The matter with Liu Qingxi was ultimately left unresolved. The maid from Prince Yu's Manor was released, and Liu Qingxi's death was ruled an accidental drowning. The turmoil quickly subsided.

After the farm leave, Wen Ying returned to his studies at the Imperial Academy, leaving early and returning late each day.

He was the same as always, paying no mind to the cold taunts and sarcastic remarks of others, focusing all his energy on preparing for the examinations.

This day, when classes ended in the late afternoon, Wen Ying emerged from the academy's east gate. The carriage from Prince Yu's Manor was waiting outside. There was only a young servant driving the carriage, one assigned by the manor to serve him.

Just as Wen Ying was about to board, he was blocked.

He recognized the man in the lead; he was one of the thugs under Shen Xingyao, the Heir of Duke Wei.

"The Heir invites you to his estate for a chat."

Although he said "invites," the man's attitude was extremely discourteous as he stretched out an arm to block Wen Ying's path.

Wen Ying's voice turned cold. "Prince Yu is still waiting for me to return. Move."

"Don't you try to scare us with Prince Yu. Today, you're coming whether you want to or not. It's not up to you, so don't refuse what's good for you!" The man spat, then waved his hand. Several men surged forward from behind him, all carrying cudgels and staves, and surrounded Wen Ying.

Wen Ying took a step back and gave his servant a look. The servant understood, found an opportunity, and quickly drove the carriage away.

More and more men appeared. Wen Ying, bare-handed, knew he couldn't win a fight. After blocking a few blows, he stopped resisting and was seized and forced into a carriage.

An hour later, he was brought to an estate belonging to Duke Wei's Manor in the eastern suburbs of the city. A group of young masters from noble families, led by Shen Xingyao, were holding a banquet there. The sky had not yet darkened, but they were already dead drunk, each with a beautiful lady or a handsome young man in his arms, behaving in a thoroughly dissolute manner.

Wen Ying's gaze swept over them. Besides Shen Xingyao, the other men Liu Qingxi had said were involved in the rape and murder of Zhao Xi were all present.

Seeing Wen Ying being brought in, Shen Xingyao narrowed his eyes and smirked with satisfaction. "Here so soon? This heir thought you'd be harder to 'invite.' Did you think you could rest easy just because you've attached yourself to Prince Yu? In the end, didn't you still fall into this heir's hands?"

Wen Ying asked impassively, "For what purpose has the Heir brought this student here?"

"What do you think?" Shen Xingyao licked his lips and shook his head. "It's all the same whether you serve Prince Yu or this heir. Whatever Prince Yu can give you, this heir can give you as well. Why don't you follow this heir instead? At the very least, this heir's temper is better than Prince Yu's. I won't be beating and cursing you all the time."

Although he tried to affect a libertine air as he spoke, he kept scratching his ears and cheeks. His open collar revealed a large swathe of red rashes, which he had scratched until they were a ghastly sight, completely devoid of any decorum.

It wasn't just him; the exposed skin of the other men also showed similar mottled marks.

Wen Ying's gaze darkened slightly. He knew this was the insidious trick Ling Qiyan had mentioned for dealing with these people.

When it came to carnal matters, Shen Xingyao and his cronies had always enjoyed defiling one person as a group. Zhao Xi was one of their victims, but that boy had been too stubborn. Fearing he would try to kill himself afterward, they grew annoyed and simply did away with him for good.

The death of one Zhao Xi did not make the group restrain themselves. A few days ago, several famous courtesans from the south had arrived at Xiulan Courtyard, the largest brothel in the capital. Shen Xingyao and his group went several times, developed a taste for it, and ended up staying at Xiulan Courtyard for several consecutive days. Afterward, they contracted this unspeakable venereal disease.

Those famous courtesans had been specially arranged by Ling Qiyan. Shen Xingyao and his group had indeed taken the bait. Afflicted with this venereal disease, their skin festered and itched unbearably. It was a recurring and difficult-to-cure illness, more than enough to make them suffer.

The officials at the Imperial Academy had learned of the matter, and Shen Xingyao and his group had already been expelled. Duke Wei had personally gone to plead with the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, but to no avail. The news, however, was suppressed, so most students were unaware of the hidden details.

Although Wen Ying still felt that this was letting them off too easily.

Seeing Wen Ying's silence and the lack of any submission in his expression—even a hint of disdain for him—Shen Xingyao's anger flared. He smashed the wine cup in his hand. "What? This heir wants you to serve him, and you're not willing? Don't you take a look at what you are?"

A drunken dandy winked at Shen Xingyao with a smirk, his mouth full of disrespectful words. "Your Lordship, Prince Yu has such delicate skin and tender flesh, he looks just like a woman. He must be easy to handle. In bed, he's surely very uninhibited. Between him and this boy, who knows who's really serving whom? Maybe Prince Yu has even been topped by him. Of course he's not willing to serve you now, Your Lordship!"

Hearing this, Shen Xingyao's cloudy eyes darted around. Ling Qiyan's stunningly beautiful face involuntarily floated into his mind, and a wave of heat rose in his lower abdomen. He thought dazedly that Ling Qiyan was indeed a fine-looking boy, spicy enough. If not for the fact that he was the Emperor's son, he would have gotten his hands on him for a taste no matter what. What a pity...

A wave of suggestive laughter erupted at the banquet. A cold glint seeped into Wen Ying's downcast eyes. Just as the commotion was at its peak, the door was kicked open. A grim-faced Ling Qiyan strode in, followed by dozens of guards from his manor, each holding a sharp sword.

The estate's steward ran in after them, sweating profusely, and reported to Shen Xingyao in a trembling voice that Prince Yu had arrived with a group of guards demanding a person. Without a word, they had broken down the door, and the staff couldn't stop them.

Shen Xingyao, whose mind had been filled with lecherous thoughts just moments before, saw the situation and his face immediately fell. He challenged Ling Qiyan, "This is an estate of my Duke Wei's Manor. Is it appropriate for Your Highness, Prince Yu, to barge in with armed men like this?"

"You dog, you abducted someone from this prince's manor without this prince's consent. What's wrong with this prince coming to demand him back from you?" Ling Qiyan gave him no face at all, cursing him outright.

Shen Xingyao raged, "What did you say?!"

"I said you're a dog, a beast, not fit to bark before this prince."

"You—!"

Shen Xingyao was beside himself with fury. After cursing, Ling Qiyan ignored him. He reached out for a sword from a guard by his side and walked step by step toward the dandy whose filthy mouth couldn't utter decent words. He slapped the man's face with the flat of the blade and said with a cold smile, "You were the one spouting nonsense just now, weren't you? Quite bold, aren't you? This prince is right here. If you have the guts, say what you said before to this prince's face one more time."

The shock completely sobered the man up. He belatedly realized what he had said in public and that the subject of his words had heard him. Terrified, his legs gave way, and he immediately knelt on the floor, begging, "Your Highness, forgive me! I was speaking nonsense. Your Highness is a man of great magnanimity, please don't hold it against a petty man like me, ah—"

Before he could finish, Ling Qiyan slit his tongue. Blood gushed out like a fountain.

"Ling Qiyan!" Shen Xingyao, in a fit of rage, called him directly by his name, his eyes seeming to split with fury.

The rest of the men were so frightened they collapsed into a heap, instinctively scrambling backward, wanting only to get as far away from this god of death, Ling Qiyan, as possible.

Wen Ying glanced coldly at the man whose tongue had been cut out, now writhing in pain on the floor. He was one of the culprits who had forced Zhao Xi that day. Death would not be a pity.

Ling Qiyan shot Shen Xingyao a look that was not quite a smile and approached him. "What? You're not convinced?"

Ling Qiyan was not short, and he was used to being arrogant and overbearing. His half-smiling expression made him look even more like a demon.

Shen Xingyao, who was originally sitting on the floor, instinctively shrank back when faced with the towering Ling Qiyan, and gritted his teeth. "Don't you be too arrogant. Do you know who else is here today..."

"This prince doesn't care who else you have here!" Ling Qiyan gave him no chance to spout nonsense and kicked out, striking the scoundrel squarely in the waist.

He used the full force of his strength in that kick. Shen Xingyao fell flat on the ground and spat out a large mouthful of blood. The beautiful courtesan who had been in his arms screamed and scrambled away.

"My lord!" The steward's face turned pale with fright as he rushed forward to help Shen Xingyao up.

"What is going on here?"

Amidst the chaos, another deep, cold voice suddenly sounded from the doorway.

It was the Crown Prince, Ling Qiyu.

The guards from Prince Yu's Manor, who had been blocking the room, had no choice but to make way. Ling Qiyu strode in and swept a cold gaze over the messy scene.

Shen Xingyao, gasping for breath, struggled to lodge his complaint. "Your Highness, he... they..."

Unfortunately, halfway through his sentence, he fainted from the pain.

Ling Qiyu frowned, turning to the grim-faced Ling Qiyan, then glanced at Wen Ying beside him. A fleeting shadow of darkness crossed his eyes. "Elder Brother, what has caused you to fly into such a rage?"

Ling Qiyan curled his lips. "You're here too? What? Did you have a hand in abducting a person from this prince's manor?"

"For the sake of a mere retainer, Elder Brother laid hands on our cousin, even drawing blood. Does Elder Brother think that is appropriate?" Ling Qiyu asked in a low voice.

Ling Qiyan was completely unconcerned. "What's not appropriate? Wen Ying is my man. These people abducted him and spewed filth about this prince. Since they hold this prince in such contempt, why can't this prince settle accounts with them?"

"It won't be good if Father Emperor and Mother Empress find out," Ling Qiyu said disapprovingly.

"Hah, has the Crown Prince not been weaned yet? Do you only ever use Father Emperor and Mother Empress to threaten this prince?"

Ling Qiyan's expression was filled with contempt and mockery. Ling Qiyu's pupils constricted slightly, and he softened his voice. "The one who slandered Elder Brother indeed deserves to die."

Upon hearing this, everyone except the one who was still howling in agony from his severed tongue trembled.

Ling Qiyu glanced at the unconscious Shen Xingyao and reminded Ling Qiyan again, "But this matter will not be easy to resolve if it gets out. I'm afraid it will be difficult to answer to the Shen family."

"This prince doesn't need to answer to the Shen family for anything. The Crown Prince need not meddle like a dog catching mice. If you have the time, you'd be better off worrying about yourself."

Ling Qiyan threw these words down and paid Ling Qiyu no further heed. Too lazy to waste any more breath here, he flicked his sleeves and swaggered off with his men.

Wen Ying followed him out. Before stepping through the door, he seemed to sense something and turned his head, meeting Ling Qiyu's gaze—a cold, fierce stare, as if he wanted to swallow him alive.

Recalling the faint scent on the Crown Prince when he first entered, Wen Ying couldn't help but frown inwardly. He showed nothing on his face, turning back nonchalantly to follow Ling Qiyan.

After Ling Qiyan was long gone, Ling Qiyu kicked over a nearby table, his eyes surging with rage.

Outside the estate, as Ling Qiyan was about to board the carriage, Wen Ying knelt directly beside it to plead for his punishment. "This student has caused trouble for Your Highness again. I am willing to accept Your Highness's punishment."

Ling Qiyan was thoroughly exasperated. He turned and kicked him, though compared to the kick he had given Shen Xingyao, it was considerably restrained.

Wen Ying's back remained ramrod straight. He did not move an inch, bearing the blow without flinching.

Ling Qiyan got into the carriage and slammed the door shut.

A moment later, his vexed voice came from within the carriage. "Get lost and get in the carriage behind. Stop kneeling here and disgracing this prince."