When Wang Dian opened his eyes, the sky outside was just beginning to lighten.
They had been up too late, and he and Liang Ye had hardly slept at all. Now Liang Ye was lying with his brows furrowed and eyes closed, and it was hard to tell if he was asleep or not.
However, his slightly angry breathing probably meant he wasn’t asleep.
He hugged Liang Ye from behind, lowering his head to kiss his reddened shoulder blade, where the marks looked somewhat shocking.
Last night had indeed been too much. Wang Dian reflected modestly for two seconds, but his hand had already instinctively covered Liang Ye’s waist, gently pinching it. His voice was hoarse as he called out, “Liang Ye, get up and wash.”
Liang Ye’s voice was even hoarser than his, mixed with a certain embarrassed anger, “Get lost.”
Wang Dian paid no mind and slowly massaged his temples. Liang Ye’s body was as cold as ice, and even holding him close couldn’t warm him up. He sighed, “I’m sorry, I took advantage of you.”
Liang Ye leaned against him, relaxing as he let him massage his head. Before he could speak, he heard Wang Dian continue, “I shouldn’t have exhausted you so much—”
Before he could finish, the person who had been quietly leaning in his arms suddenly sprang up, flipping over to sit on top of him, gripping his neck tightly.
Liang Ye’s face was still terribly pale, but the corners of his eyes were unnaturally red. His wrists bore red marks from being tied up for too long. In fact, Wang Dian had “abused” every inch of his body, with the bruises on his inner thighs blatantly exposed to the air. He stared at Wang Dian with a somewhat ferocious expression, the coldness in his eyes gradually spreading, his grip tightening bit by bit.
Wang Dian loosely grasped his wrists. Although breathing became increasingly difficult, his expression remained calm, as if certain that Liang Ye wouldn’t do anything to him.
The anger in Liang Ye’s eyes intensified, his jaw tightened, and murderous intent permeated his pale, haggard appearance.
Wang Dian frowned and was about to raise his hand when the pressure on his neck suddenly eased. Liang Ye, with a pale face, lowered his eyes and slowly stroked his neck.
Wang Dian reached out to support his waist, his gaze sweeping over every inch of Liang Ye’s skin from bottom to top. The memory of their frenzied and absurd encounter was still fresh; in fact, half an hour ago in the bath, he had pressed Liang Ye down and taken him several times without restraint. At that time, he had also told Liang Ye to “get up and wash”…
Good, now he knew why Liang Ye wanted to choke him.
Liang Ye raised his head, still full of murderous intent. Wang Dian, feeling unusually guilty, smiled at him, his ears turning red.
Wang Dian, you beast.
He reflected halfheartedly for a moment, then tugged at Liang Ye’s wrist. Liang Ye glared at him ominously without moving. After a long while, he finally spoke. “Zhen wants to have you dismembered by five horses.”
Wang Dian reached out and patted his lower back. Liang Ye reflexively shuddered, his expression instantly twisting, his face turning as black as ink. Anger surged, “Wang Dian.”
“Let me massage your head, sleep for an hour or two at least,” Wang Dian’s hand moved up along his spine, pulling him into his arms, coaxing him in a low voice, “You can have me dismembered by five horses after you wake up.”
Liang Ye lay on top of him, glancing at the bite mark he had left on Wang Dian’s shoulder, and snorted softly.
Wang Dian’s expression faltered slightly. He turned his head to kiss Liang Ye’s ear, “Or do you want to go back to sleep now?”
“Heh.” Liang Ye let out a cold laugh, burying his head in the crook of Wang Dian’s neck. “Wang Dian, you better watch out.”
Wang Dian chuckled silently and whispered in his ear, “Don’t sleep, talk to me for a while.”
Liang Ye impatiently raised his head to glare at him. “Are you sick in the head?”
One moment he wanted him to sleep, the next he wanted him to talk.
Wang Dian looked at him innocently, blinking slowly. He cupped Liang Ye’s face and gently rubbed his nose, asking seriously, “As your subject, I have committed such a grave offense against you. Why don’t you kill me?”
Liang Ye closed his eyes wearily and said lazily, “Killing you would be no fun. Zhen has plenty of ways to deal with you.”
Wang Dian’s lips curled into a slight smile. He let Liang Ye lie on top of him, slowly patting his back. “Today is the first day of the month.”
Liang Ye rolled off him and pulled Wang Dian into his arms, as if this was the only way to make him feel secure. “Fourteen more days.”
“Do you really want me to be your empress?” Wang Dian gently tugged at his hair, saying softly, “I’ve worn the wedding clothes, we’ve consummated the marriage. Can’t we consider me wedded to you now?”
Liang Ye was silent for a moment. “No.”
“You can only be Zhen’s empress in this lifetime.”
This time, it was Wang Dian who fell silent.
“Wang Dian, Zhen has already let you sleep with him.” Liang Ye narrowed his eyes. Although he tried to make his tone sound casual, the inherent sense of pressure was undeniable. “What more reassurance do you need?”
Indeed, last night he had a terrible headache, and there was the effect of that incense, but if he truly didn’t want it, Wang Dian wouldn’t have been able to touch even the hem of his clothes. But he couldn’t say it like that. The account between them couldn’t be settled so simply.
So he spoke vaguely and ambiguously.
When an emperor believes he has given the utmost concession and indulgence, any dissatisfaction or objection at this point is considered insubordination.
Liang Ye was determined to confine him in the deep palace, and he wanted him to do so willingly.
Wang Dian tried to think from Liang Ye’s perspective and realized this was the most perfect, effortless, and beneficial solution – eliminating potential hidden dangers, obtaining the person he wanted, and standing on the moral high ground to force him to comply.
He had to admit, for a moment, he felt a pang of reluctance and an urge to compromise.
What more could you want Liang Ye to do? As an ancient emperor, he had already given everything he could within the greatest limits. Why not just leave it at that?
Wang Dian remained silent for a long while, then leaned in to kiss the corner of Liang Ye’s mouth. His voice was gentle as he said, “It’s already very good.”
Liang Ye, finally satisfied, hugged him and closed his eyes.
Wang Dian’s compromise didn’t surprise him. He had countless ways to make someone unable to leave him. Although being taken to bed annoyed him somewhat, he could return the favor tonight, and in countless days and nights to come, Wang Dian would be his possession.
Wang Dian would be his most perfect treasure.
The two cuddled together, each lost in their own thoughts yet intimately close, and fell asleep. Sunlight streamed through the window onto their entangled wedding clothes. Suddenly, there came an urgent knocking at the door.
Liang Ye opened his eyes impatiently. From outside the door came Chong Heng’s somewhat hurried voice, “Master, this servant has urgent matters to report.”
Wang Dian, using Liang Ye’s arm as a pillow, frowned and mumbled unclearly, “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t know. You sleep.” Liang Ye rubbed his brow and kissed Wang Dian’s cheek before getting out of bed with a sour expression. The strange and eerie feeling made his face contort instantly. He turned his head unkindly to look at Wang Dian, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, and a malicious smile appeared on his face. He casually grabbed an outer robe to put on, and opened the palace door with a normal expression. “You’d better have urgent matters—”
“Master, Cui Qi has disappeared,” Chong Heng said, his voice somewhat anxious.
Liang Ye suddenly raised his eyes. “When?”
“This morning.” Chong Heng scratched his head vigorously. “This subordinate had people watching him constantly, never leaving him unattended.”
“Never left unattended, yet the person was lost.” Liang Ye sneered, “What a great skill indeed.”
“This subordinate knows his guilt!” Chong Heng’s face turned pale, and he knelt directly on the ground to apologize.
“Alright.” Liang Ye glanced inside the palace, came out and closed the door, walking towards the study. “Have you searched with people?”
Chong Heng got up and hurriedly followed, saying urgently, “This subordinate has already had people search the entire palace thoroughly, but to no avail.”
“Cui Qi is a cripple. How far could he run?” Liang Ye snorted with a laugh. “Seal off the capital. As long as the person can be found, it doesn’t matter if he’s alive or dead.”
“Yes!” Chong Heng accepted the order and was about to leave.
“Wait.” Liang Ye suddenly called him back, and after a moment of silence, he said, “Did Wang Dian meet with Cui Qi before?”
“No.” Chong Heng said with certainty. “The secret guards have been following Wang Dian. He only goes back and forth between the Wang mansion in Yingsu Square and the palace. Once in the palace, he’s always with you, Master. There’s simply no time to meet Cui Qi.”
Liang Ye waved his hand to dismiss him.
He was writing a secret letter he was preparing to send out when, after two light sounds, someone landed silently on the floor of the study and said in a low voice, “Master, Liang Huan’s whereabouts have been discovered at the Imperial Academy.”
Liang Ye raised his eyelids to look at him. “Today?”
“Yes.” The person knelt on the ground and answered, “This morning, someone took him to the Imperial Academy. The Imperial Academy’s teacher Liu Ce went to receive the person, but before they could get close, Liang Huan disappeared again.”
The pen rolled between his fingertips a couple of times. His head was throbbing with waves of pain, and the faint ache in his waist made him even more irritable. Wang Dian’s breathless and teasing laugh from last night flashed inappropriately through his mind.
‘Ziyu, does it feel good… Do you think those secret guards can hear?’
“Bang!”
Liang Ye slammed his palm heavily on the table, his face black as night, his ears red with anger.
Damn bastard!
Tonight, if he didn’t make Wang Dian scream his throat hoarse, he wouldn’t be surnamed Liang!
The secret guard, not understanding, only thought he was losing his temper and knelt on the ground, trembling.
Liang Ye slowly withdrew his hand, staring at the clear palm print on the table and the cracks spreading around it. He said coldly, “Take people to search Wang Dian’s mansion in Yingsu Square. Be careful not to alarm the people in the mansion, and don’t touch anything. Do you understand?”
Liang Huan appeared at this time. He didn’t believe that Cui Qi’s sudden disappearance was unrelated to Wang Dian.
Although he had never heard of such an unreasonable search request, the master’s words were absolute orders. The secret guard could only reluctantly agree.
Liang Ye fumed alone in the study for a while, but eventually went to the Imperial Medical Courtyard.
Under Li Bu’s puzzled gaze, he said calmly, “Medicine for bite wounds and scratches, and that box of ointment you gave Zhen last time.”
Li Bu’s old face reddened upon hearing this. He hurriedly went to fetch two boxes of ointment for him. “This box is for external injuries. Apply it to the wound, and it will take effect within three days. This box… Your Majesty, forgive this old minister for speaking out of turn, but although you are in your prime, you should still… practice moderation in bedroom matters.”
The previous box could last for more than three months, and it hadn’t been that long…
Liang Ye remembered the small wooden box he had smashed in anger the night before. He calmly cleared his throat, “Zhen understands.”
This box would definitely be used entirely on Wang Dian.
He put the items in his sleeve, holding only the small box for external injuries in his hand. Although the matters of Cui Qi and Liang Huan made him somewhat irritable, it still couldn’t dampen his rather cheerful mood. He even personally ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare several new and interesting dishes that Wang Dian loved, before leisurely returning to the sleeping chambers.
A faint fragrance still lingered in the sleeping chambers.
Liang Ye tossed the medicine box in his hand, saying cheerfully to the person behind the screen, “Get up and apply medicine to the wound on your shoulder. Zhen also had them make those exotic dishes you love—”
As he spoke, he walked around the screen, his words suddenly cutting off.
The bedding was messily piled on the bed, the entangled wedding clothes carelessly thrown on the floor. The bed was empty, without a trace of anyone.
The cheerful smile suddenly froze on his face.
