Chapter 8

As night slowly descended, the flickering candlelight cast mottled shadows on the sides of the bed curtains. A faint creaking sound echoed in the room, and a pale, slender hand spasmed as it reached out from the bed curtains, fingers gripping the bed tightly. The heavy breathing and moans were thick with pain.

Before long, another hand flipped over and pulled him back, palm facing up, forcing the person beneath to interlock fingers, palms pressed together. The air within the gauzy curtains was warm, and the breathing was hot and intense.

Xie Ye’s gaze was unfocused as he lay on the bed, a thin line of blood seeping from his robe. Li Jingci’s fingers threaded through his disheveled long hair, fingertips caressing his cool, jade-like skin.

In his memory, the Pavilion Master of Mingyuan, though slender, always had a well-proportioned and graceful figure. Yet, after being captured for just a few months, Xie Ye had become so emaciated that he seemed frail.

Li Jingci used his thumb to wipe away the red tear stains at the corner of Xie Ye’s eyes, looking down at those exhausted eyes that had been tormented. Xie Ye had a pair of exceptionally beautiful fox-like eyes, with long, dark lashes that trembled gently with tears.

He was too tired to speak, only able to look at Li Jingci with eyes full of desire and helplessness.

Li Jingci’s heart softened inexplicably, suddenly feeling a bit afraid to meet his gaze.

After a long while, Xie Ye finally caught his breath. He suddenly raised his hand to gently caress Li Jingci’s cheek, his expression gentle and submissive.

“Your Highness.”

Li Jingci’s heart skipped a beat, instinctively feeling that nothing good would come from this person after being tormented. He was just about to lean down to silence him with a kiss.

Unexpectedly, Xie Ye spoke, “If I become Your Highness’s person, at your disposal from now on, can Your Highness give me a way to live?”

“I never intended for you to die,” Li Jingci replied hoarsely.

“The way to live that I’m asking for isn’t just about staying alive,” Xie Ye said with a soft smile, his voice still hoarse and pleading after crying.

“I want Your Highness to stop locking me up, to stop imprisoning me in the dungeon, and to drive away that one-eared servant who doesn’t get along with me.” His voice was enticing as he spoke: “Then I will give Your Highness whatever you desire.”

Li Jingci stared at him intently: “Even if you don’t give me what I want, I have my ways to get what I want.”

Xie Ye’s smile vanished abruptly: “Then let’s see if Your Highness can find a doctor faster than I can find a way to die.”

“Or is Your Highness also interested in corpses?”

Li Jingci grabbed his wrist and pinned it to the bedhead, leaning down to bury himself deeply.

Xie Ye soon lost the strength to speak again.

…

After that day, Li Jingci indeed never locked him back in the dungeon, and the one-eared jailer was nowhere to be seen. The room was warm with burning charcoal, and opening the window revealed a world of wind and snow, while closing it brought the warmth of spring.

Xie Ye wandered around the room every day, with Zhao Ming supporting him.

“Brother Xie, your leg injury has healed so quickly. In just a few months, you can walk again,” Zhao Ming praised.

Xie Ye smiled and let go of his arm, trying to take a few more steps on his own: “The doctors in the mansion treated me well, or perhaps I’m just lucky, and my body heals quickly.”

Zhao Ming looked at him with a slight change in expression and suddenly spoke: “If only it could always be like this.”

Xie Ye turned his head and asked casually: “Like what?”

“Just… staying here with Brother Xie every day, like this,” the servant said bashfully.

After speaking, he felt he had offended Xie Ye and didn’t dare to look up at him, standing there with his head down, his ears red like ripe fruit.

The next second, Xie Ye reached out, gently lifted his chin, studied his face for a moment, then released him with a smile: “It’s not bad.”

“If your Highness allows me to live in the mansion until I’m old and gray, this wouldn’t be so bad.”

The servant’s heart skipped a beat as he watched Xie Ye’s tall and graceful back, his throat involuntarily moving a few times.

Li Jingci almost stayed with him every night, and the servants in the mansion were all gossiping that the Second Prince had brought back a beautiful, delicate woman from the Jiangnan water towns, who had captivated him so much that he couldn’t sleep at night.

The only truth in the rumors was the beauty part; the delicate body, Jiangnan water towns, and woman… none of it matched.

Xie Ye was born in the Northwest and had led the Mingyuan Pavilion on the desert border for decades, having nothing to do with Jiangnan water towns.

And he was a man.

But once this rumor spread, Li Jingci had a few difficult days.

Li Jingci was known among the princes for his diligence, and this news reached the ears of those with ulterior motives in the court. It was no surprise that Li Jingci received several memorials criticizing him and was scolded by his father during court.

His second and fourth brothers showed a hint of joy without revealing it, while the Crown Prince didn’t show much reaction, only patting his shoulder after court and sighing, “Third Brother.”

Li Jingci wisely bowed deeply: “Rest assured, Crown Prince, I will restrain myself and serve Your Highness diligently.”

Xie Ye was unaware of all this, only noticing that the doctors in the mansion visited more frequently than usual, sometimes even choosing times when Li Jingci wasn’t around.

“How have you been lately?” Jiang Huaiyuan placed his fingers on Xie Ye’s wrist, asking with concern.

“The leg still hurts, but the injuries to the meridians have lost sensation,” Xie Ye replied gently. “Thank you for your treatment, Doctor.”

Jiang Huaiyuan first apologized to him, then lifted Xie Ye’s robe to reveal his ankle. Above the ankle was a straight, slender calf, covered in red marks and fingerprints.

The sight made Jiang Huaiyuan’s face flush, but he steadied himself and examined the injured muscles and bones, his fingers extending upward, pressing gently on the knee before quickly withdrawing.

“Recovery is rapid, but you still need to take care and avoid strenuous activity. I’ll report to His Highness today,” Jiang Huaiyuan said.

Xie Ye showed no embarrassment, instead swinging his legs casually and adjusting his robe slightly: “Thank you.”

Jiang Huaiyuan found the room unbearably hot and couldn’t stay any longer. He packed his things and prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, Xie Ye called out to him from behind: “Doctor Jiang, don’t rush. I have one more request.”

Jiang Huaiyuan stopped, turning back stiffly: “What is it? Feel free to speak.”

“Doctor Jiang, do you know of a herb in the capital called Qianhun Grass, which has anesthetic and pain-relieving effects?”

Jiang Huaiyuan nodded slightly: “I know it.”

A hint of bitterness appeared in Xie Ye’s eyes as he softened his voice: “Could I trouble Doctor Jiang to get some for me? Sometimes old injuries flare up, causing sleepless nights. With this herb, it would be easier to endure the nights.”

Jiang Huaiyuan nodded: “Rest assured, Brother Xie, I’ll find some.”

Xie Ye smiled slightly, watching him leave the courtyard.

Zhao Ming asked worriedly: “Brother Xie, do you still hurt badly at night? Should I prepare some more medicinal soup for you…”

Xie Ye raised a hand, speaking gently: “No need.”

Zhao Ming was confused.

Xie Ye traced the spilled tea on the table with his fingertips, his demeanor calm and composed, reminiscent of his days strategizing in Mingyuan Pavilion.

“The effects of Qianhun Grass aren’t limited to anesthesia and pain relief,” he said softly to Zhao Ming, looking at the chaotic water stains on the table.

“When Qianhun Grass is boiled and taken with blood, the body becomes a natural refining furnace, absorbing and draining all nearby internal energy, converting it for personal use.”

Zhao Ming was a clever servant, quick to grasp the implications. The massive information in Xie Ye’s words widened his eyes in shock: “You plan to do this to His Highness—”

“Your Highness comes to me every night. Guess how many more times his internal energy can sustain him?” Xie Ye’s eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, but in the blink of an eye, all expression vanished. When he faced Zhao Ming, his eyes inexplicably filled with tears.

“Zhao Ming, you’ll help me, won’t you?”

No one could refuse Xie Ye’s gaze.

Zhao Ming lowered his head, contemplating for a moment, then silently agreed to this plan that could lead to the prince’s downfall and the extermination of nine generations.