chong.

Lu Shijin spread his arms, letting Li Chong take off his clothes.

But Li Chong might have been embarrassed, not taking off Lu Shijin’s last layer of clothes.

“You’re not done.” Lu Shijin hid his smile and teased.

Li Chong said seriously, “You just said that you were grown up, don’t you know that you should do these kinds of things by yourself now? Take off the rest and go in the water. Watch your step and don’t fall.”

Lu Shijin didn’t continue teasing him and quickly stripped before getting in the water.

There were red petals floating on the water, steam floating above the water. The temperature was perfect and very comfortable.

The youth leaned against the side of the pool, only his shoulders and head above the water. His skin seemed brighter and smoother than white jade.

His inky hair spread behind him and his face had perfect proportions. Lu Shijin’s youthful body seemed almost androgynous.

“Chong-gege.” The youth called Li Chong softly. Now that they were alone, he could call Li Chong like how he called him before, “We haven’t been alone like this in so long. You’re always surrounded by other people, whether they’re maids and eunuchs or ministers. It’s been too long since you’ve played with me.”

Li Chong sat beside the pool and smiled. “It’s not the same anymore. Zhen is now the emperor and needs to take care of national affairs, I can’t horse around with you like before.”

Lu Shijin lazily turned around, “What’s so good about being emperor, you’re always being stared at by other people and can’t smile, can’t play, can’t even leave the palace. You have no freedom, you might as well just quit.”

“Are you saying nonsense again?” Li Chong used a comb to brush Lu Shijin’s hair. His hair was soft and smooth, a very good feeling, “Zhen only became an emperor to protect you and mother. Do you want to go back to the cold palace?”

“No, no way.” Lu Shijin frowned in thought. “Then you can continue being the emperor, at least this younger brother can eat tanghulu every day.”

Li Chong laughed. “Oh you.”

“Oh right, Chong-gege.” Lu Shijin lifted his head, “Do maids also serve you while you bathe?”

“Why?” Li Chong asked.

Lu Shijin frowned, “Don’t do that anymore.”

Li Chong was interested, “Why’s that?”

“They’re female, you’re male. Didn’t Mother say something about it before? Men and women can’t… can’t…”

“Can’t have skinship.”

Lu Shijin clapped, “Yeah!”

“I never knew our Jinjin knew the importance of keeping distance between genders.” Li Chong had felt that having maids serve him in the bath was annoying, so he casually agreed with Lu Shijin, “Alright, Zhen will use eunuchs while bathing from now on, okay?”

“No!” Lu Shijin insisted.

“Why not?” Li Chong was confused, his brother was too demanding.

Lu Shijin spoke confidently, “Didn’t you just say that adults should do things by themselves? You’re older than me, why can’t you wash by yourself?”

Li Chong was speechless. Was this child really stupid with how well-spoken he was?

“Can’t you do that?” Lu Shijin lifted his hand and splashed Li Chong.

“Alright.” Li Chong sighed, “As long as you want it, anything is fine.”

It was almost midnight after the bath.

Lu Shijin didn’t bring a change of clothes, and he definitely couldn’t wear the things he was wearing before, so he borrowed some of Li Chong’s clothing.

But because of their size difference, Lu Shijin seemed exceptionally small and weak.

As they were about to sleep, Lu Shijin hesitated in front of the bed. It was the dragon bed after all!

He felt very excited at the thought of being the first man allowed on it.

“Why are you not coming?” Li Chong was lying on his side and beckoned Lu Shijin over. “Come here, you’re going to get cold.”

Lu Shijin happily went in and dug into the covers.

He sighed, no wonder this was the dragon bed, it was so comfortable!

The eunuch on duty came in to let down the screen around the bed and left a single candle lit. After the eunuch left, the room fell silent.

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