Liang Ye was stunned for a moment. As he shifted, he muttered, “Zhen wondered why it felt a bit hard.”
Wang Dian raised his numb hand and rubbed it vigorously. Liang Ye extended his paw to help him rub it, asking cheerfully, “What style of wedding attire do you like? Which palace do you prefer? Zhen has already had the Grand Historian Bureau check the dates. The 15th of next month is an auspicious day. At that time, Zhen—”
“Liang Ye,” Wang Dian, seeing his enthusiastic demeanor, asked him, “Why don’t you ask if I’m willing?”
Liang Ye asked puzzledly, “Why should Zhen ask?”
Then, noticing Wang Dian’s expression turning cold, he had to patiently say, “You risked your life for Zhen, being so fond of Zhen, naturally you’re willing.”
“I’m not willing,” Wang Dian gasped as Liang Ye’s grip suddenly tightened. “F*ck!”
Liang Ye quickly loosened his grip, looking at him somewhat helplessly, his eyes full of confusion and incomprehension. “Why?”
Wang Dian was momentarily unsure if he was acting or genuinely confused. He withdrew his hand and said seriously, “I don’t like being an empress. If you really want to reward me, why not promote my official position, grant me a title, bestow a residence and land. Hmm, if there’s a vacancy in the imperial merchants, you could spare me a share too.”
Liang Ye frowned and said, “Zhen offers you half of Great Liang and you don’t want it, yet you only want these trivial things?”
“If you really gave me half of Great Liang, of course I’d take it,” Wang Dian chuckled. “But think about it, if I become your empress, I’ll be your appendage. Everything under my name would be yours. Your Majesty, you already have Great Liang, I’m really insignificant.”
Liang Ye’s expression immediately darkened, and he said displeased, “Zhen never thought of these things. Even if you became Zhen’s empress, you’d still be Wang Dian. The whole world would be yours. Why do you need to calculate these things?”
“It’s a common flaw of merchants, being so obsessed with money, not only calculating but also not wanting to make a losing deal,” Wang Dian took on a businesslike attitude and said frankly, “Your Majesty, I shouldn’t get less than what I deserve, and what I don’t want, if you force me to take it, I might become the second Bian Rufeng.”
Liang Ye flattened his lips, “Are you threatening Zhen?”
“How is this a threat?” Wang Dian laughed. “I’m telling the truth. You and I don’t need to reach that point. In official matters, you should reward me as you see fit. You are the ruler and I am the subject. In private, we can continue to be good. If it’s good, we’ll continue. If one day it’s not good anymore…”
“What if it’s not good anymore?” Liang Ye’s pitch-black eyes stared at him intently, his aura cold and domineering. He lowered his voice and asked, “Zhen won’t let you leave. You are Zhen’s. Give up that idea, Wang Dian.”
Wang Dian clicked his tongue, “If it’s not good anymore, we’ll just be ruler and subject. The fortune I’ve risked my life to earn is here, why would I leave?”
Liang Ye was taken aback and asked suspiciously, “Really?”
“I still have the gu worm in me, where could I run?” Wang Dian sighed. “In short, I won’t be the empress.”
Liang Ye narrowed his eyes, thinking about something. After a while, he leaned down and kissed the corner of his mouth, “Since you don’t like it, Zhen won’t force you.”
“After knowing you for so long, you finally said something sensible,” Wang Dian praised him generously. “Well done.”
“…” Liang Ye’s gaze clung to his face like a tangible thing, the desire and heat in his eyes not concealed at all. “But you promised Zhen to consummate the marriage. Why not seize the day? How about fulfilling Zhen’s long-cherished wish tonight?”
Wang Dian pointed at his wound, “And then successfully seize power today, only to have a grand funeral tomorrow?”
Liang Ye curled his lips, lowering his head to slowly and methodically kiss his neck. “Zhen’s body is fine.”
Wang Dian lowered his eyes and said, “Get up, let me kiss you.”
Liang Ye’s eyes lit up, and he eagerly raised his head to kiss him. Wang Dian inserted his hand into his soft hair, gripping it tightly. Liang Ye probably wanted to embrace him but was mindful of his wounds, so he could only firmly grasp his hand, impatient and rough, as if he wanted to chew him up and swallow him.
Wang Dian grabbed his hair and yanked it back hard. Liang Ye was forced to tilt his head back. Wang Dian took the opportunity to catch his breath, only to meet Liang Ye’s displeased gaze. He couldn’t help but laugh, his palm slowly sliding to the back of his neck as he said softly, “You help me first.”
Liang Ye stared at him intently, about to make a move, but Wang Dian caught his wrist, stroking it twice. “No hands allowed.”
The man narrowed his eyes, not very willing. Wang Dian pointed to the door, “It’s getting late. If not, you can go rest.”
Liang Ye weighed his options for a moment, probably thinking that this way he could still sleep with him, which was worth it, and reluctantly agreed.
Although the wound still ached dully, sometimes pain could also be a good aphrodisiac, especially when he saw Liang Ye’s face reflected in his pupils.
It was exactly the same, yet completely different.
Liang Ye bared his teeth at him, his lips still slightly red. Wang Dian wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb and smiled, “So beautiful.”
Liang Ye’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he impatiently began to undress, but Wang Dian grabbed his hand.
“Wait until the wound heals,” Wang Dian coughed twice, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He said weakly, “Your body is fine, but I’m not. I’ll die in bed.”
When Liang Ye saw the blood at the corner of his mouth, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, which then turned into annoyance at being tricked. “You dare deceive Zhen?”
Wang Dian curled his lips into a smile, reached out his arms to wrap around his waist, and avoiding his wound, slumped weakly onto his shoulder. “Ziyu, I feel awful.”
Liang Ye was so angry his eyes blazed, but Wang Dian lay on him like a boneless creature, occasionally coughing. He instantly became stiff all over, not knowing where to put his hands.
Although their relationship was intimate, it was rare for Wang Dian to soften towards him. This was far more stimulating than anything else. Liang Ye unconsciously swallowed twice and tentatively placed his hand on his waist. “Call me again.”
Wang Dian closed his eyes and curled his lips. “Ziyu.”
Liang Ye’s hand, which had been loosely resting on his waist, suddenly tightened, pulling him flush against his body, embracing him tightly without regard for anything else.
“The wound—” Wang Dian was startled. He had only been teasing before, but now his heart suddenly leapt.
Liang Ye buried his head in the crook of his neck and said softly, “It’s alright. Let Zhen hold you for a moment.”
Wang Dian frowned disapprovingly, but suddenly felt the breath on his neck tremble slightly. Liang Ye said, “Cui Yuxian is dead.”
“Mm.” Wang Dian slowly stroked his back. “She’s dead.”
“Zhen will never have to drink the white jade soup again,” Liang Ye said.
Wang Dian’s heart clenched. “Mm, you don’t have to drink it anymore.”
“Zhen can remember the people Zhen wants to remember,” Liang Ye’s voice was slightly muffled through the clothes. “…and can also go on autumn hunts.”
Wang Dian stroked his head, belatedly realizing, “You’ve never been on an autumn hunt?”
Liang Ye didn’t respond for a long time, then finally said in a low voice, “Never been.”
Wang Dian’s eyebrows twitched slightly. No wonder there was a period when Liang Ye kept talking about taking him on an autumn hunt, as if it was something extraordinary…
He didn’t ask for details, intuitively feeling that Liang Ye might not want to mention the reason. So Wang Dian said, “It’s winter now.”
Liang Ye raised his head and said to him, “Next autumn, Zhen will take you. Zhen will teach you how to hunt deer.”
Wang Dian, the expert hunter, nodded solemnly, “Alright, you can teach me then. We’ll hunt deer and use its blood to boost your virility.”
Liang Ye laughed while holding him, and Wang Dian laughed along.
It was evident that Liang Ye was very happy today. Wang Dian suddenly felt a bit regretful for choosing today to refuse him. This was probably one of the few days worth celebrating in Liang Ye’s 20-plus years of life.
He had joyfully shared his success and happiness with him, generously offering to share his empire, only to be met with a cold rebuff. Regardless of this man’s scheming and superb acting skills, Wang Dian knew that he was at least sincere about this matter.
Unfortunately, sincerity alone doesn’t always lead to desired outcomes.
“It seems to be snowing outside,” Wang Dian asked, “Liang Ye, want to watch the snow?”
A quarter of an hour later, the two men, both seriously injured, carefully avoided the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards at the rear hall door, and silently slipped into the main hall of the Imperial Court.
The hall at night was vast and silent, with only two rows of dim eternal lamps lit. A faint smell of blood lingered in the air. The cold and majestic dragon throne sat high above, overlooking the entire hall.
Wang Dian tilted his head to look at that chair, feeling that the already cold hall seemed to grow even colder.
“What are you looking at?” Liang Ye waved his hand in front of his eyes.
Wang Dian pointed at the dragon throne, “That chair is a bit uncomfortable.”
“Hmm.” Liang Ye nodded, “Zhen thinks so too. One day Zhen will have them smash it and replace it with a new one.”
Wang Dian smiled and held his hand, walking slowly forward, “The dragon throne can’t be smashed. If you do, those old fellows would berate you to death.”
Liang Ye raised an eyebrow, “Zhen is the emperor, Zhen decides.”
“Have you heard this saying?” Wang Dian said, “When a person breaks free from all shackles, he truly loses his freedom.”
Liang Ye frowned, “Never heard of it.”
“It is said that in the distant West, there was a knowledgeable philosopher,” Wang Dian said. “It’s a bit cold in this hall. Have someone fix the windows tomorrow.”
“And then?” Liang Ye asked.
“Then it won’t be cold anymore,” Wang Dian leaned closer to him.
Liang Ye said, “Zhen meant the Western philosopher, what happened then?”
“That’s it,” Wang Dian said with a smile.
Liang Ye seemed about to speak but hesitated, probably very curious about who that philosopher was. Wang Dian pretended not to notice and pulled him out of the main hall of the Imperial Court.
In the distance, the sky was dark and gloomy. Majestic palaces stood there like countless enormous beasts that could devour people at any moment. Fine snow was floating in the air, making the night scene even more hazy.
Wang Dian reached out to catch the snow. The flakes melted as soon as they touched his fingertips, leaving a slight chill. He rubbed his hands and pulled his sleeves tighter.
Liang Ye, wearing a heavy cloak like his, calmly gazed at the distant palaces. Suddenly, he said, “When Zhen was young, Zhen heard that the Imperial Court was the highest building in the palace. Standing here, one could see the entire palace clearly.”
Wang Dian followed his gaze, seeing only a vast snowy landscape.
“But Zhen has never seen it clearly,” Liang Ye turned to look at him. “Just like people’s hearts, Zhen can’t see them clearly, and dares not to. Zhen thought seeing clearly would mean death.”
Wang Dian turned to meet his eyes.
Liang Ye slowly said, “Zhen wants to trust you, but Zhen can’t.”
Wang Dian smiled, “I know.”
The first snow of winter fell gently, carried by the wind under the eaves, landing in their hair, not melting for a long time.
Wang Dian exhaled a breath of hot air, lowering his hand to lightly touch the back of Liang Ye’s hand. “Are you cold?”
Liang Ye instinctively grasped his hand, “Not cold.”
“Congratulations,” Wang Dian turned his head and kissed him on the lips, gently yet solemnly.
It was a simple kiss, without any particular excitement or stimulation, yet touched by fine snow, it made Liang Ye’s heart skip a beat.
He touched his lips as Wang Dian had already turned back to look at the endless stretch of palaces. “By the way, you look especially handsome when you’re calculating and decisive.”
Although Wang Dian’s words were strange, Liang Ye understood the gist. He nodded modestly, “You flatter Zhen.”
Wang Dian focused on the snowy scene for a long while, then raised his arm to nudge Liang Ye.
Liang Ye stood there solemnly, but after a moment, he couldn’t resist and nudged back.
Wang Dian glared at him. Liang Ye smiled at him. The two went back and forth several times before the cold made them huddle together obediently.
“This snow isn’t that interesting to watch.”
“Zhen agrees.”
“Then let’s go back.”
“Let’s watch for a bit longer.”
Before they knew it, snow had covered the entire capital.
🥹