Ling Qiyan pinched his chin with two fingers, staring into his cold eyes. He narrowed his own eyes slightly and sneered, "Poor scholar, are you sulking with this prince? What right do you have to sulk with this prince?"

But Wen Ying asked him, "Was Your Highness happy last night?"

Ling Qiyan was speechless for a moment, then said irritably, "It is your good fortune to be favored by this prince. Don't become arrogant because of this favor and put on airs with me."

Wen Ying said dismissively, "Was it Your Highness who favored this student?"

Ling Qiyan raised his hand in anger, paused, and when it came down, it was to lightly pat Wen Ying's face. The pats were one after another, completely without force, but the words that came from his mouth were not pleasant. "Stinking scholar, don't forget your status. Do you really think this prince has no temper?"

Wen Ying caught his hand and pulled it away from his face, saying calmly, "This student has always remembered."

He remembered at every moment the difference between heaven and earth that separated him and Ling Qiyan.

But he was not resigned to it.

"You remember and you still dare to treat this prince this way?!" One sentence successfully angered Ling Qiyan again.

Wen Ying reminded him in a cold voice, "Last night, it was Your Highness who summoned this student. It was Your Highness who made this student take off his clothes and enter Your Highness's bed. It was Your Highness who initiated it by climbing on top..."

"Shut up! Shut up for this prince!"

Furious and flustered, Ling Qiyan threw himself at Wen Ying to beat him, tumbling off the couch in the process. He fell into Wen Ying's arms, and they rolled into a heap on the floor. He ended up straddling Wen Ying, fiercely choking his neck.

Wen Ying let him choke him until he was almost out of breath, then suddenly threw him off and onto the floor, turning to pin him down forcefully.

His eyes held a fierceness that had never been there before as he stared at Ling Qiyan. Ling Qiyan was stunned. For a moment, he felt an urge to shrink back, but when he came to his senses, he became even more enraged.

"You dare to treat this prince this way! This prince will kill you!"

"Enough."

Wen Ying released his hands, got off Ling Qiyan, and let him go.

"If Your Highness truly cannot swallow this anger, then just punish this student directly." Wen Ying's tone was stiff, his expression sour, and his eyes showed not a hint of remorse or fear.

Ling Qiyan's eyes were red with anger. "Get out."

Wen Ying's gaze shifted to him. After this tussle, Ling Qiyan's already loosely worn clothes were even more disheveled, and his hair was a mess. He was panting, his face was flushed, and the corners of his eyes were extremely red, as if he had been badly bullied.

...As if he had been badly bullied by him.

The seductive images from last night unexpectedly surfaced in his mind. Wen Ying lowered his eyes and softened his stance. "This student overstepped. Your Highness, please don't be offended."

Before Ling Qiyan could say another word, Wen Ying had already slipped his hands under his armpits, lifting the still-lying figure from the floor. He gently patted his back. "Your Highness should get up. The floor is cold, don't lie on it."

Ling Qiyan pushed him but couldn't move him. Wen Ying had already swept him up into his arms, placed him back on the couch, and covered him with a woolen blanket.

Ling Qiyan kicked out a foot, but Wen Ying held it down. "Stop making a scene. This student was wrong. May Your Highness quell your anger."

Ling Qiyan asked, "Do you know where you were wrong?"

"Making Your Highness angry was this student's mistake."

Ling Qiyan huffed lightly.

'This guy is just saying that to placate me. If I really keep dwelling on it, I'll anger myself to death.'

Wen Ying was still kneeling by the couch, massaging Ling Qiyan's leg. After a few rubs, Ling Qiyan felt comfortable, and most of his anger dissipated. He couldn't help but curse inwardly, 'This stinking scholar, he only softens up after being scolded and beaten. He's really asking for it.'

Seeing Wen Ying looking submissive with his head bowed, his mood instantly improved. A smile returned to his face. Wen Ying glanced at him but said nothing more.

This little highness was just like that, his temper always came and went quickly. He was the most carefree person one could find.

'This is good too. Only someone like him can live so comfortably and freely.'

Ling Qiyan wanted to eat an orange. He grabbed one from the low table beside him, tossed it at Wen Ying, and ordered imperiously, "Peel this orange for this prince."

Wen Ying didn't catch it. The orange hit his arm and rolled onto the floor.

Wen Ying bent down to pick it up and noticed something by the footstool. He picked it up as well. Before he could see it clearly, Ling Qiyan's expression changed. Quick as a flash, he pounced over, snatched the object from his hand, and put on a different face, scolding him fiercely, "What are you doing! Don't touch this prince's things!"

Ling Qiyan frantically stuffed the object under the low table. Wen Ying watched him expressionlessly and gave his calf a hard squeeze.

Ling Qiyan hissed and collapsed limply onto the couch. Wen Ying's hand reached past him and retrieved the object from under the low table.

It was a string of Burmese bells.

Ling Qiyan tried to snatch them back, but Wen Ying was already frowning, examining the string of objects.

Ling Qiyan aimed a hard kick at him and pounced on him again, his face a picture of shame, anger, and frustration. "Who let you touch this prince's things!"

He himself didn't know how this thing had fallen by the footstool. It seemed he had used it on this couch a few days ago, casually shoved it under the low table, and then forgotten about it. Perhaps it had been accidentally knocked down during his scuffle with Wen Ying just now.

Wen Ying's hand kneaded a sensitive spot on his waist, causing Ling Qiyan to go limp in his arms. He then pinned him down forcefully.

Before Ling Qiyan could start cursing, he heard Wen Ying ask in a low voice by his ear, "Your Highness, who got this for you?"

"What's it to you?"

Ling Qiyan climbed off him, snatched the object back, and shoved it back in its place, saying coldly, "This prince has told you before, remember your place. Don't meddle in things that don't concern you."

"What exactly is it?"

"A toy this prince plans to give to Sixth Brother to play with." Ling Qiyan said with a straight face, not blushing in the slightest.

Wen Ying didn't expose his lie.

Back in the county school, the students would often gather and discuss romantic and sensual matters. Although Wen Ying had little interest, he had seen and heard of many things. If Ling Qiyan didn't want to admit it, so be it.

'In any case, that thing was used on himself.'

Ling Qiyan was both ashamed and annoyed, but seeing that Wen Ying didn't seem to know what it was, he relaxed slightly. He cleared his throat and deliberately changed the subject, "Now that you've finished your exams, do you still have to study? Are you going back to the Imperial Academy?"

"I won't be going before the results are posted. I'll decide after the scores are out."

Hearing this, Ling Qiyan's eyes darted around. "Then you can accompany this prince to the manor for some fun. We'll come back in half a month."

Wen Ying looked at him. "Is Your Highness inviting people to the manor again?"

"Alright, I know you don't like that bunch. If you make this prince happy, then this prince won't invite them."

Wen Ying nodded. "Alright."