Wang Dian had a mild case of cleanliness obsession, but not severe. After some consideration, he decided that just one bath would suffice. Before he could fully remove his outer robe, Liang Ye casually walked through his latched door and remarked with slight surprise, “Why are you taking off your clothes?”
Wang Dian pointed at the door. “Is it possible that I latched the door because I don’t want people coming in?”
Liang Ye acted as if suddenly enlightened, turned back to firmly close and latch the door, then strolled around the room to close all the windows tightly. He nodded with satisfaction, “No one will come in now.”
“……” Wang Dian threw his outer robe onto the couch and tried to remind him, “Although we’re close, you still need to knock before entering. That’s basic respect.”
Liang Ye cornered him against the wall, placing his hand on Wang Dian’s waist, and said smugly, “Naturally, we’re the closest of all.”
Clearly, he only chose to hear what he wanted to hear.
Wang Dian pushed against his shoulders, “I just want to take a peaceful bath. Excessive indulgence isn’t good for the body.”
Liang Ye slowly increased pressure as he cornered him, trapping him against the wall, his eyes dark and unfathomable. “You don’t need to exert yourself, so it doesn’t count as excessive.”
“What twisted logic is that?” Wang Dian couldn’t help but laugh, then turned his head away from the strong smell of blood on him, “Go wash up in your room.”
Liang Ye used his knee to force Wang Dian’s legs apart, letting out a cold laugh. “You really do despise Zhen. What, you think Zhen is cruel? Kills without blinking? Is a complete madman?”
“That’s exactly what you were thinking,” Liang Ye coldly stared at him, “You won’t even let Zhen make a bone arrow for you.”
“What’s so fun about that thing?” Wang Dian was somewhat exasperated, feeling that Liang Ye was now just a little blood person, “You might as well give me a gold brick.”
“Money-obsessed,” Liang Ye disdainfully snorted, and searched all over his body, but couldn’t find even half a gold piece, looking somewhat embarrassed, “I’ll give it to you when we return to the palace.”
Wang Dian held back his laughter and nodded, ruthlessly rubbing his face, which Liang Ye’s face was squeezed into a different shape, mumbling indistinctly, “How bold.”
“Stop it, don’t mess around,” Wang Dian was helpless.
“Not messing around,” Liang Ye dropped his head into his neck hollow and took a hard sniff, asking in a low voice, “Do you know when you smell the best?”
Wang Dian hadn’t detected any smell on himself and asked confusedly, “When?”
“When you’re aroused,” Liang Ye licked and kissed his neck, his palm slowly sliding down along his waistline.
“No—” Wang Dian’s back was tense, taking a sharp breath from the coolness, instinctively grabbing his shoulders, gritting his teeth. “Ah Huan might come back at any moment to find… damn it, go easy!”
Liang Ye raised his head and rubbed against his wet nose tip, grinning, “How to go easy?”
Before Wang Dian could answer, his hand was pinned behind his back, Liang Ye licked his lips, “You’re so knowledgeable, why don’t you teach Zhen personally.”
“Scram…” Wang Dian curled his fingers, then was forcibly stretched out, forced to move uncertainly with his strength, the veins on his neck tightly stretched, whether from embarrassment or anger.
Although he was always open-minded, he was particularly skilled at teasing Liang Ye, but when it came to himself, the intense shame almost completely engulfed him, especially under the nervous situation of not knowing when the door might be knocked.
“No, Liang—!” Wang Dian’s words were cut off midway, his voice changing tone, the rest of the sound swallowed by Liang Ye’s kiss on his chest as he held the back of his neck.
Outside, the spring light was beautiful, warm sunlight rising with heat on the ground, willow catkins scattered everywhere.
When entering the water, the blood smell on Liang Ye became even more intense. Wang Dian was held in his arms, water waves swaying before his eyes. He gripped the edge of the wooden barrel, his damp eyebrows and eyes seemingly tinged with a faint blood color, his breath heavy and damp.
“Do you know what Qi Ming instructed?” Liang Ye asked behind him.
“Damn you…” Wang Dian gritted his teeth, “Must you bring this up now!?”
“So you won’t say Zhen doesn’t do serious things,” Liang Ye lightly laughed, suddenly increasing his force to show displeasure, then quickly covered his mouth with his palm, “He said Wei Wanlin—”
Wang Dian bit hard on his tiger’s mouth, the bloody taste instantly filling his mouth.
“If you mention anyone else’s name again…get out!” Wang Dian turned and glared at him angrily.
“Look, you said you’re not jealous,” Liang Ye helplessly sighed, holding his waist and pressing him against the barrel’s edge, leaning close to his ear and laughing softly, “Where would I go out? The door is tightly closed.”
Wang Dian’s ears instantly turned blood red. Liang Ye tilted his head in some surprise, “Zhen understands now, you only like saying this to others.”
“I’ll…someday…sew up this damn mouth of yours,” Wang Dian was so angry his eyes were shooting fire.
Liang Ye hugged him, laughing until his whole body trembled.
……..
****
Liang Huan sat on a stool, swinging his short legs, and asked Baili Cheng’an eagerly, “Why hasn’t Uncle come downstairs yet? It’s already dark.”
Baili Cheng’an replied, “The Prince and His Majesty must be discussing important matters. Your Highness can have dinner first.”
“I want to wait for Uncle,” Liang Huan said, and proceeded to count the chopsticks on the table again with interest.
However, after waiting for a long time without his uncle coming down, Liang Ye arrived instead.
“Refusing to eat?” Liang Ye glanced at the untouched food on the table, sat down expansively next to Liang Huan, and poked at the small fluffy ornament on his head. “Little rabbits that don’t eat grass will be skinned and roasted.”
Liang Huan’s eyes reddened in fear, but he gathered his courage to look at him tremblingly, “Liang Ye, where’s Uncle?”
Liang Ye narrowed his eyes and suddenly bent down to flash him a grin, “What did you call Zhen?”
“Fa-father Emperor,” Liang Huan shuddered, saying quietly, “I want Uncle.”
“Your uncle isn’t feeling well, he’s already eaten and gone to bed,” Liang Ye pinched the small bun hairstyle on top of his head, messing up most of it.
“Your Majesty, is there anything seriously wrong with the Prince?” Baili Cheng’an asked.
“Nothing serious, just tired,” Liang Ye said with a satisfied expression. “He’s always been delicate.”
Baili Cheng’an had only asked out of politeness, exchanged a few courteous words with Liang Ye, then began eating quietly.
Not having waited for his uncle, Liang Huan was disappointed and didn’t have much appetite. After taking just two bites, he slid down from his stool, folded his hands and bowed to Liang Ye, “This son is full, I shall go…lea… leave.”
“Take my leave,” Baili Cheng’an reminded him.
“Take my leave!” Liang Huan tensed his little face, and without waiting for Liang Ye to speak, pattered up the stairs.
Polite, but not overly so.
Liang Ye remarked curiously, “Baili Daren is indeed skilled at teaching students.”
This little rabbit had been raised for so long, yet this was the first time he had properly bowed and taken his leave.
“Your Majesty flatters this minister, it’s the little highness who is clever,” Baili Cheng’an watched as he swept through the remaining food like a whirlwind, then paused before saying, “Let this minister have more dishes brought up.”
“No need, Zhen is full,” Liang Ye put down his chopsticks and went upstairs, hands clasped behind his back, looking pleased.
Baili Cheng’an looked at the clean plates of both father and son on the table, her gaze flickering slightly as she leisurely finished the last half bowl of porridge.
…She wasn’t full.
In his drowsy state, Wang Dian felt someone touching his hand and irritably shook it off, “Ziyu, stop fooling around.”
Liang Huan blinked his eyes and called out in his childish voice, “It’s Ah Huan.”
Wang Dian lifted his eyelids, his mind still a bit foggy, “Ah Huan? Why have you come?”
“Bringing Uncle food,” Liang Huan placed the oil paper-wrapped pastry by the bed, whispering, “Uncle eat it, don’t let Liang- Father- Liang Ye see.”
Wang Dian was too lazy to even move his fingers, closing his eyes as he smiled, “Thank you Ah Huan, I’m not hungry.”
“So Uncle really didn’t eat,” Liang Huan said with a serious little face. “I saw the wound on Liang Ye’s hand, did you fight? Uncle, your neck and arms are all wounded, did Liang Ye hit you?”
Wang Dian suddenly sat up from the bed, quickly fastening his loose inner clothes, and coughed a couple times with his fist against his lips. “No, it’s not, I… fell accidentally.”
Liang Huan looked at him in confusion, “Did Uncle fall from a tree too?”
“Ah,” Wang Dian touched his nose, “Yes, I’m not very good at climbing trees.”
“That’s okay,” Liang Huan rose on tiptoes to pat his knee, “Next time I’ll teach you.”
“…Alright.” Wang Dian took the pastry from beside the bed and placed it on the table, “Uncle will eat it later.”
Liang Huan curved his eyes in a smile at him, unusually well-behaved.
“Go back to your room and sleep,” Wang Dian stroked his head, “Want Uncle to tell you a story?”
Liang Huan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, “Uncle is injured and needs to rest well, I’ll sleep by myself.”
“Such a good boy.” Wang Dian hugged him and gave him a kiss, “Go on then.”
Then Liang Huan pattered out by himself, and very politely closed the door quietly.
Wang Dian sighed in relief and listlessly picked up the pastry, pondering where to start eating, when someone suddenly hugged him from behind and an eerie voice sounded by his ear. “Didn’t you say you were full and cry that you didn’t want anymore?”
“Get lost,” Wang Dian lowered his eyes to stare at his mischievous hands, “You’re just a beast.”
Liang Ye held him and laughed arrogantly, licked the tooth marks on his neck, then bent down to snatch the pastry from his hand, swallowing it in two or three bites.
Wang Dian glared at him while holding the empty oil paper, “This was from Ah Huan, have you no shame?”
“This is too greasy,” Liang Ye clicked his tongue, pointing at the clear porridge and small dishes beside them, “Eat mine.”
“……” Wang Dian’s appetite, which had just been aroused by the meat fragrance, instantly vanished, “Not hungry.”
Liang Ye laughed shamelessly, “Zhen said you were full.”
Wang Dian angrily kicked at him and said grimly, “Next time if you dare to put it in—— mmph.”
Liang Ye fed him a large spoonful of porridge, smiling wickedly, with suggestive meaning as he asked, “Is it delicious?”
Wang Dian narrowed his eyes and suddenly grabbed the wooden tray. Liang Ye quickly dodged to the side, and the tray brushed past his nose to crash heavily against the table edge, splashing up several wood splinters.
Liang Ye raised his eyebrows triumphantly.
Wang Dian gripped the tray and smiled viciously. “Liang Ziyu, today one of us must die.”
