In the quiet seclusion of Jingxin Courtyard, the world felt strangely still. For Davis, there was a twisted sort of mercy in this isolation. At the very least, there were no complex courtly intrigues to navigate here. There was no cold, disappointed gaze from the Star Luo Emperor, and no cruel mockery from the nobles who lived to see the powerful fall. There was no public reckoning for the defeated prince.
Instead, there was only the intense and relentless onslaught of the "big stick." It was a brutal reality that brought a contradictory sensation of extreme pleasure through his entire body. This internal conflict—the clash between his pride and the physical sensations he couldn't control—made Davis suffer immensely every single day.
[Resentment from Davis + 88!]
The sun was high when Dai Mubai arrived at the courtyard once again. He moved with a newfound confidence, waving his hand to dismiss the maids. He wanted to be alone with his prize. Davis was sitting by the large window, staring blankly at the gardens outside. He wore a sky-blue fringed long dress that draped elegantly over his frame. The fabric made his skin appear as white as fresh snow, and from the side, his profile looked soft and beautiful. However, his eyes were hollow and dark, filled with a deep, unresolved gloom that no amount of sunlight could brighten.
"Davis," Dai Mubai said softly as he walked up behind the seated figure. He placed his hands gently on Davis's slender shoulders, his voice deliberately low and kind. "The weather is beautiful today. Why stay cooped up in here? Do you want to go for a walk? I'll accompany you."
As soon as the hands touched him, Davis's body stiffened. He violently pushed Dai Mubai's hands away and stood up, his voice trembling with cold disgust. "Get lost! Don't you dare touch me! Dai Mubai, stop these disgusting tricks. If you want to kill me, just do it and get it over with!"
A flicker of anger flashed in Dai Mubai's eyes for a brief moment, but he quickly suppressed it. He had learned to be patient. He let out a long sigh, his tone carrying a hint of genuine hurt. "Davis, why must you always misunderstand my intentions? Isn't our current situation good? We are away from all the conflicts of the palace. It's just us now."
"Shut up!" Davis turned around, his eyes burning with a furious fire. "Just us? Dai Mubai, look closely at who I am! I am your elder brother! You are the one who personally made me like this, and now you have the nerve to say these things to me? You make me sick!"
Dai Mubai looked at the flushed face, watching the way Davis breathed heavily in anger. Instead of getting angry himself, he smiled. He reached out a hand to caress Davis's cheek. "Yes, you were my elder brother. But now, you are my Davis. Perhaps this is simply fate's best arrangement for both of us."
Davis sharply turned his head away to avoid the touch. His chest heaved violently as a wave of nausea washed over him. He felt trapped in a nightmare he couldn't wake up from.
Just as the tension reached a breaking point, a maid spoke timidly from outside the door. "Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, someone from Earl Ye's mansion has arrived. They said Earl Ye recently acquired some special calming and soothing incense. He sent it specifically for the young lady to try."
The mention of Ye Yin's name caused two very different reactions. Davis's eyes instantly filled with a deep-seated hatred mixed with a lingering fear. It was all because of that man! Everything that had happened—his loss, his transformation, his humiliation—was because of Ye Yin. If it weren't for that bizarre Curse, how could a Spirit Master of his caliber have fallen to such a pathetic state?
[Resentment from Davis + 99!]
Dai Mubai, on the other hand, felt his eyes brighten with excitement. "Oh? Sent by Yin-ge? Bring it in quickly!" Since the shift in power, Dai Mubai had come to obey Ye Yin almost completely, trusting the man's judgment and gifts implicitly.
A disciple from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School soon walked in, carrying an exquisite incense box made of dark wood. Dai Mubai took the box and opened it, revealing several finely crafted sticks of dark purple incense. A cool, strange, and ethereal fragrance drifted from the box. Even unlit, the scent brought a subtle sense of peace to the mind.
"Yin-ge is truly thoughtful," Dai Mubai said with a satisfied nod. He immediately signaled for the maid to light a stick.
Thin wreaths of green smoke began to rise, and the strange, potent aroma gradually permeated every corner of the room. Davis grew vigilant and held his breath, glaring at Dai Mubai with pure spite. "Take it away! I don't want anything that belongs to him!"
Dai Mubai didn't listen. He moved forward and pulled Davis into his arms, holding him firmly. His tone left no room for any more arguments. "Don't be willful, Davis. This is Yin-ge's kindness, and it is meant to help you. Just smell it. Doesn't it make you feel much better?"
The fragrance was pervasive and impossible to avoid for long. Davis struggled in the embrace for a few moments, trying to pull away, but eventually, his lungs demanded air. He took a breath, and the sweet, strange smoke filled his senses.
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