Chapter 83: The Way of the Sage, to Act Without Contention

That night, Xu You stayed at the county office, where he and Gu Yun kept the lamps lit and talked late into the night. They discussed poetry and art, drank to their hearts' content, and sang with abandon. Truly, there is no greater pleasure in life than finding a kindred spirit.

At dawn, Xu You awoke to find his clothes removed and replaced with undergarments of an unknown material—neither silk nor cotton, yet remarkably comfortable. Glancing to his side, he saw Gu Yun sleeping soundly, clutching the quilt. Xu You instinctively wanted to kick him, but fortunately, he suppressed the urge.

He was not a particularly fastidious person; in his childhood, he could sleep soundly even on a pile of trash, let alone sharing a bed. However, since reaching adulthood, he had never once shared a bed with another man. Especially from this angle, Gu Yun’s features were as exquisite as a painting, surpassing even a maiden’s beauty, and the skin of his neck, exposed outside the quilt, was as white as jade. It felt as if one more glance would make him lose all composure, leaving him feeling deeply uneasy.

In the Chu state, same-sex relationships were rampant, and beautiful men were too numerous to count. Xu You had no intention of bending his own nature. Turning away, he climbed out of bed with light steps. Just as he began looking for his clothes, a pretty maidservant entered carrying a copper basin.

"Young Master, this servant, Lianhua, is here to help