Outrageous Pecs! Xue Ye's Delight

Xue Qinghe's gaze wavered. He wanted to pick up the cup and drink, but reason told him that doing so would ruin his image as a gentle, benevolent man free of bad habits.

Besides, he had to pay his respects tomorrow. If his imperial father smelled alcohol on him, wouldn't all his scheming come to nothing?

"Don't be so serious. Isn't it exhausting, pretending every day? Can't you live for yourself just once?"

"Forget it. Just looking at you tires me out. I'll drink by myself."

Xue Qinghe took in every word Ning Chengyi said.

He suddenly reached out, grabbed the Liquor Dispenser, tipped his head back, and took a huge gulp.

The strong liquor rushed down his throat, a fiery sting exploding inside it. "Cough, cough..." Caught off guard, he choked and coughed.

He instinctively raised a hand to cover his mouth, his brows knitting tightly as his fair face flushed red.

"Hahahaha..." Ning Chengyi laughed heartily, picked up the Liquor Dispenser in front of him, and drained it in one go, letting out a satisfied sigh.

Seeing this, Xue Qinghe turned the lazy Susan, bringing the liquor around to himself. He filled his vessel again and downed it. This time, however, there was none of his earlier embarrassment. Instead, an unprecedented sense of exhilaration spread across his face.

"That hits the spot!"

He raised his vessel and turned it upside down, exclaiming in satisfaction.

He had always observed royal etiquette, every word and action bound by rules, and had never touched a drop of alcohol. Those two drinks finally let his true nature break free.

At that moment, he was no longer the crown prince of Heaven Dou Imperial City.

He was simply... himself!

"Cheers!"

"Brother Ning, come sit over here! Let's drink together!"

After roughly three hundred milliliters of liquor, Xue Qinghe waved him over. Ning Chengyi laughed and moved closer.

"Haha... hic! Your Highness, now this is opening your heart! This is being yourself!"

"Bottoms up." Ning Chengyi filled both vessels and handed one to Xue Qinghe. He took it, clinked it lightly against the other, and drained it.

Bold and decisive, he left not a drop.

"Cheers!" Xue Qinghe's face was now as red as a ripe apple.

As they drank round after round, the smile never left Xue Qinghe's face. The feelings he had suppressed for so long seemed to melt away that day.

It was as though he had finally returned to nature after years in a cage.

"Haha... that's the spirit! Hic! Brother Xue, that's the spirit!"

"You're a man who follows his heart too, Brother Ning. Hosting this banquet for you today was well worth it."

"But there's something I'm not sure I should say..." By now, Ning Chengyi could barely make out his cup, and Xue Qinghe looked like two people to him.

"Say it! Speak your mind, Brother Ning."

"Hahaha, all right! Brother Xue, why are your pecs so ridiculously big? Have you been sneaking muscle-building powder?"

Xue Qinghe fell silent.

At those words, Xue Qinghe's eyes flew wide open. The drunken haze that had just gone to his head seemed to evaporate in an instant.

"It takes a strong body to handle countless affairs of state, Brother Ning!"

Seeing Ning Chengyi swaying drunkenly, seemingly not having squeezed his chest on purpose, Xue Qinghe sighed in relief.

"Hahaha, I hope you'll be a good emperor..."

Thump!

With that, Ning Chengyi collapsed face-first onto the table. Xue Qinghe used his soul power to force most of the alcohol out of his system, his delicate face reddening as he recalled what had just happened.

"I nearly jeopardized everything. Luckily, he was only drunk." Looking at the unconscious Ning Chengyi, Xue Qinghe cast a wary sidelong glance at the liquor, then lowered his gaze to his own chest. His face grew even redder.

"Young master, have you been drinking?"

When Xue Qinghe walked out, the man who had escorted Ning Chengyi immediately approached and asked.

"What, am I not allowed?"

The man frowned. "As long as it doesn't interfere with our business." Xue Qinghe snorted coldly at that. "Have someone arrange his enrollment at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Put him in the most troublesome class, and take care of everything here."

"Yes."

The next day, at noon.

Ning Chengyi held his head and groaned in pain. He rubbed his temples, his whole body feeling unnaturally heavy, as though he had nearly drowned.

"Ugh! I drank too much... I didn't do anything out of line last night, did I? Hopefully not."

He picked up the water prepared beside him and gulped down more than half of it before his thirst eased and some strength returned to his body.

"How did I get back into bed afterward?" Having finished the water, Ning Chengyi looked down at himself lying in bed. Seeing that his clothes were still intact, he inwardly sighed in relief. He had no idea what Xue Qinghe would think if he saw him wearing his mother's inner armor.

"Sir, you're awake?" Just as Ning Chengyi was about to get up, the door opened a crack. It was the same woman from yesterday.

He beckoned her inside. After asking a few brief questions, he learned that the women had carried him back to bed. He felt a little embarrassed, but soon regained his composure.

"Where's your manager? Call him over." Another woman acknowledged his request and soon returned with the manager.

"Sir, whatever you need, just say the word." The same ingratiating smile remained on the manager's face. "Did the person who invited me leave anything?"

"Here. Our young master left these for you. Please be sure to keep your appointment."

Ning Chengyi accepted the token Xue Qinghe had left, but only opened the letter after lunch.

"Brother Ning, I have arranged your enrollment for tomorrow. Please help me bring those troublemakers into line."

"Once you enroll and fulfill our agreement, I will personally present you with the Moonlit Perching Butterfly Flower. I will also honor all the other terms, one by one."

There were only a few short lines, but Ning Chengyi smiled after reading them. He put the letter away, then took out the recommendation letter for the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and Xue Qinghe's token for a look.

"Getting the troublemakers at Heaven Dou Royal Academy to submit within a month really is a tough task!"

Ning Chengyi rubbed the space between his brows, feeling a headache coming on.

After all, there were quite a few Soul Elders among them. Naturally, the quickest way to intimidate them was through force.

But he was only a rank-fifteen soul master. Unless it was a fight to the death, it really would be difficult.

Still, now that he was here, he might as well bury them.

"Father, I have found an extraordinary prodigy and intend to send him to the Ultimate Class. What do you think?"

"Oh? Just how extraordinary?" Xue Ye had been reviewing memorials. Hearing Xue Qinghe's words, he immediately set down the memorial in his hand and looked up with curiosity.

"He killed a Soul Elder in the Death Arena while only a soul master himself, and even broke through during the battle. What do you think, Father?"

As soon as Xue Qinghe finished, Xue Ye shuddered slightly, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes. If that was true, the young man was indeed an extraordinary prodigy.

He looked at the attendant beside him, who nodded. "Excellent! That's my son. You've truly found a promising talent for our Heaven Dou."

"Father, may I proceed with my plan?"

"Go. Take my Imperial Edict to Meng Shenji and the others, and have them test him thoroughly. If he truly proves capable, spare no resources in supporting him. Even if he leaves Heaven Dou in the future, he will surely remember today's kindness."

When it came to talented people, Xue Ye's eagerness rivaled Cao Cao's thirst for worthy men.

He had heard Xue Qinghe's report today, and his personal attendant had confirmed it, so there could be no falsehood. Building a good relationship was naturally the best course. Even if that failed, they absolutely could not make an enemy of him.

"Yes." Xue Qinghe lowered his head and smiled faintly. Ning Chengyi's enrollment was settled.

"But he needs the Moonlit Perching Butterfly Flower, Father..."

"If he can enter the academy, simply give it to him."

Xue Ye did not hesitate at all. It was only natural for a genius of that caliber to have some demands.

Someone without desires or demands would be truly difficult to control. As long as he needed something, there was no fear that he would refuse to stay in Heaven Dou and serve the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

After paying his respects, Xue Qinghe took Xue Ye's Imperial Edict and headed straight for the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Meng Shenji and the other two of the Three Education Committee Members trembled at the sight of the emperor's Imperial Edict, especially when they read its contents.