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.CLeWfnJHwgUaPcwngtEnGuURyKdNgH

PpRDZbaOabqxjxs

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

fVbSFyYjFKegxOF

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

QtnOVEJFKrLDBSy

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

JRuQIhBamSsmkHi

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

eJCnVWEqPpBmvvK

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

AKvtFxsOVhlaSzO

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

MWZUtsvQRPeDYmP

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:qqvkdsBqWgblEiIJnWbBRucnWytTjQ

LlrKBDlHXwUvylE

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

paVLWEQVtdZHpNu

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

TEPoGgxECxpYCbN

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

asiEKrdgrwtPsdF

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

KPcFvWDtBKFfYTZ

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

iSXlmvGRhSzJFBN

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:vudKiNjUbKgwlcrgAspYizPXkPBBgM

CqJqhpBEbXbZhxP

“It’s my own issue.”tEaEmyUKnPYgczQNiDUZqGdJoCDlfT

ZOuMnzgxWdybjTg

“What issue?”mlcoXSxgRhjFBFpshmRNmpCAsVrmrM

lCIhxEReUSQbpiE

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

ZvxQpYDJHkNJsRx

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

UMbHHQMHLdaHdTD

Li Wuting, “…”iEPmNBSzaSoxrfLVLmSVUUiqUWKvmu

huHzYmjxzzDnvut

His hand that was pinching his face tightened again.RFmvtjWCEhaeSzAPFyoBQwnHCSimFQ

rcqfmOfxGuyZXuY

Ning Rushen, “Mmm mmm!”OfGAUMGnbJCuKLHrmdWQQXYOLiXhUy

LWsZSzaAqkERTVk

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

NELQdHsCBMVoZmv

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

JAvLXvWRAOZQAto

“A new pastry from the imperial kitchen.”ljJnalmerJHSvqidAguQWpdxOvSmMV

XDAHpAWyhgwVPkn

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

lSrPCnRhqkdOZuf

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

xojfsbrUgEkoCeZ

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

tCdPSixRLyuFUQX

Li Wuting’s actions were so natural.xOFfDbvlILpceZDKhajNityCPWpsVV

sZnhfiWGNWzYdon

Ning Rushen didn’t immediately notice anything wrong.CSqnGHsyfVtqjStOmhLQZaavowreIy

OGMHhxmcyFUAFVA

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

uJYkHeSbsSaeFMX

Ning Rushen choked, “Cough!”BMyoMWbzrQDyjmFRClLnJUVYtQuHpV

RMBIZAuncNJiyAT

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

liklMPKAiNLKYZl

Would Li Wuting also clean crumbs off other ministers?zCjKsvRiYLrkwwHfFuIaITpSssBIAb

QdUNvnpnZGGqFSW

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

OmkGwuWMUgvQTFo

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

UOkbMNknYBDtrPP

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

GnULmiKJBZxVdiV

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

VprJldamZbVZxXN

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

HWjVTtDViouWbcH

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

lkDIzjCqRNLwdJE

“…”rOVUGzLPKIMeDWJzjDdarycwslsCdn

xcrktxxfQgEfIzI

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

QmPWbiEmcvEmRXo

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.”cRzAJhnABtRmRDkNzBmxhLQGKfGXaB

mBCJnzkzDMHZoDg

Ning Rushen: WOVMlubugNZElFscYOfFkKltuEDGdl

xSEIsgPiyAabWdk

·VlbZvYFPhxcVyttXHZrLjKePawcbNM

ChTTrJcyYJNlryl

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

goPhXAgTWzaGLmr

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

PqetFhDaaxSIdfm

The “again” was quite perceptive.lYgnxgDtAeqrKEeayKxXGWQBozHVsf

eqwxAJQfNCYanot

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

EQdHOuRpVzxPhWn

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?RLEMOntoypCUWFISBRADwnLQHcnjyq

dEyLYinHqIkPIKA

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

dgrqloYfnWuchkW

Both were silent for a moment.PCXQTQWCyQdxFoXaAjaeNuCnIIYstI

xpcCKxBEXIFErzV

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

wsgIIIBUsBAMPin

Ning Rushen nodded eagerly, “Alright.”IiwXaPfLnhpVDQiSImpBNyulnbgpSW

koKDioBKNINlsDq

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

quRjGhNvxGlHiIU

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

snsNzCLyRNqrglk

Ning Rushen was puzzled:?OqwqgYwyFgkbfSxJseiDmjCQZKrmvK

yYknfjxaxdGAzJi

“Won’t it be too stuffy?”qrxOLdFldqxWuxtxqVOLJwAQXVgJds

fUnovvTSnnyqPor

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!juctvVZetMVyPqdGiJdNqICoiebVnQ

lRTnEmjtESMPgSQ

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

XwjOTHwlyAcnYHa

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

WKCwcbtvXQwInWh

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

WCSBggfIHPaSYvY

Yan Min opened his mouth, “Yes.”JWSfwEURTsfhahksuIBaEfOXhbSsvV

WIHUWWaVnyEsEoO

…GJrOXejjHTXoFxWxdCPHQNuqEPSINF

ZOUtzgFejKOcOic

But July’s weather was indeed hot.JQIDzsUqDitFRvKWNNzbCmcyXGCcfG

AGzjCjVLtFjZthY

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

TgRCerMbHMyPvkA

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

KiOuBMmiYJCDDiS

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

hSyhqFzHAbUoLVU

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

qXjtizqtoIbrPKu

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:FgOQqkJvrwqVxDCKnupWmccZMUxhTM

zrxrmjKUIwmTaiu

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.SmuFBUKPtJLLPpuxofIEBOfeaYAESe

gPxJvyVKNhVUSgU

No wonder Li Wuting was so troubled…aPqvUhNwrPxjuthPuSRzZhyVdMCUpl

NVcdhwmhJXXXZZt

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

dGVjtGjeLDVIgqc

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

uARbdtlFNIubvQQ

He asked, “If not for what?”PcOhLsncQuPpoUpexYMSRbbehhIBsp

zAHCOhCjAeYSNif

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

MZUKYNzGqkbIxJQ

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

odiHpXMqgidBqRP

…KrRmbwkTbiqNQnVWotOajIbYCQimEK

QWOJlqdTipqUnPv

Ning Rushen steadied himself and sat up.IsEqyGuUQoUeIDXjKpXVdltTqwjWLI

GdxjrYNGyGRnRsP

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.sqkXlEUMDJBNPslgxktzdnHeEnhebj

CKFJFwkyuOGnZtO

Ning Rushen paused.GOmMDvwKllkPsfyiVRqCaLmFJxWGIo

pZXMuHTxBNUfTSG

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.DBsoOLnwLZFcejvTuTWdIBViyeNdov

ARPKfmYzpTJuyMr

Ning Rushen, “…”bpjzrVZVRAvTGSAEfAddmyQCuxJOsU

qTmYoOrQWKpJuQY

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

ERtssDTOIDgrnkh

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

YIyKojaErHwjdbf

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

tZwcYvvoaqHZaHy

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

nBGYXFvfZIebxVQ

Geng Yan was stunned, quickly lowering his hand.ENjLgPbwdUDAyUBvmbPwwntULITjVk

tFJOdnWCWLWrnMP

·wMcIIUlPeMapWILVuKtJFzFlZcWRIx

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The two sat back down at the stone table.udmobOzNRzmAtYFRsDgQFHhsfXVcfw

rZFPVlyRzeAvIeo

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

GpWbUiDAGwswvQj

“Malicious intentions! No wonder His Majesty—”ORFbgdcurmOhIUXHGWsHaavyzBZepy

JrovFOndIUrrjoE

He paused, swallowing the unspoken words.UoJixjGHNpRyUJyDJkCvhnXnyXgQuO

IyPjzVPSFQWXgXR

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

CQKxoypSOXsuFOe

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

HGtwbaPpWVbbrvN

“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…”noCNSDIFXEtAvOWliQZbexPxyEgDFU

CTOZLNiaUSTkFtD

“…”sBFoTPjBhTypjnhNRnzHBTQNMlNmXU

rhKgOKHUUCfgPbk

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

VkrMSDvAgftSPFq

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

SSHeidLkDMPgYZC

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

HkbRMulSEbuInjK

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

mbkjsAKcOoHPvVv

He recalled Li Wuting’s gaze at him.lFpPdlrQWWeJNwTfuemvnDGNyaTtLT

BcNGTRtGBsFhUJS

He also wanted to know what Li Wuting meant…RPyPkwuwCOMESMKNiGTzWCgaffQgdu

RHELpdTpehcJxcp

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.”DYGqYoZrFrJUcRwQDkYCxOFvEQLTEt

aOnewscmLiYlfdz

He reached out his hand.YtRSImKCfSDRyGGCYeQUjjVBZFGVFc

KRpMlMgdMyPmxqL

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

dhhohbKRhsUzeUE

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

DgPrxoyjGIZStRu

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

azOnwXLFGghMTaB

The matter of the supervising general remained unresolved.DeIwmeDEtZzmAghNQRnNtAmBKOewRt

brpMUnodiWUCMgW

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.npePdGChIssJeuINfpBBmsxDCGPlUl

xbSltISBTJfyvki

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

mKPbjUmrykmNBes

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

ChZeuZngDHJZhNu

Ning Rushen looked up from the lounge chair:?nQeoJjwPKtWrUfyWjHJKdHfVygLYlg

jEEHFrKIoWTJAyE

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.”NboGZsbmbSumyUmRcaufGzwhbhBDOO

FFRbpmKqxVxPVGo

Why did they bring a letter for him?HrRKKyWrlHSEcTwmlreqJWOOBDhnvI

qgUnjHQdXQYMbqk

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

EzrbyjWPaoaJCfI

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

xoEgQeSLAXegBzQ

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.FxBNxgnnkqScqaOohbrYSlIsiWBCDb

ypyiqabArNOjDdG

The entire letter appealed to emotions and reason.muWMUSaqBsLSdxCDiFTWsKkjHhfEzS

TvJJzpPZQkWqjmJ

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

iikelutZNDCKFbD

……ClKPVmRdwRkQWpMTHpAsIkOynZbQnJ

jeTnrmAlpGJvdOZ

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

fZutByIbYhbtOaZ

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

OzQytdQXjKkaGvq

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

KMUCqoiEnHDQoiD

…oAAOztGAszLaaetpMgANHvKKIDzypx

SfztgRuaKNPcpxa

Meanwhile, in the Yangxin Palace.HFiQqazpiAstusWFICgxaiOeBKVaIv

jjPUibBMVsvStMK

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

cSIQajrKMwSWtxY

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

KuOrxPweAVLWbmq

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

VZsmmGchOgFIrJu

De Quan stepped forward, took the letter, and brought it to the emperor.TzsctkTLFuiAANphWvBdWhdZrSWjCR

ZXBNxGbLpSbEceQ

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

aJFlOdFHPKuPEOo

Li Wuting opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.zaOBCCOeNtutmZQsOTXRoJoDmvRhCL

gGZBkgegRsXrOot

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

XZUoEBSpOfZNTMs

‘Lord Ning, come quickly!!!’IZkdUSuverqQptvtfbUvnLruHHKhjo

HcbTTOAaOPXxVSn

His clearly defined fingers paused.CGgAxIwpJhdCWbEGpaWnsGVhPwzBHw

laBgPqBFdUVvbWk

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

GCtFVajVMhGlVon

Bonus: Northern Xinjiang Specialty RecipesKySrJTHsKHQBEjvTwhUJxGgZDoCHIm

eYxZlbfymEpXban

Li Wuting, “…”zcRzfogEnLftwAfmxmsfJXZeGvYXEg

IlczgcgrzAyvAcQ