Volume 1, Chapter 4: His Royal Highness the Prince

Liu Qi did not answer, nor could he, for his face was buried deep against Yang Yuqi’s chest.

"None of the men I’ve used have survived, but you are the exception."

Yang Yuqi released him, and Liu Qi, as if granted a new lease on life, gasped desperately for fresh air.

"I had intended to kill you too, but your performance, while crude, was unexpectedly enjoyable. I simply couldn't bring myself to end you," Yang Yuqi said.

Liu Qi’s heart pounded. He was only nineteen, while Yang Yuqi was twenty-five—a woman seasoned by the world, far more experienced in the ways of men and women than he could ever be. Because of this, everything she said left him blushing and breathless.

Yet, Liu Qi understood clearly that he survived only because of his youth and vitality. Should he grow frail or prove useless before he could build his own strength, he would lose his right to exist. Though she claimed she couldn't bear to kill him, he knew he was nothing more than a toy in her eyes—otherwise, she would not have gifted him to another woman.

"Deputy Guan," Yang Yuqi called out toward the tent entrance. The officer who had brought Liu Qi in earlier stepped inside.

"Take him to Sima Yun’s tent," Yang Yuqi ordered, picking up her wine flagon and taking a sip with an air of indifference.

"Understood," Deputy Guan replied, leading Liu Qi out.

On the way, the deputy warned him, "This Sima Yun is a woman of significant standing and has a voracious appetite for men. Once inside, don't be too dull. If she isn't satisfied, you won't just lose your head—you'll lose your pride in a far more humiliating way."

Liu Qi shuddered. To lose his head meant death, but as a man—and a former royal of noble blood—to lose his "manhood" was worse than death itself. Back in the Kang Dynasty, he had followed his older brothers to pleasure houses and observed how performers sought to please their patrons, but those were always women; he had never seen a man in such a position. He had no idea how to please Sima Yun, but to survive, and to remain a man in every sense, he had to serve her well.

The path to Sima Yun’s tent was short, yet it felt as if he were walking through half a lifetime. The shackles on his ankles clinked rhythmically, as if urging him on or mocking his fate.

***

Deputy Guan led him to the entrance, offered one last stern reminder to serve her well, and sent him inside.

Upon entering, Liu Qi was struck by a peculiar fragrance. It was not overpowering, yet as he inhaled, his body reacted instantly. His heart raced, his breathing quickened, and a scorching heat began to surge through his veins.

*What is happening?* he wondered, bewildered by the escalating intensity of the desire. He felt like a dam about to burst, desperate for an outlet but unsure where to find it. He was driven to the brink of madness.

Then, he heard a woman’s soft, enticing voice. Looking toward the source, he saw a slender silhouette behind a translucent screen, the shadow outlining a woman’s exquisite curves like a silhouette play. Draped over the top of the screen were her discarded garments, including her undergarments. The shadow was intoxicating, and the sight of her intimate clothing was maddening. Instinctively, Liu Qi moved toward the screen.

Sima Yun stepped out from behind it, her eyes twinkling with a smile that made Liu Qi’s senses reel. He felt as if he were under a spell, unable to focus on anything but the desperate need to find relief.

As she fully emerged, his reason crumbled. In the dim light of the oil lamp, Sima Yun’s appearance was both mysterious and provocative. She was not wearing the local undergarments but a uniquely styled fabric—exceedingly sparse and daring, perhaps even scandalous by local standards. It was clearly the craftsmanship of the northern barbarians. The Great Qian Dynasty, which controlled the core trade routes, frequently traded with these tribes, which was precisely how they had risen to power. By monopolizing these routes, they had forced other dynasties into isolation, widening the gap between themselves and their rivals.

Liu Qi was utterly captivated. Her charm and her brazen attire assaulted his sensibilities, and combined with the lingering, intoxicating scent, he was helpless to resist.

Sima Yun walked toward him with a graceful, swaying gait. The fragrance intensified, and his heart hammered against his ribs. She reached out and tilted his chin up. "You look somewhat familiar. Where are you from?"

"The Kang Dynasty," Liu Qi replied.

***

"I see..." Sima Yun chuckled, a world of meaning in her tone. Her fingers traced his cheek, his neck, and his collarbone, making him tremble.

Liu Qi felt feverish, his thoughts a chaotic blur. It was as if his mind had been hijacked the moment he stepped into this tent, forcing words from his lips that he had no control over.

"I’ve heard that after the fall of the Kang Dynasty, a young prince went into exile among the common folk," Sima Yun whispered. "Since you are from Kang, you must have heard something of this, haven't you?"

Liu Qi shuddered, his consciousness snapping back into focus. He noticed her smile as she guided him to lie upon a bronze table, her body soft and fragrant as she pressed against him.

"Well? Is it true or false?" she asked again.

"It... it is true..." Liu Qi struggled to remain clear-headed. He knew that if she asked, she likely already knew the answer; to deny it would only make him more suspicious.

Sima Yun smiled. "And do you know where he is?"

"This lowly one truly does not know..." Liu Qi answered.

Sima Yun shook her head with a mysterious smile, standing up to loom over him on the bronze table.

"Your Highness," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "Sima Yun is willing to lend you her strength to overthrow the Qian and restore the Kang. What say you, Your Highness?"

Liu Qi was stunned. Was this woman a loyalist of the Kang Dynasty? Had she truly recognized him? He didn't know her true allegiance, but the revelation left him in shock. Could it be that before the Kang Dynasty fell, the Emperor had already laid the foundations for a long-term plan to restore the empire, with Sima Yun as an agent planted deep within the Qian court?