Ling Qiyan got up to greet the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess smilingly took his hand: "I knew you'd like watching this. Have fun. I had someone prepare your favorite Golden Plate Dew Wine. Have a few small cups, I won't tell your Father Emperor and Mother Empress."

Ling Qiyan smiled and acted spoiled with her: "Aunt dotes on me, thank you, Aunt."

Ling Qiyan had a fondness for alcohol. Every time he got drunk, he lost all semblance of propriety. The Emperor and The Empress greatly disliked his unrestrained appearance after drinking and had lectured him about it countless times. Ling Qiyan always let it go in one ear and out the other.

"Elder cousin should be thanking me. I was the one who specially mentioned this wine to Mother. I know it's elder cousin's favorite."

The one who spoke was Princess Xihua, who had come with the Eldest Princess. She was the legitimate daughter of Elder Princess Huaying. This little girl was charmingly mischievous. She grew up with Ling Qiyan before The Empress Dowager and was exceptionally granted the title of Princess. Her relationship with Ling Qiyan was excellent.

Ling Qiyan said, amused: "Fine, thank you. I'll have someone make a beautiful set of head ornaments for you later and send it to your manor."

Princess Xihua made a face at him, grinning.

After exchanging a few pleasantries and jokes with the Eldest Princess and the Princess, and helping the Eldest Princess to her seat, Ling Qiyan returned to his own seat to the side. From beginning to end, he ignored Ling Qiyu, who was also accompanying the Eldest Princess.

Although Ling Qiyu was the Crown Prince, Ling Qiyan never paid him any mind, not even bothering to give him a proper look. When they met in private, he didn't even offer a nod of greeting, let alone pay respects and inquire after his well-being.

In any case, if he really did pay his respects, Ling Qiyu would have to return the courtesy. After all, he was the elder brother, wasn't he? Even if he didn't find it troublesome, that brat Ling Qiyu, heh...

After sitting down, Ling Qiyan continued to accept Wen Ying's service and feeding. With a beauty before him, the bit of displeasure that arose from seeing an unlucky person vanished into thin air.

The premise was that Ling Qiyu didn't take the initiative to cause him trouble.

But clearly, His Highness the Crown Prince was not that discerning.

Ling Qiyu's figure blocked his view. Ling Qiyan didn't even lift an eyelid, continuing to eat the peanuts Wen Ying peeled for him. Wen Ying, for his part, maintained his usual indifferent expression. His eyes held only Ling Qiyan, focused on serving him. Even with the Crown Prince of the nation standing before him, there wasn't the slightest extra change in his expression.

Ling Qiyu looked down condescendingly at the master and servant before him, one sitting and one kneeling. His gaze fell upon Wen Ying, and he narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought.

"Elder Brother, a few days ago, I sent someone to your manor with an invitation, asking you to join me for a spring outing in the suburbs. Didn't you say you wanted to cultivate your character and rest during this time and were unwilling to go out? How is it that you're in the mood to attend the polo match today?" Ling Qiyu spoke faintly, his words carrying a hint of questioning.

Ling Qiyan casually tossed a peanut into his mouth and finally looked up, lazily gazing at Ling Qiyu. "Aunt is hosting this polo match. How could this prince not give her face?"

The implication was that he just didn't want to give face to His Highness the Crown Prince.

Ling Qiyu naturally understood the meaning behind his words. His eyes turned slightly cold, but his face remained smiling. "Is that so? Then it seems I was not sincere enough, and Elder Brother is unwilling to pay me any mind. How about in a few days? Father Emperor recently bestowed a new villa upon me. Would Elder Brother like to go take a look?"

"Not going." Ling Qiyan refused without the slightest hesitation.

The smile on Ling Qiyu's lips stiffened for a moment.

Ling Qiyan jutted his chin, signaling for him to move. "You're also blocking my view of the polo match. What's wrong with all of you?"

He just didn't want to deal with Ling Qiyu. Even though they were full-blooded brothers born of the same mother, this Crown Prince was the person he detested the most.

They were less than two years apart in age and had been compared by everyone since they were children. Except for The Empress Dowager, everyone said Ling Qiyu was smarter, more obedient, more sensible, and more motivated than him. His Father Emperor and Mother Empress disliked him, but they doted on Ling Qiyu as the apple of their eye. Ling Qiyu became the Crown Prince, and he accepted it; he had no interest in that position anyway. But that brat Ling Qiyu shouldn't have provoked him time and time again.

Growing up, he couldn't count the number of times this devil had acted like a good brother in public, only to use all sorts of dirty tricks to frame him in private. When he couldn't stand it anymore and fought with him, the one who was punished before their Mother Empress was always him, without exception.

He was not one to suffer in silence. Once, when he was twelve, he was so enraged by Ling Qiyu's vicious act that he pushed his head into the water and nearly drowned him. Afterwards, he was brutally beaten by his Mother Empress and forced to kneel in the ice and snow for an entire day. He developed a high fever that wouldn't subside. If The Empress Dowager hadn't sent someone to carry him away, he was afraid he would have already entered the halls of King Yama.

After that, Ling Qiyu became the Crown Prince, and he was enfeoffed as Prince Yu and driven out of the palace. Moreover, his Mother Empress even used her pillow talk to persuade the Father Emperor to banish him to his fiefdom to fend for himself, but she was stopped by The Empress Dowager. From then on, whenever he entered the palace for festivals or New Year's, he would only stay in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity and never set foot in his Mother Empress's chambers again.

In the past two years, however, that brat Ling Qiyu had a sudden change of personality. He no longer deliberately targeted or made things difficult for him. Instead, he tried to get close and curry favor with him, both in public and in private, always wearing that fake, gentle-as-a-spring-breeze smile, eagerly trying to build a rapport. He didn't know what this brat was up to, but in any case, ignoring him was the right move.

Ling Qiyu looked at him, a flash of sinister ruthlessness in his eyes, but his face was still smiling. "Does Elder Brother like watching polo so much? I remember Elder Brother is quite skilled at playing it himself, right? Have you considered going down to compete in a match personally? Or perhaps, have this young gentleman by your side compete in a match for you?"

Ling Qiyan was exceptionally displeased. If he wanted to join the match, he would. Did he need someone else to chase him down there?

No matter how he looked at Ling Qiyu's smiling face, he found it disagreeable, especially those eyes, which seemed to be laced with poison.

Ling Qiyu also had phoenix eyes, like most of the Ling family. But at such a young age, his eyes were full of schemes, making one feel particularly uncomfortable. Moreover, his looks could only be considered plain, truly not worth a second glance from Ling Qiyan.

Ling Qiyan suddenly thought that, while they were also phoenix eyes, Wen Ying's eyes were exceptionally beautiful. The inner corners curved down and the outer corners tilted up, both sharp and bewitching. He had no idea how they had grown to be like that.

Unlike himself, with his pair of peach blossom eyes. They were good-looking, yes, but he resembled neither his Father Emperor nor Lady Shen. No wonder they didn't like him.

Ling Qiyu was still lingering here, refusing to leave. Ling Qiyan lost his patience and said coldly, "Earlier, the Heir of Duke Wei was 'invited' to leave by this prince's men. Could it be that Your Highness the Crown Prince also wants to wait for this prince to have someone 'invite' you before you're willing to make way? This prince doesn't mind, as long as Your Highness the Crown Prince doesn't find it humiliating."

Ling Qiyu's face turned completely cold. He looked at him with a dark expression. Unmoved, Ling Qiyan glanced sideways at Wen Ying, signaling with his eyes for him to continue pouring wine.

A moment later, Ling Qiyu turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.

"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince is angry," Wen Ying said in a low voice.

Ling Qiyan raised an eyebrow. "What does his anger have to do with this prince? And what does it have to do with you?"

"If Your Highness feels it is of no concern, then naturally, it is of no concern."

Wen Ying said no more. He was merely giving Ling Qiyan a casual reminder. If Ling Qiyan wasn't willing to listen, then so be it.

Ling Qiyan's pupils constricted. He smiled and leaned closer to Wen Ying, pinching his chin. "Are you worried about this prince?"

Wen Ying looked at him frankly. "Your Highness is this student's backer. If Your Highness gets into trouble, this student will not have an easy time either."

Ling Qiyan was unconcerned. "He's just the Crown Prince. Before he ascends the throne, he doesn't have the ability to cause trouble for this prince. As for you, you really don't know how to talk. Why don't you know how to say a few pleasant things to make this prince happy?"

Wen Ying's gaze shifted down and fell upon Ling Qiyan's fair, slender wrist. He paused and reminded him softly, "Your Highness, many people are watching."

The pad of Ling Qiyan's finger caressed his chin for a while longer before he slowly and reluctantly released his hand. "This prince thought you didn't care about anything."

"It will ruin Your Highness's reputation."

Ling Qiyan chuckled. "What good reputation could this prince possibly have?"

Wen Ying didn't reply and continued to pour him wine.

A match had just finished on the field. A eunuch from the Eldest Princess's side came over and said that the prize for the next match was the red agate treasure horse from the Eldest Princess's personal collection. He asked if Ling Qiyan was interested in joining the match, or having one of the people he brought give it a try.

Ling Qiyan couldn't help but frown. Earlier, he had caught a glimpse of that brat Ling Qiyu leaning close to the Eldest Princess, smiling and saying something to her. It was likely he who had instigated the Eldest Princess to send someone to ask him to join the match.

He could refuse to give Ling Qiyu face, but he couldn't refuse to give face to his aunt, the Eldest Princess.

Ling Qiyan had seen that red agate treasure horse at the Eldest Princess's manor before. It was carved from a single piece of top-grade red agate, crystal clear, and exuded a lustrous glow. It was extremely beautiful. It was said to have been bestowed by the late Emperor. He didn't expect the Eldest Princess to be so generous as to take it out for those youngsters to play for.

But on second thought, Ling Qiyan understood. Princess Xihua had reached the age for marriage. The Eldest Princess was holding this polo match today and had invited almost all the eligible, unmarried sons of noble families in the capital. It was probably to select a husband for the Princess, so naturally, she had to be generous.

In that case, it was even more impossible for Ling Qiyan to join. The players on the field were all sons of noble families interested in the Princess, specifically putting on a show for the Eldest Princess and the Princess. Why would he join in the fun?

But he was really interested in that red agate treasure horse. However, there was no reason to have his own guards help him snatch it. The guards of his princely manor were all experts on horseback. Having them compete would be taking advantage of others, an unfair victory.

So he glanced sideways at Wen Ying and asked, "Do you know how to play polo?"

Wen Ying nodded. "I know a little."

This time, Ling Qiyan was rather surprised. He hadn't held out much hope. He never expected this poor scholar would actually know how.

"Alright then, you go down and play for this prince. Go snatch that prize. Just do your best, no need to force it."

Wen Ying accepted the order and stood up.

Ling Qiyan suddenly grabbed his hand again, rubbing it ambiguously. Wen Ying, who was about to go down, turned his head to look at him. Ling Qiyan blinked, "Be careful. Riding a horse is no joke. Don't force yourself if you can't do it. If you fall and get hurt, this prince will feel distressed."

Wen Ying withdrew his hand with a blank expression.

Tsk, so unromantic.

Wen Ying went down to the field. Ling Qiyan propped up his head and continued to drink, his gaze following his little beauty.

He had someone bring his usual horse for Wen Ying. At first, the horse was a bit reluctant. Wen Ying stroked its mane and then whispered something in its ear, quickly calming the horse down. He then vaulted neatly onto its back.

Ling Qiyan smiled. It seemed he really did have some skill.