We Meet Again

BAI SHEN HONG

EMPEROR HUIZHONG

MILITARY GROUNDS CAMP

"General has taut muscles, I can just imagine these flexing on top of me," whispered the stunner Court Lady Nam had called for him from one of the wealthy courtesans' manor. She slid her hands down his chest from behind and blatantly licked his neck then teasingly bit his ear. Shen Hong was swamped in his hot bathing waters that gently relieved his tired and rugged body that was worn out by the strenuous training he had engaged in since dawn.

He felt a little bothered by the informal tone she used on him. Nobody had the audacity to speak to him without using honorifics, but nevertheless, he let it slide. It was not like she had knowledge that he was an emperor. It was an unspoken rule among his subjects that he be identified as 'Grand General' outside the palace and in public, for anonymity and for his safety.

"This seductress should keep her hands to herself, or I won't be so gentle anymore." He eased her hands off him and exhaled tiredly, hitherto closing his eyes to relax himself. He sunk more of his body into the waters and hung his head against his pool's wooden headrest.

The stunner stood up from where she had been kneeling behind him. "What if that's what I desire?"

She then meandered around the circular pool so that if he opened his eyes, he would feast on how her seductive sheer robe was draped over her naked body.

However, Shen Hong remained unresponsive and this seemed to upset her most.

"My Lord!" she cried and playfully splashed the water onto his face. He sluggishly opened his eyes and gave her a hooded look, his long black lashes curtaining his eyes.

"Come here," he growled.

She giggled, enjoying the tone of his voice and eagerly sashayed her body next to him.

Her hand traced his soft sidebangs and purred into his ear, "I like it when you talk to me like that."

"Naughty girl." He pulled her into the steaming pool, and to this, the water splashed and cascarded onto the dry stoned floor. She laughed, and like a vine, she sprawled herself on him until she was straddling him.

"Please show me a good time like the last time?" she begged and started planting light kisses all over his body. "Please?"

He chuckled at how needy she was while his fingers twisted the locks of her silky dark hair. It was a tempting offer but was he in the mood? "Not right now. Maybe later?"

"But…" The girl protested, giving him her adorable eyes to emotionally blackmail him. "What is so important that you can't spare me an hour or two?"

Shen Hong sighed. She was getting too clingy for his taste, and in this world, he owed no one explanations.

"Eunuch Nam," he called, and immediately, the sliding doors opened. The eunuch rushed in and looked down shyly, aware that the woman's half naked self sat on top of his unclad body.

"Have the wet floor cleaned up."

The stunner moaned in dismay, realising that it was her cue to leave. He never ordered for anything that required his maids when intending to spend time with her. She shamelessly stood up, and the water dripped down her body, hoping this would turn him on and have him change his mind, however, he was too stubborn.

"Tonight then," she said peevishly and left. When the eunuch passed the emperor's orders, the maids hurried into the room and began to scrub the floor while some entered with water filled buckets to top up the bathtub.

"Have the troops finished having lunch?" Shen Hong stretched his body and again leaned his head against the headrest.

"Yes, your majesty, but this subject found them too exhausted to carry on with training right now."

"When I finish here, training must commence."

"But my Lord has been training with them since dawn."

"Lazing around will not build an army, Eunuch Nam."

"Yes, My Lord." The eunuch knew that saying further in opposition of his plans was just trudging along dangerous ground. "Therefore, may I have the maids add some herbs to tone your body? This subject is worried about how our Lord has been working tirelessly for the past days."

"Whatever you see fit," he breathed out.

The eunuch nodded as instruction for the ablution maids to enter. Promptly, they rushed in and carefully seeded the pool's water with powdered herbs. They then added some flowers to conceal the mouldy smell of the herbs.

Eunuch Nam walked a little closer to the emperor. "Would my Lord like it if this subject had someone scrub your back?"

General's eyes fluttered open, he was so lost in his warm cocoon that he hadn't heard the spoken words. "What did―"

He sucked in some air through his teeth and chuckled to himself in disbelief. He couldn't believe his eyes.

'Her again? What is she doing here?'

Even though she was uniformed like the rest of the ablution maids, he could not have easily missed those beautiful striking eyes of amber. They were no longer outside, yet she was still sunshine. Her presence, refreshing.

"My Lord?" The eunuch looked at him weirdly.

"What?" His gaze did not leave her one bit.

"Would you like me to call someone to help you wash?"

He smirked. "Don't worry about that, Eunuch Nam." He enjoyed how she looked at everything else but him.

"My lover will do that for me." He held his hand up towards her and waved his fingers in invitation. The audience gasped, not understanding what was happening, but one question evident on their mind.

Was his majesty about to pick a concubine for himself for the first time?

S.V