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.QYqJlpgqkxpzJyCLQuHjOMAFBmeqHK

lYjlwNkpnTKOGGv

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

DQMQccjuIGmQYTp

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

gAILGOJGULnlMSC

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

IUBjLueVrfLZokZ

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

OhxLJoomzLRQiLt

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

juUaantDTivdXPf

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

QvnseoPBvpjDAlb

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:tOYaVmowlWVvGedhFbjQdjmfjFdNgV

VJUZvZpQTHhekEl

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

TKWjiKMwmvuTPkk

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

EmskjUVTwwAioGl

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

SLySVDSBKpQbcOt

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

iphLHbVHKmtutai

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

rbVxvtWakIdvoIw

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:cnuyqWzaaJgtzyVgHVmiFdqOKJWznR

VhJPKVBrDmcfuAO

“It’s my own issue.”ZigmEFFylVHHNZmJnbpnYOtDuZfemA

bGzgrUZMhVcgdOM

“What issue?”HhrPsJRRTRuBqsjtIFNxAvxPMfepcA

LFdisStBSuDPPra

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

vMiDePhhOPkJQyy

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

XuoLjOLrSfsfdbP

Li Wuting, “…”VMNetMffrmgTHvNEXPSvOIJzrEHXnu

EAXuOxigVvpSgYQ

His hand that was pinching his face tightened again.ZQqZBBsemZDZCeunYSfZnbcxqNiiSY

YzahwTvhVjCqipk

Ning Rushen, “Mmm mmm!”XDsNjSpuKpcXyyOggVCpELsQrCWbQX

gXjQAzcHCEyWDnc

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

KQnvCRYWmepEGHX

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

JSNBMrSIYcAovLs

“A new pastry from the imperial kitchen.”uDNCjVqJSKPlpoGfVoYAtxBxelgySi

iNxLzniogVpUkJC

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

YOJlwGRFRZFxJTW

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

QGKPzLxbSVQXFoL

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

gmqeKHhSdBUbQel

Li Wuting’s actions were so natural.ezOGgTbyzxULTyZRlDHCpOjHsJoTkO

MoQXsayyTckiPAw

Ning Rushen didn’t immediately notice anything wrong.cNOjiAyOLFOdjAglQKuKIhzaJWZzMO

JXVItsXlTAowECL

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

ShLCQlJBzaahiKq

Ning Rushen choked, “Cough!”fJEoWjTvoisHqoVmdukSlPgRbVKmkb

gDTCpcGmJtsbYEw

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

jAGAndoKGawLeAN

Would Li Wuting also clean crumbs off other ministers?BgOBBnaVoTCRJADNQDHIFpQusnoupO

hFnVOLmMSQkfMWJ

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

LetonUFfjEIFKuu

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

rmlsYclhbzFOJBN

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

bkAKpvcYoiONROg

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

WZwqaNOohHMyfdy

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

RMVfGwUCEttopaZ

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

gnRyuTCJGtaMrJg

“…”KvUHoNVSysMLTfMaqFaBDIAhRAETeV

nAGDjnsMVrMdFBO

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

JvUDTEwhLdZuLro

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.”uLbxxazxxmEbuWelfdsCjBZgHnQdeQ

pFaqSMgLUoQZETd

Ning Rushen: yDAiNzIfiTnHzvKWahbcXdsCoFSzVI

mzoFbHsCXLtdxgS

·nuMPKzVqKgeAGxPNMKxhqhbUHojXVq

vpqVuCzGmpoYGUq

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

KFkbCnQAnBPIOLr

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

qtNVzFRnBWyIpIf

The “again” was quite perceptive.becvQJzUkaWLcPNmOtepoSVKsRZFAo

pEngIDfoXFJYuzJ

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

yKUpRafOamWrIdo

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?HiVtymPWSPRokqWcDkKLsciFPXQeXz

dqtYVoqtQuHRycF

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

nuBIFXQrnoEeMbR

Both were silent for a moment.dRrepuWOOBLLkviRtZBSixhPNnlEqQ

WCETrlxPqaicMrc

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

wCplLBUjCJZYsOS

Ning Rushen nodded eagerly, “Alright.”ZTuWvaXsaCsczEjuROtmONhCWHgKma

lfCAhIKKGMEFJTm

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

bKUFyIAcmBwFEtw

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

eTecSTHByvMSXKt

Ning Rushen was puzzled:?khiJbttHBUPIkfYXhBpQiEjdCGxegJ

pMOdIahnVlSoFbj

“Won’t it be too stuffy?”ESIKaOJVlvHjPQcCzkUHVJmZpxNWAN

LbVvBWVfoPDIAjd

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!atpkMEBjeGEwUmPWpLDsfbOflxsZkI

qSATfSYuaQNsUTq

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

OwflozfFMPLEpMh

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

cJsBXRxKvdVRjET

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

OuxCELvYjhYvUme

Yan Min opened his mouth, “Yes.”fLYOWnfNsLoFkyIxfZCGEypbLfvgvI

uAvaZtYvzMrvFIx

…RuPMFSdvOoYgULnNdGVHjIktHWviog

adwqbqGcdmhbyep

But July’s weather was indeed hot.oZHXrDeaRqbQgMtytFVxdNHrdSgPpJ

IyJNVeHzCSQExxO

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

nwRyjMcAtsNetEf

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

TLBtLgxskFUoOfq

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

VeNDbKARXfDfQNq

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

iGzBpxnrBwcawfa

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:iLUyRuEJLKnpFCJbXcDMlTKbUSXbbc

ywVpRSSupRsVSkj

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.tWSDTOruSOHJfCiDJuYstEeeZZvWGF

JkvBusepxMcAoyo

No wonder Li Wuting was so troubled…iejZXQjxiXYHhaCmqpOWwdFSNGYaLs

CnANdaxwhyNVLwV

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

deQbFuFBVQqusaU

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

uMtzEydLMgOQNBP

He asked, “If not for what?”bxkYvJFZWjaTDZwBoQOpRHiHbaNYWu

GRCybaYrHXpltpa

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

isdCLRGvyadVAvy

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

WiXWRGzRPSTiTYl

…kCmQcbmWsLQMYAvSlFiuDmEllPouRF

BjYNbfVxueMwvav

Ning Rushen steadied himself and sat up.qxITJsaJDwMVVqAgzLmvdvfQgBzids

kvITTZatMAcizRI

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.EZLcfbWRQeWECOymNUTEVToKYCFORK

lSWmHovsyAlsnfq

Ning Rushen paused.DTQPKNvqJCgTDDJKhWVaEToQOWUXXn

fqbzzgZLBOQrNpO

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.OdXiQgQCYQKfZknVMwljvzDqtRFfav

nTHQfZltMPpfxlM

Ning Rushen, “…”XVazuujGiUJEPrLOyOKlplBcDPTiAM

WDEOCJfLisSHVlf

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

GksrLFioPMTXNlX

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

JofbiWkRtcFQwJR

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

qjjghkCKYeJdRyu

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

bUJBiHEoLXOfsAB

Geng Yan was stunned, quickly lowering his hand.nYHACYnPOnbGQUgsvNiKZDLOhzfDYG

QGCTHOhIOxWqgNL

·RbkPssSdFKaNZTuYNpkgESeEQhAPga

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The two sat back down at the stone table.VRHyzDcjMlChyMnQgirDdGGDjhudQd

ChqdEgcTiUmIybc

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

uJPImISeFjGgDqy

“Malicious intentions! No wonder His Majesty—”HzKgnJZUyLhafFuDDhBObVVftwWWzz

IjKFOLgZMVOXpem

He paused, swallowing the unspoken words.MBVwstEROgbLlKUZkYMunDVZpcSFNe

jtuAaoQkQOVjJkK

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

gZSNrJzaDIfPXMw

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

vXdpRdTkqzRURoh

“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…”PZumFcWjfVumtkaWaVoguHTnGtNaJh

yQKVisoNDiaHMIU

“…”nVVeiMbjIEIRkVLLIiBsGokYPJdBaz

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

UVMvGlhiVEwSRpu

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

sqPKVsmeNPCPLRD

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

wIorHiiVvRMHFun

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

poCdssAUQNtYyjn

He recalled Li Wuting’s gaze at him.gAEqGWCgkDgruoiUFMywvRzFnPerxX

SFtigIlYRDgkHWZ

He also wanted to know what Li Wuting meant…jaNtvgJBMmnlEepTARtuzfRvqLlApY

YkcCSTKfKLFhSuS

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.”rMDYZkfAQqgMYsfQUQScouXaLwYwQg

ZbBvrCqBqIGXQLJ

He reached out his hand.dvoFeivXAjRJjmRmsANrNRHLQvFqXa

tgGbcTQsHAYQKSZ

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

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

HMjtxNCGCjeEjve

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

vNVwYsbqddxZsGV

The matter of the supervising general remained unresolved.fsPOAjdZdMTqCWACYvwdrZGTvbUPYi

uAcMAvnPKeGGvFb

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.kaAIzTDRDvLkQNWvHUGDjGGQKgfKWN

pLSaXejOtblMuHJ

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

SKYgoMoqWkCRJdc

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

kyZwiYJQntnmgYJ

Ning Rushen looked up from the lounge chair:?FvfihNDiXVLyRGaeXpFpEHZgLNYfav

rCIJDJhzydVkrgo

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.”SRfWBfRhQwXCliiioLMLLhMHklSGIM

HHiqGKQStiFmOMF

Why did they bring a letter for him?joUWHfGFrRhpYqNvQscWnsxYmlqFiI

LwVxfxKHghDtxEC

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

QgFxFMAWJFFfNos

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

LmWtLkbYlWlyZAD

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.FFMlPXnmrCglMWWZQdSfIlvdeStTTk

UkghBaNSxziawbG

The entire letter appealed to emotions and reason.TKYXyVyMMInXaTPgJQQpFHhulnsiMq

YhuuhIepZlLNVHU

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

cayCkKmSTRBxXvZ

……OJOmLVElEoZIrBcVWPmNRXAclMcxUh

cWrGQXuXyzzOYqZ

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

qEsbhsDevHtFdKL

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

lzQyhGRDaYolTqk

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

TDcEatLeELGZcxM

…TwyxnXDsQzCeuPWFwGXxOoAGDKpmsQ

mgwStTmrraZloyP

Meanwhile, in the Yangxin Palace.WwftvhjrWrIDLZjKrmlGLTTPOKtMrC

FGLudHKtJleDrnr

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

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

uExtnXfMmxFxjKx

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

jvGqQSYvpSZyZrv

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

BolxNhUBagoreUy

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

UKoHhSObdxryXhn

Li Wuting opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.WllRNsolVHrlJCmIAeEBffvpIZHKTk

TiZadbDubnLgnos

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

KRhrgCjSJVzCFUM

‘Lord Ning, come quickly!!!’suihKpPJXPNcKNONfwfvkdxEHpwWqI

nOtyEYLmOkqFiTZ

His clearly defined fingers paused.lTHCHNSRIEJSAPXtZgLvoyDBZcEWfG

rdOQhlBcrUlytix

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

RsIokSGoHCbLJzK

Bonus: Northern Xinjiang Specialty RecipesQqmzNfryVYKAtrSjKiZYqqkfIMNYCV

DnadQPBjcQFPYCH

Li Wuting, “…”luovoLqnwuEMJeAxdGwMmMixPsOTGX

JqklMBDJmMYTaNN