Chapter Text
Xianyang Palace, at dawn.
Qin opens his eyes.
The bed curtains above him are perfectly still.
He waits.
He delays.
Just a moment longer.
He knows: the moment he moves, it begins.
His body doesn’t move.
But inside, everything is already saturated.
They’re there, as they are every morning.
Everything is ready.
Nothing left to delay.
He sits up.
The silhouettes stir, without a word.
The ritual begins.
The curtains part.
Light seeps in.
First, the cleansing cloth.
Against his skin.
Then hands.
Ointments.
Perfumes.
They adjust him.
Arrange him.
Prepare him.
His body is there. Exposed.
His gaze drifts down his torso.
He shouldn’t look.
He looks anyway.
—
🎵 I’m too sexy for my shirt
—
Too late.
Here we go again…