Your Highness, That Ailment Needs Treating

A ruthless, poison-surrounded hostage from the southwest x a rakish, ambitious, disfavored prince

The emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty is bloodthirsty and loves battle, sparking one war after another. The frontier is engulfed in fighting, and the people suffer miserably. Only the southwest, where it does not interfere with its neighbors, still has a sliver of peace.

Xie Nansui is the youngest son of the Prince of the Southwest. At seventeen, he was sent to the imperial capital as one of a group of hostages. He dislikes socializing. His days are spent either going up the mountain to gather poisonous creatures or staying shut inside his residence to study books on poisons. He knows the rules and keeps his place.

By contrast, the second prince, Xiao Lanye, is a notorious playboy. The spoiled young men of the great clans all follow his lead, and the hostages are no exception. Every day, he goes either to brothels and taverns or to gambling houses. Outsiders say he spends money like water, as if there'll be no tomorrow.

"I hear the one from the southwest is more alluring than a woman. I caught a glimpse of him from afar at the start of spring. That figure... tsk."

"Of the hostages from the eight neighboring states, he's the only one I haven't seen. But they say the southwest is crawling with poisonous creatures, and that he's cold-hearted and spends all his time with venomous insects..."

"He may be handsome, but he's still a man."

Xiao Lanye turned the ring on his knuckle, lost in thought as he considered the power held by the Prince of the Southwest. After a long while, his lips moved. "To be frank, I have been smitten with Young Master Xie for a long time." The crowd below fell silent.

The next day, news that the second prince was pining for a man spread through every street and alley in the city. Meanwhile, the person at the center of it all was searching the mountains for a venomous spider, completely unaware that his residence was already in chaos.

When Xie Nansui returned with a bamboo basket, the gossip along the way had nearly burst his eardrums. He hurried his steps and saw a tall, strikingly beautiful man standing at the entrance to his residence. He bowed, his expression cool.

"Young Master Xie is just as they said." Xiao Lanye smiled.

"And what did they say?" Xie Nansui looked up, coldness in his eyes.

"That you are... breathtakingly beautiful." Xiao Lanye spoke in a low voice.

The man before him lowered his eyes and said softly, "Second Prince, walk straight to the end, then turn left. There's a clinic about half a mile away. Take care, and don't come back."

Xiao Lanye followed his gaze. At some point, a spider had bitten his wrist, and tiny red marks were beginning to appear on his skin.

"To risk my life for a beauty's smile is an honor." His words were earnest, his voice warm.

Xie Nansui's lips curved upward. He gave a slight nod. "As you wish. Forgive my discourtesy. Goodbye."

After that, Xiao Lanye came by every day to bother him. He also developed an awful habit: sneaking into Xie Nansui's room in the middle of the night and holding him as they slept.

Until the enemy launched a surprise attack on Jingcha River. The Prince of the Southwest was defeated, and the southwest fell. The city's people were shot down with random arrows, and Xie Nansui's elder brother, Xie Nanqian, disappeared. Xie Nansui became the son of a disgraced official, reduced to a lowly servant and stripped of his freedom.

As the son of a disgraced official, no one dared associate with him. After he resisted, Xie Nansui was thrown in prison, his body covered in wounds, though none had damaged his bones. He knew Xiao Lanye was helping him.

On a stormy night of thunder and lightning, just before Xie Nansui was about to break out of prison, Xiao Lanye suddenly appeared.

He said, "Xie Shuangcha, come with me. After that, you can do anything you want."

Xie Nansui looked at him coldly, his voice almost resentful. "You're no better than the rest of them."

Xiao Lanye gave a self-mocking laugh. He swept the slender man into his arms, gripped the back of his head with one hand, and kissed him squarely on the lips. As their lips parted, he murmured, "I don't know if we're in this together, but right now... I'm the only one who can protect you."

At his words, Xie Nansui stopped struggling. He closed his eyes. The taste of blood filled his mouth.

Rakish, scheming prince (top) x ruthless, cool-headed hostage (bottom)

Xiao Lanye x Xie Nansui

"You play your political games, I'll make my poisons. We won't interfere with each other."

"I don't understand all that flowery talk. I only know I want to kiss you."

Note: Political intrigue makes up less than one percent.

Everything is made up, and all the worldbuilding serves the plot.

Mild coercion.

Theme: Hold on to your dreams and work to make them real