Standing on someone’s unknown rooftop, Wang Dian smiled and gently touched Liang Ye’s still-warm neck. “Was it fun?”
Liang Ye held back for a long while, the redness on his neck deepening.
Wang Dian asked with slight surprise. “Then what were you doing earlier in the outskirts of Shiyuan City? And at noon, you even pinned me against the window—mmph.”
Liang Ye, embarrassed and angry, covered his mouth. “Zhen only did that because Zhen knew no one was around… How improper of you to speak like this!”
Wang Dian just looked at him and smiled.
Liang Ye felt uncomfortable under his gaze and, grabbing the back of his neck, kissed him fiercely, as if this was the only way to vent his frustration.
Wang Dian stood unsteadily on the rooftop, most of his weight leaning on Liang Ye. Liang Ye’s style had always been rough and intense. Sure enough, the taste of blood soon filled his mouth. He pushed Liang Ye away and scolded irritably. “Can’t you kiss without biting?”
Liang Ye tilted his head slightly and licked away the blood at the corner of Wang Dian’s mouth. When alone, he was quite uninhibited, seemingly wanting to lick Wang Dian from head to toe.
Unable to resist, Wang Dian’s face and neck were left wet. He wiped his face with his sleeve in slight frustration. Then, a thought struck him, and he looked at Liang Ye with a somewhat indescribable expression. “Don’t tell me you actually enjoyed that?”
The redness behind Liang Ye’s ears and at the corners of his eyes had not yet faded, but he raised an eyebrow at Wang Dian, both dignified and smug, pulling him tightly against himself with one hand on his waist.
“F*ck you!” Wang Dian’s face turned half green. “Is that all you have left in your brain?”
Liang Ye chuckled softly, then hoisted Wang Dian over his shoulder and flew back to their lodging at the inn.
Wang Dian utterly despised being carried on his shoulder. Firstly, it was uncomfortable, and secondly, he disliked the feeling of being controlled. He had cursed at Liang Ye countless times for this, but Liang Ye, the bastard, only remembered things according to his mood. When in a good mood, he could act like a decent person and hold Wang Dian by the waist, but when in a bad mood, he would revert to his annoying ways.
By the time they returned to the inn, Wang Dian had accumulated both old and new grievances along the way, and his stomach ached from being pressed against Liang Ye’s shoulder. When Liang Ye finally put him down, his face was dark with anger.
Liang Ye’s energy was frighteningly abundant. Wang Dian looked at him warningly, “I’ve just recovered from a cold. Don’t you know how to care for someone?”
“Why should Zhen—” Liang Ye started, but quickly shut his mouth. He complained instead, “You’ve been the one constantly seducing Zhen.”
Wang Dian had previously considered all possible disagreements between him and Liang Ye, but he never imagined that the most direct problem would be such trivial matters.
Seeing that Wang Dian seemed genuinely angry, Liang Ye magnanimously compromised. He clung to Wang Dian’s back, kissing his ear, and said, “If you’re unwilling, then we won’t do it tonight.”
Wang Dian said, “Three days.”
“No,” Liang Ye firmly refused, frowning. “Are you trying to suffocate Zhen?”
“You lived in abstinence for over twenty years and didn’t die,” Wang Dian retorted, tilting his neck slightly to avoid Liang Ye.
Liang Ye stared at the smooth lines of Wang Dian’s neck, so fragile it seemed a slight bite could break it. His mind drifted back to the beautiful sight of Wang Dian against the window just hours ago, his neck flushed and taut, fine beads of sweat easily rubbing off on Liang Ye’s nose…
Wang Dian was the last remaining delicacy in the world, barely able to soothe the hungry restlessness entwined in Liang Ye’s bones and blood.
Inside and out, Wang Dian should be his.
Liang Ye had never been able to out-talk Wang Dian, but he didn’t need to. He only needed to restrain Wang Dian in his arms, rendering him immobile, and freely invade every inch of his skin. Then Wang Dian would surrender.
“Alright,” Wang Dian’s voice indeed lost its coldness, slightly trembling, with a hint of forced sternness. “Let’s have dinner first.”
Liang Ye knew Wang Dian wouldn’t concede so easily and must have a backup plan. But he enjoyed seeing Wang Dian yield and submit, so like a victorious predator, he triumphantly bit Wang Dian’s throat, savoring it intimately for a while before releasing him contentedly.
Wang Dian turned his head to glare at him angrily. Liang Ye smiled and leaned in, affectionately and pleadingly touching his nose. “Don’t be angry.”
As expected, Wang Dian’s gaze softened considerably, looking at him with indulgence and helplessness, and ruffled his hair.
Liang Ye narrowed his eyes comfortably. He loved this version of Wang Dian immensely. Unlike everyone else, no matter how crazy he acted, there was never fear or disgust in Wang Dian’s eyes. Even if one day he were to clip Wang Dian’s wings himself, Wang Dian would probably just sigh helplessly, kiss him gently, and then disappear completely.
Liang Ye was irritated by his own assumption, frowning in displeasure. He vented by biting Wang Dian’s wrist, only to receive a slap on his chin from Wang Dian, making him hiss in pain.
“Eat if you’re hungry,” Wang Dian said, casually tossing his outer robe onto the couch and going to pour himself some water.
Liang Ye’s gaze traced from Wang Dian’s beautiful shoulders down to his lower back, then slid to his slender calves. Unsatisfied with merely looking, he followed his heart and pressed against him, tightly embracing all of Wang Dian’s beautiful body parts against himself.
Wang Dian struggled briefly but couldn’t break free, so he let him be, only warning, “You’re like a damn dog.”
“Zhen is a dragon,” Liang Ye corrected him cheerfully, slipping his hand into Wang Dian’s front to touch the small red mole on his chest.
Wang Dian was exasperated. Liang Ye’s clinginess was stronger than glue, and annoyingly, he couldn’t tear himself away. He could only let the other go crazy.
It was probably revenge for the forceful kiss on the street.
Liang Ye had long forgotten about the kissing incident. He cozily finished dinner with Wang Dian, then carelessly read half an hour’s worth of secret reports from the capital, handing each one to Wang Dian after reading, secretly trying to curry favor.
To his surprise, Wang Dian just took them and threw them into the charcoal stove. When he threw the eighteenth one, Liang Ye couldn’t bear it anymore. “Why aren’t you reading them?”
“It’s not appropriate for me to read,” Wang Dian said with a slight smile. “In the past, I was careless and wanted to read all the documents you handled, big or small. As a result, it aroused your suspicion, and you insisted on making me an empress confined in the deep palace. I dare not read them anymore.”
Wang Dian’s sarcastic tone could easily provoke his anger, and he was mostly right. Liang Ye gritted his teeth, staring at him with dark eyes. “Zhen allows you to read them, and Zhen promises not to make you an empress again.”
He had plenty of ways to confine Wang Dian; it would just take some effort.
Wang Dian leaned on the couch, barefoot, casually stepping on Liang Ye’s stomach. He said knowingly, “Liang Ziyu, look in the mirror and see your eyes right now.”
Liang Ye absentmindedly grasped his excessively pale foot, perfunctorily asking, “Look at what?”
“See if they’re full of schemes and tricks,” Wang Dian said, kicking his leg hard. “You haven’t given up at all.”
Why should he give up? Why would he? Wang Dian was his to begin with.
The force was too light; Liang Ye’s arm didn’t even move. He looked at the document impassively, saying sincerely, “As long as you don’t run away again, Zhen won’t think about confining you. How’s that?”
Wang Dian snorted, “You lied to me earlier today that you wouldn’t do anything, but what happened? Liang Ye, even a dog is more trustworthy than you.”
Having failed to deceive him, Liang Ye pinched the sole of his foot regretfully, saying dejectedly, “You never believe Zhen.”
Wang Dian was most susceptible to this tactic. Sure enough, he sat up, stroking Liang Ye’s hair with some distress, his voice very gentle as he said, “Liang Ye.”
Liang Ye took the opportunity to put his hand on Wang Dian’s waist, resting his chin on his shoulder. He inhaled the pleasant scent from Wang Dian’s neck, licked his dry lips, his eyes full of calculation and excitement, but he just mumbled a low “Mm.”
Wang Dian gently patted his back, using the same serious and gentle tone as before to say, “I can’t go back to Great Liang with you right now.”
Liang Ye’s smirk instantly flattened, sharp hostility surging from the depths of his heart. He nearly failed to control the sudden flood of fear and rage. His previous relish for schemes and calculations became tasteless. After a long silence, he suppressed the urge to kill and pushed Wang Dian away slightly, saying in a deep voice, “Say that again.”
Wang Dian sighed, “Now is not the time.”
“Zhen has already removed the gu worm from you, and even promised not to make you empress. Zhen kept your positions as Minister of Revenue and Assistant Chancellor. Zhen even kept your residence in Yingsu Square, the businesses you handled, and even your people in the palace.” Facing Wang Dian, his anger and grievance seemed utterly genuine. “Zhen traveled thousands of miles to make peace with you in Southern Zhao, and now you won’t return with Zhen?”
“Liang Ye, I’m just saying not now,” Wang Dian tried to reason with him.
“Zhen forbids it,” Liang Ye said coldly. “Wang Dian, Zhen has been tolerant enough with you. Don’t push your luck.”
Wang Dian strongly disliked his tone and frowned, but Liang Ye couldn’t help but provoke him further, as if it would make himself feel better. “If you don’t obey, Zhen will turn you into nothing but a plaything that only knows how to writhe beneath Zhen in pleasure.”
Wang Dian angrily clenched his fist and swung at Liang Ye’s face. Liang Ye didn’t intend to dodge, knowing he had gone too far, but the fist stopped just before his eyes.
Wang Dian glared at him coldly. “I’m a fucking idiot for thinking you had really realized your mistakes.”
Liang Ye sneered, “What mistakes has Zhen made? Zhen is the emperor, Zhen doesn’t make mistakes.”
He was irritated by Wang Dian’s ingratitude, and more annoyed at revealing his hand too early. He should have waited until they passed Yunshui to coax Wang Dian back to the capital. By then, even if Wang Dian wanted to run, he couldn’t.
Wang Dian gave him a cool look and went into the inner room.
Liang Ye irritably stuffed the unread letters back into his sleeve, tapping the table restlessly, while straining his ears to listen to the movements in the inner room.
Wang Dian took off his shoes, cursed Liang Ye an idiot, continued swearing, drank some tea, cursed him again, then covered himself with a blanket to sleep.
When Wang Dian’s breathing finally steadied, Liang Ye slowly got up and walked into the inner room. He ambled to the bedside, crouched down, and poked Wang Dian’s lower back through the blanket, saying softly, “Wang Dian, that’s not what Zhen meant earlier.”
Wang Dian ignored him, so Liang Ye pushed further, sliding his hand under the blanket to touch Wang Dian’s waist. Wang Dian slapped him hard, threw off the blanket, sat up, and glared at him coldly. “Get lost. I’m sick of seeing you.”
Liang Ye was taken aback but persisted humbly, “Zhen lost his head in anger earlier.”
Wang Dian laughed bitterly, “Oh, am I supposed to comfort you now?”
Liang Ye instinctively wanted to nod, but carefully gauged Wang Dian’s expression and said softly, “No need. You promised to spend the New Year with Zhen.”
He had to find a way to make Wang Dian willingly return.
Wang Dian grabbed his hair, forcing him to look up, and said coldly, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. Liang Ye, now that you’ve slept with me, you can’t even be bothered to pretend anymore?”
Liang Ye grinned, grasping Wang Dian’s slender wrist and bringing it to his lips for a kiss. “Since we owe eight times anyway, why not make it an even number tonight?”
“Fuck off,” Wang Dian said in a foul mood. “I’m not returning to the capital because I still have things to do. I never said I wouldn’t go back.”
“You didn’t say you were running away when you tricked Zhen and escaped either.” Liang Ye’s teeth itched, wanting to chew up and swallow this disobedient yet alluring Wang Dian. He sat irritably at the foot of the bed. “If you run somewhere even farther than Southern Zhao, where should Zhen look for you? If, as you say, you suddenly disappear from this world one day, what should Zhen do?”
Wang Dian was clearly stumped by his questions.
Liang Ye continued sinisterly, “What new agreement have you reached with that Zhao Qi? Have you grown addicted to living in the Southern Zhao palace after staying there so long? How exactly is Zhao Qi better than Zhen that you’re so reluctant to leave?”
“…” Wang Dian’s mouth twitched, his face clearly saying ‘he’s better than you in every way’, infuriating Liang Ye greatly.
“It seems Zhen still—” Liang Ye started furiously, but Wang Dian shoved a candy into his mouth. He reflexively bit it, wincing at the sweetness.
“Didn’t you want to find a house to put up New Year couplets?” Wang Dian sighed. “I bought a residence in Qingcang County. Let’s go there for the New Year.”
Liang Ye sucked on the candy, understanding Wang Dian’s meaning. In an instant, he thought of many things, including but not limited to tying up Wang Dian and taking him back to the capital tonight, pretending to agree and getting tonight’s benefits before discussing further tomorrow, taking a detour north on the way to Qingcang County, secretly giving Wang Dian a love gu to make him unable to leave himself… all sorts of insidious and vicious ideas.
“I know you want to pretend to compromise to make me willingly go back,” Wang Dian patted his head. “But Ziyu, your acting is too poor. You always unconsciously reveal your true nature to me. You were born a bad thing.”
Liang Ye bit through the last piece of candy with a displeased expression. Wang Dian hooked his neck from behind and whispered in his ear with a light laugh, “After all, I’m not a good person either.”
Suddenly, his tongue felt numb. Liang Ye’s expression changed. “What did you give Zhen to eat?”
“A love gu,” Wang Dian said with an innocent face. “I bought it from Quan Ning for a hefty price. It lasts for three days, much more expensive than the permanent one.”
Liang Ye instinctively tried to use his internal energy, but his profound internal strength seemed to have been suddenly drained. What angered him even more was that he almost instinctively grasped Wang Dian’s hand.
“Hm? So fast?” Wang Dian was a bit surprised.
Liang Ye wanted to curse. He gritted his teeth, feeling aggrieved and angry. “Zhen’s internal strength is gone.”
Wang Dian was stunned for a moment. “All gone?”
Liang Ye nodded, experiencing for the first time Wang Dian’s urge to hit someone. “What kind of rotten idea is this? If we encounter danger, we’ll be taken down in one swoop. Remove it for Zhen.”
Wang Dian sighed, “I’ll do it as soon as possible.”
Liang Ye stared at his rosy lips, feeling parched and a bit dazed. “What?”
Wang Dian gently stroked his face. “I specially dug a secret chamber under the house in Qingcang County for you, with chains made of black iron. But since you’ve lost your internal strength, it seems we won’t need them now.”
“Let’s follow your suggestion and finish up here then.”
