Chapter 44
Ning Rushen’s heartbeat gradually calmed down. He looked down and pulled his sleeve back:
Splash. The branches and leaves in front of him were brushed aside by Li Jingyu.
“I think your homework is still too little,” Li Wuting said calmly. “You’ve already forgotten what I just said.”
Li Jingyu obediently lowered his head. “I’ll go back and study, Your Majesty.”
After a moment of noise, a group of people outside left.
Then, with another splash, light streamed in—
Li Wuting parted the branches and looked at him.
With his deep and distinct features framed by the drooping branches, there was a kind of vivid and vigorous handsomeness.
Ning Rushen took a deep breath and slightly lowered his eyes. “Your Majesty.”
Li Wuting said, “Still not coming out? Have you grown inside?”
Ning Rushen quickly moved the potted plant.
He struggled to move it, his slender hands showing veins as the branches and leaves hit his head, causing his hair to stand on end.
Li Wuting couldn’t watch anymore and pulled the potted plant away with one hand. “Come out.”
Ning Rushen lowered his eyes in praise. “Your Majesty, you have a good hand.”
“…” Li Wuting.
Ning Rushen emerged and adjusted his clothes, then heard someone ask:
“Playing hide and seek requires this much seriousness?”
“Betting on just-baked pastries.”
There was a pause. Then Li Wuting said softly, “That would cost Ning Qing’s life.”
Ning Rushen:
He nodded in agreement. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving my life.”
Li Wuting glanced at him. “Just a casual thank you?”
Ning Rushen was stunned by the question.
He observed Li Wuting’s expression and, after a moment, slowly raised his hand, giving a formal bow:
“Thank you—Your Majesty, for saving my life?”
Li Wuting, “…”
His gaze was silent and calm.
Ning Rushen sensed something was off, touched his nose, and said nervously, “Then I’ll share half of the pastries with Your Majesty?”
Li Wuting commented, “Taken from the ruler, used for the ruler.”
“…”
What is he saying? That’s half of his life!
The two stared at each other for a while.
Suddenly, Li Wuting extended his hand.
Ning Rushen flinched instinctively and closed his eyes. A slight touch brushed over his head:
“If you can’t think of anything, just owe me for now. Make it up to me next time.”
He opened his eyes to find that Li Wuting had already withdrawn his hand.
He had pinched off a leaf that was caught in Ning Rushen’s hair.
“Oh… I see.” Ning Rushen touched his head: it was just grass that had grown.
…
He took the remaining pastries back to the residence.
Facing Ji Taifu after a long time, the nervousness of silently “transcribing ancient texts” was brought up again.
In these past few days, Ning Rushen had been returning to his room to silently transcribe books whenever he was off duty.
From “High Mountain and Flowing Water” to “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.”
In between, there were also some personal additions: for example, how meat buns originated from Yuchuan.
Yan Min came to deliver tea and was surprised. “This is the first time I’ve heard of this.”
Ning Rushen didn’t look up. “After all, I made it up.”
“…” Yan Min was shocked. “Can you just make things up like that!!”
Ning Rushen explained, “Isn’t it said that history is created by the laboring people?”
Yan Min stood there with his mouth agape for a while.
It sounded reasonable, but something seemed off.
Ning Rushen had been creating for several days, almost like the legendary Ma Liang with his magic brush.
As he had expected, during these days Ji Taifu was busy discussing the implementation of the “cabinet” with Li Wuting, and had not come to collect his debt.
However, Fan Wan found some free time and came to his residence.
“Master Ning, it’s been a while.”
It wasn’t until Fan Wan mentioned it that Ning Rushen remembered the last time they parted, when he had sneaked into Fan Wan’s carriage and was caught by Li Wuting in public.
Ning Rushen sighed, “Please, have a seat.”
Fan Wan seemed to recall the incident too. “There’s no need to worry about what happened last time. If it allowed Master Ning to have a good sleep, it was a fortune for my carriage. If Master Ning does not mind, you can always—”
Just then, the tree canopy above rustled slightly.
Ning Rushen looked up:
Could it be another wall-scaling thief…
“What’s wrong?”
Fan Wan looked up following his gaze but saw nothing unusual. Instead, he casually glanced at the wall and was somewhat surprised:
“Master Ning, there’s a big hole in your wall.”
Ning Rushen tensed for a moment, fearing he might be another thief. “Oh, that’s for the thieves to climb.”
Like the one that just passed.
“???”
Fan Wan was deeply shocked: it was the first time he had heard of a house with a path left for thieves!
He marveled, “No wonder Master Ning is young and accomplished; it seems you know how to harmoniously interact with everyone.”
“…” Ning Rushen replied softly, “Exactly.”
After some pleasantries, they finally got to the main topic.
Fan Wan subtly revealed his intentions. “Master Ning, about the ancient texts we discussed last time…”
“I’ve only transcribed half of it so far,” Ning Rushen said, “but I also promised Ji Taifu that I would lend him the completed text first.”
Fan Wan’s expression drooped. “Yes, that’s how it should be.”
Ning Rushen observed him for a moment and suddenly had an idea.
“There is a compromise.”
“What kind of compromise?”
“I’ll dictate to you, and you can transcribe it as you listen. That way, you’ll see the ancient texts first and won’t be breaking your promise to Ji Taifu.”
… The area went quiet.
Then Fan Wan exclaimed, “Excellent!”
Ning Rushen pushed the brush and ink towards him. “Right?”
…
Half an hour later.
Ning Rushen held a cup of tea and admired Fan Wan as he wrote the final character. He couldn’t help but praise him: as expected of the top scholar, his handwriting was both fast and excellent.
“Alright, that’s enough for now.”
“… Truly a profound story.”
Fan Wan was still immersed in the aftertaste of the story.
He showed no awareness of being exploited, holding the pages with great enthusiasm. “Today, I have gained a lot. How about treating you to dinner later to show my gratitude?”
“Oh, I feel embarrassed…” Ning Rushen blushed and swallowed. “Where should we go to eat?”
He unconsciously gripped the edge of the table with both hands, his eyes shining brightly. Fan Wan, who was a bit taller, couldn’t help but smile at his eager expression.
“Wherever Master Ning likes…”
As he was speaking, someone arrived from outside the courtyard.
“Master!” Yan Min led an inner servant in.
The inner servant saw the two in the courtyard, nodded to Fan Wan, and then bowed to Ning Rushen.
“Master Ning, the Emperor is outside and summons you to accompany him.”
Ning Rushen was taken aback: Why would the Emperor summon him?
And…
Ning Rushen glanced regretfully at Fan Wan: they hadn’t even had a meal yet.
The inner servant suddenly cleared his throat and, with a slightly subtle expression, said, “Ahem… The Emperor has asked me to inform Master Ning that this time he will be traveling in a bright yellow carriage.”
—!!!
Ning Rushen jumped up immediately!
Wasn’t that the golden carriage he had dreamed of riding again?
“I’ll respond to the summons right away,” Ning Rushen said, turning to the stunned Fan Wan. “Thank you for the invitation. I’ll definitely join you next time.”
He finished speaking and followed the inner servant out.
Fan Wan: ????
·
The Emperor’s carriage stopped at the East City Military Department.
It was just a street away from his residence and soon arrived.
The bright yellow carriage was parked in front of the Military Department, with the streets around cleared and the guards stationed five steps away.
The golden light dazzled Ning Rushen, making him feel dazed:
… This is what it looks like when dreams come true.
With his heartbeat quickening, he climbed into the carriage and lifted the curtain, only to find that Li Wuting was not inside.
Li Jingyu was sitting inside, swinging his little legs. “Master Ning～”
Ning Rushen: ?
He went over and asked, “Little Prince, where is His Majesty?”
“Royal Brother said he had business at the Military Department, so he asked me to wait for him in the carriage.”
“Oh, does His Highness know why the Emperor summoned me?”
“No idea,” Li Jingyu said. “Royal Brother was originally at the palace inspecting my studies. Then a Jinyiwei came and spoke to him for a while, and he said he was coming to the East City Military Department.”
Hearing Jinyiwei, Ning Rushen’s first reaction was to think of Shiyi.
But since Li Wuting had gone to the Military Department, he assumed it was another Jinyiwei reporting some urgent matter.
The little prince’s short legs swung again. “This is the first time I’ve ridden in such a comfortable carriage with Royal Brother～”
Ning Rushen’s attention was drawn back.
He skillfully pulled out a pile of blankets from the side, piled some for Li Jingyu, and some for himself:
“I also find it very comfortable.”
Both of them sank into their seats. “Ah—”
After a while, with Li Wuting still not back, Li Jingyu asked, “By the way, Master Ning, where did you hide during the last game of hide and seek?”
“…” Ning Rushen hesitated. “Um, a rockery.”
Li Jingyu lamented, “Ah, you were so close to being found!”
Ning Rushen pressed his lips together: It was indeed a close call.
“Well, I still owe Master Ning a secret.”
“What secret?” Ning Rushen was immediately intrigued.
He wanted to see what secret he himself did not know.
Li Jingyu sat up. “I found this when I sneaked into Second Prince’s residence and rummaged under his desk. Oh, Royal Brother is about to come back, so you should look at it quickly.”
He handed a well-preserved piece of paper to Ning Rushen.
“What is this?” Ning Rushen looked down.
Li Jingyu leaned closer and grinned, “Hehe.”
Ning Rushen: …
Ning Rushen: ???
