As he was suddenly grabbed by the waistband, the top scholar looked up in shock, locking eyes with Xiao Yun.
Xiao Yun looked at him with a half-smile.
Everything happened in a flash.
The scholar’s first reaction was to lower his head and glance toward the other side of the pillar. Instinctively, he struggled twice, as if he still wanted to escape. He had only taken two small steps forward when Xiao Yun forcefully yanked him back. The pull was so strong that he stumbled, nearly crashing into Xiao Yun’s arms.
Two of the history books in Xie Caiqing’s hands tumbled to the ground.
Xiao Yun paid no attention to the fallen books. His strong arms braced against both sides of the pillar, effectively trapping Xie Caiqing in the narrow space, forcing him to face him directly.
The overwhelming heat and aggressiveness of the man’s presence pressed in on him. Xiao Yun’s tall and powerful physique was too oppressive, making Xie Caiqing feel a deep sense of threat. He seemed at a loss, his gaze flitting nervously, his eyes widening slightly.
As if caught red-handed, his long lashes trembled. Under the man’s unrestrained gaze, his fair face gradually flushed red.
He lifted his eyes slightly, stealing a glance at the arm braced near his shoulder, bit his lip, and finally lowered his head completely.
Xiao Yun caught this subtle movement and said coldly, “Still trying to hide?”
Xie Caiqing said nothing.
“I’m asking you a question!” Xiao Yun snapped.
“…No,” Xie Caiqing answered.
“Liar.”
Xie Caiqing leaned back slightly but remained silent. His usually calm, water-like eyes rippled with embarrassment, turning an even deeper shade of red.
“…Your subject knows his fault,” he admitted, his shoulders tensing under the man’s aggressive questioning, unsure of where to look.
“‘Knows his fault, knows his fault’—what use do I have for that? Have you changed?” Xiao Yun paused and, seeing his reaction, scoffed irritably. “Look at me.”
Xie Caiqing lightly shook his head, resisting.
“Look at me!” Xiao Yun commanded.
Xie Caiqing flinched, then slowly raised his head. Suddenly confronted with a pair of deep, ink-black eyes, his pupils shrank, and his gaze wavered again.
“Look carefully, look closely,” Xiao Yun laughed. “Do I look that terrifying? Does the top scholar get so scared just from seeing me that he has to run away?”
Xie Caiqing shook his head.
“I’m asking you a question! What, are you mute now?”
Xie Caiqing, unsure whether it was fear or embarrassment, spoke in a barely audible voice: “…Your Majesty is incomparably handsome.”
Xiao Yun snorted, clearly unimpressed by the flattery. “How many times now? You gave me a sachet—did I tell you to leave? When I called you, did you not hear me? Last time in the duty room, I let you off, and you hid so well. If you’re that good at hiding, why not dig three feet into the ground? Did I tell you to leave yesterday? What kind of rule is that? Why are you hiding from me? Do you want a spanking?”
For some reason, those last three words—clearly meant as a threat—carried an entirely different implication in this situation.
Xie Caiqing, despite having nowhere left to retreat, still instinctively pressed himself further back, his waist and hips pressed tightly against the pillar. Overcome with embarrassment, he looked like a chastised schoolboy, obediently clasping his hands behind his back.
“Speak! Don’t just stand there playing dumb! Where’s all that cleverness from before? Do you think acting like this will make me let you off today?”
“…Your subject knows his fault.”
Xiao Yun sneered, suddenly leaning in, his lips nearly brushing against Xie Caiqing’s flushed earlobe. His voice dropped, low and menacing. “Is this how the top scholar repays me? Hiding from me all the time, always giving me a headache?”
Xie Caiqing trembled, as if reminded of something. Guilt and unease flashed across his face, and he shook his head repeatedly.
“You were the one who threw yourself at me. You burrowed into my arms. You touched me. You took off my clothes—”
“Your Majesty…!” Xie Caiqing pleaded in a small voice.
Xiao Yun sneered again. “I’m not embarrassed, so why are you? You molested me! I haven’t even complained, yet you’re the one acting all aggrieved? Oh, so you could crawl into my arms, but now that I see you, I should go dig a hole and bury myself?”
The person before him already looked like he wished he could bury himself.
“Get it straight—it was you who took liberties with me, not the other way around! You’re hiding like I was the one harassing you.” Xiao Yun let out a humorless laugh.
“…Your Majesty did not.”
“Look at me—look at me! Your eyes are dropping again. I told you to look at me!”
Xie Caiqing had no choice but to raise his head again, locking eyes with him. Xiao Yun’s gaze was deep and overwhelming, carrying a sense of domination mixed with mischief, effortlessly breaking his composure.
Xie Caiqing’s breathing grew rapid, his chest rising and falling slightly.
“Do you think avoiding me will solve anything? Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can act recklessly. Let me tell you, if this happens again, a spanking will be the least of your worries. Do you hear me?”
Xie Caiqing seemed genuinely intimidated, his body trembling slightly. “…Y-yes, Your Majesty. I was being petty and short-sighted. Your Majesty is generous. I won’t do it again.”
Xiao Yun had only intended to reprimand him, but now, seeing his reaction, he found it both amusing and entertaining. A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.
He bent his arm slightly, drawing even closer, leaning down as if a wolfdog sniffing out and intimidating its helpless prey, pressing in inch by inch, savoring the way Xie Caiqing quivered and panicked.
His breath was hot against Xie Caiqing’s skin.
Xie Caiqing’s eyes widened, his body rigid.
Xiao Yun lowered his voice, speaking lazily in his ear: “Since you promised, you’d better think carefully about how to repay me, Scholar.”
…
Xiao Yun flicked his sleeve and left.
Xie Caiqing finally exhaled, reaching up to rub his burning ears, his heart still pounding wildly.
Xiao Yun’s presence was too overwhelming—his attacks too swift and relentless, catching him off guard every time. Xie Caiqing feared revealing even the slightest weakness.
How could someone be so shameless?
Taking advantage of his inexperience, bullying him like this. That day, afterward… in the private chamber, Xiao Yun had clearly been the one to unfasten his clothes and embrace him from behind, lowering his head to kiss him.
How did it turn into him acting all righteous and claiming that I harassed him?
Truly shameless.
Xie Caiqing found it incomprehensible. Why was Xiao Yun able to twist the truth so effortlessly, without even blushing or skipping a beat? If he weren’t aware of the truth himself, he might have really been led by the nose, consumed by guilt.
He had never seen someone with such terrible morals.
His ears grew hotter against his will. Xie Caiqing suppressed his growing annoyance and lowered his gaze. His once perfectly smooth belt now bore an ugly, crumpled imprint—left by Xiao Yun’s grip. His expression darkened.
So annoying. Even more annoying now.
He glanced in the direction Xiao Yun had left, the corners of his lips curving slightly.
Since he was that annoying, naturally, he had to obediently follow his orders and properly “repay” him.
…
In the imperial study, Liu Yun was savoring two cups of freshly tributed tea from the southern region of Great Ning. Seeing that the time was about right and that he had replenished his energy, he felt confident that he could make the Emperor absorb a month’s worth of knowledge within just two hours today.
With his head held high, he strode out of the study, ready to welcome the Emperor inside. However, after glancing around, he only saw Xie Caiqing picking up books in the corridor.
Liu Yun’s smile stiffened, and a sense of foreboding crept over him. He hurried over in quick strides and anxiously asked, “Where is His Majesty?”
Xie Caiqing replied softly, “He left.”
“He LEFT?!!” Liu Yun’s voice was at least ten times louder than Xie Caiqing’s, booming through the imperial study.
Xie Caiqing picked up the last book and nodded obediently.
“Why didn’t you stop him?!” Liu Yun clutched his chest in anguish, practically fuming with rage, regretting his oversight. His teeth gnashed, his face contorted, and he even stomped his foot in frustration.
Xie Caiqing murmured, “I was powerless. I tried to stop him… These books were knocked over by him.”
“I’ve been fooled by him again!” Liu Yun clapped his hands together, equal parts humiliated and furious. “That little scoundrel!!!”
Xie Caiqing’s hands trembled slightly as he held onto the books. “…”
