Ling Qiyan didn't wait long before Wen Ying was brought over. Ling Qiyan looked up and watched him walk through the door. The man still had that cold and indifferent appearance. Even after entering Prince Yu's Manor and facing him, His Highness, Prince Yu, his attitude hadn't improved much.

Wen Ying had changed into casual clothes, garments bestowed by the manor. If he hadn't been summoned before Ling Qiyan, he wouldn't have worn them.

However, wearing these fine brocade clothes, he really looked quite dapper. Ling Qiyan thought to himself, 'What a pity this kid has a bad lot in life. If he had been born into a noble family, I'm afraid all the young ladies in the capital would be fighting to marry him.'

Tsk, it's a good thing he isn't.

Wen Ying properly paid his respects and stood to the side. Ling Qiyan lifted his chin and gestured. "Sit. Accompany this prince for a meal."

Wen Ying did not refuse. Since Ling Qiyan told him to sit, he sat down magnanimously.

Ling Qiyan then had someone pour them wine. "This is imperial wine bestowed from the palace. You've never had it. Have a taste."

Wen Ying thanked him for the grace. "Many thanks for Your Highness's bestowal."

"What kind of bestowal is this?" Ling Qiyan's lips curved into a smile. "If you serve this prince well and make me happy, this prince will reward you with even better things."

He had received two top-grade silver fox pelts from the palace this time. They were of no use to him. If Wen Ying could truly fulfill his wish tonight and satisfy him, His Highness, Prince Yu, was still very generous when it came to rewarding this kid with good things.

Wen Ying simply pretended not to understand the meaning behind Ling Qiyan's words and calmly picked up his wine cup.

Ling Qiyan asked with a smile, "Did you look at the album this prince told you to look at?"

Wen Ying's calm, placid eyes looked at him. "Is Your Highness referring to the erotic paintings?"

Ling Qiyan was not the least bit embarrassed. "How were they?"

"Overly vulgar."

Ling Qiyan found it amusing. "Matters of the bed are meant to be like that. Don't tell me that when scholars like you get into bed, you still have to be all gentle and proper, following the rules?"

Wen Ying didn't want to discuss this with him and changed the subject. "These past few days, I have been under the care of Your Highness's people. This student is endlessly grateful."

"What's the use of being endlessly grateful? So, how will you repay this prince?" Ling Qiyan gazed at him, his smile filled with deep meaning.

Meeting the overly naked gaze of His Highness, Prince Yu, Wen Ying only said calmly, "In the future, if Your Highness has any use for this student, this student will naturally go through fire and water without hesitation."

His mood ruined, Ling Qiyan pouted. What did he want this kid to go through fire and water or sacrifice his life for in the future? He only wanted someone to serve him comfortably tonight.

But he didn't show it on his face and continued to have people pour wine for Wen Ying.

Wen Ying poured cup after cup of wine into his mouth, his expression unchanging. Ling Qiyan hadn't expected a scholar to be able to drink so much. He himself hadn't had many cups but was already feeling intoxicated.

Jiang Lin knew Ling Qiyan's alcohol tolerance. He loved wine but really couldn't drink much. Seeing that Ling Qiyan had failed to get the other man drunk and was about to get drunk himself, he hurriedly tried to dissuade him. "Your Highness, drink less wine. Have some more food."

Ling Qiyan propped his head up with one hand, his cheeks flushed crimson as if rouged. His pair of peach blossom eyes were glistening beautifully, misty and filled with shimmering light, as he tilted his head and stared fixedly at Wen Ying.

Wen Ying was still pouring wine into his mouth, his dark pupils reflecting Ling Qiyan's smiling eyes.

Ling Qiyan seemed to be both pouting and smiling. He reached out a hand, placed it on Wen Ying's knee, then lightly lifted the hem of his robe. His fingers slowly tapped, intentionally or not, moving up along the inside of his thigh.

If not for Ling Qiyan's incomparably beautiful face, this kind of behavior would make him a perfect libertine.

But even if he was that good-looking, he was indeed a libertine.

When Ling Qiyan's hand tapped neither lightly nor heavily on the base of his thigh, Wen Ying finally couldn't bear it anymore and pressed it down, reminding him in a deep voice, "Your Highness is drunk."

Ling Qiyan's peach blossom eyes darted about, the beauty mark at the corner of his eye exceptionally provocative. "Where is this prince drunk?"

"Doesn't Your Highness know whether you're drunk or not?" Wen Ying pulled his hand away, stood up, and took a step back. Clasping his hands, he said, "Many thanks to Your Highness for the banquet and the wine. This student is full and will now withdraw so as not to disturb Your Highness. Your Highness should rest early."

After speaking, he bowed once more and turned to leave.

Ling Qiyan was stunned for a moment, then snatched the empty wine cup beside him and threw it directly at his back, his voice turning cold. "You, stop right there for this prince. Who gave you permission to leave?"

Wen Ying turned back, his tone still unhurried. "I wonder what other commands Your Highness has?"

"Get over here."

After a moment of stalemate, Wen Ying walked back. Ling Qiyan said coldly, "Kneel."

Wen Ying clenched his fist tightly and knelt down.

Ling Qiyan pinched his chin, forcing him to raise his head. He narrowed his eyes and stared at him coldly. "You don't have the right to put on airs with this prince again and again. Understand?"

Wen Ying returned his gaze frankly. "Does Your Highness still wish to drink? This student will accompany you."

Ling Qiyan was choked for a moment. More curses reached his lips but were swallowed back down. His fingers unconsciously caressed Wen Ying's smooth chin for a moment before he let go and ordered, "Bring different wine."

Jiang Lin advised worriedly, "Your Highness, you should still drink less..."

Ling Qiyan was unmoved. "Serve the wine."

So, Jiang Lin could only go and have someone bring more wine. Moreover, this time Ling Qiyan asked for strong liquor, drinking directly from the jar with Wen Ying.

He refused to believe he couldn't drink this poor scholar to death.

An hour later, Ling Qiyan was sprawled on the dining table, his face completely red. He could no longer open his eyes. One hand rested on the wine jar while the other clutched tightly onto Wen Ying's sleeve, mumbling indistinctly, "Continue accompanying this prince... drink!"

Wen Ying pushed his hand away, but Ling Qiyan relentlessly grabbed on again, his body even leaning towards Wen Ying's side. His claws scrambled upward from Wen Ying's sleeve, climbing onto his lapel.

"Be good and let this prince favor you. As long as this prince is happy, I'll give you glory and wealth..."

Ling Qiyan was spouting nonsense. Wen Ying glanced at him expressionlessly. Jiang Lin was so anxious his forehead was covered in sweat. He called two people over to help Ling Qiyan back to his room, but Ling Qiyan angrily waved them away. "All of you, scram for this prince."

Those few servants didn't dare to move again. Ling Qiyan clung to Wen Ying like an octopus, dazedly spouting vulgarities. Wen Ying listened with a cold face for a while, then dropped a "Your Highness, pardon my offense." After that, under the wide-eyed stares of Jiang Lin and the others, he lifted Ling Qiyan up and carried him back to the main room.

Tossing Ling Qiyan onto the bed, Wen Ying turned and gestured to the crowd of dumbfounded servants behind him. "You may serve His Highness in changing his clothes and preparing for bed."

He lifted his foot to leave, but Ling Qiyan, who had been lying whimpering on the bedding, latched onto him again, hugging one of his arms and trying to pull him towards the bed.

A fleeting look of impatience passed through Wen Ying's eyes. He forcefully flung his hand away, took a step back, and clasped his hands and bowed. "Your Highness is drunk. Please rest early. This student takes his leave."

Giving Ling Qiyan no more chance to pester him, he strode out of the main room.

Once in a place with no one around, his perpetually tense mind suddenly relaxed. Wen Ying clutched his aching stomach, leaned over the corridor railing, and vomited nonstop. He threw up nearly all the alcohol he had drunk earlier, the pungent and choking taste filling his mouth.

After a long while, he raised a hand and wiped his lips forcefully. He lowered his eyes, the malevolence within them silently concealed by the night.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was brightening, Wen Ying came over to the main courtyard again to ask for Ling Qiyan's forgiveness.

Ling Qiyan was leaning lazily on the couch, drinking tea. He had a hangover from last night and hadn't slept well, so he felt very out of sorts this morning, his whole body listless.

Wen Ying casually glanced up and met Ling Qiyan's drowsy, watery eyes. Watching his languid appearance, his eyelashes fluttering ceaselessly, he paused for a moment before saying, "Your Highness drank too much last night. This student was greatly offensive and slighted Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will not blame me."

Ling Qiyan had already heard from others that he had been carried back by this kid last night. This person had been extremely vulgar and rude to him, His Highness, Prince Yu. Truly audacious.

"This is hardly the only thing you've slighted this prince over," Ling Qiyan said casually. Last night, he had still failed to coax the man into bed and instead had drunk himself into a stupor. It would be impossible to say he wasn't frustrated, but right now he really couldn't muster the energy to bicker with this person anymore.

Wen Ying lowered his head and didn't reply. Ling Qiyan's gaze fell on him. After watching him for a while, he saw that the man had changed back into his Imperial Academy uniform today, as if he were about to go to the academy. He asked, "Is studying at the Imperial Academy fun?"

Wen Ying frowned in disapproval. "How can studying the books of sages be a matter of fun or not? Your Highness's words are rather too arrogant."

Ling Qiyan was dismissive. "This prince sees that you have a fine appearance and a dashing, unrestrained manner. Why have you learned to be like those pedantic scholars? What's this about studying the books of sages? When all is said and done, isn't it all for the sake of one's future and official career? Why say it so beautifully?"

He just didn't like to study, hadn't liked it since he was a child. The sight of those large characters gave him a headache. He didn't need to rely on studying to seek fame and fortune, so naturally, he was too lazy to do it. Anyway, he had no interest in being the emperor or anything of the sort; he couldn't even be bothered to fight for it.

He knew that for poor scholars like Wen Ying, whose backgrounds were too low, taking the imperial examinations was the only way to change their fate. He just hated the so-called sagely words that came out of their mouths, full of self-righteous platitudes. The more noble they made it sound, the more hypocritical he found it.

Wen Ying raised his eyes to look at him and said calmly, "Someone like Your Highness dares to speak so arrogantly and look down on everyone only because of your noble birth."

These words were already considered greatly disrespectful, yet he dared to say them.

Ling Qiyan just smiled, unconcerned. "It's good that you know this prince is of noble birth. This is called everyone having their own fate. You can't get it just by being envious. You might as well pray to be born into a better family in your next life. Or, you could submit to this prince. This prince can give you glory and wealth all the same."

Wen Ying shut his mouth, crisp and clean.

Facing his coffin-like face, the smile on Ling Qiyan's lips froze for a moment. He lifted his foot and kicked him in the chest. "Scram."

Wen Ying got up nimbly and walked outside. Just as he was nearing the door, Ling Qiyan's voice called out again, "Scram back here."

Wen Ying stood in place for a short while, then turned and walked back in front of Ling Qiyan.

Ling Qiyan lifted his leg and motioned to him. "This prince's leg hurts from kicking. Rub it for this prince."

Enduring it, Wen Ying knelt down again, lifted the leg that had just kicked him onto his lap, and began to massage his calf with just the right amount of pressure.

Ling Qiyan was satisfied. He leaned back into the couch, folded his hands over his stomach, and closed his eyes, humming in comfort.

"A little lighter, mmm, mmm, a little harder..."

His voice was overly cloying, but Wen Ying pretended not to hear it.

In his drowsy state, Ling Qiyan thought, 'I, His Highness, Prince Yu, truly have a good temper. With Wen Ying's insolent behavior, if it were anyone else, they would have had him killed long ago. And yet, this kid still refuses to appreciate the favor. Really...'