Chapter 266: "Today is the day you sell yourself, Xu Xingchen.

"Your Majesty... it hurts..."

"Your Majesty... be gentle..."

Xiao Yang forced herself to finish applying the ointment, tossed the cotton swab onto the tray, and flicked Xu Xingchen’s face lightly.

"Why are you so delicate?"

He’d been digging in the dirt and cut his hand on a rock, and he just had to run to her, the Emperor, to put medicine on it for him.

’He really is precious.’

And all this whining... Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was doing something terrible to him in broad daylight.

’Of course, I’m just complaining. It doesn’t mean I’m unwilling.’

But that little pervert Xu Xingchen was very observant. He wouldn’t miss the small hint of enjoyment in Xiao Yang’s mood.

He leaned in, resting his forehead on Xiao Yang’s shoulder without a word, just staying close.

Sure enough, Xiao Yang sighed and put an arm around his shoulder, patting his head as if coaxing a child.

What was that saying again? People don’t hate those who play innocent; they just hate not being the one that person is relying on.

This little pervert might have a few screws loose, but Xiao Yang quite liked his coquettish little tricks.

However, while Xiao Yang saw Xu Xingchen as a cute little schemer, she couldn’t see the obsession and morbidity that filled his eyes from her angle.

’As long as I can be with Your Majesty, as long as I can win Your Majesty’s favor, I will become exactly what Your Majesty wants me to be—and be the only one.’

By using his injury, Xu Xingchen successfully managed to stay the night in Zichen Palace.

In the dead of night, Xiao Yang felt a chill on her foot. She opened her eyes to see Xu Xingchen quickly pull the blanket over her feet before scrambling into her arms.

He was clearly acting like a thief with a guilty conscience.

Xiao Yang wanted to see, but Xu Xingchen held her so tightly she couldn’t move.

Xiao Yang tried to feel it. It seemed to be a chain, but it was only wrapped around one of her legs.

She nudged Xu Xingchen’s head with her chin. "Since you’ve already put it on, shouldn’t we have a good look?"

Xu Xingchen’s body froze.

Xiao Yang said, "Go light the lamps."

Xu Xingchen couldn’t refuse.

He got up, lit the lamps, and then lifted the thin blanket.

Xiao Yang’s foot was revealed in the lamplight. Her skin was fair and smooth, her foot perfectly shaped, and her toes full and rounded.

A chain as thick as a thumb was fastened around her leg, stretching from her calf to her ankle.

It was a solid gold chain inlaid with seven-colored gemstones. The gold and gems stood in stark contrast to her fair skin, their glittering light dazzlingly brilliant.

If not for the small lock on it, one might have thought it was just an ornament.

’It’s just that his aesthetic sense... leaves something to be desired.’

’It only looks good because the gold is luxurious and the gems are beautifully polished. Brute-force beauty.’

Xiao Yang lifted her foot and gave it a shake, and the chain made a series of soft, pleasant clinks.

"You made this?"

Xu Xingchen nodded. "Mhm."

His eyes were full of expectation, as if asking, ’Does Your Majesty like it?’

Xiao Yang asked, "Why?"

With a lock on it, this couldn’t be considered a mere decoration.

Putting a chain on the Emperor... if she were feeling tolerant, she could treat it as a bit of romantic fun. If she weren’t, this boy’s entire family could be out on the street.

Xu Xingchen didn’t speak. Suppressing the heat in his eyes, he unfastened the chain and then, right in front of her, locked it onto his own ankles.

Not just one foot, but both of them, shackled together.

Only after locking it did he look up at her and place the key in her hand.

Xiao Yang looked at the key, then at the lock, then back up at him.

He hadn’t said a word, but the meaning was obvious.

He wanted Your Majesty to belong to him. If that wasn’t possible, then he could belong to Your Majesty.

A sense of belonging that was about being locked up, hidden away—a little bit obsessive.

Xiao Yang patted the spot beside her. "Come here."

Xu Xingchen obediently lay down, the chain clinking.

Xiao Yang found it strange. "You have both your parents, and your family treats you very well. How did you end up with a personality like this?"

Xu Xingchen hesitated for a moment. "I don’t know, but this is just what I feel in my heart. I’m actually a lot like my father..."

’I see,’ Xiao Yang thought. ’Some kind of hereditary mental illness.’

’The Xu Family—a prestigious line of scholars, literary masters, and distinguished officials—had produced a father and son with mental problems.’

’Speaking of which, hasn’t Grand Tutor Xu ever suspected something might be wrong with his family’s ancestral graves?’

Xu Xingchen lowered his head. "Your Majesty... I just want to possess Your Majesty, or become Your Majesty’s property... but it always feels like something is missing, just a little bit missing..."

The feeling of being unable to completely possess or be possessed was like a constant, agonizing itch, tormenting him at every moment.

Xiao Yang held him tightly, so tightly it was as if she were trying to merge him into her own body. "Is this any better?"

Xu Xingchen couldn’t nod, so he could only let out a muffled "mhm."

"I know this is like a sickness... I’m not worthy of Your Majesty..."

"I’m so happy that Your Majesty likes me, but I always feel uneasy, my heart is in turmoil."

"What if Your Majesty gets tired of me one day? I’ll die..."

Xiao Yang sighed. ’Looks like I’ve gotten myself into a bit of trouble.’

Xiao Yang held him tighter. "I do like you. You’re wonderful. Don’t let your imagination run wild."

If this was a psychological issue, such reassurances probably wouldn’t have much effect, but Xiao Yang wasn’t one to easily make profound promises of love.

「Three days later.」

Xiao Yang summoned Xu Xingchen once again.

"Your Majesty."

Xu Xingchen bowed and waited for permission before rising to approach.

Xiao Yang opened a box. Inside lay three items: two bracelets and a collar.

The bracelets were three fingers wide, somewhat resembling men’s sleeve fasteners. The collar was fastened with a solid gold clasp and had a lock on the back.

CLICK!

The bracelet snapped onto Xu Xingchen’s wrist. It was a perfect fit.

She put on the other one as well, and finally, the collar.

It could be hidden under his clothes, but it also looked good as a decoration worn on the outside.

Xu Xingchen was delighted that Your Majesty was giving him something, but he was also puzzled. "Why is Your Majesty suddenly giving me a gift? Is today a special occasion?"

"It is."

Right in front of Xu Xingchen, Xiao Yang put the key to the collar into her purse and secured it. "Today is the day you, Xu Xingchen, sold yourself to me."

The next moment, she grabbed the chain on the collar and yanked him directly in front of her, saying fiercely, "I designed these bracelets and this collar myself. They’re one of a kind. From now on, you will wear them every day, at all times. You are not allowed to take them off. Let everyone know that you belong to me."

Xu Xingchen’s pupils trembled, and the corners of his eyes turned red. "Yes. Your servant obeys the decree."

He was more than willing.

Xiao Yang: ’Just a little pervert with some mental issues. So easy to handle!’

Xiao Yang’s days passed in a cycle of being forced to be busy and finding ways to slack off. In the blink of an eye, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.

There were no major events and few minor ones. The only noteworthy thing was that Longchuan had sent people to deliver gifts to her.

She had felt a flicker of anticipation, but after reading the letter, she fell silent. She remained so until Xiao Qing appeared before her with a younger brother, a younger sister, and a group of other youths around their age.

Xiao Qing swore he had never in his life smiled so fawningly and with such a guilty conscience.

"Your servant, Xiao Qing... pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

He wasn’t stuttering from a lack of sincerity, but from too much of it; he was terrified of being scorned by Your Majesty.

Your Majesty’s gaze swept over him. ’Great. I’m being scorned, just as I’d expected.’

’I knew this was a bad idea.’

His parents had insisted that he bring his younger siblings and the others to "learn."

Although the stated purpose was to learn, he couldn’t help but feel like a freeloader relative.

He was guilty; he had wronged Your Majesty.