This official is so weak

He turned to look at Li Wuting, their eyes meeting and causing his thoughts to go blank for a moment, leaving him momentarily speechless.vgUBCuQrNnOXiBLfJLHXGyJhfIzLqE

wJLTdjgTDOAjAPB

Li Wuting looked at him and said softly, “Is the Ministry of Rites so busy that you’ve been away for several days?”KlKYLbTHjDsgIzCHbhzywIsrdHZiKi

BTFAzfcOpSDnVPo

The emperor was asking if the Ministry of Rites was short-staffed.zMevAdKpGKopGGFnnJkXxgvpzbpXaS

yaqMBEgoRMFFZhb

He unconsciously swallowed, thinking he couldn’t be the reason for this question…JCgWGbIKRgmooolPPsvlWLKXMgOYrf

pZNLeCmePEADvuM

He picked up the thread of Guan Fan’s words, “Everyone is fulfilling their duties, there isn’t—”ykRWGNYlAtMpbAWMehsMmMfpBpKpXn

oJOoNQRqERTxgcB

Suddenly, a large hand lifted and pinched his cheek.iKAOLRnBwgbVldJGXAftiwlbstVvFZ

NVsrGZBBpQIxetd

Li Wuting interrupted him, “Even in your family, your rhetoric is so neatly organized.”GyITdUzxGHlwnTOzLyFgTQoWjJKzZq

QIwqaOQNMiaBDNQ

Li Wuting looked at him for two seconds, then couldn’t resist pinching again. The soft, slightly cool sensation eased the itch in his palm:SZtNtDDlAyQhksQXRIWVMMnQIRDAYa

uIpatWsnjyEpmxh

“So… Ning Qing heard about this from Guan Shangshu, yet still hasn’t come to see me?”BYCknKpCTbhtmdSMFDOODvIzqlYZaA

gwonpDtGrtZEVPo

Ning Rushen couldn’t speak a complete sentence due to the pinching.oxrezWKnnPPPjpGbuyMnUepWEHeoMH

vTsHyIcnGFlbzJf

He had been pinched before, but this time felt somehow different. The warmth from Li Wuting’s palm made his face flush.qntBKoHFNsqTeyciYDLnjGFJncTNHi

bmUfmkpgpMsLTDS

Whether it was his imagination or not, the warmth in the other’s palm seemed to rise.vmGRdJOCetOyQgPerlZfFgoXVsiViI

wHxbTJSzLEtOkkS

Ning Rushen struggled to collect his thoughts, “I… I thought Your Majesty was just asking casually…”JpYomLIozSnuPuqOJQgtnqOmZvHrpi

CtpeEZtPKOtIxIp

Li Wuting’s gaze lingered on his flushed cheek for a moment, his knuckles slightly twitching. Then he suppressed the urge to rub his fingers and refrained from further movement:iqDmTwdLzWLZkdlCMqeafazTaeMyvK

LqZymBcjKYItGrc

“It’s my own issue.”DEjUujeBganngJeHcflNbOUPvGAPLo

KbAVPxLvNVSXvOt

“What issue?”GZovSzeFWvnRmUGouSskrrpbvXCbpe

OmNFVUzcdNoEnTy

… That both his body and mind were not clean.USekQSWFIYuskzRzjdpHUOUxMsamSl

cCtoufyEJiYIFUR

“My heart…” Ning Rushen met Li Wuting’s gaze, swallowing hard, “Occasionally wishes to wander.”YmkgbLiowjxaSTxxDvbkVFXKOTgtec

wIRdYCfWloNjKSx

Li Wuting, “…”hGoIhQToGuECUwmFSybuoRHyAVFqti

uCmNKKjbVdneTml

His hand that was pinching his face tightened again.kTCKJSSNzwgyiNbYUvoArSgTQryEII

msdZPjwKIFfjzcA

Ning Rushen, “Mmm mmm!”BuZWbPtijhZBXosuIMTSwwePvdOLMP

BVCQhFwRBahyOnd

Li Wuting withdrew his hand, turning to open the food box, “Alright, try this.”jvhyAVORiieoojvAyVdxwZaIeFKbTe

pDOwKxFeISgjLBs

Ning Rushen moved closer, “What is this?”FWrIVIZxpiVVaVhbYPwfAcyhzBkEle

rSkJYSdwHjRdNoh

“A new pastry from the imperial kitchen.”AsmTnQKLozWHDWOmdtMsRGtllYrDdW

WFCjIHotwsdFvks

His spirits lifted, and he quickly took a piece.TZKiLEvmCeVYByoLVrzoDdAvpkPJEv

jECUwAXnBJcQLVZ

The pastry was sweet and soft, crumbling with each bite.aWVywjuitqpkDMILAxXYaHSReRicBy

CnzEKoAiDbCvSMU

Ning Rushen chewed, with a few crumbs falling onto his collar. A hand reached out from the side, gently brushing them off.teFtEZSPHZIFTqshnKXmPxHTIVTQGp

PTbuTDlWyXahrUv

Li Wuting’s actions were so natural.TTxzgrsawABHGIkDPwJxXqGtzSNhXI

lIyawOLSTsarEsn

Ning Rushen didn’t immediately notice anything wrong.rKgKSIYUAAEphXcvyBIfPspjYnkjai

YdvUdZIboZmGalX

Until he finished a piece of pastry, and a calm voice said, “You’re an adult now, and still making a mess everywhere.”sAEoyHPedBknSueQAwqqBdhWJuduNh

eAMlNldtVHXAkzR

Ning Rushen choked, “Cough!”dbxHHOruGldBSSzztLZSQqnkOcIUjM

YzUVRYpidJetXRd

He finally realized: Wait a minute, this isn’t just serving at court? He was being served…LDJobIEJfttpBVJQiqlzqIegxvnqdo

FaxGTFbRpBrhrUE

Would Li Wuting also clean crumbs off other ministers?AlZeqzXcspWijuHuVqImROvRUEFynD

aJxXWxcLPEClsWq

— Suddenly, the scene of Li Wuting flipping over Li Jingyu, who was covered in sugar, flashed in his mind.HkntgehWsgDeZvITvKWRIXExXfNmhC

OYINodjsQYRbpHo

Ning Rushen quickly stopped his wandering thoughts, taking a sip of cold tea to calm himself:PTYaGFXMELHMaPUknRlAeSsUbufvHX

iKaQXRGjjYLUIHx

No, he needed to drink tea to clear his head.sxovjCIHYjQHkwncZaNmfPIiWeGBQr

ZJEhyeWMwyhVNlp

Li Wuting looked at him, “Not eating anymore?”qnoHPQYIQXbVMTqaJaGJVlVXEzOHOC

bqoJqlImsuLYYhK

Ning Rushen, still shaken, said, “I’m suddenly full.”zPrNjjvGdHZjTFOZnXeNsLuNPRfaCM

LmhJyIGUaFrWeGF

“Well, you did eat quite a bit at the Ministry of Rites’ dinner.”IJpbqqgyMbEGYOEtuzoylobNoLSpBG

nSybvYYosoUgiis

“…”WriThwLbAuDNtikkkqFsVxdCwVJDbZ

ZoTIviojToZRTQA

Ning Rushen said sincerely, “I’ll return to serve at court tomorrow.”IBCuVHXYEGGmlVKOaJbblCZiAtfEdU

vgUmWkxMHprMoRK

Li Wuting received this promise with a smile, then stood up, “Then I’ll be waiting for you, Ning Qing…” He paused, “To return from wandering.”mSevmJQbffoTymvMSboFAmjjgfAvKL

EyShrWesjArtauR

Ning Rushen: ScnxQoZQrEsyalhFVRoYKpUOssZNtx

gxfnkJvoCOMUkjh

·qCASvWmTcQTjIOApBKvnDiKfCJYtDF

QSfYrUXDNVlfLPb

After feeding him, Li Wuting returned to the palace.tUGkQWRjghgeEZYiflIuzziOOOreYC

aeisdXAQHAZrfdv

After he left, Yan Min carefully peeked from the courtyard gate, “Sir, why did His Majesty come again?”PkMqDwcFDOmwzVWxxDzroQzaOcnUGh

yGhhsVnqmhhSNfU

The “again” was quite perceptive.fvbgtmMiiWDJJvzjjPhrYmVlBrsehp

cazhIgncSYGRJbY

Ning Rushen, “I haven’t been at court these days…”UWDxxedYHiHKMvmNCIvfmZVoQXYRHn

xHagKtaxUOhVEOh

He glanced at the table full of gifts and suddenly found it hard to continue—so the emperor came to give him rewards for not being at court?FjSTsodcebJptxsdHjhljWhOXnJrfg

UrgNCrAbonlbJFi

It was clear Yan Min also realized something was off.fQSjvLGItdhvxXvOCPtQklCpyDqIiA

mYdWyHPiCSNPXMo

Both were silent for a moment.DeytdVHaIpMxJsHyawgUFgwlnvZgDe

GaxudJtVHVogmIb

Yan Min tactfully changed the subject, “Let me help you put these things away.”ecBEslsUShcCxqHFuyIfkUmAsaHEfv

pBILdChakRtlpgj

Ning Rushen nodded eagerly, “Alright.”cFxQaFZNiESqpyaecgFQCSlrBAAQZR

OOstpIFhHYzXuTH

Returning to the main room, he was about to pile the long-desired blanket onto the bed when Yan Min hesitated:PWNaKVxpLBMfNXdfgANkERsIbMhIre

cdzjlSqGqrOjlPO

“This big plush blanket… to be put on the bed?”sZCCDvgmmOqnbJIKZSqImvEfRfOSPM

AulfBvYdontOITV

Ning Rushen was puzzled:?GUvgliZrnwwQtmctydePMvsqblJjXt

HhVNpBnxjnWQGrY

“Won’t it be too stuffy?”lMCuVAPkeJBKbPIGXxKOucjDNvibBT

KdsfksGZqStPwES

He was about to say “how could it be stuffy” when Li Wuting’s words, “Why didn’t you come to see me,” suddenly resurfaced in his mind!AIHNbAGCHbGAdcWeWOuyWExhDGUBRS

GsXuaSrGnLRhhaC

“…” Ning Rushen felt a sudden warmth in his chest.zmVrhsfewrARmIhLJoizeHcevwTGmv

lvPLVAnZJEhEvII

After a moment, he gave in to temptation and put the blanket on the bed, turning around with a firm tone:MWrTbUVnQJfxToMiicYhAtKigBQZOw

pzzDZUtDtMVRwue

“An imperial gift blanket should naturally be kept close.”cQfbacWKCEwwQfiLIxAXYOLQERENZZ

LHFkuWCCbpBfnjN

Yan Min opened his mouth, “Yes.”hmmucNSJiBpixfLkRddHXmreZLzNmO

jiJXrRNavVshbRt

…NYEyuIDVoAwPjZISAaReBERRzOrAkm

DZUnMsOFrgxekfQ

But July’s weather was indeed hot.gvQEzDmqGaPtDdDeAklubuSTaPTNxv

JqrFGRIiJAZUedT

After two nights of sweating lightly under the blanket, Ning Rushen had to put it back on the lounge chair to air out.kRsxOLsLJEgdQcTskDPEaBvamvZgwD

UlLZBgFNhlzYumT

By August, when the rain finally fell, the temperature began to drop.DdtnlEqFvAsHHHJlwgVfRWKNKvTKpz

KyKSUtAvrdBkFEJ

The cool rain washed away the heat in the air and also brought news from the northern frontier—IVKXBYScXgcRZcaRYilyzKOQxtSGHI

GVXvCAJuvjpcpnX

The supervising general, Cao Zheng, had fallen out of favor with the Dingyuan Army.xrQYICnQYGCQfyLcjQdkJQekzaePWM

vvhSDlvRJerOBYu

In the small courtyard after the rain, Ning Rushen reclined on the lounge chair with the blanket and gazed at the sky, estimating in his mind:WQToLsbsdNkCUCHtUNrvDDHTHuABkw

SQQRyCSUPUgDLvb

Cao Zheng had rushed to the northern frontier in days and, factoring in the time for pigeon post, it meant he had only just arrived a few days ago before both sides clashed.THjzLcJnBavFqplZNLrqpAjHgrsbPH

seXarrqhNelChAg

No wonder Li Wuting was so troubled…dHwzgOjrprlBoOmlnTaKflYSlgQoAJ

TdhcXaPOJLseIhz

He couldn’t help but recall Li Wuting’s troubled appearance:ZfnTvQzWIXmAGbyvUWWTzonzTnxeZF

CRivEmnVhBRoZBu

In the study, the emperor’s brows were furrowed and his eyes cold as he pinched his brow and murmured, “If not for…”kUjcencasWAQlmsSPAnsJJEGrZzqfZ

iIWkenhMuYlfKvl

He asked, “If not for what?”NsxHNydIagkKVmPxocYYkBhZeTxvRS

qsJlEodSOWnZlpv

Li Wuting didn’t speak, just lifted his gaze to look at him.eFWrCKSJbGQhkqfssPNVPzkenmIqMd

EYrrQsqHyshxMXA

That calm look in his eyes inexplicably made Ning Rushen’s heart race.yuBOqUinVYmAERQTXbfpPuCxTGWrJJ

MKagJkVARbJzssA

…MTZuywRQDfaLzIQjJfvhxzecEFunnD

LecjtgUCQiXGTpZ

Ning Rushen steadied himself and sat up.kLjVhLSdXTjRRPpumKxGvEBwXnBzTx

WYItmxsKgEfpsez

Just as he was about to get a glass of water, there was a sudden clatter from the wall. He turned to see Geng Yan climbing up.UoQvFfsPyamHfysxRsejDMtYhWWGQf

XOYQYbwvInzzDCB

Ning Rushen paused.yGUavsfIoVCfyumSROnbipzsbLZvwF

oTvFCRdMmPXMtNX

Separated by the cold, gleaming anti-theft wall, they exchanged glances, both a bit silent. Geng Yan’s gaze lingered on the rifle for a few seconds before he slowly climbed back down.ApmaLVdhuZnMMjumrAqOcYgwcZDDus

FcNCgRbsqzbjmgb

Ning Rushen, “…”XGeqQKcTreflxTYCXoeghibtMoXOoy

JhVjlioGFfcdIol

Moments later, there was a commotion outside the courtyard gate.gIzTRlBjJQrrOGzRhpHPmZSFJTWVPH

vhOSGrdtPhSdHZV

Geng Yan burst in like a whirlwind, pointing at him with a trembling hand:fqWYsZOyjMYHxKMpwfSYWrbxLNUaWx

OUasmSrcdJyJfFc

“Ning… Ning Rushen! What do you mean by this!!”iNybEXTtDjcVEggOBVMGoxhjXpHoxm

LvHZMYyIcCdblAA

Ning Rushen replied simply, “A northern scout entered the mansion earlier.”dtxYkkOVxSjApoRLyzGbbvYHQChQIN

jbXxBoWkhxCLPXg

Geng Yan was stunned, quickly lowering his hand.qQfhWwKysjjGZlbwSIYwpKahYKaFqW

SmCxLCDHfUHvYhq

·OrczIumxKVFCmSTOaUucLsbctAkUvT

OprLycWAVzeZLuH

The two sat back down at the stone table.gLOcMbAsFbklBvkXUajwvfuPMiQjrr

YOOhMAdIhGTFRuC

Ning Rushen briefly recounted the situation, and Geng Yan slammed the table:gSgidizxckyHBhkdqBrDcWgaFWcGGL

KPpqEVrtkLoYLLP

“Malicious intentions! No wonder His Majesty—”HbgKMMoYBirtfsyHBxmxximSsYhJBy

WeKBBZlIEMOCiQW

He paused, swallowing the unspoken words.WBsDYmAjAPkYRYstsoTLUCpVUXECgF

KcvvciDQfPIjeFD

He then brought the topic back to the supervising general, “It seems Cao Zheng’s discord with the army is quite significant.”UjVbaqEzIinOMIlYXzHaCCcmJXerTA

tEkwuMyTYMtuQxg

Ning Rushen asked curiously, “How exactly did they fall out?”JQzDnyNzeGGDmuEmzcmEjEzwxmYlqj

UxFJHDgUOgmCJJG

“Unclear. But I worked with Cao Zheng once before. He’s very methodical, requiring documents and approvals at every step before moving on to the next, repeating this process…”uWnyOzIzeGgvrKmzsiGIVNpREiyfDg

laRKvuKaLhvxslO

“…”gbgmPRdZvThRADAUyhrsCAeKjiHRcK

kuNYEOvDUecBMAb

Ning Rushen moistened his lips, feeling his frustration rise.PiLAHusPknSnAIahIkQSaXrkQDJLrt

ClISfEYzmTRXseM

He took a sip of cold tea, “Oh.”NnYhsPNJzbeHUidNOcRMlxyEPoMQzA

TrbPmKabESsKJlQ

Geng Yan promptly stopped, “Do you think Cao Zheng will continue as the supervising general in the northern frontier? What does His Majesty mean?”hoBHrEFPZYIRKmXGGquUsNKAEzFPES

DbiKQdUqbVjUoIN

“His Majesty…” Ning Rushen’s thoughts drifted again.hHZOcxEgFeXHyOOCCkqFHDOOydIbPn

mFcrLhNDtUYvrTA

He recalled Li Wuting’s gaze at him.xzdlHBFXPfTxpVzuAdXATzemvshlrl

GDQspCeNhTplVws

He also wanted to know what Li Wuting meant…FzCPpaJAmSKZppLhVUFcoFVNnBQJtV

lfEAQpyjIDFBvAZ

Geng Yan suddenly poked him, “What are you thinking about? Hey… are you blushing? It’s not hot today. Oh, you’re still under the blanket; take it off.”WGEMJffCLpuBoeYlHmyeBgDWdNgrwB

xRjHdUMqYJCWEpX

He reached out his hand.yfbkCqANGOpmVBMWNikWJRDzECKRph

DEoPjCXkoHhmtLi

Ning Rushen snapped back to reality and slapped his hand away!jizSrqGNlQtHYPteuuRmDWWsJCgMZb

aGNIzDdhOEtboCI

He then waved Geng Yan off, “Don’t take it off. Alright, you should go back now. Go, go.”onWqzBidMgVzCwROeOMXxkWgyfnmgu

oJxgmrFwbtBuEmt

Geng Yan was driven away, confused: ?????EhOkgXYstfheZXzsmRqVvTYZiSrVxO

iPQngAjwwRmjBvR

The matter of the supervising general remained unresolved.usPaoXBsmDhbfiRxTqXqkYcdrIwiqd

uBBgNWzTimQXFjO

However, a few days later, a fast horse carrying an urgent letter from eight hundred miles away galloped into the capital through the rain-soaked new mud.fjdNgLtBHwOSuvcKLoaUVBizuKWeZR

QjnqOtPPjPoIEYE

Outside the Ning residence, someone knocked on the gate.EonQWrKnYtfFPZPhUWbKfQWvrzHUwq

jNTRqrchcKTUEIe

Yan Min entered the main courtyard with a letter, “Sir! A letter from the northern frontier.”nvSCcSqRWOeRRVzWQaCgdnqTSSCLaT

dcfmJqPzokfbZvQ

Ning Rushen looked up from the lounge chair:?UxulxQnMDclwlNRFYCaCjFZaLysNDT

fwxvxkqrAieOwUv

Yan Min handed him the letter, “The messenger said General Huo sent an urgent letter to the emperor, and also brought a letter for you. Both were delivered to the capital together.”ysZBjpvkdcbTJSvzKhFCXCuyUYfPJt

frZIVKcNBPNOsRk

Why did they bring a letter for him?zuDrTTVYDHfMkqQqYoCBaLGHbkgsWI

mOCreJapzMfTTrc

Ning Rushen, puzzled, took the letter and saw that it was addressed to him personally. He opened it and read through the letter:gNMYsBqvoRnmLPsEuaJnVwSTmVRxJw

dwMHRzIPxCjfcGh

The letter was written in a well-structured, heartfelt manner.upstrmCexWZjqcyqDYdTevpKUwBexQ

wCpeCvPVlrmPhxG

It detailed various matters from the northern frontier, from military to civilian affairs, and described how the Dingyuan Army was willing to defend their homeland, spilling blood on the battlefield to ensure the peace of the Great Cheng.gSBrZgngddVlrHZQHbQKaZNZZuVkLE

mDnyTbbQUfNabNv

The entire letter appealed to emotions and reason.jimYPvlEpinqIBoKdbVCZXgBMBjPTK

dKEjngOBgCfcRuX

In summary, it was a plea to replace the supervising general with a loyal official like “Lord Ning.”QwMhvBtiOzouSVzSeVtWhZcZiAmRBO

ojWsoZTxFlRmguW

……uWsYmnFsPjamNSzWWtFYRdNkjZxIWj

OkgtVEjdpqVmVIi

Ning Rushen finished reading and reflected for a long time.FdnTtoqzCHgNAWbgxHGnVBFUHFeqYM

sWkKNvrrFPMAtzP

To say he was not moved would be a lie, but…bywpVdkvizOLktbSlagPEkHWqorBYF

YFmhwslfgaAsIUi

He flipped back to the beginning, frowning: What did this “I respectfully report” mean?JyovTpvVgIUVmbUluHeTtRHhufcRnM

jDvzDToFEDDkjUZ

…hSYmjvQUcPjJTiKSABOyUpPRhpJDuA

TJzPCRvtJhoOCjM

Meanwhile, in the Yangxin Palace.KTOHvQNDwrGPIQSDOeeNTLtkBEttZo

jGbKWXEGPhEZfrC

The border army messenger knelt before the emperor and presented the letter:EMCHEeTGhEDuCydcATCPdVVVFdKqxa

lCNXSyHlsqPEjbY

“Your Majesty, this is General Huo’s personal letter, urgently delivered overnight from eight hundred miles away!”megQdeLQlcFLKcQWcDxyRYlPRkXvji

kgCrfPELBSEXJCn

Li Wuting sat behind his desk, “Present it.”FSiENhfbAkfBKnfuFamgardeabllWt

TBWCvUVQwZcHIFv

Dequan stepped forward, took the letter, and brought it to the emperor.AYHqsHUwMHvXdxtdKbbBzAfEsMJYTR

fDukmqrFCBRyoQy

The letter was still sealed tightly, obviously closed by Huo Mian himself and not opened along the way.JiNLcnEyYEHbxouuTlCjOqcvTPPVlk

bsbLYgcmqkrKnbm

Li Wuting opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.vysOBYNfTwxwnquBosiirKjeGrzeFt

DHiSydaLkqkdyTg

The letter displayed only a few grandiose characters at the top:PfPmjajDlxnYXpXOySHYsaXdFegZny

WBpCskhtRyYxwRk

‘Lord Ning, come quickly!!!’EAneOHtBlXbjhnzqmgkvdybZZWGGyC

INrldoEOWgvdgoR

His clearly defined fingers paused.YvvVEAQsdlWOUYuVGHNsBJCBvuwCct

zXEbQAIplPTULPy

Li Wuting lowered his gaze and slowly flipped the letter over, only to see at the top of a stack of tempting pages:BoPzunkanESygguIKUXwRwNgbzMBEL

GjBheFNmVFrBWUm

Bonus: Northern Xinjiang Specialty RecipesLwpzZVXwmERdRPxiHlRODTCbalXdWV

WFXqLUQTKYnErZo

Li Wuting, “…”XsPbNiuKvQTkjBSFJfGaIkRhSKYxZO

BvRAmZlTAYQicyj