Chapter 28

“？What… Ning Rushen licked his lips and said, ‘Does Your Majesty also feel reluctant?’

“…” Li Wuting frowned, showing rare annoyance. “A leak will sink a great ship.”

During a two-second silence, Shiyizhong suddenly spoke up earnestly, “Your Majesty! Do you need this humble… subject to go fetch him back?”

Yuan Liu and Yan Min on the side disagreed and warned, “Ahem! Your Majesty has his own guards. What business does a small guard like you have interfering?”

Ning Rushen sighed silently. “This isn’t even a leaky sieve; it’s a transparent glass cover.”

“Enough.” Li Wuting’s head was starting to ache from Shiyizhong’s words.

He relaxed his brows and said to Ning Rushen, “Next time a pigeon flies by, you stew it.”

Li Wuting’s decree was rarely so pleasing to the ear.

“Also,” his gaze fell to Ning Rushen’s waist, “once your waist injury is healed, stop lying down. Remember to attend the court tomorrow.”

Ning Rushen’s enthusiasm dampened. “…Yes.”

The horse racing case that had been lingering for several days immediately reached a conclusion:

Yu Lifeng was dismissed for his inadequate management; the children of the Yu family, arrogant and troublesome, disturbing the people and disrespecting the imperial family, were punished and sent to work as laborers to build rivers and canals for the people.

Those in the Wu City Garrison who had committed offenses were also dealt with.

For a time, most of the Wu City Garrison underwent personnel changes. Before the noble families could react, another decree appointed new noble families to take their place.

The series of actions came unexpectedly but were orderly, obviously well-prepared in advance.

As for why they had to wait until after the interviews–

Ning Rushen glanced at Li Wuting, who was sitting high on the dragon throne: Oh, just for fun.

With the decree issued, the dust settled.

Even if the old noble families were dissatisfied, they were powerless to resist, as the newly established noble families were determined to erode and devour them.

After the early court session, Ning Rushen continued to the Imperial Study as usual.

He wanted to exchange views with Li Wuting on the turnover of the “hundred families.”

Halfway there, he was met by a palace servant who brought news, “Lord Ning, His Majesty says you do not need to be on duty today.”

Ning Rushen paused. “What’s the reason?”

Using and discarding him after he’s served his purpose?

“His Majesty is going to the Hanlin Academy today to review yesterday’s interview results with the chief examiners.”

“I see…”

Ning Rushen thanked the servant and left the palace.

With a crimson robe swaying as he tucked his hands into his sleeves, he walked to the palace gate. Suddenly, someone called out to him from behind: “Lord Ning–“

He turned around to see Huo Mian rushing towards him.

He turned his head and saw Huo Mian striding over with brisk steps.

“Sure enough, I didn’t mistake you!” Huo Mian walked closer in a few steps, instinctively about to slap Ning Rushen’s shoulder warmly. The palm wind swooped down—then he saw the frail shoulder tremble, and he instantly stopped!

Instead, he patted twice, “You’re not on duty today?”

Ning Rushen glanced at his hand, “…Hmm.”

Forget about being on duty; he almost couldn’t even function as a person.

Huo Mian, full of enthusiasm, said, “Great! The assessment is over, and I happen to be free. I’ve arranged to relax with the brothers today. Why don’t you join us?”

Ning Rushen politely declined, “I’ll pass on your brotherhood gathering.”

“Aren’t you also one of my sworn brothers!”

Huo Mian slung his arm around Ning Rushen without hesitation, walking towards the palace gate, “Plus, the trusted brothers are also thinking of you. They even asked last time…”

“We’re going to play Cai Xuan Ge, Liubo chess…”

“And there’s good wine and food…”

Ning Rushen was persuaded by his rapid-fire sales pitch and ended up following him with a dizzy head, “Oh, okay…”

Huo Mian took him to a place called “Hua Gui Lou.”

It’s in the east of the city, not far from the Ning Mansion.

The furnishings inside were exquisite and luxurious, similar to modern entertainment venues for parties, with separate compartments.

Ning Rushen became interested, “There are places like this too.”

Huo Mian led him upstairs, “Hehehe.”

Upon entering the compartment, a group of trusted brothers was already inside, playing games with great excitement.

Huo Mian kicked the door, “Here’s the esteemed Mr. Ning, delivered to you guys!”

Ning Rushen: ?

Everyone turned their heads and immediately cheered and eagerly welcomed him! There was even a mix of surprise and admiration: “Hey, he’s alive!”

“…Was he just dug out of the ground?”

Huo Mian kicked away the untimely remark and turned to explain to Ning Rushen, “Last time you were called back to collect junk, we didn’t get to play to our hearts’ content. Now that you’re here, let’s have a good time together!”

Remembering the generous sharing of fruits last time, Ning Rushen generously let go of his grudge.

He looked around, “What’s this?”

Sun Wu, the right guard next to him, looked over, “Oh, Cai Xuan Ge, the Promotion Chart. Want to play?”

The Promotion Chart? Ning Rushen leaned over to take a closer look, then suddenly realized: Isn’t this the ancient version of Monopoly?

He nodded, “This, this!”

Sun Wu and the others immediately pulled him to a seat, “Come on! If you lose, you drink.”

Ning Rushen respectfully declined, “No… I won’t drink.”

The flowers, small bridges, and old ladies were already faintly visible.

Sun Wu said, “Hey! Coming here and not drinking is like coming here for nothing.”

Another person simply pulled out the cork of the wine and waved it under his nose, saying, “This wine is not strong. Last time, didn’t you drink two cups without a problem?”

The sweet aroma of the wine filled the air.

Ning Rushen shook his head vigorously, closing his eyes: “Damn it, take it away, take it away…”

Huo Mian took the opportunity to pat him on the back, saying, “Don’t worry, even if you drink until you pass out, we brothers will carry you back home!”

“…”

Ning Rushen opened his eyes after a moment, “Then, just a little bit.”

The group cheered, “Hey hey!”

…

There were many games played in the private room.

Ning Rushen played a few rounds of colorful selection, then played several rounds of archery and chess. After winning and losing about the same, he had already drunk eight or nine cups of wine.

The sweet fruit wine was not strong, and he felt slightly tipsy.

Getting excited from the games, Ning Rushen wandered around the private room with his shaking wine glass before sitting back down. His face, originally as white as jade, now had two blushes, and heat radiated from under his neck.

He loosened his collar and stretched his neck: “Phew, it’s hot…”

His slender neck formed a beautiful curve, and his black hair hung over his shoulders, revealing a small, slightly pinkish, fair and delicate area below the collar.

Steamy and dazed, he spaced out for a moment.

Huo Mian turned to see, “… Are you hot? Want some tea?”

“Tea?” Ning Rushen heard his words, reacted after several seconds, and then slowly reached out to get himself a cup of tea to drink, “Oh.”

He was acting too obediently.

The people at the table looked at each other in surprise: Oh…

Sun Wu looked for a while, then tentatively rubbed his hands, “Let’s switch to a plum blossom card.”

It was practically taking advantage of the situation!

Beside him, He Liang slapped him, “That’s too much, how can you bully Lord Ning!”

After scolding him, he turned and said, “Give me a fish card.”

Ning Rushen looked at the two of them blankly. Although his brain hadn’t caught up, his body mimicked them and slapped:

“What’s the difference between you two!”

Ouch. His hand hurt, “Ouch.”

Ning Rushen blew on his hand sadly, huffing.

Everyone else: …

Outside the Hanlin Academy, the blue bamboo carriage slowly departed.

At this time, the sun had already set, and Li Wuting had just finished handling yesterday’s interviews, leaning against the back wall of the carriage with his eyes closed.

Inside the carriage, De Quan served respectfully by his side.

After the carriage had driven for a while, Li Wuting opened his eyes, lifted the teacup, and took a few sips.

On the low table, there was a box of pastries.

De Quan asked, “Your Majesty, you’ve worked hard today. Would you like some snacks? It will be a while before we return to the palace for the meal.”

Li Wuting glanced over, “No need, I don’t feel like eating sweets right now.”

De Quan nodded and closed the lid of the box, then smiled and said, “Lord Ning seems to love these snacks. He never seems to get tired of them.”

As the words fell, the teacup lightly knocked on the table and was set down.

There was a moment of silence in the carriage.

Li Wuting tapped his fingers on his knee, recalling the scenes from the previous times when Ning Rushen rode in the carriage: his eyes would light up at the sight of the snacks. He ate with great relish, his cheeks bulging, and he even licked off the residue from the corners of his mouth…

It was just like feeding a cat.

After a while, he spoke, “He did well in the interview. Have I not rewarded him yet?”

De Quan immediately understood and pursed his lips, “Ah, indeed. Speaking of… if we take the next turn, we’ll arrive at the Ning Residence.”

Li Wuting’s voice was calm, “Then let’s take that turn.”

…

The carriage took a detour and stopped at the entrance of the Ning Residence.

Li Wuting got off the carriage, and De Quan followed behind with the food box.

The servants of the Ning Residence were already familiar with the Emperor’s face. Seeing the imperial carriage arrive, they all knelt down in unison, “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

Li Wuting waved his hand and entered the residence.

Yuan Liu nervously came forward to greet him. Li Wuting followed him into the hall and sat down. After looking around and not seeing anyone, he asked, “Where is your master?”

“To answer Your Majesty, my master has not yet returned to the residence.”

“…”

De Quan’s heart skipped a beat.

Li Wuting pursed his thin lips, “Oh, where did he go?”

Yuan Liu knelt and reported, “According to the young guard who was sent back, the master is out with the gentlemen of the general’s residence.”

After he finished speaking, there was no response from Li Wuting.

He sat silently on the seat without saying anything more, but he also didn’t let De Quan put down the food box and leave.

De Quan was anxious, and Yuan Liu was sweating profusely.

They sat like this for a while.

Yuan Liu couldn’t bear it any longer and tremblingly said, “Your Majesty, this servant will go and find the master to return to the residence.”

Li Wuting asked, “Do you know where he is?”

“Yes, after the young guard was sent back, he said the master is at the Hua Gui Tower, not far from the residence.”

“Mm.”

After receiving a response, Yuan Liu got up to go find his master.

As soon as he got up, he saw the Emperor in front of him also standing up.

Li Wuting glanced at him, “I’ll go and see too, what’s so interesting that he’s playing?”

…

Drawing Gui Lou, inside the second-floor private room.

A group of men from the Northern Frontier Army, after drinking, became even more boisterous than when they arrived. Some of them who were playing shooting games got into a heated argument, banging the table and causing a commotion. When the argument reached a stalemate, they started shouting to compare who could shout the loudest:

“Ah—”

“Ah ah—”

“…”

Ning Rushen, flushed and ears burning, was squeezed in the middle, frowning as he covered his ears: it was so noisy!

He was already dizzy from the alcohol and now his head was buzzing from the noise. Unable to bear it any longer, he slammed the table and stood up:

“What are you all arguing about!”

The noisy room suddenly quieted down, and a group of comrades turned to look at him.

With a red face, Ning Rushen picked up his wine cup and continued, “…Today, we are gathered here to celebrate the eightieth birthday of our good friend Huo Mian…”

Everyone fell silent.

Huo Mian, seeing the embarrassment on Ning Rushen’s face, couldn’t help but pull him down, “Today is not my birthday, and I’m not eighty yet—”

He pulled too hard, causing Ning Rushen to stagger.

The wine cup fell with a clatter.

Ning Rushen, swaying, grabbed the crimson canopy hanging on the screen behind him. Snap… he directly pulled down a piece of canopy, which floated down onto his shoulder and arm.

With this cushion, he supported himself on the table.

The delicate canopy draped over his dignified official robe, making it look even more elegant and noble, a bright splash of color among the tough and manly soldiers of the Dingyuan Army.

There were a few light coughs around, and gazes shifted away.

But Ning Rushen, whose head was soaked in alcohol, didn’t notice.

Entangled in the long canopy, he tried to pull it off, but failed. So, he simply stuffed the trailing end into his waistband, then stood up, ready to leave.

“I’m so tired, I want to go back…”

The guards around him tried to persuade him:

“Hey, won’t you stay and play a little longer?”

“The roast duck platter hasn’t arrived yet!”

Ning Rushen waved his hand, backing towards the door, “Can’t drink anymore.”

The guards said, “No, it’s the roast duck…”

Just as they were speaking, the door curtain behind them moved. Huo Mian saw it, “Oh, is it the roast duck—”

His words abruptly stopped, and the room fell silent.

Huh? Ning Rushen raised his eyelashes, and his feet instinctively stepped back. The next moment, he bumped into a chest.

A familiar warmth and light fragrance enveloped him.

His body, swaying, was supported by a large palm.

The hand landed on his side, and the long, slender fingers with calluses wrapped around the thin, crimson canopy at his waist.