The main story is also titled When the Clear Light Appears.
Xiao Yunheng had practiced martial arts since childhood. He always believed that if he were skilled enough, he could protect the people around him.
But disaster struck his mother's family, and his eldest brother was put under house arrest in the Eastern Palace. Though he was highly skilled in martial arts, he had no way to put those skills to use.
Only after he sent himself to Yan Zhuo's bed in exchange for a deal did he feel that his martial arts had some use after all. At least... he could endure being put through the wringer, letting the other man enjoy himself.
Yan Zhuo had always thought Xiao Yunheng was a naive fool who only knew how to talk pretty. That was until Xiao Yunheng gave himself to him for his family's sake.
So he wasn't all talk after all. What a pity he was still a fool.
Their relationship had never been good. One was the abuser, the other the abused. Yan Zhuo thought the Ninth Prince must hate him.
So what? Plenty of people hated him. One more naive prince made no difference.
But after so much humiliation, their relationship somehow began to soften.
Xiao Yunheng would sometimes ask his advice on court affairs, and Yan Zhuo didn't mind answering.
It saved him from having to put up with that naive, innocent face all day, which somehow always annoyed him.
But after he personally shrouded those eyes, bright as a burning sun, in gloom, Yan Zhuo suddenly felt bored.
What was he doing? Raising a political rival?
He used being tired of him as an excuse to drive Xiao Yunheng away, and finally felt better.
But later, when Xiao Yunheng found himself in trouble, Yan Zhuo inexplicably helped him.
Even he couldn't understand why.
The moment Xiao Yunheng tried to thank him with his body, he understood.
Even when Yan Zhuo, in anger, lashed out and called him cheap and filthy, Xiao Yunheng only looked at him with a cool, indifferent expression and said, "Lord Yan is quite right. What is it you want, my lord? Yunheng will do his best to satisfy you."
Yan Zhuo looked into Xiao Yunheng's calm, unruffled eyes. They had once held a blazing fire, bright as the sun, but he had put it out with his own hands.
He regretted it.
By the time Yan Zhuo realized he had fallen in love with Xiao Yunheng, it was already too late. He had done too many things he could never undo, and never expected his feelings to be returned.
He thought imprisonment in the dungeons, a death sentence, and execution would be the end of his life.
Who could have guessed that when he opened his eyes again, he'd be in a dark chamber filled with familiar implements, with Xiao Yunheng looking down at him, his expression indifferent?
"This prince is curious, Lord Yan. Why were you so obsessed with these filthy things?"
The experience was naturally agonizing.
His Highness had trapped him here only to exact revenge for the humiliation he'd inflicted years ago.
But...
Yan Zhuo lowered his head and curled his lips.
It could still be called... getting what he wanted.
Reader's Guide:
Yan Zhuo is genuinely a pervert.
Xiao Yunheng will not become emperor. His eldest brother will be emperor, and the protagonist will become a prince.
The author likes martial arts, so the story has a wuxia setting, and both protagonists are highly skilled fighters.
Theme: Carve a path to open ground out of the mire
