Inside the prison corridor, Shen Qi suddenly stopped walking.
Su Yan was preoccupied thinking about how to bring up the emperor’s matter when he accidentally bumped his forehead into Shen Qi’s shoulder.
Immediately after, his wrist was seized. Looking up, he saw Shen Qi’s face wearing a half-smile. “Lord Su, there’s something on your hand.”
Because he had eaten candied fruits, his fingers were dusted with sugar powder. Su Yan casually said “Oh,” and was about to brush it off when Shen Qi lowered his head and took his fingers into his mouth, licking them clean.
…Now there was even more on them. Su Yan looked at his damp fingers, caught between amusement and helplessness.
“I soiled your body, Lord Su. Please forgive me,” Shen Qi said with mock apology.
The words felt familiar to Su Yan. His heart suddenly skipped a beat.
“The room next door has water. Please follow me to wash up,” Shen Qi added.
That was it. He remembered now. The second time he visited the imperial prison to see Zhuo Jijiu, he had run into Shen Qi. Back then, this same Embroidered Uniform Guard officer had said those words with ill intent and dragged him into a prison cell.
Shen Qi suddenly scooped Su Yan up, one arm behind his knees, and kicked open a side door to a nearby cell, striding in without pause.
Su Yan quickly wrapped an arm around his neck to keep from falling, hissing, “What are you doing?! Stop messing around, Qilang, put me down…”
Shen Qi shut the door with a flick of his foot. He did put Su Yan down—but only to press him back against the cold, hard wall of the cell.
Su Yan shivered from the icy stone, instinctively leaning forward—straight into a burning embrace. Shen Qi cupped the back of his neck and kissed him furiously.
The kiss was intense and urgent, filled with desperate longing and repressed emotion.
Su Yan’s lips were bitten, his tongue numbed from the fierce suction. Saliva he couldn’t swallow in time dribbled down his chin.
Shen Qi followed that silver trail, kissing down from his jaw to his throat, then further to his collarbone beneath the robe.
Su Yan abruptly came to his senses, pushing against Shen Qi’s shoulder as he gasped, “Stop…”
Shen Qi grabbed the offending hand and pinned it back against the stone wall. His knee wedged between Su Yan’s legs, and from between clenched teeth, he forced out one word: “No.”
“Qilang! Just listen to me,” Su Yan’s voice trembled as Shen Qi’s hand found a dangerous spot and began to rub. Heat flared in his lower abdomen. “We can only be alone for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. If we take any longer, the guards will report back to the emperor, and then I’ll never be able to protect you again.”
Shen Qi paid him no mind, tugging hard at his waistband. “Let them tattle. I’m not afraid.”
“I am!” Su Yan used his free hand to grab Shen Qi’s wrist. “I have to protect your life.”
“You are my life! And have you protected your own?”
Su Yan was stunned.
Shen Qi’s grip tightened on his waistband, binding it like a chain that bit into his skin. The bones beneath creaked. It was as if he wanted to use this pain to suppress an even deeper one.
“He slept with you, didn’t he…? Or should I say, ‘bestowed his favor’?”
Su Yan exclaimed, “No! Absolutely not! His Majesty isn’t that kind of man…”
“What kind of man do you think he is?” Shen Qi retorted. “He’s the ruler of the world. Everything and everyone is his for the taking. He doesn’t even have to ask—people offer themselves willingly. What makes you think you’re an exception?
“If the emperor orders you to serve in bed, could you refuse?
“Lying beneath him, feeling his favor—did you find yourself unable to say no, and gradually unwilling to refuse?
“And after that, how were you planning to deal with me?”
Each question was like a blade, Shen Qi’s expression twisted with fury, eyes dark and wild like a beast.
He knew he was losing control, and that he might be scaring Su Yan, but he couldn’t stop the firestorm roaring in his heart. That fire consumed his very bones, and it would inevitably scorch the person he most wanted to protect.
If his body were to burn to ashes, he’d still want to shield Su Yan with his soul. But even his soul was ablaze with black karmic fire—capable only of turning everything to cinders.
Su Yan sighed softly. He reached out to touch Shen Qi’s nose, his eyelashes, then gently rubbed between his brows. “Qilang, don’t be afraid.”
Don’t be afraid? What am I supposed to be afraid of? Shouldn’t it be you who’s afraid? Shen Qi wanted to say this so badly. He could feel the urge to flay something alive rise within him. But when he opened his mouth, it felt like blades scr*ping his throat. He couldn’t say a single word.
“Don’t be afraid.” Su Yan leaned forward, gently resting his forehead against Shen Qi’s brow. His warm breath brushed across Shen Qi’s face. “I told you this a long time ago. You may have forgotten, but I never will—‘I would go through fire and water for you, Qilang.’”
Shen Qi fell into memory, murmuring, “‘From this day forward, through hardship and prosperity…’”
Su Yan smiled: “‘We shall remain friends for life…’”
“‘Never wavering in loyalty or trust,’” Shen Qi added. “I remember—it was after you saved my life with that divine medicine.”
Su Yan corrected him, “It was after you risked your own body and blood to save mine.”
The bloodthirsty craving and the searing fire that wanted to consume everything gradually calmed. Shen Qi released Su Yan’s restrained hands and pulled him tightly into his embrace, regretfully saying, “Your husband owes you an apology. I shouldn’t have spoken so rashly or taken my anger out on you.”
Su Yan magnanimously patted his back. “You forgot one more line—‘From now on, our brotherly bond is one forged in life and death.’”
Shen Qi’s entire body stiffened, his shoulders even trembling.
Su Yan chuckled. “There, revenge taken. I forgive you.”
Shen Qi let out a long breath.
“There’s not much time left. Listen to me, Qilang.” Su Yan whispered quickly and clearly in his ear, “His Majesty admires your talent, but dislikes your temperament. He is wary of the Embroidered Uniform Guard getting too close to any other faction. Don’t provoke the tiger—never test his limits. Always ensure his appreciation of your abilities outweighs his suspicions, only then can you continue to rise.”
Shen Qi replied, “Rising is only worthwhile if it helps protect you and support you. If it means losing you, any path I take is a dead end.
“The Emperor’s feelings for you have long exceeded the boundaries of monarch and minister. I see that clearly. You don’t need to hide it from me. I just want one honest answer—did you ever develop feelings for him?”
Tsk, how was he supposed to answer that? It felt like a trap question. Su Yan was torn, but finally decided to be honest: “His Majesty has indeed confessed his affection to me… Loosen up, loosen up—ugh, I can’t breathe…”
Shen Qi relaxed his grip slightly, his eyes reddened. “Go on.”
“His Majesty has been a benefactor to me, granting me unprecedented trust and support. He’s held back so much for the sake of my future and my will. Do you know how difficult it is for an emperor to restrain his desires? A thousand, ten thousand times harder than for a common man, because his desires are too easily fulfilled. Restraining them is like trying to control your own breathing—he must never let up. So to say I was completely unmoved… would be false.”
Su Yan gently stroked the tense, uneven muscles on Shen Qi’s back, trying to calm him. “But no matter how moved I was, I would never voluntarily climb into the dragon bed. Because he and I were never equal from the start.”
“This inequality isn’t just about status or power—it’s about dignity, awareness, and mindset. In front of His Majesty, I can’t help but be nervous. I’m constantly afraid of saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, and getting others killed because of it.”
“Even if I ever forgot myself in a moment of weakness, seeking warmth and protection on his lap, the next second I would wake up. I am not a sycophant, not someone who seduces their superior—I can’t bear the thought of others saying I gained my position through flattery and favors.”
“I once wanted to be a carefree wastrel, living a free life. Later, I wanted to serve the country, to lessen the suffering I saw. But whatever kind of life I chose—none of it was meant to be built on someone else’s bed.”
Shen Qi hesitated. “Then you and I…”
Su Yan smiled lightly, answering cleverly, “We’re sworn brothers, supporting each other.”
For the first time, Shen Qi found that the words “brothers” coming from Su Yan’s mouth didn’t sting quite so much.
“And in the future? He’s the Emperor—he won’t suppress his desires forever. If one day he truly decides to have you, what then?”
Su Yan said, “His Majesty has thrown himself into a tug-of-war. Or rather, a ‘game of pulling hooks.’ He wants me to love him willingly, as a man, not as a ruler. And I insist on equality in spirit, no matter my orientation. We’ll see who wins.”
Shen Qi gritted his teeth unwillingly. “In this tug-of-war, the sides are unequal. If you lose strength and fall, I won’t blame you.” But I will blame him.
Su Yan said, “Qilang, you’re smart, and ruthless—to others and even more to yourself. But if you go too far and break yourself in the process, I’ll blame you for the rest of my life.”
“Promise me—when it’s time to lie low, do so. Don’t go mad. You have to stay alive to remain my lifelong bond.”
Shen Qi was silent for a moment, then said, “I promise.”
Su Yan gestured for him to let go, then began tidying his robes, smoothing every wrinkle. “Is my hair messy? Fix it for me.”
Shen Qi licked his fingers and smoothed down the two or three stray strands on Su Yan’s head, tucking them neatly back into his cap.
Su Yan grumbled, “Now my hair smells like your spit.”
Shen Qi snorted, “Where on your body hasn’t it been before? Now you complain—too late.”
Su Yan’s face flushed, and he was just about to scold him when someone walked by outside the corridor, calling out, “Lord! Lord Tongzhi!”
Shen Qi recognized the voice of Qianhu Wei Ying and responded, “What is it?”
The person stopped outside the door. “Someone’s reported a clue—there’s been a sighting of the thief near the Court of Diplomatic Rites.”
Su Yan raised an eyebrow at Shen Qi. “See? Just like I said—an opportunity to solve things easily.”
“How did you know?” Shen Qi asked.
Because Fuyin had promised Ah Zhui to prepare a scapegoat—it’d take two or three days at most. Su Yan acted all mysterious. “Naturally, it’s because I possess arcane skills and can predict the future. What do you think, Qilang?”
Shen Qi gave a half-smile, saying nothing.
Su Yan said, “Go on now. If you leave now, it’ll seem like you were only gone a quarter of an hour. If His Majesty asks, I’ll insist you personally escorted me to the innermost cell, then left to handle official business. Besides, I also want a private word with Yan Chengxue and Huo Dun.”
Shen Qi scooped a ladle of water and washed both their hands. Then, he casually used the hem of his own robe to dry Su Yan’s hands. Finally, he gave him a deep, meaningful look before turning and walking away.
Su Yan waited for a moment after he left, then exited the room and summoned a jailer to lead the way deeper into the imperial prison.
As Shen Qi walked out of the prison corridor, he brushed past four imperial guards standing at attention with hands on their swords. Deliberately, he said to Wei Ying, “Lord Su insisted on interrogating the prisoners alone. He believes he’s safe, but we can’t afford to be careless. Send a few capable officers down to assist.”
Wei Ying cupped his fists and said, “At once, sir.”
“What about the informant?”
“He’s in the main hall. It’s a night watchman…”
The two of them continued their conversation as they walked away.
The imperial guards exchanged glances, then filed into the prison now that no one blocked the entrance, heading in to find Lord Su, whom they were ordered to protect.
At this moment, Lord Su stood outside the cell holding Yan Chengxue.
To prevent collusion, Huo Dun was being held in a separate cell farther away.
Su Yan instructed the jailer, “Open the cell. Bring Huo Dun over too.”
