Last night was New Year’s Eve, and because of the Prince’s matters, Shen Que barely closed his eyes all night. Today, he found the Peace Amulet that Lin Xie had left behind at the Little Prince’s place, which kept him on edge for the rest of the day, his mind never at ease for even a moment.

Now, returning to Lan Sheng Courtyard after work, the tension in Shen Que’s heart finally eased a bit. He collapsed onto the bed, too exhausted to even change clothes, and fell asleep lying across the bed.

Perhaps he forgot to cover himself with a blanket, as Shen Que felt cold in his dreams, unconsciously curling up his body.

In a half-dream, half-awake state, he vaguely saw a shadow approaching from behind, wrapping around him. He slowly lowered his eyes and saw a pair of fair wrists, slender yet strong, tightening around his waist and abdomen.

The person wore a white jade thumb ring, smooth and lustrous like fine jade. Instinctively, Shen Que reached out to touch it, but then seemed to remember something and timidly withdrew his hand.

This was the ring the Prince wore, so these hands…

“What is it?” The person behind him leaned against his shoulder, warm breath tickling his ear like feathers, speaking in a low voice with a hint of amusement, “Why did you pull back?”

“Ah Que,” the person chuckled softly, “Ah Que…”

Suddenly, Shen Que remembered the name that haunted his dreams, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, waking up with a start.

His mind was hot, but inside his undergarments, it was cold, a sense of indescribable shame mixed with a bit of disappointment slowly creeping up.

Shen Que rarely had such dreams. He considered himself cowardly, not daring to indulge even in dreams. Any extra fantasy felt like a desecration to the Prince.

He thought himself truly despicable. Just today, after barely glancing at Xie Shiguan’s loose collar and the elegant wrist resting on the pulse pillow, he dared to have such a dream and such a reaction.

Shen Que sat on the bed in a daze, scolding himself internally before slowly getting up to fetch a clean undergarment from the clothing chest by the bed.

Unexpectedly, just as he untied his undergarment, he suddenly heard the sound of a wooden latch falling to the ground, followed by a slightly abrupt “creak.”

Shen Que’s hands and feet became flustered, turning the clean undergarment over and over, unable to find the waistband. In a hurry, he shook out the bedding and covered himself.

The visitor held a bright lamp, wearing a dark long coat with silver patterns. The orange light from the lamp reflected off the fabric, dazzling like flowing gold.

He approached with a smile, his voice still that low, hoarse tone, “Why hide under the covers when you see me? I’m not a wild beast.”

The person Shen Que feared most to see was him, yet he pretended to be innocent, leisurely lighting the candlestick on the table before removing his outer robe and sitting by the bed.

“You’re still awake, why not light a lamp in the room?” he asked, “Being so frugal, are you short of money?”

Lin Xie paused, gently covering Shen Que’s hand, speaking in a gentle tone as if negotiating, “How about this, Ah Que calls me ‘husband,’ and I’ll pamper you, give you some money, how about it?”

Shen Que didn’t respond, pretending to press the bedding tighter.

“If you can’t speak, sign language is fine too,” Lin Xie acted magnanimous, “Call me once, and I’ll give you ten taels of silver.”

Shen Que seemed a bit annoyed, raising his hand, “I’m not a little singer!”

As he raised his hand, the undergarment he hadn’t had time to tuck into the bedding was exposed.

Lin Xie, with sharp eyes, noticed immediately. One end of the undergarment had already been pulled into the bedding by Shen Que. If he were a moment later, he might not have seen it.

Quickly, he pulled out the undergarment. Shen Que’s eyes widened, lunging to snatch it back, but with the bedding empty underneath, he dared not make big movements.

He didn’t dare to get up, so naturally, he couldn’t win against the rascal in front of him. While he hesitated, Lin Xie had already brought the undergarment under the lamp to examine it. With just one glance, he understood.

“I wondered what you were hiding,” Lin Xie’s smile looked mischievous, “Who did you dream of just now?”

Holding the thin cloth, he slowly climbed onto the bed, inching closer. He knew Shen Que didn’t want to look, but he deliberately waved the “evidence” in front of Shen Que’s eyes.

Shen Que, both ashamed and angry, snatched the undergarment and quickly stuffed it back under the bedding.

He used considerable force, causing Lin Xie to lean forward, but Lin Xie didn’t resist, instead deliberately falling into Shen Que’s arms, burying his head in his chest, and laughing softly.

After laughing, he teased again, “You’re so soft.”

Shen Que hated his frivolous teasing, moving to push him away, but before he could, the person on top of him spoke again, “Go ahead and push. If you make me unhappy, I’ll lift the covers and make you stand naked in the courtyard for everyone to laugh at.”

The person in front of him was a shameless scoundrel, and Shen Que believed he would do as he said, so he dared not push anymore, retracting his outstretched hand.

Enduring humiliation, Shen Que let him lie in his arms. Lin Xie, however, turned over, lying on his back, looking up at him.

“A face like a bitter melon,” Lin Xie commented, then extended a finger to push up the corners of Shen Que’s mouth, “Do I really make you that unhappy?”

If not for fear of retaliation, Shen Que would have agreed.

He not only disliked him but wished to kick him into the snow, stomp on his face a few times, and beat him until he was black and blue.

“Smile,” Lin Xie insisted, “I want to see your dimples.”

Shen Que refused to smile, but seemed to think of something, pulling out a Peace Amulet from his collar, angrily throwing it at him.

The Peace Amulet was wrapped in soft cloth, very light, and even if thrown hard, it wouldn’t hurt.

Lin Xie didn’t seem surprised at all, picking up the Peace Amulet, the bright red tassel twirling around his fingers, “I wondered where my Peace Amulet went. Turns out you stole it back. You have no manners, taking back something you’ve already given.”

Shen Que glared at him, his gestures filled with anger, “I found this in the Little Prince’s room today!”

“Indeed,” Lin Xie remained calm, “Where else would you find it?”

This person could easily provoke Shen Que’s anger. He clearly understood his meaning but still lied to tease him.

He did it on purpose, acting like a rogue, yet Shen Que had no way to deal with him.

Seeing him fuming, Lin Xie’s eyes curved, then lazily sat up, stretching before slowly turning around, cupping Shen Que’s face in his hands.

“I didn’t mean to, but you’re always disobedient and have a bad temper,” he spoke as if he were the one being bullied and threatened, “If you glare at me again, next time, it won’t just be a Peace Amulet left at the Prince’s place.”

Shen Que shrank back slightly, his gaze trembling. He was truly afraid.

Before the Peace Amulet appeared in the Prince’s chamber, he still harbored a bit of wishful thinking.

Over the years, he had faced danger several times, yet always managed to escape unscathed.

He thought the worst was death, believing Lin Xie might not escalate things to the Prince. Like a child, terrified, he could only lie to himself, hoping for a turn of events, avoiding a dead end.

But now, he had to wake up, forced to believe the person before him was capable of anything.

Lin Xie watched as Shen Que slowly withdrew his gaze, his eyelashes lowering inch by inch, seemingly obedient, but Lin Xie knew he was still stubborn, still unwilling.

But Lin Xie was never a kind person. Whatever he wanted, he would get.

If the person before him was willing, it would be the icing on the cake. If not, he would still force it!

He had endured long enough, watching this mute servant stand by, bending over, the belt cinching that slender waist, the thin silk clinging to his body, making him think of the amber-like skin beneath.

He endured daily, thinking of this mute servant to the point of madness. Now that he finally had him, once or twice wasn’t enough to satisfy.

…

The Little Mute wasn’t particularly fair, but his back was flawless, like a perfectly fired piece of porcelain. When he struggled, his muscles shifted, revealing those beautiful shoulder blades.

Lin Xie wasn’t satisfied yet, but the mute suddenly struggled desperately, several times being pressed down, yet persistently reaching for the bed’s edge.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Lin Xie’s tone carried a hint of displeasure, “It’s too late to escape now.”

Shen Que, however, attempted to turn over, looking like he wanted to speak.

Lin Xie, seeing his pitiful state, his long black hair cascading down, softly resting on the damp inner garment, his back marked with bites, clearly in pain, his eyes red as if he had just cried.

His Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously, finally loosening his grip, allowing him to sign.

Shen Que hurriedly gestured, “I need to relieve myself.”

Lin Xie seemed not to understand, tilting his head slightly, his gaze falling on Shen Que’s bitten lower lip.

“I need to relieve myself!” he repeated, his eyes growing redder, as if about to cry.

After venting, Lin Xie’s tone softened, still wearing that smile, now tinged with desire and satisfaction, “Alright, go ahead.”

Shen Que’s gaze lowered, falling on him. Half his body was pinned by Lin Xie, almost drained of strength, unable to move.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Xie’s eyes curved again, “Where else do you want to go? Just do it here.”

Shen Que glared at him, his eyes filled with surprise and shame.

“Don’t be afraid,” Lin Xie laughed, “I don’t mind. Why aren’t you moving? Need me to help you pee?”

Shen Que, exasperated, kicked him in the chest, but Lin Xie caught his ankle. His toenails were neatly trimmed, a small mole on his little toe, hard to notice unless up close.

Lin Xie held his foot, lightly brushing the top.

Shen Que was shocked, desperately pulling his foot back.

Not only was he shocked, but Lin Xie himself was surprised. Normally, even the fairest, cleanest feet of a bed partner wouldn’t evoke such a reaction, nor would he act this way.

Today… he must have lost his mind.

“Go,” Lin Xie finally released him, “relieve yourself.”

Shen Que was indeed in a hurry, otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken to him. Barefoot, he got out of bed, retrieving a chamber pot from a corner under the bed.

Lin Xie didn’t see clearly, but in a blink, the Little Mute ran behind a paper screen. Soon, a shadow appeared on the screen, squatting down, yet no sound came.

His heart skipped a beat, noticing he had taken a woman’s chamber pot, not a night pot.

But Shen Que’s body was clearly intact, only with an extra hidden part below, yet he appeared to be a man.

How could he… be squatting to pee?

The person behind the screen seemed embarrassed, holding it in for a while, until finally unable to bear it, Lin Xie heard a faint trickle of water from behind.

Lin Xie suddenly felt restless again.

Author’s Note:

Prince: Exploding with frustration.

———