Chapter 26
A small storefront, yet business was booming. As Ning Rushen and Geng Yan strolled by at mealtime, they found the place packed. In the noisy lobby, only one round table near the window remained empty.
Geng Yan ordered a few items and then asked, “How did you manage to get into the palace last night? Did something urgent come up?”
Ning Rushen absentmindedly replied, “No… just wanted to grab a bite.”
His mood suddenly became complex and hard to express. Seeing Ning Rushen’s casual demeanor, Geng Yan couldn’t help but tease him.
As they began to chat, voices from the bustling lobby behind them interrupted. A waiter hurried over and said, “Excuse me, the restaurant is nearly full. Would you mind sharing a table with other guests?”
Dressed in luxurious attire, with fragrant sachets and jade belts, they approached the table. When Ning Rushen looked up, he recognized the young men in noble attire, especially the leader—Yu Tiao.
The two groups locked eyes, the atmosphere tense.
Yu Tiao spoke first, neither friendly nor hostile, “Oh, who knew someone was making such a grand display, occupying a whole table. It turns out to be Lord Ning.”
Ning Rushen replied calmly, “Oh, so it’s not about sharing a table, but about sharing fathers.”
Yu Tiao was furious. “You…!”
The waiter nervously wiped his sweat nearby, “Gentlemen, please be civil.”
Seeing the young nobles still standing at the table, Ning Rushen was considering whether to trip them with his leg or lie flat on the table to block them from sitting down…
A voice interrupted, oblivious to the tension, but quite familiar.
Ning Rushen turned and saw Yi Shiyi holding two bags of freshly baked pastries. Recognizing him, Yi Shiyi nodded in surprise, “It’s you, sir.”
Ning Rushen thought, Why is it you?
Seems like buying pastries allows for a flexible schedule.
Yu Tiao and his friends frowned. “Who’s this?”
Ning Rushen glanced around and suddenly changed his mind, nodding toward them, “Please, have a seat.”
Yi Shiyi graciously took a seat beside them.
Yu Tiao and his friends exchanged glances and sat down as well.
The waiter hurriedly brought the menu, calming the situation at the table. Ning Rushen looked at the group in front of him, realizing he had inadvertently brought together people who shouldn’t be together.
Ignoring the people across from him, he turned to Yi Shiyi, “What are you doing here?”
Yi Shiyi replied, “I lined up for pastries all morning and got hungry. A friend mentioned this restaurant in the west of the city, so I came.”
Ning Rushen thought, …
As they talked, the dishes they ordered arrived one after another.
Ning Rushen picked up his chopsticks and started to pick at the dishes on the table, while the conversation continued on the other side.
“I heard someone who was seriously injured and sick for a long time, but still seemed able to eat and run.”
“Without adding some spice, how can things be made big?”
Snap! Geng Yan slammed his chopsticks down. “You mother——”
Ning Rushen raised his hand and closed his jaw.
Geng Yan, “Er…!”
Ning Rushen caught a glimpse of the grass on the wall gently swaying again, and then changed the subject:
“Discussing court officials in public, do you know what crime that is?”
Yu Tiao was immediately ignited by his words. “What, Lord Ning is going to report to the court again? You can try, let’s see if the emperor will punish you!”
Another young man from a noble family chuckled, “Don’t forget, Lord Ning is an orphan… Oops, I misspoke. He’s a lone seedling, neither high nor low, probably doesn’t understand the weight of the noble families.”
Seeing their arrogance, Ning Rushen knew they were completely unaware that they were about to be dealt with by Li Wuting—
After all, their families were not punished when the Cui family fell.
Even after the incident with the horse riding, the Yu family’s examination qualifications were not revoked. They probably thought the young new emperor was still wary.
Just stay out of trouble and you can still get by…
Ning Rushen scooped up some salty tofu brain. He didn’t say anything, but the others became even more arrogant, the conversation even vaguely touching on imperial power…
Just then, there was a loud bang!
A dark and chilly long knife slammed onto the table, abruptly silencing the table.
Shiyi put down his bowl. “Say one more word, and I’ll beat you.”
The young men from noble families fell silent.
Yu Tiao trembled with anger and muttered, “Evil tyrant!”
Ning Rushen thought of Shiyi’s master and couldn’t help but laugh.
The tense meal ended.
As Yu Tiao and the others left the table, they couldn’t help but mutter threateningly, “We’ll see.”
Ning Rushen smiled, “Goodbye.”
The group frowned and left inexplicably.
After lunch, Ning Rushen and Geng Yan left the restaurant and strolled through the streets.
Shiyi was sent back to the mansion along with the baked buns.
Ning Rushen folded his hands. “Can these noble family kids pass the imperial examination?”
Geng Yan said, “The children of the noble families in the capital have been studying at the National University since childhood, so their starting point is naturally different from that of the common people. Moreover, most of the examiners for the imperial examinations are also graduates of the National University…”
Ning Rushen understood: It was like an enhanced version of their own school’s advantages.
When the topic turned to examinations, he simply called for Geng Yan, “Let’s go take a look at the Ministry of Rites.”
The journey from here to the Ministry of Rites was not far.
Before long, Ning Rushen saw the gate of the Ministry of Rites.
As usual, he walked in as if he belonged there, and from a distance, he heard his friend calling out to him, “Minister Guan—”
Just around the corner, he saw a row of guards standing in front of the hall door.
Ning Rushen’s steps halted, and he instantly felt a sense of foreboding.
The next moment, De Quan’s smiling face appeared, warmly welcoming them, “Oh, Lord Ning, Minister Geng~ Are you here to see His Majesty, who is inspecting the Ministry today?”
Ning Rushen, “…”
He didn’t know, he was just a little kitten.
Geng Yan, “…”
Geng Yan glanced at him quietly.
Ning Rushen silently conveyed to him: This time, it really has nothing to do with him.
The two followed De Quan inside.
Inside the hall, officials were waiting, Guan Fan and Huo Mian were there, and Li Wuting was standing in front of everyone, turning to look at Ning Rushen when he heard him.
“I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”
As their eyes met, Li Wuting didn’t ask him in front of everyone, “Are you here to mooch a meal again?” But Ning Rushen inexplicably sensed something in that calm gaze: Ha.
He, “…”
In that moment of eye contact, the gaze across from him suddenly fell.
It fell on his neck.
Just then, Huo Mian came straight over, “Hey, are you injured?”
Ning Rushen touched his neck, subconsciously glancing at Li Wuting.
Li Wuting: ?
Ning Rushen replied, “It’s an allergy, I scratched it.”
Huo Mian kindly reminded him, “Oh, you shouldn’t eat randomly outside.”
“…” Outside. Eat randomly.
He stepped on a landmine!
In the next moment, from the other end, there came a faint, almost imperceptible sneer: Hmph.
Ning Rushen braced himself and said, “No, I always eat carefully.”
Huo Mian showed a shocked expression once again!
The imperial carriage remained at the Ministry of Rites, and no official dared to leave until Li Wuting finished his inspection and left the main gate of the ministry. Geng Yan then tremblingly pulled Ning Rushen along, saying, “Let’s go quickly.”
As soon as the two stepped out, De Quan came running over, saying, “Lord Ning, His Majesty is summoning you.”
Ning Rushen felt as if an invisible hand was gripping the back of his neck again.
He glanced at the nearby green palanquin carriage, patted Geng Yan, and followed.
They lifted the curtain and entered the carriage.
Inside, Li Wuting was seated upright, with a finely crafted glass box on the table in front of him.
Li Wuting said, “Take the ointment.”
Ning Rushen hesitated for a moment, then took it, somewhat surprised, “Thank you, Your Majesty…”
The imperial family even cared about after-sales service?
Seeing him take it, Li Wuting asked, “Have you seen a doctor?”
Ning Rushen replied, “No, it’s just itchy. Scratching it will be fine.”
Li Wuting frowned.
De Quan immediately interpreted the emperor’s meaning and pointed out, “How can this be allowed? At least we need to know what you’re allergic to.”
Ning Rushen thought of yesterday’s imperial meal and his throat twitched suspiciously. He calculated, “I can eat it again and eliminate them one by one.”
Li Wuting said, “…”
He praised softly, “Ning Qing’s medical skills are still so simple.”
Ning Rushen blushed and said, “It’s all from our own country.”
The carriage couldn’t stay on the street for too long.
Ning Rushen took the ointment and was about to get off the carriage.
He turned to open the curtain, his black hair draped behind him, a ray of light shining on his neck, highlighting the mottled light red marks.
“Take a cloak.” Someone behind him suddenly said.
Ning Rushen turned his head, puzzled.
De Quan had already understood and handed him the cloak.
Ning Rushen hesitated, “… Your Majesty, I’m not cold today.”
Or rather, he was feeling heated after arguing.
“Cover up.” Li Wuting glanced briefly, “It’s not appropriate for an official representing the court to wander the streets with such… scratch marks, it’s not dignified.”
“？？？” What’s wrong?
Ning Rushen said, “Will it make all the officials of our dynasty feel uncomfortable?”
Li Wuting replied, “…annoying.”
He then drove the person off the carriage.
Ning Rushen: .
After returning home, he still sought out a doctor.
Medical skills were limited in this era, so although they couldn’t pinpoint the specific allergy, they prescribed some medicine and listed some foods to avoid.
After applying the ointment, the red marks on Ning Rushen’s neck disappeared.
The interview was in three days.
He leaned on the low couch beside the table in the room.
Gazing thoughtfully out of the window for a moment, he then got up, took paper and pen, and began to write.
Page after page, the strokes flowed from his pen.
Half an hour later, Ning Rushen looked satisfied at his masterpiece: Li Wuting had allowed him to express himself freely, so he had done just that.
…
The day of the interview arrived quickly.
Three days later, the weather was clear and refreshing.
Ning Rushen changed into a crimson official robe, took the stack of papers he had prepared, and set off for the Imperial Examination Hall.
At the same time, in the palace.
Pick One knelt before the throne, faithfully reporting.
He was reporting on the incident at the restaurant in the western part of the city. Li Wuting stood in front of the steps, listening and then sneering, “In the eyes of those aristocrats, am I so easily manipulated?”
Pick One added, “The Yud family even said Your Majesty is a tyrant.” The word “tyrant” was emphasized, sounding particularly sinister.
Li Wuting’s eyes suddenly darkened.
“How dare you!” De Quan quickly scolded, then turned to Li Wuting, “Daring to slander Your Majesty deserves death! Your Majesty, please calm down. Let Mr. Ning take care of this today!”
There was a moment of silence in front of the steps.
Then Li Wuting spoke slowly, “I want to see what he plans to do.”
“Yes.” De Quan immediately ordered the carriage to be prepared.
Just as the imperial carriage was about to depart, Li Wuting paused.
He looked at Pick One. “Is that all?”
Pick One replied, “Yes, Mr. Ning has recently enjoyed eating pancakes and sends someone to queue up for him. From morning till night, every day without fail.”
Li Wuting remained silent for a moment. “It’s not easy either.”
Pick One became excited, “Not hard!”
Li Wuting glanced at him, “…not talking about you.”
Then he left the palace.
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Examination Hall.
A curtain was drawn in the courtyard, concealing the view inside. The examinees went behind the curtain one by one to receive their number plates and then entered their respective examination rooms.
In the Jia You Examination Room, Yu Tiao entered.
Upon entering, he was surprised to see several familiar faces inside, including the sons of the Wu City Garrison Commander. He was stunned, “What’s going on?”
The others looked at each other, “Wasn’t it supposed to be random?”
Yu Tiao couldn’t figure it out, so he sat down, reluctantly suppressing his anxiety, “Never mind, just pass the interview first.”
“That’s right, we also need to see how Ning Chen will react!”
Just as they were talking, footsteps were heard from behind the examination room.
The room fell silent instantly.
Among the examinees, there was a man dressed in a crimson official robe, with a goose pattern shimmering on top, exuding an air of nobility and clarity.
Ning Rushen walked to the front of the chief examiner’s desk and smiled slightly.
In Yu Tiao’s mind, there was a sudden buzz! His face turned pale, staring incredulously at the person standing in the position of the chief examiner:
How could it be Ning Chen!?
Several other sons of aristocratic families were also shocked, as if they had lost their voices.
Ning Rushen smiled at the stunned group, raised his chin as he did that day at the restaurant, and said, “Please, be seated.”
After saying that, he pulled out a chair and sat down, indicating the start of the group interview without a leader.
