Ethan Caelan smiled and nodded. He stood up, walked over to the zither already placed in the room, gently sat down, and said, "This is a piece of music that I composed and recorded using the musical notation system. I hope you won't laugh at it."The room fell into silence as Ethan's slender fingers lightly plucked the strings of the zither. The sound from the instrument resonated beautifully, each note touching the souls of the listeners. Every vibrant sound seemed to tell a story, taking everyone through a spectrum of emotions, from gentle and profound to strong and passionate.When the music ended, the room burst into enthusiastic discussions. The scholars did not stop praising and expressing their deep admiration for Ethan's talent and creativity. In the midst of the rising emotions, Adrian spoke to everyone:"Your Highness, we are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from you. We hope you can compile the knowledge you have just shared into materials so that we can inc
Cassian Lightwood, renowned from a young age for his intelligence and quick grasp of knowledge, effortlessly created smooth, melodious tunes. He glanced over at Harrison Ryder, who was fumbling with the strings of his instrument. Harrison's clumsy fingers produced disjointed, offbeat sounds, clearly struggling with the basic technique.Cassian turned to Harrison, his tone slightly mocking: "General Ryder, rhythm and emotion in music require finesse. With hands accustomed to wielding swords and slaying on the battlefield, you might need much more practice."Harrison clearly felt the mockery in Cassian's words, his eyes coldly responding with sharpness: "Minister Lightwood, you are indeed perceptive. But remember, everything can be learned and honed. It's only human character that is hardest to change."Cassian narrowed his eyes at Harrison, not expecting such a young general to retort so sharply. The atmosphere between them instantly became tense, a silent challenge hanging in the air.
Valerius Evander scanned every corner of the room, seeking an empty spot. However, the room was already packed to capacity, leaving no space. As he hesitated, unsure of what to do, a scholar with a scowling face scolded, "Latecomer, still trying to squeeze in?"Another scholar chimed in, equally annoyed, "There's no room here, senior brother, go stand outside the door."Elias Dawnfire stepped forward, ready to reprimand the scholars, but Valerius quickly raised a hand to stop him, signaling Elias to retreat to the door to avoid disrupting the class. This was the first time Valerius found himself in such an embarrassing situation, feeling a mix of awkwardness and confusion.When the class ended, Valerius intended to approach Ethan Caelan to surprise him. But as he took a step, he was jostled back by another group of scholars. They surrounded Ethan, like fervent devotees around an idol, continually asking questions, their eyes filled with reverence. For a moment, Valerius felt utterly i
The sight of the three laughing and holding hands seemed to fan the embers of jealousy smoldering in Valerius's heart. Seeing Cassian and Harrison openly express their admiration and concern for Ethan so blatantly made Valerius increasingly anxious.Meanwhile, Ethan and his companions continued their cheerful conversation, unaware that two figures were silently following them. Harrison beamed as he bought a skewer of candied fruits and eagerly offered it to Ethan, his voice brimming with enthusiasm:“Your Highness! The candied fruits here are delicious.”Cassian glanced at Harrison and shook his head with a chuckle.“Candied fruits are for children, Harrison. Enjoy them yourself,” he said, before turning to take Ethan's hand, pointing in a different direction.“Your Highness, there’s a famous lakeside restaurant nearby. I’ll take you there to enjoy it.”Harrison, unwilling to back down, responded firmly, “That place only serves luxurious dishes. The prince has had plenty of those. I’ll
The lady who led them said, "If you need more attendants, just let me know, and I will summon the most beautiful ladies for you."Harrison quickly waved his hand, "No need, just bring us some light refreshments.""Very well, please wait a moment," the lady smiled as she withdrew, not forgetting to cast another lingering glance at Ethan Caelan, her eyes full of affection. This caused Cassian and Harrison, who sat nearby, to shiver involuntarily. If not for the introduction that this was a theater troupe, they might have thought they had stepped into a den of enchantresses.Valerius Evander and Elias Dawnfire stood outside, watching as Ethan's group entered, their eyes wide with surprise, unable to utter a word.Before becoming the number one strategist of the Helios Kingdom, Elias Dawnfire was once the most renowned playboy in the capital, having experienced countless beauties and visited every place of pleasure. Since Valerius was the Crown Prince, Elias had led him to experience all
Her eyes scanned the room, playful and sharp. Suddenly, they locked onto Ethan Caelan, as if she had chosen him as her prey, unable to escape her seductive grasp.The beautiful woman swayed toward Ethan Caelan, each step languid and suggestive. When she reached him, she didn't hesitate to stroke his chest, her hand sliding down to his waist. Her body pressed close against him, and Ethan Caelan could feel the warmth of her breath, the sweet scent of her skin causing his heart to skip a beat. He tried to pull back, gripping the arms of his chair, his eyes avoiding her scorching gaze.The woman continued to move seductively in front of him, her every motion drawing Ethan Caelan deeper into a whirlpool of desire. The last piece of her clothing slipped away, leaving only a thin veil barely covering her full breasts and curvaceous hips.She straddled Ethan Caelan's lap, her hips swaying slightly, offering herself completely to him. She pulled his face close, her lips nearing his as if about
The surrounding space suddenly became eerily quiet, with no one daring to speak. The auctioneer patiently waited for a moment, then began to count: "60 gold taels, going once...""100 gold taels!" Ethan Caelan's voice rang out, firm and unhesitant. The room erupted into a frenzy of whispers and murmurs. All eyes turned toward the young nobleman, equally astonished and impressed. They couldn’t decide whether to admire his generosity or be captivated by his striking beauty."100 gold taels, going once... twice... thrice! Congratulations, my lord! Miss Lyria Hawke now belongs to you!" The auctioneer's voice boomed, filled with satisfaction.Ethan gently inclined his head toward Leo and softly instructed, "Return to the Imperial Academy and fetch the gold."Elias hesitated, glancing up at Ethan, his eyes reflecting concern. In a low voice, he said, "Your Highness, be cautious of deceit.""I intend to buy her," Ethan replied firmly, his tone unwavering.Elias had no choice but to bow and
Ethan smiled at Lyria and said: "Lady Lyria, it’s already late. Rest here at the inn tonight, and tomorrow, come to The Imperial Academy to find me. I will think of a way to help you."Tears welled up in Lyria's eyes as she bowed gratefully: "Thank you, my lord, for taking me in."When Ethan returned to the royal palace, night had already fallen. The palace gates closed behind him as he and his two guards swiftly headed towards the Heart of Jade Palace. But as they entered the Celestial Blossom Garden, they unexpectedly encountered Valerius Evander, who stood there as if he had been waiting for Ethan for some time. Reflexively, Ethan was startled but quickly regained his composure, respectfully bowing.Valerius glanced at Ethan's entourage, noticing the absence of Lyria Hawke, and smiled inwardly. He surmised that Ethan had hurried back just in time before the palace gates closed, leaving no time to indulge in pleasures with the beauty. Without a word, Valerius subtly signaled to Reed
Valerius Evander had just finished dealing with the state documents. For the past few days, his mind had been entirely consumed by Ethan Caelan, leaving him with little energy to focus on state affairs. Now that Ethan had finally regained consciousness, it felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from his chest.Eager to see Ethan, Valerius left his desk and hurried toward the Jade Heart Pavilion. From a distance, Doctor Henry Thorne greeted him with a respectful bow and began his report.“Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince, has just finished soaking in medicinal herbs. He is now in the garden, basking in the sun to recover,” Henry informed him.Valerius turned his gaze toward the garden. “How is he faring?” he asked with a note of concern.Henry hesitated before replying, “Your Majesty, his life is no longer in immediate danger. However…”“What’s the issue?” Valerius’s voice betrayed his impatience.“His Highness has a naturally cold constitution. After falling into the lake previou
Ethan Caelan also understood that he had no way to escape Valerius Evander at this moment, nor could he accept the kind of love between men that Valerius spoke of."So… even if I were to die, I can never return to my world?" Ethan thought, despair casting a shadow over him like a suffocating fog.Closing his eyes, he tried to piece together the fragmented memories from his dreams—his mother, lifetimes of suffering, the curse, Valerius Evander, Lucian Evander. They all felt like scattered shards of a puzzle, chilling him to his core." Lucian Evander … the Four Heavenly Dragons… those noblemen… What connection do they have to me? I need to start by understanding them."Ethan struggled to rise from the bed. He had been lying still for far too long. The moment his trembling feet touched the ground and he attempted to stand, his body collapsed onto the cold floor."My legs… why can’t I feel my legs?" Ethan exclaimed, panic lacing his voice.Hearing the commotion inside, Henry Thorne rushe
Lucian’s eyes roamed hungrily over Ethan’s flawless, ivory skin, flushed with an enticing hue that only fueled his desire to conquer. "Look at this… seems like Prince Ethan of Aria is craving me as much as I want him…" Lucian murmured, pressing his lips to Ethan’s collarbone, tracing down to his chest. "Little beauty… I’ll make you feel so good…"“No!... Let me go…” Ethan cried out, trembling.“Let you go? It’s an honor for you to be used by the Four Dragons,” sneered the crimson-moled man. “We don’t often share, you know. You should be grateful we're making an exception for you.”The group of men closed in, circling Ethan. "Aaa… get away! Don’t... don’t touch me…” Ethan struggled, his cries growing desperate."Ethan!... Ethan!... wake up!” A familiar voice cut through his torment, yanking him back to reality from his horrifying nightmare.Ethan’s eyes shot open, his whole body shaking. Terror lingered in his gaze as cold sweat trickled down his face, soaking his clothes. The terrifyi
"Hahaha... resisting only makes you more beautiful, little beauty." He forced Ethan into a rough kiss, one hand gripping him tightly, the other pressing his jaw to force Ethan's mouth open. Seizing the opportunity, he plunged his tongue into Ethan's mouth, invading every corner.Disgusted, Ethan summoned all his strength to bite down hard on the man's tongue, shoving him away. "Get lost!"Interrupted unexpectedly, the dimpled man pulled back in pain, wiping blood from his mouth and snarling, "You filthy whore, you dare bite me?!" He slapped Ethan hard across the face twice: "Smack! Smack!" The blows sent Ethan crashing to the floor, his cheeks immediately swelling with the imprint of five fingers. Dizzy, he tried to open his eyes, but his vision was blurring."Quite the prize indeed, even his kiss has a hefty price," the man with the high forehead commented with amusement.Lucian smirked, watching Ethan. "Pour more wine for him!"Immediately, the man with the crimson mole approached E
His voice softened as he whispered into Ethan’s ear: “It’s my fault, I was wrong… Ethan… I swear I will make it up to you…”Valerius gazed at Ethan, his eyes filled with sorrow and regret. He knew that his words would never be enough to ease the pain in Ethan’s heart. Gently, he pulled Ethan closer, holding him tenderly in his arms.Ethan trembled in Valerius’s embrace, torn by the contradiction within him. Though he loathed the closeness of the man who had once violated and humiliated him, his soul now longed for a shoulder to lean on, someone to help him through the agony of losing his mother, the haunting memories of his own tragic fate through each lifetime, and the despair he felt about the future awaiting him.Suddenly, Ethan wrapped his arms around Valerius, burying his face in Valerius’ chest. It didn’t matter who it was, just as long as someone stayed beside him, offering him warmth to dispel the coldness in his heart.Valerius was stunned for a moment. This was the first tim
But Ethan, with his kind heart, reincarnated quickly. The curse of vengeance followed him through each life.Ethan looked at the scenes of his tragic past, feeling as though hundreds of arrows pierced his heart, leaving him gasping in agony. “Mother… I don’t want to continue anymore. I want to return to my true life, as Julian Pierce.”Victoria shook her head, her eyes filled with tears. “Julian? Look again.”The mist shifted, revealing the blurry image of Julian Pierce at a party, flashes of cameras in his face, deafening music pounding in his ears. Glass after glass of alcohol was offered to him, and he couldn’t refuse. Each sip burned his throat. He felt dizzy, his body losing control, burning up like he was on fire. He tried to stand, but his legs trembled, unable to support him.“Julian, you’re drunk. Let me take you to your room,” came the voice of a film investor.The scene shifted to a lavish room where Julian was surrounded by powerful men. He struggled, resisting with all hi
Ethan Caelan found himself in an unfamiliar place where darkness engulfed everything—a cold, desolate void.“Where am I…?” Ethan’s voice echoed through the empty space, lost and unanswered, as the howling winds seemed to want to swallow him whole.He realized he could no longer feel his body, as if his soul was wandering aimlessly in an unknown dimension, surrounded by thick, hazy fog. He walked unconsciously along an endless path, with no sense of direction or end.Around him, fragmented images flickered—one moment it was him, Ethan, committing suicide in despair, another was Julian Pierce leaping from the top of a corporate high-rise, and another was a young general being executed. These seemed like his past lives, each marked by tragedy. The blurry images and the feelings of hatred and despair were all too familiar, as though he had truly died, and this place… could it be the Underworld?Suddenly, a gentle light appeared far away, as if guiding him. Ethan wandered aimlessly toward
“Could it be... that Valerius loves Ethan?” The thought struck Harrison like a sharp blade to the heart. Everything suddenly became crystal clear. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place in his mind: the night Ethan was assaulted by the Emperor—the same night Ethan had been with Harrison—the sudden imperial decree sending him off to quell the rebellion in Aria, the hostile look in Valerius’s eyes whenever he was near Ethan. It was all for one reason: Valerius Evander loved Ethan Caelan and wanted him all to himself.Valerius sat quietly by Ethan’s side, his once-cold eyes now filled only with regret and sorrow. He leaned down, his lips brushing lightly against Ethan’s icy forehead, feeling the chilling cold that had taken over. Only now, on the verge of losing the one he truly loved, did Valerius realize just how precious Ethan was to him, and how cruelly he had treated him."I was wrong... so wrong, Ethan... Please, wake up." He whispered, his voice heavy with pain. His lips tremble
"Ethan!" Valerius Evander shouted in shock. He rushed over, catching Ethan’s weakened body. His hands trembled as he desperately tried to press against the wound on Ethan’s neck, but the warm blood continued to pour out, staining Valerius’ hands red.Ethan’s body felt completely drained, his phoenix eyes slowly closing as a faint smile appeared on his lips, finally tasting the freedom he'd longed for. The coldness crept in, and darkness began to envelop him.“Fetch the physician! Immediately! Hurry!” Valerius yelled in panic.“Ethan! You can’t die! Open your eyes and look at me!” Valerius pleaded, but only silence answered him.Doctor Henry Thorne was called urgently. As he entered the room, he froze at the chaotic, intimate scene before him—pillows and blankets strewn across the floor, the two men’s clothes disheveled, and blood pooling on the ground.The moment Valerius saw Henry, he commanded, “Hurry! Save him!”Doctor Henry rushed over and carefully examined Ethan’s wound. His voi