Chapter 0224: Xie Jinyu Looking Down from Above, Xie Chengze Breaking Down and Yielding

“You must have been dreaming!” After snapping back to reality, Xie Chengze hurriedly retorted, “Impossible, absolutely impossible! Shen Yuan would never be the kind of person to act so sneakily!”

If he wanted to tease him, he could just do it outright—why would he wait until he was drunk late at night?

Shen Yuan wouldn’t do such a thing!

“Second Brother…” Seeing Xie Chengze’s disbelief, Xie Jinyu couldn’t help but show a hurt expression. “Would I lie to you?”

Xie Chengze wanted to say yes, but he decided against it.

He refused to believe it and continued to argue, “That was made by the little white tiger, definitely not by a person.”

There were only a few people in that room. Xie Shoujun and Xie Zimiao would never do such a reckless thing, and Shen Yuan was even less likely. As for Xie Jinyu, Xie Chengze also thought it unlikely. Although this Crown Prince younger brother had an obsessive affection for him, since he was pinning the mark on Shen Yuan, it clearly wasn’t his doing.

After all, someone with such a strong possessive streak would never let what he claimed bear even a hint of someone else’s scent, even if it were just a rumor.

If Xie Jinyu had really done it, he would have pinned him down and loudly declared it his handiwork—Ah!

His shoulders were suddenly pushed onto the bed. Xie Chengze stared wide-eyed as Xie Jinyu loomed over him.

What—what was he doing?!

He was just casually guessing—how had it become reality?!

“Second Brother, how could a little white tiger leave a mark like that?”

Xie Jinyu easily restrained Xie Chengze’s struggling hands with one hand while pressing his other hand against his restless shoulder, forcing his entire upper body into submission.

He looked down at him from above, his gaze sharp as a blade, sweeping from his eyes to his lips before settling on his neck.

Xie Chengze wanted to kick him, but thinking of Xie Jinyu’s injuries, he couldn’t bear to hurt him. He could only try to reason gently, “Calm down. Let me finish applying the medicine first. It wouldn’t be good if Father Emperor saw…”

As soon as he finished speaking, light footsteps echoed from outside, growing closer, accompanied by Emperor Jian’s hearty laughter.

Xie Chengze glanced at their position, then at Xie Jinyu’s bare upper body, and couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Anyone who saw this would misunderstand!

“What’s wrong with it…” Xie Jinyu lowered his hips, his right leg slightly raised. Watching the Xie Chengze beneath him instinctively clamp his legs to prevent further movement, he let out a low chuckle and slowly lowered his head. “If Second Brother doesn’t believe me, let me help you compare—see if a mark made by a person’s mouth is the same as the one from that day.”

With Emperor Jian and Eunuch Zhao’s footsteps drawing nearer, Xie Chengze’s heart leaped into his throat. He glared fiercely at Xie Jinyu, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Xie Jinyu! Have you lost your mind?! This is the Imperial Study!”

If Emperor Jian misunderstood that they were doing something improper in the Imperial Study, he would surely banish him to the borderlands too!

“What is Second Brother afraid of…” Gazing at the trembling young man beneath him, Xie Jinyu raised a hand to gently stroke his brow, brushing the stray hairs behind his ear. His tone was tender yet tinged with a sinister smile. “Are you afraid the mark really was made by Shen Yuan, or are you afraid Father Emperor will see the two of us…”

He let out a light, ambiguous hum, his tone carrying an indescribable mix of danger and amusement. “If your answer satisfies me, I’ll let you go.”

Xie Chengze stared at Xie Jinyu, unable to believe he would say such a thing.

He was truly insane.

No, wait—Xie Chengze, you need to stay calm.

Xie Chengze refused to believe Xie Jinyu would be so bold as to let Emperor Jian witness their compromising situation. He widened his eyes, glaring at Xie Jinyu. “Fine! Then let Father see for himself what his highly favored Crown Prince is doing to the elder brother he ought to respect!”

He spoke defiantly, “If you lose your position as Crown Prince because of this, don’t blame me for not warning you!”

Xie Jinyu chuckled softly, his gentle yet mocking gaze fixed on Xie Chengze’s stubborn face. “To share ruin with Second Brother would be my honor.”

Seeing his unperturbed expression, Xie Chengze’s eyes widened in shock.

No way, he wouldn’t actually go through with this, would he?

Outside, Emperor Jian was approaching the inner chamber door. In front of him, the elegant and composed young man leisurely played with his hair, utterly unconcerned about the terrifying scene that would unfold once the door opened.

Xie Chengze took a deep breath and raised his leg to kick Xie Jinyu. But the moment his right leg moved, Xie Jinyu swiftly struck two pressure points on his body. In the next second, Xie Chengze found himself unable to move.

Xie Chengze nearly burst into tears.

This was utterly lacking in martial morality!

How could he use pressure points on someone!

Though it was his first time being immobilized this way, and the sensation was rather strange—wait, no, that wasn’t the point. Xie Chengze shook his head instinctively, only to realize he couldn’t even do that.

Emperor Jian’s voice sounded from outside the door, “I wonder if Ze’er has returned yet.”

Eunuch Zhao replied, “He has probably returned to Cheng Huan Palace by now.”

“True, that child trembles at the mere mention of the Imperial Study.” Emperor Jian laughed heartily, his voice so close it seemed he might push the door open at any moment.

Yet Xie Jinyu remained calmly pressed against him, as though he truly wouldn’t release the pressure points unless Xie Chengze gave a satisfactory answer.

Still unwilling to believe Xie Jinyu would act so recklessly, Xie Chengze stubbornly held his ground, his heartbeat syncing with the footsteps outside.

Finally, just as Eunuch Zhao questioned why the door was closed and reached to push it open, Xie Chengze’s resolve shattered. In a nearly tearful voice, he pleaded, “Second Brother was wrong. How about Second Brother sleeps with you tonight?”

This child had always loved clinging to him while sleeping—surely such an answer would soften his heart and make him release the pressure points!

No sooner had he spoken than the voice of an imperial guard sounded outside, “Your Majesty.”

The guard’s voice halted both Emperor Jian and Eunuch Zhao in their tracks.

“The Censor-in-Chief just…” the guard began slowly, reporting that a minister had come to the Imperial Study seeking an audience with the Prince Regent. Inside the room, Xie Jinyu smiled and released Xie Chengze’s pressure points, then leisurely began straightening his clothes.

An uncanny sensation washed over Xie Chengze—it felt like a mother-in-law arriving to catch her son-in-law in the act, only to be stopped by bodyguards outside, while inside, a domineering CEO calmly tidied up the scene of his affair.

“You did that on purpose?!” Xie Chengze finally realized—Xie Jinyu had known all along that Emperor Jian would be stopped and informed of the ministers’ arrival, which was why he dared to confront him so leisurely!

“Second Brother still has much to learn.” Xie Jinyu revealed a smile. “I’ll be waiting for you in Cheng Huan Palace. Don’t return too late.”

With that, he winked playfully at Xie Chengze and swiftly moved to the inner chamber, climbing out the window to leave the Imperial Study.

The imperial guards stationed by the window did not stop him—likely members of the Cao family or already bribed by the Crown Prince.

Fuming, Xie Chengze strode to the desk, snatched the teaching materials, then flung the door open and shot a fierce glare at Emperor Jian outside.

That wretched emperor! Neglecting his memorials again—what business does he have in the Imperial Study?

After delivering the glare, he stormed off without looking back.

The targeted Emperor Jian merely felt bewildered. “What’s gotten into him now?”