Chapter 22: Let Me Teach You How to Talk Dirty, Your Highness

Chapter 22: Let Me Teach You How to Talk Dirty, Your Highness

But all he could think about was how Yan Huaixuan's fingers had touched his lips just moments ago.

Yan Huaixuan saw his dazed expression and couldn't help but say, "Cat got your tongue because you're feeling guilty?"

Shen Lian snapped back to reality, his ears suddenly turning bright red. Getting caught sneaking food because he didn't wipe his mouth—so embarrassing!

Shen Lian stood up to leave. "Yan Huaixuan, you're always picking on me."

But for some reason, Yan Huaixuan found himself grabbing the young man without thinking, refusing to let him leave.

He looked at Shen Lian's flushed cheeks and pale face.

He thought about how this guy went through all that trouble to get out of the palace, charging into that swamp without a second thought, even knowing there were monsters in there.

Yan Huaixuan swallowed hard.

Shen Lian didn't know why Yan Huaixuan had suddenly grabbed him either. He slowly lowered his hands and met Yan Huaixuan's gaze.

The chest he was pressed against felt cold and distant, but surprisingly steady.

Yan Huaixuan's scent, like fresh snow, completely enveloped him.

Shen Lian felt like his heart was slipping further and further away.

Thump, thump, thump—his heart was about to burst out of his chest.

Shen Lian felt helpless, and a little bitter at himself.

He figured he must be losing his mind.

He'd clearly told himself he wouldn't fall for this, and Yan Huaixuan had done nothing just now—had even messed with him a little.

But the second he saw Yan Huaixuan, all the sadness from before just disappeared.

Just because Yan Huaixuan was willing to see him again.

Shen Lian couldn't help remembering what someone once told him—you can't have both love and money; if he wanted to get ahead, he couldn't afford to have feelings.

If this kept up, he'd end up dead in a ditch.

Yan Huaixuan said in a low voice, "What are you thinking about? You look so serious."

Shen Lian's lashes fluttered, and he smiled. "I was just thinking about how... impressive my husband is."

Yan Huaixuan: "..."

Shen Lian looked anywhere but at him. "I didn't mean to, but whose fault is it that I'm sitting in my husband's lap? Of course I felt it."

And sure enough, the second he said that, Yan Huaixuan yanked him up.

Yan Huaixuan said in a low, stern voice, "Naugh—"

He was about to say "naughty" when he caught Shen Lian's grinning eyes.

—My husband only ever says the same few lines; I've got them all memorized by now.

But if he asked Yan Huaixuan to say anything else, he just...

Shen Lian didn't know why, but he suddenly figured out what Yan Huaixuan was thinking, and he found it hilarious.

Who would've thought this heavenly immortal couldn't even swear?

Shen Lian's eyes darted around, a mischievous idea brewing in his gut. He deliberately leaned in closer to Yan Huaixuan.

"Does Your Highness not know how to talk dirty? Let me teach you."

Yan Huaixuan's brows knitted together, about to say something.

Shen Lian grabbed his hand and pressed it against his chest, then leaned close to Yan Huaixuan's ear, blowing warm breath onto his ear, his cheeks bright red.

"Husband, I'm your own personal little sl*t."

The veins on Yan Huaixuan's forehead popped out, but weirdly, he didn't pull his hand away.

Ling Yun, meanwhile, had been shoved straight back into the Spiritual Sea by Yan Huaixuan the moment Shen Lian opened his mouth.

Ling Yun was totally confused: "Master! I still didn't get to hear what dirty talk he was gonna say!"

Shen Lian wasn't actually as calm as he looked on the surface either. A thin layer of sweat had formed on the tip of his nose as he stared hard at Yan Huaixuan's profile.

This legendary Dragon Proud Heaven, this untouchable god.

Was now having his hand grabbed by him.

Shen Lian slowly guided Yan Huaixuan's hand, sliding it down from his chest inch by inch, until it got to his waist.

Yan Huaixuan could clearly feel the curves of the young man's body under his palm.

The soft feel against his palm made it obvious what he was doing.

Shen Lian whispered again, "Husband, wanna touch my butt? It's really soft."

He guided Yan Huaixuan's hand backward.

The corners of Shen Lian's eyes turned slightly red.

But unexpectedly, just as they were about to go around—

Yan Huaixuan suddenly withdrew his hand.

His voice was low and controlled. "Go back and rest. Come back tomorrow, and I'll teach you martial arts."

Shen Lian pressed his lips together. Still no luck?

He was about to feel upset when his eyes darted around and caught sight of a piece of fabric that hadn't been between Yan Huaixuan's legs before.

Shen Lian's brows immediately rose. He glanced at Yan Huaixuan sitting upright with a look of pure detachment.

He didn't recall Yan Huaixuan having that piece of fabric when he'd first arrived.

Realizing something, a hint of a smile flickered in Shen Lian's eyes. "Alright."

After he left, Yan Huaixuan slowly lowered his head.

He frowned at the space between his legs, then pinched the bridge of his nose.

After a long moment, Yan Huaixuan seemed to make a decision and slowly reached out his hand.

But whenever he closed his eyes, that person's face was right there in front of him.

Along with all those messy words.

Honestly, that was way too bold.

A faint vein pulsed on Yan Huaixuan's forehead. He figured this phase would blow over fast, and he'd get back to his cultivation.

But the craving dragged on for three full hours.

Once it finally settled, Yan Huaixuan looked at his own disheveled state, his brow furrowed deep—a rare sight for him.

The next day, Shen Lian showed up as promised and casually asked if Yan Huaixuan had drunk the chicken soup.

Yan Huaixuan gave a grunt of acknowledgment, noticing Shen Lian still staring at him with expectant, blinking eyes.

Yan Huaixuan had no choice but to add, "Not only that, but the fire poison condition from before has eased up quite a bit."

That's when Shen Lian finally cracked a smile. "Glad it helped ease your Highness's fire poison issue. I added plenty of medicinal herbs to the soup."

For the next few days, Shen Lian trained in martial arts right in front of Yan Huaixuan.

When he was studying, he gave it his all—but when he wasn't, he pulled out all the stops to mess with Yan Huaixuan.

That went on until the palace banquet rolled around.

The system's voice suddenly went cold and menacing. "You need to figure out a way to get your hands on the Lingyun Sword."

Shen Lian said flatly, "Got it."

In a few days, it would be the emperor's birthday, so the palace was throwing a huge banquet, with envoys from every nation coming to pay their respects.

And Yan Huaixuan, for this occasion, was given a rare exception to attend the banquet this time.

The reason was simple: one of the consorts had never had a child, so she'd set her sights on the deposed crown prince, Yan Huaixuan.

Yan Huaixuan's birth mother was Consort Xian, who had once been deeply in love with the emperor, so at Yan Huaixuan's birth, he was immediately made crown prince. But when Yan Huaixuan was three, Consort Xian, for unknown reasons, quarreled with the emperor.

She straight-up set herself on fire and died. In the palace, suicide was a grave crime.

It was seen as cursing the emperor. In a rage, the emperor cast Yan Huaixuan into the cold palace.

Fortunately, even in the cold palace, Yan Huaixuan never gave up any opportunity to study poetry and books. Later, it was only after ministers pleaded that the nine-year-old, intelligent and composed Yan Huaixuan was brought out to be educated.

But Yan Huaixuan was still deposed. He was framed by his brothers, and the emperor, without any investigation, stripped him of his title and reduced him to a commoner.

This consort wanted to claim Yan Huaixuan as her own, so she persuaded for a long time before the emperor allowed Yan Huaixuan to leave the cold palace.

Tonight, that consort sent a eunuch to lobby him.