Sick of It

In late September, the Imperial Academy began its clothing-changing holiday, which would last for a month.

Wen Ying once again began to shut himself in his courtyard to study every day. If Ling Qiyan didn't summon him, he wouldn't come to bother Ling Qiyan. The two hadn't seen each other for more than half a month.

Ling Qiyan was extremely bored all day long, so he once again called Zhang Yuan and his group to the manor for a banquet of food, drink, and merrymaking.

This time, this gang of dandies also brought people with them, all students from the Imperial Academy. After the provincial examinations, a new batch of provincial graduates and tribute students from various places had entered the Imperial Academy. There were always some who wanted to take a shortcut and actively cozy up to them to curry favor. These dandies had never been ones to refuse anyone.

Zhang Yuan sidled up to Ling Qiyan and introduced them with a grin. This time, they had brought seven or eight people, including two provincial graduates. One of them was even the Yayuan* from this year's Autumn Imperial Examination in Wuzhou Prefecture.

*T/N: Provincial Exam Second Place

"A Yayuan from Wuzhou Prefecture? Really?"

Ling Qiyan's interest was piqued upon hearing this. Wuzhou Prefecture was a major region for the imperial examinations; the top scholars in the last two palace examinations had both come from Wuzhou Prefecture. Someone who could achieve the rank of Yayuan in Wuzhou Prefecture's provincial examination was bound to be a popular candidate for the future Capital Examination top scholar or Palace Examination top scholar. Ling Qiyan hadn't expected that such a person would actually follow Zhang Yuan's group to his manor to join the fun.

"Of course it's true. How could I lie to Your Highness about this?"

Zhang Yuan called the person over and pointed him out to Ling Qiyan, "Your Highness, this is him. His name is Xia Zhixing, seventeen years old, from Qiong County in Wuzhou Prefecture. He's not bad-looking either, what do you think, Your Highness?"

The one who had been named took a step forward and respectfully bowed to Ling Qiyan. Ling Qiyan swirled the wine cup in his hand, casually sizing up the person before him.

Tall and slender, with red lips, white teeth, and a face as fair as a beautiful woman's—he was truly a handsome young man.

The interest in Ling Qiyan's eyes deepened. "You're the Yayuan from Wuzhou Prefecture? With such talent, you're sure to pass the Capital Examination next year. A wide, smooth road lies before you, so why are you also learning to harbor crooked thoughts? What do you hope to gain by hanging out with this group and coming to my Prince Yu's Manor?"

That person looked up at Ling Qiyan and said calmly, "This student wishes to pledge allegiance to Prince Yu. I have heard that the Jieyuan of Shangjing Prefecture is a retainer in Your Highness's manor. What he can do, this student can naturally do as well."

Ling Qiyan smiled and curled his lip. "Is that so? Do you know what that Jieyuan has done in my manor?"

"As long as it makes Your Highness happy, this student is willing to do anything."

Zhang Yuan winked suggestively. "Your Highness, this Yayuan from Wuzhou Prefecture is far more sensible and tactful than the one in your manor. You'll know once you try him."

"Have you tried him?" Ling Qiyan shot him a sidelong glance.

Zhang Yuan hurriedly clarified, "Of course not. He has his pride. How could someone with the talent to be a top scholar casually submit to just anyone? Only someone like Your Highness would be worthy of his attention."

"Alright, you. You sure know how to talk, just coaxing me for fun."

Zhang Yuan shamelessly continued to flatter him, "How could it be just for fun, Your Highness? Every word comes from the bottom of my heart."

After joking with Zhang Yuan for a while, Ling Qiyan turned to look at the man. "Do you really want to follow me?"

The other's eyes were bright. "I am willing to serve Your Highness in any way I can!"

Ling Qiyan didn't state his position right away. He continued to stare and size him up. A moment later, his expression suddenly turned a little colder. He poured some wine into his mouth and said languidly, "Xia Zhixing, is it? Tell me the truth. What are you really after? I don't believe a Yayuan from Wuzhou Prefecture would be willing to devote himself to me."

That Xia Zhixing clenched his fists and said to him, "This student doesn't want to live in poverty anymore. I want to depend on Your Highness to gain wealth and stability."

As if not expecting him to be so straightforward, Ling Qiyan looked at Zhang Yuan again. Zhang Yuan nodded; this kid was indeed someone solely focused on seeking glory and wealth.

Ling Qiyan found this somewhat amusing and reminded the man, "If you follow me, even if you can obtain temporary wealth and stability, I'm afraid your future official career won't be too smooth."

"This student doesn't think so. If I rely on myself, even if I can place in the first rank, or in the top of the second rank to become a bachelor and enter the Hanlin Academy, I'd still have to toil for over a decade to gain seniority. If I'm unlucky and get posted to a local area as a county magistrate, it's even more uncertain when I'll make a name for myself. By following Your Highness, if you are willing to support this student, my life will be much better, and I will have more opportunities."

This person probably didn't believe that Ling Qiyan was someone with no foundation in the court. He wanted to rely on Prince Yu to climb up in the shortest possible time. His intentions weren't hard to guess: first, he would attach himself to Ling Qiyan, and if an opportunity arose in the future, he would still climb onto another, higher branch—he would definitely climb onto another, higher branch. There was no way he would hang himself on the single tree that was Prince Yu's Manor.

Such people were not uncommon—unscrupulously striving for personal gain, willing to sell anything as long as they could achieve their goal in the end.

Ling Qiyan understood and couldn't be bothered to say more. Compared to that poor scholar who didn't know what was good for him and couldn't appreciate a favor, this kind of person who wore his thoughts and intentions on his face was actually more pleasing to his eye.

The gates of his Prince Yu's Manor were wide open. Someone was willing to offer his services, and he was pleasing to the eye—why shouldn't he accept?

So he said, "Come over here and pour me wine."

As night fell, the crowd, dead drunk, took their leave and went home. That Xia Zhixing, however, was kept behind by Ling Qiyan.

Ling Qiyan wasn't in a hurry to return to his room. He remained seated where he was, having Xia Zhixing continue to pour him wine.

This person looked scholarly and frail, but his tolerance for alcohol was excellent. He had drunk quite a lot with Ling Qiyan, yet his face showed no sign of intoxication; he was as calm as ever.

Ling Qiyan, however, was already tipsy. He leaned sideways, propping his head with one hand, and looked at him with a faint smile. "You're quite interesting. Do you know how the retainers in my manor serve me?"

That Xia Zhixing lowered his eyes meekly and said, "If this student doesn't understand, Your Highness can just teach me. This student is willing to do anything."

Ling Qiyan clicked his tongue and chuckled. To be willing to go this far for glory and wealth—truly, to each their own ambition.

He reached out and caressed the other's fair cheek. This Xia Zhixing was indeed good-looking. Although not as handsome as Wen Ying, compared to that coffin-faced man, this person's obedience clearly made Ling Qiyan feel extremely comfortable.

"You live in the Imperial Academy too?"

"No, this student rented a small courtyard near the academy. It's quieter for studying at night."

"Is your family really poor?"

Xia Zhixing nodded. "My family are poor farmers with many siblings. We often couldn't put food on the table, let alone afford my studies. When I was young, I could only sneak to the schoolhouse and listen from outside the window. Later, seeing I had some talent, the teacher allowed me inside. If not for my good grades and consistently ranking at the top in exams, relying on the support of our neighbors, I wouldn't have been able to continue studying until now."

'Another poor scholar,' Ling Qiyan thought to himself. 'Fine, who asked Prince Yu to be so kind-hearted and compassionate.'

"Once you've entered my Prince Yu's Manor, as long as you serve me well and make me happy, glory and wealth will naturally be yours. Go back tomorrow, pack your things, and come live in my manor. I'll have someone prepare a separate courtyard for you."

Xia Zhixing's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, and he hurriedly thanked him, "Many thanks, Your Highness!"

Ling Qiyan was pleased by his deferential attitude and was about to say something more when footsteps were suddenly heard outside. He blearily looked up and saw Wen Ying walk in. His expression was unreadable on his composed face. His gaze swept past the person beside Ling Qiyan before settling firmly on him.

He hadn't seen him in over half a month, and the moment he appeared, it was with that same cold face. Ling Qiyan was very displeased. He frowned and said, "What are you doing here? I didn't call for you. Who allowed you to come over on your own?"

"What is Your Highness doing?" Wen Ying asked in a deep voice.

"I am drinking, can't you see?" Ling Qiyan waved his hand impatiently. "Get out. You are not needed here."

Wen Ying didn't move, his expression growing darker.

Seeing this, Ling Qiyan became even more displeased. "Are you deaf? I told you to get out! Don't just stand there being an eyesore!"

Beside them, Xia Zhixing poured another cup of wine and handed it to Ling Qiyan, persuading him in a gentle voice, "Your Highness need not be angry. Let's drink and be merry today. Why bother with unnecessary people and matters?"

Ling Qiyan's expression softened a little. He looked at him and smiled, "You're still the sensible one."

He picked up the wine cup and was about to bring it to his lips when Wen Ying snatched it away and smashed it forcefully in front of him.

The cup shattered into pieces on the ground. Ling Qiyan's face instantly darkened. "What are you doing?!"

"Your Highness is drunk. You cannot drink anymore." Wen Ying's tone was firm, not yielding an inch.

Ling Qiyan was instantly infuriated. "It's not your place to control whether I drink or not! It seems you haven't heard a single word I've said! Remember your own status, and do not test my bottom line again and again!"

"Does Your Highness even have a so-called bottom line?"

Wen Ying's face was grim as if he were trying his utmost to endure something. His words were barbed, mocking Ling Qiyan.

This one sentence completely enraged Ling Qiyan. He slammed his palm down hard on the wine table, causing the bowls, plates, and cups to clatter loudly, topple over, and roll onto the floor.

Xia Zhixing righted a toppled wine pot beside him and whispered in persuasion, "Your Highness, calm your anger."

Ling Qiyan glared furiously at Wen Ying. "Get out!"

Wen Ying remained unmoved, reminding him again in a cold voice, "Your Highness is drunk and should return to your room to rest."

"Get out!"

After a moment of silent standoff, Wen Ying suddenly strode forward, grabbed Ling Qiyan's wrist, and dragged him up from the ground. The servants behind Ling Qiyan, aghast, tried to intervene. Wen Ying's icy gaze swept over them, causing them all to freeze for an instant. By then, Ling Qiyan had already been pulled into his embrace, and with a bend of his waist, Wen Ying forcefully hoisted him onto his shoulder.

Ling Qiyan punched and kicked, cursing loudly, "You animal! Let go of me! I'm going to kill you! I'm definitely going to kill you!"

Wen Ying forcibly carried him back to the room and threw him directly onto the bed.

"You dare!" Ling Qiyan's eyes were bloodshot. Thinking Wen Ying was about to do what he did last time, he was seething with uncontrollable rage. "If you dare touch me again, I will immediately have people drag you out! Don't think that just because you're a provincial graduate and a Jieyuan, I won't dare to touch you. Even if I really killed you, no one would dare to say a word!"

Bloodshot veins spread in Wen Ying's eyes. He clenched his fists tightly and asked him in a hoarse voice, "Is Your Highness taking another person into the manor? Since Your Highness feels it is shameful and disgraceful, why take in even more people? Is it that as long as it amuses Your Highness, you are willing to offer your body to anyone? Does Your Highness have so little self-respect?"

A rush of blood surged through Ling Qiyan. He abruptly stood up, slapped Wen Ying across the face, and ground out through his teeth, "Get the hell out!"

A bright red handprint immediately appeared on his face. Wen Ying took a step forward, his gaze chillingly cold, his entire body exuding an irrepressible ferocity. "Besides 'get out,' what else can Your Highness say?"

Being stared at by him, Ling Qiyan couldn't help but feel flustered and subconsciously wanted to retreat. When he came to his senses, he flew into an even greater rage, "Guards!"

Jiang Lin and a few others entered, bowing so low their heads almost touched the floor. "Your... Your Highness..."

Ling Qiyan glared at Wen Ying, and with clenched teeth, he harshly ordered, "Drag this person out for me!"

Several sword-wielding manor guards came in and seized the man.

Wen Ying continued to stare fixedly at him. Ling Qiyan sneered, "Are you truly not afraid of death?"

There wasn't the slightest trace of fear in Wen Ying's expression. "If Your Highness wants this student to die, this student wouldn't dare not to."

"Then go die! Drag him out!"

Seeing that Ling Qiyan seemed to be serious, Jiang Lin quickly spoke up to persuade him, "Your Highness, calm your anger! This person is, after all, this year's Jieyuan, and countless eyes are on him. If he were to die in Prince Yu's Manor, it would inevitably cause gossip. The wagging tongues of the public are hard to stop. His Majesty might even inquire about it personally. Please, think twice!"

The rest of the servants chimed in, "Your Highness, calm your anger! Your Highness, please think twice!"

Ling Qiyan closed his eyes, a bit of his rationality finally returning. He glared fiercely at Wen Ying, who even now seemed utterly unrepentant. This man wasn't afraid of death at all; he was even certain that Ling Qiyan wouldn't actually have him killed.

Wen Ying's dark, profound eyes remained fixed on Ling Qiyan, churning with things Ling Qiyan couldn't understand and didn't want to understand.

Ling Qiyan suddenly felt annoyed. He was annoyed with Wen Ying as a person, and even more annoyed at being repeatedly oppressed by his insubordination.

He was the magnificent Prince Yu. No one had ever dared to treat him like this, yet this person had embarrassed him time and again, made him feel weak, and even humiliated him. He was thoroughly sick of this feeling.

He truly wouldn't have Wen Ying killed. Even at the peak of his anger, the most he would do was have him beaten with a plank again. But the more this was the case, the harder it was for the anger in his heart to dissipate.

It wasn't as if he couldn't live without this person. He was just a plaything that could amuse him. Now that this person had crossed the line, making him dissatisfied, unhappy, and displeased, what was there to be reluctant about?

After a long stalemate, Ling Qiyan took a deep breath, gestured for the guards to withdraw, and looked back at Wen Ying. He said calmly and indifferently, "You may withdraw as well. Today's matter ends here. I am tired and wish to rest."

Wen Ying looked deeply at the Ling Qiyan before him, the light in his eyes dimming bit by bit. A voice in his heart told him that once the anger had faded, he, as a person, would henceforth be worthless in the eyes of this high and mighty Prince Yu.

A person like Ling Qiyan had a heart that could not be warmed.

After a long silence, Wen Ying lowered his head and took his leave.

The room finally fell silent. Only then did Jiang Lin cautiously approach. "Your... Your Highness, this servant and the others will attend to you for the night."

Ling Qiyan gave a weary "en."

He absently let the servants help him wash up and change. Jiang Lin quietly reminded him that the provincial graduate, Xia Zhixing, was still waiting outside and asked how he should be settled. Ling Qiyan said listlessly, "Arrange a courtyard for him to live in. Don't let him bother me unless it's important."

Jiang Lin acknowledged the order.

After dismissing everyone and extinguishing the lamps, Ling Qiyan fell into bed. He stared at the beams on the ceiling for a moment, then rolled over and fell into a deep sleep.