They soon found them, but Ren Jidian was just calmly brushing the hair of a sleeping Empress Wei laying on his shoulder.
Their bodies were still submerged under water, though it was much lower in this area, and only reaches a little above their waist. The water dripped down their hairs and onto their faces and lean necks, and all the way to their chests.
The sight would have made any Yang suddenly feel really thirsty. That was indeed the reaction of the Emperor and his advisor, and even the Yin and Zhong servants found the two of them so beautiful together like this in this peaceful setting.
The Yangs perspired just from staring at them, and their sweats increased the smell of their pheromones. It was bringing some kind of unbearable effect to the Yins in the area, and even the sleeping Wei Wangyi scuffle his nose a bit, and Ren Jidian just hugged him tighter.
It was only Ren Jidian who was not affected by this at all. He had always been resistant to Ampha pheromones since he was born.
In fact, he was naturally repulsed by it. He found the smell similar to how we react to a skunk's odor.
"Your Majesty, can you please step further away? Your musk is disturbing the Empress' sleep." He said, swimming further.
Emperor Zau was confused by this, and he was still a little distracted by the presence of the two Yins, but he eventually broke out of it.
"Halt! What have you done to Yi-Yi?"
Ren Jidian calmly answered. "He got tired of swimming. We have swum quite far after all."
Song Xiu noticed it again. That look. It was positively riveting, spine-chilling.... How that one look can make you feel like it can kill you any time.
That was what draws him into Ren Jidian. That sense of danger he holds, nothing like the demure quality of all the other Yins.
He knows very well that they weren't just 'swimming' that's why the Empress was so tired.
But, he covered up for them again. "Well, there's nothing to worry about after all. They were just swimming and enjoying the miraculous waters. Though you boys should have warned us next time if you were going to travel far, A-Ting's nerves can be pretty flighty for no reason."
Emperor Zau frowned. "It was not for no reason. One minute they were there and just suddenly gone. I couldn't let someone suddenly steal my Yi-Yi away from me."
Empress Wei finally woke a little. "Oh? My husband is here."
Emperor Zau felt warm on his chest when he was called 'my husband', not paying attention to how sarcastic and mocking the tone was.
"I believe that's enough bathing for now, Empress." Ren Jidian said. "We should retrieve our clothes and get dressed now... or are you still tired?"
There was no more evidence left since the water washed it all away. His long hair also covers the marks on his neck. The only problem was walking itself, but they have the perfect alibi of 'being tired from swimming'.
"Mm. Take me back, Scholar Ren." He said, not paying attention to anyone else but this scholar and clinging on to him.
The smile that Emperor Zau had when he was called 'my husband' disappeared.
Ren Jidian only glanced back at him for a second, a flash of a sneer on his face. His eyes says it all.
'He's only looking at me. He doesn't care about you.'
Emperor Zau did not manage to catch that short, condescending look, but Song Xiu had and he laughed heartily from it.
The confused emperor gave him a mad look. "What are you laughing for?"
"Hmm. Nothing, nothing. I just remembered something hilarious and ironic." He said, watching Ren Jidian's back as he swam with the Empress among the River of Wonders.
The greatest wonder of this river was this Yin who does not act like a Yin at all.
They did not follow this time and let them get dressed in private. It took a while to dry their hair and bodies under the sun. They sat on the large boulder for a while, their bare bodies worthy of being in a painting.
"My legs are a little wobbly.... Ah, what do we do now, Ah-Guang."
Ren Jidian was busy twisting his long hair to dry, it really was taking so damn long because of the length. He stopped when he heard this.
"Your Majesty... You called me Ah-Guang....."
"Mm? Do you mind it?" Empress Wei said, also patiently basking under the sun. "Oh, you have mentioned that it was only your father that calls you Ah-Guang."
"Yes..... But I don't mind since it's you." Ren Jidian smiled from ear to ear. "It actually makes me glad."
He put on his robes and helped the Empress put on his own. He supported his hand carefully to help him stand still, and wrap him under the opulent clothes made of finer material a thicker outer robe than he had.
The Empress Wei felt Ren Jidian behind him, who pushed his hair away to place a kiss on his nape.
A moan escaped his lips, he must be still a little sensitive from before. Ren Jidian somehow wanted to tease him more when he's like this.
And something about the way the Emperor eyed him with suspicion and jealousy adds fuel to his desire for danger.
But he resisted this time. After all, he had just tired the Empress out.
They went back to rejoin the others, and went their way next to this alleged cave for the Yin god.
This Yin god was called Shenma. He was the god of childbirth and protection over Yin, more especially on their sexuality and bodies.
He was demonstrated as a beautiful and serenely smiling Yin man with a big baby bump on his belly. It was also noticeable how his clothes were loose and revealing, to emphasize his body shape as a Yin/Omega.
The cave was actually smaller than expected. It was more like a small grotto really, just small enough to hold the 3-feet figure of Shenma holding his belly. He was surrounded by lotus flowers.
Lotuses were a symbol of purity, as they rise from the mud unstained. They also come back blooming after the cold evening and at the break of dawn, making them a symbol of fertility, rebirth, and resilience as well.
This fits the image of Shenma very well, as he was the idolized mother figure of the Yins. He had birthed many heroes with his husband, the Yang God of Power, Daqiang.
Emperor Zau was about to step inside the cave, but Song Xiu stopped him.
"Only Yins are allowed inside, Ah-Ting. Going inside would offend Shenma." Song Xiu explained.
The emperor frowned, but he was not one to test the gods. He took the finest incense sticks and pot that they have bought earlier, and handed it to Wei Wangyi.
"Pray for your fertility, Yi-Yi. Pray he gifts us a good heir." He smiled.
Wei Wangyi smiled back realistically. He acts really well.
"I will, my husband."
But he never looked at him directly as he said that. In fact, it flitted to Ren Jidian in reflex when he said 'my husband'.