Chapter 22 - The Wolf Smells Something Delicious

While Chu Yun was happy to be back among his family, and in the home he had grown up in, it felt a little disconcerting to realise how nothing had changed while his own life would never be the same again.

The servants smiled and called him "young master", as if he'd never left, and his father roped him into a boring conversation about the court as if Chu Yun would still be around to see minister Sui's foolish gamble pan out. But none of that made him feel like he was still part of their lives, not really.

His mother organised a lavish feast, in which Chu Yun, and by consequence Xiao Zai had the seat of honour.

Xiao Zai for his part was doing his best to fulfil his filial duties. He kept topping off Chu Yun's father's wine cup, and complimenting the food to his mother's face, even though she had never cooked anything in her life.

There was only someone missing. "Where's Hean?"

His mother covered her mouth daintily with her handkerchief and leaned to the side. "He's in season, dear. But you should pay him a visit later."

It was unfortunate that his brother was in season, since Chu Yun would be staying for such a short time. In his mind he envisioned lengthy conversations into the night about what he'd seen and done in Zui.

Now Chu Hean would be too uncomfortable for more than a few words, spoken hastily through a doorway.

His mother saw his disappointment and patted the back of his wrist. "It should be clearing up soon. Maybe it will have broken by tomorrow."

As an unmated omega Chu Hean was expected to manage his rain seasons on his own. Xiao Zai knew there was special medicine to make things easier for omegas, but it wasn't the kind of thing that was usually discussed with alphas, not even between brothers.

---

Xiao Zai held his own all through dinner. Chu Yun was much more agreeable now that they were in Xin. Which meant that he was too distracted by other people to be annoyed by Xiao Zai.

Eventually they had to retire for the night, and as a married couple they were of course expected to share quarters.

For a moment, Xiao Zai thought Chu Yun was going to tell his family to prepare another suit of rooms for him, but he held his tongue at the last moment. He must not have wanted his parents to pity him. Madam Jing at least would certainly have started crying.

So they were once again forced to share the same room, and the same bed.

The estate of the Prince of Jing at least had its own private hot springs, so the scene of the bath tub was unlikely to repeat itself.

Chu Yun was ecstatic to be making use of them again. "You'll see how nothing compares to the water from Flying Fish Mount," he was saying as he combed through his long hair in front of the full-body gold mirror with his fingertips.

Xiao Zai couldn't help noticing how Chu Yun's silky hair slid easily through his fingers, barely getting tangled. Being back made him seem lighter, he was even smiling at his own reflection, just from the simple joy of being able to bathe in his family's hot springs.

Maybe Xiao Zai was being too harsh in his judgement of Chu Yun. He wasn't the one who had been uprooted from the only life he had ever known, plucked like a flower from his own land to be planted somewhere foreign and at times hostile. Just because Xiao Zai had spent his entire life hoping to be freed from his own circumstances, it didn't mean everyone else felt the same way.

"Maybe we can have springs built at the palace in Haolin," Xiao Zai said, clearing his throat. "They wouldn't be hot springs of course, but...uh, it gets warm in Zui too, in the summer months."

He expected to be mocked for his suggestion, especially when Chu Yun's fingers still on his hair, but instead Chu Yun's eyes meet his own through the mirror and the corner of his lips tugs up.

"I'd like that."

"It took us almost a week of marriage to finally agree on something," Xiao Zai said.

"Maybe in a month I'll call you 'dear'," Chu Yun said, his tone teasing but not mocking.

Xiao Zai was once again reminded of the ill-fated competition in the bath tub. He knew what Chu Yun looked like when he came but not what his lips felt like. He chanced a look at his reflection, now that he was once again combing his hair. Chu Yun's lips looked soft and inviting, so unlike the words they shaped.

"I suppose you can go first," Chu Yun said, still inspecting himself in the mirror. "You're the guest after all."

It was obvious from his tone of voice how much Chu Yun didn't want that and was actually anticipating going to the springs himself.

Xiao Zai shook his head with a chuckle. "No, you go first."

"If you insist." Chu Yun took a washbasin and cloth with him, but came to a sudden stop on the doorway. He turned towards Xiao Zai and opened his mouth, but closed it right away, shaking his head and leaving the room without another word.

---

Xiao Zai kept himself busy by rifling through a collection of books on the shelves in the room. Something told him this might have been Chu Yun's room when he lived here, judging by how all of the books were about statecraft, military tactics, agriculture and animal husbandry.

Those last two were a surprise to Xiao Zai, but before he could really dig into any volume, Chu Yun returned in a fragrant cloud of orchid and pine. His scent heightened by the moisture of the springs. The stretch of bare skin around his collarbones was faintly pink from the heat.

"All yours," Chu Yun said, still drying a few stray droplets from around his neck.

His scent was permeating the whole room, tickling Xiao Zai's nose and tightening like a vice around his chest.

He quickly picked up his own washbasin and left without another word.

Outside, a servant showed him the way to the hot springs, which he found without issue.

Xiao Zai sank into the warm waters with a relieved sigh, glad to wash away Chu Yun's intoxicating, overwhelming scent. There were a few bamboo torches scattered around the perimeter of the hot springs, but the night was so dark that it seemed to suck the light out of the air.

Which could explain why someone would have stumbled out there without noticing that the hot springs were already in use.

By the time the sweet scent of pomegranates and plums invaded Xiao Zai's senses, it was already too late.