Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 174 Bathing and Changing Clothes
"Finally, at the Qionglin Banquet when you meet the Emperor, regardless of your relationship with the other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), you must treat them as colleagues, even if you are only pretending to be sincere."

Tomorrow, Song Shi'an and Song Ce will enter the palace to meet the emperor.

Therefore, Song Jing, as someone who had been through it all, gave the two of them this extremely important piece of advice.

“Father, I understand.” Song Ce understood without needing any prompting. “Party strife is real, but His Majesty detests it. Tomorrow’s humility and courtesy do not represent any promises.”

This is different from sharing a golden cup with you, or having your blades drawn together.

Because they're all fake.

Everyone must act as if they are loyal ministers who have been promoted by the emperor's grace, without any factionalism or favoritism, and that they have entered officialdom to relieve the emperor's worries.

Afterwards, attack when necessary, and kill each other when necessary.

"Not bad." Song Jing was impressed by Song Ce's rapid progress and had a lot of trust in his older brother. "When you're out in the world, rely on your older brother. As the older brother, protect your younger brother."

"Yes, father."

The two brothers bowed to Song Jing together.

"It's getting late, everyone go back to your rooms."

And so, the two bid farewell to Song Jing and returned to their respective rooms.

The two brothers talked a lot along the way.

They were clearly family, but they only began to understand each other after Song Shi'an fell into the water.

Fortunately, even before Song Shi'an achieved anything, his younger brother, who was his legitimate son, treated him no badly.

This proves that there are truly good people out there.

The road ahead is indeed bumpy, and there will be countless attacks, as well as smear campaigns from foreign forces, but Song Shi'an believes he is righteous, and therefore he is righteous.

"See you tomorrow, brother."

On their way back, the two parted ways.

Song Shi'an returned to his room in a relaxed mood.

As soon as you open the door, a wave of warmth hits you.

It was March, and still in Jiangbei, the weather wasn't particularly hot, especially at night, when it was even a little chilly. Therefore, the wooden tub filled with hot water in the room, steaming gently, gradually made the entire space feel hazy and cozy.

"Young Master, we are going to the palace tomorrow. Please take a bath and change your clothes."

Mist drifted through the windowpanes, and Yun'er tied her loosely styled hair into a high bun. A section of her snow-white neck peeked out from the collar of her blue undergarment, gleaming pure white in the candlelight. And she walked barefoot on the water-stained brick floor.

She did manual labor year-round, walking and standing a lot, so her feet naturally couldn't be as fair and delicate as those of a young lady from a noble family. The front edges of her soles were covered with light-colored calluses, but when she walked towards Song Shi'an, the tender pink flesh in the hollows of her feet resembled peeled lychees in contrast.

"it is good."

In ancient times, bathing was not easy. People would usually wash their face, rinse their mouth, and wash their feet, and then regularly clean their private parts. Therefore, the tradition of burning incense, bathing, and changing clothes before doing important things arose.

Song Shi'an raised his hand, and Yun'er untied his belt and took off his robe.

After that, only the white silk undergarment and trousers remained.

Yun'er helped him remove his upper body and folded it neatly.

Just as I turned around to continue removing Song Shi'an's armor, he had already finished removing it himself and stepped onto a small wooden stool to get into the wooden tub.

"Young Master seems to have gotten quite a bit stronger than before."

Facing his remarkably muscular back, Yun'er murmured.

"After going to the north wind and suffering so much, my body is now as hard as iron," Song Shi'an said to her, lying in the wooden tub. "Especially my buttocks, you have no idea, when I first started riding long distances on horseback, they would bleed every day."

"Then, wouldn't it hurt for someone like Yun'er who has a lot of flesh on her buttocks?" Yun'er asked curiously.

"Having a fleshy butt is definitely an advantage."

In ancient times, the great generals who led armies and fought battles were basically David Day.

Those who have served in the military for a long time are unlikely to be skinny young men.

Young heartthrobs like Song Shi'an and Wei Wusheng were given a severe lesson after their trip.

"Whenever you go to war again, young master, Yun'er will follow you and serve you in the military camp." Yun'er said with a smile as she poured hot water on Song Shi'an's body with a wooden ladle from behind him.

“The army doesn’t allow female relatives to be brought along,” Song Shi’an said.

“Wasn’t that very pretty, slender girl from that day also a woman?” Yun’er asked, giving an example.

“She’s capable of fighting on the battlefield,” Song Shi’an explained, recalling certain scenes, and corrected, “Besides, she’s not thin at all.”

Song Shi'an was about to die that day, but if he really died like that, it seemed like he wouldn't regret it.

Xinyue sat with her back turned, her posture as upright as a pine tree. The candlelight narrowed to a tiny bee-like beam at her taut waist. Sweat streamed down her back to the sacral triangle, only to be intercepted by the suddenly opened, full peaks of her hips...

She is so nice.

"The young master smiles whenever he thinks of that girl," Yun'er muttered.

"After all, we have a very good relationship."

Song Shi'an cherished Xin Yue, and when he learned that she also had a murderous inner demon, he became even more fascinated by this girl.

She possesses a timeless personal charm.

"Young Master, please raise your hand."

Yun'er, from behind, grabbed his arm and used a rough linen towel to scrub his body.

It's really relaxing to scrub myself after a bath.

After washing her arms, Yun'er started scrubbing her back. Song Shi'an also sat up from his lying position.

Half of his back extended beyond the rim of the basin.

Yun'er was behind, working hard as a bathhouse attendant.

Next, they reached his chest. Song Shi'an wanted to turn around so she could do it more easily. But Yun'er was quite quick; she pressed her chest close to Song Shi'an, took a cloth, and wrapped her cool, white arms under his armpits to wipe his chest. She moved up and down vigorously.

While wiping, unconsciously, a pair of buttons appeared on Song Shi'an's taut undergarment, rubbing against his back...

Yun'er is a diligent child, but perhaps because she is a little chubby, her breathing became labored in the latter half of the speech.

About twenty minutes later, she finished her work, and the water temperature had gone down to about the same level.

"Young Master, you can get up and dry yourself off now."

Yun'er stood in front of Song Shi'an. Her fine silk undergarment had long been soaked with moisture, turning into a thin, autumn-scented skin that clung tightly to the bulging mounds below her collarbone. Her damp underpants clung to her thighs, each patch revealing a patch of white flesh with a rosy hue.

Song Shi'an also saw the dark secret realm where the Thousand Hands Clan cultivated immortal arts.

Wet Drum Forest.

"Ah."

Song Shi'an emerged from the water, stepped out of the bathtub, and put on a pair of wooden clogs.

Yun'er, her cheeks flushed, lowered her head, picked up a slightly softer dry cotton towel, and went behind Song Shi'an, like a painter, to wipe away the dampness for him.

Then, she shyly went to Song Shi'an's side.

Yun'er pressed her knuckles, which were gripping the cotton towel, against her chest. Water droplets rolled down Song Shi'an's waist and abdomen, landing on her steam-soaked blue undergarment. The thin fabric clung to her two soft, round breasts, glistening with moisture.

As she tiptoed to wipe Song Shi'an's neck, the taut crotch of her underwear brushed against the back of her knees...

Her breathing became somewhat irregular. Beads of sweat dripped from her eyebrows, sliding down her delicate collarbone and into the gap in her collar.

Yun'er was quite considerate and gentle; her technique was skillful yet tender.

Finally, after kneeling down to dry her legs, she tilted her head back slightly, her face flushed, and held the towel in her hand...

……

After changing into new undergarments, Song Shi'an lay down on the bed. Yun'er was still busy mopping the floor. So Song Shi'an said, "It's alright, I can do it tomorrow morning."

Is Yun'er being a bit noisy?

"No, you should take a rest. Look how busy you are, your face is all red," Song Shi'an said.

"Mmm." Yun'er nodded honestly, then said in a slightly embarrassed voice, "But Yun'er's face isn't entirely red from exhaustion."

"That is?"

Song Shi'an smiled.

Looking at him, Yun'er pursed her plump lips and lowered her gaze.

"You little rascal, you have a lot of dirty thoughts on your mind."

Song Shi'an hadn't suppressed himself to that extent; it was just that the female masseur gave him a bath, and he was completely unmoved.

"Because the young master treats Yun'er very well, he is very handsome, and he is also very strong..." People in ancient times were not so conservative. Although Yun'er was shy, she did not forget her status as a maidservant and did not act coy.

On the contrary, I still look forward to it quite a bit.

She remained an ordinary maid until she grew a little older, at which point she was married off.

Or would it be better to give a kind, handsome, muscular, and capable man like the young master as a concubine?
"You seem to like me quite a bit," Song Shi'an joked.

"Yes." Yun'er nodded and said, "Yun'er's favorite person is the young master, and she wants to serve him for the rest of her life."

"That's a very kind thought. I'll make sure you have plenty to eat and drink from now on," Song Shi'an praised and promised.

"Is Yun'er embarrassed, or is she too fat?" she asked somewhat self-consciously.

"What makes you say that?" Song Shi'an asked.

"Young Master has been to so many restaurants before, he must have met many courtesans. Going there costs money. It's Yun'er's duty to serve Young Master, it's what she should do," Yun'er whispered. "But Young Master, it seems he doesn't treat Yun'er like a woman..."

Indeed, it's normal for her to have such concerns.

I'm not gay, I'm not impotent, how could I possibly have no feelings at all?
"Come here." Song Shi'an stretched out his hand.

Yun'er walked over and stood by the bed, her fingers resting somewhat awkwardly on her chest, waiting for an answer.

“Yun’er is indeed quite good, and very skilled at serving people,” Song Shi’an said, “but she’s a bit arrogant and doesn’t know her place.”

"Yun'er wouldn't dare."

She immediately knelt down, trembling.

Song Shi'an cupped her soft face, looked at the somewhat timid Yun'er, and said, "My mother gave birth to me because the First Madam had already given birth to a daughter. Now, I'm not even married yet, and you're already thinking about this kind of thing. What if you really get pregnant? Will you even survive?"

If we could secretly give birth, that would be great.

Otherwise, you'll have to be dealt with according to etiquette and law.

Suddenly, tears welled up in Yun'er's eyes, and she quickly apologized, "Thank you for saving me, young master. I will never dare to have any improper thoughts again."

Song Shi'an was not a tyrant who arbitrarily selected the only women in the harem and then turned a blind eye to the fact that a group of servants were unknowingly being subjugated.

As a modern person, he possesses this compassion.

In ancient times, some maids might have their fate changed because of pregnancy, but in most cases, their endings were tragic, and they might be driven out of their homes, forced to have an abortion, or executed.

Song Jing was indeed a good person, but he was, after all, a person from ancient times.

"Okay, stop crying." Song Shi'an used his fingertips to wipe away her tears.

"Okay, Yun'er understands."

Yun'er nodded pitifully.

Looking at the adorable little maid, Song Shi'an smiled and gently pinched her chubby cheeks to comfort her.

To be honest, it was really plump and delicious.

(End of this chapter)