Chapter 25
Ning Rushen lay in the courtyard, waiting for his meal. He estimated in his heart that Shiyi should have already reported to the imperial court by now. There was a wall grass planted in the courtyard, which seemed to have some effect. He was leisurely swaying on the reclining chair when suddenly, hurried footsteps came from the courtyard gate. Yan Min led a young eunuch in:
Ning Rushen glanced at the darkening sky. “At this hour?”
He couldn’t think of anything urgent enough to warrant such haste. Ning Rushen probed, “How is His Majesty’s mood?”
The young eunuch hesitated. “He… He is in a good mood.”
Ning Rushen immediately relaxed, taking out two walnuts and handing them over. “Thank you, little eunuch.”
He followed the group into the palace.
Ning Rushen had thought they were going to the study, but to his surprise, the eunuch led him directly to the Heart Nourishing Hall.
The hall was brightly lit.
Upon entering, Ning Rushen saw Li Wuting sitting sideways, reading a book on a low couch. De Quan stood beside him, looking annoyed and anxious, glaring at him.
That look seemed as if he had committed a heinous crime.
It made his scalp tingle.
Ning Rushen cleared his throat and looked at Li Wuting.
The latter seemed unresponsive to his arrival, his cold profile showing no expression.
He saluted, “I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”
There was still no response from the front.
Thinking of what the young eunuch had said, Ning Rushen tentatively raised his eyes. “Did Your Majesty summon me for something good?”
As soon as the word “good” came out, Li Wuting sneered, “Huh!”
Ning Rushen: …?
The book in his hand was set aside.
Li Wuting got up and walked over to him, looking at him with a smile that wasn’t a smile. “I have nothing good, but you, Ning Qing, have quite a few good things.”
What good things did he have?
Ning Rushen looked up in confusion.
As he did so, he realized they were very close to each other.
The back of his raised hand almost brushed against the edge of Li Wuting’s meticulously folded clothes. The latter looked down, his tall shadow looming over him, reflecting his figure in his eyes.
Ning Rushen inexplicably felt like his neck was being pinched.
His tailbone trembled subconsciously:
What’s wrong? Does he think he’s been lying around for too long?
After a few moments of eye contact, Li Wuting finally spoke, “Ning Qing, are you dissatisfied with your duties in the court, or do you feel that I have withheld your rewards?”
Ning Rushen hurriedly said, “No, I earn plenty every day.”
Li Wuting: …”
De Quan closed his eyes: You’re here to seek wealth in the court!
Ignoring his wording, Li Wuting said coldly, “Is that so? But I heard that you are already seeking another path.”
Ning Rushen: ???
What other path? He’s not out there selling roasted sweet potatoes!
Perhaps his confusion was too obvious in his eyes, Li Wuting paused for a moment and kindly pointed out, “Are you not planning to roll up your pots and pans, retire, and return to your hometown?”
“…!”
Ning Rushen was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing:
What a great rumor! He was just adding eye drops to Baijia Fan, and the little dog was barking loudly. He didn’t pay any attention to the context of the conversation before and after.
He had inadvertently given Shiyi a chance to show off his skills.
Ning Rushen hurriedly refuted, “I haven’t.”
Li Wuting scrutinized him, as if waiting for him to offer a clever defense.
Ning Rushen’s gaze was clear and sincere. “What I meant was, it would be good to clean up the mess together.”
“Oh, is that what it’s called when you go back to your hometown?”
“Geng Shilang.”
“…,” there was silence for a while.
Li Wuting looked at him meaningfully, then gently spoke, “I thought, for Geng Shilang to climb walls and cross roofs to find you, you two must have a deep friendship.”
Ning Rushen blushed and lowered his eyes. “That’s his personal hobby.”
Li Wuting: .
Perhaps seeing his earnest words, even at the expense of slandering his colleague, Li Wuting believed most of it and didn’t pursue further.
“Enough,” he said.
The coldness on his face faded, and he looked much more relaxed.
Ning Rushen stared, thinking: Is this okay now?
He was called here late in the evening, could it be just for this?
As he pondered, De Quan spoke up, “Your Majesty, shall this servant announce the meal? You haven’t eaten since finishing state affairs.”
Li Wuting agreed, “Go ahead.”
De Quan immediately waved his dust cloth and gave the order.
Ning Rushen looked over, “Your Majesty, why haven’t you eaten yet?”
Li Wuting glanced at him lightly.
Ning Rushen felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze: …
What’s he up to? Surely he can’t be full of himself because of me.
There was a small kitchen behind the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Just after De Quan gave the order, supper was quickly brought in, with a fragrant aroma filling the air.
Ning Rushen’s eyes followed the dishes, his stomach growling loudly. “I haven’t eaten yet… I’ll take my leave first…”
Li Wuting couldn’t bear it, “Stay and finish your meal before leaving.”
“How can this be…”
Ning Rushen hesitated for a moment, then sat next to him. “Is it okay if I sit here?”
“Sit opposite, I’m afraid of hindering your skills.”
“…You’re really something.”
…
The meal was exquisite and delicious.
After a table of supper was served, Li Wuting ate moderately and then restrained himself, putting down his chopsticks.
Ning Rushen, however, didn’t hold back at all, only stopping when he couldn’t eat anymore. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were satisfied:
The imperial meal was delicious.
As he savored it, he heard Li Wuting ask, “Finished eating?”
Ning Rushen nodded, “Very good.”
“Oh, better than the meals you’ve had with Ning Qing?”
“…Is this topic not over yet?”
Ning Rushen praised, “How can ordinary meals compare to the imperial ones?”
Li Wuting made a noncommittal sound.
After finishing dinner, it was getting late.
Ning Rushen stood up to take his leave. “Your Majesty, I’ll leave first.”
Just as he said that, Li Wuting also stood up casually. “I’ve just finished eating, perfect time for a walk.”
Ning Rushen blinked, “Okay.”
It was quite a distance from the Hall of Mental Cultivation to the palace gate.
The two walked towards the palace gate.
After walking a while, Ning Rushen heard Li Wuting beside him speak, “The exam is in a few days, how’s your waist injury, Ning Qing?”
“It’s almost healed.”
Ning Rushen spoke as he felt his side, then thought about the interview: for those few families, the cultural assessment wasn’t the goal. Li Wuting had dumped this mess on him, so where should he start…
Now the sky was dim, surrounded by a misty night.
Lost in thought, Ning Rushen unconsciously slid his slender, fair hand along his waistline on the crimson fabric…
Li Wuting’s gaze fell for a moment.
Suddenly, he remembered how the person trembled at a touch on the ear.
Just as his fingertip was about to avert his gaze, he suddenly saw the person staring blankly step down the front steps. Li Wuting’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly reached out and pulled the person back—
“Uh…!” His big palm landed on the person’s waist.
Ning Rushen bumped into Li Wuting in front of him with a thud!
Startled out of his contemplation, he placed a hand on Li Wuting’s chest, his heart pounding.
As he came to his senses, Li Wuting’s hand was still on his waist.
The slender waist was flexible and slim, the fabric of the official robe smooth, and it seemed to have a magnetic pull under his palm, unconsciously sliding down along that curve.
Li Wuting’s knuckles tightened slightly.
But his hand remained still, restrained and gentlemanly.
Ning Rushen, amidst his rapid heartbeat, regained his senses and heard a low voice from above, “Are you steady?”
His ears burning, he suddenly felt a bit shaky, “Your Majesty, if you let go, I’ll be steady.”
If he continued holding on, who knew what would happen.
Li Wuting, “…”, he let go.
Ning Rushen regained his composure and rubbed his lower back, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Li Wuting glanced at him, “Seems like no matter how much you eat at the Hundred Family Banquet, you won’t gain weight.”
“What?”
“Nothing. You were lost in thought and didn’t even look where you were going.”
The conversation was redirected.
Ning Rushen said, “I’m thinking about the interview. I’ve never done this before…”
“Everything has a first time.” Li Wuting encouraged lightly, “You weren’t born knowing how to set up accidents.”
Ning Rushen: .
Gratefully accepting the advice, “Your Majesty is right.”
Li Wuting’s lips twitched slightly, “Since I’ve entrusted it to you, just do your best.”
He paused, “Of course, don’t disappoint me either.”
“…”.
“I will definitely select a unique seedling for Your Majesty.”
After leaving the palace and returning home, it was already late. Ning Rushen tidied up a bit and prepared to go to bed. While washing up in the room, he faintly felt itchy on his neck and shoulders, so he reached up to scratch. A red mark immediately appeared on his fair neck.
Ning Rushen felt comfortable scratching himself, but Yan Min, entering the room, was shocked to see his neck scratched red. “My lord, how could you do this to yourself!”
“…I was just scratching an itch.”
Yan Min walked over, “What’s going on?”
Ning Rushen put his hand down, “I ate something good in the palace last night, probably allergic to something.”
“I’ll go get a doctor for you!”
“No need, just need a good night’s sleep.”
Ning Rushen was already very tired. He scratched himself as he climbed into bed, sending Yan Min away. A good night’s sleep passed.
The next morning, Ning Rushen woke up without itching, only the scratches from the night before remained. He put on his clothes, pushed open the door, and saw Geng Yan hanging on his wall, looking around.
Seeing him come out, Geng Yan whispered, “The Emperor isn’t here, right?”
“…I just got up, don’t be absurd.”
“It’s just that you seem wide awake.” Geng Yan sighed, sliding down from the wall. “I’m off today, let’s go out for a walk together.”
Ning Rushen saw that the weather was nice today, so he went back to change his clothes and went out with him. “Let’s go.”
The streets of the capital were still bustling in the morning. Shops lined both sides of the road, and vendors came and went, creating a lively scene.
Ning Rushen wandered along the way, hands in his sleeves.
Geng Yan glanced at his side, “Where are your rough bodyguards? Why aren’t they with you?”
“Sent them to buy breakfast in the west of the city.”
“Since when do you like eating breakfast in the west of the city?”
Ning Rushen’s expression was meaningful, “The focus is not on breakfast.” It was to send them away.
Geng Yan nodded, not quite understanding, “Oh, right, there’s a restaurant in the west of the city with great food. Shall we go there for lunch?”
Ning Rushen agreed, “Do you even need to ask?”
He rubbed his hands together, looking around, “Where is it? Let me see.”
“You can’t see it from here…”
Geng Yan was about to retort when his gaze suddenly stopped. He looked at the neck that Ning Rushen revealed while looking around, a large red mark was blatantly visible.
He was shocked, “Where did you go to fool around yesterday?”
Following his gaze, Ning Rushen turned his head, “Oh, this. I went to the palace last night…”
Geng Yan’s breath caught, his lips trembling.
Ning Rushen continued, “Had a meal, had an allergic reaction, scratched it.”
Geng Yan let out a breath, “Don’t say it so ominously.”
Ning Rushen looked at his expression and frowned, “Your thoughts are so complicated.”
Geng Yan, “…”
“Let’s go, aren’t we going to the west of the city?”
Ning Rushen called for someone and headed towards the west of the city. As he walked through the streets, he couldn’t help but think that Geng Yan might be losing his mind. While he sighed, the image of Li Wuting supporting him last night popped into his mind:
Exemplary and restrained, not even moving his fingers.
Respecting each other’s positions, very dignified.
