Chapter 5: Lie Down Properly

Chapter 5: Lie Still

Xiao Yan was still pondering the remaining third of the task.

All that was left now was the "first night."

Since "forced possession" was already complete, for the "first night" he only needed to keep Liu Qingci by his side for the entire night, and by the time morning came, the task would be fully done.

Xiao Yan's gaze once again fell on Liu Qingci, who was leaning by the bedside.

He began to ponder how to make the man stay.

He had forcibly taken the jade ring that belonged to the other man, and apparently, that was the only thing Liu Qingci had on him.

And he had just snatched it away.

Xiao Yan was a law-abiding, decent citizen—when had he ever done something as thuggish as robbery?

Now he was overwhelmed with guilt and remorse.

Especially when he saw the expression on Liu Qingci's face, a mix of anxiety and barely restrained submission, he felt even more inhuman.

Xiao Yan got off the bed and called out, "Someone come here."

The attendant waiting outside the door walked in with a bow: "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

Xiao Yan: "Bring in the things I ordered!"

"Yes." The attendant withdrew from the room.

Xiao Yan turned around and saw Liu Qingci's face had turned as pale as paper.

He seemed frightened.

Now he was like a bird startled by the twang of a bow—any slight disturbance made him tremble with fear.

Xiao Yan didn't know what he was thinking; he simply lifted the curtain and walked over to sit on the rosewood chair in the outer room.

Since Liu Qingci was afraid of him, the farther he stayed, the better.

It wasn't long before eunuchs entered silently, heads lowered, carrying food boxes.

A few eunuchs deftly set the bowls and dishes on the table and left.

The aroma of food rose gently, trying to dispel the oppressive atmosphere in the hall.

Xiao Yan swept his gaze over the table, then glanced toward the inner room where the figure almost blended into the shadows.

"Young Master Liu, come here."

As soon as the words were spoken, a very soft sound of footsteps came from within.

Soon, Liu Qingci stood by Xiao Yan's side.

He looked at the table, which held several light dishes and a pot of thick, simmered congee.

His eyes flickered, and the pallor of his face seemed to lighten slightly.

So the things he had ordered brought in were... just these meals?

Rumors about Prince Yu's many methods of torment were well-known.

Of course, he wouldn't think this food was prepared for him, but as long as what was brought in weren't tools of humiliation, he could breathe a sigh of relief.

Liu Qingci stood stiffly off to the side, his head lowered.

Xiao Yan was bickering with Little K in his mind.

Little K asked, "Host, are you going to eat with Liu Qingci? That's way too out of character! The original host was never this kind! You'll definitely be OOC!"

Xiao Yan said, "I know."

Little K: "The plot mainly requires humiliating the protagonist bottom. You know that, right, host?"

Xiao Yan replied, "I know."

Little K fell silent.

Xiao Yan lounged back in his chair, one arm draped casually over the armrest.

With his other hand, silver chopsticks in grip, he pointed at the dishes on the table, looking at Liu Qingci with a rakish air, he ordered:

"Come here and taste the poison for me."

In the strictly hierarchical imperial household, anything that entered one's mouth required caution.

Silver chopsticks to test for poison and eunuchs to taste the food were survival rules every royal member had to follow.

To any onlooker, ordering Liu Qingci to taste poison was just Prince Yu applying this rule to his newly acquired plaything—another way to trample his dignity.

So Liu Qingci was not surprised.

"Yes, Your Highness."

He stepped forward as instructed, took the silver chopsticks set for him, picked up a bite of stir-fried seasonal greens, put it in his mouth, and chewed mechanically.

Then he took a spoonful of congee and swallowed it carefully.

He had no heart to savor the taste.

Throughout the process, he kept his head down, obediently completing the task.

He set down the chopsticks, lowered his hand, and said quietly:

"Your Highness, the dishes... are free of poison."

Xiao Yan frowned and gave an ambiguous snort.

"Is this how you taste poison? Just going through the motions?"

Liu Qingci's expression stiffened, his clear eyes showing a hint of bewilderment.

Xiao Yan: "Have you tested every dish?"

Liu Qingci was startled.

The dishes were all in small plates, covering the table—at least a dozen of them.

If he were to taste each one... it would seem like he was just helping himself to a meal.

So he really only picked a few dishes to test for poison.

Xiao Yan urged again, impatiently:

"Aren't you going to continue? Do you want to poison this prince?"

Liu Qingci said nothing.

He lowered his gaze and replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

He had no choice but to pick up his chopsticks again and test each dish one by one.

His stomach, empty for a long time and already aching dully from the irritation of the medicine. But as the warm food entered his stomach, a soothing warmth gradually spread, and the sharp pain miraculously subsided.

The porridge was soft and sticky, melting in the mouth; the side dishes were light yet refined, just right.

Liu Qingci's pale cheeks showed a faint hint of color from this sudden warmth and fullness.

After Liu Qingci finished testing, Xiao Yan lazily picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Xiao Yan: "Xiao K, does this count as 'OOC'?"

Xiao K: "From a behavioral pattern analysis, it's a reasonable act of humiliation. That's not OOC."

Xiao Yan: "Fine."

He didn't have much appetite at the moment, so he took a few token bites and stopped.

He put down his chopsticks, and the servants came in to clear the dishes.

Surprise flickered in Liu Qingci's pale eyes.

The few bites Xiao Yan ate were not even half of what Liu Qingci had eaten while testing for poison.

Since he wasn't hungry and didn't want to eat, why had he ordered over a dozen dishes so late at night?

The warmth in his stomach kept radiating, giving him a surreal feeling.

Xiao Yan had already walked straight to the luxurious bed in the inner chamber.

He casually propped his hands behind his head, one leg bent and the other lazily stretched out, taking up most of the space, with a domineering and carefree posture.

The dim candlelight in the hall illuminated his chiseled profile.

He patted the bed beside him and commanded in a slightly husky, magnetic voice:

"Still standing there like a door god? Come lie down."

Liu Qingci's eyelashes fluttered. He walked over and lay down on the edge of the bed farthest from Xiao Yan.

At some point, the candles in the hall went out.

In the darkness, he tried to breathe as quietly as possible, making himself as inconspicuous as possible.

Silence stretched on for a long time, so long that Liu Qingci thought Xiao Yan had fallen asleep.

Or maybe he was too nervous, making the brief, agonizing time feel like an eternity.

Suddenly, he heard the man beside him speak.

"You..."

Xiao Yan paused, then commanded in his authoritative tone,

"Turn around. Lie on your stomach."

Liu Qingci's breath caught, and his fingertips pressed sharply into his palms.

The inevitable... had finally come.