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.ghDkYHFRJLLkCZwvvgUXHSqYCsGDDl

bbmMYTFZuHuLwVa

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

BFdJWYUhaZAcuuJ

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

DDtAACeaGbOsMBj

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

uAPLTQBpETppmOq

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

CHCvJWkiZgjZSBT

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

QjCGfREFTAnXiCc

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

SUjNqTpUNkVhpTb

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:BIngipgiaIcuPhRvDJaIRmvHUetKdq

eRoQLfFkoPycnLC

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

XhVkSKOerKwCIgg

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

iBrwmLwgRWEAFbz

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

VWnaeoLupGrzzAA

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

KqFXgWeJRqsDGAm

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

eovvxLGCzonGbdh

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:gOmVoPGJsnoZoRFIXoTrhPHIJTxnGI

nwnVpgXYmimwBPo

“It’s my own issue.”oHaFmFcnLwmDbQcETUUQKTIdgYlxMk

KOxzLgNFpxhvbFG

“What issue?”UfhJCEGAHSoDgOSkntqbwMMWnZQwqZ

aHyjOsHkruftNFm

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

aMTKuaAEkkOlQIw

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

SDTTLrWiuuuEMQy

Li Wuting, “…”ETWzhAsLdEOchXPuqEqslrGjegNVRT

FuUGqTXuraZEbGp

His hand that was pinching his face tightened again.qgFDuoyCuZqYCulxelGMWTqAgXtQQx

zZOhMIwETdCPrzT

Ning Rushen, “Mmm mmm!”MCdoauTXYGuCwDpyPVvurnUiOWkQlx

BvZeHdAgGGVgwIz

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

oqMZsoDTjsPLoyR

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

zDiuNQLBFkfUSLP

“A new pastry from the imperial kitchen.”IeGZoRllbeHdaEItNjaNXcbtkIBLgR

zMZzXGEWoIUylTk

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

foqQqnrjhjGsOQb

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

TvrIYioquUnFCMf

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

XtehmttskMcyXdW

Li Wuting’s actions were so natural.DeUGzBNLryekxyEOnnZulKhfilFBmX

XGkiosBIbaogoTe

Ning Rushen didn’t immediately notice anything wrong.SSBjPEqEWMVROttjQSIkazOqSkxcjG

afpaPgSwPaIrSgO

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

EINFIvrLqvkgmmt

Ning Rushen choked, “Cough!”HUnHoNnPwmRxwKWNNJgRhPyOrwlmhS

oOygFOGTTGKVgYX

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

GjXDuhTEIUfNIpv

Would Li Wuting also clean crumbs off other ministers?bozQzjeeyCQzBKBkEaxGEegLKZEtEO

zedJNHojnbvxQVc

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

WwKIwuQlwztQcTn

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

WlqggkvPHOPZhZo

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

wGBQLleFCDGqsEv

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

eoZUyvZzAcLewTJ

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

EtoLGNFwiTvVWkm

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

LQYdWxPQfwoQLCr

“…”NbxXdmVijlcJzrqBrVjzsOXhgXiNon

DMFUROEgIhNMOex

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

jGegBQQabLJZgEK

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.”GaAmVZlBpNjLFakkljsgVsSmJrYSPL

KaMqcqFBcUPkmgT

Ning Rushen: FNOhlAcTmpgQOpmjYkaCZOzspsIPCz

tjWSNcSWcdjndmh

·mHbUApXVDnFSHbvKEVWrwHkIGEFvOO

TiWKtIdYvhPKTDe

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

dLqFKhhQUaiTMsE

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

UCYTGQZRaJmgMMh

The “again” was quite perceptive.ZPmSibCbyCAkTFYvHzwlfOCjoEmJhP

fEoAxxHxCZMQIiC

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

kTsMYRPEIztuSMo

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?ZcErhWfSttDyDdjtROIsMlsBIPhDjO

aRiScYYcaLtGCHy

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

vfrjWynsAQOmknb

Both were silent for a moment.lfvwqyrGDMIqZCGLbzNlOcaYqZvYYu

IXnxZYNnEwonZDF

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

uGyfLiVIiDKzQmH

Ning Rushen nodded eagerly, “Alright.”ZzGdRZCEjICtSIZeAXoQqkCXxzYOwP

asLcPGKAPCEDNKx

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

SXHhBCPVUOOCGuG

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

nNBnuRdJRSLoEPK

Ning Rushen was puzzled:?IZDJkBoVjcUzpfKdigJTQrHkozPaOq

PlqXijNrsvJwktT

“Won’t it be too stuffy?”HfmkNsPekTDhdkCxDsLBYHwDosDYNL

jYcWKjdGuihpNHG

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!sKyGSYbzvcOQNQUGIkqrkBNHYftCzy

VeXXqOlNiDSZWYs

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

BmWlvEPdcCWlcFr

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

JnVNJAZsPdBBhwN

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

AEiykSjcBWbDdyd

Yan Min opened his mouth, “Yes.”IgNmMRBwQBDDZNCfnNzYSELrlfMEQb

KmWYOzHQuvDvAPJ

…EPbKbmNePKUyPDGMuawBplbxkgEJMi

VDhHIcbVLHXxQPS

But July’s weather was indeed hot.LepOjZWUyLBhgkcOLLATfIDyqsmDEn

xHQmKcihULkgtTA

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

XswZemVDyBHdujR

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

FBctiNQwqKpyAGz

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

UEzuOnqzBCLgaKH

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

TsJtQoMUqOAKzqC

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:cxSzSAgMlmzjHlYiHOuPzUkcDgYaHR

CTbwHWQmxoghaXP

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.phJictsRoTlpqhopjioIatHcaZZpNR

vmyaNEJgiIIQEOT

No wonder Li Wuting was so troubled…VgmjYTVToVuYISBDvgKLYSnJcVbeGq

FTupiXQOTyjmaqP

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

aQhuleAbHVUjuhQ

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

nkZjbCJejkUsUlD

He asked, “If not for what?”dTFeFzBjGkdpDmgqhYXbgpDhwbZPvG

mdzaEUzOsjawXxp

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

NkGJKqubdIpEmMk

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

iSoKAhpKqTHPNzz

…cnzdMMKjhoxusaELkkAKlIQdApWBzX

hXCZYAvXBkywqsb

Ning Rushen steadied himself and sat up.MIrvwGClRfeurXCKWRhkQjttlZuwKP

lSUPyUszKHYRNBc

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.cOUgmkgxKRHGnbiqNYkUHcVFMCTvQt

dlAJQXEJMfEtMGX

Ning Rushen paused.MYKoTSGSxpQNZwZgaqVVixbFcGNfIr

fDnozbBKXuDoulB

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.HFvWtPSpQLngWtHqoUgreXzilluyYC

dTGkFajeKeADamU

Ning Rushen, “…”kDMZGsrTywMUemGsYGtsAJgZvXHbfl

LetFagaSOBQfUEj

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

qVNNDxaChAAuEVD

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

shbtsJyTgtIqdRU

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

rVwMUekwCGUExkr

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

jZKabdroTinfKeL

Geng Yan was stunned, quickly lowering his hand.RXtmZBcWHMkiPCYTFCCxUafScmLVZd

pMYtKQnMPHfBDFt

·SDGNyxDmJywHxOfyHMgwSnSqsiamqm

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The two sat back down at the stone table.BOYSntvIdVNydQDpnhZvKQMzSZfgTF

AtfwKRQQIiQeIXq

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

cuXNFVMcckimwRH

“Malicious intentions! No wonder His Majesty—”pmzFhlQRoxDqbheeBgpOPbsbRvfszo

pdmQgwjwxnQBmYw

He paused, swallowing the unspoken words.gvpgdjpRxnvujtiIjIXekoKxiiLEAD

QDStPccheRfWiWj

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

hbegGdkImxZpDEJ

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

lAOxQpcIJmfGVnJ

“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…”eAswCbHQUnwqzHzOzaOcxEtbfJNdWJ

IBkjFLqXsDlCAoj

“…”ulSkRsUuaJUIJjSjjIJkwFlEnTCZoa

MRjbRyhBjxWITXY

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

BqeTfnNXKkRkwHo

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

tRLvQTJTNgyxeDd

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

EtykaNdfhZerMnJ

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

bXOmSNfdpeCFlIx

He recalled Li Wuting’s gaze at him.AlBwmImaRZdIILCBUcCqnYSZVZcZkb

DjaudxQuNovEMvd

He also wanted to know what Li Wuting meant…GSdOuPAzlTAxCFoJMlrbfWmlzmVLxi

KMmgRNdNFezWkcg

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.”HSIiQkcPLnCVfyxaxkDijXPWPHxXeC

jhFutmOQRtvecNl

He reached out his hand.nvXxylATYgDbdyWFnZcOvOWbKuvBGl

eJRWuBHcRrkgtkb

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

mojvWKmLTIKQonz

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

HyzePKpDkMPXkbp

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

VlUrrRXDzDAhZdL

The matter of the supervising general remained unresolved.FuVTiwLYrvpkGvcmoPpUBdAQGbfmwT

oRrXBqZCwJycPwd

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.qThMGtcNGXfvOUXwLOTcJmFYeZIJPS

FUudPPNZGBhripc

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

MLoMKZwdvrEMhzX

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

IOkvrfOqNxrwBJM

Ning Rushen looked up from the lounge chair:?coPKFoykFzlbXLNvkFVIKMEXOupRBK

JmzlfdctslETsxO

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.”TtevVWCcHUtQXYPsdfFNWBRGcDSdTF

siBifrwnBxXrqLW

Why did they bring a letter for him?ICiEaRardujZDzRfLqFsFVXZJoHXws

kfebHswELSYQHAN

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

lSLyWkoPpbGsbzn

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

KuEeTQZNHawvhQd

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.BthwWqQnQUnntcxgAtbocAhvbfZRvF

dDpoXReJUwFhlZt

The entire letter appealed to emotions and reason.cwNFrovjTzMnorQWBVFffjvGoQuFWZ

sjqYQdyfjGUTiFU

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

YVyOUTATqYBsFYk

……RePoxbQmsrUlrLxKHECEXYuXgSfBXU

RaQbaDpUusFqjLs

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

xOurayMABxoGTqE

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

vClfiWZjZNdQPMN

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

ViCtezSKSEYirQZ

…jQsvOyyyUFFyrHMJCSuYjHCWPOYzDF

FCnsOUrlByrHoVw

Meanwhile, in the Yangxin Palace.qssIEnVlurWIhGdyMEYrvZWajmgSRi

oDRjilxPnphzXjp

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

TezvdarJFtrNmZo

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

rUHJJfkBvKkaLBx

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

KsPZoPoqXWBmofy

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

VyjvOxTMMVhUDAt

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

lfnzwgOPbrtyhXs

Li Wuting opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.UPIZnXadpeuXQFSKYwvhUvWuYhTDnl

ewVmCGAmFUdsooI

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

LpVbYonbZiglzon

‘Lord Ning, come quickly!!!’XsTEMikxmburVjRshSDUrCfaLlSzLu

dTCYTqvaphWFIDN

His clearly defined fingers paused.WKgjBAxLfJYijSxhMXevrCiSdIFiZc

iuXzrGHZSRTANxs

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

rIjdasQIftPHKfQ

Bonus: Northern Xinjiang Specialty RecipesgCrxYLMSViTmaubsXtfrathmtdnAWM

MVWvgQntERppbbL

Li Wuting, “…”AQwfGZwnUvQywqZDWKumYpfLrjXOGY

xTZMIprDTyzFLNO