The two men silently left the small courtyard where Huo Kangshou was temporarily held.

Though Zhao Mian had departed, his mind lingered on Huo Kangshou’s words.

What Huo Kangshou had said was a problem he and Wei Zhenfeng, and by extension Nanjing and Beiyuan, had to confront. Nanjing was determined to acquire the Western Xia treasures; even if they couldn’t monopolize them, they certainly intended to claim a share. However, from Beiyuan’s perspective, they would undoubtedly be unwilling to share even a bit with another nation.

It would be entirely reasonable if Wei Zhenfeng were to turn against him over this matter in the future. Even knowing that Huo Kangshou was trying to sow discord between the two nations, they couldn’t deny this underlying truth.

Zhao Mian couldn’t help but glance at Wei Zhenfeng, who appeared solemn and deep in thought, likely grappling with the same issue. Zhao Mian offered comfort: “Dwelling on this matter is useless. It’s better to resolve the immediate problem first. Life itself takes precedence above all else.”

Wei Zhenfeng looked at him, amused: “What do you think I’m dwelling on?”

“Naturally, the matter of the Western Xia treasures.”

“Impressive, impressive, you guessed it right. So, where shall we do it tonight?” Wei Zhenfeng said in his usual relaxed and casual tone, “Your place or mine?”

Zhao Mian pondered for a moment: “My place. It’s closer to Huo Kangshou, so if anything unexpected happens there, we can get there in time.”

Wei Zhenfeng’s expression was complex. Still “get there in time”? What does the Crown Prince think of going to bed with him—eating a meal? Like he can just drop his chopsticks and leave? The sarcastic words reached his lips, but Wei Zhenfeng swallowed them back. Though he lacked experience, his intuition told him it was best not to provoke Zhao Mian before the main event.

“Alright,” Wei Zhenfeng said, “your call.”

Zhao Mian walked towards his room. He noticed Wei Zhenfeng was still following him and asked, puzzled, “Why are you following me?”

Wei Zhenfeng was equally bewildered: “Didn’t we say your place?”

Zhao Mian said, “Come over when you’re ready.”

“Ready? Do I need to prepare anything?” Wei Zhenfeng said “Oh,” then realized, “I know, I should go bathe and change.”

Zhao Mian reminded him: “Besides bathing and changing, there’s something else.”

Wei Zhenfeng was confused: “Something else?”

Seeing Wei Zhenfeng’s reaction, Zhao Mian knew the Young Prince lacked self-awareness: “Last time, you were on top. This month, it should definitely be my turn.”

Wei Zhenfeng: “…?”

Zhao Mian glanced at him, speaking bluntly: “With your bed skills, you wouldn’t be naive enough to think I’d let you sleep with me again this month, would you?”

Wei Zhenfeng stiffened. He opened his mouth to retort but couldn’t find a reason to. Logically, it was only fair for them to take turns. The Male-Female Gu only required them to consummate their union; it didn’t specify who was on top or bottom. Given Zhao Mian’s temper, and how much he was put through last time, he would definitely try to regain control this month.

He had actually overlooked this point earlier and hadn’t prepared a counter-strategy in advance.

A miscalculation.

Wei Zhenfeng racked his brains, holding it in for a long time, finally squeezing out a sentence: “I’m taller than you.”

Zhao Mian frowned.

What was Wei Zhenfeng playing at now?

Wei Zhenfeng, thinking he had found a breakthrough, continued: “And I’m a better fighter than you.”

Zhao Mian scoffed: “Has Your Highness forgotten whose territory he’s on? Should I summon Shen Buqi to tie Your Royal Highness to my bedpost?”

Wei Zhenfeng made a dying struggle: “…I’m also faster than you?”

Zhao Mian’s face suddenly darkened, and the words of justification escaped his lips: “That’s only because you were wearing Li Er’s face then! If it had been your own face, how could I have reacted so slowly?”

Wei Zhenfeng chuckled: “Do you believe me if I said, even if I was wearing my own face, you’d still be slower?”

Zhao Mian was about to retort, but suddenly realized he was being led by the nose by Wei Zhenfeng again. Who was faster or slower wasn’t the core issue; what was the point of arguing about it?

“Hmph, you’re quite proud. In any case, it’s almost midnight in half an hour.” Zhao Mian said coldly, “I advise Your Highness not to make futile struggles. The sooner we’re done, the sooner we can continue interrogating Huo Kangshou.”

With that, Zhao Mian stepped into his room, slamming the door shut in Wei Zhenfeng’s face.

The thoughtful Bai Yu had already prepared hot water for bathing. Zhao Mian soaked in the warm water, his cheeks flushed from the steam. After a while, he felt the water temperature not only wasn’t decreasing but seemed to be gradually rising.

…Was it because he was thinking about resolving the Gu with Wei Zhenfeng soon?

No need to be nervous, he could do this.

At fifteen or sixteen, when he was just starting to understand such matters, his imperial father had already taught him these things and demanded that he maintain his purity and be responsible for himself and others. No matter how inexperienced he was, he couldn’t possibly be worse than Wei Zhenfeng.

Stop. Don’t think about it. The more he thought, the hotter his body got. He should think about something else to relax.

Zhao Mian forced himself to think about the Western Xia treasures, but his gaze inadvertently fell on the mirror in the room. After much hesitation, he got out of the bath and dressed. Without even drying his wet hair, he first hid the mirror. No sooner had he hidden it than there was a knock on the door.

Zhao Mian briefly panicked. He slowly took a breath, made sure he was fully dressed and composed, then calmly opened the door.

Wei Zhenfeng appeared before him, radiating dampness.

Zhao Mian looked at him, feigning composure: “You’re here.”

Wei Zhenfeng’s long hair was still wet, and his eyelashes were damp. When he blinked, droplets of water touched his teardrop moles, gently breaking on his eyelids. He wore loose, crimson everyday clothes, and perhaps in his haste, his sash wasn’t properly tied, leaving his collar loose and revealing a muscular chest.

Wei Zhenfeng was also looking at him—at his face, at his eyes lowered due to discomfort, at his waist thoroughly hidden by his clothes. Then, Wei Zhenfeng took a step forward, turned, and closed the door.

Hearing the door click shut, Zhao Mian’s thoughts seemed to be locked away too. He felt unable to think about anything but the person and the matters in the room.

Zhao Mian composed himself and said to Wei Zhenfeng, “Go lie down on the bed.”

“Don’t rush, Your Highness.” Wei Zhenfeng clasped his hands behind his back. “Before we resolve the Gu, I have an impolite request.”

Zhao Mian had a bad feeling: “Speak.”

“Can I sleep with you using this face?”

As Wei Zhenfeng spoke, he pulled out something he had hidden behind his back—a meticulously crafted, all-too-familiar human-skin mask.

Dark-skinned, with ordinary features, lacking his favorite pair of tear moles, it was none other than Li Er’s face.

Zhao Mian’s expression immediately vanished. He nodded indifferently: “Very well, Wei Zhenfeng. You’ve lost your antidote.”

Wei Zhenfeng was not threatened. Instead, he examined the mask: “I never thought much of it before, but looking at it now, dark skin really isn’t as good as fair skin. And it doesn’t have the pair of teardrop moles that Your Highness likes. What to do?” The young man playfully put the mask over his own face. “Can Your Highness even react to this face?”

Zhao Mian closed his eyes. He felt like he was going to die of anger.

Damn it, he should have made Bai Yu research that hot spring that could remove all disguises!

Zhao Mian retorted stubbornly: “I’ll turn off the lights and imagine your face.”

Wei Zhenfeng chuckled: “Alright, Your Highness can try.”

Zhao Mian: “…”

“So, shall I put it on?”

Zhao Mian’s gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced Wei Zhenfeng, and he gritted his teeth: “You dare? Wei Zhenfeng, if you dare to sleep with me wearing another person’s face, I will hunt you down to Beiyuan’s capital and never let you go!”

“Wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.” Wei Zhenfeng tossed the mask aside, walked up to Zhao Mian, pressed on his shoulders to make him sit on the chair, then knelt before him, deliberately assuming a submissive posture. He looked up at Zhao Mian, speaking earnestly: “How about this, give me another chance? If you’re still not satisfied this month, next month and the month after, I’ll definitely let you be on top.”

Zhao Mian glared at Wei Zhenfeng, demanding: “Are you so unwilling to be the one on the bottom?”

He had already decided what to say. If Wei Zhenfeng said “yes,” he would bring out the principle of “do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you,” forcing Wei Zhenfeng to submit to the Confucian principles mutually revered by Nanjing and Beiyuan.

If Wei Zhenfeng said “no,” then he could simply say, “If not, then why don’t you let me sleep with you?”

To his surprise, Wei Zhenfeng neither said yes nor no. Instead, he said: “You misunderstand. I don’t consider being on the bottom ‘submissive.'” The young man paused, as frank as Zhao Mian had been when he said he liked his face. “I just simply want to top you.”

Wei Zhenfeng’s bluntness almost stunned the Crown Prince. Zhao Mian was momentarily dazed, then abruptly stood up, his expression sharp: “Presumptuous! I am someone you can just ‘top’ whenever you wish?”

Wei Zhenfeng raised an eyebrow: “Then how can I?”

Zhao Mian said coldly: “Since we cannot reach a consensus, there is only one way.”

Wei Zhenfeng asked: “What way?”

Zhao Mian wasted no words. He drew the sword hanging on the wall and lunged at Wei Zhenfeng without hesitation: “Take this!”

Wei Zhenfeng: “…”

In the entire Nanjing Embassy, the only person Wei Zhenfeng considered a true opponent was Shen Buqi. Seeing Zhao Mian’s resolute stance, Wei Zhenfeng had initially thought he would truly summon Shen Buqi, but it seemed the Crown Prince was merely putting on a brave front.

After five moves, Zhao Mian’s sword was taken from him, and he himself was pulled into Wei Zhenfeng’s embrace. Yet, the Crown Prince still didn’t call for help, only showing an unwilling expression and mocking him: “You’re only good at fighting.”

Before Wei Zhenfeng could speak, the Crown Prince continued: “Midnight is approaching. I don’t want to endure the pain of the Gu acting up, so I’ll let you have your way this one time. But if you hurt me again this time, for the next two full moons, I will definitely repay you a hundredfold.”

Wei Zhenfeng chuckled, then freed one hand to casually ruffle Zhao Mian’s hair: “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I’ve learned.”

Zhao Mian pursed his lips, enduring the shame to remind him for his own sake. “There’s a porcelain bottle with ointment by the bed. Remember to use it.”

“Ointment?” Wei Zhenfeng asked curiously. “What’s it for?”

Zhao Mian’s body suddenly stiffened.

Learned? This is what he calls learned? What on earth has Wei Zhenfeng learned?!

Zhao Mian no longer cared about losing face. He struggled in Wei Zhenfeng’s arms: “Wei Zhenfeng, I was foolish to trust you! You… put me down! Someone, Shen—”

Wei Zhenfeng helplessly held him tighter: “I was just teasing you, couldn’t you tell? I’m not stupid.”

Zhao Mian was so angry he wanted to bite someone: “Is this the kind of thing you can joke about?”

Wei Zhenfeng smiled, a hint of awkwardness in his voice: “I… I was a little nervous, so I wanted to tease you to relax. I apologize.” He carried Zhao Mian towards the bed. “But there’s one thing I’m very curious about: you clearly know you can’t beat me, so why did you still fight me?”

Zhao Mian hesitated whether to tell the truth.

Wei Zhenfeng, who was usually so sarcastic, had admitted he was nervous at a time like this. Did that mean he also didn’t need to lie?

Anyway, even if he didn’t tell the truth now, Wei Zhenfeng would surely force it out of him later.

“A symbolic struggle is still necessary; I can’t just agree to be slept with without doing anything,” Zhao Mian said, turning his face against Wei Zhenfeng’s chest, softly speaking the truth. “That… would be too embarrassing.”

If he fought first, he could at least comfort himself that he had tried. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t win.

After Zhao Mian spoke, Wei Zhenfeng remained silent for a long time. Zhao Mian had to look up at him. He saw Wei Zhenfeng looking down at him, his gaze focused, eyes bright as stars, carrying a danger that hinted at imminent downfall and ruin.

Zhao Mian asked, “What is it?”

Wei Zhenfeng slowly curved his lips: “What’s so embarrassing about it?” The young man had excellent arm strength; even while holding Zhao Mian with one hand, he still had enough strength with the other to untie the jade belt at his waist. “Even when you’re beneath me, you’ll still be the most noble Crown Prince, Your Highness.”