The Emperor told Ling Qiyan to handle an official task, so no matter how unwilling Ling Qiyan was, he had to bite the bullet and go. The very next morning, he went to the Ministry of Rites.

The head of the Bureau of Receptions was the Vice Minister of Rites, Liu Shang, who was none other than Liu Qingxi's father.

This man was in his forties, an age when one should be at their most spirited, yet his expression was haggard and his face careworn, with white hair already at his temples. It was likely due to the immense blow from his legitimate son's violent death.

Previously, when the Liu Manor held the funeral, Ling Qiyan had sent his manor's Chief Steward to offer condolences on his behalf. He heard that the Liu Manor was shrouded in a gloomy and miserable atmosphere, and it seemed they wouldn't recover anytime soon.

Facing Ling Qiyan, Liu Shang showed little enthusiasm or warmth on his face. Even his greetings and salutations were performed perfunctorily.

Ling Qiyan could understand, though. Liu Qingxi had gone missing after visiting his estate, and the last person to see him alive was a maidservant from his manor. To expect the Liu family to calmly accept that Liu Qingxi's death was an accident, without harboring a shred of suspicion or complaint towards him, was probably something even a saint couldn't do.

However, Ling Qiyan didn't care. He had never been concerned with such things.

Besides all the officials from the Bureau of Receptions, the heads of the Court of State Ceremonial, the Bureau of Translators, and the State Guesthouse were also present. These departments all dealt with vassal state affairs: the Bureau of Receptions handled policies and decrees, the Court of State Ceremonial managed tributary missions and audiences with the emperor, the Bureau of Translators was in charge of interpretation, and the State Guesthouse handled receptions. According to the Emperor's wishes, Ling Qiyan needed to go to each place to learn.

Of course, although it was called 'learning,' these officials didn't dare treat him as a real student. They all revered him as a superior, posturing as if they were ready to listen respectfully to his instructions.

Moreover, His Majesty had specifically instructed that the matter of foreign envoys coming to the capital for the Longevity Festival next month was to be handled by Prince Yu. No matter how unwilling they were, they could only obey.

Thus, the officials took turns coming forward to explain the duties of their respective departments to Ling Qiyan in detail, and then meticulously reported all matters concerning the diplomatic missions. Ling Qiyan listened patiently for over an hour, growing more and more bored, and finally couldn't help but interrupt the still-yammering Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial: "Alright, that's enough. You can just handle these matters. You all have experience, so this prince, who knows nothing, won't try to show off before experts. From now on, just send someone to my manor every three days to report to me."

"But His Majesty said..."

Ling Qiyan cast a sidelong glance with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Is what His Majesty said important? In any case, you aren't happy about this prince interfering in your departments' affairs. If I were to manage too much and find fault with you, you would surely hold a grudge against me. It's better this way. This prince gets to take it easy, and you can relax too. What's not to like?"

Everyone fell silent at once. 'Is what His Majesty said important?'—such a disrespectful thing to say. Ling Qiyan dared to say it, but they certainly did not. However, since this was what Ling Qiyan was thinking, it was naturally for the best. They, too, feared the arrival of a difficult master who would boss them around at every turn.

Ling Qiyan didn't stay long, leaving the Ministry of Rites before noon to report back to the Emperor in the palace. The Emperor earnestly urged him to do a good job, adding that the Crown Prince also wished him well and that he, an old man, wanted to see the brothers live in harmony and strive together for the sake of the Great Cheng Dynasty. Ling Qiyan hummed in agreement, but in truth, the words went in one ear and out the other, not a single one taken to heart.

After leaving the Emperor's presence, just as he stepped out the door, he had the bad luck of running into Ling Qiyu.

Ling Qiyan couldn't be bothered with him and simply pretended not to see him, not even giving the Crown Prince a direct glance.

As they passed each other, Ling Qiyu called out to him, "Did Elder Brother start his official duties today?"

Ling Qiyan lazily raised his eyelids. "Thanks to you. I heard you were the one who suggested it to Imperial Father? That this prince should be given some proper work to do?"

"Is that not a good thing?" Ling Qiyu turned sideways, a smile on his lips, and stared into Ling Qiyan's eyes.

"What's so good about it?" Ling Qiyan asked him coldly.

"You and I are brothers. In the future, we will work together with one heart, ruler and subject in harmony, governing the world together. What's not to like about that? Is Elder Brother unwilling to help me, just as Fifth Imperial Uncle helps Imperial Father?"

The Fifth Imperial Uncle, Prince Jing, was the Emperor's full-blooded brother and also the brother most trusted by their Imperial Father. According to the ancestral rules of the Great Cheng Dynasty, the eldest legitimate son was made Crown Prince, and all other princes were enfeoffed as kings upon reaching adulthood. After the emperor's death and the new emperor's ascension, they were to leave the capital for their fiefdoms. But there were exceptions.

A prince of the reigning dynasty who incurred the emperor's displeasure might be sent to his fiefdom early, while a brother highly regarded by the new emperor could be allowed to remain in the capital and entrusted with important responsibilities.

Ling Qiyan had almost become the former, while Prince Jing was the latter. Prince Jing's Manor was right in Shangjing City, next to the imperial palace. Prince Jing also held military power and commanded troops on the border year-round, which showed how much the Emperor valued him.

Now, Ling Qiyu was saying that he hoped Ling Qiyan could become a second Prince Jing.

Ling Qiyan sneered, the smile not reaching his eyes. "His Highness the Crown Prince is so considerate. If you truly value this prince so much, why not tell Imperial Father to let this prince attend the morning court sessions as well?"

Ling Qiyu was choked by his words, and the smile vanished from his lips. Ling Qiyan had no interest in wasting any more breath on him and turned to leave.

He knew it. Not a single true word ever came out of that bastard's mouth.

Vassal state affairs were important, but they didn't involve contact with other court officials. The only one was Liu Shang, who was somewhat valued by the Emperor, and he already had a grudge against him. How could Ling Qiyu dare to truly let him attend court and listen to politics? The rule that the eldest legitimate son becomes Crown Prince was established by the founding emperor; Ling Qiyu's claim had been illegitimate from the very beginning, so how could he not be wary of him?

Trying to curry favor with him while cautiously holding back—wasn't he tired of it?

Although he still didn't understand why Ling Qiyu had such a change of heart and insisted on playing this 'brotherly love and respect' game with him on the surface, he couldn't be bothered to waste effort thinking about it.

After leaving the palace and getting into his carriage, Ling Qiyan rubbed his growling stomach. He felt indignant. He'd made a trip to the palace and didn't even get a bite of a hot meal, and on top of that, someone had brought him bad luck. How utterly unfortunate.

At the hour of Shen, classes at the Imperial Academy ended.

Wen Ying left and traveled two streets. At the corner of a secluded alley, his carriage was stopped. A person who looked like a eunuch came to the side of the carriage and said that their master invited him over for a chat.

Wen Ying pushed open half the carriage window and looked over warily. A very luxurious carriage was parked a short distance ahead, and he couldn't see who was inside.

Wen Ying couldn't help but frown. After the last incident, Ling Qiyan had assigned two guards to him. Just as they were about to drive the man away, the eunuch hurriedly announced his identity: "I am from Elder Princess Huaying's Manor. The one in the carriage is Princess Xihua. She invites Minor Triple First Scholar Wen to come over for a chat in person."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the other carriage was pushed open, and a pretty maidservant jumped down. It was indeed the same one who had stuffed a scented pouch into Wen Ying's hands on behalf of Princess Xihua at Prince Yu's Manor.

Wen Ying had no choice but to get out of his carriage, walk over to the other one, and properly greet the person inside.

Princess Xihua pushed open the window and leaned against it, looking at him with a grin. Her gaze fell to his waist, which was bare. The young princess was slightly displeased. "Where's the scented pouch this princess gave you before? Why aren't you wearing it?"

Wen Ying kept his eyes lowered, not looking at her, and said indifferently, "Your Highness's affections are misplaced; this student is overwhelmed. I had intended to find an opportunity to return the item to Your Highness as it was, but His Highness later asked for it. My sincerest apologies."

The young princess frowned upon hearing this. "What's he doing with my scented pouch? What business is it of his that I gave it to you?"

"This student belongs to His Highness."

"You're just a retainer in his manor. This princess has taken a fancy to you and gave you a scented pouch. Does that need his permission? Isn't he overstepping his bounds a bit?"

Wen Ying finally raised his eyes and calmly told her, "This student is His Highness's intimate guest."

Princess Xihua was stunned. She subconsciously covered her mouth with her handkerchief, barely stifling a gasp that was about to escape. Her eyes reddened with anger. "You're lying! Even if you don't like me, there's no need to lie to me like this! Elder Cousin said you were just a retainer in his manor!"

"This concerns His Highness's reputation. I hope Your Highness will not speak of this to others."

"You—!"

The young princess was both angry and vexed. "You're willing to debase yourself like this? You clearly have a bright future ahead of you, why would you choose this path?!"

"This student is doing this willingly. Someone like me cannot bear Your Highness's deep affection. I apologize."

The young princess slammed the window shut in anger. "Let's go!"

Her maidservant also glared at Wen Ying before jumping back into the carriage.

The carriage from the Elder Princess's Manor rumbled away. Wen Ying turned around nonchalantly and sat back down in his own carriage.

In the evening, Wen Ying came to the main courtyard to greet Ling Qiyan, accompanied him for dinner, and then helped him change his medicinal dressing.

The wound on Ling Qiyan's back had mostly healed, but to avoid leaving a scar, the medicine still had to be applied.

As Wen Ying's warm palm kneaded his lower back, Ling Qiyan narrowed his eyes and hummed in comfort.

Wen Ying unconsciously applied more pressure. After a while, Ling Qiyan turned his head to the side and peered at him. "I heard that girl Xihua blocked your path on your way back today?"

"Yes."

"What did you two talk about?"

Wen Ying raised his gaze to meet Ling Qiyan's eyes and said calmly, "She asked this student why I wasn't wearing the scented pouch she gave me. This student told her the truth."

Ling Qiyan didn't understand at first. "What truth?"

"This student said that this student is Your Highness's intimate guest." Wen Ying looked at him, his tone calm, yet it seemed to be laced with some indescribable emotion.

Ling Qiyan was amused. He hooked a finger into the lapel of Wen Ying's robe, teasing it slowly, his expression somewhere between a pout and a smile. "Is that so? You're this prince's intimate guest? How come this prince didn't know?"

"Does Your Highness think I'm not?" Wen Ying asked back, his expression unreadable.

Ling Qiyan thought for a moment, then nodded. "You barely count as half of one, I suppose."

As he spoke, he got up and straddled Wen Ying's lap, his fingers still hooking and scratching at his chest. "Poor scholar, we had an agreement that day. Once this prince's injury has healed, you will attend to me in bed."

Wen Ying's hands rested on Ling Qiyan's waist, kneading gently. His eyes were lowered as if he were contemplating something.

Ling Qiyan didn't push his hands away, merely watching him with a smile, waiting for him to submit.

A moment later, Wen Ying said in a low voice, "Can Your Highness wait a little longer, until after the Autumn Imperial Examination, after this student has finished the exam?"

Ling Qiyan's expression instantly darkened. He gave the man a hard shove, angered. "Last time, you said to wait until this prince's injury healed. Now you're saying to wait until after the Autumn Imperial Examination. Next time, are you going to say we should wait until after next year's Capital Examination? Are you playing me for a fool?"

Wen Ying suddenly pulled him back into his arms, embraced him, and flipped over to press him down onto the couch. As Ling Qiyan punched and kicked him, Wen Ying pinned him down with his body, his kisses landing on the side of Ling Qiyan's neck.

As Wen Ying's moist lips brushed back and forth across his neck, and his hand squeezed a sensitive spot on his waist, Ling Qiyan felt a tingling numbness and itchiness. His body went limp, and he no longer had the strength to kick. All that escaped his lips from time to time were alluring sounds he himself wasn't even aware of making.

After holding Ling Qiyan down and kissing him for a while, Wen Ying let out a suppressed gasp, released him, and got off him. He knelt on the floor to beg for forgiveness. "This student has overstepped. May Your Highness forgive me."

Ling Qiyan dazedly came back to his senses and gave Wen Ying a kick, but without much force behind it.

Wen Ying still refused to submit.

After a moment's stalemate, Ling Qiyan hooked his lapel again, pulling him forward, and said viciously, "After the Autumn Imperial Examination, so be it. This prince will trust you one last time. If you try to delay again then, this prince will chop off your family jewels and have you go keep Jiang Lin and the others company!"

It was only a month away, anyway. He would just wait!